A/N: Sorry its been so long since my last update. I've been caught up in stuff for college. From here on, updates will come on weekends when I am not busy with homework. I'll be busy this semester. I'm a club president and I may be a tutor as well. That said, I have a very romantic chapter planned in honor of Valentine's Day. Let's begin.

Chapter Eight: Kaze's Promise

A new year had begun in Konoha. January was here once more. The Academy students were preparing for their first term exams. Rise had overslept that morning. She was awakened in her room by Kaze.

"Rise! Wake up!"

Rise opened her lavender eyes and she looked over at the clock. Her eyes snapped open and she stood up and dressed quickly. Rise straightened her hair and she opened her door quickly. Kaze turned and headed into the kitchen. Hinata had prepared lunch for them to take. Rise kissed her mother's cheek and she walked out the door with Kaze. She turned to Kaze and she whispered.

"I'm going to be home late tonight. I have plans with Nanjo."

Kaze nodded and he smiled weakly.

"I'll wait for you."

Rise cast her gaze ahead and she whispered.

"You don't have to. We're going to be late if we don't hurry."

Kaze felt a burning feeling in the pit of his stomach. He felt as if Rise had just slapped him. Rise was acting strange, he thought. Kaze didn't say anything further. They entered the classroom and they sat next to each other, not speaking. Serah sat down next to Kaze and she whispered to him.

"Are you ok?"

Kaze had his eyes closed, deep in thought. He opened his emerald eyes and he smiled gently at Serah. Serah's dark eyes met Kaze's, and the young male felt his heart racing. What is this I'm feeling right now? Serah moved her face closer to Kaze and she whispered.

"You can always talk to me Kaze. I really like you."

Kaze swallowed hard and he smiled shakily.

"Thank you Serah. I really like you too."

Serah blushed and she hugged Kaze tightly. Kaze embraced her just as Hanabi entered the room. Hanabi was a natural leader, and her presence commanded authority. The class quieted down as Hanabi began to speak.

"Today is your first term final exam. We'll be running the obstacle course again. The time to beat is nine minutes. Come with me."

Kaze stood up and he cast a quick gaze at Rise, who was talking to Nanjo. Kaze still felt his stomach burning from the morning. She likes Nanjo. It just hurts, because I like Rise. Serah likes me though. And she's a good girl. Kaze sighed and he slapped himself mentally. I'm twelve. I shouldn't be thinking of these things.

"Alright, line up. Kaze, you're up first."

Kaze stepped forward as Hanabi's voice broke him out of his trance. He crouched down and he smiled at Serah, who gave him a thumbs up. Hanabi blew her whistle and she Kaze sprinted out into the first obstacle. Serah cheered for him with Kiana. Rise cast a gaze at Serah.

"Why do you cheer for him so much?"

Serah looked at her best friend and she smiled.

"I like him. He's a good boy."

Rise chuckled.

"Never thought you'd fall for Kaze. I guess that means we're rivals then."

Serah shook her head and she hissed at Rise.

"Why were you ignoring him then?"

Rise moved closer to Serah and they talked in a hushed voice.

"I wasn't ignoring him. I'm not feeling well today, you know what I mean?"

Rise placed her hand on her stomach and she winced. Serah nodded and she shook her head.

"That's still no reason to ignore him. I'm on mine too, but I'm not ignoring anyone. Besides, you seem to like Nanjo too."

Rise felt the heat rise in her face. Serah was right.

"I like both of them. I can't choose. But that's why I'm not going to pursue either of them."

Serah chuckled and she shook her head.

"Too bad Kaze already said he liked me."

Rise felt her face burning red with anger and with shock.

"Liar."

She said. Kaze had just finished his run through the obstacle course and Hanabi was congratulating him. Kaze walked to the crowd of students, all of whom were congratulating him save for Rise and Serah. Not for the first time today, he felt burning in his throat and his stomach. Rise and Serah were arguing. Rise turned to Kaze and she looked into his eyes.

"You told her you like her? What about me?"

Kaze felt his face turning red.

"I like you both. You're both my friends. I can't date anyone until I'm fourteen. I promised my father. Stop arguing about senseless things like this."

Rise looked down, her anger fading. Serah looked down and she whispered to Rise.

"I'm sorry Rise. We're best friends forever, right?"

Rise nodded and she hugged Serah.

"Always and forever."

Kaze stepped closer and he wrapped his arms around both of them.

"I couldn't choose between either of you. You're both the best girls I know. And besides, we're twelve. Let's worry about that kind of stuff once we're Genin."

Rise nodded and she smiled, as did Serah. Their hug was broken when Serah was called forward for her run. Rise stood by Kaze's side and she whispered to him.

"I'm sorry for that. I'm not feeling well today. Its that time of the month."

Kaze smiled and he kicked the dirt.

"Don't worry about it Rise. You know I can't be mad at you."

Rise smiled and she kissed his cheek.

"You like both of us, and we both like you. One day, you'll have to choose between us."

Kaze smiled and he hugged Rise as they cheered on Serah.

"When that day comes, I will Rise. Until then, we'll be like we are. Best friends."

Rise nodded and she smiled as Serah came back over to the crowd. She was smiling widely.

"I managed to beat your time by a few seconds Kaze."

Kaze smiled and he hugged her as well.

"Nice job. I think Rise is last up again."

Rise smiled widely at her friends as Hanabi called her up last.

"Ready Rise?"

Rise nodded and she crouched down. Her father had been training her, Kaze, Syao and Lyn's natural speed, stamina and strength for several weeks. As soon as she had blown her whistle, Rise sprinted into the obstacle course. She easily pushed through the heavy sandbags and she cleared the small pool of water in one leap. Rise pushed through all of the obstacles with ease until she reached the newest. It was a pond filled with electric eels. She focused Chakra to her feet and she stepped out onto the water. Rise walked across slowly, one step at a time. She still had not mastered water walking like Serah had. Rise lost her balance and she fell into the water. She swam away from the eels and she hoisted herself onto the finish platform and rang the bell triumphantly. She gave a thumbs up to Kaze and Serah. Hanabi looked down at her stopwatch and she noted it on her clipboard. She then turned her gaze to her class.

"That is all for today. You'll receive the results of your exams in a few days time. You have the weekend off, yet I suggest you train hard. We're soon going to be entering into the sparring bouts, which will pit your skills against each other. We'll be doing that in one week. So get some rest and train hard. You're all dismissed."

The class started to disperse. Kaze remembered that Rise had plans, so he turned and he started to walk out of the training grounds. He then felt a warmth in his hand. He felt the heat rise in his face and he turned to see Serah holding his hand.

"Can we go for ramen?"

Kaze nodded slowly and they left the Academy together, talking. He caught a sad glance from Rise as they left. Why should she care? I don't get upset that she wants to make plans with Nanjo, so why should she get mad at me for going out with Serah? Kaze thought to himself and he smiled at Serah. It was different from the times he talked with Rise. Serah talked about normal things, like life and her dreams. With Rise, it was always about herself. As much as Kaze enjoyed his time with Rise, he enjoyed his time with Serah as well. They made their way through the village to Ichiraku Ramen. Kaze sat with Serah and they ordered two bowls of pork miso ramen. While they waited for Teuchi to prepare their food, Serah looked down at the floor and then up at Kaze.

"Do you really like me Kaze?"

Kaze put on his serene smile and he nodded slowly.

"I do, yes. But like I said, I promised my father I wouldn't become involved with someone until I am a Genin. And even then, I'll be going back home once I have become one."

Serah looked down as their bowls of ramen arrived. Kaze broke his chopsticks, yet Serah just sat there. Kaze heard a drip of water, and he saw tears falling from Serah's eyes.

"You're not staying for good?"

Kaze moved next to her and he put his arm around her.

"I haven't told anyone. Not even Rise. I didn't want to cause all of my friends pain. I'll be on missions, so we'll see each other every so often. Serah, please, smile for me."

Serah looked up at him with tears in her eyes.

"Do you remember how we met?"

Kaze closed his eyes and he searched his memory.

"We were two. I remember we met at Rise's second birthday."

Serah nodded and she smiled.

"Ten years went by fast."

Kaze saw her smile and he couldn't help but smile back at her. Kaze brushed her cheek with his hand and Serah cupped his hand in hers.

"I'm happiest with you Kaze."

Kaze flushed and he closed his eyes.

"Serah, please. I can't get involved, not yet."

Serah closed her eyes and she rested her head on his shoulder.

"Then please, promise me."

Kaze swallowed hard. Can I keep this promise? My mother always told me not to make promises I cannot keep. Serah, just please wait for me.

"I promise Serah. When we become Genin, we'll be how you want."

Serah smiled and she nodded.

"I can wait that long."

Kaze smiled and they ate in happiness and bliss. Kaze smiled now that he was full.

"Can I walk you home?"

Serah nodded and they left. Kaze walked Serah to the front door of her house. Serah smiled and she held her arms open. Kaze hugged her tightly.

"See you Monday."

Serah said. Sakura and Sasuke looked out the window and waved to Kaze. Kaze waved back and he bowed low to the Uchiha family. He then went back to his own home. When he arrived home, the scene that awaited him drained all the happiness from his body.

"Rise, what happened?"

Rise was crying with her family surrounding her. When Rise saw Kaze, she threw her arms around him and she whispered to her oldest friend.

"Kaze, can we talk in my room? Just the two of us?"

Kaze nodded and Rise led him to her room. She shut the door behind her and Kaze sat on the bed. Rise sat next to him, tears streaming from her eyes.

"What did Nanjo do to you Rise?"

Rise shook her head.

"It wasn't Nanjo. Its me. I'm so confused. I don't know whats wrong with me. I've never felt this way before. Its like... my heart races whenever I get near you or Nanjo."

Kaze swallowed hard. He had the same feeling earlier, when he was with Serah. He had never felt that way with Rise. But now that he was in the room with her, alone, he started to sweat and he felt his heart race. He knew how Rise felt. This was a feeling that would follow them for the rest of their lives.

TO BE CONTINUED...