This chapter is dedicated to my silent readers. Thank you for reading, above all else. Reviews/favourites etc. are appreciated.

Sasuke

Misaki stopped obsessing over me for a little while. In the meantime, I was getting ready for some sort of assault from her. Today must have been the day. What she did would've had anyone stumped. She enrolled into KHS for the remainder of her stay (which is less than two months). Idiotic, right? She kept pestering me to give her a tour, which I dismissed smoothly. Break was over and people started to file in a few at a time. Some girls giggled and winked at me, eyes inviting. To me though, it looked way past pathetic. They surrounded Misaki and almost immediately started to chat with her about, surprisingly (note the sarcasm) me. They spoke in hushed tones after that, for god knows what reason when Ino ran in, closely followed by Kushina. They both started laughing.

"You ran like the whole place was on fire!"

"And you just stood there, what the hell is up with that?"

"If you'd have been less cowardly, I would've broken them in two."

"Never again!" Ino huffed, shivering as she recalled the terrible event.

"What did you do?" Misaki said who was backed up by the remaining girls in the class.

"None of your business skank!" Ino sneered.

"I wasn't speaking to you ya dumb blonde!" Her new cronies cackled behind her. Ino glared viciously, but knew better than to get physical. Misaki looked questioningly at Kushina.

"In case you didn't hear," she cleared her throat, "none of your business skank."

Not taking the redhead's insult to heart, she flipped her long, dark hair and smirked.

"Neanderthal." Kushina looked bemused. She poked Ino and the duo took their seats, without a second glance to the annoyed Uchiha girl. The teacher got in and started the lesson. I glanced at her and she caught me almost instantly, mouthing 'can't touch this'. I rolled my eyes and went back to scribbling on a rough paper. Class was over and I couldn't be even happier for it.

Later~

She was walking down the halls with all the power in the world. I cupped my palm to her lips, wrapped my other arm securely round her waist and pulled her back into a dark corner. She thrashed and fought back.

"Calm down Uzumaki." I released her slowly as she relaxed and spun around quickly punching me on the cheek.

"What the fuck woman!" She huffed in her adorable way, but I couldn't necessarily enjoy it since she hits like a hammer would hit a nail. Even that description was in slight pretense to her actual strength.

"What is up with you and pulling me into corners all the time?!"

"Forget that, you promised you'd accept my challenge."

"You'd be a good addition to the club."
"I'm sick of it, so no thanks."
"Hn. I'll challenge you someday then."

"I didn't accept."

"But you didn't refuse either."

"What's in it for me?"

"Exercise..." I sounded lame to myself even.

"I'll accept your challenge... for now."

"What's got you so hot and bothered Uchiha?" She teased.

"I'd ask the same, Uzumaki." We were both panting, neither of us giving openings to the other. It was mostly a dodging exercise since we barely got any hits on each other. I was impressed to say the least, to keep me riled up like this. My heart fluttered in nostalgia, of the days when I first realized (two months ago). The sooner you stop fighting it, the more freedom you feel, even if she isn't completely mine. Yet. Sappy, but honest.

"You're...good..." I inhaled forcefully, trying to get oxygen fast to my tired lungs. She smiled half-heartedly, her eyes half closed as she was bent over, regaining her lost ability to breath normally.

"I've never sweated while sparring. Ever. Consider yourself special." I tried desperately to hide my flushed cheeks, another formality that follows this redhead whenever she utters a few words of praise to me. I understood that I was a puppet, being manipulated by her, and saw no fault in that. With all that in mind, I still didn't want to appear weak, not to her, or anyone. This is getting too emotional for comfort...

Kushina

Uchiha Sasuke kept tugging at my heart unknowingly, which was in all languages of the world dangerous. Giving someone the ability to affect you, scar you for the rest of your life even, was too much for me to ever dream about handling. I am an independent realist, I realized that when I was 12 years old, but I caught myself fantasizing about him more often than not. I secretly wished to depend on him for everything too, and that scared the shit out of me. It's been exactly six months, and he's already drawn me in and pushed himself deep into my heart. I had only two important male figures in my heart, my daddy (notice that I call him daddy like a three-year old kid) and Naruto, though I wouldn't admit it in certain conditions. Sasuke was squeezing himself into the picture, or rather I was. But I'm not going to let my full world revolve around him, which may prove to be catastrophic. I still won't fully accept my...love for him until the time is right. I'm not a monk b-t-dubs, I just mean when we (he actually) confesses. There are a lot of factors that could influence the timing of his confession: male ego, fangirls, Haruno Sakura, the main three that is. Sakura mostly, because we both know that I'm more than capable of handling Sasuke's ever large ego and his army of girls. The pact of not coaxing a guy to date you is still on. I never thought I'd use that pact on myself though, and look at me now in love with the school's number 1 heartthrob. Sakura's crush. Ugh! High school romance is the worst kind of romance imaginable.

This chap is kinda short compared to my many masterpieces *claps aren't necessary ;)* , so apologies. This is the big two-oh. I'm also stumped on whether I should continue this throughout, or skip directly to Christmas. Both options are advantageous...neh, I'll figure it out.