[kararayn]

Chapter 2 - Enter Kumi

She had passed through the gates, early as usual. She forced herself not to slump, but yawned all the same, as she took her usual seat in the last row. Looking over at the wall, she mused over the cats, who'd still been there come the morning. It had been unusual for them, but she soon learned why. Shivering in her hoodie, she'd had to walk her way to school. There was frost everywhere, and she'd fallen just a block away from the gate. Her arm still stung, from where she'd hit it off the pavement.

The door slid open, and her attention was drawn to the excited whispers, and squeals of the girls in the rows before her. She glanced up at the raven - haired figure. He was grimacing. She covered her mouth to keep from laughing. The girls really were relentless, and already the blonde, and pink haired girls were arguing. Though it seemed this time, it was going a bit differently.

"I'm done, Sakura!" the blonde known as Ino Yamanaka declared.

"With?" the pink haired girl asked.

"I think it's time you back off, of Sasuke."

The other gaped. "But I thought you were over him!"

"Of course I'm over him! I'm going out with Chouji!"

"What?" said boy paused from eating at that.

"Eh..um..I mean..." Ino blushed, embarrassed. "Would you like to..."

"Go out with you?" he finished.

She could only nod.

"I'd like that." he smiled. She squealed excitely, and hugged him.

She smiled at the sight, and also at the flushed, angry look on Sakura's face, as Sasuke turned her down for the umpteenth time this year. But her own eyes widened slightly, as he moved on past his usual chair, and suddenly stood before her. When he wasn't moving, she blurted out the first words that came to mind. "What are you doing?"

"Sitting next to you." he smirked, and did so. She could only stare, as the familiar blonde boy followed after, and sitting behind him.

"Um..why?"

"So we can finish our talk from yesterday."

"What part?" her cheeks flushed involuntarily.

"About how you learned to cook like that."

"She cooked? When?" Naruto asked them both.

"She came over to my house."

"Oh?" the blonde grinned.

"Not like that."

"Like that, then?"

"No." he shook his head.

"When in the world did Kumi cook for you then?"

"Last night."

"You know my name?" she asked then, but quickly facepalmed.

"Well, you are in alot of the same classes."

"I think this is the most I've ever heard you speak." Naruto spoke up.

"I didn't get a chance to talk much before." she shrugged.

"You transferred last year though!" he threw up his hands.

"Well..yeah."

"How can you both be so quiet! It would drive me nuts!"

Sasuke smirked at that.

"See!" he continued. "Speak darn you!" he shook the boy before him.

She laughed, as they both started to shake the other. They looked over at her grinning.

"You thinking what I'm thinking?" Sasuke asked him.

"Yep!"

"Oh..no.." she tried to back up, but Sasuke mussed her hair, while Naruto tickled her.

"Stop!" she laughed, trying to protest. "Need air, need air!"

They both let her go, and she kept giggling for a long while afterward.

"Eh - em.." Sasuke cleared his throat, and pointed at her hair.

"Eep!" she pulled it out of the ponytail quickly, and brushed it straight once more.

"So long!" Ino gasped.

"I - it's not that long.." she ducked behind her bangs then.

"It's past your waist!"

"And longer then even Sakura's before she cut it." Ino pointed out.

The bell rang then, and she fled into the halls. Excusing herself to the nurse's office, from her next class, she sighed with relief. Telling the nurse it was cramps, she was allowed to stay for a period. She thanked Shizune, only groaning into a pillow once the lady had left. Tucking up her legs, beneath her, she closed her eyes. The door slid open.

"Cramps, huh?" the person spoke. She bolted upright then, turning beet red with embarassment.

"eh...uh...um..." she stammered.

"Faker." Neji chuckled.

"Shut..up.." she facepalmed.

"Heh. I heard about what happened in class."

"From who?"

"Who do you think?"

"Just tell me.." she glanced over at him.

"Kiba."

"He's talking to you again?"

"Apparently." his expression soured.

"Don't pout. I didn't have the update yet."

"Update?" he mused.

"You know what I mean."

"You've been here for a year, and your still out of the loop?"

"I'm new, compared to the rest of you."

"Sai came after you did."

"Sai isn't exactly shy."

"True."

"And he was still here." she laughed.

"Okay, okay.. I get the point."

"Why'd he do that?"

"Who knows?"

"You tell me." she poked him.

"I know nothing..." he teased.

"Liar.." she grumbled.

"No pouting.." he narrowed his eyes.

"You know you can't resist the puppy eyes."

"Tell no one." he warned.

" Awww, and here I was thinking about telling Tenten.."

"No!" his eyes widened.

"So tell me!"

"That Uchiha doesn't tend to explain himself very often."

"Eh..."

"If you're feeling well enough to talk in my office, I suppose your ready to go back to class?" Shizune called from the doorway.

"Just waiting to tell you." she smiled, and they both left quickly.

"Phew.." she sighed, once they were out of hearing range.

"What class do you have next?" Neji asked.

"Lunch. Why?"

"Perfect."

"For what?" she barely got out before the bell rang once more.

"Later!"

"Neji!" she called after his retreating form.

"See ya, Kumi." he waved, and she flushed red.

"Great.." she grumbled, and stomped off to the lunchroom.