" Oh!"

Kiyone looked up and winced. Not paying attention to her surroundings, she failed to notice Tenten was standing in front of her.

" Oh.....hi Ten-"

" Why?? Why did you break up with him??" Tenten was shaking with so many emotions that it was hard for Kiyone to decipher what exactly the girl was experiencing. Instead, she just cocked her head to the side in confusion.

" Don't give me that look! Neji! Why did you say yes to him and then broke up with him the very next day??" Kiyone concluded that Tenten was very much pissed off.

" Um...I-" a light clicked in Kiyone's mind. She remembered the days when Tenten had avoided her when she and Neji were getting more friendly and the tears rolling down her friend's eyes at the party after Neji's confession.

" You like him...." Kiyone whispered.

Tenten looked startled by this but recovered. She looked away and tried to hold back tears. " Yeah, I like him. But he likes you and you...you just had to do that to him! You had Sasuke but you just had to have Neji too!! I don't care if you love Sasuke but....why? Why did you have to take Neji away from me?? And then humiliate him by dumping him like that??"

Kiyone winced at Tenten's words. Sasuke's name was like a deep cut to her heart and every time it was mentioned, the wound just got bigger. She fought back tears.

" I'm sorry. I'm a baka. A stupid baka who just makes things worse." she whispered, almost chocking on the ever increasing lump in her throat. " A baka that doesn't deserve the friends that she hurts so much." A singel tear slipped down.

Tenten's face softened, but she didn't go to her. She waited.

" And...I'm sorry if I hurt you with Neji. I'm so stupid that I failed to notice that my dear friend was hurting from my actions. I really am sorry." Kiyone managed. She squeezed her eyes shut. God, I ruined everything. I won't be surprised if she doesn't forgive me. Her eyes opened as arms encircled around her.

" Its ok. I'm a baka too. I should have told you that I liked Neji. Maybe then you wouldn't have led him on, not that that was your intention." Tenten laughed softly at this, her eyes then closing down in concern." What's wrong Kiyo? Whats hurting you so much?"

Kiyone tensed up. All this time she had been acting so normal that no one, not even her family, had seen passed her and saw her pain. Or maybe they did and just didn't want to make feel worse.

" Sasuke." she whispered, the name escaping through her mouth sounded ten times worse then when it came from somebody else's.

Tenten winced. She had heard from Hinata who heard from Neji that the Uchiha had left. She quickly put two and two together.

" And you love him?"

Kiyone felt singed from the words. She had so badly wanted to keep herself distracted from hurting over Sasuke but it seems that she can't escape from that. She nodded.

" Oh, poor you." Tenten muttered, holding her friend. She said no more, knowing perfectly well that whatever she said would only make her friend fell worse. She knew what it felt to lose the one she loved and therefore understood Kiyone's pain. But now she could only hold her and wish the best for her.

*********************************************************

" You're late!!!!!!!!!!!" Katyoshi was fuming as her daughter entered the house, whose face bore no emotion.

" Here." Kiyone held up the bags and walked passed her mother.

Katyoshi's anger vanished and looked after her quiet daughter. She closed her eyes in pain, pain from watching her daughter suffer teenage love. But it was better to let her deal with it and learn.

" Your brother is in the dojo."

Kiyone stopped her trot to the satirs. " I'm too tired to spar."

Her mother watched her continue upsatirs. She understood.

Not What it Seems

Win, midget.

What did you say????

You heard me. Win M-I-D-G-E-T.

Don't mess with me right now! I'm concentrating!

Yeah, you'll need it to win.

You are so dead!

" Um....are they ok?"

At the entrance to the National Kyoto Matrial Arts Stadium, the twins were having thier usual mental battle. Too bad that their audience pretty much freaked out and now thought them crazy . Tenten, Hinata, Sakura, Shikamaru, Temari, and Kiba had come to see their friends battle for the school's championship and got a first person glimpse of the strange looks that the twins gave one other.

" Ignore them. They get like this when their annoying one other." Katyoshi assured. The others sweatdropped.

" I hope you win Kiyone-chan, Neji-niisan has been talking about how good you are and how you'll sure to win your match." Hinata said.

" Of course she'll win. She's a Raimatsu." Kaito frowned at the timid Hyuuga before turning to his son and giving him a scowl.

Kohaku looked away. " So what if I didn't join that stupid club. It doesn't mean that I can't still kick Nee-chan's butt."

" Oh, you want to try it!"

" Bring it!"

" Oh stop it you two. You're embarassing me." their mother was looking at the bypassers and slightly pretending not to be part of their group. The twins glared at her.

" Will all participants head to the main stadium and prepare to begin the matches." a voice annouced over them, interupting everyone.

" Oh, Kiyone-chan! That's you! Hurry and remember, WIN!" Tenten punched a fist into the air with a big grin on her face.

Kiyone smirked. " Oh I will." And with that she waved to her friends and headed to where Gai-sensei and the others were grouped around. As she neared them, Neji turned and smiled at her. Kiyone sent back a tiny smile, thinking about how she definitely didn't want him to still be interested in her.

" Ready?" Neji asked.

" Yeah, more than ready." Kiyone allowed herself to ease up. He was her freind after all.

" Kiyone-san! You would bring victory to our school! And I will do as well, for if not, than I will do seven hundred laps around Kyoto cityas my punishment." Lee had a burning look in his eyes.

" Ah Lee, you are so filled with youth! Come here!" Everyone sweatdropped as teacher and student hugged.

" I'll never get use to them." Neji muttered.

Kiyone laughed. Turning around, she watched as the Kendo members were arriving into the room, as all the divisions of martial arts were going to recive a speech from some of the best fighters in Japan. With hope in her heart, she scanned each face, only to fall into disappointment.

Of course he won't be here.

" Kiyone-chan!" she starled as a loud voice called her name. She returned back to reality and saw that Naruto was approaching her, with Gaara not far behing.

" Awesome day to fight, huh?" Naruto gave her a goofy grin, already filled with anticipation and excitement. Kiyone nodded. Strange that this is his best friend.

" Hm." Gaara stopped and stood there, nodding in greeting to her and then looking at the stands.

Kiyone gave him a sly look." Loooking for Sakura, huh?"

Gaara snapped his head back to her, an incredulous look in his eyes. Naruto frowned in confussion.

" Wha-, why would Gaara be looking for Sakura-chan?"

Gaara shot Kiyone a look, telling her not to say anything. Kiyone shrugged and decided to change the subject. " Hey Naruto, Hinata-chan is here and it looks like she cooked up a big lunch today."

Naruto's eyes lit up and he grinned." Really? Alright! Ima go look for her right now. Good luck on your match, Kiyone!" and with that he ran off.

Gaara shook his head. " He forgets about Sakura when Hinata's cooking comes into the picture."

Kiyone chuckled. " The best way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Gaara smirked. " Well, I got to go and warm up. Good luck."

Kiyone nodded. she raised a fist in the air and gave him a firm look. " you win too, ok?"

" Yeah." was Gaara's reply before giving her one last smirk before leaving off to his group.

" All division assemble!" At the end of the room was a elite group of older fighters who had come to witness the future generation of martial arts and were now seated alonst a long table with clipboard in dront of them. Obviously they were going to judge as well.

" I'm proud to be here today, to represent this new generation of fighters who are all keeping and perserving the way of the warrior. Courage, justice, benevolence, wisdom, gratitude, sincerity, honor. These are the seven virtues of martial arts. Let these young fighters express these virtues today and show us what being a true fighter is all about. Let us begin!" The oldest man of the elite group proudly look at each face assembled in the stadium brfore walking off to talk to the others.

Kiyone watched as the other different divisions headed off to their own stages. She saw Naruto grin hyperactivelly at the audience that was heading to their respected battles. She looked for her family, which was assembling in the middle section of the benches. Obviously this is where the Karate matches will be held.

Heh, I'll would bother Sasuke so much at how Karate gets so much more attention than Kendo.

The thought about Sasuke made her stomach suddenly lurch but she quickly recovered as Gai-sensei called them over.

" Now remember guys, let the power of youth run through your veins and win this battle. We are number ! and today we show it to the world. We are winners! Konoha fighters, WIN!!" The older man in a green jumpsiut rose his hand in a victory pose, with a similar looking boy at his side.

" Just shut up and lets us begin." Neji muttered.

" Right!" Gai-sensei nodded vigourously.

" Let the first match begin!" a sickly man by the name of Hayate Gekko stood in the middel of the stadium and waited for the first fighters to begin.

Kiyone watched as a older member of their group rose and headed to fight. A tall boy from one of the other teams came up as well.

" Begin!"

Kiyone watched as the all to familiar dance began between the two boys. The thrust of the hand and the blocking to the side. The way each watched each other, waiting for the other to make a move.

Since when has my blood stirred in such a heated passion.

Kiyone grinned. The hidden tiger inside was just waiting to be unleashed. This was the pride she took in fighting and today, she'll prove everyone what she is capable of.

In the middle of the audience...................

" Great, she's getting excited." Kohaku muttered

*************************************************************

" He-ya!"

Thump!

" Neji Hyuuga, " Hatate coughed ", winner."

" WHOO! You go Neji!" Kiyone cheered as her senpai made his way back to his sitting position. Neji blushed and looked away, trying to hide it. Kiyone just grinned madly, animation filling her green eyes. She never flet more alive since coming to this country.

" Raimastu, Kiyone of Konoha. Jin Madama of Kumo."

Hearing her name, Kiyone jumped up and grinned. It was finally her turn! The boy fromKumo got up and as she walked up to him, Kiyone noticed that he was considerably very big.

Good, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

A smirk made its way to her face. The older guy towering over raised an eyebrow, making her smirk wider.

You just watch, King Kong, I'm going to wipe the floor with you.

" Get ready." she relaxed into her position, face now concentrating and fierce.

" BEGIN!"

" He-ya!!" She sent a lightning fast kick toward his side, only to have it block. He attempted to flip her but using the jerk that her father taught her, she released herself and crouched down, her leg circling to hit the back of his knee. Moving out of the way, the boy walked around in a stalk, eyes ready and hands out front. Kiyone turned into her stalk and watched him through her fiery green eyes, lighten by the flame inside her. Suddenly he lunged and attempted to punch her.

Everything was in slow motion to her. His movement, the room, his fist. All of this was easily avoidable and as his puch came toward her, she easily moved to the side. It felt like she was flowing through thin air. Green eyes now focused, she grabbed his hand, tested his weight and..

Thump.

5 foot 1, 96 lbs Raimatsu Kiyone flipped over a ^ foot 2 183 lbs boy onto his back.

" Boom." Kiyone whispered. She straightened herself and grinned in victory as a loud cheer came from the audience. No doubt her friends and family started something. the guy Jin, stood up, red in the face but nonless bow to her in respect and headed to his group.

" Whooo! You go Kiyo!!!"

" That's my baby girl!"

" Yea!! That's my twin sister!!" Way to win Nee-chan!

Kiyone grinned. Yes, today was a very good day.

****************************************************************

" Wow, did you see that flip? She grabbed his arm and then, BOOM, she had him knocked down on the floor rubbing his back. Whooo-Wheee! That was good!" Kiba was grinning from head to toe.

The tourament was now over and Konoha had won. To add to their happiness, the Kendo club and the Boxing club had also won. Konoha High will be very happy once they return back to school. The group of friends were now heading off to Sakura's house, who's probation from her parents had been lifted off just for this occasion. Apparently Sakura's parents are hard core martail arts fans. Kiyone's own parents had left while Kohaku had ditched her to hang with some of his friends in the boxing club. Saying her good-bye to Gai-sensei and the others, she had went along with her friends to celebrate. She deserved it. And now they were seated around the living room floor talking excitedly about the match.

" It was impressing, I guess." Shikamaru shrugged. Temari nudged on the shoulder. " Are you kidding?? This girl is a monster! No way a normal girl her size can bring down a guy like that, no way, she must be abnormal." Temari grinned at Kiyone.

Kiyone only sniffed and pretending to be insulted. " Well, Temari, what are you trying to say? I'm a freak of nature?"

Temari grinned but Sakura cut in, waving her hands. " Ignore her, It's just her way of saying just how awesome you are."

Tenten laughed and rolled over to her stomach. She had a lollipop in her mouth. " Even Neji was impressed. He had thought you good before but now, he was just bombstruck."

Neji, who was leaning against the couch shrugged. " You've been holding back."

Kiyone laughed at his gruffy tone. It looks like the best number 1 rookie has been upsurted.

" Well," she streched her body, laying down on the floor. " Now that the tournament is over, I can relax and focus on presents." She grinned at the others.

" Cool, what are you going to get me?"

" I like pink things."

" I like weapons."

" Get me something kool, and something for my dog Akamaru too."

" Who wants hot cocoa?" Hinata emerged from the kitchen and was now holding a tray of mugs.

" ME!" Naruto burst out of the bathroom and grabbed a cup.

" Me."

" Oh, chocolate."

" Ow, its hot!"

" Be careful, please."

" How troublesome."

Kiyone laughed at her friends conversations and sighed in contentment. Everything had been good today. For the first time in days, she felt like herself again.

Ring. Ring.

" Hm, who can be calling me?" She took her cell out of her pocket and checked. Her parents. " Hello?"

" Kiyone? Kiyone! Get here quick. Kohaku is hurt. He was in a car accident and he's unconsious!!!" Her mother's voice was frantic.

Crack.

Everyone's conversations were silence by the sound. They turned to see a wide-eyed Kiyone looking into space with a horrified expression on her face.

" Ani-kun?"