I have no idea why I am so nervous. It's actually extremely stupid of me to have so much anxiety about a self-defense class. Yet as I sit in homeroom waiting for the rest of my friends I'm having problems sitting still. My leg bounces mindlessly as I tap my desk with a pencil I probably won't need.

Slowly people start to trickle in, some in groups, others by themselves. Finally, I can hear familiar voices arguing out in the hallway as they approach the classroom.

"Drop it Kiba, it's not going to happen." I hear Ino scold loudly as they enter the classroom. She looks slightly irritated but more exhausted than anything.

"All I'm saying is that you guys have known each other longer. That should count for something." He says sitting down in the seat in front of me giving me a wicked smile and wink. "Morning beautiful." He says to me as if his conversation with Ino has ended.

Ino sighs. "Will you please tell your obnoxious boyfriend to stay out of my business?"

I laugh and a light blush rushes to my cheeks. That's the first time someone has referred to Kiba as my boyfriend and I'd be lying if I said I didn't like it. "Come on, give her a break," I say giving Kiba a playful smile. We all know her and Nara are never going to be an item."

Ino nods in a determined manner only she and Naruto have mastered. "As much as I hate that you know exactly what we are bickering about I do appreciate you taking my side." She says turning around in her seat ending the discussion.

I sigh and shake my head, my fingers going back to manipulating my pencil. I can feel my leg bouncing under my desk and even though I try to stop it, my will power doesn't seem to be enough.

I feel a warm hand on my knee and my gaze flutters up to meet the warm brown eyes of Kiba. "Hey..." He whispers so that only I can hear. "Are you doing alright?"

I nod at first but my nod quickly turns into a shake. "I know it's silly, but I am so nervous about my class after school and I have no idea why," I confess quietly looking into Kiba's eyes.

He offers me a gentle smile and squeezes my knee. "First off, it's not silly. New things make everyone a little nervous. And second of all, you will do fine. It's a beginner class so they expect you to know nothing."

I bite my lower lip and search Kiba's face, but all I find is sincerity and honesty that has been there since the day we met freshman year. It's hard to believe after the last two years that we are finally in the place that we are. After what I put him through last year, I really don't deserve him but I thank God every day that I can say he's my guy.

"Tell you what. How about I pick you up after your class and we can catch a movie." Kiba ways with a crooked smile.

I cock my head to the side and give him a quizzical look. "Like...a date?" I ask a smile slowly creeping onto my face.

Kiba chuckles and nods. "But not just any date, our first date." He points out.

I can't contain the smile that is now plastered on my face. Our first date. The thought had never crossed my mind during the past three months. I was so focused on Kiba just coming home.

Kiba clears his throat causing my attention to focus back on him. "So how do you feel now?" He asks casually.

I stop for a moment, searching my mind for any trace of emotion and smile. "I feel excited and happy." I smile at him.

"Good, now you can focus on the first day of school." He jokes giving my leg another squeeze.

*~*

The first day of school actually went by quickly and miraculously without any issues, a relief according to Naruto who claimed at lunch his poor fragile mind couldn't take any more drama.

Ever since Kiba asked me out to the movies with him it's all my mind has been able to think about. Unfortunately, as I stand in front of a small martial arts studio my mind is once again panicking about my self-defense class.

I know that it is the wisest choice given the past two years, who knows what could happen this year. As happy as I am with Kiba right now I can't help but expect the other shoe to drop so to speak. It's always calmest before the storm. With a deep breath, I enter the studio, praying that it's not as bad as I think it's going to be.

To my surprise, the first person I see when I enter the building is Deidara, one of Itachi's friends. "Well look who it is!" He exclaims with a huge grin on his face as he comes towards me.

I smile as he hugs me. "Long time no see. What are you doing back in town I thought you moved?" I ask as he lets me go and holds me at arm's length.

"Oh we did, but you know Itachi, can't stay away from his brother too long," Deidara says waving his hand in the air like its yesterday's news, except it's not.

I know Sasuke well enough to know that Itachi being back in town isn't a good thing, even if Deidara is trying to sell it like it is. I sigh deeply at the news but decide that for now, I will ignore it. "Please tell me you are in the beginning self-defense class." I laugh uneasily, changing the topic.

He laughs loudly, his eyes rolling playfully. "Not even close." He retorts.

I sigh yet again. So much for this being better than I hoped for. "Oh..." I mumble looking down and cursing my nerves for coming back so quickly.

Deidara slaps me on the back playfully. "I will actually be your instructor." He says with a wink. "Come on back and we can get started."

I smile and nod following him back past the main entryway and back into the studio. "Is it just me?" I ask dropping my bag by the door and slipping my shoes off.

Deidara chuckles lightly. "Yes, so you can relax now. Just you and me and some simple defense maneuvers." He replies walking to the middle of the mat and faces me. "So tell me, what is the first thing you do when someone advances on you?"

I freeze what I am doing, unsure how to respond. "Ummm, tell them to get away?" I reply honestly because that's exactly what I did last spring.

"Good! Though I think that was a lucky guess. You always want to avoid a fight if you can. Just because you will know how to defend yourself after this class doesn't mean you should have to. Got it?" Deidara says in one of his more serious tones.

I nod and walk out to the middle of the mat.