-Recap-

"Ahh, Kakashi-sensei makes a good bento~" I sang, then looked to Sasuke in confusion. "But why'd you feed me?"

"To shut you up. You were giving me a headache." Well! He could at least be nice about it!

Oh well, I don't really care. Either way, I got food, so...

I blinked, and realised I had just missed a whole conversation. Sakura put some food in Naruto's mouth, and then there was suddenly a huge-ass explosion.

"YOU..!!"

-End recap-

"Pass

I sweatdropped as the storm clouds faded away. We passed?

"What?" Sakura asked dumbly, as usual.

"All of the others just listened to my instructions and failed. They weren't able to think independently. It's true that those who break the rules are scum, but anyone who abandons their comrades is lower than that." I swallowed nervously as Kakashi looked at me. "So, you all pass."

I'm a ninja, finally! And you know what? I swear, I will do everything in my power to protect my comrades and village. Maybe that way, I can be a shinobi of the same calibre as my mother.

"Aaahh!!! I knew this would happen, I just knew it!" I was brought out of my trance to the sound of Naruto yelling. Then I realised;

Those butt-faces had left us tied up!! They. Are. So. Mean!!

---

When someone finally came back to cut us down, Naruto and I were in the middle of perfecting the art of foot patty-cake. When the ropes were cut away abruptly, I pushed my feet hard against Naruto's and he did the same, stopping us from falling. Then I retracted my legs fast, landing gracefully while Naruto fell on his butt.

"Ow! Sachi-chan, what was that for?!" he whined, and I snickered.

"For drooling on my skirt this morning." I said, pulling him up. Then I looked and saw Sasuke. Obviously it was him that had taken pity on us and cut us down.

I frowned, then leapt at him, wrapping my arms around his neck and my legs around his waist from behind. "Thaaaank yoooouuu Saaasukeeee!!"

He grunted in irritation. "It's fine. Just get off of me."

I pouted. "Nope. You have to carry me."

He scowled at me over his shoulder. "Why?"

"Because you decided to have a butt for a face and leave me and Naru-chan here." both boys just blinked at me, weirded out by the sudden character change. Hey, it's not my fault. I told you that Izanami makes me emotionally retarded.

Plus, I was hungry, and Sasuke runs faster than me.

"Onwards!" I cried, pointing in a random direction. Sasuke rose an eyebrow.

"You don't even live in that direction!" I blinked at him, feigned horror on my face.

"You know where I live?!" I yelled, leaping off of him, "Stalker!!"

"Uh, no... you made me walk you home from the Academy before, when you thought Choji was going to eat you..." Sasuke stated drily, and I just waved my hand and laughed it off, albeit slightly awkwardly.

"Well, in any case, I'm hungry." I grabbed Naruto's hand. "You're coming back to my place for dinner." I started to tug Naruto along, then looked back at Sasuke. "You can come too if you want."

He just stared at me for a moment, then nodded and followed after us.

It was freezing in my flat, since the heating was still down, but I had a gas stove, and some matches, and the water was still working, so I could cook still.

"Right, I'm going to make some food. You guys make yourself at home, but..." I trailed off.

I left it a few seconds, making sure there attention was on me before walking into the kitchen. I paused in the doorway, my back to them.

"Don't go in my room, or I'll rip off your balls." I said simply, turning my head and making eye contact with them both. I then smiled, "But other than that, enjoy yourselves!"

They both stayed frozen as I left the room into the kitchen, running my hand through my fringe. It was up in it's coiled braid still that I always had it in, that totally disguised it's length. In the braid, it looked like it would reach mid-back, at a push, when in actuality, it reaches down to at least my butt.

I started cooking, shaking off the stupid thoughts as I focused on my task. By the time I was done, it seemed someone had lit a fire in the fireplace to warm everywhere up. I motioned for them to sit at the low table in the corner, and they complied while I went to get the food. It was inarizushi with rice balls and assorted vegetables, a recipe Yamanaka-san had given me when I said that I was going to start cooking my own vegetarian meals.

"Itadaki masu." we all said together, snapping our chopsticks and digging in. I glanced between the two boys while I ate, and smiled. I think I was going to like being on this team.

---

"This is Sakura, at point A."

"Sasuke, point B."

"Naruto, point C, 'ttebayo."

I relaxed in the silence. Finally, they had stopped talking.

"Sachiko!"

"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm in position."

I could practically hear Kakashi's sweatdrop, but stood up from my slouch against a tree and readied myself to point and laugh.

"Okay... go!" I feinted to leap in, then stood back, watching from a short distance as Naruto tackled the cat.

"Sachiko-chan!" he yelled, struggling with it, "Help me!"

I shook my head. "No way am I going anywhere near that mangy thing. I'm allergic, baka."

I just arched my eyebrow as he scowled at me, and the cat started to scratch his face off.

"We have it." Sasuke said into the mic of his headset. "A red ribbon on the right ear, it's definitely the right one."

"Okay, good-"

"WHY DO WE HAVE TO DO LAME MISSIONS LIKE THIS ONE ANYWAY?!" my eye twitched as Naruto killed my ears with his voice. I quickly gestured for both Sasuke and the half dead Kakashi to remove their headsets.

"Naruto," He looked up at me in confusion, and I pulled out my ear piece and grabbed hold of the mic part. I then proceeded to scream into it, "CAN YOU TURN DOWN THE VOLUME PLEASE?!!!"

Sasuke quickly grabbed the cat by the scruff of it's neck as Naruto fell down on the floor, his eyes swirling and a trail of drool coming from his mouth. I think I killed him.

I shrugged and looked away, folding my arms. All I did was make it even... he should just take it like a man.

Kakashi then picked up Naruto and Sakura (evidently she hadn't removed her earpiece either... oops... not) and then told us to follow as he started back to the Hokage's office. I started to poke Sasuke in the head with a stick I picked up along the way as we walked (he had been ignoring me, I was trying to get his attention) but soon stopped when he threatened to hit me in the face with the cat. Obviously he had heard me telling Naruto of my allergy.

"Mou... no fair, I want to be carried..." I yawned, and it cut off half way with a sneeze. I rubbed my nose, sniffing, then sneezed again. "Stupid cat!!"

I noticed Sasuke's smirk (that he was failing to hide), and scowled.

"You think this is funny?!" I demanded, then whined miserably, "You try having allergies!"

By the time we finished the two minute walk to the Hokage's office, I had sneezed about fifty times.

"Damnit!! I. Hate. CATS!!" I cried as I sneezed again, and entered the office. A fat lady saw the cat in Sasuke's arms and quickly swooped it up, crushing it to death.

Psh, I joke. I wish it were true, though.

She then put the cat in a cat-carrier thing and closed the door, shutting it in. She beamed at me. "Such an adorable little girl! You rescued my Tora-chan, didn't you?" she cried.

I backed away slowly as she waddled towards me, slight anger rising. I'm twelve! Not a little girl!

Kakashi sent me a warning look, just as I was pulled up into a bone crushing hug. Stupid karma.

I could feel my air supply dwindling, and struggled in her grip. She didn't seem to notice.

When she finally let go of me, Kakashi and the others (Naruto and Sakura were finally awake again) were in the middle of a conversation with Iruka-sensei and the Hokage. I went and stood with them, relieved that that terrifying experience was over. I kid you not; I actually just feared for my life.

I shuddered slightly as the woman paid for the mission and then said, "Next time I need something doing I want you to send that adorable blonde girl over there. Okay?"

The man just nodded, and she left the room. Curse this cute, doe-eyed face of mine!

"Can you come in here?" I tuned back in to my surroundings just as the Hokage called to somebody, presumably outside. Darn, yet again, my thought stream has caused me to be completely out of date with my surroundings.

I sneezed again as an old man entered; that cat hair really gets to me. And that lady was, quite literally, covered in it.

I scratched my cheek; it was starting to itch now. All over my skin, an unbearable itching sensation. I jigged up and down on the spot, gritting my teeth to try and ignore it. Stupid allergies!!

"What? These are who are supposed to protect me?" the drunk said, "They're a bunch of brats! Especially the two midgets. One looks like he's missing a brain, and the other's jigging like she's got fleas or something."

I just continued writhing in my clothes, then registered what he'd said and froze. A dark look grew on my face, and my eye twitched. "Did you just... call me a midget?!"

I growled at him dangerously, only for Kakashi to pick my up by the hood of my jacket, holding me from the ground just as he held Naruto. We both scrabbled around in the air, angered by his insults.

"Let me go! Let me at 'im!!" I roared.

"I'mma kick your ass, old man!!" Naruto yelled, equally pissed. Kakashi sighed at us.

"He's the client. You can't harm him." he said, then mumbled, "Sometimes I think you two are too similar.."

My anger fell away as I started to itch again, and I writhed in my clothes once more. "Sensei, J need to go home and have a shower-" I cut off with a sneeze as Kakashi dropped me. I quickly took off running.

"Meet at eight by the North gates!" he called after me as I legged it down the halls.

"'Kay-" I cut off with another sneeze, and growled, "FREAKING ALLERGIES!!!"

---

I felt much better after a hot shower; the itching had gone, and my clothes were going straight in the wash to get rid of the cat hair.

It was really cold tonight, but at least my heating was finally fixed. I pulled my wet hair up in a bun, just after finishing putting on my light pink long sleeved pyjama shirt. I had already put my pants on, so I was fully dressed (obviously). I smiled to myself. I loved my pyjama's. They had cute little penguins printed on them.

I went through to the kitchen and made myself a hot chocolate with marshmallows, then plugged in my iPod speakers in the lounge and flopped down on the couch. I used my little remote thing to flick to a decent song; Always, by Panic! At the disco. It's my all-time favourite song; it's so pretty.

Wow that sounded dumb...

In any case, I just laid back on the couch with my hot drink on a cushion on my lap, blowing on it every so often. Sitting here like this, I felt pretty happy. Despite the whole cat thing, it had been a pretty good day. Plus, we had our first escort tomorrow. I had a feeling it was going to be fun, spending time with my friends.

'You do realise, though, don't you?' I frowned in confusion. What did Izanami mean?

'Realise what?'

'You can't get close to any of them.' my eyes narrowed.

'And why not?'

'Because, you'll always have me to keep a secret. You'll never be able to tell any of them. It's inevitable that there will be people after us.'

'If they wanted us, the Mizukage would have sent someone by now.'

'Maybe he's just preparing.'

I thought for a moment. Izanami was right. 'Being close to me would put them in danger..'

Izanami snorted, 'I don't care about that. But if something were to happen to them, and you were to lose it, our secret would be out.'

'Everyone would know... we would have to run.' my expression grew pained, 'They would be in danger.'

Izanami sighed, 'Yeah, yeah. Just don't tell them or lose it. You should be fine, as long as you don't get too attached.'

My eyes lit up. 'But, couldn't you just refuse to come out?'

Izanami shook her head, 'It doesn't work like that. If you will me out, I don't have a choice.'

The happiness seemed to have drained from my evening, and I downed my now cold Hot Chocolate and then prepared for bed, deciding to have an early night. Just as I was about to go to sleep I heard a scratching at my window, so I went and opened it, and pulled Phish inside. He wagged his tail and bared his teeth at me in a doggish grin, as I scratched his ears and went and got him the rawhide chew I had bought for him. I then went and got into bed once more.

It was a few minutes until Phish jumped onto the bed beside, nudging my arm with his nose then crawling underneath it. I shut my eyes and smiled, burying my face in his soft brown fur.

---

"Hey! Sachiko! Open up!" I growled to myself as I opened my eyes, seeing that it was still dark. Probably about nine pm.

The voice sounded angry, so quickly went and answered, having a pretty damn good idea of who it was. Phish trotted at my heels, so I picked him up and cuddled him to my chest as a source of warmth. He was a German Shepherd pup, so not very big.

Sasuke seemed a little shocked as I opened the door to let him in. I blinked sleepily, "What?"

"I thought you were allergic?" he asked, and I shook my head.

"Only to cats. Weird little things... ugh." I grimaced as I thought about it, then shivered and clutched Phish tighter, pushing the door shut.

"So, any particular reason you're calling round at this time of night?" Sasuke grunted, and I folded my arms.

"Kakashi made me come and check on you... he said that he wouldn't leave my house until i did." he said, and I frowned.

"But couldn't he of just came here himself?"

"I don't know." Sasuke said dismissively, and I smirked a bit.

One thing's for sure... our sensei's crazy.

---

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