I hung my head as Kuro, Hana and Umi mumbled between themselves to decide my dare. Great.

After a few moments, all three turned to me with evil expressions- all of which told me that they had been waiting for this, that they had been planning something. This whole sleepover... it had been a trap, and I had walked straight into it. The question was, what were they up to?

"Yosh." Kuro grinned evilly, probably looking forward to getting his revenge. "We dare you to... strip down to your underwear and run- or rather hobble- two laps of the field."

I scowled- it was cold outside and pitch black, plus the field was huge, and I had to use crutches to help me walk as it was. But I couldn't exactly refuse, they'd probably make me drink a whole bottle of sake by myself, and who knows how I would behave if I got drunk(er). Although, the slight fuzz the alcohol I had already consumed gave me did make me slightly more willing.

"Fine... you perverts." I muttered, standing up haphazardly. It was obvious that at the very least Kuro was watching me as I undressed. I don't think I've ever been more glad that I have worn nice underwear.

Once I had finished my laps, I came back inside and flopped down on the hay, tossing my crutches to one side, feeling hot but cold at the same time. The laps were nothing; I was ANBU, I should be better than that- it was the cold.

I quickly dressed while laying down, and slight blush clinging to my cheeks at the fact that everyone in that room just saw me in my underwear. Luca seemed unaffected, he had Umi so why should he be, Kuro was practically drooling, and Itachi seemed to have averted his gaze. I knew that it was gentlemanly to do so, but I couldn't help but feel slightly disappointed. Did he not find me attractive? Because if he did, surely he would have looked a little bit.

I scooted back into my spot, releasing a sigh. "There. Your perverted neighbour got a good eyeful."

"Y'know, Kaoru-baba, for a grandma, you have a sweet body." Kuro whistled. I growled dangerously, brandishing my fist. He flinched and rose his hands in front of his body.

I just sighed again, and grabbed a sake bottle. It was the only form of liquid available, and I kind of wanted to escape my mind for a while. I cracked it open.

"Kaoru, you don't need to do a forfeit, you did your dare!" Umi said, confused, but Hana stopped her, and grin spreading over her face.

"No... Kaoru-chan's finally going to enjoy herself." she said, and I grinned in a very out-of-character fashion.

"Yes, yes I am."

The bottle span again. So far, Umi, Luca, Kuro and I had all done dares. Only Itachi and Hana hadn't, though of course it could land on anyone. I could even end up having to do another dare.

It rolled slowly, before stopping on Itachi. Kuro, Umi and Hana all nodded, and said together, "We dare you to kiss Kaoru for at least twenty seconds!"

My jaw practically hit the floor. Was this what they were planning?! There was no way they could have all said that without discussing it beforehand!

And Itachi! Itachi looked completely calm! How?!?! I was just about dying of embarassment!

"A-ah, no, Itachi, you don't have to!" I stammered, "E-er, I mean, not that I don't w-want to, er I mean, it's j-just that I-"

"Calm down, Kaoru-chan." Itachi smiled slightly, taking one of my hands that had been waving around in the air. "It's only a kiss. It's not like it means anything, right?"

"Ah, um, okay." I mumbled. I wanted so bad to know what he was thinking, what he was feeling. But the vibe of excitement from the others was overriding anything I could have sensed from him, as weak as his emotions usually were.

His hand slowly moved up to rest his fingertips on my chin. I was too caught up in his eyes to notice the others, almost dribbling in anticipation. My heart was thumping so hard against my chest that I was certain he must have been able to hear it too, and I was positive that my face was red as a tomato. Great, nice and attractive for my first kiss with my extremely handsome friend. Wonderful.

All of those thoughts left my mind in a rush as I felt a soft, faint pressure on my lips. My eyes soon fluttered closed, and I heard a vague call of "Your twenty seconds starts now!" in the background, but I wasn't bothered by that.

It didn't matter that we had said it didn't mean anything. That I had agreed. Because, I knew now, with complete certainty... it did. Whether it meant something to him or not, didn't concern me at that moment. A fleeting brush of lips, that was all it took to turn my world upside down. And you know what I say?

Being the right way up is for suckers.

---

I had a strange new skip in my step as I entered my home the next day. I had a throbbing headache, probably from all of the sake I drank, but I felt happier than I had been in a long time. I didn't even get depressed when I went into my house, and saw the large hallways that used to home my parents and I.

I didn't understand the happiness that came with my revelation- if anything it should put a downer on me, since if my feelings should be unrequited, I would have to go through that pain again- but for some reason, knowing that I was in love with someone as caring and sensible as Itachi just made me happy. Even if he never returned my feelings, I still had a great friend. As long as I didn't say anything to him about it.

I went and flopped down on my bed, rolling onto my back, and picking up the framed picture of my mother and I. "Okaa-san, I wonder... what would you do in this situation?" My mother was much more brash than me. She would just tell him... I know she would. "What advice would you give me?"

It was no use asking those questions. I had to struggle through this alone. At least I had my friends, and my little brother.

"Nee-chan!!" I gave an 'oof' as Naruto catapulted onto my bed, landing on my stomach.

"Hey, Naruto." I smiled, placing the picture frame back on the side. It was okay for Naruto to see that one, he thought that that was a family friend, not our mom. I had told him that since he wasn't allowed to know anything that could give away the identity of his father. "How was school?"

Naruto grimaced, "Iruka-sensei got mad at me again. I didn't even do anything wrong! I just went to go get my pen, which had rolled out of the classroom door."

I rose an eyebrow. "Y'know, that doesn't sound very believable."

"Well it's true!" Naruto exclaimed indignantly, and I chuckled, ruffling his hair.

"Of course it is. Now get off me, I want to get up." I said, pushing him off and shifting into sitting position, then standing. I wobbled and clutched my head, woozily. Naruto grabbed my arm, looking worried, and I smiled to him reassuringly. But inside, I was worried. My head was spinning.

I picked up my crutches carefully, and made my way to the kitchen. My entire body felt hot, so I was going to get a drink of water. But as I rose the glass to my lips, it slipped from my fingers, and smashed all over the floor. I cursed drowsily, then muttered, "Naruto, stay away... broken... glass..." before collapsing, my entire body numb and my vision hazy.

"Nee-chan?!" I heard Naruto's panicked voice beside me, but couldn't make my body move, "Nee-chan!!" then he stood up, and I heard him moving away, "Don't worry, nee-chan, I'll go get help!"

When he came back, it could have been a minute, an hour, a day that had passed. I didn't know. My mind was in too much of a fuzz. Before I even realised it, I was being lifted from the ground. I blinked drowsily. "...Ita..chi...?"

He looked at me, and I could feel his worry mingling with Naruto's. "Yes, Kaoru-chan. It's me."

I squinted at him for a long moment, before letting my head roll around to rest against his chest, and clumsily muddled my fingers in his shirt, letting my eyes close. "I'm okay..."

Itachi just hummed, and my consciousness slowly slipped away.

---

There's probably only about two or three more chapters of this story to go :) it depends on what turn the next part takes. There's two different ideas I have, but the better one is the one that ends it in a few chapters. Oh well, you'll have to wait and see!

So fan, vote, and especially comment! Or yeah... this story will probably be either discontinued or deleted. :(

Bai!! :D