"Well...." I mumbled, avoiding his eyes. "Lets say that my..... Cousin.... Yeah, cousin. She knows this guy...."

"Mhm...." Said Haku, smiling lightly. "And what's this guy's name?"

"Ka- Jeff," I answered swiftly. Haku's smile grew.

"Okay, so what about your cousin and Kajeff?"

"Well.... My cousin thought she hated him at first. She found everything about him aggravating. The way he always smiled. How casual he was. How nothing ever concerned him. He always said something that annoyed her...."

"So why did she stay around him?" Haku asked curiously.

"Well," I sipped my tea. "She was forced to live with him. Anyways, she, my cousin, has had...." I paused, thinking. "Many unpleasant relationships with men, and decided never to date again. But he..."

"Kajeff?" Haku smiled. I returned the smile wearily.

"Yeah, Kajeff. Well, she actually started think he wasn't so bad after a while. She thought he might just be different, so she softened up a bit on him, though only a little. Like, microscopic type little. And she was actually starting to not hate his guts, to trust him, to be somewhat civil. But... He did something.... Unforgivable....."

"I see," whispered Haku. "But you still care about him?" He asked, giving up on humoring me. I sighed and looked into my teacup.

"I don't even know how I like him, like friend or other. Am I an idiot?"

"Not at all," he said, reaching over and patting my hand. "Was he trying to hurt you, or even know what made you upset over what he did?"

"Er... Not really....."

"Does your stomach twist uncomfortably whenever he's around? But in a good way?"

"Maybe.... Okay, yeah."

"Is he mostly really, genuinely kind? Does he ask what's wrong? Can he tell when you're upset?"

"Yeah..."

"Do you get upset when he's angry with you?"

"Uh....... Yeah, I guess....."

Haku sat back, looking satisfied.

"You definitely like him romantically, and it sounds like he returns it fully. Listen, men make mistakes, a lot. Everyone does. I bet he's feeling really stupid and guilty about what he did. I think you should just go back and forgive him. See what happens from there."

"Er... Okay," I sighed. "But there's one problem with that."

"What is it?"

"I have no idea where I am..."

He laughed lightly.

"Here," he said, taking my hand.

Poof!

We were in the woods, and I could see the house threw the trees a little ways away, where a silver haired man sat on the step, his head in his hands.

"See?" Haku whispered.

I nodded, my eyes flicking to the boy with a small smile.

"Thank you Haku. I hope to see you again," I said, smiling at him and holding out my hand.

"Something tells me we'll meet again sooner than you think," he chuckled, shaking my hand. He disappeared a second later and I made my way towards the house.

Kakashi looked up as I entered the clearing, promptly jumping to his feet and running at me, leaving his crutches. Halfway to me, his knees buckled and he fell to the ground. I sighed softly.

"You shouldn't be running in your state," I said quietly, kneeling in front of him once I reached him. He looked at me, only to look down at his clenched fists.

"Listen I-" we both stopped, looking at each other in surprise. "Sorry, I- you go-"

Kakashi lifted his hand and covered my mouth, and I gave a surprised sound.

"I'm really sorry about what I did! I'm an idiot! I shouldn't have done that and I'm really really really sorry an I'll do anything to get you to forgive me!" He said, it all tumbling out of his mouth at once. I closed my eyes and sighed, standing. He gazed guiltily up at me and I looked away from him.

"I'm sorry too..." I mumbled, and his silence told me he was shocked.

"Why?" He asked.

"You had no idea that doing that would make me remember things better left in the past. And I took it to heart, despite my trying to be an emotionless bitch when it came to men. So I'm sorry," I said, blushing in embarrassment. "I've also been really rude to you even though you haven't hurt me yet, so..... Until that happens..... Wanna be..... Acquaintances?" I asked awkwardly, holding a hand out to his shell-shocked form. Once he shook off his shock, he looked at my hand unsurely. "I'm not tricking you again, so kill the wounded puppy look."

"I'd never hurt you Cody..." He said as he took my hand and let me pull him to his feet. He looked deep into my eyes with his one and I looked away, puffing out my cheeks.

"Bull shit.... Lets just get you inside you fucking gimp," I grumbled.

"Cody...." He said hesitantly.

"Hm?"

He hugged me tightly, setting his cheek on my head as the wind blew dramatically around us.

"I'd rather die than hurt you," he said.

B-bump. B-bump. B-bump!

I couldn't find anything to say as I moved to look up at him and he stared down at my eyes, seeming to slowly get closer and closer. And oddly enough, with the heat rising to my cheeks and the thumping of my heart, I didn't think to stop him as he slowly closed the space between us.

So close....

So nice.....

"Kawaaaaaai!"

The girlish shriek bright me back to my senses and I shoved Kakashi away and he fell on his butt. He quickly looked at me in panic, just to sigh in relief when he saw I was just blushing and staring down at him.

We looked to the source of the squeal and saw Sakura, Naruto, and Sasuke standing on the porch. Naruto and Sasuke were standing, dumbfounded and blushing, on either side of Sakura, who was jumping on her toes excitedly as grinning widely.

"Er-uh- hey team...." Kakashi said nervously.

"Kaka-sensei, were you about to kiss Cody-sensei?" Naruto demanded. Kakashi glanced at me and I returned the slightly panicked look before a certain thought crossed my mind, causing me to squeal almost as loudly as Sakura.

"Cody?! What's wrong?!" Kakashi asked as I covered my mouth and jumped happily.

"Ah! We are in the land of waves!" I said, grabbing his hands and jerking him to his feet.

"Yeah, and?" Said Sasuke as he and the other two jogged over. I crushed them all in a hug.

"We can go surfing!!!!!!" I said loudly. Releasing them and, for once, hugging Kakashi tighly and quickly.

"What's that?" Kakashi asked as I let go, staring, wide eyed, at my broad smile.

"You'll see," I said cryptically. "Everyone into their swimsuits NOW!"