the SKEP- Chapter 17

Chapter 17- Marked

Temari played with her earrings, and looked around in the college hall. There were quite a lot of students, though it was a small group compared to Psychology. Most of them were sitting together in groups, and she sighed about the fact that no one she knew had the same study as her. But maybe the other students would be nice.
She turned around, and a slightly built girl with glasses smiled at her. She smiled back.
At that moment, an older man asked for attention.
“Good morning, students, and welcome to your first college,” he said. “You’re lucky, because we’re going to start with an experiment immediately.”
The class started, and Temari immediately felt she was at the right place. The subjects intrigued her, and soon she was busy preparing some test-tubes with chemicals.
The professor came to her table.
“You’re the girl from Suna, right?” he asked. Temari nodded. “Yes, I am.”
“Wouldn’t you let someone else prepare those tubes then? It might be a little too difficult for you.”
A girl with brown curls looked over her shoulder, and Temari caught her eye. From the look on her face she could tell the girl was thinking the same thing as her. How could that man be so rude?
“I’m sorry sir, but what does the fact that I’m from Suna have to do with my capability of preparing test-tubes?” Temari asked, doing her best to stay polite. Which was hard, she hated the professor already.
“Well, the education in the desert probably isn’t at the same level as here, so you can better leave the difficult work to the other, more talented students.”
“More talented?” Temari asked. She was truly flabbergasted. “Sir, I don’t have any problems with this at all. Why do you doubt me?”
The brown-haired girl turned around.
“Yes sir, I don’t get it either. Look at her tubes, she’s already further than we are and she started later! Besides, hers look better too.”
“That could be, but still, Suna…”
“I agree with her,” a tall guy added. “This sounds like discrimination, sir.”
The girl with glasses noticed their discussion, and nodded too. “Yes, that’s not fair!”
The professor seemed to shrink under all the attention he suddenly got. Temari felt her inside grow. She was being supported!
Shrugging, the professor said: “Well, go ahead then. But don’t blame me if it goes wrong!”
Behind his back, the four students grinned at each other. “Thank you,” Temari said to the others, and they went to work again.

---

“Checkmate,” Shikamaru stated. “Again.”
Temari frowned and studied the board. “How’d you get past my horse?” she asked.
He picked up the pieces and showed her. “See?”
She nodded, mad at herself for not noticing his strategy.
“Another game?” she asked. He wanted to answer, but just as he opened his mouth, someone knocked on the door.
“Enter!” Temari said, raising her voice. The door opened and Sakura entered.
“Hi guys,” she waved. “How was your first day?” She sat down at the last chair. Temari shrugged.
“Okay,” she said, “but every professor seems to think I am incapable of knowing anything, just because I am from Suna. It’s like a darker skin is some sort of curse mark. Other than that, it was great.”
“Hmm, that’s too bad… What about you, Shikamaru?”
“Boring,” he said, and continued setting up the chessmen. Temari winked at Sakura.
“He actually enjoys Math very much, he just doesn’t want to admit it,” she said. Sakura laughed. “I suppose so!”
Shikamaru finished the board and rested his chin on his fingertips.
“Ready,” he said. “You’re white.” Temari turned around and looked at the board. She moved one of her soldiers, and Sakura pouted.
“Are you two gonna play all day? That’s so unsocial!” she complained.
“We just aren’t social then,” Shikamaru said.
“But it’s really fun outside!” Sakura exclaimed. “We’re hanging out on the field, and the guys are playing soccer again. Chouji and Ino are there, too. Hell, you could even take that chessboard with you! Because really, not even Kiba and Hinata spend all day in a room…”
Temari shrugged. “I guess we could just as well join them,” she said to Shikamaru. “I don’t think I’m gonna win today anyways.”
He sighed and put the board aside. They got up and followed a happy Sakura out of the room.

---

“Hey guys!” Ino exclaimed. “Survived the first classes?”
Shikamaru shrugged. “We managed.” He and Temari sat down on the grass next to Chouji. Lee and Neji were arguing whether or not to play soccer, but Naruto and Sasuke approached so Lee just started to play with Naruto, while Sasuke and Neji joined the others. Hinata and Tenten came too, and soon all the girls were busy chatting and giggling, causing the boys to sent each other knowing looks. Only Sakura was more silent than usual, glancing at Sasuke every few minutes.
Suddenly, Hinata looked up and smiled. Kiba entered the campus, with his dog beside him. As soon as Akamaru saw Hinata, he ran towards her and started to lick her face. She laughed and tried to push him away.
“Hey, Akamaru, easy there!” Kiba shouted, and walked towards the others. He pulled Akamaru away and flashed Neji an apologizing grin. Then he whispered something in Hinata’s ear, and she giggled. Neji pretended he didn’t notice. Sakura watched them, and suddenly a shadow fell over her face. She stood up and watched Naruto and Lee play.
“Lee?” she called out. “Can I talk to you for a moment?”
Lee walked towards her, followed by Naruto. The blonde fell down on the grass, and Sakura and Lee walked away together. Ino and Temari quickly exchanged glances, both worried. “What’s wrong?” Tenten asked.
“Nothing,” the girls answered simultaneously. Tenten shrugged.
“Hey, girls,” she said then, “It’s my turn to cook tonight, isn’t it?” The others nodded.
“Could you please help me? It takes so long to peel all the potatoes myself…”
“Sure,” Ino said, and after casting a look at Shikamaru (he was napping) Temari agreed too. Hinata looked at Kiba, but he patted her on her head. “I think I can survive without you,” he said. “And you have to help your friends when they’re in need.” She nodded, and kissed him on the cheek. Then she followed the others to Tenten’s room.
Kiba sighed, and Shikamaru opened one eye. “Bored?” he asked.
“A bit,” Kiba said. “Though there’s enough to be busy with.”
Naruto threw the ball at Sasuke, who caught it and started to spin it on his fingertips.
“Hey, let me try that too!” Naruto yelled. Sasuke smirked.
“If you want it, come and get it,” he said. Naruto immediately jumped over Chouji and swept Sasuke off his feet. The two boys fell on the ground, wrestling, and Kiba laughed. He clapped his hands. “Don’t let him get you down, Naruto!”
Suddenly, the blonde stopped. He tugged at Sasuke’s collar.
“What’s that in your neck?” he asked. Sasuke quickly covered the spot with his hand, and looked away.
“Probably a bruise,” he said, but Naruto shook his head. “It looks like some sort of mark. Let me see it!”
Sasuke sighed, and took away his hand. Naruto practically climbed on his lap to get a close look at Sasuke’s neck.
“Yes, it’s a tattoo,” he stated. “Where’d you get that?”
“I got it when I worked in that company,” Sasuke said, deciding he could just as well let the others know. “You see, I didn’t tell you the real reason I left.”
Everyone was silent, only Akamaru whined softly. Kiba slowly patted the dog’s flank.
“Well, it appeared the company was involved in some dark business. A bit mafia-like. They set up all sorts of illegal trades, and I was expected to arrange that. I refused, but because I already was part of them, they didn’t want me to go. I got into quite some trouble, but I was able to leave them. They had already forced me to get that tattoo, though. It’s a sign that I’m one of them. I wish I could get rid of it.”
Naruto’s eyes were big. “Sasuke…”
The black-haired boy laughed. “I’m okay now, really! And could you please go off me?”
Naruto blinked. Then he quickly stumbled backwards. “Yeah, sure,” he grinned. He picked up the ball again. “Let’s play some more!”
Sasuke shrugged. “Okay,” and followed Naruto to the field. Kiba wanted to go too, but Neji stopped him.
“I want to speak to you for a moment,” he said. Kiba looked surprised, but nodded. Shikamaru nudged Chouji. “Let’s go, I’m hungry,” he said.
They left the square and went inside the building.
“What would Neji want to say to Kiba?” Chouji asked.
“Probably something about Hinata. He’s quite protective of his cousin, after all.”
“Aha. Hey, who’s that?”
Shikamaru looked up. “Who?”
“That girl over there.”
He followed Chouji’s look, and saw red hair coming out from under a hat. Tayuya. She grinned and waved when she saw he was looking at her.
“Oh, her. I don’t know what’s up with her, she’s been following me for some days now…”
“Temari won’t like that,” Chouji said.
“No, she doesn’t.” Shikamaru sighed. “Women are so troublesome…”

---

“Lee,” Sakura said, “I need to tell you something.”
“I think I know what it is about,” he said.
“You do?”
He sighed. “It’s about Sasuke.”
Her face flushed, and he knew he was right.
“Yeah, it’s about him. Oh, this is so hard… I’ll be honest, okay?”
Lee nodded.
“You know I had a crush on him when we were still in highschool, but I thought I was over him when I saw how cool you actually were. But when I saw him, after he had been gone for so long, I couldn’t help but falling head over heels for him again…”
Lee lowered his head.
“But please don’t understand me wrong, I still like you a lot too! It’s just that…”
“I understand,” Lee said. His voice sounded thicker. “Although I’m sure I’ll never love anyone as much as I love you, I can’t stop you if you fall for someone else.”
“Oh, Lee…”
“I think you have a chance with him now, and I know you’ll be happy with him. But if you ever get hurt, you have to know that I’ll be always there for you.”
“Lee, how can you be so kind?”
He shrugged. “I just can’t be sad if you are happy.”
She smiled and hugged him.
“Thank you so much, Lee. I only hope you’ll find happiness for yourself, too.”
He smiled sadly. Then she said: “I have to go to Tenten now, she's making dinner tonight. I guess I'll see you later then...”
Lee nodded, and watched her leave. He had known from the start Sakura wouldn’t stay with him forever, but it still hurt.