PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE READ!!!
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto nor have I contributed to it in ANY way. Nope. NONE. NADA. ZERO.
A/N: Hey, Sky-Eyed Kitsune and Gomi-kun, my translator, here!
Gomi-kun: ...help me...
Sky-eyed Kitsune: Oh shut it. Anyways, this is my first ficcie, but I'm a very experienced writer, so let the comments fly!!! X3 Please no flames, but constructive criticism is welcome. Feel free to ask any questions that you have about the fic, but I will tell you now that many will be answered in time.
Fic warnings: violence, language, flashbacks, teen angst, shounen-ai (guyxguy), lime, fluff, lemons
Naru-tachi are 17, and Itachi, Kisame, and Deidara are 18
Main Pairings: sasunaru, nejinaru, gaanaru, sainaru, itanaru (ok, before you go all eww on me, know that I normally HATE itanaru, but in this fic they are only ONE YEAR apart in age. ONE YEAR ONLY!!!)
Side Pairings: shinokiba, and all the girls are nuts about both Naruto and Sasuke. Yep, both. And both have a fanclub. Yeppers!
Fic Summary: Not another high school drama! Seventeen year old junior Naruto Uzumaki's life is looking up. He's got looks, talent, his own fanclub (which he despises) and a loveable hyperactive personality to boot! His band, S.T.R.A.Y, to which he is the lead singer and guitar player, is requested to play at the Hyp'::e!, the hottest under eighteen club under the Los Angeles sun! Many disguised talent agents travel there from far and wide seeking out the next stars of tomorrow, flaunting record deals at the first sight of potential! This is S.T.R.A.Y's big break!!!
What!? Naruto's guardian got promoted?! What!? They'll be moving immediately?!? WHAT!? THEY'RE MOVING OUT OF THE STATE!?!? Nooooooooo! How will S.T.R.A.Y get its big break when its leader is thousands of miles away!? What's worse, after an accidental fire engulfs Naruto'sand his guardian's home in L.A and almost Naruto himself along with it, old memories begin to rise from the ashes, taking down Naruto's cheerful exterior.
Fitting into a new school would be hard while trying to deal with the emotional pains of moving away from his best friends, losing his one shot at the big time, and reliving memories that he thought he didn't even remember. Not to mention the hype his arrival at his new school would cause, as S.T.R.A.Y like every other band before it was featured on HMFM Music News for their request to be at the famously popular Hyp'::e! And worst of all, the FANGIRLS. THE BLOODY FANGIRLS.
Eh? What was that? Naruto won't have to worry about fangirls at his new school? Oh, well that's good news! Wait…that's because his guardian is sending him to KGA!? The private Kale Griffin Academy for gifted teen boys!? What!?!? Naruto was no genius! In fact, he down right sucked at school! WHAT!? If he gets kicked out for poor grades, he won't be with S.T.R.A.Y, his best friends, until next year!?!? How will Naruto be able to cope with so many problems and the drama of not-your-average high school life!? Oy vey! The madness!
Chapter 1: Moving
Moving. That was the word Naruto thought he had heard. He gave his guardian, Iruka, a quizzical look, who only nodded and confirmed Naruto's thoughts. Naruto looked away from Iruka's brown eyes, matching perfectly with his chestnut hair, and let his gaze fall to the carpet of their hotel room.
"Naruto, I'm sorry," Iruka said, placing a hand on Naruto's shoulder.
Naruto didn't respond, as usual now. After the fire incident…well, Naruto couldn't seem to let his voice out as freely. One week ago he was a hyperactive ball of sunshine, and now…he was just as withdrawn, if not more, than after his parents died. But fortunately he could still sing wonderfully, and was able to talk around his friends in a more relaxed tone. He would go stiff and silent as a board if anyone else approached him. Iruka knew that Naruto would have a hard time in his new school after the move if he wouldn't talk…
"We need to find a new place to live, and this promotion will pay more too, so we can afford a bigger apartment," Iruka continued. "I'm sorry Naruto. I know S.T.R.A.Y is getting a lot more gigs now, is already popular, and has been invited to the Hyp'::e!, but if I didn't except this I'd be out of a job. More importantly, we'd be out of a house."
Naruto nodded slowly. He knew that Iruka wanted the band to stay together, but it was like he said: no move, no house.
"I'll try to figure out something to do about the Hyp'::e!, but my promotion requires me to travel twice as much as before, so I won't be home most of the time…but I'll try to come up with something. After all, the concert isn't for another two months."
Naruto nodded again. Iruka was home half the week, so it'd be like he wasn't home at all when they moved.
"But I don't think you'll mind me being gone. I've signed you up for an all boys academy, so you'll be living on campus, as it's required of students."
Naruto's head shot up in horror and Iruka smiled softly.
"You have to keep up those good grades. If you don't, I'm canceling the Hyp'::e! Concert, even if I find a way to get you there."
Naruto sent his guardian an annoyed glare, and he smiled and ruffled Naruto's hair in return before retiring to his bedroom/office.
Naruto flopped down on his bed with a light "thud" and stared up at the ceiling. How would he break it to his band mates? Not just that, his best friends? Naruto sighed and hulled himself up to a sitting position. He took a glance at his laptop sitting peacefully on his desk; his favorite Christmas present. He debated silently in his head for a moment, then pulled himself into the swiveling chair and booted up the device.
His laptop automatically signed him into his msn messenger, and his contact list popped up. It consisted of three people under his Friends List- his band mates. As small as his friend section was, his blocked section was enormous. Somehow his fangirls from school had gotten a hold of his screen name, and constantly pestered him. Three little boxes suddenly popped up on his screen:
Blondy105 says: Omg! Hi Naruto! I luved ur last concert, u were so hott! .
Sw33tStr4wberry says: I love u Naruto! My name is Emily, pleaz go out with me!!!
PrettyinPink404 says: I LUV U NARUTO!!!
Naruto grimaced. He could practically hear the fangirl squeals of delight buzzing in his ears. In three quick clicks they were all instantly added to his block list. Another little box suddenly popped up, but this was one he would never block.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: Hey Nar! Sup?
Naruto smiled. His best friend Kiba always knew how to lift his mood.
EverStray1 says: Hey. Where r Neji and Shino?
Naruto found it strange that only Kiba was on and not his other two friends, as they all seemed to always be on at the same time.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: Hmm…well, Shino should be back from his uncle's shop around five…
Naruto glanced at his watch. It was 4:56.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: And Neji is at the library I think.
EverStray1 says: Studying?
WolvesgoWoof211 says: Guess so. :/ Anyways, what's up with u?
EverStray1 says: Nothing…I have something to tell you.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: 0.0 Omg, r u ok? Did something happen???
EverStray1 says: I'm fine, geez. Calm down already.
Naruto smiled softly. He was lucky to have friends that looked out for him so well.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: You scared me there man! So what's up?
EverStray1 says: Well…I'm moving.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: ……………
WolvesgoWoof211 says: WHAT!?
A small bubble popped up in the lower right hand corner of Naruto's screen: SilentastheGRave has signed in. Kiba immediately added him to the chat.
SilentastheGRave says: Hey guys.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: OMGWTF! SHINOURNEVERGONNABELIEVETHIS!!!
SilentastheGRave says: ………huh?
EverStray1 says: -.-
WolvesgoWoof211 says: NARUTO IS MOVING!!!! XX
SilentastheGRave says: …Kiba if u r shitting me u r dead tomorrow when I get to school.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: IM NOT!!!! NARUTO SAID IT HIMSELF!!!
SilentastheGRave says: Naruto? Are you really?
EverStray1 says: …
SilentastheGRave says: Naruto!
EverStray1 says: Yes. Im moving.
SilentastheGRave says: Oh. My. God.
Another small bubble popped up on Naruto's screen: XxSeeThroughYouxX has signed in. Kiba invited him to the chat.
XxSeeThroughYouxX says: hey.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: NEJI! NARUTO IZ MOVIN!!!
XxSeeThroughYouxX says: …
WolvesgoWoof211 says: ITS TRUE!!!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: …
WolvesgoWoof211 says: could you not act like yourself at a time like this!? Don't u care that Naruto is leavin!?
Little did Kiba know that in the northern part of Las Angeles on a street called Ocean Avenue by the Crystal Café, the silent noise of a breaking heart echoed throughout a library.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Of course I do. Don't even joke like that.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: o.0 S-sorry!
SilentastheGRave says: anyways…when r u leaving?
EverStray1 says: Three days.
purplegrease says: before the concert?
EverStray1 says: yea, and get this. Iruka won't let me come back to perform if I get kicked outta my new school for bad grades, even if he does find a way to get me here with his tight new schedule.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: OMGWTFBBQ!?
SilentastheGRave says: 0.0
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: ………
EverStray1 says: Exactly.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: well then we're all doomed. U suck at school.
SilentastheGRave says: Naruto doesn't suck. He just doesn't try. So as long as you actually put in an effort and pick up your pencil for once, it shouldn't be a problem. What school are you being transferred to?
EverStray1 says: dunno. It's some all guys academy called…
Naruto reached into the shelf by his desk and pulled out his school's rulebook. He glanced at the cover.
EverStray1 says: KGA- Kale Griffin Academy
SilentastheGRave says: 0.0 omg
WolvesgoWoof211 says: wat?
SilentastheGRave says: that's like the most prestigious private high school in all of Florida. You have to be like a genius to stay in that school!
WolvesgoWoof211 says: it's official. We're screwed.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: …you can do it Naruto.
WolvesgoWoof211 says: wow, ur actually speaking?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: shut it.
WolvesgoWoof211 says:X
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: You can do it Naruto. I know you can. You just need to really throw yourself into it like you do when you're writing songs or sketching. You put your heart and soul into those, and give over 100. You just need to aim it towards your studies now.
SilentastheGRave says: ……wow.
WolvesgoWoof 211 says: ...
Naruto gripped his shirt as he felt his chest become suddenly constricted and a strange feeling fluttered in his stomach. Every time Neji would throw a certain look Naruto's way, or when their hands would accidentally brush while they were walking, he got this same feeling. What was this…?
EverStray1 says: Thanks Neji. You always know how to cheer me up.
A heart in a library skipped a beat.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Sure…
Suddenly Naruto heard clacking nails against the wooden floor in the hallway, and his black kitten Cyclone came scrambling into his small room as he struggled with a roll of toilet paper that had somehow become tangled with his feet. Naruto let a small chuckle escape his silent lips. He got up and sat down on his knees in front of the struggling kitten, and removed the offensive paper that Cyclone was sure was trying to eat him. Cyclone mewed happily up at his mommy (yes, he thinks Naruto is his mommy), once he was free. Naruto poked his head out into the hall and found the remnants of Cyclone's battle with the deadly roll of toilet paper. He sighed and zipped back to his computer.
EverStray1 says: brb. Cyclone decided to attack the toilet paper and left me with the mess.
EverStray1's status has been set to AWAY
Though they were apart from each other, Kiba and Shino both jumped at this opportunity, their eyes gleaming. They both opened up a second chat bubble just like the other, but this one was minus Naruto.
SilentastheGRave says: ok Neji, u need to tell him now. Before he leaves.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: huh?
Wolvesgowoof211 says: don't play dumb. We both know you have a thing for Naruto. a BIG thing.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: ……how long have you known? Is it really that obvious?
SilentastheGRave says: a year, and to someone who doesn't know you, no, you're not obvious. But to us, whom have known you for a while, you're an open book.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Are u mad? And Naruto doesn't know, right?
SilentastheGRave says: no we're not mad at all, and no. Naruto's too oblivious to notice ur flirting. Or if he does, he doesn't stress over it. --
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: good.
SilentastheGRave says: is it really? You need to let Naruto know within the next three days.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: what difference will that make? Laying my heart on the table won't make him stay in LA.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: no, but Naruto will visit of course. a lot of other good things could happen. Like u getting a boyfriend
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says:
SilentastheGRave says: bottom line, you need to tell him. You like him a lot, right?
In the library at a small corner of the room, a handsome teen with long russet hair and piercing white eyes like the snow sat in a blue beanbag chair on the ground with a laptop settled in his lap. The teen by the name of Neji swept a slender hand through his smooth hair and sighed. He gripped his chest, and letting out a deep breath, he typed a message.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: I…I think I'm in love with him.
SilentastheGRave says: Love? r u positive? We knew that u liked him a lot, but love? r u sure?
A long pause and moment of deep thought.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Yes. I'm positive. I love Naruto.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: then u need 2 tell him now more than evr, man! Love is a big deal!!!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: I know…but I cant. I've tried so many times before, and they all ended with me embarrassing myself and running away. I mean, what if he doesn't return my feelings? Naruto is straight! It'll ruin our friendship!
SilentastheGRave says: whoa Neji, take a deep breath.
SilentastheGRave says: first of all, Naruto would never end your friendship like that. U know him better than to do that. Second, you need to work up the courage to. Remember that little speech you gave Naruto about his school work? Well, give urself the same one about telling Naruto your feelings. Third, who's to say that Naruto is straight?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: He is!
SilentastheGRave says: yea, but has he said anything on that matter yet?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: ……
Wolvesgowoof211 says: exact-a-mundo!
SilentastheGRave says: Have you ever known Naruto to flirt, or even pass a glance at one of his fangirls that would gladly give their left leg just to stand next to him?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: no…
SilentastheGRave says: im not saying that means he's gay though. He probably doesn't even know which way he swings yet himself. I only found out a year ago which way I went.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: …which was?
SilentastheGRave says: im gay.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: whoa, really? I never saw that comin!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: is that why ur always protecting Naruto?
SilentastheGRave says: no Neji, so no need to get protective and jealous. I see Naruto as like a little brother and a best friend, not that other way, even if he is a great catch.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: you'd think we'd have noticed if u were gay! Wait……have you ever hit on any of us without us knowing it?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: o.0
SilentastheGRave says: no, I have not.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: either way, its fine with me! ;)
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Kiba…are u gay too?
Wolvesgowoof211 says: nope! Im bi, so flirt all u want Shino :3
SilentastheGRave says: o.0
SilentastheGRave has signed out
Wolvesgowoof211 says: hehe, time to go hunting!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: good luck with that.
Wolvesgowoof211 says: don't need luck when im super smexy! XD Jk, jk. Remember to tell Naruto, cause if u don't, Shino and I will kick ur ass.
Wolvesgowoof211 has signed out
EverStray1's status has been set to ONLINE
EverStray1 says: sry it took me so long. Cyclone ripped up the paper to shreds so I had to vacuum it up. You know how Iruka flips when the house is a wreck. --
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: oh yea, I remember that. Not pretty.
EverStray1 says: where'd the guys go?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: well, Shino left to get away from Kiba, and Kiba left to hunt down Shino.
EverStray1 says: huh? Why?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: because Shino announced his preference of guys over girls and Kiba followed suit announcing he was bi. U figure out the rest.
Naruto paused to think about this for a moment. Yes, he was that oblivious when it came to dating.
EverStray1 says: 0.0 omg!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: yea, surprising, huh?
EverStray1: it's hilarious! Id love to see the look on Shino's face when Crash finds him! XD
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: so…you don't care that they're not straight?
EverStray1 says: wha? Course not! I couldn't care less!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Naruto…are you straight?
EverStray1: well, I never really thought about which way I swung, and since guys are supposed to like girls, I just went along with that!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: but really, if you think about it…are you really straight?
Naruto paused and thought. Suddenly an inner emotional war erupted within him. Was he gay? Straight? Bi? What was he!? He couldn't really stand girls, but had never felt that way about a guy…so what was he!?
EverStray1 says: I'm…actually not sure. I suppose that if I loved a person, their gender wouldn't make a difference to me.
Neji suddenly sprang up from his seat in the blue beanbag chair, and in one fluid motion, leapt into the air and cried, "YES!!!!!" triumphantly. This was followed by many "shushes" and a pointed glare from the librarian at her desk. Neji muttered something along the lines of an apology and sat back down, but he couldn't help from grinning widely. There was hope!
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: I see. That makes sense. Hey Naruto, it's Friday, right?
EverStray1 says: yea, why?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: isn't there some kind of dance going on tonight at school?
EverStray1 says: the Halloween dance.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: like a costume party?
EverStray1 says: nah. They cancelled the whole costume theme when a bunch of seniors three years ago decided to wear some…interesting costumes.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: o.0 ok…
EverStray1 says: why?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: …you wanna go?
EverStray1 says: yea, that sounds good. Im feeling really depressed about the move and need to get my mind off of it. We should call Shino and Kiba.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: I think they're kind of…preoccupied.
EverStray1 says: oh, right…
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: but anyways, I didn't mean like our normal group thing. I meant just the two of us…
EverStray1 says: oh…
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: do you still wanna go? You don't have to of course.
EverStray1 says: you mean like a…date?
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: U-um…yea.
Naruto paused for a moment. Him on a date with Neji? One of his best friends? On a date together!? Naruto knew that something was wrong there, also with the fact that they were both guys. Wait…was Neji gay? What did that make Naruto? Part of Naruto shouted at him to turn Neji down, but another side screamed for him to say yes. Why the latter of the two was much louder Naruto didn't know.
EverStray1 says: Ok, sure.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: Really? Because you know you don't have to.
EverStray1 says: I know…I want to go.
Neji could have died happy right there.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: The dance starts at 7:30, so I'll pick you up at 7:15?
EverStray1 says: ok, sounds good.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX says: alright, see you then.
Xx SeeThroughYou xX has signed out
EverStray1 has signed out
This had to be the happiest day of Neji's life, and the most confusing one of Naruto's.