The New Kid
Sasuke shook his head. Really, they just didn't get it. Someone—he didn't even know who, for fuck's sake—was moving into his house with him! Wasn't it bad enough that he had to go into foster care at eight, and was just now getting used to it at sixteen? Now—as soon as he was starting to really settle in with people other than his friends—he was getting a new sibling? Did Tsunade, the head of the city's foster care service, like fucking with him, or did fate just hate him? Really, he wanted to know.
"It really can't be that bad, Sasuke. I mean, if he-slash-she is a dickhead/bitch we can all help you beat the crap out of 'em. Problem solved." Fantine said in a matter-of-fact tone. Sasuke glared at her. In truth, Fantine's real name wasn't actually Fantine—it was Tenshi. It was just that the fifteen-year-old girl read the book Les Miserables so much that she could probably tell you the whole story—word for word—at a moment's notice. When Sasuke had first thought up the nickname, Fantine had said that she preferred Corsette, but Fantine's long shimmering blond hair and burning tea colored eyes looked almost like a perfect copy of the actress who played the character in one of the stupid concerts that Fantine dragged him to.
Besides, her sixteen-year-old brother, Yaiba, agreed with Sasuke completely, so it ended up being two against one.
"I guess Fantine had her moments," Fantine had said after she had hesitantly agreed to go along with the nickname. Though it made it all the more a shock to people who had heard the nickname and heard how bluntly the girl talked.
Which brings us all back to the present…
"Fantine, listen to me for once, okay? I'm only just now starting to reasonably like Kakashi. Now I'm going to have to get used to a whole other person. And you know how long it takes me to not want to kill another person. Especially if I have to live with them." Sasuke said through ground teeth.
"Yeah," Yaiba added with a cocky smirk that was so similar to Sasuke's that it almost hurt, "It took Sasuke how long to get used to us? Six weeks? And we're special."
Sasuke briefly considered if he should glare at the chocolate haired teen sitting beside him. No, as long as Yaiba was backing him up he was willing to let him make well-hidden jibes about his anti-social behavior. For now.
Fantine shrugged in the armchair she was sitting in. "Well I still say we can beat the crap out of whoever-it-is if they're any worse than that girl Sakura when she sees us together."
Everyone in the room shuddered at the thought.
It wasn't that Sakura wasn't nice—on the contrary, she was actually quite sweet. They all might have even been friends if not for Sakura's ridiculous crush on Sasuke.
In fact, Sakura had apparently "called dibs" on Sasuke the first day of school eight years ago when Sasuke had first gotten to town. (Fantine never paid much attention in school, even more so before classes when they weren't getting graded for every little thing they did, so Fantine had no clue about this little act of foolish school-girl-ness. That is, until Sakura had cheerfully duck-taped a dead rat and a sign that said, "BACK OFF MY MAN!"in big red letters to her locker once Fantine and her brother started hanging out with the dark-haired youth. Fantine had just as cheerfully kicked Sakura's perky ass for that.)
So, needless to say, Sakura could never have a decent conversation with Fantine after that. Not that they were ever friends to begin with. But still, Sasuke felt a little guilty every time Sakura gave Fantine a dirty look.
All of them could only imagine what would happen if Sakura ever got into their own inner circle. It would be very bad.
But the one thing all three of the friends could agree on when it came to Sakura was that she was clueless. It was one of the few things that actually get Sasuke to smile instead of smirk; how she had never even guessed that Sasuke was gay and the look on her face if she were ever to find out. Priceless.
"Well, I doubt it could be that bad…" Sasuke stated.
"True, but if it is, our couch is always open and our mom dose adore you."Yaiba chimed in.
Sasuke didn't say anything. He was still a little weirded out by how much Yaiba and Fantine's mother had taken to him—but in a good way. Their mother was very loving after all.
Instead of thinking about how—despite how small it was—his friends' home had become his as well, Sasuke awkwardly asked, "Hey, I have to go see my brother, court orders, before whoever my new sibling is shows up. You guys want to come."
Translation: Even though I have to meet someone I'll probably hate the same day, I have to be in the same room as my psychotic older broth for three hours too. Will you guys please come with me so that I don't have a break-down or try to kill someone—most likely my brother?
They both agreed, just like every other time Sasuke had to see Itachi in the hospital for the criminally insane, where he lived.
Really, if not for them, Sasuke didn't doubt that he would have snapped a long time ago. But still, it was hard for Sasuke to face his brother once a month, even with Yaiba and Fantine backing him up.
After all, Itachi had killed everyone in their family except for Sasuke for a reason he refuses to say. He wasn't really someone you wanted to see if you didn't have to.
Sasuke had to.
Stupid court orders.
Still, Sasuke had kept it together every meeting before and this one would be no different. At least, that was what he told himself while he drove he brand new car—much to Yaiba's chagrin since he didn't have a car at all even though he and Sasuke were the same age—all the way to the hospital.
_(!)_(!)_(!)_(!)_(!)_
"Why, hello, little brother." Itachi said to Sasuke in his usual velvety smooth voice.
Itachi then nodded to Sasuke's closest friends as they sat down at the table in the middle of the otherwise empty room on either of Sasuke's sides.
Itachi looked to Sasuke's right, "Yaiba, you seem to have gotten even taller."
"Thank you, Itachi." Yaiba said emotionlessly.
Itachi looked to Sasuke's left, "Fantine, thank you for loaning me your copy of Les Miserables. It was very good, just like you said." Itachi handed the thick book over the table to Fantine.
Fantine inwardly winced when Sasuke's eyes tightened.
Because Fantine and Yaiba's mother had hammered manners into her children's minds since they could talk, it was actually hard for either of them to be outwardly rude to people—except for Sasuke, of course. So when Fantine heard Itachi complain to them (Sasuke, Yaiba, and Fantine always came to these meetings as a group; Itachi rarely addressed them separately anymore.) about having nothing worthwhile to read there, Fantine had offered to bring in her much-used copy of Les Miserables the next session without thinking.
And of course, the manners her mother had inflicted on her kept Fantine from backing out of her offer. She had never meant to hurt Sasuke by being civilized to his brother; it just came naturally. Still, it took her a full week to get Sasuke to fully forgive her.
Fantine sighed as she gently took the book from Itachi's waiting hand, "You're welcome, Itachi."
"Could you possibly loan me another book next time? These people seem to hate bad literature." Itachi asked.
"Of course," Fantine answered without thinking.
Sasuke tensed beside her. Damn! Now he was going to be mad at her all over again! Damn her mother for making her have manners!
"It's alright, Tenshi." Sasuke murmured, seeing his friend's distress. Fantine narrowed her eyes at the use of her real name. Sasuke only called her that when he was mad at her but trying to hide it. Double damn.
Itachi, on the other hand, blinked, lost.
"Tenshi? Fantine's not your real name?" Itachi asked Fantine.
She shook her head, "No, Sasuke just thought up Fantine as a nickname because I read this book so much." She said, nodding towards the novel in her hand.
"Is that so?" Itachi asked, his voice getting silkier with every word.
Both Yaiba and Sasuke stiffened. Yaiba, because he didn't like a murderer showing interest in his little sister. Sasuke, for a much similar reason, and because he knew what Itachi was capable of.
"Yaiba, Fantine, would you two mind leaving the room?" Itachi asked.
Both of the teens looked at Sasuke uncertainly; Itachi had never asked something like this before. They didn't know what to do.
"It's okay guys," Sasuke whispered. Neither Fantine nor Yaiba were convinced, but left anyways because if they didn't, they were sure to hear about it later. Besides, they weren't family, despite family-like feelings, and they had no legal right to stay there; either Sasuke or Itachi could have them thrown out at any time.
Once both Yaiba and Fantine were out of the room, Sasuke faced Itachi, "What the hell was that about, Asshole? Why were you flirting with Fantine?" he all but roared.
"Why, whatever do you mean, little brother?" Itachi asked, smugness radiating off him in every direction.
"Oh, don't you dare even try to sneak out of this one! I remember when we were younger and that's how you would flirt with girls all the time! You said it let you know who the stupid ones were! And what the hell is it to you if Fantine's smart?! It's not you would even ever see her if not for me bringing her here with her brother!"
Itachi let his foolish little brother get the anger out of his system before answering. In his own twisted way.
"And, Sasuke, what is it to you if I find her attractive? Or how do you even know if I do? For all you know, I really do just want a good book every now and then. The ones here are honestly awful. But anyway, I just wanted to ask you some questions without them hearing. Though you'll probably just tell them all about it as soon as you're out."
Sasuke's nostrils flared. He knew he shouldn't punch his brother's face in, but oh how he wanted to. Instead he decided to change the subject.
"So, I'm getting a new foster sibling today." He said, know really knowing what else there was.
"I know. Though we're changing the subject, aren't we, Sasuke? Why don't you find Fantine attractive? She is very pretty. And I'm hurt that you never told me her true name. Truly, I am."
Sasuke clenched his fists. "You know damn well that I'm gay, Itachi. And stop hitting on Fantine. She may not know what you're really doing, but I do. She's too good for you anyway."
"Oh, I'm not so sure about that. Besides, I'd ask her what she thinks about me first, wouldn't you say, Sasuke?"
"No; I wouldn't, actually."
Itachi just sighed and shook his head.
"Sir. Could you please bring the two who were in here before back, please? Thank you." Itachi asked the guard at the door instead of even acknowledging his younger brother.
After all, Itachi had killed their entire family for Sasuke, the least his little brother could do was let him look and talk to his pretty friend some more.
Once both of Sasuke's friends were seated back in their usual places they both looked around uneasily. Yaiba was the first to speak. (Sasuke was far too furious and Itachi was too consumed in watching Fantine through the corner of his left eye. [Me: Creeper…])
"So, Itachi how's life in the loony bin going these days?"
"Not so bad," Itachi said, finally looking away from Fantine to look at her brother. "Though the TV's getting ready to break so it's going to get very boring very quickly."
"Wow, don't you guys have anything to do here other than watch TV?"
"Well, I would read," Itachi said, "but, as I've said to Fantine before, the books here aren't really worth reading."
Itachi smiled at Fantine then. It shocked her. Fantine had never seen Itachi smile before; just seen that occasional smirk that looked so much like Sasuke's. It was odd—the smile actually looked good on him. If only he wore it more often…Fantine stopped herself right there. She was not going to let her thoughts go there. At least not now.
"I'll try to find another good one soon," she mumbled, barley loud enough for Itachi to hear her. Itachi inwardly—making sure that none his emotions made it to his face—cooed over the younger girl. She was so cute when she was shy! Oh no, now his brother was getting angry again. He didn't want that.
Itachi reluctantly tore his gaze from Fantine to look at his brother again. And then looked at the clock instead.
"Oh no, dear brother. It seems our time together has come to an end. I'll see you soon."
_(!)_(!)_(!)_(!)_(!)_(!)_
Sasuke had been quiet the whole ride home. Yaiba and Fantine had both tried to calm him down and get what his brother had said to him out of him. Only the calming down part worked.
Sasuke's sleek black mustang pulled into the drive-way all three friends took note of Kakashi and the young blond sitting next to him on the porch steps. And all three had to admit he was gorgeous.
Blond hair—golden enough to challenge Fantine's—stuck out everywhere in an uneven halo around a nicely tanned face. Three black scratch mark-like scars adorned each cheek. His eyes were the bluest blue any of them had ever seen. He was wearing a waded orange jacket overlapping a pair of jeans. The blond teen's shoes had seen better days, but still looked relatively intact.
Sasuke was awe-struck. He had to focus on Kakashi and Fantine to keep himself from getting a boner right there. Maybe he would get along with his new foster brother after all.
"Damn, Sasuke," Yaiba said, noticing Sasuke's open mouth with a snicker, "Are you sure you're gonna hate your new brother, or are you gonna reconsider?"
"Shut up, Yaiba, or else I'll never tell either of you what my brother said earlier." Sasuke hissed. That got them quiet. Sasuke let out a snicker of his own.
He sucked in a deep breath before getting out of his car—Yaiba and Fantine following—and crossed the yard in four long strides over to Kakashi and the new kid.
"Hello, Kakashi. And you must be the dope Tsunade is dumping on me"
Both Fantine and Yaiba had to cause some short of outward pain to keep themselves from laughing.
The blond, on the other hand, didn't enjoy Sasuke's comment so much, "What the hell, asshole?! You…you…you teme! Do you have a stick up your ass, or are you just a dickhead?!"
"Hn"
"What the fuck dose that even mean, Teme?"
"Hn"
Kakashi sighed. This was going to be a long day, that was for sure…
Hello, people! What do you guys think? (And you better tell me in reviews—I mean it!) I'd like to thank the authors of "Where is my Mind?" and "Almost Sucks". You two were an inspiration to this story. Even if you didn't know it! If anyone bothers to read this who isn't either of those people, you should defiantly look up their stories! But remember, review! Thanks!