I really like this fic idea, and I really hope you like this, too. Please be kind when reviewing? This is my fourth shot at a chapter fic, and only the second time I've managed to keep working with it.
Kishimoto owns these characters, names, etc. I'm just the crazy fangirl, guys.
The sun hit the lunch table from an angle where the glare was horrific, yet none of the boys currently sitting there made any move to comment on this (though they were jealous of Shino for always wearing his sunglasses and being prepared for such situations).
Anyway, it was a perfectly normal afternoon, students grouped up in the lines and gossiping while searching the piles of trays for one that might be dry. Large bundles of guys that would bunch up in random parts of the line were almost impossible to hear over, sounding like schoolgirls squealing over boys they'd like to take to the prom.
Chouji, a heavy kid, returned from the line with a tray stacked high with everything from corn to cookies, and just the sight of it was enough to make one fill with nausea.
Kiba narrowed his dark and oddly cat-like eyes at Chouji before punching him in the arm. "You're the reason why all those people in Africa are starving." Chouji merely shrugged.
"I wasn't aware you cared about starving people in Africa," the boy at the head of the table yawned.
Shikamaru, the protagonist of our story, was, to most, just another nerd. His intellect was unmatchable, and it was only because he never actually did the work set out for him that he was failing high school. When it came to looks, he was average; dark hair pulled up into a spiky ponytail and narrow, black eyes. He was always wearing a grimace, and the world just seemed to piss him off. He was just never happy unless lazing about, watching the sky or the clouds or doing simply nothing.
He now sat, feet propped up on the table, leaning back in his chair, yawning. He didn't have a lunch because he was just too damn lazy to get up and buy one himself.
So the boys gathered around and began to share stories of idiotic teachers and dumb-as-hell girls when another boy approached, short with a head full of wild blonde hair that seemingly stuck out every-which-way. His eyes were a bright, cerulean blue and three scars on each cheek, like whiskers, added to his mischievous fox-like appearance.
"Guys! I have something to tell you, something really-"
"If it's about your boyfriend, we don't want to hear it," scoffed Kiba. Naruto's face turned red.
"What the hell did you just say?"
With a toothy grin, Kiba cupped his hands to the sides of his mouth and yelled, "UCHIHA SASUKE AND UZUMAKI NARUTO ARE DATING!"
Naruto let out a growl before launching himself at Kiba, only to be stopped by a hand gripping the back of his school uniform.
"Oi, Dobe. Calm yourself."
Sasuke was, in short, the best of the best. He was the desire of all women and envy of all men, with the attitude of a true nobleman. Or a disgruntled llama. Anyway, his heritage was thick and pure without any flaws, and he was top student at Nin Academy's so-called "prestigious" all boys school. Aside from that, his looks were nothing to scoff at, either; his skin was pale in contrast to Naruto's eternal tan, and his eyes were curved and shone like bright, polished onyx. Dark locks of interchanging blacks seemed to caress his face; truly, Uchiha Sasuke was the exact opposite of his friend.
"Sasuke!" The blonde beamed up at him.
"Sasuke," the other boys repeated, seemingly spitting out his name like a bad taste. Thankfully, the Uchiha did not notice the cold welcome.
"C'mon, Dobe," he sighed warily, holding up a finely wrapped lunchbox. "Let's sit outside today."
"Okay! Just gimme a sec to-"
Instantly, something small and hard came zipping across the room, colliding with Naruto's head at full force and causing him to choke out a... er... two profanities.
"HOLY FUCK! WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?!"
"You didn't have to scream that loud," Shino mumbled.
"It looks like an eraser," said Sasuke, picking it up to examine.
All four boys followed Naruto's gaze to the windows, where a boy sat alone, leaning over his sketchpad, pretending to be engrossed in his work.
Shikamaru raised a thin eyebrow. "Who's that?"
"You're kidding! He moved here eons ago," Chouji whined.
"Negative. He moved here exactly two months ago," Shino corrected.
"Yeah," added Kiba, "and he's in, like, two or three of our classes. How do you not know who he is?"
"That still doesn't answer my question."
"Yamamoto Sai."
Everyone turned their heads to see look at the dark teen who had just spoke.
"Sai," Sasuke repeated. "His name is Sai."
"Pssh. I think he's retarded or something," Naruto growled, rubbing his head from where the eraser had made impact. "He's got this problem with me, always picking on me and insulting my penis..." His voice trailed off again, but picked up more vigor once he added, "Why the hell did he look, anyway?"
Their heads turned simultaneously to stare at the boy who sat alone on his window seat.
"HEY! YAMAMOTO!! YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT, I'M TALKIN' TO YOU!!"
The boy lifted his face and made eye contact with the group. Despite himself, Shikamaru was speechless; his skin was stark white, blending perfectly with the walls of the school. The shock of cropped, black hair and haunting, equally dark eyes only added to this effect. He noted that Sai looked vaguely like Sasuke, minus the lips.
Then something peculiar happened.
As Shikamaru continued to study this stranger's face, his lips parted, revealing a rosy red tongue... with he pointed childishly at Naruto. The blonde was now steaming.
"Let's go, Sasuke!" he snapped angrily, grabbing the wrist of the taller boy and dragging him off. The other boys sniggered.
"Jesus, looks like freak-a-do over there got Naruto pissed again,"
"Seriously, though, that kid's so weird. He never even talks to anybody..."
"What, you mean Naruto?"
"No, fatass, I mean Sai!"
They turned to Shikamaru, waiting for a response or at least a biting remark for insulting Chouji. But strangely enough, it didn't come; he just kept staring at the boy across the cafeteria. Worried, Chouji tapped him on the shoulder. "Shika?"
"He looks lonely."
Kiba rolled his eyes, stealing a Dorito from Shino's tray and stuffing it into his mouth. "Yeah? So what?"
Shikamaru turned to face them now, fiddling with one of his miniature silver hoop earings so as to avoid their eyes. "Maybe we could... you know." He paused to shrug. "Invite him over, or-"
Chouji and Kiba gasped, whereas Shino shook his head as if to say, 'Unbelievable.'
"What? What's up with you?"
"Haven't you heard," the brunette paused, eyes flicking about the table before stating, "the rumors?"
"Of course he hasn't! He just learned Sai existed today," Chouji snapped, flicking Kiba's head. That's for the fat comment, fuckah.
Ignoring the portly boy's hostile poke, he continued. "It's just... we heard some stuff."
"Bad stuff," Shino entered.
"Creepy stuff."
Shikamaru let loose a hoot of laughter at his friends' unnecessary caution. "Creepy stuff? What, he ain't queer or anything, right?"
Nobody else was laughing. Shikamaru, shocked, stared at them.
"...You're kidding."
"We wish we were, Shika," said Kiba, giving him a sorrowful pat. "We wish we were."
"You guys are blowing smoke out your asses. Go to hell," he huffed, rolling his eyes. Shikamaru removed his feet from the surface of the table before heading over to the window sill where Sai had returned to his drawing. Without looking up, he stated, "You here to avenge the ADHD kid over there?"
Puzzled, Shikamaru glanced behind him before turning his gaze back to the average-looking boy who was sitting there. It was no wonder he'd never noticed him before. He looked like every other Japanese boy in the school.
"Uh. Actually," Dammit, it's no big deal. "Do you want to come sit with us?"
He half expected to receive a, 'You're kidding, right?' or a, 'Like I'd ever hang out with you rejects.' Instead, he got:
"Sure."
"What?"
Sai looked up at him with a seemingly gentle smile. Shikamaru felt an odd tingling run up his face.
"Unless... You just changed your mind."
"No!! No, it's fine. Just follow me," he muttered.
The two of them made their way back to their table to find the others staring at them incredulously. It was rare Shikamaru even bothered getting up during the lunch period, much less to welcome another student.
Silence reared its ugly head and began to press down on their table, making it too much for Shikamaru to handle.
Maybe he should try to break the ice. But how? This guy was an enigma. He didn't have a clue what to talk about, let alone-
"H-hey, give that back!"
Sai quickly snatched his sketchbook from Kiba, face a deep red.
"Dude, I just wanted to see what you were drawing," he replied, pouting. "What's the big deal, anyways? You drawing naked girls?"
"No," the artist mumbled, and from the concentrated look on his face, Shikamaru realized he was up to something. What was with that evil grin?
"But you know… The school guidance counselor is commissioning me."
With a cocked head, Chouji inquired, "Commissioned?"
"It means Jiraiya paid Sai to draw something for him," Shino explained.
Now he had the boys' attention.
"You mean that old perv?! I bet it's for that book series of his. That moron, using his real name. Like we wouldn't figure it out."
"Doesn't the English teacher read those?"
"But wait! If he is commissioning you, can we have a peak?"
"No way! He specifically said no peep-shows, or he'd cut my pay by half."
"Aaaw, come on! Just one little look? Pretty please?"
Shikamaru sighed. If Kiba liked this guy, that was a decent start.
And again, he found himself wondering why he even cared.
Ugh. There were so many spelling mistakes in this. I hope I got them all... -mumble- Anyway, I know it's an irregular pairing, so just bare with me, okay?
I debated several puns for the title, all involving replacing "ai" with "Sai", but I got so annoyed with that I just chose something simple.
8/29/07 edit Decided to proofread and change this chapter a bit, take out the craziness. You don't have to reread it, since I didn't completely rewrite it, but it's prettier now.