Chapter One: A Deal with the Devil
Orochimaru's advanced placement chemistry course was the most difficult science course one could take in their entire school career. This was a fact. A fact that the eccentric man took great pride in. It was said that the pale skinned chemistry teacher purposefully kept his class that way to burden the students and that he gained immense pleasure from seeing them sullen and stressed. While this has never been proven there wasn't a doubt in the student population's mind that it was true. They said he failed students while smiling ear to ear and was in the best of moods when passing out D's and F's. Anyone who stepped in his classroom had to put in some serious work to pass the rigorous course. They would slave over textbooks and notes countless nights just to get a low B. Something Temari never had to or wouldn't ever do, she believed the honey eyed freak of a teacher hated her for just that reason. He couldn't accept the fact that she was blessed by the Lord with great intellect, or that knowledge came to her so easily. That's why he did everything in his power to make her last year of prison high school miserable. Although her theory had yet to be proven Temari insisted it was true.
Whenever the sandy blonde entered the greasy haired scientist's lair she was always on her guard. One could never be too cautious with Orochimaru, he could attack at any moment. But today for some reason she couldn't get her mind off of the Week of Scenes concert she would be attending next week and how lucky she was to get tickets. But not just any tickets, she would be in the best seats in the entire arena with exclusive VIP access after the show. They would have an entire hour with the stars after the show. A whole hour with four of the sexiest men she could think of…Oh the things that could be done!
"Temari!" her dreams of Lyndon and the rest of the Week of Scenes band members disappeared with the calling of her name. She blinked her big aquamarine colored eyes a few times as she snapped back to reality. She must have been daydreaming.
"Temari," Orochimaru started speaking a bit more calmly this time. "May I ask what you have found in the parking lot so interesting that it is distracting you from my class?" The young lady brought her focus to the borderline psychotic chemistry teacher. There was evil in the murky golden depths of his eyes. She could tell he had something sinister planned by the way his thin lips curled up into a mischievous little grin.
"I mean the class is so-"Temari began only to be cutoff of by the sneaky scientist.
"Before you proceed with your snide remark let me remind you that you're on a final for behavior," that bit of information broadened Orochimaru's dastardly grin and effectively closed the troublemaking students' sassy mouth. Being on a final meant it was her last chance before out of school suspension. There was no way she could get suspended, her dad would either kill her or ground her and both scenarios resulted in her missing the Week of Scenes concert. She would have to tread lightly even if it meant being cordial with the enemy.
"But please do continue, the class is so…"
"It's… um," this time she wasn't so quick with her comeback. She needed to think of a way to get her point across without being blatantly rude like she usually was. Orochimaru was good she had to admit, but of course she was better.
"Is boring the word you're looking for?" Orochimaru supplied "You often use that word to describe my class in the past."
"Well I wouldn't use boring…" she denied.
"Then educate me as to why you would be daydreaming in my class, instead of taking notes like the rest of your peers" that snarky look never left Orochimaru's face. Temari was determined to wipe it off.
"You see since I already aced the covalent bond test, taking notes on the review seemed a bit tedious to me." Temari replied rubbing in the fact that she had gotten a hundred percent on his last quiz which she knew would anger him. It did, she could tell by the slight falter in that evil smile of his. Then the bell rang signaling the end of class. Like everyone else she packed her supplies in a rush to get out of the snake pit only to be signaled over to Orochimaru's desk. Temari hated staying after class, especially with Orochimaru. He would take up all your time and wouldn't write a tardy pass. That was one of the reasons she was on a final now.
"Could you make it quick," Temari asked slinging her backpack over her shoulder. She didn't want to be in the snake loving man's presence any more than she was required. Besides she wouldn't allow him to make her late resulting in suspension. Nothing could come between her and that Week of Scenes concert.
"While you are passing all of the tests and quizzes, your lack of participation and poor homework grades will ultimately result in you failing." Orochimaru informed the teen ignoring her previous remarks. And just for the record she did notice his smile widen a bit with the talk of failing her.
"I'll work on it, "she promised. The homework wouldn't be a problem for her, all she had to do was put in a few hours at the library and that grade would come up. But knowing Orochimaru that probably wasn't all he had up his dingy lab coat sleeves.
"I'm glad you have decided to take responsibility with your school work, to help you in your endeavors I've decided to assign you a tutor." The older man spoke as he opened the desk and pulled out a small stack of papers.
"Thanks, but I don't need a tutor," Temari declined the offer with the sweetest fake smile she could manage.
"Your scores say otherwise," Orochimaru retorted and seeing as she didn't have a comeback he continued. "You are to meet with your tutor at least three times a week until your grades improve,"
"Great…" came her sarcastic grumble.
"And since you are so committed to improvement I've decided to give you a choice. I could be your tutor. I would give you the weekend but increase the number of days you are required to attend. Or you could have a tutor of my choice and conform to their schedule." The snake explained.
Temari couldn't help but feel like she was making a deal with the devil. Either way she would end up with the short stick. She just had to figure out which deal would be the lesser of the two evils. Well of course being with Orochimaru for any extra period of time would kill her inside. However with the Week of Scenes concert on its way she needed the weekends, so option A was looking sweeter. But the concert would only be for one weekend. Was one night with her favorite band truly worth dealing with Orochimaru more each day? Then there was of course there was the unlikely thought the tutor of his choice might be someone much more bearable. That would make the time she spent in tutoring a bit better. Although she would be forced to study whenever said person was available and lose the weekend. But who said that the person would only be available on weekends? By George she had found a loophole! She wouldn't have to be bothered with Orochimaru and might still be able to keep her weekends!
"I'll go with the second option," she decided hardly being able to contain her smile.
"Neji Hyuuga will be your tutor," Orochimaru said before bursting out into a fit of maniacal laughter. When you make a deal with the devil, there are no loop holes. She should have known Orochimaru would pick Neji. He was just the perfect candidate to aid, most likely unknowingly, in Orochimaru's evil plot to ruin her senior year. Temari and Neji did not get along to put it very simply. They had a bit of a rocky past that went along with their hatred for each other but it wasn't something she wanted to get into at the present moment. She still had another class to get to.
"That's fine. See you tomorrow," the senior's tone was as even as she could muster in an effort to keep Orochimaru from knowing how pissed off she was about the situation. Maybe if he thought she wasn't bothered he would decide to switch her tutor. Not wanting to spend another second with the man Temari left the evil teacher's classroom and raced to the next class. She had made it in the door seconds before the bell ring. The teacher simply instructed her to take her seat and began the lecture. On the bright side this class was more of an elective which gave her more free time, most of which she would use thinking about the crazy situation she had been roped into. Three times a week with Neji Hyuuga would be… would be…. At the moment labeling the situation with a word was impossible. There was no word to match how intensely she felt about the situation. Neji was… She just couldn't… They shouldn't… Not again. It was hard to even get her thoughts straight when thinking about the man. Temari couldn't stand Neji Hyuuga, this much was true. But there was just something about him that awakened some very strong feelings within her. She felt them regardless of how hard she fought them or how angry she got. Those feelings… those terrible feelings had gotten the two young teens into a huge mess back then. Hearts got broken, rivalries formed and friendships were destroyed. There was no way she could be put through that again, so keeping away from Neji was the best idea.
"Temari," for the second time that day she was pulled out of her thoughts by someone calling her name. Her pretty turquoise orbs trailed up to focus on the man standing in front of her desk at the moment. Again she blinked a few times only because of who it was in front of her desk. Sure there was speak of the devil… but think of him?
"What do you want?" Temari asked looking away from the young Hyuuga male who stood in front of her desk. She couldn't look into those ash grey eyes a second longer, she was afraid of what might happen if she did. The look in his eye made her feel like he could peer into her soul, and though she would never admit it aloud the look was unnerving and intimidating. She hoped that he thought she was just being aloof about the situation and didn't deeply analyze her every move and facial expression like usual.
"We're partners," he informed her as he pulled up a chair. Just the sound of his smooth baritone voice brought some deeply suppressed memories back to the forefront of her brain. Looking up at those broad shoulders and toned arms the thin oxford long-sleeve he wore hardly concealed wasn't helping either. Before she knew it she was thinking of those strong arms, rough hands and long fingers…Temari couldn't stop the pink that rose to her cheeks at the thought of those skilled digits. Just like Neji couldn't stop the sly grin that worked its way onto his lips at the sight of her powder pink cheeks. He could only guess what she was thinking. Similar scenes played in his own mind whenever he saw her, which wasn't very often much to his dismay. Regardless of the sweet memories playing in her head, Temari would not let his silky voice or sensual gaze draw her in again.
"Juugo is my partner," she said defiantly eyeing the room for the gentle giant. Even though he could be a bit weird at times the flame haired young man was a good match for her. He wasn't very aggressive, unless of course provoked, so whenever they worked on projects together she called the shots and things went her way.
"If you were paying attention you would have known that new partners were assigned," without waiting for further invitation the man gracefully took a seat. He pushed back some fly away hairs from his long trail of burnt umber colored hair before setting down his supplies and drafting what the busty female could only assume to be the start of their project.
"That's fine. I'll just take this up with Mr. Jiraiya," Temari said getting up from her seat only to notice that said teacher was not in the classroom. He must have left to do independent studies. She really had to get her head out the clouds. She reluctantly took her seat again all the while mentally scolding herself about not listening.
"This must be why you're failing Chemistry, you'd rather day dream than pay attention," he remarked snidely without even pausing in work or looking up at her. That cocky attitude of his just made her blood boil. It took everything in her not to punch the man right in his face.
"Shut your mouth dickhead," was her retort. Even though it was completely childish it still angered him. He really hated that filthy little mouth of hers. Whenever he heard any foul words escape from those pretty pouty lips the urge to discipline her like her father should have was all too strong. Forcing the thoughts to the back of his brain he continued working on the rough draft. He wouldn't give her the pleasure of seeing him falter.
"Is sex all you can think of when I'm around?" Neji asked as if they were mulling over lunch ideas. She could see his lips curl into a smirk although his eyes never left the spiral notebook. Temari was very grateful for that. That exact smirk had gotten them into some literally sticky situations too many nights. For some reason the ocean eyed woman found it completely irresistible.
"You're definitely not the person who comes to mind when sex us the subject," the little minx replied so smoothly she could have fell for the lie herself. That stopped his once busy pen. She twirled a strand of her thick blonde hair smirking at the now interested male sitting across from her. She leaned in, breasts pressing against the desk on further enticing him to follow in suit. When he did she whispered in the most sultry voice she could manage.
"You're good, I'll admit it. But not nearly the best," No man could have survived such a harsh blow to their ego with a straight face. Somehow Neji did it. In fact the vixen's steamy words hadn't affected him at all because he knew deep down she was lying. Even if he couldn't see it in her eyes. No other man could replicate the raw, unyielding passion they shared. No one else could have her like he did. They both knew that.
"Silly girl, you must have forgotten…" Neji began whispering into her ear just as she'd done him moments earlier. He took his time with her, gently caressing the soft skin of her cheek and building her anticipation for his next words. She was still as statue, possibly shocked by actions given the amount of time they'd been apart. It didn't matter though. The warmth he felt on her cheek let him know they were feeling the same electricity. He then pulled back and cupped her chin so she could see the predatory gleam in his eye, the mischievousness of his smirk, that damned look she couldn't resist! "...who you belong to,"