Kowaikage- Hiya fellas, this fic was done as a request from a reviewer so I just couldn't say no . Enjoy. Huggles Chinese Fairy You are the first person to ever ask for a request! Thank you so much, you completely made my week with that review.
A refreshing breeze made its way into the peaceful village of Kohana. Well, for it being summer and all, most would welcome the breeze as a chance to cool their over-heated bodies. However, one boy entering the city found it damn cold.
Gaara stepped into the town as noiselessly as possible, with it being near midnight and the echoing silence of the town. Each timid step was accompanied with an unwanted crunch, as sandal met rock on the dirt road. Everyone was asleep except for the town's newest member; he never slept. Dark rings under his eyes labelled him as an insomniac and the boy could have cared less.
He moved to this place in the summer for a number of reasons. The top two being he wasn't as noticed if he had moved in any other season. This way he could try to start a new year of school like a ghost in a crowd. Instead of having the teachers dragging him to the front of the class and parading the fact he was new, subjecting him to the unwanted stares and the focus of a bully's new target.
Two, he had hoped the summer's climate would make him feel more at home, he was too much accustomed to sleeping in sweltering desert nights on a bed of pillows. But here, even though it was somewhat reassuringly warm, he knew this temperature would take more getting used to then he wished for.
Gaara had made all the necessary arrangements before he arrived; he held the key to his new apartment limply in his right hand. The place came with it's own furniture so the redhead carried most of his processions on his back. Forcing him to trudge whatever he couldn't squeeze next to the gourd on his back alongside him.
He arrived at the main building. Bland grey concrete that was in the midst of being painted a rich red stood before him. The structure was in the middle of being re-done, it would probably look beautiful after it was finished, however Gaara didn't give it a second thought. It was home now, who cares how it looked? He pushed his way passed the heavy entrance doors; he exhausted himself since he had been traveling all night and found that every muscle in his body was overloaded with weight his small frame should never have been carrying to begin with.
The redhead would have taken the four flights of stairs without a care, but decided the elevator would be a more appropriate choice instead. He walked out onto his new floor, he would grow accustomed to this action; he lived here now. He frowned looking about the doors around him. How many people lived on this floor as well? It didn't matter; he shrugged, not like he cared to know them.
He walked along the hallway searching for his room number 413. Right at the end of the hallway, he almost smiled to himself. He pressed the key into the lock and entered his new home.
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"Aww, come on Neji."
"Naruto, you can pay for it yourself!"
"No I can't, I don't get paid til Friday. Pleeease?"
Down in the apartment complexes lounge sat Hyuuga Neji with a book he was trying to read and over both stood Uzumaki Naruto, who in a failing effort was trying to coax his friend into paying for his lunch. Neji inwardly fumed as Naruto's shadow darkened the page he was trying to read.
"Look, if I give you the money for one bowl, will you leave me alone for the rest of the day? I really have to finish reading this book."
The blonde gave him an odd look. "Why do you have to finish it? You have all the time in the world to read."
Neji sighed. "No I don't. I took an advanced English course this year so I have to finish this and write a book report on it before school starts up again."
"Homework in the summer? Your crazy Neji." Naruto wailed and snatched the book from the Hyuuga's hands.
"Uzumaki, give that back!" it was serious now, Neji never called Naruto that unless he was low on nerves. The fox-child grinned and ran around with the book.
"Oooh look at meeee, I'm so smart with my advanced reading book. Oh-la-la." The blonde continued to mock Neji's book.
"Naruto, stop it!" Neji stood up and snatched the book back. "Why didn't you pester Sasuke for ramen money like usual?"
His friend sighed at the mention of his rival. "I tried, but he didn't answer his door, he must still be asleep or something." He shrugged.
Neji frowned; it wasn't like the Uchiha to sleep in but figured he would have a good reason why when the Hyuuga saw him.
"Fine, here are a few dollars for a few bowls. Go eat and don't ask me for anything else for the rest of today."
He pressed a few bills into Naruto's palm and motions to the door. Naruto beamed and hugged his friend.
"Thanks Neji!" After he was pushed off he took off for his favourite ramen stand.
"Is he gone?"
Neji looked up from his chair, startled for a moment before recognizing the voice and sinking back into his chair.
"You know he is."
"Good."
Sasuke walked out from behind a large potted plant. The complex was really going all out to re-do the whole place. The prodigy took a seat next to his friend.
"You weren't sleeping in were you?"
Neji didn't bother looking up from his book; he suspected he already knew the answer.
Sasuke smirked and ran a hand threw his bangs. "Of course not, you know me too well. I heard Naruto knocking and knew he wanted ramen money so I just didn't answer."
Neji snorted. "Figures, and let me guess, you knew he'd come to me looking for it next?"
Sasuke chuckled and picked a magazine up off the coffee table in front of him.
"Geez Neji, if you weren't always up before the sun maybe you wouldn't be his second target. I figured you would have caved sooner though, I came out too early and saw him, thus me diving into the bushes."
The Hyuuga grinned; he had purposely stalled Naruto for that reason. "Pity." He flipped the page.
Sasuke stood up and dropped the magazine back down onto the table. "I'm going to get some food, want to come?"
Neji shook his head. "No thank you. Perhaps later. I need to finish this book."
"When you're done with it, can I borrow it? I'm going to be in your class after all."
His friend just nodded, already becoming re-submerged in his reading.
