Skyheart

CHAPTER ONE (narrated by Neji)

"It is so ramen!" Naruto was argueing heatedly, "I know a real ramen ticket when I see – "

"That is so fake," Sakura cut in, "It looks like some five-year-old made it!"

"Ok," Naruto said meekly, eyeing Sakura, "If you say so." Kiba rolled his eyes and muttered, "So you listen to her and not me."

I choose not to care. I had been chosen on this mission with them, and I chose to keep quiet. We were on our way back, and Naruto had dropped a ramen ticket that Kiba was sure was fake.

"Quiet, now," Gai-sensei said seriously, as both Naruto and Kiba were in mid-argue phase, "Neji, Sakura, may I see you two for a moment?"

"Hai!" said Sakura excitedly, looking like she was expecting to announced the heir to a throne or something.

"…" I say nothing, again, but follow Gai-sensei a little off into the woods.

"You two are about to try something new," Gai-sensei started.

"Hai!" Sakura affirmed, even more excited than before.

"It involves three schools. But we're only sending ten students…because, although we're willing to give it a try, it's a little risky."

"HAI!" Sakura exclaimed, ecstatic now.

"You're being redistricted into a new school, because one of the schools is overcrowded. We're starting a new one."

"…….Hai?" Sakura whispered, looking both surprised and disappointed at the same time.

Redistricted. Redistricted. Redistricted. Did that mean new clans, new classmates, everything? Or just….

"But – but – but – but – oh, Gai-sensei, what about Sas – everyone we know?" Sakura, obviously. Then she proceeded to go through at least twenty questions.

"…Sakura," I warn, although I'm a little out of it myself.

Gai-sensei ignored all the questions, "Go pack up your things. We leave at sundown."

I stood there, watching Gai-sensei's retreating figure and Sakura's near-sobbing one. She'd miss Sasuke, of course. I didn't know…what to feel. I should pack up my things, I guess. I head toward my place, but then turn back. Sakura had left too. Which meant I was free to go. Kind of. I don't know.

(Narrated by Liaska)

"Oh my freakin' gosh!" Jemma, my red-haired and feisty friend, was pacing up and down our dorm. "Redistricted???"

"I guess you're one of the thirty people too from Flowerville?" I said, pulling my black hair a little tighter, Who else? I heard Lannie and Surf are coming too."

"I dunno," Jemma exclaimed, "I don't freakin' know! Freakin' gotta freakin' hurt somebody! Freakin' somebody out, you know?"

"Sure, Jem," I agreed, watching her nearly tear out the curtains, "But most of our friends are coming. Isn't that lucky?"

"Lucky? Lucky?!" Jemma groaned, "Why would I wanna be part of some weirdo new school named…what was it called again?"

"I think…Ki-something High. Or something. Kilu, Kimar, Kimura – yeah, that was it!" I remembered as Jemma threw a pillow across the room, "Um, Jemma? Jemma? Um. I think I still need that shirt."

"Whatever." Jemma fell onto the bed face-down and mumbled, "I'd rather rip something than rip someone. Well…….on second thought…"

"Ok, sure," I interrupted, "Here's a shirt. Have fun. I'm going to start packing. Sundown, remember?"

"Yeah, yeah. Ok, whatever. Catch!" She launched a pair of jeans at me just as Lannie walked into the dorm. Lannie's the drop-dead gorgeous one of us. No, not literally. Well, she does make Marco "drop dead", though. I mean, both ways. He likes her, and she, well, knocks him unconscious with her bare hands. It's kinda fun to watch. Everyone hates and "kills" Marco. He's…um, ok…hehe, anyway…so, Lannie.

Lannie has golden hair and bright blue eyes, a fair complexion, and a totally innocent smile – like Jemma. Which plays into the part where they become partners in crime, which in this case, is hurting Marco. Me? I'm Liaska Gemini. Which is funny, because Gemini is kind of twins, and I have a twin: Tijaro. He looks so amazingly different than me though. I have raven black hair and chocolate brown eyes. Tijaro has rusty red hair, freckles, and the same colors eyes as me. He's a little taller, even though we're both thirteen, which is a year younger than Lannie and Jemma. But we went to school early.

I put a pink colored shirt into my suitcase. Across the room, Lannie was making compartments in her suitcase as Jemma threw necessities – miraculously – into her suitcase, not looking to see if they hit anyone. I folded, not quite as neat as Lannie or as wild as Jemma. I picked up a sock, not mine, and put it aside carefully. I checked the clock on the wall, "Guys, we have one more hour. We should seriously hurry."

Jemma groaned. Lannie cried. I just checked the clock repeatedly. I was numb. I didn't know what to feel. I don't know.

(Narrated by Brash)

I jumped up. "It's sundown!" There was nobody else about on the prairie I walked about, but I was reassuring myself that I would make it. I had taken a break, leaning against a small mound that barely passed for a hill. A forest shone against the horizon, and reenergized, I started running, suitcase in tow, to the woods.

Ten minutes later, I was there. And so was everyone else. I mean, I was the last one. I was, well, how should I put it nicely? I was late.

Already there was a huge crowd of people. I spotted a boy with long brown hair looking stone-faced back at me. Most people would break eye contact, but he didn't. Finally, I was the one to look away. Then it was night. Not literally. I was just momentarily blinded by someone's black hair whipping me in the face. A very pretty girl turned and flashed me a nervous yet excited smile. "Sorry! Sorry! I didn't see you there."

I was momentarily stunned by both her sparkling brown eyes and glossy black hair and forgot to smile forgivingly back. By the time I remembered, she had walked back toward her other friends just as an older clone of me walked in. Again, not literally. It was the headmaster, aka my dad. He had the same blue-black hair and blue eyes as me. Except he looked good and serious. And I looked bad and stupid.

He threw open imaginary doors and threw his cloak off, not looking to see where it landed. His blue eyes seemed to reach into our souls and search us quietly. Melodramatic but impressive as always. His towering figure and wind-blown hair made a stern, brave outlook. He started softly and dangerously, "Welcome to Kimura High. I am your headmaster, Ren. Wagons will be momentarily transporting you to your new school. I should say home too. Well. I'll go over some basics. I think you're all smart enough to understand how to behave in a school. Or maybe you're all dimwits. But. Prove to me you're not. And you will be rewarded. Trust my words. Trust me. Or not. But let me warn you. Outside the school boundaries is unmarked territory. Which means monsters, death, and anything else horrible you can think of. My job is to protect you from this, not from yourself. It's still your choice. If any of you believe that I am wrong, there is a troll one eighth of a mile from here. Let me see you go battle him. Let me just see you try." He scanned the crowd slowly. Not a single child moved or talked. Even I was startled by his father's seriousness.

"Good. Load the wagons. You have ten minutes to settle in. Anyone left will be left. Behind. Understood? Time starts….now."

I rushed to the nearest wagon, loading with nine or so other people and a young teacher I recognized as Sasaki-sensai by her silver-white hair and purple eyes. She was quite young, and looked even more nervous than me – if that was possible.

We were quiet with shyness and anticipation the whole ride to the school. I really didn't know what to feel. I don't know.