So.Just.Smile: Woo, first chapter. I try to make my chapters at least nine to ten pages long, if not more, so, yeah, don't know why I said/wrote that. Whatever. Okay, well, without further ado, Chapter One.
Chapter One: Team
I never really pay attention in class. I try to, really, I do, but I tend to get unfocused. It doesn't help matters that class is usually boring as hell. I suppose it doesn't matter what school you go to, where it is, what they teach, or who the teacher's are, it always ends up being boring in some way.
Sometimes, I think it might just be me, because almost all of the other kids are great in class. Maybe I have ADD or something. It's a possibility, isn't it? It sure would be an answer. I mean, next to my short-attention span, I'm not that motivated in many things, accept playing around or daydreaming.
Anyway, the point is, I don't pay attention in class, which is why I probably have no clue as to what team I'm on. It's lunch and I'm kind of panicking. But then, my teammates might find me, if they're not a bunch of assholes. Iruka advised all teams to eat together, to get to know each other—but knowing my luck, they probably didn't even know who I was, and even if they did, I'm kind of a loser outcast loner anyway.
I sighed and walked out of the academy, following all the kids that were ahead of me, walking in groups of three or four. There's normally only three genin to a team, led by a jounin, but this year, there were far too many students, mainly girls, so there were teams of four and teams of three.
Dear Kami, I sure hope I have a team of three. Four would just slow down the team, and be a hassle. More damn people to put up with. Oh, no, what if I get stuck with a fangirl! Or worse, what if I get stuck with Sasuke and a fangirl? Oh, the horror.
I was stunned at this new realization. It was then, that I became determined to find out who my teammates were. I suppose I was so concentrated that I wasn't watching where I was going, because before I knew it, I was stumbling backwards because I had hit someone or something.
"Ow, I hit my head against something hard," I mumbled.
"Yeah, my head," I heard a familiar voice say.
I looked up and Uzumaki Naruto. I smiled and gave a short wave to him, he repeated the gesture. We're friends, not close friends, but friends nonetheless.
"Sorry, Naruto, I wasn't looking were I was going," I apologized.
"That's okay," he grinned.
I nodded, "Okay, well, then I'll be going."
I saw him nod as his smile faltered. I felt guilty, so I decided to ask him to lunch.
"Naruto, wanna have lunch with me?"
"Sure," he grinned.
I knew where he would want to go. Ichiraku Ramen Shop, it's the very store we first met at. We were both five at the time.
I think I was his first friend.
I know he was mine.
-:-
"You're going to actually do that?" I asked as I slurped up the last of my ramen. I was only on my third bowl, Naruto was on his sixth. He always ate twice as much as I did.
"Yup," he said through a mouthful of noodles. "I was hoping you would help me," he said, wiping his mouth.
"Uh, sure, I mean, if you want me to," I mumbled shyly. I was never really a social person; in fact, I think Naruto is one of my only friends. Maybe he's my only friend. That makes me a bit of a loser, doesn't it?
"Cool," Naruto grinned. "Well, if we wanna catch him, we better go now." He rose from his seat. I followed him back to the school after I paid Ayame.
-:-
"So, where do we go?" I asked as we jumped to the highest part of the academy.
"Well, I'm not sure. We have to find him first…Ah ha! There he is," he whispered, pointing toward the raven haired boy leaning against a window. "Come on," he whispered before jumping across to the building.
I rolled my eyes at his antics, but followed. We were easing ourselves against the wall when I saw them: Nara Shikamaru, Yamanaka Ino, and Akimichi Chouji. Shikamaru pointed at us nonchalantly, causing Ino and Chouji to look our way. I made to signal them to mind their own business, but I guess they didn't care about me, because they just kept watching. I ignored them as I jumped into the room after Naruto. It only took a few second before Naruto was tied up.
Well, I guess Sasuke is still superior.
I watched from the shadows as the scene unfolded. Just as I was about to go untie Naruto, he turned into a log.
Kawarimi no jutsu, smart move Naruto. Now what will you do?
With Sasuke still a bit surprised and shocked that Naruto, the dead-last loser, had evaded him, Naruto jumped and took Sasuke down easily, with the help of a few clones. I walked out from my hiding place and congratulated Naruto on the success of his prank.
"Nice job, Naruto. See, you didn't even need my help," I patted him on the back.
"Heh, heh, well, all I really need you to do is stay here and watch the teme for me, okay?" He asked.
"Sure, okay," and before I could say anything else, Naruto thanked me, transformed into Sasuke, and jumped out the window. "Why didn't he use the door?"
I sighed and sat down, crossing my legs. It was kind of awkward just sitting there having Sasuke glare at me. I mean, it was Uchiha Sasuke. All I have to say is he is kind of cute, okay, not just that, he is smart, too. What kind of girl doesn't want a smart and hot guy?
"So…Hi Sasuke," I gave a short, pathetic wave at him.
Sasuke didn't say anything; he couldn't with the piece of tape around his mouth. But, then, he didn't even move to show he had heard me. Despite his hotness, he was a real asshole.
One whole minute passed, and at the end of that minute, I swear, I was gonna keel over from boredom. So, to attempt to cure my endless boredom, I ripped off the tape from Sasuke's mouth. He yelped. I smiled. I had made the Uchiha Sasuke, prodigy, scream. That's cool.
"Sorry," I said meekly. I could never be myself around anyone, really; I always feel as if I have something I have to hide. Not to mention I used to like Sasuke a bit. Of course, I've long ago given up pursuit of his feelings (not that there actually was a pursuit, I didn't even try to get him to notice me); he's only got one thing on his mind, and though I don't know what it is, I know it's not girls or love.
"So…I guess you want me to untie you, huh?" I looked at him, attempting to get him to talk or do something. He just kept glaring at me.
Damn him and his evil-death-glare-of-doom.
"Yeah, okay, I understand. You probably hate my guts, even though I haven't really done anything, which I guess is about as bad as helping Naruto out in the first place, because I'm not untying you or anything. And if you don't hate me for that, then you probably hate me for being fangirl, and even if you don't know I'm a fangirl, you'll assume so, because almost all of the girls in your class and in the school that know you or have seen you are fangirls. Well, I'm not a fangirl," I said, finishing up my rant.
"Untie me," he said slowly, not bothering to hide the annoyance and anger in his voice.
"Uh, what will you do to me if I do? I mean, will you, like, hurt me or anything?" I asked suspiciously, though I was a bit glad that he actually talked.
I saw his eye give the slightest twitch and felt myself struggle not to grin. I don't know why, but I suddenly found it quite enjoyable if I could annoy him.
"No," he strained.
"Okay," I smiled and pulled a kunai out of mid-air it seemed. I quickly jumped up and slashed the ropes binding him open. "You know, I know that you could have gotten out of those ropes on your own. Why didn't you?" I asked, looking at him curiously.
"Hn," was all he said before walking out the door. I silently followed him, wondering where he was going, and with nothing better to do.
A few minutes passed, and all we had been doing was walking through the academy halls. I began to think Sasuke either had no clue as to where he was going, or he was trying to lose me. If it was the former, well, it just doesn't seem likely, yet, if it was the latter, he wasn't doing a very good job.
"Sasuke, what are you doing?" I asked him eventually. He didn't speak for a second, but then—
"Do you know where Naruto went?"
"Oh, yeah—" I didn't get to say anything else, because Sasuke was on me fast. He turned around quickly as if to threaten me or something. The freak.
"Where is he?"
Gosh, you could at least say please.
"Uh, I think he's outside." Because I think that's where Sakura is.
Sasuke went back to ignoring me and quickly made for the academy exit. I simply followed, fearing what he might do to Naruto if he found him, and curious as to what he was up to.
Eventually we were walking outside. I spotted a tuft of pink hair a ways down the road and flinched involuntarily. What would Haruno, the biggest Sasuke fangirl next to Ino, do if she found me and Sasuke walking together? I mean, one wouldn't think anything of it, because Sasuke was totally ignoring me and it just seemed like we were walking on the same road, but Sakura was a fangirl—and when their as obsessed and possessive as she is—their brains tend to think differently and their eyes tend to process different images.
But I was surprised, because when we reached Sakura, she completely ignored me. I thought for sure she would have yelled at me for walking with or being anywhere nears 'her Sasuke-kun.' No, instead, she began to talk to Sasuke as if he had been talking to her before.
"Sasuke, you're back!" She squealed. I twitched. "Don't be so shy you bad boy," she giggled. I held back the urge to vomit. Even when I really liked Sasuke, I'd never acted like that. "Are you ready now? You know, mentally prepared? Because I am, I mean, I'm rearing to go!"
What is she talking about? I stare at her, confused.
"Hey, wait a minute," she yells as Sasuke walks past her. I turn around so that I'm walking backwards, but still walking next to Sasuke, so I can watch Sakura.
"Where's Naruto?" Sasuke asks, obviously demanding an answer, but sure he won't get one.
Sakura smiles, "Oh, there you go changing the subject again. Anyway, Naruto just picks fights with you," she glared at nothing in particular.
"No, he doesn't," I mumbled angrily—though I don't think anyone heard me—because Naruto's my friend and sometimes Sasuke provokes him.
"You know why he's so annoying? Cause he wasn't raised right. He doesn't have a mother or father," she continued. I stared at her. What she was saying, it hurt.
Shut up…
"No one to teach him right from wrong," Sakura shook her head. "Think about it, he just does whatever jumps into his head," she looked at Sasuke. I began to glare at Sakura unintentionally. I noticed Sasuke had stopped looking around and was now paying attention to Sakura.
Shut up…!
"If I did things like Naruto, forget it. I mean, my parents would get mad and I'd get in trouble," she spoke so casually. My hands formed into fists.
What does she know? Nothing!
"So of course I don't do it," she concluded. Sasuke eye's narrowed. "But if you don't have parents to tell you, how will you know?"
Idiot! Your precious Sasuke doesn't have parents either, don't you know that?! And…neither…neither do I…
"He's selfish and bratty. He's all alone," she finally finished.
"Shut up," I whispered angrily. Sakura gasped, just noticing me. I lifted my eyes from the ground and stared into her green ones. "You will silence yourself." My eye began to glow the slightest bit, I didn't notice it—I felt it.
"Alone," Sasuke finally spoke. Sakura immediately turned to him, but I kept my gaze locked on her. "Isolated. It's not about your parents scolding you. You have no idea what it means to be alone."
"Wha—why are you saying that?" Sakura gasped. My glare intensified and I took a step backwards, knowing I had to get away from this infuriating girl.
"Because, you're annoying," he glared at her. I let out a frustrated sigh before turning around and walking back to the academy.
I didn't even notice Sasuke walking beside me. I kept my orange eyes on the ground, my hands still in fists, with my mouth mumbling small senseless fragments from the many thoughts running through my mind.
"Stupid girl. What does she know? Nothing, that's what. Should prank her—but that'd be mean. What do I care? Her and her stupid, stupid words! Stupid, salmon-haired, vomit-eyed girl…She doesn't know anything…" I ended whispering.
Before I knew it, I was already in the school. My anger was beginning to fade. I looked behind me as I finally felt a presence besides my own. It was Sasuke. I slowed down and waited for him to catch up to me.
"Hi…Hey, do you know what team I'm on? I wasn't really paying attention, so I was hoping you would know? I mean, I wouldn't ask you really, but you're the only one here and—" Sasuke cut me off.
"You're on my team," he stated, not even sparing me a glance.
"Oh," I said, not comprehending the true meaning of this. A second later, my eyes widened and I repeated the same word louder and with more confidence, "Oh…Well, then, so you know, I'm gonna be your friend then. Teammates are all about teamwork and I feel for teamwork, we have to be on the same level of understanding-ness stuff. So, I'm gonna be your friend, even if you don't want me to," I smiled.
I felt Sasuke take a glance at me and then look up as Naruto came running out of a door suddenly. I watched him come running toward Sasuke and I.
"Ah," he gasped. Sliding right in front of us, he spoke, "Sasuke, what are you doing here? How did you get loose?"
"Hiromi let me go," he nodded to me.
Wow, he actually knows my name? Huh, I guess I just figured he wouldn't. I suppose he's not that bad.
"What?! Hiromi, why'd you do that?" Naruto looked at me.
"Oh, me?" I yawned. "Yeah, I got bored. I let him go hoping he would do something interesting."
"Aw," Naruto groaned.
"Why'd you do that? Transform into me?" Sasuke asked Naruto.
"I thought it'd be fun to try out my moves on you, so I did," Naruto stated. He jumped back a step and performed a jutsu. Before I could blink, there were five Naruto's ready to pounce Sasuke.
I yawned.
"Augh, the same technique again?" Sasuke groaned.
"This time you'll see what I can really do," one of the Naruto's spoke. "You're going down for the count," another one stated. "Then you'll have to admit that I'm better," a third one finished before they all leapt in for the kill.
"Get ready Sasuke," a fourth one yelled as they got closer. Just as they were about to close in on Sasuke, they fell back, clutching their stomachs, mumbling all at the same time.
I watched them lazily. I yawned again, being angry makes me tired, that's why I don't like it. All of the Naruto's turned and ran back around toward the door that Naruto first came out of. They all began to fight over who went first, shoving and pushing, begging and pleading.
"What a loser," I mumbled before yawning and turning around. Hey, I might be Naruto's friend, but that doesn't mean I'm the nicest person around. The fact that I was suddenly very tired and just got out of a very angry state of mind did not help.
I took a glance at Sasuke as I realized we had said the same thing at the same time. I gave a small smile as I began to gain my energy back. I'm not sure, but I think I saw his lip twitch.
I think he wanted to smile.