Hello it's me again! This is the second chapter in TOAL. I hope you enjoy, and please if you have favorite or put it on your alert I would love to know what you like about it. You could also drop some suggestions about the characters or plot that you find hilarious, or could just help it work out. Thanks.
"Kakashi~" Kyuubi whined, after the socially stunting comment, that his teacher felt the need to share with the general public. Said teacher only smiled with his eyes, also ignoring the lack of honorific.
"I'm so telling Iruka." Naruto only snickered at his brother's childish behavior and the way Kakashi's face grew pale at the mention of their father's name. It was common knowledge between the twins that the silver haired man had a thing for their dad, so this was especially funny. All the other students looked bewildered as their normally reserved and private teacher joke it up with the two boys.
"Now why would you go and do that." He answered in an equally high pitched voice. Kyuubi smirked triumphantly at the fake tears that were rolling down his longtime friends face.
"Um, not to ruin the moment or anything, but don't you have a class to teach Kaka-sensei?" Naruto asked as he continued to stare disinterestedly out of the window at the nippy winds.
"You always ruin my fun, Naru-chan!" He said before walking behind his desk to prepare for the class. "Ok my most beloved salary-payer, let's get started. As some of you may know we've recently been studying old English texts and plays. I have a little project for you. You are to study, summarize, and write an alternate ending for whichever you get. Or instead of writing an ending, you could act out the already made ending, I don't care either way. This is a group project consisting of three members. Now, since there are 28 of you a group of 4 is bound to pop up somewhere." Everyone was about to get up out of their seats to get into separate groups, but the silverette interrupted with a tip.
"Choose wisely on who you want in your group, because you never know when this project might come back to bite you."
Kyuubi was about to suggest that he and Naruto work together, but before the words even came out of his mouth his, and his brother's desks were swarmed with females (and one bold male). The blonde was totally at a loss for words because now he was confused, and all the people around him were starting to make him claustrophobic. He had to stand up just to see all the face in the rush. All he could hear was bubbly airheads trying to be seductive. (Keyword trying, because it clearly wasn't working).
The blonde moved through the crowd with all the grace he could muster and sat beside a broody looking group of teens. The group consisted of a red head that oozed a look-at-me-an-die aura, an extremely pale boy, with short black hair that stuck up in the back, and a long haired brunette, with the whitest eyes. At first glance Naruto thought he was blind, but when the eyes snapped this form he could see this was not the case.
"Hello I'm Naruto and you guys are?"
It took a moment for the boys' brain to stop short-circuiting long enough to understand the question from the hot blonde.
"Uchiha Sasuke, Sabaku Gaara, and I am Hyuuga Neji. Are you going to be joining us for the project?" He asked in that devilishly smooth way that only he could manage. The glare from the others told him all he needed to know. He was going to have a couple of rivals for the heart, of one Uzumaki Naruto.
"Forever the politician I see. And yes if you'll have me." Naruto asked, looking up from under his blonde bangs, and turning his electric blue eyes to the Hyuuga. A light blush spread across the nose of the usually stoic teen as Naruto gently nibbled on his plump bottom lip.
"O-of course." Naruto turned to the raven on his right with the same look, but almost ten times more intense.
"You'll have me right Sasuke?" The Uchiha could only nod dumbly, as thousands of scenarios popped into his mind about that tempting mouth.
"Gaara-kun?" And then those eyes turned to him. The famously stoic teen found himself trapped in those deep pools of indigo. The blonde sniffled as if about to cry and his pouty lower lip started to tremble. For some reason the redhead didn't want to see the blonde cry so he did what his mother would do if she was still alive. He gave him a hug.
Sasuke, and Neji were at a loss for words as they gaped at their friend. They were at a mix between being jealous and scared. This was the first time Gaara let someone so close to him, without their immediate dismemberment. And now this blonde was not only in his breathing area, but hugging the murderous teenager. Not to mention that he was also sitting in his lap being petted like some lost kitten.
xXx
Kyuubi blinked at the dangerous tension that suddenly filled a corner of the room. He looked over to Kiba for an explanation, and the wild brunette pointed over to the back of the room where his brother was sitting in some strange redhead's lap while two broody bastards sat idle doing what they did best, brood.
Kakashi was sitting behind his desk with his feet propped up staring at the little angst filled teens. Amusement was evident under his mask as the green eyed teen continued to pet the sniffling teen. He should probably stop whatever was happening before it even started, but… he was having fun writing down the names of his favorite blonde's growing fanclub.
xXx
Naruto was thoroughly enjoying the warm lap that was oh so courteously given, by his self-appointed panda-chan. The stroking of his golden hair wasn't that bad either. A little voice in the back of his head told him that staying in his current seat was going to cause more problems than he needed at the current moment.
He climbed back over the redhead's desk and plopped back into his seat. Gaara smirked at his two friends, and rivals in love as they sulked even harder now that the blonde was blushing.
"Well I guess we should be getting started." Naruto said as he tried to lessen the tension between everyone at the table.
"Indeed." They replied in unison
xXx
"Pst." Naruto whisper/yelled to the raven sitting directly beside him. The other teens looked on amusedly as the Uchiha was continuously assaulted with questions from the adorably annoying blonde.
"What?" He asked with irritation clear in his voice. If the blonde noticed it he didn't show it. Naruto pointed a single tanned digit to a corner of the room where a pink haired girl was chatting amiably with a ditzy looking blonde girl. The raven scowled in disgust when he saw the figurative hearts in his classmate's eyes.
"Who's that?" Neji, and Gaara gave the pinkette in question the strongest glare they could come up with. Since they obviously couldn't kill her in class, they could settle for strangling her in their minds. How dare that wench still their entire blonde's attention span? It wasn't fair! They saw him first. Green eyes caught white, and in that one glance they formed a truce against the pink bimbo.
"That things name is Haruno Sakura." He said with all the distaste in his body. Naruto turned around huffily in his seat.
"That was totally unnecessary teme! Not to mention extremely mean! Do you even know her? She seems like a really nice girl. Not to mention pretty too." He said dreamily, turning back around to stare some more. The raven's lips moved upwards into a silent snarl as he watched his classmate.
"That thing is no girl. She might look normal on the outside, but under all that make up, and gross perfume is a human she-monster." He said trying to repress a shudder at the thought. As if realizing her crush was thinking about her the previously discussed mentioned monster pinned the Uchiha with her mint green eyes. Her heart shaped face lit up as she dreamed that the glare on his features was actually a look of longing.
'Oh, Sasuke I want to have your babies .Mrs. Sasuke Uchiha. Mrs. Sakura Haruno-Uchiha. Oh I know Mrs. Sakura Uchiha. Yes, yes of course! That way everyone knows that he's mine. In your face Ino-pig. Suck on that! Do you see how he's looking at me! He wants to jump my bones; he's undressing me with his eyes. Look all you want Sasuke-kun, I don't mind. Wait who's that loser sitting by my Sasuke-kun? And why is he looking at me. Do something Sasuke-kun! He's staring at your woman!'
"Oh, I'm sure you're overreacting. I bet she's not that bad, maybe a little psychotic looking, but its what's in the inside teme."
"You don't know the half of it." Neji muttered as he scribbled some more things in his notebook. He being the only one besides Gaara that was actually paying attention and working. He watched as Naruto sighed wistfully before going back to his assignment. The white eyed teen felt a little disappointed that the blonde was interested in the Haruno, but he hadn't seen her true disillusioned colors yet. He actually wondered if the blonde was only interested in the opposite sex, considering that episode with Matsuri this morning. But then again he did snuggle up with Gaara for a nice 15 minutes. He still found that surprising. Maybe he would test the little cute teen's orientation later. Yes, that sounds good. Now all he has to do is pry Sabaku, and the Uchiha's hands off first. He discreetly surveyed them when they weren't looking. Sasuke was trying to melt the pinkette's skin off her face, and Gaara was attempting to make his paper spontaneously combust. His mission just got considerably harder.
xXx
Kyuubi slowly rose out of his seat, gathering his things and walking over towards the emo corner. Or so he dubbed it. His twin was chatting away to the other teenagers that seemed like they weren't paying that much attention, though Kyuubi could tell differently.
"Naru." The blonde head swiveled to hid direction, showing the redhead that he had his undivided attention (as undivided as it could be considering that Naruto was having an identity crisis). "What class do you have next? I have gym with Kiba."
"Oh let me see." He dug around in his uniform pants until he phished his locator card out. "Well I have trigonometry with a Yuhi-sensei. Whoever that is." He said with an irritated huff. He hated math. He absolutely loathed the existence of it.
"I can take you there." Neji said. "My calculus class is in the same wing." The blonde turned his huge dinner plate eyes to his duplicate questioningly. Once he got the nod of approval he then proceeded to drag the brunette away from the currently sulking teens. Kyuubi turned to the others that were left behind
"Look bastards, I know that you both are somewhat attracted to my brother, but let me tell you something. He's not really like you and I. He's different than us. So don't be surprised if he doesn't remember you or he comes back differently than when he left." They both gave him the silent question stare (raised eyebrow) that they were used to doing when they didn't understand.
"I'm not going to tell you what I mean, because you'll find out soon enough. That of course meaning if you're going to stay his friend. But if you hurt him in any way, as his big brother I'm obligated to kick your ass. I hope you understand that it's only fair. Ja ne!" He called over his shoulder as he walked away to tend to his own business.
xXx
Naruto was still dragging the brunette down the hall (no that he minded) as he searched for his class. He sometimes took the directions the brunette gave him, when he got to an unfamiliar area. Neji was wondering exactly when to make his move, but he didn't need to think about it because in his moment of inner thoughts the blonde had led them to a dead end.
The totally unaware blonde was startled when two hands came on either side of his head. He yelped in a very unmanly way before turning around to give his best glare (which is the equivalent of a puppy sneezing) to the smirking brunette behind him.
"Neji what are you doing?" He asked voice wavering only slightly.
"Nothing at all Naru-chan. I just wanted to see what you looked like really close up." He breath fanned across the blushing teen's face.
"Well are you done looking yet?" The white eyed teen shook his head and moved his face even closer. "Well, whad'dya see?" He asked, trying to get the Hyuuga to back up.
"Your eyes," they're beautiful.' He finished in his head.
"Well now that you've got a good look at my eyes could you give me some space to breathe?" He asked with a huff of indignation, trying to stop the flushing of his cheeks. The brunette just smirked at him before turning heel, and walking away. Neji knew that the blonde was going to follow him, so there was no need to wait for the red faced teen.
"Um, ok." Naruto finished along lamely. The brunette didn't show any response to the retort besides a pale hand that directed the blonde to the class he was assigned.
"Well this is where our journey ends, I'll see you around Naruto." The blonde waved enthusiastically to the teen's back as he walked into a separate class down the hallway.
"Fuck." Naruto said as his eyes gave off that familiar sting. He braced his hands on the wall, trying to keep himself from falling because of his sudden light headedness. Vibrant colors swirled around violently, mixing and blending all of his surroundings. He saw a mixture of faces, some looking concerned, others gossiping about the 'high kid' that came to school today.
The pain behind his eyes eased up just enough so that the blonde could gather his bearings and walk into class. As expected everyone's eyes flew to the new kid trying to figure out who he was by appraising his clothes.
(A/N: Perspective change!)
I tried to ignore all the looks everyone kept giving me, but it was hard. It was like they were looking at every pore in my skin. Like I was some experiment on display for their entertainment. Not to mention that I was a little lost right now. I barely remember how I got in this classroom in front of all these people. All I can remember are the silhouettes of a couple of faces this morning. But I think they hold some significance so far.
'Is that Kurenai-sensei?' Wow it's been forever since I've seen her. I had no idea she worked here. I went up to the board where she was currently writing complicated formulas and gave her a hug from behind. It's not as its sounds, so get your mind out of the gutter!
"N-Naruto? Is that you?" After she realized that it was in fact 'me' she then decided to squeeze me to death in her boobs also. What's with women and death by boobal asphyxiation? (A/N: Hehehe new word!)
"Oh my, it is! How have you been? Last I heard you and your brother were off in America!" Oh I loved it when pretty ladies gushed over me. And by the grin that spread over my face I'm guessing the other students noticed it too.
"Yes well, I really wanted to graduate and go to college in my hometown. And Kyuubi didn't seem to care." The practiced lie rolled off my tongue like water on glass. She really wasn't that close to my inner circle to know the truth. Hell, she probably wouldn't understand at all.
"Well that's good I suppose." She gave me another hug before directing me to an empty seat in the back of the class. I don't know why teachers did that. It was strange really. It's like they totally ignored the glasses on my face. Oh, I know what it is. They think since I have glasses that I have freaking superhuman sight. If that was the case then why the hell would I need glasses in the first place? Idiots! The whole lot! But, I really can't complain; Kurenai-sensei sat me next to a really pretty girl.
Her long brown hair was in a messy bun with two white chopsticks in it. Her uniform seemed way more conservative, but sexy none the less. I went to sit by her and she didn't seem fazed at all. I came to the conclusion that I was really starting to like her.
"Hello my name's Uzumaki Naruto." I said to her extending my hand. Her dainty fingers covered mine and I brought the pale appendage to my lips softly, never breaking eye contact. The red tinge on her face was reward enough for my valiant effort at charming.
"My name's Haku, and I'm a boy." She-I mean He said. I could tell he was reading my reactions, and I'm guessing that my saucer eyes weren't really helping at all. I guess this happened to him often. But, then again he was wearing a skirt.
"Well my dearest Haku you are extremely pretty for a boy. And I must say that I am most pleased to make your acquaintance." Oh yeah, I'm laying it on thick, but he doesn't seem to mind. Wow is that blush going away any time today? I'm starting to worry about the blood for his head.
"Thank you, Uzumaki-san." Wow, being back in Japan is really giving me some major culture shock. In America we never used formalities. I can't remember the last time someone called me that.
"Please call me Naruto, and no formalities. I'd like to think we were some type of friends now." He really looked shocked. Did I offend him? I hope not!
"L-like a precious person?" He asked in an extremely cute way. Or at least I thought so.
"Yep, like a precious person!" I exclaimed brightly. I looked around and noticed that everyone was already doing some problem on the board. Ugh, here we go.
xXx
"Kiba… I don't… think… I could… do this… everyday…" Kyuubi panted to his best friend who had also collapsed on the grass next to him. The redhead had just finished his 15 laps around the campus, and that was just the warm up to their activities for the day.
"Che, and you didn't believe me when I said our gym teacher was borderline sadistic." The dog was on all fours desperately trying to get the much needed oxygen into his lungs.
The two teens had been trying to keep up with the teacher's favorite student who looked like his double in all ways. The boy didn't wear the assigned gym uniform of basketball shorts and a t-shirt, but instead he wore a full body jumpsuit. His clothing choice wasn't the only thing wrong with his appearance, his face was also another strange piece to the puzzle of strangeness. His hair was bowl cut to the tee and bushy black eyebrows framed extremely round eyes. Now all of this could be overlooked. You can see even stranger people on the subway in New York at midnight. That wasn't the problem, his personality was.
The boy named Lee, was even worse than Naruto during one of his most annoying times. Kyuubi swore that if he heard one more cry of youth or joy he was going to a rusty pike to stick in his ears.
"Kiba, remind me later to punch you in the throat." The brunette laughed hollowly as he got off the ground, and pulled his companion up too.
"Alright students pair up, because it's time for some rugby!"
"Kiba I'm almost afraid to ask what rugby is." Kyuubi groaned.
"Extreme football." The wild brunette answered in an almost stricken voice. He snapped out of it when he heard the teacher's pet gushing over the extreme sport.
"OH GAI-SENSEI!"
"OH LEE!"
"GAI-SENSEI!"
"LEE!"
'oh indeed.'
xXx
"Well we've gotten everything done that needed to be done today. Are there any questions? No? Ok the last twenty minutes can be spent doing homework or talking amongst your selves." Kurenai-sensei said. Math had been nice today, not only was Haku a nice piece of eye candy/motivation, he was also helpful. He assisted me on problems when I got stuck if the teacher was busy with someone else.
"So Haku you're not from around here, are you?" I asked, trying to make some light conversation lest our interactions get awkward.
"Um no, I moved here from Kiri about a year and a half ago, with my uncle. What gave it away?" His tone suggested that he was genuinely curious.
"Your eyes have more of a soft upwards angle than most people that were born here. So the land of water, how was it living there?" Is he blushing again? Damn, I'm good.
"It was ok, but I like living here better. It doesn't rain as much, and it's not as humid either."
"It's nice that you like it here, because I can't say I wouldn't be sad if you wanted to go back." I replied with that dazzling smile I was known for. And… there goes the blush. I'm starting to really like that.
"Have you fully explored all the wonders that this huge city has to offer?"
"No, I really haven't had anyone to show me, and my uncle says I'm too 'delicate' to go exploring. Whatever that means." The last part came out as grumble that completely floored me. I was laughing so hard that Kurenai-sensei had come over to see if I was having a mental breakdown. I just never thought that could come out of sweet little Haku's mouth. I guess you learn new things every day.
"Hm, that's too bad, but if you can convince your uncle to do it I could show you around. You could also meet my brother too. Well, if you'd like." His eyes were wide and hopeful, like I just gave him the last bowl of ramen ever. Not that I would do that. It'd be a cold day in hell when I voluntarily give someone ramen. I had to look away from his soulful brown eyes, because they were making me uncomfortable.
"Oh I would love that!" He practically dove over out of his seat to hug me. Of course I returned it awkwardly.
"Wait, you have a brother?" I nodded. "Well what's he look like, maybe I could meet him during lunch."
"Well, he's almost as good looking as me." He giggled, how cute. "Basically he's my duplicate, were twins, but his hair is really red, and his eyes are a lighter blue. The idiot got all the freaking height genes, while I got the good looks. Naturally of course." Aren't I modest?
"You should be able to meet him during lunch. We might go off campus, because I've made a vow to never eat school food ever." A shudder went through my body involuntarily as I relived the horrid nightmare that is school food.
"Why not?" He asked, as curious as ever.
"Long story." I sighed.
xXx
"And so the food went sailing through the air, not to mention that is was sloppy Joe day and it landed right in his hair, and on his shirt!" My idiot brother exclaimed to Haku as we (Kiba, Kyuubi, Haku, and I) rolled to a little ramen shop close to the school's campus.
The long haired brunette laughed in his delicate manner as the two brash idiots in the front seats laughed as hard as they could at my expense. That day happened to be the worst picture day in history. American school lunches sucked balls. I'm glad that he didn't mention that the reddish/brown slop crusted onto to my shirt and wouldn't flake or wash off.
It kind of surprised me how well Kyuubi, and Kiba hit it off with Haku. They took to him pretty well, they didn't even have one of their famous idiot 'what' moments when he revealed his true gender. So I'm actually kind of proud of them.
We pulled up to the little diner with a squeak from the tires, and we all climbed out of the vehicle. We entered the quaint little eatery and grabbed a booth. Haku was still a little timid around the both of them so he sat by me.
Ayame, my favorite waiter, and the owners daughter came over and took our orders (not to mention hug me to death. Yay boobs!) She was a cute girl after all, so I didn't mind her crushing hug. I don't think Kyuubi minded either. She gave a hug to Kiba also when the idiot started to pout and whine like the dog everyone knows he is.
Ten minutes later came my six bowls of ramen to everyone else's. What? I haven't had good homemade ramen for three years! That's a really long time! Believe it. Haku looked a little disgusted, but he seemed to enjoy himself regardless of what a pig I am.
"So, Naruto met any cute faces yet?" Kyuubi asked in his naturally goofy way.
"I guess you could say that." I glanced subtly at Haku, others wouldn't have seen it, but Kyuubi and I have created a speechless language over the years. "And I remember some faces, but the names and specific features escape me." He and Kiba knew what I was referring to. Haku didn't need to know yet.
"Hm, did one have long chestnut hair and white eyes without pupils?" I nodded.
"…Hyuuga Neji, short black hair that went up in the back in a stupid hairstyle?" Another nod. "…Uchiha Sasuke, and one more with blood red hair, green eyes, and a red tattoo."
"Sabaku Gaara. Be wary little brother they seem to have a crush on you." I rolled my eyes, not even trying to hide it. It seems since the day I hit puberty, every hot blooded male wants to jump my bones. My brother's just paranoid, which is totally understandable considering our situation over the three years, but still.
"Haku may I ask you a question? You don't have to answer if you don't want to." I said. This question had been pestering all through math and lunch.
"Sure." He said.
"Why do you wear skirts instead of pants even though you're a boy?"
"I think I'm more comfortable in skirts, besides everyone thinks I'm a girl no matter what apparel I wear. The faculty doesn't care either way, so long as I'm not causing trouble." That kind of made sense, I guess.
"You must have to beat the boys off with a stick then." Kiba commented.
"Not everyone's a dog like you Kibbles." I said. Ah, witty comedy; you got to love it.
"Well they aren't too much of a problem now. My uncle taught me martial arts since I was little. When one guy gets beat up by the 'pretty girl' in school then everyone knew to steer clear." He finished with a little evil smile. I never would have guessed it.
"Wow that's cool. That means you and I can spar once in a while. It's been three years, and I'm out of practice." Haku's blush spread over his nose and cheeks when I smiled at him. Oh yeah, its official, I'm smoking hot!
xXx
The school day went on without any new exciting events happening. My last class of the day was biology, but all was well and my teacher was pretty awesome too. He was an old teacher of mine when I was in elementary.
Kyuubi and I told each other about our day as we road home in our car. I thought his gym hour was pretty funny, but he hit me when I laughed, which resulted in a ten minute slap fight when we pulled into the driveway.
So far the week had started off pretty nice, I'll just have to see if I can keep it that way.
Thanks for reading the 2nd chapter of TOAL. I really appreciate it. Please read and review or drop a suggestion in a personal message or review.
