The next day, Pein woke early, around eight. He sat upright in a hurry, looking around him frantically. Where am I? he thought.
But it came to him. It all came to him, and it sank his insides like rocks. He was still trapped here, in this world. He was clinging to the leg of a woman like a child because he wasn't "on his feet," as Konan's grandmother had said.
Pein pulled himself out of bed and made the trip to the bathroom, took care of business, and washed his face. He stared at himself in the mirror, his heart plunging to his feet. His eyes were green. They were plain. There was no rippling around his pupils, no gray-violet in them at all. They were nothing but emerald.
He hated them. With every fiber of his being, he hated them. They were a disgrace to his power.
Having lost track of time, he was startled when there was a tap on the door. He quickly opened the door and looked down at Konan's grandmother. She was smiling. "I thought you might have fallen in," she teased. "Are you nearly ready to go?"
"Go?" Pein asked.
She chuckled. "We need to get you registered for school, don't we?"
"Oh, school," Pein said, "right. I'll go change." He stepped around her and headed back to his bedroom, pulling a fresh outfit from the plastic bag he got the day before. He changed into them and just looked himself over. They felt wrong. They weren't him.
Konan's grandmother was waiting at the door. She smiled at him. "Quite a lot of black," she noted.
Pein looked down at himself again. "I guess it's a good color for me."
"Matches those rods in your body, I suppose," she said. Pein felt his heart flutter with a familiar happiness when he picked up the bitterness in her tone. She was weary of him. That reminded him of home. But she made all of that crumble when she hooted with laughter. "But they make you look cute, I'll admit."
He forced a smirk. "Thank you." And he followed her from the house, taking her arm as they walked, fearful of an elder walking around so much. She walked everywhere. He just didn't want her collapsing.
She chuckled. "My, aren't you the gentleman?" she teased.
The auburn smirked and hooked his arm for her to take properly. "Anything for you, ma'am," he said, "I owe you a royal treatment."
The old woman told him stories of her past as they walked, and he listened silently to her. He would nod occasionally to let her know he was listening. But he only started to listen when she talked about Konan and this school. "She says it's a little rough, but I'm sure a strapping young man like you will do just fine. You just need to find the right people to be around. Stick to Konan, alright?"
"Yes, ma'am," Pein said. He had full intentions of following her around as best he could. School wasn't exactly his cup of tea. He wasn't used to being around so many people, let alone violent teenagers. He was in a weakened state; he was at their level. He couldn't attack them and expect instant victory.
When they entered the school, the children must have been switching classes. They filled the hallways, talking loudly, laughing, slamming lockers, and pushing one another around. A few turned and looked at him. He stared back, hoping to communicate a low threat level, but he only received middle fingers and crooked sneers. He decided just to drop his gaze.
The main office was silent, except for the click and hum of computers. Konan's grandmother asked for the principal, and he came out of his office, beckoning them in. They took seats before his desk and got through a lot of talking, which Pein didn't take part in; he just sat and listened, only nodding or shaking his head when he was glanced at for an answer.
The paperwork became an issue. Pein had to previous school records and used home-schooling as an excuse. He also told the man he didn't have any of those papers because his parents had died in a fire, which had burned all the documents. He felt his stomach churn when he disrespected them like that, and he sent a prayer that they would forgive him for this.
They came to an agreement. Pein would start off with straight C's and work from there. After an excessive hour, everything was made out, and Pein was told he could start tomorrow.
When they were dismissed, Pein rose and held out his hand. "Thank you, sir," he said curtly.
The older man took his hand and shook it. "I'm looking forward to seeing you in the halls," he said warmly.
Pein held his arm out for Konan's grandmother, which she took with a girlish giggle, and they left. Pein made sure to hold his shoulders a little straighter than before and tried to put pride in his step. He wasn't in the mood for communicating wrong ideas; he didn't want to be thought of as a weakling. If they overestimated him, he would be fine with that.
"Excited for your first day?" the little woman at his side asked.
Her question had caught him off guard. "Uh, yeah," he stammered, "I guess I am."
She patted his forearm. "Don't be nervous. They can smell fear."
"You're kidding, right?" Pein asked. He was in a different world; maybe they did have heightened senses.
The woman hooted with laughter. "Of course, dear!" she crooned.
The sigh of relief almost escaped him. Tonight, he would talk to Konan about this school, and he would learn everything he could to get a head start. And tomorrow, he would be ready.