I adjust my purple fishnet tights under my dark jean shorts; I decided on my knee high converse heels today, I don't want to reveal how short I really am to that bastard Sasori. I decided to wear my short sleeve dark green sweater the top rolled down to reveal my shoulders. I left my hair down with my little braid running through it, and throw on some purple eye shadow, because I felt like it. Now all I need to do is grab my car keys, I still can't believe my parents bought me a car. I walk down the stairs and smile at the cup of coffee mom left out for me by my car keys. I take a sip and slip the piano key lanyard with my car keys on it around my neck, adjusting my vendetta scarf underneath it. I grab my purple bag and check to make sure my homework for history and wallet is in my bag before walking out the door, locking it behind me. Mom and Dad had to go to work early today, so that left me alone to do my morning routine. I walk out to my car, smiling at the dark purple color, I love my life. I hop into the front seat and plug in my mp3 player into the cassette slot and start the car, smiling as Rihanna's voice begins to sing through my speakers.
"Feel it coming through the air, and there's screams from everywhere." I sing along with the words, wait until Haku and Ino see this.
I drive through town and finally pull up to the school just as Hollywood Undead begins to blast through my speakers; I park my car in a spot in the student parking lot. I shut my off car and collect my stuff, hoping that I won't have to confront Sasori to early today. I begin walking towards the front entrance of the school where I first met Ino, hopefully she will be there. I feel a pair of arms wrap around my arm and I turn to see Haku hugging me with a smile on his face. His hair is pulled back into a bun with his bangs falling into his face. He's wearing a dark blue sweater that goes down past his knees with black leggings on underneath and converse.
"Morning cutie, I like your threads," I say, putting my hand on my hip.
"Thanks you look pretty cute yourself, I saw you pull in, I didn't know you had a car." Haku says.
"Yeah my parents actually gave it to me yesterday, isn't it awesome!" I gush, "And it's purple, hey let's find Ino I can't wait to tell her."
We walk further into the school yard and look around for her, but I couldn't find our blonde friend anywhere. I started to get worried, it's only the second day of school she couldn't be sick already right? Then I see her running in from across the street of the school, I run up to meet her, Haku at my heels.
"Hey your late, is something wrong?" I ask when I notice her eyes are slightly red.
"Nothing I'm fine," she says, adjusting her close fitting long sleeved black t-shirt.
Her hair is pulled into a ponytail of course and her shirt has a small dip in the neck. She is wearing a bright purple skirt with a pair of bright blue fishnets underneath. On her feet are a pair of ballet flats.
"Hon are you sure you're ok?" I ask, reaching out to touch her face, she flinches and steps back.
"I'm fine, let's go to class, History right, I did my homework what about you?"
"Ino are you sure you're ok?" Haku asks, "You're really starting to scare me."
"I'm fine, just really tired," the bell rings before we can ask her more, she pushes past us and begins walking towards the door.
"I have first block with her, I'll see if I can figure anything out." I say to Haku, he nods and we split apart.
Ino is already in her seat, looking at her lap quietly. I take my seat beside her and let the silence settle around us, wondering if I should bring it up so soon or just let it simmer for a minute. After five minutes pass I cannot handle it anymore and I turn to her to ask her what is wrong, but she beats me to the punch.
"I just had a fight with my Dad ok, no big deal." She whispers, pulling her homework out of her bag, "a lot of people fight with their parents it's no big deal, ok?"
"If you really think it's no big deal Ino." I whisper.
"Well it isn't, so can we please not talk about this anymore." She snaps and turns to the front of the room where Iruka- sensei now stands.
The class turns in their homework and then Iruka begins a conversation about what we will start with and end with. Ino doesn't talk at all but she begins to perk up, like a wilted flower after getting watered. Sasori glares at my back the entire class, but I do not give him the satisfaction of turning around. The bell rings and I walk Ino to her next class, she gives me a small smile and I walk to my Biology class, scared out of my mind at what Orochimaru could say to me. I walk in and take my seat next to Konan, who gives me a giant smile. She looks nice today, her hair is the same, but it suits her. She's wearing a navy blue shirt with a short leather jacket over it, a pair of ripped up leggings with a black and blue checkerboard skirt over it.
"So your Pein's girlfriend." I say.
"Yes." She blushes, looking down at her lap.
"And you are also a member of the Akatsuki."
"Yes, I'm sorry I did not tell you." She whispers.
"No its fine, I was just surprised that you don't have anything on your person that reveals you are in the gang." I say.
"Well I have a tattoo of the symbol on my left hip." She says, giggling slightly, "Red doesn't go very well with my color scheme."
"Cool, I have a tattoo as well."
"Hello class, we shall pick up where we left off on our notes, everyone take them out and make sure you have a pencil or some other writing utensil." Orochimaru states irritated, he turns towards the white board and I can see that damned eighth note on the back of his neck.
The class moves slow, and every time he walks by me I can feel him glaring darkly, like he wishes to kill me. Konan gives me sympathetic looks whenever we get a spare moment, but other than that I am on my own trying not to look intimidated. The class finally ends and I try to run out as fast as possible, until the snake calls my name. I turn back towards him, letting everyone else leave the room.
"Yes Sensei?" I ask, digging my fingernails into my palm.
"I need you to make up the rest of your detention afterschool with me today, tell Haku as well, now leave."
I walk out of the door and quickly head to Algebra 2, never have I been happier for a math class in my entire life. Ino is already at her seat, Sakura speaking in her disgusting voice, walk to her hearing the last of Sakura's words.
"Aw did you realize you were ugly this morning, took you long enough," Sakura snickers.
"No she started crying because she was laughing so hard because you thought you could actually pull of that outfit. I mean you look like you belong in a trailer park." I say, looking at her checker board shorts that are way too short for school.
"Oh go fuck yourself Mayumi; you're not cool at all." Sakura shrieks and walks away.
"Hey are you ok?" I ask.
"Yeah, I'm just too tired to deal with her right now," Ino says, leaning onto her palm, "How was Biology with Mr. Pedo?"
"I have to stay after school with him today," I say in a deadpan, "Haku too, I'm really not happy about it."
"That sucks; I'll wait in the library for you guys again, alright?" She asks, her voice sounding bubbly, almost back to normal.
"Alright, oh I never got to tell you, my parents bought me a car, after we get out of detention I'll show you." I say, smiling.
"Awesome, we should go to the movies today, there is this one new movie-" and the conversation headed in a happy direction from there. Ino acted as if she was never depressed in the first place, and gushed about how hot Gaara looked in Gym today. It was nice, math was simple, we started going over graphing algebraic expressions, really just review. I watched Itachi speaking lightly with Kisame in the back of the room, Ino told me there names finally. They looked so cute sitting next to each other, I wonder if they're going out. The class ended quickly and after walking Ino to her class I went up to the roof. Not surprising at all was the fact that Pein was once again sleeping in the corner. His shirt is black with a red cloud right in the center, a leather jacket under his head. His jeans are black and not a single tear in them, his piercings gleam in the sunlight. I sat in the corner and pulled out my History homework, a multiple choice work sheet covering everything we would learn in history. I was already on number 58 out of 100, so I think I'm going to pass this class.
"So were you in a gang in Kusogakure?" Pein asks, I look up startled that he was awake.
"Why would you think I was in a Gang?" I question, pushing my chin down against my vendetta scarf.
"Well you identified us as a gang, which means you know that gangs typically have some sort of symbol on their body. You understand how body language can determine whether you're weak or not. The whole time you were fighting with Sasori you never took a step away from him, and you asserted yourself when it counted. So I'm wondering, were you in a gang, or just very close to one?" Pein says, sitting up from the ground and leaning against the chain link fence surrounding the roof.
"Why do you need to know if I was or not?" I ask, "Thinking of converting me to your little club?"
"Maybe, but you also said something yesterday that peeked my interest in you." He leans forward, gray eyes almost spinning, "you said I wonder if you know about them, who is them?"
"So you really don't know." I whisper, "should I tell you is the real question."
"What do you want in exchange for your information?" Pein asks, "I can offer you a place in our gang, even a place for your two friends Haku and Ino. I can offer you money, a place to stay if your home is inconvenient, a family even. I just want to know if there is another gang out there threatening my family."
"You have deep care for that which you have created, I respect that," I say, I almost tell him about it until the roof door slams open and the Scorpling comes up, followed by Hidan.
Sasori sees me and we begin to glare at one another. His shirt is dark brown with a black vest over it. His jeans are blue with rips on the knees and a red cloud patch on a scarf around his neck. I narrow my eyes at him, standing to my feet.
"What are you doing here?" he questions, arrogance in his voice.
"Last I checked it was a free country and I can stand wherever the fuck I want," I growl, pulling my bag onto my shoulder.
"Hey it's the badass chick that called you a fire-crotch, hey Shorty what's up?" Hidan asks, waving his hand at me.
"I'd prefer it if you didn't call me Shorty but thank you for the praise. Now if you don't mind I have lunch in about five minutes so I don't have time to play with you tools." I say, cocking out my hip.
"Wait," Pein shouts as I begin to walk for the door, "Think about my proposal at least."
"I may take you up on your bargain, but I may need more than your word to convince me." I chuckle, "Tata for now boys."
Akatsuki's P.O.V.
"I almost did it Konan, I almost found out about the other gang, but then Sasori had to come and ruin it," Pein growled, stabbing at the mashed potatoes on his plate.
"Not my fault she is such a bitch," Sasori grumbled, taking a swig out of his water bottle.
"No but you know the gang would benefit with her and her friends in it," Pein growled, "And she has information about another gang in school, one we don't know about."
"Do you really think there is another gang besides us?" Kisame asks, looking over at Itachi.
"It's possible, strange that they have stayed hidden for so long." The weasel replies, munching on a piece of cookie.
"It's a strange concept yes, but we have reason to believe Mayumi was in a gang herself. If that's true than she knows about other gangs, if she knows about a gang we don't know about there is a problem." Konan protests, "We need her on this team, no questions asked."
"I have not found anything weird in the student database, JUST THE NORMAL CROP OF ASSHOLES." Zetsu growls, switching personalities, "None of the other students stick out."
"But Tobi thinks if Mayumi says there is another gang then there is!" Tobi shouts, stealing Zetsu's milk when he isn't looking.
"She doesn't seem like much of a liar, and she is pretty hardcore too, un." Deidara cheers.
"I don't like her," Sasori growls, slamming his hands against the table, "What's there to like about her."
"Her personality is fucking funny as hell, she can make you so angry its comical, she has style obviously, I mean those shoes she is wearing are hot. And did I mention she pisses you off?"Hidan smirks, nudging Kakuzu's shoulder.
"We already have enough annoying people in this group, do we really need more?" Kakuzu asks, nudging Hidan back roughly.
"We need secret members; we won't have to hang out with them at lunch or anything during school. But we can meet on the weekends and exchange information; it's really not that big a deal." Konan says, "Besides if we have more people we can take turns on who goes out fighting and collecting information and who stays home instead of risking the lives of our members."
"Konan has a point, so I don't care if you like or hate them, they are going to be a part of this team, is that clear?" Pein asked a deep authority in his tone.
"Yes," everyone agreed, although Sasori looked like he would rather cut his own throat.
Mayumi's P.O.V.
"So wait Pein offered us positions in Akatsuki too?" Ino asked, blue eyes shimmering with excitement, "Shut up!"
"That would be the coolest thing ever, all of us in Akatsuki together." Haku smiled, "Then I wouldn't need to worry about Zabuza, because I'd be a member too!"
"I'm glad you guys are so excited, but I'm really on the fence about it." I mumble, picking at my school lunch, I think the meatloaf just moved, "I just left town, do I really want to join a gang the second day of school?"
"How about this, we discuss it with Zabuza tomorrow, and we can decide and give them an answer next week." Haku says, "No pressure, it's your decision not ours."
"Gaara looks so irresistible today, red is so his color." Ino drools, I have to agree with her though, his red short-sleeved shirt is tight fitting, and his sleeves of fishnet make him look rather edgy, his pants are black with cut marks on the knees. He looks up with his kohl black eyes, meets eyes with Ino and automatically ducks down, the tips of his ears red.
"Oh no he saw me, damn it!" Ino cries, her face turning as red as Gaara's hair, "He must think I'm such a creep!"
"Calm the drama Ino, why are you freaking out anyway?" a voice asks from behind me, I look behind me to see a boy with spiky blonde hair and dazzling blue eyes.
"Oh Naruto how are you?" Haku asks, "Take a seat, how was your summer?"
"It was great, I finally got adopted by Jiraiya, took the old bastard long enough." The blonde says, sitting down beside me, he is kind of cute with those whisker marks on his cheeks. His shirt is bright orange and pants a tight black, I bet he has a boyfriend, he just screams uke.
"How are things going with Sasuke?" Haku asks, smiling at the blush that rises on Naruto's face.
"Well this summer was great but a few weeks ago he started getting distant, I don't know what's wrong with him anymore." Naruto groans, putting his head on the table, "I need to get a boyfriend that actually gives a shit."
"What about Sai?" Ino suggests, pointing to a boy with short cut black hair sitting near Sakura, ew how can he stand the smell?
"Hell no he insults my.. My little friend, hangs around with Sakura, and is way too much like Sasuke." Naruto sighs, "The only other people in the school who I would want to date are Gaara and you Haku, but Gaara is straight and you're taken."
"Gaara is mine, I called him like forever ago," Ino states, "Anyway what about Deidara, I heard a humor that he bats for the other team, he's completely different from Sasuke, and he is pretty hot."
"He is a hot piece of man cake," Haku chuckles, looking over at the blonde, "After Zabuza and you Naruto I would go for him."
"He is hot," Naruto chuckles, "But I've wanted Sasuke since middle school and now I finally have him. Maybe I'll just talk with him and see if I can work things out."
"Alright, hey you're the new girl right, the one who bumped into Sasori yesterday right?" Naruto asks, looking over at me.
"Is that the only way people know me, geez is it really that big a deal to bump into the scorpling?" I ask, looking at the three.
"Yeah pretty much, the last kid who did it wound up in the nurses office, then he transferred to a different school," Ino says, "He has quite a reputation."
"So It would seem, that's probably the only thing that makes me not want to accept." I say, not wanting to reveal the details to Naruto, I don't even know him.
"Understandable, so how was biology with Mr. Pedo?" Haku asks, taking a sip out of his milk.
"Shit I almost forgot, that bastard gave us fucking detention after school again today." I groan, slamming my head against the table, "We are so going to have a bad day today,"
"Damn this sucks, I hate this, he is just trying to ruin my life." Haku groans, "I can't wait until Zabuza comes back, he's going to be in Biology with Ino and I."
"I feel for you guys, that guy gives me the creeps, especially the looks he gives Sasuke in the hallway when he walks by." Naruto whimpers, "To be honest it really scares me."
"Well Naruto do you want to come to the movies with us, we're meeting up with Ino after our detention." I ask, "We're meeting her in the library, I'm sure she could use some company."
"Sure, I actually have some questions about Geometry, I'm failing." Naruto chuckles, scratching the back of his head.
"But it's only the second day of school!" Ino exclaims, leaning forward.
"I know," Naruto moans, tears in the corners of his eyes, "Why does school have to be so hard!"
"I'll help you calm down, just don't bring Sasuke, he's such a killjoy," Ino grumbles, the bell rings and we all head to our classes.
I pull out my painting from yesterday and another piece of paper to paint on, since I am mostly done with my painting from yesterday. Gaara is already at our table, drawing on a new piece of paper, I go to collect some water colors from the closet when Sasori comes up next to me with an annoyed look on his face.
"Could you pass me the wood glue?" He asks, pointing to a container of glue.
"I didn't hear a please," I sing, giggling as his faces conforms into an angry face.
"Please," he hisses.
"Please what?"
"Please could you pass me the fucking wood glue."
"Alright, jeez somebody forgot to take her Midol," I chuckle, handing him the bottle; he rips it out of my hand and stomps away.
I pull out the rest of my new color palette and paint and walk over to Gaara, he already has a sketch of two little kids standing hand in hand. One has spiky hair like his, and the other a ponytail, short but similar to Ino's. Again he is doing it in a shadow effect, probably because I'm friends with Ino and he likes the style. It fits his personality I suppose, dark and mysterious, just what Ino likes. I add the last details onto my Vendetta symbol and then move onto my new piece. I begin to draw out my house from memory. Remembering the crack in the roof, and the busted porch roof where Nori and I would sneak out from. The busted up blue window boxes, and the crooked front door that Dad could just never fix. The picture comes together and I feel a deep home sickness hit my stomach, I really miss this place. Gaara looks over at my painting and smiles, a very small one, but a smile regardless. I look over at his drawing once again and see that he has drawn in the clothing on the children, and they are facing what could be the moon or the sun, I am not certain. The two are holding hands, and they look like they are running forward towards the moon/sun.
"I love it," I whisper, "do you ever color them in?"
"I think I might color this one in, just because I don't want the moon to be a crescent, its prettier when it's full. Is that your old home?"
"Yes, I miss it; it was cozy and safe, although I never really spent a lot of time in it."
"What did you do?"
"Hung out with my friends and such," not really wanting to reveal my gang activity.
"Class is almost over, want to pack up or are you going to stay?" Gaara asks, darkening a tree in the background of the picture.
"I wish I could but I have detention, I really need to buy some art supplies, know anywhere I can get some?"
"Yeah there is an art shop by the movie theater on North Street."
"Awesome, I'll get some today."
We put away our art pieces and the bell rang, I met up with Haku and hand in hand we walked to detention, scared out of our minds. Yesterday was the worst, I could hardly keep my entire cool, I couldn't even control the trembling in my knees, let alone provide support for Haku. I turn to Haku before we enter the classroom, looking deep into his eyes.
"You need to not show any fear, don't shake, clench my hand if you need to alright. Never look him in the eye, I will do that, ok cutie be strong and we will get out of this faster." He nods, his face becoming blank.
We walk into the room and take our seat at the desk we sat in the day before. Our hands clutch onto each other and I begin to glare at my desk, ignoring the fiery glare Orochimaru is giving me. He stands from his desk and begins to walk around the room, as he starts to walk towards our desk; I release Haku's hand after giving it one tight squeeze.
"Who gave you permission to leave?" Orochimaru asks, standing in front of us, "Because I did not."
"Anko-sensei told us to leave, so we left Sensei, we are sorry we did not listen for your dismissal." I say in a calm steady voice, "It will not happen again."
"No it won't because I am going to teach you a lesson." Orochimaru turns, but I see an evil glint in his eye as he begins walking towards the front of the room, "If teachers were still allowed to hit they're students I would, but I think I have a better idea. I'm going to have you dissect a few of my lab rats; you will have to kill them yourself of course." I clench Haku's hand and Squeeze, I had a feeling was about to become a vegetarian.
"Excuse me Orochimaru-sensei but I need to discuss something with you." A boy with gray hair pulled back into a pony tail says, adjusting his glasses with his middle finger. He is one of the ones in my Biology class, he has a music note on him, he is one of Orochimaru's.
"I see," Orochimaru turns to us with a slight pout on his face, "Well detention is over, don't do this again or I really will have you dissecting live rats." Haku and I nod and bolt from the class, running all the way to the library.
"Thank god for Kabuto-sempai" Haku cries, "We're lucky we got out of there."
"He's…" I mumble, remember the casual look he threw me when he adjusted his glasses.
"What Kabuto, he is a straight A student, he's one of Orochimaru's favorites." Haku says, "What about him?"
"He's one of Orochimaru's, he has the music note on him." Haku's eyes widen, and I stare grimly at the ground, the good students aren't as good as they appear.