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Chapter 24
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Crossway
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Ame Institute was composed of one mid-rise building. Unlike Konoha Academy, it had a modern architecture. It was made of thick bluish green glasses and the building shape was not the usual square. The topmost facade had an angular shape, as if reaching to the sky, making it look oblique. There was another smaller building under construction beside it and I heard it was where the event and convention rooms would be shifted. The entrance gates of the institute has a tribal water wave insignia at the center in a deep shade of blue. The student uniforms were similar to Konoha's, except the trademark color was sea blue.
Awkward must be the right word to describe the ambience during the first day the Konoha students arrived at the opposite institute. It was obvious the students of both sides were not in the friendliest terms as two groups were divided at the open field when we filed inside. Groups of Ame students were there and they were watching and observing us wordlessly as we entered one by one. There was a gap between the two crowds.
It was the first time the classes met with each other after the Konoha incident.
"Sakura-chan! I'm so glad to see you again!" Rock Lee screeched eagerly as I found myself getting smothered in his embrace. He had a leg cast a couple of days ago and it was gone now.
"Ohayou, Lee!" I smiled, patting his shoulder. "How've you been?"
"Gai-sensei made me rest the whole week so I studied all the textbooks. I've been dying to congratulate you for capturing that convict Kabuto!" His round eyes flashed at me in admiration.
"No, it was you and me remember?" I felt my cheeks blushing a bit in embarrassment.
His smile turned shy as he scratched his head, his cheeks turning crimson, too. "Well, yeah... I guess you can say that. We make a good pair, don't we?"
We were both laughing when I heard a rasping noise a few feet away. Sasuke was there with his friends and he was rolling his eyes. I ignored him.
I would have expected the small reunion would be melancholic because of what happened, but everyone appeared to be lively, knowing everybody was doing all right despite the misfortune. Naruto and a recovering Chouji were surrounded by Shikamaru and the rest of the gang, chatting and patting each other's backs.
The students made way as Tsunade walked assertively through the throngs in her yellow robe with flame patterns stitched on the seams. She met Jiraiya at the center of the field and they shook hands.
"Welcome, Tsunade. You know we're happy to have you here. You look sexy in that new outfit of yours." Jiraiya beamed.
"Thanks and cut the crap, you old pervert." she remarked steely before following him inside the building. Jiraiya was chuckling the whole time.
"Follow me, seniors!" Kakashi called above the chitchats as the other professors guided the rest of the classes to their own respective classrooms.
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As we made our way toward our room, several heads of Ame students turned to us and watched as passed by along the corridors. It felt as if we were invading some other nation's territory and it was an unfamiliar sight for them. The tables in the classroom were new and the whiteboard and floors were polished. Each of us took our own seat, and I was seated between Ino and Hinata, just like our posts in our old school. Sasuke and his friends sat a few chairs in front of us and I could only see the distinct features again of his back side and spiky hair. Beside him was the blonde goofball, exactly his contrast.
"Settle down. Settle down." Kakashi stood before the class in front of the whiteboard. He was wearing a white blouse and dark blue slacks. Once the class was nested, he folded his arms together, leaned back against the instructor's table and surveyed the batch with his one dark brown eye. "Well, well... A week ago, I wouldn't have thought I'd be meeting you at this place. I'm really pleased you're all complete and doing fine despite the tragedy of our academy. But we have to set it behind us now and move forward. We're lucky to be here and have Ame Institue as a back up and to serve as our temporary home. We'll be here until the end of the school year and hopefully we'll have a new establishment to move in to after summer for the fresh batches."
Everyone was silent as they listened.
"Now, I know you guys aren't exactly comfortable here. I know what's going on underneath all that. But it won't hurt to get to know new people and be friends with them. You're too old for disputes and craps. You're already seniors and you should serve as role models for the lower batches and act like your age." Kakashi said casually. "And I know you don't even like the term 'role models'. I was there on every mishaps you've done and what you've been through all these years. You're the rebellious bunch and I've never really handled a batch as much as troublemaking as you."
Kakashi watched the class as no one made any reaction. The room was still. And sighed. "But you're in your last semester now... After this, we won't be seeing much of each other anymore. Graduation is just around the corner. So I want you to be the best that you can be this last period. You are one of the most talented class I've ever supervised and I know each of you will be going a long way. So let's make that happen, shall we, you spoiled sissies?"
There was a moment of pause, then the class cheered and clapped on. The boys exclaimed and were yelling jokingly about him. I would have thought some of the black sheeps in the class would say something in disagreement, but Sasuke and his friends were relaxed and Naruto was hooting animatedly.
I smiled as I sat there. I was glad we were back together.
Kakashi gave one bow in front of the class as if he had just performed a dance number in a theater before pulling out a textbook under his desk. He retraced the last session we had and resumed from where we last took off.
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Two hours went by before the bell rang, signaling the lunch break. The classroom doors opened and the students spilled out. I walked with Ino, Hinata and Ten Ten along the corridors.
"I wonder what food they serve here. Not to brag, but Konoha makes the best canteen food in the entire city, if you ask me." Ino said, flinging her hair back on her shoulder.
"I think the canteen's crowded. The student population just doubled today." Tenten said.
"Konnichiwa, Sakura-chan!"
I turned and saw Sasori striding towards me with a smile on his face. He had a pair of gray earphones clinging from his neckline. Ino, Hinata and Tenten stopped on their walk when they saw who approached.
Deidara was behind him and he waived at me. "What's up, Aya? I mean—Sakura."
That's Deidara, alright.
"Nice to see you here." Sasori said. "How's it going?"
"Ohayou." I smiled. "It's fine. We're just headed to the canteen for lunch."
"We're just about to go there, too. Why don't we all go together?"
"Yeah, sure." I replied, ignoring the looks Ino was throwing at me as if I was talking to some sort of a thug. I thought it would be nice for them to get to know him even for a bit and stop judging him quickly.
We were about to walk off when Sasuke and his friends arrived at the corridor from the classroom. They saw Sasori and his friends there with us and stopped on their tracks, eyeing the redhead. Sasori saw them, too, and did not move at all. He turned around to face him, the friendly smile on his face he gave me was replaced by a cold stare in a second. The lingering students noticed the presence of both sides and went hushed to observe them, anticipating the crossing of their paths. Sasuke looked at me and him without a word.
I remembered what Kakashi just said during the start of the class that day. It was not a good idea to start a fight there, especially if the property was not ours to begin with.
Naruto stepped out of the cluster. He had a part of his blonde hair shaved off, revealing a bandage pasted on the scalp. He saw Sasori and walked over towards him, leaving Sasuke and the others behind. They regarded each other for a short moment. Blue eyes met hazel brown ones. Then, to my little surprise and relief, he extended a hand between him and the redhead.
"I never got to say thank you." he said to Sasori. And for the first time, he grinned at him. "Thanks for helping me out in the clinic. I don't think I'd be able to make it out if you guys didn't burst in."
Silence filled the air as everyone stared at the two of them. Sasori only looked at him as if he was some kind of an alien. Then, he gradually lifted his arm and shook hands with Naruto.
"No problem." he uttered, a smirk gently spreading on his face. "Just try not to get your ass killed again."
Naruto's grin grew wider. "I won't."
It was amazing how I could feel the tension between the two gangs eased and everybody felt it in the corridor. The blonde and the redhead smiled at each other. They seemed to have finally acknowledged each other's presence as they gave one pat on each other's backs.
"So, is this some sort of peace treaty?" Deidara said behind Sasori with a doubtful expression.
"I guess you can say that." Naruto said as his friends approached them.
Sasuke looked somewhat skeptical as he watched them. I could hear a few girls squealing and squirming beside one another a few feet away as they watched the attractive boys.
"I guess we really have to co-exist, right?" Naruto said.
"Right." Sasori said. He looked at Sasuke, who was the only one there with a placid face. "And you agreed to this, Uchiha?"
"I didn't agree on anything." Sasuke said. "I don't like wasting time on moronic brawls as much as this idiot, but I'll still be kicking your ass if I have to."
Sasori rolled his eyes. "Nothing new there."
The two rival packs did not sit together when we arrived at the canteen, but they were not throwing nasty looks at each other anymore. In fact, they appeared to be having fun with their own set of friends during the break. Catching up with each other's whereabouts and all. Naruto was back in his boisterous self and Sasuke still gave off this cool aura that grabbed the attentions of new batches of fan girls in Ame Institute.
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The new year started like this. We adjusted ourselves to the new environment and I was able to see Sasori more often now. I tried not to spend too much time with him so as not to stir another heated argument with Sasuke, the possessive guy that he was. No high risk missions came about after the rumored death of Orochimaru and the rogues were mostly occupied with the alterations. There was a hint of animosity between Konoha and Ame students at first, but it gradually faded as the days went by. They appeared to have respected each other's boundaries and were soon getting together for organization works. Not everyone, though. There were still some students who were being pestered by the opposing students.
For a moment, the bullying I had been receiving stopped. But not in a total sense. I could still spot some girls throwing me dirty looks and overhearing them gossiping about me, but I did not care anymore.
Spring made its way. I was busy catching up with my studies for the coming final exams most of the time. I did not get to visit Sasori during his freelance photo shoots nor go to the malls with the girls. I thought everyone was busy with the final exams for the last semester except for Shikamaru and Sasuke, whom I never got see even once in the library or in any part of the school studying.
By the time we had taken the exams and was off for the rest of the week, I felt drained.
The sun was setting and I was about to go home after depleting ourselves with multiple tests when I saw a note pasted on my bag. It was from Kakashi and he was calling for a team meeting at the roof deck before the day ended.
Naruto, Sasuke and Kakashi were eating in bento boxes when I got at the roof deck. They were sharing each other's meals, some bottles of cold beer on the deck. Sasuke and Naruto had both their neck ties untangled around the collars and the top buttons of their shirts left open. Kakashi had also changed into a pair of black shirt and faded jeans. Classes were dismissed at this time and they looked like they were having a picnic on top of the building with no one else around. I knew alcohol drinks were not even allowed.
"Oi, Sakura-chan! Come and dig in!" Naruto called sprightly, his head bobbing up from a dish of dumplings.
Kakashi waived at me and I sat down next to them. He took a bottle of cold beer, popped the cap open and handed it to me. The bubbles fizzled out of the opening. "My treat." he grinned.
Sasuke watched me took it and gave a sip.
"What's the occassion?" I asked.
"Well, nothing really. I just want us four to spend some good quality time together since your exams are finally done. I know we all won't be seeing much by summer." Kakashi replied, his eye turning into a line as he smiled.
"Is this like some pre-farewell bonding shit?" Sasuke muttered, putting his chopsticks away from his mouth and stopping himself from eating a coffee jello.
"Don't think it that way and just enjoy the freaking food." Naruto said in a garbled way, stuffing more food in his big mouth.
"Actually..." Kakashi grabbed something from his back pocket. He handed me a folded red scroll. "This is to congratulate you for making it in the org, Sakura." He smiled.
I eyed the scroll for a few seconds on his hold before taking it. I opened it and read the contents quietly. It was an official membership certificate for Mortis Organization. The one that I'd been aiming for was there in my hold. Written in fine black letterings was my full name and the red signature stamp of the school head was imprinted at the bottom.
"Oh wow—congratulations, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed, clapping his hands like a kid. "Now, this really calls for a celebration!"
"Really? Are you serious?" It was all I could mumble as I stared at the piece of paper.
"Do I look like I'm joking?" Kakashi chuckled. He was actually much of a joker outside the school.
I saw Sasuke watched me folded the scroll back. He was just twirling a chopstick between his fingers like a drumstick as he watched my reaction.
"Congrats, kid." Kakashi beamed.
"Can't believe it took you the rest of the school year for that, nerd." Sasuke said. Then he grunted as the corner of his lips pulled up a bit. "Hn. Omedetou."
I smiled at myself as I clutched the scroll with my two hands on my lap. I did not expect it at all.
"Thanks." I smiled at them. "I thought I was in the delinquent list because of what happened."
"In a matter of speaking, you are." Kakashi said as he grabbed another beer and popped the cap open. "But you've contributed during the attack and the faculty knows about it. The org was glad you were there."
I did not expect it at all. The school year was about to end and I was just doing what I could to graduate these days. Of course, I wanted to be a student rogue but I tried not to expect too much after all that occurred.
Naruto was grinning from ear to ear as he continued to chow down and I felt a little conscious under Sasuke's gaze as he watched me received the scroll. He was trying to purse his lips to hide the smirk that was forming and he seemed to be failing at it.
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Sasuke and I did not and could not spend too much time together alone in Ame Institute or in any missions. He was assigned to different tasks most of the time and we only had two subjects which we shared. There were times when he would spot Sasori near us and would casually fling an arm around my shoulders as if to mock him. But that was as far as he would go. There was still a competitive atmosphere between the two of them although Naruto was more at ease now with the redhead and would try to keep Sasuke's mood at bay.
Yes. Sasuke and I did not and could not spend too much time alone... but the feeling of him being drawn to me was getting more undeniable in the weeks that came.
I felt my back hit the cemented wall softly as his lips pressed mine in a searing kiss one night. His fingers caressed the side of my face before taking my wrist and pinning it against the wall on top of my head, his other other hand squeezing my thigh.
It was dusk and the neighborhood was empty except for us. He was walking me home after class and unexpectedly pulled me to a corner.
He trailed kisses down my neck and pressed his warm body against mine, our blouses getting ruffled.
"Tell me you like this." he whispered between kisses. When I did not reply, he breathed out and pulled me an inch off and slammed me back against the wall.
"You're making too much noise." I murmured when his lips pulled away to plant kisses on my cheek and ear. I felt a grin forming in his lips as it pressed on my skin.
I never wanted anyone this much. I was emotionally and physically attracted to him. But what puzzled me was that... there was a weak hesitation inside my mind. It had been bothering me since I met him. Maybe I was nervous or scared of falling for him because he was too perfect. Or maybe because his infatuation with me was just a phase and it would be gone after a short period. Who knows where we would be after we graduate. It was insecurity.
He flicked open the first button of my blouse and kissed the middle of my collarbone. His other hand running dangerously up my thigh under my skirt. His leg pressing between my legs.
"Let's go somewhere private." he said huskily on my ear. "I missed you."
My heart was thumping so hard. I had never been this close to anyone. So this was what it felt like being in this kind of unfamiliar intimacy.
I heard a passing car roared as it sped past the corner near us and I jumped a little in surprise. My sudden action caught him a bit off guard.
I held his hands gently, taking them off my body as I pulled away slowly while not letting go of them. I looked at his round eyes with a lopsided smile on my face. "Sorry, handsome. The only private place I'm going is our house." He frowned at me and I kissed his lips lightly. "Besides, it's not like we won't be seeing each other in school. You need to get some rest, too."
"Ugh... Why do I feel like I'm the only one carrying this stupid relationship?" he mumbled, his forehead coiled in an irritated look as he watched me started fixing myself and continued walking along the street. I did not even realized earlier that he had unbuttoned three more knobs down my blouse. The top of my white brassiere was popping out. I buttoned them back hastily.
"I'll see you tomorrow!" I chuckled and gave one wave. I loved taunting him.
He stood there and eyed me mischievously as I continued to walk back to the street to our house. He followed suit after a minute and once we got there, he shambled my hair roughly until it looked like a fluff of cotton candy and gave me a light kiss on the cheek before leaving.
I was passing by the living room when my mother heard me. I could smell miso soup.
"Sakura, is that you?" she called from the kitchen. "Fix the table and we'll be having dinner in a minute. You have a letter from the mail, by the way."
"Hai."
I saw a few mails on the dining table and fumbled on them. A thin white envelope was addressed to me and a logo of a publishing house was printed on the top left of the back cover. It was from the children's story contest I joined a few weeks ago.
I teared the envelope open and there was a single paper with a letterhead. I unfolded it and read the contents.
After a few minutes, I was still holding the paper and was re-reading the contents.
Dear Ms. Haruno,
We have received your script entry for the 3rd Kanji & Ink Children's Story Writing Contest. Upon reviewing all the entries we have received, we are pleased to inform you that we have chosen your story and would like to formally congratulate you for winning the 1st Place. We have enjoyed the plot and characters you have created and we hope you will create more of this fine work.
With this, we are inviting you to visit us in our office on April 5th (Monday) at 9:00AM to claim your check prize of $1,500.00. It is also our pleasure to offer you the position of Junior Writer in our company, Kanji & Ink Studio. Upon acceptance, this position will be classified as full time and you will be expected to work 8 hours per day and 40 hours per week. Your visit will also be an opportunity for us to discuss your salary and contract, and a possible publishing of the story. An e-mail containing the terms and the full job description of the position we are offering will be sent to you within a day for your reference.
Please note that this offer will expire in 14 days. Should we not receive any feedback by then, we will consider you have pursued other opportunities. Your immediate response will be highly appreciated. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the following numbers at the bottom of this letter.
Congratulations!
Sincerely,
Fukui Ryoko
Chief Editorial Project Manager
Kanji & Ink Studio, Inc.
Block 106 Koen Dori Road, Obihiro, Tokachi Subprefecture
Hokkaido, Japan
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