SERIAL EXPERIMENTS
By: Chiki Yumeshisa

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto…all original ideas/characters are mine to claim…

AN: After ages, I've finally decided to update. I'm so happy to have received reviews and now I'm nervous of what you will think of the first chapter. Welcome to the world of boarding school, where students must learn to live with each other, no matter how much you hate your roommate. Please enjoy!

(As to the relationship between Kakashi/Sasuke, it will be revealed later in the story)

-Chiki

CHAPTER ONE
- Myriad -

The gardens were empty of all students, as everyone had retreated inside for 2 hours of study. Leaves from the trees surrounding the school were littered on the ground, the last of them having fallen off, leaving the trees bare and unprotected.

The building stood proud and tall under the setting sun, the light reflecting off the windows, in a blinding way. Around it stood the dormitory buildings – four in total. The gates leading into the vicinity were securely closed – no one was allowed off school property.

It was almost like a jail.

Ignoring the sudden rise of anxiety, Sasuke got out of the car that was parked in the school's driveway. A simple Honda, blue in color, had its trunk already open, and the owner leaned against it casually.

Sasuke couldn't help but scowl, forgetting to keep himself emotionless. He would have ignored the figure but was not given the chance as it addressed him.

"How do you like it?"

"It's crap." Was Sasuke's immediate, sullen response.

"You think everything's crap." Kakashi sighed, slamming the driver's seat door closed.

Sasuke could feel his anger and anxiety start to get the best of him again. "I don't see what the point is, Kakashi…."

"Might I remind you that you chose this option of coming here? Or would you rather live at home?"

"I didn't have much of a choice." Sasuke protested. "Both of my options had you in them."

Kakashi chuckled. "Well, life isn't fair."

"Shut up, old man." Sasuke growled.

The elder man held up a gloved hand. "Now, now, no need to get nasty, Sasuke. Don't forget, I am a teacher here."

Indignantly, Sasuke opened his mouth to answer, but then closed it, glaring. It was no use – Kakashi always won the arguments anyway. He hated the way he could so easily bait him.

Marching past him heatedly, Sasuke retrieved his bag and suitcase from the trunk. Kakashi watched him, fingering a pale strand of hair absently. "Need help?"

"No."

"Fine, be stubborn."

"Fine – I will."

Letting the strand of hair go, Kakashi straightened, his face getting serious. "I don't want you causing trouble here, Sasuke."

Sasuke froze. "I know." He was not looking forward to having a lecture again: it happened all too often those days. It was starting to grate his nerves with the way Kakashi seemed so overbearing about everything. So, before he could say anything more, the boy walked away, his hands in his pockets, ignoring his surroundings.

He did not want to be there, but it was better than living at home. Anything was better than living at home, he supposed, but at the same time, he was certain that coming to Kazekousei had been a mistake.

He had heard some rumors about the school. Wild ones, where many students had never come back out once they were accepted. Other rumors had it that the school was haunted, that a group of students had met with an accident during a chemistry lab when someone had done a strange mixture, and wiped everyone out. Now, apparently that group of students still hung around, said to be trying to finish that lab assignment.

Ghosts.

Not that Sasuke believed any of that, of course, as this was one of the most prestigious boarding schools in the Tokyo area. Everyone seemed to want to send their child there.

Supplied well with good facilities and excellent professors, it was held in very high regard even with all those strange rumors floating around. It was a wonder that Sasuke had even been admitted: it was only because Kakashi had gone out of his way to make sure of it.

That stupid bastard and his sneaky ways.

At least he wouldn't be watched constantly, anymore.

"A prepatory school for students facing the real world", "Disciplinary teaching", "Young Ladies and Gentlemen"and "proper educators" - those were only some of the few boasted advertisements that had been written on the many brochures. It sounded like all the students at this school were rich, snobby children and if that was the case, Sasuke was loathe to make friends with any of them.

When he entered the dormitory building that he had been assigned, he was met with a teacher, who introduced himself as Professor Sawakabi. He was tall and thin almost like a scarecrow come to life, walking around. He had thinning hair making him look older than he really was.

Not wanting to wait for Kakashi, he made his way up with the Professor. He figured that if Kakashi did not know where he was, it would be better for him. He had his reasons.

Taking careful note of the instructions on how to enter his floor and which key to use, Sasuke let his eyes wander around the 10th floor. Some of the rooms were open, and others were tightly closed.

Oblivious to some staring eyes as he made his way down the hallway, he kept pace as the professor led him to a certain door.

"And this is your room." Professor Sawakabi announced, stopping before a room that had a number 7 tacked beside it. His rough, calloused hand gripped the doorknob, turning it swiftly and opening the door.

Inside was an average sized room with two single beds lying on either side. Two desks sat snug against the wall in the middle of the room under the window. There was a partition between them to allow the occupants privacy to do their work.

Sitting at one of them was another boy, around his age, busily scribbling away, the radio on his desk blaring loudly.

"Naruto!" The professor called. Naruto could not hear him and continued to work, unaware of their presence at all. He raised his voice. "Naruto!"

Naruto jumped and turned around, blinking in surprise. "Professor?" He reached over and turned the radio down, the song "Rewrite" abruptly dying.

The professor gestured behind him. "This is Uchiha Sasuke, your new roommate. He just transferred."

Sasuke moved forward, nodding curtly toward Naruto, mutely. His dark eyes swept over the other boy, from his wiry blond hair to big blue eyes and thoughtful frown. He was dressed in a black T-shirt and orange pants and was slouching in his seat.

"I'm Uzumaki Naruto." He announced, jumping to his feet. He suppressed the urge to shudder at Sasuke's cold, indifferent gaze. "Don't worry, I don't bite." He said, trying to break the ice.

Sasuke's face remained passive. His gaze turned raptor-like; hard and unforgiving. "Nice to meet you." Was his monotone reply.

Naruto blinked, and nodded. He turned his attention to the professor who spoke. "Well, I'll leave him with you. Make sure to show him around and remind him of some of the rules." He then addressed Sasuke, saying, "Your uniform should arrive shortly."

And then, they were left alone, two strangers who were supposed to live together in perfect harmony for the remainder of the year.

Time seemed to stop for a moment, as the two sized each other up, silently. Naruto seemed like the type of person who was devious and tried his best to fit in.

They were total opposites.

Sasuke did not like to mingle at all – he would have been content if he could live his life alone, but that was not possible any more. He had promised Kakashi that he would try to make friends, even though he knew that he wasn't exactly the world's greatest person to try to get along with.

Time moved again, as Sasuke began to lug in his things, struggling under their weight.

Naruto watched him for a moment, before venturing forth and asking if he wanted any help.

"No."

He dragged the bags to the side of his bed and deposited them with a weary sigh.

"What do you have in there? Bricks?" Naruto asked, trying to come up with some sort of conversation.

Sasuke did not answer, rather, sat on his bed, opening up his bags to put his stuff away. Naruto offered to help again, but was declined once more. Putting his hands behind his head, he watched as his roommate went about his work woodenly.

School textbooks filled the bag and the suitcase held clothing and very few personal belongings.

Unlike Naruto whose desk held photos of friends and family, Sasuke did not put any out.

"Y'know…it's not often we get students coming in during the middle of the year." He thought to inform him. When Sasuke still didn't say anything, he tried again. "Did you hear of the rumors?"

Sasuke continued to take out his things, piling them neatly on his bed. "Yeah…."

"I don't believe them either." Naruto went over to his desk once more, leaning back in his chair as he picked up his pen. Twirling it between his fingers, he decided to let the new kid settle in, before asking him any more questions. He must have been tired from the move.

After a while, a loud peal echoed through the dormitory building. Once. Twice. Three times.

Naruto let out a sigh of relief, pushing his chair back and standing. He rolled one shoulder around, trying to get rid of the kink in his neck. "Dinner time – finally!" He stretched a little, walking over to his bed, grabbing an orange jacket, and slipping it over his torso, leaving the front hanging open. "You coming?"

Sasuke did not glance up from the book he had open in his lap. "Umm…no…" he wasn't hungry. He wasn't up to meeting other people either. In fact, he was having trouble understanding the material he was currently reading. Leave it to Kakashi to force him to bring all these extra books and study. He felt too overwhelmed by the amount of 'catching up' he had to do.

Taking one glance over his shoulder, Naruto left.

Sasuke turned the page of the book, his eyes wandering over the characters. There was no way he could do this. The last time he remembered paying attention in class was a long time ago. Feeling defeated, he fell back on his bed, raising the book up so he could see. He wanted a beer. Or maybe a smoke – but Kakashi had confiscated all those things from him.

He felt as though he'd go insane.

Turning over onto his side, he let his eyes roam off the page and over the rest of his unpacked stuff. That could wait until morning. It had been a long and tiring day.

The clock that Naruto kept on his desk was ticking away the seconds. It was too early to fall asleep.

Forcing himself to sit up, Sasuke tried again to make sense of what was written. It wasn't working.

His eyelids had started to droop, when a knock came at his door. Blearily, he shoved the textbook off his chest and sat up. He did not remember having lain back down.

The knock sounded again, and he turned his head in the direction of the sound. Maybe Naruto had forgotten the key….but the door was not locked.

When it sounded once more, Sasuke got up, irritated. That idiot…..

Opening the door, he was surprised to see Kakashi standing outside.

"Hey." He greeted, lifting two bags. "Special deliveries."

Sasuke shook his head in confusion. "What are you doing here?" Apparently, his aim to not be found by this man had not worked. "And how did you get on my floor?" Only the residents of the people living on the floor had the key to get in.

"Someone let me in." Kakashi explained. "I didn't have the key, so…." He grinned. "I thought to bring you some more books and uniform."

Sasuke reached out and snagged the bags from him. "Thanks. Bye."

Kakashi knocked on the door just as it slammed in his face. Sasuke opened it again, glaring darkly.

He held up a piece of paper. "You don't want your schedule?" As Sasuke made a grab for it, Kakashi kept it out of his reach. "Why didn't you come down to dinner?"

"I'm not hungry."

"Right."

"I'm not. Can you please give me my schedule and leave me alone?"

Kakashi shrugged. "You studying?"

The younger boy let his shoulders slump. "I'm trying to."

"Well, I've volunteered to be your tutor until you can catch up adequately, according to the school's standards."

Sasuke was indignant. "What? I'm not stupid, you know…."

Kakashi handed him the schedule, and began to finger a pale strand of hair, as was his habit. "You'll need it, Sasuke. You still have to adjust."

"I can manage."

Smugly, Kakashi nodded. "I'd like to see you try."

Just as Sasuke was about to retort, Kakashi unzipped his vest, reaching in to retrieve a small package. "Here. Eat up. It's not healthy to miss a meal."

Wordlessly, he took the food from the elder man, uncertain what to say.

"Get plenty of rest," Kakashi added. "You'll need that too." He zipped up his vest again. "And come down to breakfast."

"Would you stop acting like my parent?" Sasuke said, exasperatedly.

Kakashi chuckled, turning his heel and starting to leave. "Good night." He called, over his shoulder as he went down the hall.

Sasuke didn't bother to answer, slamming the door in response. He supposed he should feel terrible not showing any gratitude, but in all truth, he didn't care.

Why should he care?
Kakashi had not cared for all those years…..

The food was surprisingly good, two turkey sandwiches and a small box of orange juice. He realized he was hungry after all. He had just finished eating and had started to unpack the rest of his books, putting them on the provided bookshelf, when Naruto bounded in.

"Have you gotten your schedule?" He demanded, eagerly.

A bit taken aback by this enthusiasm, Sasuke wordlessly pointed over to his desk where he had taped it up. Naruto took the liberty to lean over and take a look. "We've got some classes together." He said, after a while of examining the page.

Sasuke had not yet looked it over, so he had no idea which classes Kakashi had signed him up for. He had a very bad feeling….

That feeling was confirmed as Naruto said, "Difficult classes – calculus, chemistry….Biology third period….which means you might have Orochi-sensei…good luck if you do…."

Not wanting to express his anxiety, Sasuke forced his voice to sound uninterested as he always did. "Who's Orochi-sensei?"

"It's the short form we use for Orochimaru-sensei." Naruto explained, crossing over to his desk and beginning to stack his things together. "He's one strange professor." He waved a textbook for emphasis. "Anyway, you'll see what I mean when you get into his class." He paused, when he saw Sasuke open his textbook again. "You're still studying?"

Inclining his head once in affirmation, Sasuke tried to keep his face emotionless. He was having trouble yet again understanding it.

According to Kakashi, the school was very fast-paced. Hearing that he had a strange teacher on top of that information made him feel like he was even more out of place than he already was.

Naruto simply shook his head in wonder. Grabbing his keys, he said, "Well, I'm going over to Shikamaru's…if you want to come…"

"No thanks."

"All right. I'll lock the door so that no one can disturb you then." And with that, he was left alone once again, the statement going unheard as Sasuke could care less what anyone had to say to him. He began to concentrate on trying to decipher a certain problem that was presented to him.

He hated to admit it, but he did need Kakashi's help after all - and badly.

Like before, his eyes began to droop, and fatigue swept over him, making his limbs go slack. In no time, he fell asleep.

He awoke in the middle of the night, due to being uncomfortable. He had fallen asleep in a strange position, his belt buckle digging into his side painfully. He rubbed at his arm in order to try and wake it up,

Naruto was curled up in the bed across the room, fast asleep.

Too tired to change his clothing, Sasuke pulled the belt strap off and removed his bulky sweatshirt before stumbling out of bed to close the window which was open slightly, letting in the cold night's soft wind.

Climbing back into bed, he pulled the blankets up to his chin, succumbing to the call of sleep.

In the fog of exhaustion, he thought he heard a strangled, foreign sound coming from the distance. Like someone speaking….

Like someone screaming…..

To Be Continued…

AN: That's a wrap for chapter 1. Oh wow, I'm so happy for the encouragement I've gotten to write this! Katherat, MeMyselfandI,freakenout, and Aries Stephastone, my greatest thanks!(Hugs reviewers). I'll post again but I'll post even FASTER if you would kindly review for me! The more reviews, the faster I write. Please be kind to leave me a couple of thoughts/words/criticism before exiting this window. Thanks!