CHAPTER 1
-ooo-
Sasuke was tired and therefore he was in a bad mood. Staying in Tsunade's office so long after school ended on the very first day wasn't exactly something that would fix his annoyance. He was a top student with perfect scores and attention in classes, representing school in basketball (the team was on "top 5" in Japan) and somehow he was staying after school to have a talk with the principal like some of those idiots who were running screaming the corridors and breaking things. He would have frowned at the irony if he wasn't embodied marble statue.
"I just wanted to give you the award from chemic competition you won by the end of the last year,"
Sasuke nodded accepting the certificate and the trophy. Did she really keep him here just because of that? Like he didn't have better things to do. He sighed (internally of course, his face didn't show the slightest hints of emotions; he was an Uchiha after all) and waited for permission to leave.
"And to discuss your scholarship for this year." Tsunade putted out a few documents which were completely blank. Well at least she found them which could have been considered a miracle in the office that looked like a tornado stopped by. Thinking about it, if it did it would have probably brought more order into this anarchy.
"I will just fill it now," Tsunade's disgust towards paperwork was known for being even bigger than her chest. Sasuke watched the woman wasting more of his time. She could have of course finish it before he showed up – she didn't have anything better to do anyway as proved the half empty bottle of sake she hid behind some pile of papers when he came.
"You can of course refuse," she continued, and the annoyance in her voice was masked that well that it took a while to discover it when to Sasuke, "and leave it for another clever student attending this school." She indirectly pointed out the wealth of Uchiha clan. She was right, not that he needed the scholarship. It was simply thing of personal matter for Sasuke, proving himself that he wasn't depending on his father's money. And of course none of those kids deserved it.
"No, I will take it." He said in a blank voice.
Tsunade nodded and handed him the papers. He signed two of them, taking the third for his father. He wasn't eighteen yet and he needed his father's sign for literally everything. No need to mention how it annoyed Sasuke.
"Oh and Kakashi -sensei wanted to talk to you about tutoring some of his weaker students in math."
"Of course."
Tsunade was watching him packing his stuff. She did break the cold silence in the room only when the boy took his leave.
"See you around Uchiha" she greeted as he opened the door. "… cold brat" she muttered so he wouldn't hear her.
Sasuke nodded his head as already half turned back on the principal. On a chair in front of the office was sitting a blonde guy in impossibly orange sweater and jumped up when Sasuke opened the door. This one is certainly not going for a scholarship, he thought spitefully. He smirked a bit as he pushed the door more open for him, meeting his eyes. Sasuke would have sworn the world stopped for the slightest second at the very moment, just almost unnoticeable lag in the run of world, skipping one single heartbeat. But it happened.
Then the eye-contact was suddenly over, the blonde rushed inside the office and Sasuke walked along the hall and even though he's resisted the temptation to turn after him he still saw the bright blue eyes for some reason. He blinked a few time to get rid of the picture and almost laughed when the shout came from the principals. How the hell did that dobe managed to get into trouble the very first day of school Sasuke didn't understand. Not that it was any of his business anyway.
He walked slowly through the halls, making long steps and his slim figure was heading towards Kakashi's office indifferent to his surroundings. Some of those few students still present in the building greeted him but their voices didn't have bigger effect than fly hitting the window. As much as he wanted to go home, he would better to get rid of this business. Not to mention that if he actually agreed on meeting time with the silver haired teacher, he would end up waiting hours for him – which was something Sasuke will gladly avoid.
"Hey Sasuke," a familiar voice greeted.
He chose not to ignore this one. But it didn't mean he would turn around because of it. "Hey Sasori."
"I forgot my keys by you yesterday."
"You forgot your whole bag," Sasuke grimaced, "after throwing it at me to "hold it for a moment" and leaving with that chick."
"That's what I mean."
"It's not like I'm obliged to take care about your stuff."
"You didn't leave my bag with all my things in a bar, did you?" Sasori knew Sasuke well enough to actually believe it.
"Well you did leave your bag with all of your stuff in a bar."
"No," Sasori protested, "I left it there with you." He sounded a little insecure though.
Sasuke decided that he had torture his friend enough for today. "Hn. Stop by later, I've got some more stuff to take care about in here."
The red-head didn't bother to thank him. "You know, I hope you really have the stuff, the chic wasn't worth it anyway."
Sasuke shook his head, not really interested in who is his friend sleeping with as long as he didn't bother him with it. "Gotta go, see you later."
Sasori's face remained blank as he nodded. Sometimes Sasuke wondered how the two of them could be friends – they were both as far from talkative as from being nice. That means a lot. And neither one of them showed interest in other human beings. Well maybe that was the reason why they got along so well. When they didn't talk, they couldn't possibly piss each other much right?
-ooo-
Sasori was pissed. Really, really pissed. Sasuke was certainly an ice cold bastard without the smallest amount of care, nobody could doubt this. But Sasori hated waiting.And thefucker knew it. So he left him in damn school, without keys to his apartment waiting for him. He is going to pay for this. Pay with blood. Sasori was sure.
But for now he needed a place to stay until the idiot volunteers to give him his stuff back. And because he knew Sasuke, that would take as long as possible. He was annoyed, so it maybe wasn't the very best idea to go to see his grandmother's but he owed her a visit anyway since he hasn't shown up for ages. And he could actually use the time like that so it wouldn't be waiting.
He didn't like her much but she was the only of his relatives still alive so they kept a slack relationship with each other. This meant Sasori stopped by four or five times a year told her about school and his puppets she bitched about her neighbour they drank some coffee, ate some cake or dinner and that was it.
He slowly headed to the bus stop searching for his phone to call his grandmother.
"Sasori?"
"Yes. May I stop by this evening?"
"Yes. At seven?"
"See you later then."
"Goodbye."
He squeezed the red button, putting the phone in his pocket and with no haste getting on the bus. He had enough time - it was ten pas six now. The journey took between 30 and 40 minutes according to how fast he walked.
It was exactly ten minutes to seven when he arrived at his Chiyo's place. It was a simple apartment building with four or five separate flats. He lived here for first seventeen years of his life until he moved in with Zetsu. He was a strange guy but Sasori didn't particularly care – there were enough people who were calling him weird as well. And getting an apartment near to school, shaking off his grandmother and that all for minimal amount of money was definitely worth sharing a flat. Zetsu was always off anyway.
He went upstairs to the second floor and there was, just sitting on the ground, a person. Sasori thought it was a girl at first, confused by long blonde hair but when he heard his voice he corrected himself.
"Hey," the blonde say.
Definitely a bloke. He was sitting in front of the only other flat at this floor, leaning his back against the wall looking up from his phone he was writing something on, half empty bottle of water standing next to him. Was it the blonde kid that kept exasperating his grandmother? He certainly looked like the kind of guy she would hate: bored arrogant expression, smirk and rebellion in his blue eyes (rather his eye because the other was covered by the long hair falling in his face), laxly clothed looking like he spent last night drinking and was skipping school right now. Part of Sasori smirked gleefully at the image of his grandmother dealing with the delinquent.
"You living there, un?"
…Okay so maybe he wasn't her new neighbour. He would have known his neighbours by now, right?
"No."
The sitting man stared at him confused. It wasn't very surprising considering the fact that Sasori was standing in front of Chios door like a statue and not putting any effort in doing something else. It was perfectly reasonable for Sasori, because he was nine minutes early and as much as he hated being late he nine minutes was bit too early. But the redhead admitted that it could be a little bit confusing for the boy sitting on the floor. Not that he intended to explain his self to this kid.
"…You gonna just stay there in front of the door, un?"
"At least I'm not sitting brat."
"…point" The blonde muttered. He didn't stand up though. "Yeah, I would be nervous too if I had to see that old hag. She will probably yell at you before she even opens the door, un."
Sasori didn't bother with answer.
"You're some sort of delivery boy or something?"
Sasori sighed. The kid wasn't going to shut up.
"This old hag happens to be my grandmother." Sasori smirked at the expression that appeared on the blondes face, mixture of guilt, embarrassment and amusement.
"I'm sorry?"
"No. She really is an old hag."
The blonde grinned at that, suddenly standing up.
"It's gotta be true when her own relative says it, un! You should have seen how she shouted at me yesterday."
Did he live here after all? "So you're the annoying new neighbour?"
Sasori couldn't say why he was interested in it but something about that smile made him to continue the conversation.
"Oh you mean Naruto, un? No, but he should come any moment now. I've just forgotten something at his place yesterday so I figured I would wait for him."
"Hn," Sasori said. That was it; the kid wasn't that interesting he would ask him two questions.
They were quiet for a moment, Sasori standing in front of Chiyo's door and the kid next to him, leaning against the wall. Suddenly the blonde chuckled.
"You know you should pull yourself together and face her like a man."
"However incomprehensible it could seem to you I'm not scared of my own grandmother."
"And yet you're standing in front of the door and don't have the guts to knock. Or maybe you're staying because of the pure joy of my company?" the kid chuckled.
"I do not need to explain myself to somebody who's skipping school." Sasori decided to ignore the company remark, partly because it was true. He had already waited long enough. But he did genuinely enjoy this small talk of theirs which was a highly uncommon thing for Sasori.
"That was mean, un. How can you be so sure I'm skipping, un?" The kid made a hurt face.
"Aren't you?"
"Well yeah, but it doesn't have to do anything with it!"
Sasori actually smiled at the grievance the statement was said with.
"You are a brat" Sasori uttered and knocked at his grandmother's door twice.
"No, wait, un! The witch will skin me alive if she sees me here!"
"Now who is scared?"
The blue-eyed man shot him a glare, grabbed his stuff and disappeared on the stairs.
"Nice to meet you, un."
Sasori didn't have time to say his goodbye as the door opened.
"Hello Chiyo-baa."
"Sasori. Punctual as ever."
-ooo-
"See you later, Sasuke-kun." the silver haired teacher smiled. "And thank you for your help."
"No problem."
Sasuke was finally heading towards the exit, walking slowly and thinking why he even accepted the tutoring. Sure he had some money from it but it wasn't that he needed it urgently. It was just something that fitted to the picture of genius and perfect student he presented.
When he left the building he was surprised by cool breeze slightly kissing his face and neck. It was hard to say whether it was late summer or early fall and Sasuke realized that the unknowingly tightened the jacket of his school uniform and began to walk faster.
Then things happened faster than he could recall. One moment he was heading out of the campus in bright afternoon light shining in his eyes, making him almost blind and the second his world crashed and he was laying on the ground and someone over him was saying something that Sasuke didn't really understand and offering him a hand to stand up.
When he ignored the offered help, the other person simple grabbed his wrist and pulled him to standing position.
"Yeah, sorry, sorry, my bad…"
Sasuke was about to say something about creepy idiots running around the school areal when he realized it is the blonde from earlier. He was grinning awkwardly, one hand rubbing his back and the second releasing his wrist.
"Oi, you're the guy who got detention before me!" Apparently the blonde kid remembered him as well.
"You know, not everyone is trouble-causing idiot who's knocking out random people."
"I said I was sorry, teme!" The silence lasted only half a second.
"Wait… You were at Tsunade-no-baachan office and didn't get detention?" puzzled expression appeared for a moment before the student began to laugh.
"Do you think I will believe you this?" the blonde's laugh slowly disappeared when he saw the Sasuke's face being completely serious.
"What would you be doing here so late anyway… I thought my head was going to explode! And the worse thing is I don't even know what I have done! It was like she missed yelling at me in the summer… But man I haven't seen you in the class. Not that there were many people either…" The boy stopped his monolog as he realized he should have met the raven boy in the detention class.
"Are you listening? I was not there."
The boy blinked twice in order to process the information. Sasuke, for the second time today realized the sky blue eyes looking so clear and innocent and sparkling and rebellious at the same time with no sign of cold distance that was own to Sasuke. They were filled with joy and cheeriness but he could see a shadow of pain as well, never completely leaving the background of the shining eyes. His face (Sasuke had to admit, as much as he was completely straight it was a rather pretty face)was show of emotions, one taking place quickly after another all of them exposed for world to read. The raven haired student wondered how the blonde could live with it.
"…getting a detention. Hey teme, you here? I'm talking to you idiot!"
"Why would you do this?" the question was simply the first thing that occurred on Sasuke's mind.
"Eh?" the blonde boy seemed sort of puzzled, the confusion washed all over his face like a wave. Reading in his face was as easy as reading an opened book.
"Why would you talk to me." Sasuke Uchiha explaining himself to some delinquent. Amazing. He just wanted to go home.
"Oh. Um. I don't know? It's just something that people do, right? Talking to each other. Why do you talk to me otherwise?" Now Sasuke had to admit that the question caught him out of guard. Why was he talking to that kid? Definitely not because of those sky-blue eyes of his neither that amazing smile…No.
"Because you knocked me down and assumed that I am as stupid as you to get detention on the very first day of school."
"Hey!" the blonde yelled "it's not like I'm stupid! I am definitely cleverer than you anyway! It's not my fault that Tsunade-no-baachan hates me!"
Sasuke didn't let the blonde's angry statement affect him in any way. "You are right, I will probably stop talking to you right now and continue in my way hoping I won't meet any more dobes running around and shouting on people they knocked down."
"I apologized to you! Asshole! And I've got a name so stop calling me dobe you teme!"
The other student evidently failed terribly at receiving the hidden "shut up" in Sasuke's words.
"Dobe." Okay, Sasuke admitted, maybe, just maybe he enjoyed teasing the boy.
"It's Naruto! Uzumaki Naruto! Remember it when you will explain where you got the bruises!"
"…excuse me?" Sasuke really intended to continue, but the fist that suddenly appeared in his face made it sort of difficult. Why the hell he had to be so impulsive?
-ooo-
When Sasuke finally arrived home he was in a very bad mood. He experienced one more conversation with Tsunade and was forced to admit that the dobe was right – she really seemed to enjoy yelling at people. He got a detention. He, genius top-student, was shouted at, called names and given detention. What was worse, his left eye began to catch a violet shade.
It's all fault of the blonde idiot – what did he think anyway; begin a fight at school ground? Sasuke would gladly kick his ass anytime of course, but they could've gone outside. He wasn't used to the position of someone who was talked to like some trouble-maker. Being treated like an average student left a deep wound in his proud.
"I'm home," he announced when he opened the door.
"Welocme," his brother looked like he was having fun watching Sasuke's murderous glare, as always.
His father shot him a disapproving look and frowned at his dirty clothes and messy hair. However, he left that without comment. Sometimes (the older he was the more was he giving up) Sasuke wished he would actually get some emotions out of his father. Anger, praise, he didn't care, just something. And here he stood, his perfect son with his school uniform covered with mud, monocle and without explanation and his father didn't say a word.
He handed him the papers to his scholarship with a blank look, then took a piece of bread from kitchen and headed upstairs.
Beside the door to his room stood Itachi, causally leaning against the wall. Sometimes Sasuke wondered if his older brother was some kind of ninja that he could move so fat without nobody noticing. It was one of his features drove Sasuke crazy.
"Do you need something?" Sasuke frowned.
The taller man shrugged "Since when you seek fights, little brother?"
"That's none of your business, Itachi."
"Ah, you're fun to talk to, as usual." The raven haired Uchiha made a small pause. "We wouldn't want our little genius to start dealing with the bad kids, would we?"
Sasuke just stared at him and then entered his room, leaving Itachi where he was.
That was certainly Itachi caring for him. As much as he would never admit it, it gave him sort of warm feeling to know. After the door was safely shut, he smiled for himself a little.
On the other side of the door, Itachi smiled as well. Sasuke seemed all right.
Later that evening taking a shower and giving Sasori his stuff back, Sasuke was lying on his bed, staring at the ceiling and couldn't sleep.
He thought about that idiot from earlier. His grin, messy hair and clear eyes, the whisker-like scars on his face (How did he came to them?, Sasuke wondered). He was pretty, in his own way. And what's more, when they were fighting, Sasuke felt something that he didn't even know he was even capable feeling. The odd warmth in his chest…Enjoyment?...He wasn't able to define it but he did enjoy the time they spend together, even though the dobe was a loud annoying idiot and all they did was arguing.
If he was from the school, maybe he will meet him around…He wondered if he took some classes same to his own…no, that's not possible, he would remember seeing him around… Naruto, eh?... Funny name…
And then, Sasuke sank in a deep sleep.
-ooo-
Okay, I've just little bit re-written this chapter since there were a few mistakes… Don't hesitate to tell me about them (there are still waaay too many left I'm afraid), English is not my first language.
Also, reviews welcomed!