I don't own Naruto.
Roommates
Competition
Naruto was so nervous that he couldn't even remember why he had accepted this job. But he nonetheless sat on top of his new desk and waited for his new pupils, dangling with his legs as if he wasn't bothered at all. Normally, he wouldn't care what people thought about him - but this was different. This was Sasuke's school, and he didn't want these older students to think badly of him.
He took a deep breath, wishing Sasuke was there with him. But no one of his friends took art here at SC; most here was future business men, lawyers and such. He was used to do whatever he wanted on his classes, only if he kept to the theme of the week and didn't break against any school rules or laws. Art was just a subject that looked good on the paper here, not something they studied for 'real'.
He thanked Kami that the old teacher had left him a good, interesting course plan. The bell rang, and he almost knocked his cup of coffee over the table. So he grabbed it and placed it by his lower lip so he wouldn't spill any. It was hot against his lips, but it didn't matter.
Groups by groups they arrived in the same sort of clothes that Sasuke and Gaara wore. Important, dark clothes from expensive stores, and Naruto wondered once again why, oh why.
When the last male was seated he smiled at all of them. "Hello. My name is Uzumaki Naruto. I'm your new art teacher."
A few hands flew up in the air. He nodded toward a brown-eyed girl with brown hair in two buns on her head. She looked curious, and her dark eyes sparkled when she opened her mouth. "I'm TenTen. Is it true that you're together with Uchiha Sasuke?"
Naruto could have sighed, but instead he sipped on his coffee. "Yes," he answered her when he had swallowed the hot liquid.
Another pair of hands rose. Naruto nodded toward a guy with black hair and dark eyes clad in a dark suit. Naruto nodded at the older male. "Are you really educated enough to teach us, not to be rude or anything, but you must be younger than us."
"... I am younger than you. I'm studying at TAD; you all know what school that is, right?" TenTen was the only one shaking her head. "Tokyo Art and Design, it's in the middle of Tokyo, a nice school actually. I go there in the afternoons and stay there until I'm done for the day. We don't have lessons like you have here; we follow the theme of the month or week. I'm not educated as a teacher, but Sarutobi-san seemed to think I was suited for the job."
"So you have no record of teaching at all?" The guy asked rudely. Naruto became annoyed, but didn't show it. It was visible that all of the students were just out to get good grades to show their parents and future employers.
"I was an art teacher at a high school just ten minutes away from here for half a year. I know it's not the same thing, but at least they were interested in what I had to say instead of bombing me with questions about my private life." Naruto jumped off the desk, putting his coffee down. "Now, as I said I'm your new art teacher. I don't expect you to understand why we do it, and therefore you are free to ask. I am sure I can give you a fair answer."
Naruto's big, blue eyes ran over the, now silent, students. He raised his eyebrows at one of the males, with long brown hair and pale, big eyes that were staring at him intensively. They stared at each other for a while, before Naruto turned around and walked over to the bookshelves and opening one of them to take out two papers. He walked back to the desk, sitting on top of it and holding up the papers.
On paper number one, in his left hand, was a painting with different shades of grey and black. The greyish man on the paper was no one other than a smirking Uchiha Sasuke. Naruto almost rolled his eyes when a few females leaned closer to see their crush better.
On paper number two, in his right hand, was a painting with different colours. The colours were sharp and the lines strong, and yet the colours suited the model so well. It was Uchiha Sasuke again, though in a different pose.
"He would kill me if he knew I showed you these." Naruto smiled and some of the students laughed nervously, hoping that said Uchiha wouldn't walk in on them. Many of them were a bit scared of him, thanks to his cold appearance and being friends with Sabaku no Gaara, who was even scarier. "Now, which one is the best? What do you like about them? Which one speaks to you?"
The students leaned closer, as if one, and stared at the pictures before there was an echo of "the coloured one" and "that one" and "the grey one".
Naruto raised his eyebrow. "Think of your grades," he smirked, "there is no right or wrong, only your opinion. But I want to have a good motivation. TenTen, why don't you start?"
The girl blinked, looking around for someone to take her out from the spotlight as everyone looked at her. "Uhm...yeah...err..."
"Which one do you like?"
"That one." She pointed at the coloured one.
"And why is that?"
"He looks more real, I guess. And I like colours."
Naruto smiled. "Good. Because that is what we are going to do the rest of this month."
UAUAUA
Naruto walked slowly through the halls of TAD, feeling as if the orange walls were glaring at him. His first class had been nothing against the other ones. The youngest class, which was one year younger than him, was almost as horrible as ten-year-olds, asking questions without realizing it was rude, demanding answers.
He sighed and walked to his classroom, where his presence was being marked and then he could do what he wanted. Usually. But today they had a visit from a designer that would look at their portfolios from cloth design-class, and see if there was something interesting.
Naruto had prepared for this day long ago and been very eager to meet this famous man, though he didn't know which designer it was. But now he felt like he wanted to go home and be with Sasuke instead, after such a long day. He was used to have two hours at the high school, but now he worked five hours at a college - a nightmare.
He saw the green door and opened it, seeing that all his classmates and the red-haired teacher was already there. "How was work, Naruto-kun?"
"Fine, thanks, Sasori-sensei." Naruto smiled and sat down next to Sai at one of the desks.
"Try not to be late next time. We have to arrange the times with SC," Sasori muttered, more to himself than to Naruto, before standing up and stretching just as someone knocked on the door. Sasori's back cracked a little as he stretched before he walked to open the door. Their teacher's back always cracked that horrible, something he had to live with from sitting hunched over the desk all the time.
Two men stepped inside, and Naruto recognized one of them immediately. The unknown man was tall and pale, a creepy smirk on his face and long, dark hair. The golden eyes seemed to watch every moment before the man turned to Sasori again.
"This is Orochimaru, and his assistant Kabuto. Orochimaru is the owner of the very popular clothing line 'Team Hebi'." Sasori sat down again, feeling no need to help the guest anymore. "He can tell you why he is here. I want you to do as he says and if you misbehave I'm letting the principal know." Sasori's threat lingered in the air as the designer spoke.
"I am looking for both models and designers."
Naruto shivered at the man's hissing voice, earning a glance from Sai.
"I would like to see your work, one by one, so how about we go after the class list and meet in the empty classroom Kabuto has arranged, ne?" Orochimaru's golden eyes didn't stop looking around in the room, and it made Naruto feel insecure, as if the man would do something unexpected.
UAUAUA
Naruto followed Kabuto through the corridor toward the classroom where Orochimaru waited for him. They had reached 'U' just ten minutes ago, two hours after the guest's arrival. But they were many students, since two classes had been put together so they also could meet the designer.
"Funny we would meet again, ne, Naruto-kun?" Kabuto smiled. Naruto smiled back, nodding. He rather liked Kabuto, he didn't look suspicious and he didn't act weird. "I see you have a pretty big portfolio. Do you design clothes much? Or do you prefer drawing?"
"Actually, both." Naruto nodded. "I like sewing and designing, because it's a challenge. Drawing is something I'm familiar with."
They reached the purple door. Kabuto opened it and let Naruto inside, but didn't follow. Instead Kabuto closed the door and disappeared, leaving Naruto alone with Orochimaru.
Said designer was sitting by the table and waiting for him, tapping a pencil impatiently against the floor. "Uzumaki Na-ru-to."
Naruto almost flinched at the way the dark-haired man said his name, tasting it on his tongue.
"Please, sit." Orochimaru gestured toward the chair in front of him. And Naruto sat down, wishing Orochimaru would dislike his designs for both male and female winter, summer and spring clothes. He had never done autumn clothes, because he hadn't had the time. "Your folder looks thick."
Naruto forced a smile on his lips. His blood almost froze when Orochimaru moved his chair closer to him, the metal legs of the furniture scraping against the floor. He could feel the snake-like man's breath against his neck. He wanted to run away from there, as his parents and brother had taught him to do when a scary man came up to him, but he didn't. It was silly to be scared, he was grown-up and was supposed to take care of himself.
Orochimaru's slender fingers opened the folder, and flipped slowly through it, slower than a snail. Naruto suppressed the urge to gulp when one of the hands disappeared from the table. He wondered where the white hand had gone before he felt it.
He bit his lips as cold fingers tickled his knee lightly. Uzumaki Naruto wasn't afraid of old men, he could go through this.
"These are great, Naru-chan." Orochimaru said, as if his hand wasn't painfully slow making its way up an innocent boy's thigh.
"Th-thanks."
"Hmm... These winter clothes are from last year, am I right?" His hand were now on his upper thigh, staying there.
"Y-yes."
"I see. I like these red details here, they make the whole outfit. But this symbol has to go. I guess we could replace it with my symbol then. What is this symbol, anyways?" Orochimaru's hand was now on his inner thigh, dangerously close. Naruto was having a hard time not to scream in disgust.
"I-it's the Uchiha F-fan."
"Of course, I can see that now when you say it." The elder designer nodded to himself, remembering it. The hand was suddenly palming Naruto's privates, and the blonde was almost crying.
The door was opened, and Naruto flew up from his chair. Kabuto stood there, looking slightly annoyed. "Are you done, Orochimaru-sama?"
"Hm ... yes," the snake-like man hissed. "A few changes on the white with the Uchiha symbol and the green jacket and I would gladly turn the designs into clothes. I really enjoyed talking to you, Naruto-chan. I'm coming back here next week to meet the morning classes, maybe I'll run into you then."
"Y-yeah." Naruto hurried away from there when Orochimaru handed him his portfolio. Kabuto followed him, walking just as quickly.
"Naruto-kun. I'm sorry. I apologize if he did anything that made you uncomfortable," the silver-haired man said. "He is a little strange and ... I feel really embarrassed, but I hope you can see over this?"
"Of course." The blonde swallowed some air. "Yeah." He felt better now when Kabuto had apologized and explained. "It's okay."
"Good. Because I saw one of your works in the corridor and was really impressed. One day you maybe have a work at Team Hebi, with your skills."
"Oh." Naruto smiled, feeling strained.
"You are a nice person, Naruto-kun." Kabuto bowed a little, walking off to get the next person on the class list.
UAUAUA
Naruto was so happy to see the drunk man outside the apartment. Well, not happy, but he was glad to be home. The man only slurred a little, and didn't have the energy to demand a kiss this night. So Naruto opened the door and ran up the stairs.
The door was unlocked, as it always was before he came home. He kicked off his shoes and ran to the bathroom before his friends had time to say hello. He almost jumped out of his clothes and into the shower in a matter of seconds. He put on the water, wanting it even warmer.
He wasn't satisfied until he had cleaned his body with two different soaps and been in the shower for almost twenty minutes. He sneaked into his and Sasuke's bedroom, putting on a new pair of clothes. He actually thought of burning the clothes Orochimaru had touched.
"Naruto?" Gaara walked into the bedroom, his eyes narrowed: a sign that the eyebrowless red-head was frowning. "Are you okay?"
"Of course I am. I'm just tired." Naruto smiled, putting on the jeans as fast as he could so he could escape his best friend.
"You're not okay. Was work okay?" Gaara walked closer, his bright jade eyes showing nothing, but worry evident in his voice.
"Work was fine, just ... Nothing, Gaara. I'm fine." Naruto made his way past his roommate and into the kitchen.
"Yo!" Kiba grinned at him, showing off half-chewed rice.
"Close your mouth!" Naruto looked away, finding Shikamaru and Sasuke working like maniacs by the table.
"What's got your panties in a bunch?" Kiba growled, swallowing the food he had in his mouth. By the word 'panties' Sasuke looked up. Naruto smiled at his boyfriend, sat down by the table and looked at the papers. The papers that were spread over the table were filled with numbers and strange signs that Naruto wasn't familiar with. There was times when he felt stupid.
"Ten thousand and ..." Shikamaru bit at the pen he was holding.
"Two hundred. That's it." Sasuke muttered, writing it down while Shikamaru typed it in at the laptop that was placed at the table. "I think it's enough. We can do it tomorrow morning." The Uchiha turned to Naruto, looking at the blonde for a while before scowling. "So?"
Naruto sighed; he didn't want to talk about his day. "How was your day?" He asked, leading attention away from him. Sasuke turned in the chair, leaning forward so his forehead was resting against Naruto's shoulder.
"Oh no, they're starting again," Kiba groaned. The dog lover grabbed his plate and his coke before almost running out of the room, Gaara and Shikamaru following.
Naruto's slender fingers played with his boyfriend's soft hair, feeling the Uchiha's skin against his neck. "Hm, tell me, Sasuke."
"It was fine. I got off work early today, and I missed you." Sasuke licked Naruto's collar bone. "You should be home more."
"It's okay, Sasuke, it's Christmas soon." Naruto murmured into the raven hair. Sasuke hummed, as if agreeing. But Naruto knew the subject would come up again.
UAUAUA
The next day went faster, easier. The students were now satisfied with their questioning and he didn't have a private life anymore, but school was a bit tougher than usual. Normally, Naruto would keep in a nearly empty classroom and work alone or with Sai. But it seemed that the morning classes had decided to stay and work a little too, meaning that it was unusually crowded.
Not that Naruto minded, it was nice to see Haku (a high school friend) again, since they went in different classes. But everything reminded him of Orochimaru, since the reason everyone was staying and working was because of the fancy posters that were now placed here and there in the locals and the teachers handed out.
The posters told the students about the competition Team Hebi was having; promising a contract to the one with best Christmas designs. You had to have at least twenty different designs, and everyone were stressed because of the date the portfolios needed to be handed in to the teachers.
Naruto wasn't going to compete, but he got a poster from Deidara anyways, and now he was walking home with Sai. They were very early, the clock had yet to turn five. Sasuke was going to be home with Gaara and Shikamaru, since they were having a project and it wasn't Monday when Shikamaru worked.
Sai and Naruto was carrying their heavy bags filled with fabrics and papers, planning on completing Naruto's kimono. Sai had offered to help, since he had already finished this month's theme.
Naruto giggled happily. There was no drunk man waiting outside this early.
To Be Continued
Next Chapter: Beauty
What will Sasuke, Gaara and Shikamaru think about Sai? Will someone find out about Orochimaru's wandering hands? Sasuke and Naruto have a little fight.
Naruto looked up at the brunette who had said it; Hyuuga Neji.
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