Chapitre Un:

Narrateur - Monsieur Shikamaru

"Paris?!" Ino Yamanaka inquired in a squeaky, stunned tone. We were walking down the perfect sidewalks of Leaf City. I hate this city. Everything about it is perfect, aside from some of the citizens being total jerk-asses. I was born and raised here, and it's truly a pain. Not that I don't have friends. Chouji Akamichi and Ino are my two best friends. I've known them since Pre-K, and they were with me when I came out in Sixth-Grade. Ino is a blond with big blue eyes, and we actually liked each other as more than friends for a while. She's one of the most popular girls in my school now, and I'm not sure why she still gives a shit about me. She's also pretty appearance obsessed, and she can be a real bitch, especially when she decides to beat on me. It doesn't stop me from loving her though... And as for Chouji, well, he's pretty wide-set. Not obese or anything. He eats everything in sight. He'd do anything for a friend. A really funny and kind guy.

"Yes, Paris..." I sighed in response. I pulled my hand out of my pocket and scratched the back of my head.

"Dude, you aren't excited?" Chouji asked me with a stare of disbelief.

"Why shoul--"

Ino jumped on my back. "I'd KILL to go to that city! So romantic..." She floated to the ground smiling widely and clasped her hands together, her eyes hazy with fantasies.

I picked up my pace. "Yeah, well... I'm not happy. Did I mention that I'm going to attend an all-boy's academy there that shapes up kids who get bad grades? They take education more seriously over there. I'm doomed."

"Doomed to a sexy relationship of LOOVE!" Ino cooed. I rolled my eyes with a sigh.

"Theres the mall." Chouji said, pointing to it coming up. And so, we walked toward it. I figured my last day here should be enjoyable. I didn't know what to expect in France, or if I'd even survive the first day. After a short moment, we were in Ino's favorite clothing store, "Fleur Ardeur." As if I needed more reminders of French. Chouji and I stood idly by the entrance with our arms folded as Ino happily pranced about, adoring shoes, shirts, skirts, pants, hats, perfumes, makeup, and whatever the hell else she wanted, only stopping every once in a while to actually make a purchase.

"Six bags already." I grumbled with sarcastic interest moments later when she finally stopped. She stuck her tongue out and proceeded to the next store.

A couple of hours later, Chouji and I were sitting down on the benches and glaring at Ino scaling the windows of a big manga shop, chanting "Yaoi, yaoi, yaoi...!"

"I hate you." we said to her in unison. We were quickly surrounded by bags and bags of things... torture. A few more minutes, and we had stormed the food court. Ino may have started it, but Chouji DEFINATELY finished it. And then we stopped to rest again. My cell phone rang quietly. I whipped it out and flipped it open. "Dad." Great. I pressed "talk" and put it up to my ear.

"Hello?"

"It's time now." came his deep voice. I thought I was going to drop the phone.

"I'm leaving now!?" Chouji and Ino stared at me. Or rather, Ino glanced at me. She would have stared at me if not for the boy she was smiling at and making "Call me!" gestures to.

"Your mother and I think you need to take some time and pack. Consider it your first lesson in organization." I could tell he was smirking.

"But..." I couldn't believe it. Was this really going on? My life was ruined.

"No 'buts' about it. Say goodbye to your friends. We're expecting you within the hour." I closed the phone and looked down. The guy at the other table got up and left. I have to say, he wasn't bad-looking. The previously flirting Ino's attention was back on me for now.

"What's wrong?" she said, her eyes full of concern.

"I have to go home and pack."

"What!?"

"Yeah... I think this is going to be the last time I see you for a year or so." She pulled me into an emotional hug. Chouji joined in.

"I don't want you to go!" Ino cried with a severely shaky voice.

"I know, but I have a time frame..." I let myself out of the hug and frowned. She wiped a tear from her eye and twisted her mouth. We all walked out of the mall together, and the travel from there to my house was mostly silent. We got to the front gate and looked at each other for a moment before I walked up the path and the porch to the front door. We waved sadly and I watched them walk away slowly before turning into the house and locking the door behind me. I mumbled and walked upstairs to my room. I closed the door forcefully (I don't want to say "slammed"), and stepped over to my walk-in closet. I scowled and grabbed some of my favorite things to wear. I found a suitcase against the wall and began stuffing things inside. I didn't hear the door open, apparently, because my mom was standing next to me wagging her finger.

"Fold it."

"You can't be se--"

"FOLD IT."

"..." I did as I was told. As tedious as it was, and as little as I wanted to admit it, it made packing much better. It took me thirty minutes, but I gathered everything I would need. It was a little past 7:00 PM, and I was very tired. Instead of sleeping, I sat on the sofa in front of the television in the living room and watched that for who-knows-how-long. Nothing was interesting, but oddly enough, that's just how I like it. Soon enough, I found myself dosing off to sleep...

I didn't recall my dream well, but it had something to do with going to Paris. I remember giant snails were chasing me... No escargot for me then. It was 10:26 AM, and I wasn't at all happy to see my parents standing before me again. I glared at them.

"Don't tell me... I'm going now?" They nodded. I groaned. They left the room, and within minutes, I was asleep once again. It seemed like seconds before I was awakened. "Alright, alright. I'm up, I'm up." I walked to my room and threw on a red and gray striped polo shirt along with a checkered wristband and black jeans. I walked downstairs and slipped into a pair of dark gray sneakers, all the while I was stressed about the trip, and even moreso about the destination. I calmed myself with a huff. With my bag slung overshoulder, I stood at the front door. My parents stood to either side of me. I got a hug and a kiss, and I was off to my amazing car. I unlocked it and sat in the drivers seat, totally depressed. Without another thought, I put the keys in the ignition, got in gear, and drove off into the direction of the airport. I couldn't possibly explain my disdain for the entire situation.

"I should kill myself now."