SCHOOL DAZE I

The pristine tiles were shockingly cold. The room was dark, stars winking from the heavens through glass and the moon big and full. Slender fingers worked to quietly nudge the plug from the outlet, black strands swaying back and forth. The monitors shut down without a sound. The snores of the nurses and the guards drifted softly down the halls so Sasuke was able to walk past them without care.

One of the guards that flirted with the nurses regularly was sleeping with his arms wrapped around his head on his desk. Sasuke moved soundlessly and carefully snagged the clip on his shirt pocket containing his ID. The man stirred but eventually fell back into deep slumber. Triumph washed over him.. Idiot.

Slowly pushing the side door open Sasuke took to the back staircases, wandering through the hospital halls held no appeal, he needed to go outside. He needed air. With the swipe of the card a light flashed green and a clicking sound echoed down the halls.

A cool night's wind blew across his face, playing with his hair. Sasuke looked up to the sky, eyeing the moon suspiciously. He ignored the stab of the cold and walked over to the building's ledge. Something as soft as the breeze felt like it could nudge him down and over.

Black eyes did not move away from the ground, dark and dull, and with tight lungs Sasuke slowly crouched to perch on the ledge that gave way to the flowers beds that stood out like warning flags down below.

Something akin to anticipation and adrenaline ricocheted inside him making his heart accelerate, Sasuke stepped up, breathing cautiously and became mesmerized with the way the world fell into a deceivingly soft

sloping

drop.

~OoOoO~

A couple of hours later Shizune burst through his room with quick steps and nudged him once. Then twice. It would've been three but it grew increasingly irritating to hope to ignore her long enough for her to get the hint. She smothered him with a cheery look and he gave a dark one from just above the sheets. Shizune manhandled him inspecting him like he was an ant under a magnifying glass and told him he was being discharged. She quickly left to call Iruka. Karin had left the day prior.

Given basic instructions, Iruka and Sasuke had left in silence. Iruka walked beside him in the underground garage, radiating a mixture of nervousness, worry and desperation that only intensified through the persistent glances in the rear view mirror. The pain medication made it easier to ignore him.

With arm in brace Sasuke watched the wonderfully blurring world while Iruka kept making noises of self doubt to himself about whether he should open his mouth or not. Sasuke still hadn't apologized,...he wasn't going to either. Kakashi would surely keep giving him shit for it. They'll get over it.

Sasuke's body still felt strange to himself, like he was only a floating head. The only injury he still had was his fractured ulna but that wouldn't take more than a week or two. The bruises had faded to ugly yellows and the scrapes becoming scars.

At last after several minutes of internal battle Iruka had grown the balls to clear his throat and look Sasuke dead in the eye. "Kakashi is coming home early tonight. We were-we are going out to dinner in celebration. Where do you want to go?"

Iruka strained to act nonchalant but Sasuke knew him better than that. His faked attitude and assertion let him overlook Sasuke with a hawks eye.

Sasuke just shrugged and passively went back to looking out the window and ignoring whatever he was thinking of saying.

"Do what you want"

The deep wrinkle in his forehead swelled his ego.

Just too damn easy.

~OoOoO~

Sasuke had no idea how tired he really was until he walked in through the front door to the same suffocating house. The entryway was cheery and toeing off his shoes the only thing on his mind was laying down. So quickly Sasuke darted up the carpeted stairs not bothering with Iruka.

"Sasuke you have-" the sound of the door swinging shut cut him off just as he was stepping through the front door with a couple grocery bags. It was surprising how fast he was just to avoid people even when tired. Tossing his keys in the bowl he rubbed the bridge of his nose soothingly. The muffled sound of music sprung almost immediately.

"God I need some aspirin" Iruka murmured to himself.

~OoOoO~

Sitting cross legged on his bed and immersed in his music Sasuke truly unwound. There was still homework to be done, the teachers were not expecting it to be done but the hospital was boring and everyday Suigetsu would come around to dump another stack. It kept him somewhat sane from Karin's long winded insufferable talking. The sun was high and bright outside and warm on patches of his skin. Iruka had taken the day off to pick him up so he couldn't just leave either.

Laying back he sunk into bed and let out a sigh at his tense muscles, hospital beds were awful. No doubt Iruka would be up at some point to bother him so he turned on his side and surrounded in the safety of his self isolating cocoon he drifted off to sleep.

~OoOoO~

The sound of loudly squawking birds roused Sasuke. His mouth was dry and he had accidentally laid on his arm. The pins and needles shot through his arm and he swore rolling himself off his sensitive arm. It was quiet, Iruka must've turned off his music. Taking more painkillers he noticed the sun was minutes from officially setting, bloody streaks coloring the clouds.

A quick couple of knocks came at the door and Iruka stuck his head in.

"Oh good, I was just going to wake you. Get ready we're leaving soon. Kakashi's home." For some reason his eyes were bright, smile wide. He's never that excited...and just as quick as he had popped his head in he left.

The sleep still lingered on his eyes so the shower although difficult because of the brace, was welcomed. Sasuke stayed under the spray of the shower a little longer, letting the roar of the water drown out everything else and letting it dribble down his face.

Drying off and changing proved to be a massive task with only one functioning arm. It took much longer than anticipated so when he finally came downstairs Kakashi and Iruka were murmuring between themselves in the living room. The murmuring seemed slightly...flirtatious. Quickly grimacing Sasuke stomped down the stairs extra obnoxious. Kakashi sighed extra loud and hung his head over the back of the couch,

"Are you finally done?" He smiled.

~OoOoO~

From the backseat of Iruka's car Sasuke's stomach growled with a vengeance. Kakashi was also in a surprisingly good mood, walking with a bounce in his step. Sasuke sat in the back quietly, head leaning back with his eyes closed soothed by the car's movements.

When the car finally came to a stop they were sitting in the parking lot of Kakashi's favorite restaurant.

"We're here" Iruka said and smiled at Sasuke through the mirror.

Sasuke hated these places, they were unbearably loud, people's fragmented conversations would break off and run together into a continuous storm of noise. The waiters were frazzled and fake friendly. Sasuke recognized one of the hostess as someone he went to school with. Brown pieces of hair strayed out of her buns and fell across her shoulders. Her face said 'I want to scream right now but my break is in twenty minutes.'

The girl looked surprised to see him and stared at his brace. Kakashi flashed her a smile and Iruka's face lit up.

"Hello Tenten, busy night I see. Sorry to add to the load." The girl flashed him a sincere smile.

"No problem Mr. Umino. You know I'll always have a spot for you, please come this way."

Walking through the ocean of people Tenten had playful conversation with his guardians and kept flashing Sasuke looks. They were seated in the secluded corner booths and immediately had their drinks taken.

Once Tenten bounded away Iruka and Kakashi both faced Sasuke almost immediately.

"So,...I have some news." Kakashi said, he had his fingers intertwined in front of him, eyes in happy half moons. Deciding to humor him, for once, Sasuke huffed through his nose. This is going to fuck me over...

"And?"

"Well I'm glad you asked, Sasuke. Guess who I talked to? That's right Suigetsu's mother. Terrific lady. She said that when you're ready she would like you to volunteer at her women's club for the next month."

Sasuke felt his face go slack and his eyes narrowed with the speed of an angered cheetah. He's bluffing. Kakashi had a silent standoff with Sasuke, the amusement coloring his face lively. It was after several moments and Iruka's worried look that Sasuke realized that no, Kakashi was not fucking bluffing. A fucking women's club...

"Why" he demanded

"Because she thinks you need to get out there into the community and get this, she says, and I quote "what better way than with a bunch of old ladies?" Kakashi was really pushing it, basking in Sasuke's silent cold fury and trying very hard not to laugh.

"They plan to do some public gardening next time."

Iruka looked very worried by now and tried to keep Sasuke from potentially lashing out and doing something unpredictable.

"It's not for that long Sasuke and who knows maybe you'll like it?...okay, maybe you won't, but it's worth a shot and a good way to give back to the community"

"What has the community ever done for me?"

Iruka sighed, "look, Suigetsu's mother is very fond of you, do it for her. It's not like you have much of a choice either" he chided at the end. Sasuke shifted his glaring to the table and startled somewhat when Tenten came stomping over with drinks in hand like a juggling act. She plopped everything down and jotted down their orders quickly dashing away.

With the distraction Iruka cleared his throat.

"So, how is the investigation going?"

Kakashi's face lit up again and he smirked.

"The Akatsuki doesn't really have a defense, at this point their lawyers are just scrambling to find a way to reduce their sentence. It hasn't been easy but we're finally going to get them after so many years. We have all the testimonies we need and have more than enough evidence to put them away for a long time." No wonder they're excited, thats all he ever talks about.

"Wow that's terrific" Iruka discreetly held Kakashi's hand giving him lovey-dovey eyes while Sasuke fidgeted with his phone feeling like the ever present intruder.

"There's still talks about there being a secret warehouse but it all seems to be a myth, the kids have all been dealt with, not ideally but at least they're in better situations and we have a solid case even without the warehouse."

"Wow,...and to think all that was going on for years." Iruka said somewhat mind blown sitting back in his seat. His expression morphed from surprise to realization, the metaphorical lightbulb going off over his head.

"You remember that girl? The one in the park that we would always see when we walked the squads dogs? Her name was Sakura, Oh! she was at the hospital too."

Sasuke's dwindling interest sparked up and he found himself watching their conversation out of the corners of his eyes.

Kakashi's interest was piqued, "Sakura? Haruno?"

There's only one girl that Kakashi talked to in the hospital besides Karin.

"Yea that's the one"

"What about her?"

"She's a new student of mine. There's actually two new students, they showed up a day ago...now that I think about it there's no way they could've come from two separate places at the same time."

"A boy too?"

"Mhmm, a blond boy I haven't talked much to him but he seems like a...handful, name's Naruto. Do you know him?" Iruka turned his curious eyes to Kakashi who had an almost fond smile on his face.

"He's one of the kids I got a statement from. Naruto Uzumaki." He smiled a small smile to himself, the same fond look on his face. Sasuke watched Kakashi's unexpected reaction over the rim of his glass with calculating eyes, so that's how he knew them.

"Naruto Uzumaki and Sakura Haruno, huh? Small world." Kakashi chuckled.

They're rather invested for kids they don't know... A snide look overcame his handsome face as his fingers played with the water droplets on the surface of his glass.

~OoOoO~

After dinner Sasuke had gone to bed early but just like anything else he did this sparked instant worry from Iruka, because what didn't.

In the morning Sasuke woke to the shrill sound of his morning alarm. Sasuke was going to school. The realization was intrusive, unwelcomed. The sounds of Iruka's muffled disaster permeated the floor boards and when he heard something that sounded like silverware being toppled over he knew it was time to get out of bed. Being partially handicapped made getting ready the most gargantuan of tasks so by the time Iruka had everything cleaned and he was ready to go Sasuke had just finished putting on his shoes.

He looked like a walking disaster, "I have to go now, is-" The sound of a horn blaring woke everything within the neighborhood, cats screeching and both turned to see through the front door glass that Suigetsu's all black car was waiting outside. Rolling his eyes and huffing Iruka grabbed his case that carried only burdens of work to grade and opened the door.

"I'll see you at school" he threw over his shoulder going over to his car. Sticking his head out the window Suigetsu harassed Iruka with an aggressively persistent hello and a wave from Karin to which he unenthusiastically smiled to.

"Sasuke! Get your bony ass in the car we're gonna be late!"

Climbing into the passenger's seat he mumbled "I'm surprised you're still allowed to drive"

"Eh, Mom didn't need that much persuading"

Jugo scoffed from the backseat and Karin stuck her face between the two seats

"How's the arm?" Sasuke didn't reply but merely raised the brace at her and she pouted, slinking back into her own seat. Sasuke seemed to be in a strangely complacent mood so Suigetsu took advantage while he could and began babbling.

"You know, my mother-that bitch-insists that I participate in your punishment also. Don't give me that look, I wasn't the one driving."

"But you're the one that gave me the keys" he said cooly.

"I was high out of my mind, who wouldn't have given you the damn keys?"

"A smart person" he mumbled and Karin laughed out loud.

"Shut up, you heathen" he growled and that started up a whole new argument altogether.

~OoOoO~

Stepping on school grounds felt like a surreal experience after being trapped between the barrier of white walls for a over a week. Sasuke was used to the looks the others gave him, nosy, obviously pointing at him and running their mouths ('he got arrested, I heard he got bailed out, no I heard he killed a guy'). No doubt everyone already knew what happened thanks to Suigetsu and his loud mouth but the glare that he wore intensified greatly, metal iron defenses rising once again.

Arriving to homeroom Sasuke immediately darted for and sat in his seat. Karin and Suigetsu and Jugo taking their places at his sides and began talking about their usual nonsense. Blocking out their babble with his music Sasuke crossed his ankles and stared out the window at the cool spring morning.

Dispassionate detached eyes swept the room quickly, just out of habit and finding nothing that caught his interest, Sasuke rose the volume of his music.

~OoOoO~

The previous day

Instead of anticipation Sakura had felt nothing but the heavy pulse of dread running through her making her palms sweaty and twitchy. Her roommate was someone who went to a separate school and had absolutely no interest in getting friendly so Sakura had been stuck sitting in her room the very first day. Decorating her room with her sparse decorations had been the highlight of her day. The rest of the day and dinner were uneventful.

So that morning she woke earlier than her roommate and sat around unsure what she could do, feeling like a stranger in a place she was supposed to call 'home.' Entranced she stared out the window looking at the green of trees rather than the stone and paneling of buildings she was used to when the realization hit her. It was her first day of school in years. Yesterday Kurenai had come up to her and told her all Sakura was doing today was placement tests due to her circumstances.

The idea seemed foreign and initially she inflated with excitement, running around and choosing to shower and get ready before anyone else was up, rushing out of the room and her socked feet almost slipping around the corner of the hallway.

After the shower the house was just stirring with sleepy eyed children rising out of comfy beds. It wasn't long before it was hard to get around the place. It was somewhat strange to see the masses of children fighting for bathrooms and just to move through the hallways. A couple of people had walked right into her, all not too nice about it.

Within forty-five minutes of the start of the commotion everyone was out the door and the house was once again silent. Sakura went downstairs for breakfast and found Kurenai talking to Naruto. He was mildly caught off guard when he saw her. A silence fell between the two before Kurenai noticed her presence.

"Oh Sakura good morning, how'd you sleep"

"Fine"

"Good. I was just telling Naruto that today I'll be taking you guys to school. You'll only have to be there for a couple of hours and then tomorrow is your official first day of school." Smiling lightly she plucked a piece of toast from a plate and began eating breakfast.

"Here, I'll get you guys some breakfast" Kurenai said moving with her morning coffee.

The rest of the morning was spent talking with Kurenai who was very kind. Turned out she had a husband and a baby on the way, she was just barely four weeks. Naruto was not as loud or as mouthy as he usually was when she mentioned her personal life and he was even fighting a bit of a smile. Family always did that, it was an instilled yearning inside him that brought as much happiness as loneliness. Kurenai did most if not all of the talking until it was time to go in which they climbed into her red beetle she nicknamed the Ladybug and drove them down to the school. The combination of sun and food and the drive made Sakura sleepy, lulling green eyes to a daze.

~OoOoO~

Whoa, impressive, Naruto seceded to that, even in his stubbornness to find flaws with everything for the sake of being a brat. The school was huge and well taken care of unlike Naruto's old school with the broken playground and chipping red bricks. It was more of a prison than anything else. This place was sandy beige with high rise windows and three floors that looked more like an old mansion and nicely paved sidewalks with pretty flowers he didn't know the name of and vibrant green fields off to his far right.

The inside looked modern and Naruto found himself lagging behind Sakura and Kurenai.

This place was pretty fucking neat.

Of course, this was when things went downhill.

The main office receptionist lady talked with no pauses and handed them thing after thing, locks, ID's as well as some documents they had to sign relating to school policies. Then she had some teacher usher them into a stuffy empty room where they plopped a test right in front of them. Sakura looked mildly overwhelmed and Naruto couldn't help but agree.

Sakura just darted through the test and Naruto wasn't sure what he was really doing, testing was always one of his weaknesses. The grammar and literature was ok, it wasn't too hard but the math he just didn't have the patience for, what the fucking hell is the function of a parabola?, so he ended up creating a rhyme for it and picking out answers that way. By that time he wasn't even reading the questions, eh what the hell school isn't my thing anyway. His process of elimination helped him finish quicker so when he passed in the test Sakura looked somewhat offended and Naruto just shrugged his shoulders, saying 'I don't know.'

Sakura, Sakura was irritated, pride was an ugly thing. Is Naruto some kind of genius?...No way he could finish that fast I still have a quarter to go! Maybe he's just down playing his intelligence, damnit Sakura focus!...but what if he's just an idiot? But still I have to do better than him. He's smug he probably thinks he's fooled me, well i'm no idiot!

Naruto was wondering what lunch would be, he was hungry. Where's Yagura? Maybe I could visit him? But this place is huge, I'll probably get lost. Sakura's still got a bit to go might as well wait for her... Huffing, Naruto slid further into his desk.

~OoOoO~

Once Sakura finished they were let go and Naruto followed her out the door.

"How'd you do?" she said almost immediately, pink hair swaying around her and assessing him with her vivid green eyes. Messing with his hair he chuckled, "I don't know, I'm hoping I did well. And you?"

He might be downplaying it. Trying to sound nonchalant Sakura shrugged her shoulder the same way Naruto had "I think I did pretty well"

Maybe I should've tried more, damn. He smiled slightly at her and something about the way he stared made Sakura look away. Kurenai appeared around the corner.

"Oh, there you are! How'd you do?"

Instantly both kids sombered, dragging their feet and deflating, murmuring 'good' right past her. This made her worry and she worried for them, they were good kids.

"Don't say anything but, who's up for lunch?"

The effect was immediate on Naruto, inflating with a newfound energy and looking at her with twinkling blues. Sakura stopped mid-step looking back at Kurenai hesitantly, walking back to them she placed her hands on their backs, and without giving a chance to pull away she pushed them down the halls.

"C'mon, let's go"

Kurenai stared at Naruto and Sakura, there was something between them it wasn't friendly but it wasn't hostile it wasn't something as deep as comfort nor shallow as acquaintance awkwardness. But every now and then she would catch him staring at her and she would sometimes assess him. But they wouldn't talk. Her ruby red eyes squinted at them.

Fear caught hold of Naruto and made his hands clammy and heart beat just an itsy bit faster. Where fear came from he wasn't sure but staring up at the building of security and reliability was...foreign? It was unusual and it was not an entirely comforting feeling which is weird, because it should've been. It should've been he reasoned because it was a place with people his age and he could make friends which he never really had a lot of...so then, why were his legs restless with the wind whispering 'run, run' in his ear?

From the parking lot the sound of the bell was muffled but just barely there. Masses of students walked by the widows and looking up at the third floor he caught a glimpse of high tiger orange and snowy white hair and a thoughtful frown overcame his face.

Huh.