Chapter 10 - Yes, Ma'am

The following day, Haku and Neji's first class was math, which they both had mixed feelings about. Their notes were pretty good, but neither of them thought there was a point to the subject. It helped build houses and whatnot (Neji had asked the teacher what the purpose of math was, and he'd replied with a long speech that he hadn't really listened to), but the two boys knew that neither of them were ever going to get their hands dirty.

People get paid to build houses. And they weren't going to be those people.

They stepped into the classroom and took their seats in the center of the room, their desks next to each other. Easier to pass notes than if they were far from each other. Mr. Mizuki didn't notice when they passed notes, if he did, he never said anything. He prefered spending his time teaching them math in the most boring of ways and scolding the students for not doing their homework.

Kiba insisted that Mizuki was satan's spawn and that his secret mission was to give children impossible math questions, just to see them struggle. But that was only a theory.

A very plausible theory...

The two boys chatted lowly for a while as they waited for the last two minutes of the break to pass.

"Lee keeps sending me the stupidest videos and pictures of cats. I tell him to stop, but of course he won't listen! I don't see what he finds so fascinating about a cat with gigantic eyes. And why he feels that I should see it."

"Oh, you like the cute kittens! Admit it."

"I do not! Even if I did, I don't need him spamming my inbox with such things."

"Alright. That's why you open every single e-mail, with a subject line that clearly reads, 'cute kitties ahead'."

"Whatever." Neji sighed, annoyed.

"He sent me a picture yesterday of a tiny kitten cuddling with a couple of little bunnies. It was so adorable!" Haku gushed lightly, his pure joy smile forcing Neji's lips to lift at the corners slightly.

"You guys really need better things to occupy your time with. All of you. Really. Instead of reading that book for english class, Naruto spent his night watching stunts gone wrong. Of course sending me the links to the more brutal ones. Did I mention that Kiba texted me every detail of how whales mate? Discovery channel needs better things to discover..."

"Having fun complaining there, Romeo?" Haku teased lightly. They'd recently read Romeo and Juliet, and they'd both agreed that Romeo complained far too much for either of their liking.

"Yes, I am." Neji replied, but didn't fire off a sarcastic comment upon seeing their teacher walking towards them. "Hello, Mr. Mizuki." He greeted politely.

"Hello, students. Haku, can I have a word?"

"Of course." Haku said, standing up. He sent his friend a little smile, telling him not to worry, but he still did.

Both boys thought over the last few courses they'd had, and couldn't find anything that might have gotten Haku in trouble with Mizuki. And speaking one on one with Mizuki always meant trouble.

Haku followed his teacher to his desk, and waited patiently for Mizuki to say something once they got there. They would have to hurry with their conversation, because the class was filling in and the bell was going to ring soon.

"Haku, your outfit is violating the school dress code. You'll have to get changed. I won't give you a late for this, but if it happens again I won't be so lenient."

"Um, Mr. Mizuki. I don't see how my outfit is violating the dress code." Haku said, looking down at his clothing. The dress covered his shoulders and went to his knees. He was wearing his flats and thus clearly not exceeding the three-inch heel rule. The only jewellery he ever wore was his charm bracelet, and his hair was its natural colour. He never broke the school dress code.

"Your dress is too short. Don't bother arguing with me about it. But if you must, then go see the principal. I won't have disobedience in this class."

Haku bit his lower lip, unsure of his next move. His dress wasn't too short, and he didn't want to have to change, but he also didn't want to argue with his teacher. "Mr. Mizuki, I don't wish to argue with you, but... The dress code clearly states that we can't show more than an inch of skin above our knees, and my dress reaches my knees."

"I know the dress code, Haku. Grab your things and go see the principal. I'll give you a note for her." Mizuki's blank tone was stressing him. He'd never broken a school rule and he'd never gone to see the principal because he was in trouble. Just the idea scared him to almost-tears. Haku simply nodded and returned to his desk to grab his things while his teacher wrote up the note.

"So?" Neji asked as soon as he drew near.

"Mr. Mizuki says that my dress is violating the school's dress code. He wants me to go see the principal." Haku said, his voice trembling lightly.

All the students were firghtened of the principal, for good reason.

"But it doesn't violate the dress code. You know I double-checked." He hadn't wanted his friend to get into trouble because of his new clothing, and was frustrated that a teacher still managed to find something to pick at.

"I know. I'll go see the principal and hopefully she'll understand." Haku grabbed his things, his charm bracelet tinkling in the process. He wore it most of the time, when it matched his outfits, and he loved it to death. The six charms on it were for the people he loved. His father, his four friends, and the one Neji had forced upon him, the one for himself. Because self-love was important.

"She better! If you get into trouble because of this I swear to God I will burn this place to the ground." Neji threatened, and Haku smiled reassuringly at him.

"It'll work out. Just don't set anything on fire until I get back, alright?"

"I make no promises."

"I'll try not to be too long. The quiz is going to be at the end of class, right?"

"Yeah, but he might let you do it tomorrow if you don't have time today."

"I'll be here, don't worry!" Haku waved shortly at him just as the bell rang. He stepped to the front of the class and took the slip of paper from his teacher. He said farewell to him and then headed out of the classroom and towards the principal's office.

The halls were ringing with hurried footsteps as the few students still roaming the halls attempted to get to their classes before they were too late. Haku stopped walking as the anthem rang through the school, and continued on his way once the morning announcements began. That was followed by a list of students that needed to be seen in the main office or the library. It was always a spectacularly long list.

The hall monitors let him walk past, seeing as he was headed towards the principal's office and was probably already in trouble for something or other. Haku bowed his head in shame. The idea of being in trouble, for him at least, was worse than the actual punishment. Disappointing someone was his greatest fear, and he always tried to do his best. When his best turned out not to be enough, it crushed him.

At the office, he gave his name to the receptionist who had him sit down while she went in to see if the principal would have a free moment to speak with him. Shizune stepped out of the office and smiled at him, "You can go on in." She told him.

Haku thanked her and entered the office slowly. "Good morning, Ma'am." He greeted her.

"Good morning, Haku. Have a seat." Tsunade said, gesturing to the grey chair in front of her desk. Haku sat down, avoiding her gaze. "I'm assuming you're not here to bring me cookies?"

"I'm sorry, Ma'am. I don't have cooking this semester."

"Too bad. Those were the best cookies I've ever had. Well, if you aren't here to bring me food, why are you here?"

"Mr. Mizuki sent me here." Haku replied, handing her the note from his teacher.

Tsunade took it and read it, a frown creasing her brow the further she read through it. She folded it up and put it on her desk, "Stand up, please."

Haku did as she asked, staring down at his shoes as she looked him up and down. A moment of silence passed, his mind reeling with all sorts of possible punishments she could give him. All of which were exaggerated in his frightened state. The worst possibility was if she called his father. As open and loving as Zabuza was, Haku had never been in trouble at school, and he had no clue what to expect if that was the case.

"You can sit down." She instructed him, "I'll write you up a letter for Mr. Mizuki and you can return to class afterwards." She pulled out a slip of paper from a drawer in the desk and began writing on it as she spoke.

"Am I... Am I in trouble?" He asked.

"No." Tsunade replied.

Haku sighed in relief, and smiled brightly as he took the note from her, "Thank you, Ma'am."

"Before you go," She stopped him before he could stand, "I wanted to know if everything was alright. I mean at school, or at home."

"Everything's great, Ma'am." He told her, confused by the hint of concern in the principal's usually tense brown eyes.

"I'm asking because I'm wondering what brought on this change. You're allowed to wear what you want, as long as it follows the dress code, and I know you aren't really the rebellious type, but if you're trying to make a statement, I'm afraid I'm not catching it. Is there something you should tell me? If you aren't comfortable telling me, you know the school has a guidance counselor, right?"

"I'm sorry for making you think there's a deeper reason behind this when there really isn't. My father and friends are all amazing and things are great with all of them. This change is just a personal preference for me, that's all." Haku explained.

"Alright then, Haku. I know things will be hard for you for a little while, but if it persists or becomes too hard, come and tell me. I'll do my very best to help you."

"Thank you, Ma'am."

"Move along now, don't want to miss too much of your lesson." Tsunade dismissed him and smiled at the youth's relief.

Haku was a good kid. She saw a lot of kids, some good, some with a self-caused troubled future ahead of them, and she hated when the ones that did their best were the ones with the most problems. She didn't want any of her students to lead difficult lives, but seeing the best of them be pulled down by life's ups and downs, she couldn't help but think it all unfair.

If only she could be there for all of them. But she couldn't, and that's what hurts the most.

"Have a good day, Ms. Shizune!" Haku said to the receptionist on his way out of the office, in a much better mood now that he knew he wasn't in any trouble.

His feet carried him all the way to his class faster than they had taken him to the office earlier that morning. His left hand toyed with the charm bracelet on his right wrist in a joyful manner instead of an anxious one. And it was with great pleasure that he handed Mr. Mizuki the note from Tsunade, still wearing the dress that his teacher didn't approve of. As he read the note, Haku returned to his seat, smiling reassuringly at his best friend.

"I'm assuming I don't have to burn this place down?" Neji whispered to him, keeping his eyes on their teacher. Mizuki pursed his lips for a brief moment before putting the note on his desk and acting as though it wasn't there.

"The school can stay in one piece." Haku said with a little laugh.

"Oh, well. Can't say it wouldn't have been fun though."

Haku merely smiled at his best friend before pulling out his things and starting on the lesson. Burning down the school wouldn't be enough to get rid of math homework, unfortunately.

AN: Hello! Sorry for taking so long to put out this chappie. I hope you liked it!

I'd like to thank AkatsukiCrush, AUehara, and Reeserella for reviewing my last chapter! It really means a lot!

Thank you for reading,
-MewMew