This chapter is deliberately written in first person, due to the content and nature of describing the past.

'Grandpa?' I started, barely audible.

'What is it, Kotetsu?' Smiled the older, wiser adult before me.

'...What if the other kids don't like me?'

Grandpa chuckled lightly and straightened the collar on my shirt with gentle, experienced hands.

'You know,' he started, brushing down imaginary dust and lint from my clothes.

'You ask me the same question every year, and not once have you ever not made at least one friend and introduced me to them.'

'I guess..' I muttered, my muscles pulling my mouth into a mischievous smile.

'I just don't like to break tradition!' I winked at him and mussed his fluffy grey hair.

'Now, now. Just because your fourteen doesn't mean you need to start acting like you own the village.'

'I promise I won't. I better go or I'll be late for the first day.'

'Remember what I told you Kotetsu. What do you have to do with that smile?'

"Never let it fade!" I recited for quite possibly the ten thousandth time in my life as I ran out the door.

My final year at the academy seemed prosperous and exciting. Of course, I loved to have a good time, and really, having fun was the best way to get through life. Just, more often than not, my sense of humour landed me in trouble more than it did me any good. Don't get me wrong though. I'd studied hard and worked myself into becoming an intelligent and noble shinobi. Finally, it looked like all of my perseverance was going to pay off. The last year until I become a genin.

Disappointingly, the weather was a horrible humidity and it was making my hair limp. I'd spent ages trying to change my look, only to have it ruined by nature. See that's the thing about this academy: we keep switching classes every year we progress and it means we lose contact with the friends we've made the entire year before, so it means having to make yet again another set of friendships...and this is where I have my downfall.

I make people laugh. That's the easy part. The problem is that I get them to laugh at my expense, and that always lands me in detention. It sucks, because it's all fine and dandy to be the class clown, but sometimes, I'd just like someone to have my back, to make me feel like I was clowning around for a purpose.

A bell rang and I realised that I'd been wandering off on a tangent, completely away from the academy. I knew the sound of that horrible ring all too well. Class had started. And I was late.

'Shit!' I cursed to myself and sprinted as fast as my legs would carry me. My feet skidded down the halls until I slid just before my new classroom. Great, of all the things I had to do on the first day and I'm late. There goes my chance of making a good first impression. I rapped my knuckles on the door, only to find myself face to face with a scowling sensei in the standard flak jacket and navy ensemble. He was not happy indeed.

'Name?' He said dryly, pen poised at the ready to mark my name off of the clipboard.

'Kotetsu Hagane' I said, cowering on the inside at the complete glare of disappointment beaming at me.

'Not a good start to the year, Kotetsu.' Sensei said, shaking his head at me and flicking the brush in a harsh line against my name.

'You and I will not be on good terms, it seems.'

'Yes sensei.' I said quietly, and shuffled over to an available seat at the back. The class of children sniggered at stared at me as I walked. I locked eyes with one boy, who wasn't laughing or sniggering at me, but rather blankly staring at me with wide eyes. Then I realised I was staring back and I snapped my head away, ascending the tiered steps to my new seat. I leant my head on my left hand only to find that he was still staring at me though; his mud coloured fringe sitting off-centre and leaning into the right of his face. I raised my eyebrow at him questioningly, before he turned away to the front, the smallest hint of pink creeping over his cheekbones.

-x

'Late again Kotetsu.' Sensei griped, marking that familiar line against my name as I strolled into the room, not even bothering to make eye contact.

'Bite me.' I retorted, taking my familiar seat at the back.

'Detention.'

'What else is new?'

Again, the class giggled and snickered. You'd think after two months of this they'd grow up. Apparently not.

'You know where to go.' Sensei said and proceeded calling the rest of the roll. I slumped back in my seat and half-heartedly listened to the names being called out. Throughout the corner of my eye, again, that same boy was staring at me. I ignored him though, and started tracing patterns absent-mindlessly on the desk with my finger.

'Izumo Kamizuki?'

'Here!' The boy replied, snapping his eyes back to the front immediately. So that's his name. Izumo.

'Okay students. I have to deliver a note to the administration office. I will be back in just a moment. I hope no one tries any funny business.' He shot a look at me and I just smiled innocently at him like the little angel I could be. He turned on his heel and breezed out of the class.

'Hey Kotetsu!' A kid called from the opposite end of the room.

'Show us the "making babies" thing again!'

'Yeah!' A chorus agreed afterwards. This had to be my best shtick so far.

My eyes quickly scanned the room for any signs of sensei returning, as well as listening in for footsteps. So far, his familiar footfalls couldn't be heard.

'Okay.' I complied, bringing out a kunai and a shuriken from the hidden holster on my leg underneath my pants.

'As you all know,' I started, swinging the kunai around my finger via the hole in the back of the handle.

'When a guy comes across a girl who is smokin' hot, something happens. Am I right fellas?' I waggled my eyebrows at the class; the result a smutty chuckle and some boys grew red. It's amazing what you can see from the back of the room.

'However, girls always love a bad boy,' I continued, this time bringing out a shuriken, holding it up by one of the spikes.

'And they just can't stay away from them. It's easy to get them into bed; just dazzle them with a smile, some jokes and play it cool. Then you know what happens.'

I winked at them, and pushed the tip of kunai into the hole of the shuriken repeatedly, making suggestive and terrible sighs and moans, amping it up to the laughter and whoops I was getting. It was such a crude and vulgar humour, but really, anything sexual is funny when you're adolescent.

I was playing out an entire scenario when the sensei came back in. Dammit. I was sprung bad, and I didn't even realise the fact that the laughter grew quieter. Shit.

'Kotetsu Hagane!' Sensei barked at me, his face furious.

'What is the meaning of this?'

To be honest, even I didn't know. I opened my mouth to make up some kind of excuse but I didn't have to.

'It's my fault sensei.'

Eh? What was this kid trying to pull? He was probably the only one trying to hide his laughter from before.

'I asked him to do it.'

Liar. I know sure as hell he wasn't. The request came from nowhere near him.

'Izumo, I'm surprised at you. You know that you'll have to go to detention for this. Don't let yourself be dragged down to his level next time.'

'Yes sensei.'

The kid, Izumo, looked upwards, staring at me. No, not staring. He was looking at me...kindly. I stared back, before musting up the manners to mouth 'thank you' at him. He smiled lightly and focused his attention back to the front for the lesson.

-x

Detention was a usual haunt for me nowadays. I didn't mind it though, sadly. I craved human company a lot more since my grandpa passed away a month ago, and even the disgruntled nin in charge was suffice. It hurts to think about my grandpa, but I don't want to forget about him either. I think the fact that I didn't get to introduce someone to him before it happened kills me the most. But I can't afford to look weak in front of the other kids, or I'll lose all of the rapport I've developed so far. God, it's not anything to brag about. All I am is a dancing puppet to entertain them. This sucks.

Izumo was trailing behind me, looking petrified as he followed me down the hall. I don't see why. Detention is nothing but sitting in the room, writing out lines and if you finish that before time's up, then you get free time to do anything. I was so used to writing that I'm able to finish it half an hour. That must be a record for recording, I swear.

I held the door open for me and he just kind of blinked at me owlishly, confused.

'Don't worry.' I said, trying to wave him through.

'You're not gonna get hurt. It's not torture here.'

'Oh...' Was all Izumo said, shuffling through and taking a seat in the middle tier. Absolute centre. Oy vey, did this kid have no clue?

The nin in charge gave me a stony look before returning to his book. This was the norm, as I took my usual seat a few tiers from the front. I glanced up at the board to see what sentence awaited me.

"I will not resort to lewd and vulgar behaviour for simply the sake of attention from others and disrupt their study in becoming strong, intelligent ninja."

Emphasis on intelligent, with the slanted writing. Can sensei really be that petty?

It was strange to see another, different sentence on the board along with mine. One written for Izumo. It hurt though, and my mouth drooped.

"I will not let myself be dragged down by Kotetsu."

Really? That's it?

Sheesh.

A little over forty minutes passed and I was finished. It wasn't my most fantastic script: my g's and y's tails flicking out too long and scrawled across the parchment like my brush had been in a fight with a well of ink and lost. Still, I had finished. Two hours and twenty minutes to go.

My hand slid under the bench and flicked a panel of wood to the side: a small, pocket book of poetry falling expertly into my palm. It was something that I hid at this desk a long time ago. I love reading. I'm not stupid. I just act up in the hopes I'll get a friend.

I quickly glanced up at Izumo to see how he was going. His hand was writing furiously and he looked panicked; aghast. I still don't understand why he was here though. Why did he take the wrap for me in the first place? Man, this kid made my head hurt...and he was in my head a lot recently. I just didn't get his angle. His eyes flicked over at me and he blanched even more so. His mouth dropped at how quickly I had finished and his eyes travelled back and forth from me and the board like a tennis match. Some unknown feeling bubbled up inside of me at his reaction. It felt like anger at his reaction, but it wasn't. It was just weird.

I dropped my eyes and started reading my book, savouring in the lyrical words of the poetry. It was s easy to lose myself in literature that I loved it. I love the written word: words are such a beautiful tool. You can both wound and repair someone with them. That's the power of language.

After twenty more minutes had passed, I quickly looked up at the nin in charge. As usual, he had fallen asleep with his feet on the desk. Typical. It's a wonder they even have someone in charge if they always fall asleep. It bewilders me. I looked up at Izumo's muddy fringe again, now beginning to get increasingly darker with sweat.

'Psst.' I hissed at him. He looked up at me, pale-faced.

'You can do substitution jutsu right?' I asked, my voice a quiet whisper.

'Yeah, who can't?' He replied, still looking scared.

I pointed out the window to a tree nearby.

'Come on, we're getting out of here.'

'But-but-'

'Quick, before he wakes up.'

He just sat there, staring at me in disbelief. Clearly words were not going to get him up. I hopped up silently on my desk and bounded flawlessly up the tiered benches. I took his wrist and gently tugged.

'Come on, it's easy.'

His mouth was slightly agape and he finally nodded. So quickly it all happened, and then we were free.

-x

'Can I ask something?' I finally asked, as we sat under a tree, my teeth biting into the fuzzy flesh of a peach.

'Sure.'

'Why did you take the fall for the class?'

Izumo looked away, fiddling with his own peach in his lap. There was that pink again.

'I guess I'm just tired of seeing the other kids take advantage of you.'

'They don't take...advantage of me...'

Liar. I know they do.

'Well...why do you let them get you in trouble?'

I shrugged, taking another bite of the sweet fruit, letting the juices flood into my mouth.

'Because I get noticed.'

'You know you don't have to be an idiot to be noticed.'

'I'm not an idiot.' I bit at him, flinching at the snap in my tone.

'I just... I make people laugh to get them to like me.'

'Oh.' Izumo looked away from me and bit into his peach, a flow of juice dripping down his chin.

'Dammit.'

'Here.' I said and wiped the juice away with a small kerchief.

'Thanks.' He said, wiping his hand on his shirt.

'You know, you could always just be yourself around people.'

'I've tried. It hasn't worked well.'

'The real you?'

His question probed at me uncomfortably. What was it about his guy that caught me so off guard?

'I saw what you were reading.' He said, smiling at me.

'I'd never pick you as the reading type.'

'No one ever does.' I said, my turn to look away sheepishly. It felt so natural to open up to him. I liked it. It was like he was a friend...

'People think I'm stupid. I'm not.' I said weakly, trying to defend myself against silent questions.

'I don't think you're stupid.'

'...you'd be the first.'

Izumo smiled and nudged me playfully, which made my mouth twitch into my own smile.

'Hey.' He said, dipping his face in front of mine.

'That's an awesome smile.'

Now I started to blush. I'd pegged this kid wrong from the word go. He was really nice.

'Thanks. I like your eyes.'

It was true. They were so large that I felt like they were always x-raying me. I'd gotten used to them boring into me every day as I took my seat.

'Eugh. I don't like them.' He said, turning away from me.

'Why not?'

'They're odd... I'm trying to grow my fringe out so I can hide them.'

'But why? They're fine.'

'They don't match...I don't match up.'

'You make no sense.'

'No, really. They're two different colours.'

'No they're not...'

'Look closer.'

So I did. He was right. They didn't match up, but just barely.

'That's pretty cool.' I concluded, trying to pull myself away from those irises, but I found it hard to. What the hell?

'Don't tell anyone, okay?'

'Okay.'

'Promise?' He said, holding out his hand to shake on it. I clapped my hand into his and grinned.

'You got it.'

There. That was it. In that single clap, something had developed into something more beautiful than I could ever imagine.