A/N: Hello readers!
First, thank you all soo much for the hits... even two alerts and one favorite! You're just to kindly :D
Please, enjoy this chapter. an I apologize already for the end x)
Naruto looked at the map searching for the school-rooms of the center. When he knocked at Gaara's door and walked inside, he had found an empty room. He was worried about his friend and thought he tried to escape or that he collapsed. But when he asked a nurse she told him that the lads who were still on school got a special class in the afternoon. But the blond was lucky: Because he was the red-haired's closest person he was allowed to join him.
The Uzumaki sighed heavily. Great. He came out of school just for going to another lesson. Just great. He reached the room he was looking for and a grin made his way over his face.
He knocked, opened the door and cheered, "Hey Gaaaaara! What's up?!" But he froze when he saw who was sitting in front of the red-haired on the table.
"I-Iruka-Sensei?! What are you doing here??" he asked confused. He had never expected meeting his own teacher in a place like this.
"Ah, your name was..." the brunette began, touching his chin while he tried to remember and smiled, "Naruto, right?" The youth nodded and stood somehow lost in the doorway. Mr. Umino put on a soft smile and said, "Just come over here and join us." When the blond shook his head a bit he laughed, "Don't worry. We are not doing a lesson. But since you are new as well I want to know you a little better, too." Naruto faced the adult and started walking towards the table and sat down next to Gaara. He eyed the man in front of him. Iruka waited some time, but it seemed that the two lads were very similar to each other. None of them trusted him yet.
He took a deep breath and began, "For answering your question, Naruto, I am a volunteer. I come here after school and help some people with various school-subjects." He watched the two boys, taking a deep breath. After some minutes he considered, "Why don't you tell each other how your day was?" He smiled friendly, knowing that it would be difficult building a connection with the red-haired. Iruka was experienced, he had known a lot of young people before Gaara. Some were able to win against their addiction and some...
"Gaara, I tell you I have the biggest ass on world in my class. Believe it." the blond suddenly said and crossed his arms over his chest. "What about you?"
And then, for the first time, the red-haired answered immediately.
"Boring.", he said and turned his face to the window. Naruto sighed and put his arms on the table.
"And how do you feel today?" The blond looked at his friend, but he refused to answer. The Uzumaki put his head to the board, too, "Fine. Ignore me. Stupid teme... I even came here and you are still angry."
"You can stay at home." Gaara said monotone and turned his head away.
"What?! What did you say?!!"
"You heard me." he repeated and Naruto dig his fingers into the table. He was furious and he had problems holding himself back. But right now he just wanted to grip his friend on the shoulders, shaking him until he felt sick and yell in his face what the fuck was wrong with him. How dare he being angry with him?! He, Naruto himself, was the one who called the ambulance when Gaara collapsed. He was the one who organized the place at the drying out center. He was the one who wanted to save his life. And instead of thanking him, that jackass spitted right in his face.
Looking as black as thunder the blond stood up and headed the door. He knew himself well, he knew he would lose control when he stayed there only one more second. And he knew Gaara. That guy just wanted to upset him so that he would give up. But he underestimated Naruto Uzumaki.
"See you tomorrow, you fucked up jackass." the young man said before he shot the door with a loud noise. Naruto sighed heavily, looking back over his shoulder, face full with sadness. No, he wouldn't give his friend up. Never.
The blond spent some time at the reception, seeing parents visiting their addicted children, friends joking around and some patients leaving and returning to the center. He was up to leave and just went out the main entrance when a voice made him stop.
"Naruto, wait, please!" a dark, male voice called and the lad stopped. Called boy turned his head and rose an eyebrow.
"You again, Iruka-Sensei?" he asked and eyed the taller man who just ran after him. The brunette had that, slowly becoming stupid, smile on his face.
He put a hand on the younger's shoulder and asked friendly, "Would you like to have supper together?"
Naruto made big, blue baby-eyes when he stared at the cook in front of him impatiently. It was too much... The smell, the hot air, the delicious sight. It was all too much. He let out a small, heart-breaking moan when he couldn't get what he wanted.
"Please, mister... … G-give it to me, please... … I can't anymore...!!" he cried lowly. His desire was too big to handle, he was losing control. He wanted to taste it, to eat it and to enjoy the delicious, smooth feeling in his mouth when he got it. His eyes were half closed, he licked his sensitive lips, breathed with slightly open mouth.
"... … You really like ramen, do you, Naruto?" Iruka laughed and giggled when he saw said lad staring at the bowl full with ramen which was put right in front of him. His eyes grew even bigger and he licked once more over his lips.
Naruto took the chopsticks in his hand and grinned, "Thanks Iruka-Sensei! And now have a nice supper!" He fished some noddles and blew at them so that they would cool down a bit. He put them into his mouth and slurped them up.
The blond wided his eyes and murmured, "Mh m mhmm!"
"What?" the brunet giggled and Uzumaki swallowed the food.
"This is awesome! The best ramen I've ever ate!! Thank you so much, Iruka-Sensei!!" he smiled and emptied his bowl in no time. The blonde's whole face was as bright as the sun, satisfaction, joiness and happiness reflected in it. He purred like a cat and his scars, three on every cheek, and the way he closed his eyes made him look even more like an animal. Like a fox, maybe.
"I'm glad you like it. Let me offer you supper for today, okay?" the teacher asked and took the first bite of his helping. Naruto wided his eyes, staring at the man with doubt in his blue oceans. Mr. Umino noticed that immediately. "I know how difficult it is to deal with someone who is addicted. I know lots of kids at the center and I am impressed to meet someone like you, Naruto."
"... And why?" the lad asked, voice almost cold and distant.
Iruka sighed, "I heard that you were the one who helped Gaara and made the first step to him. And I am impressed that you don't leave your friend alone in such a heavy situation, however you are so young by yourself." The Uzumaki looked at the older, rising an eyebrow. The brunet smiled softly at the boy, lifting a hand and putting it slowly at his shoulder. The teacher had experience and he knew with the very first glance in the blue eyes that Naruto was someone who wore a mask. Someone who kept holding distance between himself and the world around him. Someone who suffered. "Remember this well, Naruto – be proud of yourself, because you are doing a great thing."
The blond blinked, confused and somehow overtaxed with the situation. Naruto couldn't remember the last time that somebody told him to be proud of himself. Someone telling him he was doing a good thing.
It was too much for him. Way too much for him.
Iruka watched every single movement in the lad's face and reacted right away when he noticed the sparkling in his eyes. "Are you still hungry? Do you like another one?" he asked, already lifting his hand and nodding to the cook while he removed his other hand from the youth.
Naruto seemed to wake up and stemmed, "W-wait! I-I have not much money with me and-" His heart was crushing, but he couldn't pay two helpings after all.
But the teacher shook his head and said with a severe voice, "I told you I'm offering you supper. Don't worry about the money, just eat as much as you need." The Uzumaki blinked up, even more confused.
He thought a while, but asked, "Why... Why are you doing this? Why are you so... so... kind to me? You don't even know me!" After all, the blond wasn't ready to trust to anybody. He didn't even trust Gaara. He had trusted anybody, especially them who tried to get close to him.
The brunet looked at him, face neutral. He took some noddles and ate them before he answered. "I know some things about you. I read your corriculum vitae. And I saw you today in the break." he said and looked down to him seriously. "And I know that a lot of things changed lately in your life. I just want you to know that you can always come to me if something is wrong with you-"
"Why are you saying this?! I don't need any fucking pity! I don't need anyone to be there for me!" he yelled, pressing his eyelids together. But he lost control of his face when he heard the answer of the man.
"Don't think I'm treating you different from others. Everybody in your class can came to me if they have problems, and mostly all of them take use of that offer. My pupils are important to me. So I give you the same possibility like anybody." he smiled with a warm, parentally light in his eyes.
Naruto looked at him a few seconds before he started grinning all over his face. "Fine. But you know, Iruka-Sensei, I have an extra stomach for ramen! I can eat a loooooot of ramen!!!" he laughed and the bowl in front of him was already empty. The older blinked confused, and glanced at the bowl, only seeing that it was really empty. The blond became serious again and asked, "Changed your mind about supper?" The teacher looked up and shook his head.
"I'm just wondering how fast you can eat..."
"It's because it's ramen!" the other giggled and put an arm on the table in order to rest his head on his hand.
"So you like ramen?" Iruka said and the smaller man nodded with a grin all over his face. The brunette smiled, "Lucky me I invited you to this local. Ichirakus' ramen are the best on world."
"I agree with you," the youth answered. "You know, I'm a ramen-specialist and I can tell this are the best ramen I've ever eaten! Believe it!" The lad smiled and ordered another bowl. The teacher laughed and shook his head, eating up his supper.
The brunet watched the younger man some time before he asked, "I wondered who do you meant by 'biggest ass on world'...?" The blond stopped devouring his meal and swallowed, eyes narrowing.
"That oh so cool, stucked-up president-bastard." he answered with a bitter voice.
Iruka blinked, "You mean Sasuke?" When the boy nodded the teacher let out a heavy sigh. He turned his face and looked up to the dark sky saying, "Don't judge about him so soon, please."
"Judge? That fucking asshole attacked me and thinks he has to act like the hero who saves his mates! Believe it!!!" Naruto yelled and furrowed his eyebrows. He didn't like that guy and the Uchiha seemed to be not pleased about knowing the Uzumaki as well.
The brunette looked at him and whispered, "I think you'll change your mind soon..."
"Did you say something, Sensei?" the blond asked and the other shook his head with a smile.
"Na, it's nothing. But tell me, Naruto – do you have any hobbies like sport or something?"
"I like taking photos." the blond chewed and swallowed.
Iruka lifted his index finger and explained, "Then you should join the Photo-Club. They can need every person. If you have time, tomorrow I'll show you the way."
"That would be great!" Naruto smiled. He really liked taking photos and he couldn't wait having some free-time for it. "Thanks, Iruka-Sensei! I think... … uhm... you're... not bad... after all..." he muttered and hided himself behind the ramen-bowl. It had been a while since someone... … cared so much about him... … Or had ever someone really cared about him anyway...?
A really strange feeling.
The bell rung and Naruto packed his bag slowly. Today they got the last papers with information and they did their very first lesson with homework. Japanese... He would do it in no time. So it didn't matter after all that Iruka wanted to show him the clubs, since he has had that reallyinforming walk throw the school with the Uchiha.
That day the two ignored each other impressivly, not even glance in the others face, back or somewhere else. But the blond looked up when he heard a familiar voice next to himself.
"Hey, if you want I'll help you filling the papers, dude." Kiba grinned and watched the smaller man standing up.
"Thanks, but I'm meeting Iruka-Sensei. He's going to show me where some clubs are. You know how good the bastard is at showing you around." Naruto answered well knowing said lad was listening. But the raven didn't care about him, he was to busy fighting his way throw a group out of girls. The Uzumaki heard things like 'Do you want to go out on a date?' and 'Sasuke-kun! Let's go and have lunch together!' coming from the females and for a second he was sorry for the bastard. As far as Kiba told him the Uchiha had to pass that chaos every day, but hearing the brunette it was nothing comparing to last year.
Naruto just shook his head, but when he looked at the mess behind himself for glancing one single time to the dark-haired he noticed that he had already disappeared. Well, maybe Sasuke got really fast in order to escape from his crazy fan-girls during the years.
"Here we are. This is the Photo-Club." Iruka said and pointed at a big, grey door with a small, black and white photo of an old-style camera on it. The brunette told him that for join a club mostly all had an entrance examination, for example a minimum of abilities in the sports clubs. The teacher explained him that some of the clubs worked together as well, like the Radio-Club and the Technology-Club. The blond looked over his shoulder with a slightly nervous look in his face and met the friendly smile of the adult behind him. He cleared his throat and knocked on the grey door before he opened it and stepped inside.
His nervously blew up in nothing when he eyed the bright room. There were lots of beautiful photos on the walls, tables full with equipment and expensive cameras, some computers and even an extra black room for involving photos. It was almost like a dream came true...
"And who are you?" Naruto suddenly heard and looked around, seeing a brunette, long-haired, older boy who was sitting on a table, an album in his hands. He was staring at the blond, his strange bright eyes directed to him.
"M-my name is Naruto Uzumaki. I would like to join the Photo-Club and-" he explained, but was interrupted by a female voice.
"Join the club?" a brunette girl giggled and closed the door of the black room behind herself. "You're pretty early. The examinations are starting off next week." She walked over to the other brunette and stood next to him, eyeing the stranger as well.
The Uzumaki blinked confused and asked, "Oh, fine. So I have to come back next week?" He was up to leave when the brunette boy called him back.
"Wait a moment." he said and stood up, arms crossed over his chest and eyes closed like he was thinking about something. "... Since you are here you can try out our entrance examination. But be aware that you have only this one chance." he explained, lifting his index finger. "If you fail, you'll not be admit to our club and you are not allowed to try it again next week." Naruto swallowed but he was sure he wanted to try it. Something told him it was going to be hard, but he wanted to try it anyway.
"Fine." the blond grined, "So tell me – what should I do?" He was confidend, crossed his arms over his chest just like the older lad and kept having that big grin in his face. Maybe he was a little too confidend...
"Wow, he has guts, Neji." the girl said and smiled when the lad called Neji took a camera and gave it to the blond.
"Listen carefully. I'll not repeat myself." the brunette said and looked directly into the blue eyes. He eyed the younger boy and stepped back slightly before he told him what to do. "Wanting to join a Photo-Club, you have to take a photo, of course. But I don't want to see a random, boring one." He lifted one arm, waving it slowly so that he was pointing at the pictures on the walls. "Every single photo here is special and unique its own way. Just like the one on the door – an old-style cam in black and white, showing the infinity of a photo which has emotion and live. Your job, Naruto," Neji said and pointed at him with his index finger, "... Is to take such a photo." He took his other arm as well and crossed them again over his chest. "You have three hours and you have to take that photo here in school. Bring me such a living picture and you are admited to the club."
Naruto swallowed. That was heavy. Really heavy. Neji rose his hand again, lifting three fingers in the air. "Three hours from now." The blond looked at him before he headed the door and almost run throw it.
I have three hours..., he thought and run downstairs.