A/N: Holy shit, I'm sooooo sorry. Please forgive me!!!!! My computer died about three-four months ago (it's okay if you don't believe me, that excuse is used so often…). But don't worry! My husband dished out some cash (finally) and now I have a new computer and Internet. No more six month delay!
Chapter Two
Anko smirked upon entering her flat, throwing herself on the worn love-seat. Her new neighbor was a total pushover! All she had to do was sit on the ledge of her balcony and the twit offered to buy her shit! She stretched out on the couch and directed her eyes toward a converted aquarium. Once it held fish but she found herself bored by them and opted for a snake instead.
"Hey, Jingles, you up?" Of course there was no reply from the snake and she noticed with annoyance that the lid had been left open. "Ah shit, where'd that snake go now?" She got to her feet and did a small sweep of the room, instantly finding the six foot python lounging in front of the stove. She released a sigh of relief, and made her way toward the serpent. "Hello handsome," Anko playfully flirted before sitting near the reptile. "How the hell did you get out?" She carefully pulled the snake into her lap and admired the red markings.
The shrill ring of the telephone woke Anko from her trance and she rose to answer it, now with Jingles wrapped around her neck. "Hello?"
"Hello my dear." She visibly paled at the sound of the voice, but still managed to roll her eyes. "I noticed you left early, may I ask why that is?"
"I was done with my shift, dipshit." She began to twirl the phone cord, looking more bored by the second.
"Such language is very unladylike...did you forget about the arrangement I made for you? I had a very disappointed gentleman waiting for you." There was a brief pause before the speaker continued. "I am, after all, paying you more than the other girls, aren't I? The least you could do is—"
"Now wait a minute, I never agreed to anything and you know that damn well!" A light, creepy chuckle followed which only added fuel to her anger. "What's so funny? I don't see why you think you can whore me out! It's not like you own me, god damnit, I'm not some piece of meat to be passed around!" She paused for a brief second to think of something else. "And I don't have to deal with this shit, I don't need you or this fucking job!" Another soft chuckle from the other end. "What is so god damn funny?!"
"Oh, nothing you'd understand, my darling Anko; however, we both know you need this job. And by that little groan I just heard I know you understand where this is going. So unless you're looking to end up in box covered with dirt or perhaps pay off your father's debt, I suggest you not pull another stunt like this again my dear. Do you understand Anko?"
"Yes, Orochimaru," the anger and defiance now gone from her voice at the mention of her father, "I understand, it-it won't happen again."
"Good darling, I'll see you for your shift an hour early." A pause. "And bring that snake of yours in, I'm interest to see how he's grown in you care."
The line went dead before she could retort and she found herself slamming down the phone harder than was necessary. "That damn bastard! I'm not a whore, god damnit!" A sigh. "What the hell am I going to do Jingles?"
Once again she was met with silence.
***
Iruka juggled between the twelve-pack and his cheeseburger as he fished for his keys. After finally getting the door open, he none-to-gently set the beer on the floor and closed the door with the back of his shoe.
"Finally," the teacher murmured to himself, making a path toward the couch. "I love food."
Iruka plopped on the sofa and hastily unwrapped the burger from its wax paper cocoon, his mouth watering at the aroma of cheese and meat. He raised the burger and all its cheesy, greasy, goodness to his mouth and-KNOCK, KNOCK! The young man sighed and shouted a, "Hold on!" before rising to his feet. THUMP! THUNK! "I said hold on! Jeez, some people are so impatient…" The eggshell white door opened and revealed his neighbor clad in that same thin, plaid bathrobe. This woman has no fashion sense…shit that sounded so gay, Iruka thought before speaking. "Hey, here's your beer. Now please stay off the ledge." He nudged the case with his foot.
Her smoky brown eyes drifted to the blue and silver case as an annoyed expression came over her young face. "Aren't you going to invite me in or something?"
Color rose to his cheeks at her forwardness and he subconsciously scratched at the jagged scar across the bridge of his nose. "Um, well, you see," he stammered. Why did she have to stare at him so hard? "I just moved in and the place is…unorganized."
She didn't look convinced. "So? I've lived here for three years and mine is always 'unorganized'," she quoted the word with her fingers, "but that doesn't stop me from inviting people over for a good time." She winked at the implication.
All to aware of his face heating up, he stammered for a response. "Um, I-I…it's late…"
"And it's a Saturday, well, technically Sunday morning. Move aside." His neighbor didn't wait for him to open a path and instead settled for shouldering past him. A low whistle slipped from her lips at the sight of bubble wrap, scraps of cardboard and the general disarray. Anko turned and flashed him a cheeky grin. "Wow, you weren't kidding huh?"
Iruka was in shock and he didn't quite know what to do with himself as she settled on his couch. "Um, well…"
"Hey, bring the beer over here--what's your name by the way?"
The teacher dragged the case to the couch and stood awkwardly next to the wall dividing kitchen from living room. "Look, I'm really tired and I'd appreciate it if you would…leave?" He mentally slapped himself, man he was being such an ass.
She adorned an over exaggerated pout as she rose to her feet. "Fine," she hissed angrily. "Be that way." The purple haired woman started for the door, not before tearing into the case and pulling two beers out.
Iruka sighed guilty, being a bad host was not something he was known for but then again he usually didn't have guests at one thirty in the morning. "Ah, I'm sorry about the rudeness, I'm just really exhausted. Would you want to tackle that twelve-err, ten pack this evening maybe?" He forced himself to say the last part, however, it's not like he could just kick her out and ignore her for the next year. Bad stuff happened when you pissed off confident neighbors, even more so when you're new.
Her eyes brightened the slightest amount. "What time? I usually work from six till around two thirty, three o'clock." She flashed him another grin. "I got off early tonight."
"Really? Where do you work?" Somehow he had roamed over to her and now found himself leaning against the door frame as she stood in the hallway.
An unreadable emotion flinted through her eyes as she replied. "I-uh, I work at a bar downtown, The Blue Dragon." She twisted the cap on one of the bottles and began to down it.
He nodded in understanding and cocked a grin. "Maybe I'll check it out sometime."
She laughed nervously, wiping the back of her hand across her mouth. "That's okay. You really don't have to, it's…um, it's a gay bar, so yea…" He raised an eyebrow questionablely at her excuse. "You know, I don't really like being hit on and with a bunch of queers around…"
"So you'd rather get hit on by women?" They shared a mutual laugh. "Anyway, it's nice to meet you….?"
She caught his hint after a minute of staring obliviously at his scar. "Oh, Anko, Anko Mitarashi." She shook his hand awkwardly.
"I'm Iruka Umino."
She shrugged. "I'll probably forget so don't get to offended." An awkward few seconds passed before she turned and headed toward her apartment.
Iruka immediately felt a wave of guilt as she slowly trickled down the hall. "Real smooth Iruka. Smooth like Ex Lax." And he to disappeared into his apartment to a cold cheeseburger that he somehow felt would have tasted better with company.
(A/N: Short, yes I know but for some reason I shrugged with this chapter. I'll have the next one out on 30 January 2009!)
Disclaimer: I'm not affiliated with Naruto, Anheuser-Busch or Ex Lax. And if you try to take me to court you won't get a dime…literally.