Author's Note: Reviews are still welcomed. And you might want to set up the cue music before you start reading to be able to stay with the mood of the moment. All my music can be found on Youtube (.com) Just a helpful suggestion.
Disclaimer: I own nothing! Not Naruto, Kingdom Hearts or GetBackers, or the song lyrics I will be using, but I do own the plot.
Cue Music: Muse- Take A Bow~ Symphonic/Original Mix
The dreary light steadily poured in from the parted blinds to bathe the room in shadows.
As if sensing the change, the lump on the bed scowled slightly and threw the covers over his head while curling into a tight ball. He settled down once again with a soft sigh and continued to slumber completely oblivious to the dark figure hovering over his bed.
Poke...
The lump on the bed twisted a bit before settling down yet again.
Poke...
The covers were slowly peeled away from the lumps head so the victim's reaction could be observed.
A frown marred the sleepers face as it flopped over to the other side.
Poke...poke...
A hand tried in vain to swat the annoying...the annoying...whatever it was that dared disturb its sleep.
A stifled giggle caused the lump to stir a bit more as confusion washed over his slowly awakening senses. Before the victim had time to relay the message 'danger' to his sleep clouded brain, his attacker pounced.
His sides were furiously attacked with quick nimble fingers without warning leaving him breathless.
"Naru-niichan you have to get up or you'll be late," a singsong voice called out.
"Hahaaha...gasp..Sora...hah..st..stop haha!" Naruto tried to let out between fits of laughter. His sides were aching from the torture it received as he squirmed about.
Naruto quickly rolled them both over using sheer force of will at the moment. They landed with an almost silent thud on the floor.
Ginji choose that moment to enter the room to wake his brother. But upon closer inspection discovered that the occupant of the bed was missing, along with his blanket, and his pillows, and half of his...bed sheets?
Ginji climbed on the bed to further inspect 'The case of the missing Naruto', when he heard yelps from the side of the bed. He stuck his head out a bit to see what was making the noise and was greeted with a highly amusing sight.
"Ne, otouto what are you doing down there?" The brunette still looked very confused as he stared down into a jumble of blankets where limbs were protruding at all sorts of weird angles. 'When did Naru-chan grow an extra leg?'
"Oh, ya know, counting stars." For a moment Naruto went crossed eyed and wore a look of utmost concentration.
The mound started moving as a head of cinnamon brown spikes emerged pouting, it crawled away from the mess of blankets and sat there for a moment.
"Naru-niichan that was mean!" Sora said in a huff.
"And I suppose you were being a perfect saint?" Naruto was trying to make the stars go away by vigorously shaking his head while sitting up...'whoa, bad idea.'
Sora sniggered lightly and pranced around him.
"You've got ten minutes to get dressed!"
At this news a look of panic and horror was passed between Naruto and Ginji. Then without a word both of them scrambled up and made a mad dash towards the bathroom.
Sasuke sighed and blocked the teacher's droning voice out. This was really starting to grate on his nerves. He tried once again to ignore the argument taking place next to him.
'Is it really that difficult to decide on a few songs?' He gritted his teeth in annoyance.
All the bands had hauled their groups to different corners of the room, and Sasuke just had to choose one where he could stare out the window.
The entire morning seemed to reflect off of his mood. It was dark out... and not just the, 'clouds floating across the sun dark either', it was the 'sun was swallowed whole by the sky' dark. And it felt like they were in for a heavy down pour.
Strange?
Very...
It made Sasuke wonder if somebody screwed around with the alarm clocks. But then again, his biological clock told him otherwise. It was already third band music and the brooding teenager wanted nothing more than to escape this prison people called school.
'Stupid Aniki and his moronic rules! It isn't even necessary for us to be here damnit!'
Apparently those weren't the only things on his mind this morning however.
'When the hell did those idiots move into our wing? That entire section belonged to us, it doesn't make sense...'
It was a well known fact that the Hebi gang inhabited an entire wing of the Manor. And the leaders had their own top floor to ensure privacy.
When Sasuke decided to find out the reason why there were students placed there, he was simply told that the school had no more vacant rooms left to offer the teens. So they had to be put in the only wing that had empty rooms...theirs.
The back of all Sasuke's senses prickled with the heavy air that surrounded him. He turned his head slightly to his right to watch his family still bicker.
A head was gently placed on his shoulder and Sasuke immediately tensed. He turned around annoyed, fully intending to yell at Sakura to get off. However when a silvery tress came into view he relaxed once again and paced his head on top of the other, continuing to stare off into space. He must have been really out of it if he was mistaking people so horribly.
"You know all that zoning out you've been doing lately can't be good for your health." Drawling the voice whispered teasingly.
"Hn."
The figure grew tense for a moment, and then spoke once again all trace of humor gone.
"Niisan, I don't like this at all this...this feeling...It's horrible, the air is so heavy it feels like your breathing in lead." Riku whispered lower to ensure privacy.
"I know Ri-otou (1)...its weird, but nothing is out of place as of yet." Sasuke spoke for the first time.
If it was one thing that Sasuke couldn't stand it was being read like an open book. He liked to keep his private thoughts private. But sometimes it seemed impossible with the company he kept. There were only three people he knew of that had that ability to do so, and surprisingly enough the third person wasn't Shido (who by the way wasn't too far behind).
Sasuke found his eyes wondering across the room again. 'Why does the idiot have to be so loud?'
"Ne, otouto he's looking at you again." Ginji playfully joked.
"Aniki! Would you stop that!" Naruto gritted out furiously trying to fight the scowl off his face.
He turned his head slightly, locked eyes with the obsidian staring back at him and glared through his glasses before returning to the task at hand.
"Kazu-chan did you finish with the arrangement for the first song?" Ginji seeing his brother's quickly arriving foul mood changed the topic.
'He's so stubborn, but I suppose its best like this. Uchiha-san looks like trouble...then again so does Midou-san.' As if sensing his thoughts, Ginji yet again felt the eyes drilling holes in the back of his head.
He shivered despite his warm attire fighting his natural instincts to go chibi.
'Yep trouble with a capital T,' he thought glumly.
"Ne, Gin-niichan, could I ask you a question?" Sora looked up and glanced at the other three boys.
"Ask away So-chan(2)," He answered with a bright smile.
"Why is it so uncommon to find anything other than brunets in our old neighborhood, but here everyone's so...different?" Sora wore an inquisitive look on his face as he struggled to articulate his thoughts.
Actually it had been bothering Ginji too but he pushed it to the back of his mind.
"I don't know So-chan but I rather like the change" Ginji offered a grin and left the question unanswered.
Sora wanted an answer and that wasn't it, it seemed. He looked as if he was about to ask another difficult to answer question in hopes of sating his curiosity. But Kazuki beat him to it.
"Ne, Sora-chan, Cloud and Iruka wanted to steer clear of trouble so they moved to the safest neighborhood they could find. That's all, and it just so happened to be a stereotypical neighborhood. Brunets are more common to find in the long run Especially in Traverse town. Not many people are born with naturally different color hair around that area."
"Oh," was all Sora could say. It seemed more like no one was born with different hair color in Sora's opinion.
"Hey guys the first part is done, why don't we start on part two?" Kazuki's cheerful demeanor washed away all odd questions drifting about the boys head.
Naruto's face lit up as he almost jumped out of his seat. "I've got the perfect lyrics for the next one you guys! I've been working on this one for a while." The words tumbled out of his mouth like a waterfall, and his energetic personality fueling his brothers despite everything.
"The lyrics go something like this..."
Cloud sighed as he leaned back in his chair slouching slightly mumbling under his breath, "Why did I take this job? I'm practically begging to be kidnapped or raped or..."
'…or both,' his mind supplied helpfully.
It was finally lunch and one of Clouds breaks. He wanted nothing more than to sleep after running from two-thirds of the schools female population not to mention the group of boys that decided to tag along.
Cloud couldn't help but sympathize with a few of his students that seemed to suffer from the same problem as him. Sasuke, Ban, Riku and Shido took off like the devil was on their heels when the bell rang.
But he wasn't that lucky, the devil it seemed... was a sadistic bitch.
He sent the one thing feared more than himself... fangirls... But then again the boys always seemed to disappear before the leeches attached themselves. The blonde was tempted to ask them their secret. Gaara and Neji had a simple solution; Neji clung to Gaara's arm while Gaara coldly turned everyone away. After all, no matter how attractive the boys were, nobody dared test that killing aura Gaara had around him.
Which just so happened to be the reason he was pissed in the first place. The man did not wear a sign that said 'cuddle me'. Nor did he scream 'worship the ground I walk on.' Yet for the past few days it'd been nothing but people fawning all over him!
No amount of glaring or swearing could rid him of the human leeches. And it was damn unfair that the same approach worked for two high school students!
Cloud sighed as he let his guard down a little deeming the place safe enough. As his thoughts finally fell on his 'children', he smiled almost imperceptibly. He barely had time to hug them when Naruto and Ginji had grabbed their younger siblings hands and made a mad dash to god knows where. And in their hurry the boys almost forgot to call out their good byes.
Sora and Kazuki had finally returned. When he heard about the boy's departure he was depressed for weeks on end with the knowledge that he wouldn't see the boys for god knows how long. Cloud knew Sora would be back, the boy could only stay away from Naruto and Ginji for so long before he came running back. But he was more than grateful that Kazuki had decided to come back as well.
'They balance each other out perfectly... from the childish and responsible; to the stubborn and protective; to the calm and collected; to the hyper and loving.' (3)
He briefly paused in his musings and wondered if hiding in the teachers lounge was such a good idea, after all students may have been prohibited but by no means was the room off limits to the female teachers. He shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself.
"I didn't think it was that cold in here." Deep suave and rich the voice spoke from behind him; it sent shivers running up and down his spine but for a whole other reason.
'Damnit I knew this was too good to be true.' The instructor thought in exasperation choosing not to answer, whilst at the same time preparing to make a run for it if necessary.
Cloud sat up in the couch and turned his head just in time to see the back of the stranger heading over to the table where the hot beverages were set up to serve.
The male was tall and had hazelnut hair with natural lowlights that ended at the nape of his neck where the layers gently flipped out. (4) He was wearing black fitted dress pants that had a few chain belts decorating his slightly curved hips and a dark gray ribbed long sleeve sweater which had the sleeves folded half way up his arm. The male was muscular yet lean, his shoulders slightly broader than Clouds. Cloud, suddenly aware of his eyes wondering the slim but powerful form, sharply turned away.
In order to distract himself, he concentrated on the view ahead. One of the advantages of the Manor was the location; it sat up on a hill. The teachers lounge room was on the third floor, so from the large bay windows one could get a full view of the lake and forest below.
Cloud shivered again, 'God damnit it's freezing in here!'
He silently toed his shoes off by the foot of the couch and brought his legs up to his chest deeming the stranger safe for the moment. It didn't seem like the man was paying him any attention anymore. He then proceeded to wrap a large fleece throw blanket around his body that he discovered earlier.
'You would think that this place could afford some heat for all its worth.'
Cloud was startled out of his thoughts when a cup of hot chocolate was placed in front of his view. His eyes traveled the length of the arm only to come into view with a very solid looking chest. Cloud could feel his mouth go dry and tried in vain to wet his lips. He finally brought his gaze upward and his breath hitched in his throat.
'Gorgeous...'
Was only one of many adjectives running through his mind at the moment, while trying to find the right one to describe the man in front of him. They all fell short somehow.
He stared into the stormy grey eyes, trying to subconsciously memorize his face. He had a pale yet slightly tan complexion, and a light scar running across the bridge of his nose slanted a bit towards the left which only seemed to add character. A look of indifference adorned his handsome face as he looked right back at Cloud.
Cloud, too lost in his musings, didn't realize what he was doing but apparently the stranger did as a smirk graced his sensuous lips.
"You seem to be new around here; I don't think I'd ever forget a face like yours." The brunet spoke again, smirk slowly fading away.
Once again the instructor was snapped out of his musings as his brain tried to process what was meant. And once he did, he gave an inquisitive look at the implications of those words.
He regarded the drink warily before his hand snaked out of the blanket to accept the cup of hot chocolate.
"Thank you... and I just started work here a few days ago." He offered softly with a slight turn of his own lip.
Cloud's expressionless face turned once again to stare at the scene before him.
The brunet took a seat next to Cloud allowing his back to brace on the arm rest. He followed the formers example, toed off his black ankle boots, then he drew one of his knees up to his chest with an arm wrapped around it and proceeded to sip his own hot chocolate.
"Is there a name to go with the new face?" The stranger asked.
The blonde was glad he didn't have anything in his mouth or else he might have choked. For the first time since he could remember, he was nervous. 'What's wrong with me?' he thought harshly.
"Cloud, it's nice to meet you er..." Cloud extended his hand but faulted halfway when he realized he didn't know the handsome man's name.
"Leon, it's a pleasure as well," Leon grabbed his hand in a firm shake.
Cloud was surprised at the touch, he had very soft skin.
Leon studied the boy in front of him. 'Cute, but he seems so young, like he's not a day over nineteen... Still, the kid has to be pretty smart to land a job here of all places.' It somehow evaded his attention that he didn't look all that much older himself.
Leon stared out the window wondering absently why the heat wouldn't seem to go on before focusing on Cloud once again. He looked like he was ready to bolt at any given moment; he quirked an eyebrow at this.
"Why do you seem like your expecting to be attacked?" He asked mildly curious...this boy was strange.
"They're everywhere, they're trying to get me..." Cloud whispered absentmindedly eyes shifting about warily.
The blonde, just realizing what slipped out of his mouth, was about to let out a string of very colorful obscenities as he turned to Leon with a wide eyed expression on his other wise stoic face.
'Smooth genius...real smooth, now he probably thinks you're a paranoid weirdo...'
And upon spotting Leon with an amused look as well as a delicately arched eyebrow...he found himself furiously fighting down a blush. Cloud didn't do blushing damnit! He wasn't some girl! It was unheard of! How the hell could his body afford to spare any heat for his face when it should be using it to keep him warm? Damn blasted godforsaken messed up internal wiring!
"Wa..wait that's not what I meant!..!" Sputtering indignantly, he brought a hand up to cover his eyes in some vain attempt to hide himself.
Icy sapphire met stormy grey.
"You see there are these really strange girls who ke..keep trying to..." Leon held up his hand to silence the rushed speech.
"Fangirls?" he supplied easily. 'Already?'
Cloud still busy berating himself mumbled under his breath.
"Yeah something like that."
"Don't worry, we're relatively safe in here, not many people know of this lounge."
"Really?" he looked baffled, though he did note the use of the word 'we're' and almost wondered why he used his choice of words. Then Cloud mentally slapped himself, Leon most likely had twice as many pursuers as he did.
Actually, come to think of it, it was by complete accident that Cloud ducked into this room to hide from the insane women he was sure, was trying to maim him.
"Hai, this is one of my very few havens." Leon whispered albeit a little annoyed; then almost immediately asked.
"So what subject do you teach here?"
Cloud for the first time let a small smile grace his lips.
"Music"
There are several ways to deal with threats...
One way would be to face it head on... but only fools rush in where hero's fear to tread...
Another way would be to ask for help... but the stubborn have way too much pride for that...
And then we have the most tactful way, HIDE!
Which is exactly what Sora was trying to do, keyword there being 'trying'. If one more girl glomped him and called him cute...he'd tell Naruto! Oh yes and then they'd stay miles away from Sora...after all there was only so much verbal abuse one could be subjected to, yes it was an ingenious plan but for right now hiding would suffice.
But that was easier said than done considering he was trying to hide, get his lunch, and find his brothers at the same time.
Sora sighed for the millionth time cursing his stupidity. He forgot his bento and insisted that the others go reserve their spot in the courtyard while he went back to his locker to get it. It was also where a mob of girls planned on waiting to coddle him to death.
'If only I could get in there...maybe if I distract them? But with what?'
Sora's face scrunched up in utter concentration, he pressed his body more flat against the wall and peeked around the corner to his locker once again. 'Still there... damnit!'
"You know waiting on them to leave won't work."
Sora waved his hand absently not even realizing he was being spoken too. "I know but, I need to figure out how to make them leave my poor locker alone, and that doesn't involve the words 'chase' 'Sora' and 'capture' in the same sentence." Sora whispered harshly as he watched in horror as his locker over flow with cute heart shaped letters. How on earth was he supposed to find his bento now! His poor food, he couldn't just abandon it...wait... did someone just...?
One could practically see the light bulb turn on in Sora's head as he turned around so fast he almost gave himself whiplash.
"It's you!" Sora pointed an accusing finger.
"It's me?" Bright surprised eyes and an impassive face stared back at him.
"Yes it's you!"
"Who is "you"?"
"It's 'who am I? '"
"Who are you?"
"No not who am I! Who are you?"
"You just said 'It's you' implying it's me, so who is me?"
"That's incorrect grammar; the proper question is, who am I?"
"That's what I want to know."
"I asked first!"
"Really I was under the impression that you knew me since I just so happen to be, 'it's you'…"
"Huh?...ggggrrr stop confusing me!" (5) Sora clutched his head as bewilderment gripped his brain, and bloody hell it had a strong grip.
The stranger in front on him chuckled lightly at his predicament.
"People normally call me Riku not 'you' per say." Riku offered his hand.
"And you are?"
Sora regarded the hand warily before taking it into his own and offered a bright smile.
"I'm Sora!"
'Now normally I wouldn't mind but in this case...What does this guy want with me? He doesn't like my brothers, so why bother with me? Maybe he's up to something...better play along...' Chibi Sora mentally second the notion.
"Sshhh, you don't want them to hear you now do you?" Riku hushed teasingly.
Sora blushed as he clapped a hand over his mouth shaking his head vigorously side to side.
It was then that Sora saw the smaller teen that stood behind Riku, and bent his head to the side to get a better look.
The teen stepped forward and gave Sora a quick once over and followed Riku's lead.
"Hi I'm Roxas nice to meet you Sora."
The brunet stared up into very familiar sapphire blue eyes and felt completely at ease nearly at once. Sora's next smile lit up the room as he accepted the offered hand.
"Yeah, I hope we can be friends!" His voice barely rose above the soft tones they were using but it still contained all the pent up hyperness that he radiated.
"Sure but first I think we need to solve your current predicament...by the way what are you waiting for?" Roxas poked his head around the corner curiously.
Sora pulled him back immediately, "No they'll eat you!"
Roxas cringed at the sight he beheld before he was so graciously pulled back.
'Were those girls loyal to no one?' Roxas sighed in exasperation. Oh wait there were a few but not much. Was it too much trouble to ask the girls to hang off one boy and not eight? (Of course that didn't include the minimal amount if teachers they chased) But then again maybe that was for the best at least the rest of them get to rest every once in a while.
Roxas looked at him as if silently asking him what he was doing here; Sora recognized the look almost immediately.
"Um bento?" was the only thing he could supply, but they understood anyway.
"You're risking your life for a bento?" Riku quirked an eyebrow.
"Hey its not just any lunch its special made by Naruto-niichan!" Sora exclaimed in an undignified manner.
"Hai hai...if it's that important to you then I guess it can't be helped." Riku said in a pacifying manner.
"What can't be helped?" Sora was genuinely curious.
"Hope to see you again soon Sora, bye." Riku started to leave and Sora felt betrayed. He was always, no matter how hard he tried, way too trustworthy.
"Hey you can't just leave me her..." Sora trailed off as Riku, without turning around, lifted a single arm in order to silence him.
'I knew it! That Ahou! I shouldn't have trusted him.' Sora was seething...well at least on the inside he was, but to a passerby if that pout was any indication to go by, he was moping.
Riku paused for a second and that's when Sora heard it, that beautiful wordless tune...he had never heard such a thing in his life, what kind of instrument would produce such a wondrous sound? Nothing the teen ever heard. It was like he was in a trance, as he steadily moved towards Riku, then he was quickly grabbed from behind to stop his movement. Sora felt all his attention drawn to Riku. And Riku did the most peculiar thing, he dropped his book.
'But there is no way that was by accident he had a perfect hold on it...' Sora stood there baffled.
The sound echoed filling the silence, suddenly the noise stopped and all was quite again.
Riku swiftly but gracefully picked up his book. And then the screeching and squeals came.
"Oh My God it's Riku-sama!"
Sora watched in amazement as Riku took off with the pack of wolfs behind him.
"H..h..he did that for me? Sora sounded so amazed that Roxas had to laugh.
"Sorry, I would have done it myself, but Riku is the perfect scapegoat. He's the fastest in the school!"
Sora absently nodded his head at a loss for words.
'He distracted them for me by dropping his book' Thoughts of the strange but beautiful melody all but forgotten. 'Maybe he's not so bad...'
"Sora does it really take half an hour to get your lunch?" Naruto looked annoyed.
"Sorry about that but we ran into the she devil's reincarnated." Somebody piped up. It was then that the group of boys noticed the stranger accompanying Sora.
"Oh! Sorry, guys this is..."
"Roxas!"
Sora was slightly startled by the shout.
Naruto looked pleasantly surprised.
"Hey Naruto, where were you yesterday we were waiting for you."
Naruto sweatdropped while chuckling nervously, his hand never did fail to scratch the back of his head.
"He..heh.. you see, I was uumm...kinda incapacitated at the moment.."
"Oh well no problem, we could just eat together today, come on guys lets get you introduced to the rest of the idiots." Roxas laughed motioning for the boys to follow him. He stopped abruptly and had the decency to look embarrassed.
"Um I dunno the rest of your names."
Kazuki laughed that soft melodious laugh of his and, hurried to remedy the problem right away. He liked this guy already.
"Jeez, that was one interesting lunch..." Ginji was beaming. He managed to avoid the Hebi gang for the entire period and was able to finally relax.
It was really strange though, it was like every person their group had bumped into so far was at that secluded area of the court yard. Hinata, Kairi, her twin Namine who they just met, Neji, Gaara, not to mention all the boys Naruto ran into yesterday were there as well. It was bizarre.
Ginji was expecting it to be very awkward, everyone's personality seemed so...incompatible. But that didn't seem to be the case at all. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, one that could only be made by those who shared a close kinship.
Too bad that comfort came to a screeching halt as something the boys were truly dreading came... gym. The boys didn't get a chance to meet their teachers yesterday but unfortunately they weren't so lucky today.
Gai was truly a thing to be feared, if his teeth shined any harder they could outshine the sun. His bushy eyebrows and bowl cut turned a lot of heads and that green body suit of his made the students cringe. But when he opened his mouth, dear lord have mercy on you.
However their second gym instructor seemed to be much more level headed. Though, one could never tell if he was truly paying attention or not, due to the fact that his face was always in his book.
"Hmm, I guess since this is the beginning of our second term we should have the reevaluation test today then." Kakashi finally looked up from his book and in the process captured the attention of every student and then some.
The man was handsome Naruto credited him that much but was it really a reason for people to start fainting all over the place? Honestly he was starting to wonder again if switching schools was such a good idea to begin with.
"Ohmygodomygodohmygod! He doesn't have his mask on!" seemed to be along the line of what every girl was saying, or babbling same difference.
"Mask?" Ingenious...it really was, an entire question in one word a truly astounding feet if Naruto didn't say so himself.
"What have you been living under a rock? Kakashi only ever has one eye visible. It's rumored that he surgically attached that mask too his face!"
Naruto turned around to see who was who speaking to him and froze in his tracks.
"You again!" Sakura looked generally surprised, and then shock faded away into disgust and fatigue.
Naruto honestly couldn't answer, what was he suppose to say 'uh yeah?' because that would really be showing off his amazing ingenuity. So he promptly turned away and faced his brother completely ignoring the strawberry blonde. Which is exactly why he missed the brief frown that marred her lovely face before she could school her expression.
"Gin-niichan what the heck is he talking about?" Naruto's curiosity got the better of him.
"I don't believe I've seen you four here before." A voice bored spoke almost directly in front of him.
The chibi practically jumped outta his skin before rounding on the man in front of him. "Don't sneak up on people like that! You probably shaved off more years of my life than I have to spare Hatake-sensei!"
Naruto glared furiously at the teacher though his glasses while everyone else's jaw hit the floor.
"Kakashi's fine I don't care for formalities...but you are rather loud... which means you have a lot of energy... which means you have plenty to spare...which means Gai may have a new star pupil!"
"Eh?" Naruto was seriously confused now, but before he had time to react he was wrenched outta his seat into a hug that literally left him breathless and gasping for oxygen.
'Now this seems so very familiar! I wonder why!' Black eyes would have rolled if he had any movement to spear but he was too busy turning purple.
"OH MOST ESTEEMED RIVLAL YOU HAVE FOUND ME A WONDEROUS NEW YOUTH TO HELP BLOSSOM INTO A BEAUTIFUL FLOWER LIKE THE BUDS OF SPRING!"
'Why is he crying? Oh god somebody save me before he-'
"Gai he hasn't even been tested yet, we don't know if he even qualifies for gym." Kakashi's amused expression was quickly turning bored once again.
While Gai was distracted, Naruto felt himself being yanked out of Gai's arms and placed in somebody's lap while securely being tucked away into a firm chest.
Gai was taken by surprise as he stared into the face of a boy he could barely see. Ginji looked at the teacher a little nervously while tightening his grip on his otouto.
"I think it's best if maybe I hold onto him."
Naruto was on the verge of tears himself, 'I guess I do have good credit with the people upstairs after all.'
"Alright I'll give you boys a brief intro on how things work around here..."A succinct pause ensued. Kakashi blinked, Naruto blinked. Kakashi blinked again, Ginji blinked.
"Alrighty Sakura do your stuff." Kakashi than proceeded to burry his face in his book once again.
"What the hel.."
Naruto...confused?...oh yes. It seemed to be his favorite state of mind lately.
Sakura not being one to miss a beat immediately jumped to her feet.
"The year is split up into two terms, for every term you generally get new teachers for every class, but there are only two gym teachers so there are no rotating teachers unless the results of your evaluation differ. The evaluation tests are used to place you in one class or the other. Kakashi has the specially gifted student's, which are students who excel at almost everything. And Gai has the physically fit students that don't make it into Kakashi's section, do you follow so far?"
At the sight of four simultaneous nods she continued.
"The test will measure your strength, reflex, agility, flexibility, and potential. And you get reevaluated each term to see if you've improved, slacked off, or remain neutral. If you can't keep up with either class then you join the jogging class, which is supervised by a man named Ebisu. And before you ask, no it's not actually part of gym but it's aloud to prevent people from failing because they can't keep up. Any questions?" By the time Sakura finished she looked like a general about to march her troupes into battle.
Naruto liked her like this, she looked so relaxed and at ease. It was a bit disturbing that she could transform herself like that. Which 'her' was the real 'her'? He couldn't tell.
"K then Sensei I think we're ready." Sakura immediately returned to her previous spot so the test could begin.
"It's not fair!" Sora wined.
And it really didn't seem like it was, the test were simple enough, the four boys had aced them with seemingly no problem...but yet here they were with Gai doing warm-ups, a ridiculous amount of warm-ups mind you.
"Didn't Sakura san say that those who excelled at everything belonged with Kakashi's group?" Kazuki frowned as he noticed the very odd pattern that took place. No matter how well or bad a student did they were placed in Gai's class. Those who simply couldn't do it went with Ebisu to the other half of the yard. The yard itself was equivalent to about two football fields in size.
Yet the handful of student's that were placed with Kakashi didn't even seem to be putting in any really effort, almost as if they already knew where they were headed.
The class was fairly large. There were two hundred students present, about 50 students went with Kakashi and 90 with the man they called Ebisu which left Gai with about 60.
Kazuki finished the outrageous number of warm-ups before waiting on further instruction. Kakashi's group wasn't too far away from theirs. Kazuki wasn't really surprised but then again...it seemed all of their friends had this gym class and the Hebi gang too but that wasn't the shock. The shock was they were all place with Kakashi's class, even the girls Hinata, Kairi, Naminé, Sakura and Ino.
Now Kazuki wasn't considered a genius for nothing, he was fairly sure that they were if not equal too, then more physically fit than the girls. Nothing was adding up.
"Didn't you know? Kakashi's class is for the gifted! Not for normal people and certainly not for losers like you." A random boy said rather smugly.
Naruto cringed; he really wished he had kept his big mouth shut. 'How do I get myself into these things? Oh wait 'shut up' was never really in my vocabulary to begin with.'
He was just as mad as his brothers but of course he was much more vocal about it. That seemed to be his downfall as the harpy like students started to verbally attack them.
But for the life of him he couldn't figure out why nobody bothered to yell at Sora, 'cause heaven knows the boy was just as loud as him.
'It's what you get for him being too damn cute.' The little voice in his head seemed to supply.
He sighed, and shook his head dejectedly before he was pulled into a hug from behind. The sound of tinkling bells allowed him to identify the person right away.
"It's okay Naru-niichan we'll do just fine here." Kazuki reassured.
"Yeah but I don't wanna run laps for the rest of the term! I wanna do something fun. Besides, if the bastard can do it, than it can't be that hard!"
Kazuki chuckled, Naruto knew that the Hebi gang members were eye candy but really the chibi was just in denial...and it seemed that he had already set his sights on the raven haired beauty.
Kazuki watched as a strawberry blonde attached herself to Sasuke's arm. 'Too bad he's already taken.' Haruno Sakura, he heard about her through the grape vine, apparently the leaders of this gang were quite popular amongst not only the students but the faculty as well. But he could see exactly why everyone was so infatuated with them. It should be a sin to look that good.
"NOW WONDERFUL YOUTHS OF TODAY WE WILL BEGIN TRAINING IN KARATE AND KENDO IN ORDER TO FULLY PREPARE OUR MINDS AND BODIES! SELFDEFENCE IS AN ABSOLUTE NECESSITY! AND WE MUST RID OUR BODIES OF THE PENT UP ENERGY WE HAVE!"
"Kaa..karate?" Naruto and Ginji echoed.
"Kkk..kendo?" Sora paled.
Kazuki quickly looked back at the boy's, complete horror overriding his calm exterior.
"Uummm we're very sorry Gai-sensei but we can't participate in those things, umm mabe we could run laps instead?" Ginji blurted out still on the verge of panic.
"NONSENSE! CAN YOU NOT FEEL THE YOUTHFUL ENERGY BURN WITHIN YOU? YOU MUST TRAIN ALL OF YOUR BODY NOT ONLY YOUR LEGS! IT IS UNHEARD OF, MY ETERNAL RIVAL SAID YOU WOULD BE GOOD CANIDATES. AND YOUR TEST RECEIVED THE HIGHEST MARKS SO YOU MUST PARTAKE!"
"Something tells me we just screwed ourselves over" Sora whispered as he attempted to hide behind Naruto who was currently hiding behind Kazuki.
"Just...just don't overdo it guys and everything should be fine." That would have been reassuring if Ginji's legs hadn't been trembling.
Ginji was panicking alright. 'Why, of all things in the world did he have to go and pick that for the first day? We're not suppose to fight, bad things will happen! At least Kazuki is safe...
Flashback – a few months prior
"Hey guys hurry up or we'll be late! I don't wanna miss practice!" Ginji was ready to fly out the door by the time everyone was present and accounted for.
"So-chan do you have your sword? Otouto did you remem.."
"Yes and Yes I remembered mine as well can we get going?" Naruto was just as much in a hurry. He loved their practice but they rarely ever had time to go together anymore, with school starting and all.
(Cue Music Muse- Take A Bow~ Symphonic/Original Mix)
When they got to their destination they were surprised to find it practically empty. The dojo was normally packed with students. Without giving it anymore thought the boys trudged forward to take up their usual post.
The dojo was divided into sections where different fighting styles were practiced. Naruto and Ginji studied all types of martial arts while Sora and Kazuki focused more on kendo due to the fact they were already well versed in everything else.
It was odd to...no it was down right insane, what occurred within the next few minutes...
Naruto was paired with what he deemed the worst monstrosity to ever walk this earth Nagino Sai. The boy had a damn tree shoved up his ass and had a wonderful superiority complex to complement it. And yes right then and there said boy wasn't even trying, but rather succeeding in beating Naruto in the ground. Or so it seemed.
Sai aimed a round house kick for Naruto's head, but with movements faster than he could see Naruto blocked it and knocked Sai off balance causing him to crash to the floor.
Sai smirked "Oh look the nerd got a lucky hit." He charged at him and sent an uppercut straight to Naruto's gut. Naruto back flipped to avoid it and retaliated with a rear kick. Sai not being one to fall for the same thing twice decided to end it and aimed a blow for Naruto's head. Naruto fell for the trick and Sai took the momentary laps to send a quick jab to his sternum. Naruto stumbled back as he desperately tried to catch his breath. The bastard smirked and came at him again. 'Shit! What is he trying to do kill me! I can't catch my breath...'
Naruto frantically tried to move but the pain shot through his body. 'I don't wanna die here!' Panic almost overrode him, and then something snapped inside of him.
'This bastard's dead!' In one last moment of retaliation he forced his arms up into a head and chess block, as a feral smile settled on his lips.
Heat... nothing but pure heat, Naruto vaguely heard screaming but couldn't focus on it. He couldn't see anything past the blazing flames that engulfed him. But he felt it, the fire coursing through his veins.
"YOU FREAK! WHAT THE FUCK ARE YOU!" Sai's entire left arm seemed to be charred but he held a blunt wooden kunai in front of him as a weak form of defense.
"GO TO HELL!" Sai charged at him but before he could reach him he was practically blinded by light.
Ginji knew something was going to go wrong today. His fortune cookie said so damnit! But did he listen to it? Nnooo, of course not, what fruit loop listened to their fortune cookie?
Ginji was in the middle of sparing with some random person he'd never laid eyes on before. Naruto's partner was absent so he got Ginji's partner instead.
Sai...Ginji didn't believe in hating anyone but this boy was cutting it real close. He was worried; he barely managed to put up with the boy so god only knew how on earth Naruto was fairing. Ginji's body was on auto pilot right now. For him fighting came as natural as breathing.
Then he felt it, pain shot up his sternum and the breath was knocked out of him. 'How? He never laid a hand on me so how?' Ginji froze as insight kicked in. But this time it was different, he saw what was not there and he felt what was not his. Rage, something he was not accustomed to, seemed to overtake him.
Naruto was in trouble, he saw everything, he didn't know how nor did he care, but he knew he had to be there and now! Shock waves ran up and down his body but it was painless almost as if it had been there since his very existence came to be. Lightening formed from the very tips of his finger as he punched the underclassmen in one swift move successfully knocking him out. He had to move and fast!
Sora's attacks were relentless, as he charged forward, he never seemed to run out of energy. But that was expected from the teen, so he was paired with someone with amazing endurance. Unfortunately for him though, Sora's guard was nearly perfect. Whatever opening's there were, only lasted for a few seconds before Sora corrected his stance. So Sora's partner was really taking a beating.
In one brash move the young teen charged at Sora and almost got a hit in. Back flipping away the brunet twisted in mid air to automatically guard against any unexpected attacks but immediately fell to the floor taking in labored breaths as pain raced up the center of his chest.
'What's wrong with me?' he thought frantically. 'He didn't touch me so wh...' Blue eyes clouded over as image after image bombarded him. 'No I have to help him! Naru-niichan!'
It was like having an out of body experience Sora decided. There was pure blinding light but he could see. It felt like it was shining through him but it made him numb from sensation all at the same time. The analgesic feeling lulled Sora into a state of relax before the icy burn like feeling washed over him. It was like dumping a bucked of ice water on yourself in the scorching summer weather. But it was a welcomed pain that was quickly adjusted to.
Light was malleable he discovered, it bent into a crude shape of a sword according to his will. Thrusting forward it went straight through his opponent, and the boy passed out almost instantly.
Sora ran like his life depended on it, and upon reaching his brother unknowingly released a surge of energy.
(end flashback)
(End Cue Music)
Waking up after that incident had been surreal. Nobody wanted to believe it was true, but the four boys had all witnessed the same occurrence.
And with every fight that the three got into that weird surge of power would emerge. Hence the reason why Sora never touched a sword and Naruto and Ginji avoided fighting like the plague. But now it seemed almost impossible to avoid.
Naruto turned to observe Kakashi's class as they continued their warm ups. They were currently running laps. Kakashi slowly made his way across the field only to stop in front the group.
"Ano, Gai let them join the jogging class they will have plenty of time to run there. This could be dangerous for kids like them." Kakashi's eye's curved upward in amusement but his tone was underlined with all seriousness.
"So ka...I guess so..." Gai sounded dejected as his eyes once again welled up with tears.
Naruto was two seconds away from blowing up, 'What the hell is it any of his business?'
He grabbed the closest person next to him feeling a strange pull and proceeded to center stage.
"If I pass this stupid test then you owe me ramen!" Naruto yelled pointing a finger at the seemingly careless teacher.
"Hai, hai no worries." Kakashi waved him off.
Everyone watched as the four boys partnered up unknowingly with the top students in the class. Naruto grabbed on to a boy named Zell who seemed to be very energetic and nothing but smiles. He had a very interesting tattoo going on, on the left side of his face.
Ginji was paired up with a boy named Rock Lee. The baffled boy could do nothing but stare in wonderment at the fuzzy eye browed boy's zealousness.
Sora was looking up at rather lanky looking male character named Akabane. For some unknown reason this guy gave him the chills. And Kazuki was facing off with a cocky looking blonde called Seifer.
Kakashi frowned; maybe he was taking this whole thing a bit too far. Sure they were fit, but their partners have been training for most of their lives, they could get seriously hurt. Not to mention that all four of them didn't actually belong in Gai's class to begin with… This all started out in good natured teasing but some how got out of hand. Kakashi was about to call the whole thing off when Gai hollered.
"BEGIN!"
Side Notes
1) Sasuke's pet name for Riku will be Ri-otou, obviously Ri for Riku and otou is short for Otouto which means younger brother.
2) First I shortened Sora's name to the affectionate So chan but I'm wondering if I should put a 'u' at the end of it cause 'So-chan' looks funny.
3) Can you guess who is who? I'll give you a Sasuke plushy if you get it right.
4) I'm using Leon's style from KH2, unless you prefer his look from FF8, I refuse to use his 'look' from KH1, I think they butchered his image in there. And when I refer to style I don't mean clothes, I mean his physical characteristics.
5) Did anybody get confused as yet?
Review replies
(I don't remember if I wrote back already but what the heck.)
-C-heese -C-ake -CC- Wow I'm flattered! I was and still am nervous about this fic, criticism and support are greatly appreciated! I hope you enjoyed this chapter as well as the rest
Nusku - I agree with you completely which makes the next chapter that much more interesting! (wink wink) And as for the Kyuubi, I'm not to sure how the heck I'm fitting him into the plot, but as a name it's highly over used. Sorry do you have any ideas? I'd love to hear them I'm truly at a lost for that one, and as for the glasses...hhmm..lets just say good things are often awarded to those with patience.
Ryou-la-lune - I'm glad you liked it! I honestly wanted to write a fic but I couldn't stick to one category so I was like 'what the heck' and threw them all together. I will be using some original ideas from each respective show and game so if you're ever confused I'd be more than happy to help you out!
Wierdchick – I'm glad you stuck around, and am even more relieved that you still like it! I hope I don't disappoint you with my lack of writing skills.
SexyDemon9 – O.o I somehow fear for your brains...I hope I didn't leave you for to long. And yes your right about the home economics things. My school is a vocational school. And they have the strangest abbreviations for anything and everything. I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
makacatori – wow flattery really does get you everywhere. Lol here's the update as promised. Well what do you think? Is my writing improving even the tiniest bit?
Summertime201- Thank you very much and did you like? Any suggestions, I would greatly appreciate it!
kurokioku- ;) your review made me laugh! Thanks a bunch I needed it! And about Ino and Sakura...sorry I have big plans for them as minor characters, can't get rid of them yet...sorry.
Angelic-Devil-Kamui – Your review honestly was an inspiration, and it was greatly appreciated...I'm very honored you feel that way:) I'm sorry I took so long, but I hope this made up for the wait even if it was just a little. If you ever write a story I'd love to read it!