A/N:
Hey all! It's Rinoa-san! No I have not dropped off the face of the Earth….I've just had lots of stuff going on. For example, my second year of college starts this fall. (Yikes!). Anyway, I haven't quite decided if I will get back to my Ayashi no Ceres story (Another Descendant's story) or not yet. I am no longer talking to the person I was originally writing it for…so yes, that is up in the air. I do, however, plan on continuing Crossing Worlds. I just have to get back to it and maybe do some revising. ^_^
This is one of many new stories I have had come to me. I would like some more feedback to see if I'll continue it. I have lots planned and have an excerpt/preview up on my quizilla page. I decided to start by posting this one since it is the only one that was voted on by one person on my poll (also found on my quizilla account). Please enjoy and tell me what you think. My quizilla account can be found on my profile. Enjoy!
Chapter One: And so it Begins
"Okay let's see. Binders? Check. Pens and pencils in case? Check. Notebooks? Check," Rena said going down her list of school supplies.
Everything seemed to be there and in its proper place. She smiled at her neatly organized backpack before zipping it up. She then turned to her mirror. Now that the important school stuff was triple-checked, she needed to make sure she looked as ready as possible.
Rena Asho stood around 5'3" with fair skin. Her mid-back length blonde hair was straightened and pulled back into a high ponytail with a turquoise scrunchie. She wore a matching v-neck t-shirt that hugged her reasonable curves. She wasn't too chesty, but she wasn't flat either. Her stomach was well toned thanks to all of the working out and dancing she did. Her straight, denim skirt stopped a couple of inches above her knees showing off her well toned legs. She topped her outfit off with black sandals with a two inch heel, a white heart necklace with her name on it on a gold chain, a black and white bracelet, and gold earring studs. The only makeup she wore was a little bit of chapstick. She had never really seen the point to wearing makeup.
She gave herself a small smile before picking up her bag and skipping down the stairs for breakfast. She grabbed a bowl of cereal and washed it down with a tall glass of milk. She cleaned up the dishes and called goodbye to her parents before jogging out the door.
Rena couldn't help but smile as she walked toward the school. It was her freshmen year of high school and she was more excited than she should be. She was one of the few kids that actually liked school and looked forward to the eight hours of education each day. It helped that she had made a few good friends over the years and, as many of us know, a few good friends can make all the difference. Her smile brightened as she thought about what was to come. It had been a couple of weeks since she had a chance to hang out with Sakura, Ino, or Hinata and even longer since she had seen Sasuke and Naruto. She would finally be able to see them again. To her, they were her five closest friends. She couldn't imagine her life without them.
The walk to school was a good four and a half blocks from her house. Nothing major, but a good bit of exercise all the same. She hummed a few different songs to help pass the time. The moment she walked onto campus, she knew she was where she belonged.
"Rena!" Sakura screamed running toward her friend.
Rena smiled and waved. Sakura didn't slow, letting her long pink hair flow out behind her before she tackled her best friend. They hugged while the pink haired girl let out a small squeal.
"I've missed you so much, Ren! Where have you been these past couple of weeks? It was like you practically dropped off the face of the Earth,"
"Sorry Sakura," Rena apologized smiling. "I've just been really busy. You know, coming up with new routines, finishing up some summer reading, visiting family, same thing that happens at the end of every summer. You'd think I'd learn not to procrastinate so much with all these years of experience,"
"Yeah right! I know you too well, Ren. You could finish all that summer reading in under a week along with all the papers to go with them. Let's face it. You can handle pressure better than half this school combine,"
They laughed heading up to the school. They were almost to the front steps when one arm was wrapped around each other their necks.
"Hey! If it isn't forehead and little miss talented," Ino grinned as she greeted her friends. "Long time no see! 3"
She squeezed a little around her friends' necks laughing. Rena shook her head slightly, laying a hand on her friend's arm.
"Good to see you too, Ino," she giggled.
"So, what's the plan? Another school year has started and you know we have to start it off right. I was thinking maybe we could…"
"Oi! Pig! Let go of me already!" Sakura yelled pulling at the blonde's arm.
Ino responded with a smirk and another tight squeeze.
"Aw, what's the matter forehead? Didn't you miss me?" She teased.
Sakura let out a frustrated growl as she continued to pull on her friend's arm. Rena could only giggled as she twisted out of her friend's grasp without even messing up her hair. She looked just past her friend and saw another familiar face.
"Hinata!" She called waving.
The Huyga girl looked up and smiled, waving a little back before jogging to meet up with her friend. She looked over at Ino and Sakura a little skeptically as they began their usual squabble.
"I-is everything o-okay?" She asked softly looking at Rena.
"Oh, you know them," Rena replied with a smile. "They're the best of friends, but their day isn't complete if they don't have at least one squabble,"
They giggled a little.
"Perhaps we should break them up," suggested the Huyga.
"Probably,"
Rena sighed and let out one last giggle before she stepped in between her other two friends. Sakura looked ready to spit fire while Ino still had her wits about her.
"Come on, forehead, can't you take a hit?" Ino teased.
"That was a choke hold, you pig!" Sakura spat.
"Well, I can't help it if you…"
"Alright you two, that's enough," Rena interrupted. "Come on. It's a brand new year. What do you say we start if off right?"
"Hm? What were you thinking?" Ino asked, her eyes sparkling as she went through various possibilities in her mind.
"Hm," Rena pondered. "How about….She's dizzy and she's dreamy,"
She began singing the last few words. Sakura's eyes lit up as she caught on.
"Her head's up in the foam," she sang
"Her eyes have gone all gleamy it's like there's no one home," Ino added.
"She floats away the day mopping on the costal shelf!" They sang together in harmony.
"You ask here where she's going, she giggles like a fool," Sakura sang.
"She barely sticks a toe in down at the tidal pool," continued Ino.
"It's more than just a phase, face it, she just not herself," Hinata sang a little softer than the others.
"Is she ill?" Ino questioned as she began to really get into the song.
"Or insane?" Rena offered, clapping her hands in beat with the song
"Is it water on the brain?" Sakura asked.
"What has got her bothered so?" The four sang together.
"It's the bends," Ino declared.
"It's the flu!" Sakura argued.
"Gosh I wish we had a clue," Hinata sang.
"Oh wait! Oh dear! Good grief it's clear! She's in love, she's love. Pounding hearts, ringing bells," they sang in unison.
"Look I think she's even wearing brand new shells!" Ino sang feigning shock.
"She's in love!" Ino and Hinata sang.
"In love and it's divine!" Sakura and Rena echoed in response.
"She's in love,"
"That girl's on sandbar nine,"
"Glory be lord above got to be she's in love!" They sang in unison once more.
By this point, several of the other students that had been idling wandering around the school had formed a small circle around them. They were talented, no one could deny that. Ino smirked slightly as she took notice of the audience and winked at Rena as if to say "nice plan". Rena blushed slightly in response. It hadn't been her attention to draw a crowd, but she should have known they would come. Whenever they sang, they pulled in audience. The first day of school was no different. They looked like a real singing group. They had matching sandals and skirts. Only their tops were really different. Sakura wore a tanktop in her trademark color, pink. Ino wore a dark purple halter top while Hinata wore a scoop-neck lavender t-shirt. Rena smiled slightly. They really knew how to coordinate their outfits even when they weren't really performing.
"Hey Flounder! Have you noticed anything weird about you know who?" Ino asked.
"You mean Ariel? I'll say!" Rena replied stepping forward ever so slightly. "She acts like she don't see me. She doesn't even speak. She treats me like sashimi left over from last week. You see her late at night tossing in her ocean bed!"
"Shoop, Shoop. Shoop, shoop," the other girls sang softly as background.
"She's moody as a snapper, oblivious as rocks! Swim right up and tap her…"
"She lays there like a lox!" They sang together.
"As sure as dogfish bite, something's made her lose her head!" Rena continued.
"She has lost her head," answered the other three.
"And she sighs and she swoons and she's humming little tunes,"
"Even has a sort of glow,"
"What on Earth could it be?"
"Any hammer head can see,"
"That sigh," Ino cried.
"That glow," added Hinata
"That swoon," finished Sakura.
"Oh no!" Rena exclaimed. "She's in love!"
"She's flipped it never fails," sang the other three girls.
"She's in love!"
"All hot beneath her scales,"
"See her hips, how they swish!"
"Well, well, well don't you wonder who's the lucky seafood dish?"
"She's in love!"
"She's found a deep sea hunk,"
"She's in love!"
"And now she's as good as sunk,"
"See her blush,"
"See her grin. Got to be she love she's in," they sang.
"Ariel and someone, swimming in the sea, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Rena sang, letting the last note ring.
"Her cheeks could not blush pinker!" Chimed the other three girls.
"It's clear as H-2-O,"
"She's caught hook , line, and sinker!"
"Crushed out," Ino sang.
"Switched on," added Sakura.
"Worked up," chimed Hinata
"Far gone," Ino grinned.
"Knocked down," Rena sang.
"Hard hit," the other three sang.
"In deep," Rena added.
"That's it!" They sang in unison.
"She's in love," Sakura began.
"She's in love," Ino and Hinata sang, adding themselves in a little higher
"She's. In. Love!" Rena cried.
"She's in love. She's in love," they sang together in harmony.
"Plain to see," Rena began.
"Plain to see," echoed the other girls
"No mistake!"
"No mistake,"
"Look at those moonbeams in her wake,"
"Look at those moonbeams,"
"Obvious what they must be symptoms of. She's in love, she's in love."
"She's in love!" Rena sang out.
"Shoop, shoop, she's in love," finished the other girls
"Yeah, Yeah!" They finished in perfect unison.
Their small audience erupted in applause. Rena blushed slightly and they all took a quick bow. From there Ino, ever the star, began shooing away the crowd. Her excuse was that they didn't like to be crowded, though everyone knew she loved the attention. Rena let out a small sigh as she watched her friend fight to get the people to back off. Attention was all well and good, but even Ino didn't like a constant spotlight and once she had enough, she had enough. Sakura soon joined in helping to dismiss the crowd before Ino got too annoyed.
"It's only the first day and you've already gathered a crowd," someone said from behind her.
She whipped around only to have her smile widen at the sight of her best friend of all time (and best guy friend) Sasuke. His smirk was clear as day. She couldn't resist jumping into his semi-waiting arms and hugging him with all her might.
"Sasuke!" She squealed.
He let out a soft chuckle as his arms wrapped around her waist, hugging her back. It was a rare act of affection for him, but something that she was very use to. After all, they were best friends. Nothing could separate them.
"Haven't heard from you in a while," he murmured. "Catching up on all the summer work you should have finished months ago?"
She giggled and pulled back a little to look at him.
"You know me to well, Sasuke-kun," she smiled. "But I haven't just been doing school work. I've been working on other things too,"
"Right," he said rolling his eyes. "Like more dance routines or learning new songs, right?"
"Of course!"
She giggled as he rolled his eyes again.
"Where's Naruto?" She asked earning another eye roll.
"He should be here any min…" He began.
"And just what do you think you're doing draping yourself over Sasuke-kun?" A girl interrupted.
This time, Rena rolled her eyes followed shortly by a soft groan from Sasuke. She turned to face the other girl. She was taller than her with red hair and dark oval-ish glasses. She wore a light purple, low v-neck tank top that stopped just above her bellybutton. Her skirt only reached mid-thigh and she topped it off with knee length, black, three-inch heel boots. Karin. She was Sasuke's number one fangirl in the school and was nothing more than a royal pain in the ass. Anytime Rena would hug Sasuke, Karin would throw a fit. Hell, just a simple touch to the shoulder would send the fangirls into a frenzy. It was extremely annoying and she had been putting up with it for too many years. She knew Sasuke had just about had his fill of it too.
"Who me?" Rena asked feigning innocence. "Why whatever do you mean, Karin-san?"
She gave Sasuke another squeeze, deciding to have some fun. One of the best ways to torture Karin was to show public displays of affection with Sasuke. She was one of a very limited number of people that could. She knew it pissed off the fangirl to no end and had no problems playing it up on occasion just to get the girl to shut up.
"Yes you," Karin hissed, even more upset with the scene before her. "Now get your hands off Sasuke-kun!"
Rena giggled as Sasuke hugged her back, pressing her head to his shoulder as he caught onto her game. He smirked slightly as he began to gently run his hand over his friend's ponytail. He slightly looked over her head to see the ginger fuming. He smirked a little more knowing their mission was accomplished.
"But Karin-san," Rena said with a slight whine, adding a sarcastic stress to the san. "I'm so comfortable right now. I really don't want to move,"
"Listen here you…you…you dirty little…" The ginger began absolutely fuming.
"Do you really want to finish that sentence, Karin?" Naruto asked making her turn around.
"What do you want?" She growled.
"Hey, I'm trying to save you. You know, it wouldn't be very wise to insult Sasuke-teme's best friend. It could make him…angry,"
"Oh and he wouldn't be the only one," Sakura chimed.
"Not by a long shot," Ino added.
"So, what were you going to say? Hm? Karin-san?" Sasuke asked smirking over Rena's head.
The girl just stood there a minute, her face turning nearly as red as her hair. She mumbled incoherently for a bit before excusing herself. She quickly walked away and was immediately joined by other members of the fanclub. Rena giggled as she hid her face in Sasuke's shoulder.
"Enjoy yourself?" He asked, whispering in her ear.
"Maybe," she giggled.
He smirked as she tried to calm herself. He moved his hands to the sides of her stomach and gave a slight squeeze. She squeaked in response, pushing up from his chest.
"Don't you dare Sasuke Uchiha!" She said half glaring at him.
"Don't I dare what, Rena-chan?" He asked, giving her another squeeze.
She squeaked again and squirmed trying to get out of his grasp.
"I mean it, Sasuke, don't," she giggled.
He smirked and pulled her closer again before attacking her sides, tickling her without mercy.
"But, Rena-chan, I'm so comfortable doing this," he teased.
She squeaked and began giggling. She tried to pull his hands off, but had no luck. She quickly searched the area for help. Her eyes landed on Naruto first.
"Naruto! Save me!" She begged between giggles.
"I don't know, Rena-chan, it looks like fun to me. Maybe I should help teme out," he teased.
"No, please!"
The blonde boy only laughed in response. She turned to the girls quickly.
"Sakura! Ino! Help me!"
"We'll save you, Ren!" Sakura said, giggling as she reached for her friend's out stretched hand.
After a small tackle fight, the pink haired girl finally managed to pull her friend free of the tickle war. The sat there a moment, catching their breath.
"Geez, Sasuke, did you really have to start that so early in the morning?" Sakura complained, a small smile still on her face.
"Hn. She started it," he said almost childishly. "It was her desire to make what's her face suffer a little, so it's only fair I enjoy it a little too,"
Sakura rolled her eyes while Ino and Rena giggled.
"Um…guys, i-if we don't hurry we'll be late for c-class," Hinata spoke up softly calling their attention.
"Oh alright," Rena sighed. "Come on guys. It's another year for us to learn more and do our best!"
"I can't believe I'm friends with a girl that loves school so much," Naruto groaned.
Rena simply stuck her tongue out at him.
"And if I didn't love school so much, you wouldn't have a tutor. So, let me clarify my hearing, did I hear you complain about my passion for education?" Rena teased.
"N-not at all!" Naruto said quickly. "It's great that you love school so much! Please don't stop tutoring me,"
Everyone but Naruto laughed a little at that.
"I wouldn't dream of it, Naruto," Ren replied with a smile.
With that, they went inside to find their classes. As luck would have it, she started off in Math with Sasuke and Sakura. She couldn't keep the smile off her face as she walked into the room. Still, she had the oddest feeling that someone was watching her. She glanced quickly around the room, but saw nothing out of the ordinary. She decided to shrug it off as nothing more than her imagination. She pulled out a new notebook and pencil, preparing herself for her new class.
A/N:
And there you have it! My first Naruto fanfiction. I have several others...I just have to go back and write beginnings for them haha. There is a preview for this one, but it's titled Itachi story. At the time, I did not have a title for it. There are other previews/excerpts on my quizilla account. Again, there is a link for it on my profile. Please, take the poll so I know what stories I should continue. Reviews are nice, but not required. I do watch to see how many hits the story gets, but that isn't always enough to make me keep it up. So at least...say two reviews? That's what my other story has so, I'd like to get at least two here for me to continue. Thanks!
The song the girls sing is "She's In Love" from The Little Mermaid on Broadway. If you haven't heard the original cast recording, you should! Flounder is a 12 ish year old kid that has a voice! Sadly, I don't own it or any of Naruto. I DO own Rena and I take credit for the plot line since I'm writing it. Please do not try and steal my character...or there will be many nasty emails. Thanks! ^_^
Have a great day!
-Rino-san