Bounce Me Back
Disclaimer: Naruto is property of Kishimoto-sama. I'm making no profit in writing this.
Pairing: SasuNaruSasu and possible others.
Summary: They meet, and instantly regret it. It's the beginning of a confusing year for the both of them; overflowing with confrontations, feelings and trials. A life of basketball and questions. Who will bounce the other back on track first?
Warning: AU. Language, for now. Basketball- yes, I warn you of my poor knowledge of it! I will try my best.
Chapter 1. O n l y l a z y p e o p l e
"You're scared, aren't you?" Her teasing voice cut through him like a knife. He sure hadn't expected that one.
During the time he considered the possibility, while chewing on something not all that delicious, she could only imagine what the boy's answer would have been had he not, in fact, been busy chewing on said non-delicious item. It seemed, quite obvious, that he had some difficulties swallowing. The boy's face had completely turned red at the blunt assumption by his busty breakfast- companion.
By the time he had swallowed and emptied an entire glass of refreshing, at least that was what she called it, milk down his sore throat, the woman was already showing herself out the door, laughing scornfully. Before he'd had the time to realize it though, the door also closed with a loud bang. He could do nothing but sigh.
She always had a tendency to embark on a genuine and deep conversation only to finish it off dramatically by getting the last word in and preferably with some mocking words and condescending laughter. She could go from being really overbearingly sugary and caring one minute to promise him painful death in the other. Of course spitting on his corpse, in a most wicked way, the next. It never surprised him when watching her change and switch in mere seconds. Let's just say that he had grown accustomed to it.
All of a sudden, he snorted and glared at the closed door. Remembering her question made him crazy. The suggestion itself was ludicrous! Of course he wasn't scared. There was no way that he would not be ready for this. After all, this was something he had wanted for a long time and made happen all by himself, even though many people did neither encourage him nor believe in him. It was almost dishonourable of her to even ask, over breakfast even! He'd never been so prepared, like he was right this moment, for anything in his life. He had never looked forward to anything this much before and he had, certainly, not ever doubted his decision…
Uzumaki Naruto, 17 years-old, bashed his head on the wooden-table. Who was he kidding? At the moment he was scared out of his pants. Pants which he still actually lacked, since Tsunade his busty breakfast-companion, had dropped in before he'd had the time to dress. Luckily he'd remembered, in his nervous state, yesterday to not go to sleep naked. That probably would have scarred both him and his breakfast-guest.
Sure, he wasn't so bad-looking that she would want to clean her eyes with something stingy. A bit too short, for his liking though. However, Tsunade made it perfectly clear that she'd rather see him short for the rest of his life than having to listen to him bragging over finally growing past her. What she hadn't yet come to realize, though, was that he'd already done that. (Only with a centimetre or two.) Naruto was merciful in that sense, although he kept the knowledge for later purposes in case of an immediate rescue, and so that he could rub it in her face when he needed it the most. He considered it vital to always have some kind of backup-plan. He feared, though, that she was only living in denial and was going to snap out of it soon.
With a disgruntled roar he finished his daily routines in record time. He ignored the last of his dishes, Tsunade said she would take care of anything that was left behind and with a childish snicker he dirtied some more. Who ever said Naruto wasn't witty had apparently never met this Naruto.
After just a couple of minutes he was ready to leave. With newly washed, unruly blond hair, body dressed in his new (still clean) black school uniform, shoes way too uncomfortable to be considered walking-material and oddly shaped backpack hanging from his shoulder, he turned around. With distressed sky-blue eyes he considered his apartment that wasn't actually his anymore, for the last time. It was too sentimental to tolerate. Living in the same humble abode almost all his life made him feel self-conscious to leave it behind. It was a small place, but it fitted him like a glove.
After a barely audible 'good-bye' he left, dropping the keys on the floor for Tsunade to recover later, and shut the door slowly behind him.
As soon as he was out of the apartment-building, though, his mood lifted. Naruto wasn't someone to be upset for long. He had no time to waste on such trivial matters. With weather like this he'd hate to spoil it with gloomy feelings. Contentedly walking, in the late summer heat, down the street towards the train-station, he couldn't help think of this as a new beginning for him. A new start on his new life.
Only a couple of months ago had he made it his top priority to start anew. With the support from his guardian Tsunade, he'd made it possible for himself to attend a great school on a new location. It was pricy and made both his and Tsunade's pockets feel too empty. However, doing this was something he needed to do in order to be happy. Tsunade, even though she didn't always show it, cared for him almost too much and promised to make this happen for him. Naruto only accepted a little help, he hated that he had to burden anyone else and Tsunade was considerate enough to make it seem that she wasn't. Still, he knew all too well.
Effortlessly he snagged himself a seat on the train when he'd paid his ticket. Tuning everyone else out, of course with the help of portable music in the form of his best friend Mr. Mp3, he prepared himself for a long train-ride. Leaned back in his seat he observed the moving view as the train left the platform. He beamed happily, knowing he'd have his luggage already brought to his room and a roommate to boot, all waiting for him at the dorm. He hadn't especially requested a roommate, however, since he was enrolling in the middle of a term they had no single-rooms left. Naruto didn't lose sleep over the arrangement though. Since when had being alone been something positive anyway? He just immensely hoped that he wasn't going to be forced to share a room with some annoying bloke.
Hours later, in a completely new location, Naruto found himself completely and utterly lost. He hated this. Almost staring the map asunder and glaring intently at whoever gave him odd looks- without offering him help, he walked the street downhill with his back hitting and stabbing his back as he went. His feet hit the asphalt hard with each step. He had an inkling of a feeling that this way might prove itself later on to be wrong, but he didn't bother to ponder over it.
Eventually, when his feet started to ache in that kind of way where you almost think that they are on fire and that if you don't stop right know you'll probably end up chopping them off, he forced himself to admit his bad sense of direction. He'd never expected the city to be this… well huge and impossible to navigate. However, Naruto wasn't Naruto for nothing. He would solve the mystery in his own way.
Boldly and confidently he stormed up to a young girl, well she was shorter than him and most people weren't so he presumed she was younger, and pushed the map in her face, pointing at the centre. With a strong voice he bellowed out his distress.
"Tell me how to get to this location!" And added as an afterthought; "… please?"
The girl glared at him from top to bottom, her green orbs made frosty chills travel down his back. She backed away from him with this contemplating look, as if she actually considered snubbing him off. Eventually the girl pointed to the opposite direction Naruto had been walking for hours, uphill. He heaved a sad sigh, pulling the map from the girl's grasp and taking it down with him, as he sank down on his throbbing heels. The girl, of course, snorted and left the dejected young boy to his fate.
Naruto rubbed his unruly hair and collected himself before he rose and turned around, facing his new direction. In a second he noticed the young, green eyed, girl again. She was walking uphill as well… and, he suddenly became aware of, not until now, that she was wearing the same kind of uniform as him, except for girls. He violently squatted down again with a distraught cry of helplessness.
"How stupid…", he mumbled to himself and hung his head low. "What if she's my classmate… so, darn embarrassing…" He miserably gazed after her form, not rising just yet and rubbing his scalp, sighing loudly. "Too bad I messed up… she's got a nice ass."
As stated earlier, Uzumaki Naruto wasn't one to let bad things conquer for too long. He pulled himself together and climbed the street leading uphill. Once atop he realized, to his great humiliation, that he actually stood right in front of the school-gate. He had passed the building on numerous occasions and never noticed. Nonetheless, as the greatest of optimists; he balled his fist and hit himself on the chest while laughing loudly at the big sign saying 'Welcome to KONOHA GAKUEN'.
"I got some good exercise, so at least I got something out of it!" Whilst walking past the gates he fumbled with his backpack, stuffed with instant ramen and bulky objects such as picture-frames and books that didn't fit in the moving-boxes. He retrieved a wrinkled note from the bottom and stopped in his steps to recite what he'd read at least twenty times before. He liked to be certain. "Dormitory C, room 111, and floor 4… that's neat. Hope they have an elevator."
With regained enthusiasm and energy he set out to find the dormitory. Not bothering to enter the school just yet, he walked round the handsome building and swiftly came face to face with the sport-facilities. A great resort, for the most part devoted to sport-activities. Grinning widely he surveyed the pretty sight, bouncing on the spot and practically fidgeting with the hem of his school-jacket. Not being able to involve yourself in in any sports activities can make this to a person, make fingers itch and feet all too ready to leap into action. At least that was what it did to Naruto. He needed to move, to feel alive. That Tsunade called him too small did spur him on as well- even though he was perfectly aware that he had grown quite well.
"Tennis-court, swimming, tracks…", he spoke softly and dreamily, to no one particular, as he neared the different facilities. "Oh great lord… I must be going blind, 'cause it can't be basketball-courts, can it? Oh gosh… honestly!" He leaned dramatically against the high fence surrounding the playground, and peeking in between gaps with fingers clutching the wire. "I am so happy… Can't wait to… huh…?"
Across the courts, a few of hoops further away, there was someone playing- and quite aggressively might I add. Always the curious one, Naruto assessed the time he had left until he was to meet up with the dorm-supervisor, and walked leisurely along the fence. He stopped in his tracks as he arrived right behind the one playing. The blond could do nothing besides standing glued to the spot, feet absolutely fixed to the asphalt and mouth agape as if searching for the perfect words to describe the view that was presenting itself before his very own, sky-blue, eyes. His grip on the fence hardened unintentionally. He'd seen nothing of the like ever before. It was like all other sounds and smells disappeared from around him. All focus was on that boy. Naruto swallowed hard.
With the grace of an elegant dancer the black haired youth moved about on the court. The basketball, fast and dodgy, shifted between his delicate hands in sophisticated and sporadically dribbles. Now and then he'd made a high jump, forcing the ball through the hoop, taking the ball again on the rebound. Scoring. Naruto bit his lip, eyes following the other… almost wishing himself the courage to ask the possibility of joining, however, doing that would ruin it all. Then he would stop to answer.
His knee-long, loose-fitting shorts flowed in the air as he ran. Drops of sweat prickled his skin, and now and then he wiped his forearm against the hot forehead. Short puffs of breath reached Naruto's ears, as if there was no other sound than that particular jingle and that of the bouncing ball. Not to mention the echoing sound of the net as it was hit by the ball on it's way through the hoop and the dull sound of shoes hitting ground. Naruto was equally as engrossed in watching him play as the black haired was in playing his solitary game of ball.
His eyes travelled over the black haired boy, assessing his features involuntarily. He was tall, taller than Naruto anyway, with legs firmly trained from, probably, hard training but his fair complexion spoke otherwise. Perhaps he usually plays indoors, Naruto thought as he pressed his forehead innocently against the fence, gauging him over once again.
His jet-black hair was cut in the most artistic way Naruto ever seen; perhaps even a work of art. Bangs framed his face and unruly hair from the back made it look wild, almost unattended in its pure perfect. He imagined suddenly how it would feel against his caressing fingers. Rough or smooth? He didn't know, and the thought of him actually wanting to try it made his cheeks heat up.
His eyes travelled further down, once again. The boy never stood still, playing his game with rough jerks and high jumps. The black shirt, which Naruto's eyes transfixed themselves upon, clutched to the other's body due to excessive body-heat. It fit him snugly. Naruto squirmed uncomfortable when watching how his taut and lean upper-body twisted and turned as he shot, ran and dribbled on- apparently unaware of being ogled, totally lost in his own game. He looked… awesome.
"Gaargh!" Naruto suddenly screeched, voice effectively killing the tight atmosphere, with eyes dilated and face burning hot. He was absolutely traumatized by what he actually was considering. Pushing himself roughly from the fence, preparing to dash away, only lead to him tripping gracelessly over his own feet and falling down, face first. Of course, during his awkward plunge, he brought with him a neat-looking bicycle that apparently been standing next to him, leaning against the fence just as he had. A loud crash, a few scratched and a bend wheel later, Naruto heaved himself up from lying on top of the unsuspected victim.
"Oi!" someone shouted very close by.
He scratched his head and looked the bicycle over, not daring to turn around just yet. He had the worst of luck. "I'm okay, I just tripped", he laughed at himself and slowly glanced over his shoulder.
Like walking straight into a wall, he met the jet-black eyes of the, still panting and sweating, black haired. It was the first time Naruto noticed how absolutely piercing and intense his eyes were. The stranger's eyes made Naruto, more or less, choke. They were absolutely… bottomless, never-ending. Mesmerizing. "I'm a bit clumsy… heh."
The other narrowed his perfect brows, and with fierce eyes snapped angrily at him. "I don't care. Do you have any idea what you've done?"
"Huh?" Naruto gaped stupidly, after paying way too much attention to his handsome face with its pointy nose and strong jaw-line, and swiftly glanced back at the bike. "Oh…" Realization struck him, and it struck him hard.
"Yeah, moron… it's my bike", he said with a baritone voice, which masculinity caused terrible chills to travel down Naruto's spine. Sighing irritably he opened a squeaking fence-door and approached Naruto, still seated on his knees facing the bike, and stopped in front of the blond.
When Naruto saw the gloomy eyes the other gave his, now totally ruined, bicycle, Naruto shot up from his place and took a nervous step forward. "I-I can fix it for you!" he tried saying confidently.
"No", he answered coolly and bowed down to assess the damage.
Naruto cursed his own, blatant, staring at the other's firm back and taut arms as they flexed and moved under his clothes. "Hey! Give me the benefit of the doubt here, I know this guy who-"
"I said, no." Black eyes, under equally as black bangs, glared at up at him through long lashes.
Naruto gulped, wondering unsurely if the other had caught his gaze. He squatted down to his eyelevel. "Come on, I feel responsible."
"You should, moron", he just muttered and was probably unaware of Naruto's behaviour, other than that he apparently disliked him in general.
Naruto gritted his teeth. He was becoming irritated, regardless of the other's positively stunning looks. That wasn't something anybody could overlook, not easily anyway. "Then let me fix it!" His voice broke in embarrassing places.
The other didn't seem to care though as he rose to his feet again, the blonde followed suit. "No."
"Why not?"
His eyes pierced Naruto's blue ones powerfully and said boy had to fight himself not to twitch. "I trust neither you nor your supposed acquaintance."
"At least let me pay for it", Naruto said crossly and praised himself on sounding as manly as he actually did. His voice either had a tendency to rise or drop when he raised his voice. It was a curse.
"I am giving you the benefit of the doubt by not demanding payment", he growled and stared Naruto down. "Wasn't that what you wanted?"
Naruto's eyes widened. Even though he was relieved that he didn't have to pay for the damages, he still felt like a free-loader and thus not accepting it. "Sure, but it was my fault that… well, I fell on top of your bike… and, uhm… broke it. So, I think I should help pay for repairs. Don't you?"
"I have money to cover this by myself", he said and grabbed hold of the crooked handlebar. He didn't give Naruto a chance. "Unlike others…"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Naruto yelled furiously and crossed his arms over his chest, standing unwavering. The looks of this bloke was not enough to make up for his manners, of that the blond was sure.
"That you don't." He rolled his dark and captivating eyes at him. "Are you retarded?"
Naruto puffed, almost choking on his own saliva and not knowing how to respond with equal ferocity and hostility. This bloke is such an ass. "I'm not, you bastard!" He frowned angrily and faced him right on. His relatively well-built shoulders were tense with agitation as he met the other eyes. "If you're so rich, why don't you drive a car?
The other one looked right through him with cold eyes, a hand leisurely positioned on his slim hipbone and wrinkling the fabric between slender fingers. Naruto saw some skin, and bit his tongue. "Only lazy people drive."
Naruto looked away. That sure was true and he knew from experience. Tsunade drove her car everywhere; it was due to her bad heart she said. However, she was the healthiest 50 year-old he'd ever encountered. What it was though; she was as lethargic as one can get without openly proclaiming it. He directed his, temporarily lost, attention to the other teen once again. He found the other still in his presence and still as eye-catching as out on the court. Although, his face conveyed nothing but extreme annoyance. Naruto sighed.
"If you don't drive a car, then I suppose this bike was something precious", he looked away, not bearing the dark look he was given any longer. It literally freaked him out. He'd never met anyone this intense in character before. However, his own character was equally as strong- at least that was what he himself liked to believe- and he wouldn't back down, ever. "I would feel bad if-"
"I don't care", he snapped and began turning around. "I don't have time dealing with this. You are a waste of my time."
That stung and Naruto had to grit his teeth in order to not let his anger drown the other youth. He, at least, tried to be a little polite. Keyword; tried. Naruto hung his head, took a couple of deep breaths while trying to collect himself. However, when he looked up once again, he found himself all alone.
"Hey! Where are you going?" he bellowed after the guy's form as he trotted away in a laid-back manner. "We weren't finished! Bastard!"
All Naruto got as a reply was an annoyed 'shut up, you idiot!' and the blond puffed his cheeks childishly. He couldn't believe the nerve of that bloke. Sure, it was only natural for him to be cross… Naruto did, after all, ruin his bike. Nevertheless he'd offered to repay him. Gargh! So rude!
This time the bad mood refused to be shaken off as effortlessly as it usually did. He was still tremendously mad when he picked up his bag, brushed himself off and looked at his watch. Realizing that he was running late, and blaming it all on that bloke, he sprinted off. On easy and quick steps he dashed over the tracks and rounded the gymnasium. There, a bit up ahead, stood the dormitory. He was panting when he reached the C-house and opened the double-doors.
A hallway stretched itself ahead, all in dark wood with handsome carved details and a few dimly lit lamps, which cast a mellow and seemingly calming glow. Cautiously he pulled off his shoes and placed them on a sturdy shoe-rack, next to other similar shoes. It was tidy, except for a pair that was spread over the floor as if kicked of in a rage. He quirked a brow at the uncommon mess. Everything else seemed to be so organized. Good I saw them… wouldn't want to trip over them and make a fool of me this early!
He didn't know what to do exactly, wait to be found or venture deeper inside? All was quiet and still. Listening intently he took a step inside. Nothing could be heard and it was almost as if he was all alone in the great building. Venturing further he, eventually, recalled the very familiar sound of a TV somewhere close by. Snickering to himself, automatically forgetting about the quarrel he recently had, he tiptoed ahead. Turning right, just prior to the sharp left turn, which the hallway took, he sneaked a peek inside the large common-room.
He suddenly gawked, gasped and whooped with joy at the sight, completely disturbing the other residents since two heads whipped around, over a big and luxurious sofa.
Naruto strode inside, gazing at the interior. There were similar sofas placed on more than a few places for everyone to use, whenever. Walls were loaded with study-materials, a large TV that probably was accompanied by whatever movie player people requested, and not to forget, a pool-table decorated the room together with other similar and luxurious items.
"Where am I?" Naruto asked as he stumbled over to the pool-table, caressing it fondly as he reached it. "Am I in heaven?"
A loud laugh echoed suddenly, startling him and he swung around swiftly. "Are ya the new kid?"
A dishevelled young bloke strode up to him, almost forcing him upon the table in his haste to greet the blond. Naruto glanced down as a hand grabbed hold of his and shook it enthusiastically. The enthusiastic hand-shaker had his black uniform open, showing his wrinkled white shirt underneath, not tucked neatly down his pants- and not at all following the school-regulations. He looked so relaxed, in his way of wearing his uniform, that Naruto envied him. The boy had chocolate-brown hair, which cascaded over his ears, and brown eyes complemented with this amazingly feral grin spread over his face that even rivalled Naruto's witty one.
"Uzumaki Naruto, was it?" The boy released his hand and stepped back, making a cool nod with his lean neck and giving Naruto his personal space back- probably not aware that Naruto had considered it stolen for a short second.
"Yeah, call me Naruto though", Naruto admitted with a smile of his own, unable to keep it from appearing. Somehow, he felt relieved. Naruto thrust his hands leisurely in his pockets and leaned against the pool-table. He regarded the other with as much interest as the other regarded him.
"Inuzuka Kiba, at your service!" he said loudly and cheerfully while he rubbed the bridge of his nose. Suddenly, at an unexpected realization, Naruto's eyes widened.
"What… sumthin' wrong?" Kiba titled his head, much like a dog does when confused.
Naruto laughed merrily, and considered his bold honesty twice- it had caused him trouble in the past. "Nah, nothing. Just happy there's actually a guy around my age that's shorter than me."
Kiba snorted through his nose. "Harsh, newbie! That's low." Kiba pouted, but still smiled with his eyes. "Right, let's not dwell here forever", he continued with a snicker and Naruto couldn't help but be astonished at how easily this Kiba made new acquaintances, and how fast you took a liking to him. It was like he was impossible to ignore, not that Naruto had actually tried yet. He was still a bit shaken because of the close up he'd had of Kiba at one time- while he'd struggled to not fall, back first, onto the pool-table. He wasn't used to that sort of closeness with someone he'd just met. However, Kiba was friendly and hospitable and Naruto saw nothing wrong with that. Suddenly the brunette grabbed hold of the blond's wrist and pulled him towards the cuddly-looking sofa he'd sprung from, and pushed Naruto in front of himself. An unfamiliar hand shot out to greet him from behind the armrest.
Before the other had a chance to greet Naruto, though, Kiba intervened. "This is Neji, Hyuuga Neji. He's our dorm-supervisor… but don't be frightened by his looks, he just appear pissed. On the inside though", he nudged Naruto with his elbow, "he's just a softy."
"Kiba…", the other boy warned and rose, stretching his lean body and presenting himself before Naruto.
"He likes taking long, dreamy, walks, watching the stars during chilly nights and read books… preferably romance and-"
Naruto tuned Kiba out as he shook the hand that was offered to him again. Somehow he felt the need to make a good impression to this person. Hyuuga Neji was august with his tall built, (taller than Naruto by lots) and he had long, really feminine, dark brown hair that was tied in a low ponytail. His shoulders were sharp and Naruto noted quickly that he looked slim, almost thin.
"Hi, nice to meet you", Naruto said confidently with a babbling Kiba in his ear. "I was told to look for you."
"Yes", Neji said and gracefully retrieved a key from his pocket, preparing to hand it over to Kiba. "I'll let Kiba accompany you to your room if that's alright. I have some urgent things to attend to. Kiba?" In an instant the teen got quiet and nodded enthusiastically. Neji merely rolled his vanilla-looking eyes. "The room is on the fourth floor, room-number-"
"Number 111", Naruto filled in and grinned. "I know."
Finally Neji cracked a smile on his otherwise serious face. "Good to hear you are prepared, someone should learn from you", this he said to Kiba who frowned back, stole Naruto's attention by grabbing hold of his wrist again and pulled him out of the common-room with him. Naruto shouted a surprised 'later!' over his shoulder to Neji, who simply waved his hand dispassionately, and followed suit after the shorter Kiba.
While walking through the hallway once again and turning left this time, his wrist safely returned to him, Naruto tried to regain his sense of awareness. Everything was happening fast, almost too fast for him to keep up. Suddenly, in mere ten minutes, Naruto had become acquainted with three very different individuals, whose traits and appearance both took Naruto by storm. He looked forward seeing at least two of them again and establishing some kind of friendship, hopefully making at least one of his wishes come true.
Naruto kept his eyes wandering from one place to another, between the back of Kiba's skull and the shining number-plates of the rooms, which they passed in an alarming speed. A wide staircase led up on the second floor and Kiba, with much energy, climbed them proudly. He was probably excited to be the one showing him to his living-quarters. Naruto chuckled behind his hand.
While continuing on walking, never stopping on a floor for more than a minute or so, (Kiba said each time that the fourth floor was either better or more fun to be on and that they shouldn't bother staying for long on others) a question suddenly embarked on Naruto's mind.
"Kiba", he said and bit his lip, trying not to sound suspicious and wavering. "Aren't there any elevators?"
Kiba stopped dead in his tracks and spun around, his calloused hand gently gripping the railing and the other one securely tucked away in his pocket. He gave him a puzzled look. "No, why do ya ask?"
Naruto just shook his head and began climbing again, coming up side by side with Kiba and grinning. "No reason."
Kiba frowned slightly when the blond passed him. "Ne, I forgot… there is one", he said and pointed with his thumb downstairs. "It's for the cleaners though. I could ask if-"
Naruto just chuckled and waved his hand nonchalantly. "That's unnecessary. Come on! I want to see my room." He trudged on, never noticing Kiba's bewildered look.
It didn't take long before he was outrun by Kiba, who leaped up the stairs. He probably wanted to be the one first one up, and Naruto was certainly not going to let him. He darted after him. Once they, finally and exhausted, reached the fourth floor an exactly parallel hallway was the first Naruto saw. Plenty of rooms were lined next to and opposite each other, and as the hallway turned a new set of rooms appeared. The fourth floor's room were accompanied by a common shower-room and a few scattered bathrooms, as well as a small lounge-area fit for not more than ten people with its worn out couches.
"What's the difference, huh?" Naruto breathed with difficulty.
"The people! The people!" Kiba roared with laughter. "None of the other floors have Inuzuka Kiba!"
Naruto couldn't help grin as he stretched his drained body and took a deep breath to calm his raging heart. "That's true, they sure don't." Suddenly he felt a friendly hand on his right shoulder.
"You okay, Naruto? You look beat." Kiba searched his blue eyes for answers, but Naruto just smiled.
"Out of practise", he countered. "So, my room?"
Kiba blinked. "Yeah, follow me!" Kiba thrust his hands in his pockets and lead the way. Eventually they reached room 111 and Kiba positioned himself in front of it. "'Kay, first thing first, Neji made me promise to tell you a few things. No smoking in the room, no smoking in the dormitory, no smoking on the school-ground and no smoking in front of Neji. Got it?" Naruto nodded while chuckling behind his hand. "And then, same thing goes for alcohol, drugs and making-outs. Neji is easily offended." Kiba roared with laughter again.
"I get the picture."
"But as long as you don't really bother anyone then you can pretty much get away with everything." He rolled his eyes. "Neji is like a hawk though, and he likes to bust you in the act. So, watch out." He picked up the key from his pocket and handed it to Naruto. "It's all yours… to share of course. My roommate is boring as hell, so believe me when I say that you can't get it worse." Kiba sighed unhappily. "He can't stay in a conversation for more than five minutes without snubbing me off. He doesn't say much… and he'd rather stare into a wall than anything else. I'll get sleepy by just watching him."
Naruto welcomed the key in his hand. "Do you have any idea who my roommate is?"
"Of course, he's probably inside though. He doesn't really leave his room if not someone forces him, which we don't. 'Cause he has this weird aura." Kiba snorted and turned around to pull the handle. With a toothy grin he pushed the door open and walked in, Naruto of course followed close.
"What?" a grumpy and seemingly sleepy voice slurred as soon as they stepped in. Naruto's eyes darted to one of the beds lined to the left of the door.
Kiba coughed to clear his throat, apparently he'd choked on his own saliva. "Shikamaru, you lazy bum! I told you the newcomer were arriving today."
A grouchy looking boy, with dark brown hair pulled back in a high and thick ponytail, sat up in his bed, looking down on his terribly blond roommate and meeting his blue eyes. He almost got blinded by the sight. "Hey, shut your eyes… they sting." With that said, he laid down again, joints being cracked echoed in the room as he stretched his body. Naruto couldn't help gaping stupidly.
Kiba roared angrily and attacked the bed, shaking it hard so that even the lazy teen couldn't ignore it. "Hey! You inconsiderate sleepyhead. At least greet him!"
A sigh was heard before Kiba was ruthlessly kicked in the head by a sock-clad foot and pummelled to the floor. Naruto jumped successfully out of the way and stared at the lean boy as he slowly climbed out of bed and offered Naruto his hand. Is he crazy? He looked tousled at Naruto, as he had certainly nuzzled into his beddings all day long.
"Well?"
Naruto hurriedly shook his hand. "I'm Uzumaki Naruto."
"Nara Shikamaru. I apologise-"
"It's okay, really!" The blank eyes that were directed at him made him nervous.
"-for Kiba."
"Huh…", Naruto wrinkled his forehead.
Kiba suddenly shot up from the floor and tackled the bored-looking teen, trapping him in a fierce headlock. "You think you're so funny, don't ya? Well you're not, you're never funny… you don't even know fun! I know fun and I say that you're no fun."
Naruto's eyes widened momentarily before he chuckled. "Kiba, you're so crude. Let the poor man breathe", he said when he saw Shikamaru yawn and scratch his ear.
Kiba released Shikamaru reluctantly and shot Naruto a deadly glare, puffed and crossed his arms over his chest. The blonde, though, didn't figure the glare to be too serious and walked further inside the room to assess its space. Two large, single, buck-beds lined the left wall with some, generously big, space between the two. On the opposite side of the room were a set of desks present, with school-material and a reasonable competent chair. Below each bed was an empty space, which Shikamaru apparently decorated with stray pillows and blankets. Probably functioning as a spare bed if he, by chance, wouldn't reach the other in time.
Naruto couldn't be happier and a strange comforting feeling made its way into his heart when he watched the two, totally different, teens forgetting their former quarrel as if it happened on a regular basis and was nothing more than their way of greeting each other. They were currently discussing something Naruto had yet to become involved in, him being the 'new kid' and all.
With a content sigh, Naruto walked towards his bed. He reached up and touched the mattress and pressed down on it a couple of times, just to see if it had an agreeable bounce (which it had), and realized that the bed-sheets had already been taken cared of. Tsuande always told him that he was lousy at that sort of things and would probably be better off without them, since his attempts to even out the wrinkles would, almost certainly, cause damage to others.
His whole face reddened when remembering one particular incident, which occurred a few years back when he'd temporarily been staying at a hospital. Accidentally, and so he had claimed for years, he'd knocked one of the nurses over when insisting on making his neighbour's bed, who was leaving. The nurse later on became his new roommate, after getting a serious concussion due to hitting her head against the table and then the floor. She had not been an excessively happy camper, especially not when she learned that Naruto was only one bed away and that he liked singing.
If he remembered it correctly, said nurse actually filed a report to her employer. A report in which she, not very kindly and nurse-like, criticized the hospital's methods when putting the victim and the delinquent in the same room. She expressed her opinions very clearly by stating that the crime shouldn't have been overlooked, as it apparently had been according to her, and should be considered once more. When her suggestions were turned down a couple of times she got more and more ferocious. Eventually she was fired, and Naruto got his room back when she was rehabilitated.
"So, Naruto, where are you from?" a voice suddenly startled him from his recollection. "I mean, you moved here so suddenly, right?"
"And, starting in the middle of term", Shikamaru filled in from his seat under his bed, between some very fluffy cushions.
Naruto leaned his back against one of the bed's poles. He rubbed his neck. "I'm from a town a few hours from here."
"Great, you have to show me there sometime!" Kiba hollered and flung himself in one of the desk-chairs, spinning. Shikamaru rolled his eyes and didn't bother to inform Kiba that his voice was too loud and boisterous.
"I won't be going back for a while, so don't expect anything."
"Bummer."
"Are you going to miss your home?" Shikamaru questioned, suddenly paying a bit more attention. He watched Naruto hesitate.
"Naw, not really", he said. "I kind of like this place already, so it won't be a problem."
"Brilliant!" Kiba said and dodged the flying pillow, he flipped Shikamaru the finger. "Anyway, I've lived in the city all my life. Mum sent me here so I would take school seriously. She thinks I'll work harder if I know that she spends a lot of cash on me."
"It worked?" Naruto asked and thrust his hands in his pockets leisurely.
Kiba's face became stern temporarily. "I try my best."
Naruto nodded reassuringly in return and tossed Shikamaru a glance. The brown-haired was currently busy getting himself comfy amongst his sea of cushions.
"How about you, Shikamaru?" Naruto asked, and the boy glanced back and sighed.
"They labelled me smart and sent me here", he simply answered and Kiba snorted. "It was too much of a hassle to argue."
For a few minutes, and during a completely comfortable silence, Naruto couldn't possible imagine being in a better place. And, he couldn't believe his luck. He'd never gotten friends this fast before, nothing ever turned out to be this easy. Not for him it didn't. Even though they hadn't announced their newly-made contact to actually be friendship yet, his honest opinion was that it was sure to turn out that way if he just let it grow and if they let him. He was also sure that Tsunade would be happy to hear from him, and his unbelievable progress. She'd been worried that he wouldn't fit in or get to know anyone. Well, actually she worried that he would scare everyone away with his, sometimes, overbearing personality. That was what she said anyway.
Then Naruto remembered something. "By the way, where's my luggage?"
Both heads turned towards him. Kiba shot up from the chair. "I totally forgot! They're in my room", he rubbed his head sheepishly. "Neji didn't give me the keys to the room before I met up with you, but he did make me carry your things early this morning. I had nowhere to put them since this bastard", he turned to Shikamaru, "was out doing something silly like sky-gazing, probably."
"I was."
"See?" Kiba countered and stuck out his tongue. "So I just put them in my room. Should we go get them?"
Naruto nodded and chuckled behind his hand, he did that a lot nowadays, humoured by their easy-going personality. On their way out the door, at least Kiba and Naruto (Shikamaru apparently didn't feel like rising any time soon), Naruto had to give it to himself. He had scored.
"Thank you", he said, admitting in words what he was thinking. "Thanks for helping me out. It relieves me quite a bit knowing that you guys… I mean, we just met and-"
Kiba swivelled around, looking serious and catching Naruto by surprise. "We're friends right?"
"Y-yes…" Naruto stuttered taken aback, not sure what to say and from inside the room he heard Shikamaru say something like 'it's not like we are enemies", a loud yawn following shortly after.
"Then there's nuthin' to worry about", Kiba said confidently and stroked the bridge of his nose teasingly. "Don't get all corny over it, yellow-head."
"Hey! Who's corny?" Naruto bellowed and crossed his arms over his chest childishly, trying not to laugh. "And don't call me yellow-head, you midget!"
"You have something against midgets, Naruto?" he heard Shikamaru, almost, sniggering from within the room. Kiba barked with laughter and shot his friend a shout of approval.
"No!" Naruto yelled back from standing out in the hallway, appalled. "Of course not! There's nothing wrong with midgets."
Kiba laughed again. "Yellow-head, you're hilarious!"
"Bah, shut up!"
Suddenly, a door, leading into room 110, clicked as it was unlocked from the inside. All commotion abruptly ceased. Naruto didn't know why it became deadly silent, but he had a hunch that Kiba knew. Perhaps he knew the occupant of the room, as well. Shikamaru hadn't of course noticed anything other than the sudden silence, since he still was resting inside. Heads whipped around towards the opposite door as it made itself know that it was about be opened, by a small creaking sound. Before he could see the person he sure could hear him.
"Shut up all of you", the voice growled and Naruto gulped, staggering back a bit. He knew that voice.
His premonitions came true as blue eyes once again met black ones in a lethal reunion. The basketball-player stood arrogantly, with his arms defiantly folded over his chest. Naruto noted quite quickly, as his eyes ran him over, that he was still dressed in the attire he'd had on him while playing his solitary game of ball out on the court. The clothes still fitted him snugly on some parts of his body, clutching onto his skin, just as Naruto had noted earlier. And just the same, Naruto observed his pant's and how they could hang on to his hips as loosely as they actually did- and had done while playing- without falling off. His clothes fit him as if they were sewed especially for him. They fit his body perfectly. He's a total bastard, despite how he looked. Naruto damned his luck. Please don't tell me we're classmates!
They gave each other dark looks, one of them being profoundly better at it. The basketball-player sure had a talent in making people uncomfortable. Naruto was sure of that and snorted. "You again!"
The other one snorted back. "You were the one crying for me to come back, moron."
"No I wasn't, you dickhead!"
Fire raged between the two as the taller one loomed over the blond. "You are an eyesore." His voice was silky smooth, yet promised bodily-harm in one simple sentence. "Are you some sort of stalker?"
Naruto grabbed hold of the other's collar, balling it in his fist and pulling his handsome face closer. He tried to disregard his features as much as possible, and it wasn't so hard, with the anger pulsating through his entire body. "Who would ever consider being one of your stalkers? Huh? Huh! You asshole!"
The dark-haired didn't look fazed at all and was just about to counter when Kiba suddenly stepped into the picture, standing with his hands on his hips teasingly. "So, you are familiar with each other. I see…"
A pair of heads whipped Kiba's way and one of them, unsurprisingly a blond, yelled fervently. "No!" The other one only glared heatedly, as he always did.
"Well, let me introduce you to each other then." Kiba came closer. "Uchiha Sasuke, this is Uzumaki Naruto and Naruto… this is Sasuke, my roommate."
I'm interested in opinions, whether they are positive or not.
The plot might not be visible yet, so I hope you will take the time to read chapter two when it's out.
I'm aware that High School-fics are very common, but in my defence I'll just say that I won't be focusing on their schooling.
Please let me know what you think!
Yours Truly
Tsuki no Kitsune