Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Life in the Labels ❯ Bite Marks... ( Chapter 3 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
Life in the Labels
Oh my gah. You all must bow down to me now! I…REWROTE…A WHOLE…TEN PAGES…OF THIS…CHAPTER THREE… Wow… Because the ORIGINAL chapter was all screwed up. I couldn't post it anywhere… But I love you all, so I did it anyway. DAMN YOU GRAWL (figment of my imagination that lives within the boundaries of my skull)!
Grawl: Eh?
AHAHAHA! I LOVE YOU GRAWL!
OH! And…
IMPORTANT NOTE OF DOOOOOOM (In other words, please read before beginning the chapter): SO SORRY, but at the end of chapter two, Sasuke was actually the one to tell Kiba, “I have Advanced Strings.” Yeah. BIG mistake. DON'T KILL ME FANTASTICAL QUEEN— Can I just call you Ebony? YAY! Anywho, yeah so… I guess this note isn't important anymore… Go read now, I guess.
AND I AM SOOOOO SORRY FOR TAKING SO LONG!
Chapter Three: Bite Marks…
Sasuke's POV
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“Sasuke! Stop! Back to measure twenty-four, you need to slow down a bit.” And he needed to give me a break. I was stressed and pissed, a bad combination. Though I was the only outstanding violin player in the orchestra, but I don't want to be vain, so I always protest with average. Go ahead; tell me, “Popular people don't play instruments!” because I'll just laugh in your face. I don't want to be popular. And my violin has kept me from hitting walls and tearing doors from their hinges.
That may be one of the reasons I am so good at what I do. When I play, I pour my own soul into the chords and notes. I pour my emotion. And with the “free time” I get at home, I have almost unlimited time to practice. Which pays off in the long shot. At the next strings concert, I am supposed to be doing a quartette with another violinist, a cellist, and a violist. I'm not sure of the name of the piece we will be performing. All I know is that it is a quartette.
Anyway, my mind is slipping, and Strings is the only class I need to really pay attention in. Unlike math, where I spend the whole lesson daydreaming. One second your mind wanders in Strings, and you find yourself five measures behind. Right now we are practicing a random piece called “Palladio.” I like it a lot.
I got yelled at several other times for speeding up again. My teacher knows me well, so he can tell that I was upset. Whenever I was angry, I'd try and rush right through the songs. It was a little annoying, especially when we were playing a slow and moderate song. I'd get fidgety and speed up. I tried to calm down some, and it worked, somehow. I was able to make it through the rest of the class.
Eventually we came to the part of the song where I played a little solo. The notes were clear and true, and came tumbling down as other violinists began joining in. Another great student, I think her name may have been Kira, played a higher in tune solo just after that. Then it became a bit more aggressive, until it slurred out in long, smooth notes.
The light march-rhythm from the beginning picked up again after that. The strings danced until the end, and I enjoyed every second of it. I was very reluctant to store the dark drown-wooded masterpiece that had saved me from so many horrible things in its soft purple cloth case. I closed the lid, clicking the locks shut, and placed it amongst the other large black cases.
Sakura's POV
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I had gym with Sasuke! I am so happy. I hate to admit it…and it makes me look like some kind of pervert but…Sasuke just looks so sexy glistening in sweat. Yeah, that sounded really wrong. But I'm sure all of the girls who had this class, or at least most of them, were thinking the exact same thing. I was jealous, yes, but I couldn't help it. I've known Sasuke since the first day of third grade, and I've liked him ever since. Well now…I think I loved him. I've spent so much time just watching him. I know too much about him, but it doesn't bother me.
It wasn't just a simple crush anymore, though I may put on that mask around Ino and others. If I ever saw him with another person…I would probably die. First, I'd make sure he was happy with his chosen one, and then I'd die. It's because I care about him too much. Sometimes I wish he stayed up north, and never moved, so I would have never met him and harbored these feelings, because they're killing me. But most of the time I'm proud of how I feel, whether he shares those feelings or not…
I need to stop thinking so deeply. When I do, I stand in one spot for several minutes, staring at one spot on the wall. I get a lot of strange looks. The warning bell rang, so I quickly heaved my backpack higher onto my shoulder, and scurried to my next class.
-
Three and a half hours later, I found myself skipping from sixth hour. Well, not literally skipping, but more like walking with a bounce in my step. Near the end of the class, a note from my dance instructor was sent down, explaining that she needed help moving some equipment into a neighboring classroom. I was pretty happy, seeing as I didn't have to immediately go home and face my demon sister right away. It was like detention, but much more fun.
When I reached the dance studio, I took a second to check my reflection in the mirrors that covered most of the wall. Someone had pulled a few hairs from my scalp during class, and I ended up cursing them out. Luckily, the teacher had run next door to retrieve some paperwork, else I'd be in the “Detention Hell,” as most call it at this time of day, now too. When Tsunade, the instructor, saw me, she shoved a box into my arms. It was laden with pink laces, colorful costumes and accessories, and ballet slippers. She said, her words rushed, “Thanks so much for coming, Sakura. Room 560 please.” I dropped my backpack onto the padded floor, and half-carried, half-dragged the box out the door.
I ran into another person as I neared the door, since I couldn't see in front of the brown cardboard. The bright laces and everything else went flying in quite a few different directions. I quickly began scooping them back up, placing them back messily into the box. The person I had collided with, groaned angrily from beneath several livid orange and purple tutus.
When I pulled one from the still unknown person's head, I nearly grabbed the bright red mess of something that looked suspiciously like an accessory, in attempt to free the trapped. I twisted my hand to pull, but a hand swatted mine away. A voice yelped in pain, still adorned in the colors. In my arm was a pair of tan ballet shoes that fell uselessly back to the floor when that same hand ripped the rest of the cloth from their body. It was…
“What the hell do you think you are doing!” Gaara shouted, face etched with complete hate. I was a little taken aback.
I made a lousy attempt at speech. “I-I was, I was just g-going to t-take this s-s-stuff to—” He rudely cut me off.
“You know what? Never mind. I need to get to detention.” I gaped at his retreating form, the back of his black shirt grazing my nerves. It read in white bold letters, “Dancing sucks. If you dance, do me a favor and dance your way away from me.” A nagging voice in the back of my head whispered something that had to do with Gaara wearing the shirt just to tick me off.
Gathering the rest of the fallen stuff and placing it in the box, I trailed behind him into the really cold room. The AC must have been on full blast again.
I was a little surprised to find Sasuke arguing with Mr. Morino near the math teacher's desk. They were yelling about the opposed time that detention was set to end. Sasuke shouted, “What, do you want me to get mugged on my way home? It'll be dark out by then!” Actually, it wouldn't, but I guess he wanted to add drama. Oh and, did he even get the detention paper signed by his parent? It was only the first day of school. I thought, when you got a detention, you had to take it home first and get it signed. I guess rules can change.
“Well, Uchiha, you must have a parent or guardian come pick you up anyway, so they'll be able to watch over on your way home.” He smirked smugly and waved his hand, ending the string of insults Sasuke had prepared, and probably saving him from earning another detention. “So,” he scanned the room of students who had their heads lying on the desks, obviously bored, “anyone need to call a parent?”
I missed the look of horror on both Sasuke and Gaara's face, but noticed they both grudgingly snaked their hands into the air. Quite a few other kids did it too. Last year, for some reason, you didn't have to have a parent sign you out, and you just needed someone to show up, so a lot of people were surprised. Not many of the students had cell phones, so Mr. Morino gave each of them a chance to borrow his. He wouldn't let them leave his line of vision, though. I stood there quietly, straining to hear the conversations.
Sasuke dialed a number, and had to wait a while before anyone chose to pick up. He sighed, then spoke in a small whisper. “I-Itachi? I—no. I'm sorry, but…y-yes?” There was a long pause. Finally, “N-no! I didn't, I promise! Itachi, please!” He was begging in a hurried voice. “Don't tell mom and dad, you know what they'll say! Come on, Itachi! Please! Just come and pick me up—” Sasuke looked down at the phone with a mixture of anger and sadness in his eyes. Itachi had hung up on him.
Almost all of the girl population knows who Itachi Uchiha is. The major league but now ex-football player. The straight A's, honor roll, teacher's pet, stoical student. The good-looking, smooth-talker, who had a glare that killed. The quiet kid who had gotten far in his middle school life. I wonder how he was doing now. Only a handful of people knew the Itachi at home. I did, vaguely. And the little stuff that I did know confused me.
Itachi didn't hold any brotherly feelings for Sasuke, though that was not the case in the florescent lights of the outside world. When at school, Itachi would smile genuinely to Sasuke; at home he would be sure that his life was hell. If I got it straight, Itachi had a grudge against the younger Uchiha. But for what, no one could guess. Itachi was well enough alone. Sasuke wasn't following in his elder brother's footsteps at all, in any way. Sasuke hated most sports, Sasuke got average grades, Sasuke was a bit more outspoken, Sasuke didn't date very many girls. Itachi was Itachi. Sasuke was Sasuke.
Gaara had the phone to his ear now. I heard his conversation a bit more clearly. “Kan— Oh. Hi, dad. I apologize. Yes. You are going out of your way, but— yeah. Wait, what? What are you talking about— What?” there was a really long stretch of silence here, and I could even hear a faint yelling at the other end. “DAD! NO! No, Kankuro would not feel honored to have my lowly self, drug home by his hands! I don't give a shit about him or Temari!” Mr. Morino flinched at the curse, but remained silent, and tried ignoring Gaara and his dad, though he was obviously listening closely. “FINE! Alright.” He calmed a little, but his face was red with rage. “Yes. I'll go be when I get home. Yes.” He clicked the `end' button, his dad not deserving a bye in his opinion.
The class was dead silent. Would there be yet another reason to tease Gaara tomorrow? Would rumors spread about his little argument? Would people ever sympathize him? Would Gaara become the wild murderer that some thought he was deep down? I thought about all this as the confused math teacher pushed me out the door.
Gaara's POV
Oh god. Report to his room as soon as I reach his house? The co-worker must have refused him. He seemed much more hate-craving then usual. I just prayed that maybe he'd drown himself in alcohol and pass out before his words met my ears and his hand met my face. He would shout something like, “You should look up to Temari and Kankuro! They have achieved much more then you could ever hope for!” Something to kick me down a few notches. To make me feel small to him. To make me regret ever entering the world with the face of my mother.
I slid into the only seat closest to me, next to the Uchiha. There were four desks lined up next to each other, two filled already. A can of pencils sat in front of one of the kids, so I guessed that I wouldn't have to just sit here the whole time. I reached for one, ignoring how rigid the guy got, a look of fear evident on his face. What, why was he afraid of me? I left my pocketknife at home today…
Then I retrieved the old notebook from my backpack, and began scribbling the lead away on paper. Several minutes later, someone poked my arm from my right. It was Sasuke. Annoyed, I glanced up at him. He was glaring intently at me, as though he wanted to tell me something. Something that probably was meant to offend me, like every word that passed from the student's lips at this school was meant to do, but that something never came. After that, Sasuke continuously tried and failed at getting my attention. I didn't want to be bothered, so I just kicked him in the shin from under the table every now and then to shut him up.
Morino practically hissed at us once, but Sasuke didn't take the hints. It seemed he couldn't take it anymore, because he reached across my desk rudely, and plucked a pencil from the can. Oh, so I guess that was all he wanted to say, but I still felt that he should have just said it instead of bugging me. Besides, when he reached across my desk, his arm got in the way of my face, and in the process got in the way of my writing. That was something that set me off. I had a sour attitude, and when someone did something to distract me from my writing, even if it was microscopic small, I'd react badly.
And that is exactly what I did. I opened my mouth, and bit into his forearm. At first I thought he would scream in both surprise and pain, but he didn't. So I dug my teeth deeper into his arm, like an animal would do to another offending animal. Sasuke tried yanking his arm away, but I wouldn't be pushed back so easily. Another thing that stacked up in my mind under the `Sasuke-idiot' label was the fact that he was perfect and had so many friends. It got under my skin, seeing as no one liked me in any way and said I murdered people. Which I didn't. I just wanted a normal life full of normal people, but instead I got crap.
Suddenly Sasuke began banging his fist against my head. But it was minimal damage to some things some people did to me. Kankuro once acted in self-defense against me, but I don't hold anything against him now. I was spying and eavesdropping on him and his girlfriend, so he picked up his math textbook and chucked it at me. I had a bruise for four days. But that was fine. I learned from my mistakes as the youngest sibling.
Sasuke seemed to have realized that the constant pounding had no effect, so instead he dug his nails in my jawbone. When I let go at last, Sasuke flung me backwards in anger, causing me and my chair to go crashing to the ground. The class broke out in a confused laugh. I wondered why, as I lay there…I wondered why me falling was so funny, and Sasuke being bitten was not. Was I such a big joke? Was I just here to be kicked away as a freak? Yeah. That was it. Sasuke was too important to be laughed at.
But then why was Sasuke helping me up right now? I vaguely heard Mr. Morino mutter something about another detention for me. A Saturday detention. I glared at Sasuke and pushed him away, looking around for another seat. Luckily I found one, and it was near the back too. Grabbing my stuff, I hurried over there, missing Sasuke's guilty look.
After thirty more minutes of tense silence, detention came to an end. Parents came to sign their children out, and the room emptied slowly. All that remained by now were three heart-eyed-fan-girls, Sasuke, and me. My back was to the door and my mind was wondering but I still heard the sharp greeting from the doorway. Turning my head, I almost thought the teenager was for a second Sasuke. But then I looked closer and noticed the differences. This guy seemed unaware of most of his surroundings, or just didn't care, and had a weird emotion playing into his eyes. I would have labeled it something like `pain,' but that didn't seem likely. He wasn't in any physical pain; he looked perfectly fine, so maybe it was mentally. But that couldn't be right. I even knew the famous Itachi, and he wasn't the type to be struggling mentally. Like me.
The three girls squeaked in excitement, like little hamsters, and practically began drooling over their desks as he walked over to the blue paper and scribbled a sloppy signature. “Itachi…” Sasuke muttered in greeting before rushing out of the classroom. Itachi followed, and I heard a mild argument arise from the hallway, before it faded away.
One of the girls that were still there left soon after that exchange. I let my forehead lay against the desk, a headache seeping into my skull. Then the door creaked open. I knew those footsteps very well. Slight heavy, a little slow…father. The world rang through my head, out of tune. I had a near death experience when his rough hand touched my shoulder. Hopefully the two other girls didn't notice that I immediately put distance between us two. Then his scratchy voice filled the cold room, “Gaara! You really got a detention? I thought maybe it was a joke. Guess not. Oh well, come on, son.” He sounded oddly…happy.
I wanted to scream. Scream and ear shattering scream that can be heard for miles. And then maybe the world will break and I will disappear from my dream of shadows and wake up in a comfy bed with clean sheets and a grinning mom fussing over me to wake up and smell the coffee. And I'll have one younger sister to protect at school from the jerks. And she'll have short red hair and green eyes that match mine. And a happy glint in her eyes as she hugs me and urges me to eat fast so we could get to school. And the sunshine shining bright in the sky, and me whining over something stupid like the bus being late, and—
Unfortunately, that's not the world I am trapped in. Right now, my demon father is acting attitude-flipped again, with a smile that I never want to see again. Because I know it's fake. Because I know it's all an act that he performs with a B average for the world around us. Because I know it will crumble at our doorstep.
I hurry from the classroom, missing the odd looks from several of the people who were still lingering at school for some reason or the other. If I run into someone again, I— Luckily, that doesn't happen. Instead, someone decides to stick their dirt-bathed shoe in my path. I trip. I fall. The floor meets my arms. A bruise soon forms. They laugh. I glare.
And that's me. Worthless Gaara with nothing to drag me out of bed in the morning. No motivation. I should be dead.
My dad caught up to me, still grinning slightly. He buys me a can of soda from one of the vending machines, but tosses it into the trash just to brush my nerves.
Naruto's POV
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Meh. That bird is annoying the hell out of me. It's all (high pitched birdy voice), “I'm so much better then you `cause I can fly and I have feathers!” Yeah, well… Well I don't know what but…
Anyway, I toss another rock at it, growling as it misses and the little bird just comes back to the spot it was at and the spot it probably always will be at. I was currently seated on a bench on the outer edges of a local park, waiting for Iruka to be done visiting with an old friend who he made sure not to say the name of no matter how many times I asked. My pitiful three-year-old backpack sat next to me with next to nothing inside. Suddenly I heard some crackling leaves to my right, signaling someone was coming, but I spared them no glance. They would probably just walk by; their eyes away from mine purposefully. I was surprised when they stopped walking and stood right near my bench. That's right, you heard me. My bench.
My eyes trailed up, avoiding the sun's bright rays, and I gasps when cold moonstone my view. “H-Hyuga?”
Neji stayed still, watching me. “Hello.”
One of the ever-famous popular kids just happened to be speaking to me, the shunned and ignored, for no reason. I continued to stare at him, having nothing to say from lack of these kinds of experiences.
“What is it? I don't bite,” he gave one of those rare smiles that are only drawn forth when someone says something that would normally crack people up, and added like so many other people do in some many other places, “much.”
It was a well-known line to me, but not known at all coming from Neji's lips. But right now my brain wasn't really processing much of what he was saying. …What if…what if someone saw us near each other! He'd be kicked from the social crowds without a second thought! I wonder why I was more concerned about his well being then mine. He'd probably just slide by because of how he was so good-looking… Wait, what? I wasn't thinking that, was I? Something inside my mind laughed at how pathetic I was being. Yeah. He wasn't just good-looking, he was perfect. I should be bothered by that thought, but strangely…I'm not.
Neji gave a confused look. “Can you speak, Uzumaki?” I really should say something.
“Uh…Heh…Yeah…Um…I-it's just—” He held up a hand to silence me. I was struggling, and he knew it.
Again, the smile slipped past. “Don't hurt yourself. I was just taking a walk to escape from…my house…” The sentence died on his lips and he soon became ensnared in his own thoughts. I stared at him, burning his image into my mind. His milky white eyes, clouded from an emotion I could not recognize. His black-brown hair falling over his shoulders, surprisingly not tied at the bottom today. I even noticed how pale his skin was and the dark circles under his eyes.
Neji broke the silence and cut me from my…image-burning, for lack of a better word. “So, Uzumaki—”
I found the talent of speaking, “Um, you can just call me Naruto.” My eyes flicked away from his. I didn't want to be captured in their odd color; not knowing which way was up.
“OK.” He sat down on my bench, my open-mouthed backpack resting between us. “Hey Naruto? Why are you here anyway?” Neji laced his fingers together, and then perched them under his chin, staring at the spot that the little sparrow had mysteriously vanished from.
“Oh. Well…I'm waiting for someone…” Now was not a good time to be explaining my position in the world as an orphan.
Thankfully, Neji didn't ask who, and we just continued to sit there. He seemed trapped in his own thoughts again, so I kept my mouth shut, not wanting to risk what looked hopefully like my only friend-to-be. If he even paid attention to be behind to school's walls. It didn't seem promising.
Out of the blue, someone shouted, “NEJI-KUN!” The person's face didn't ring any bells, but they looked pretty close to Neji, clutching his arm like that.
“Hai?” He muttered absently, a bit upset.
“Come on! Hyuga-san wants to see you!” I saw him visibly flinch.
Neji glanced over his shoulder at me while being physically dragged away. Something lingered on his lips that looked close to a `bye,' but it never came. When the pair was gone, I smiled sadly at the sparrow that had just returned. Well, maybe I could just wave at school. Yeah. Just a quick wave while passing through the hallways…
Kankuro's POV
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“Temari?”
“Yeah, what?
“You're picking out…black clothes again… Why?”
She had no answer for my question, and instead put a shelf of morbid accessories between us, the shadows of the store engulfing her and her bright outfit. I sighed, and exited the rock-pulsing store, deciding on just waiting outside.
Currently, my younger-by-seven-months sister, Temari, had dragged me to the mall to shop again. We were going to buy some new clothes for each of us, including Gaara, and she had stocked up on make-up and other stuff too. Then she turned to the most gothic-loving store in this entire damn place to pick outfits for our younger sibling. Since he technically never was aloud to get his own clothes, according to dad, she picked for him, and ended up dumping the dark clothes into his limp arms when we reached home.
I do not have any idea why she forced the style onto him, but he never complained, so no one ever brought it up. Dressing him and black just made everyone at his middle school paste a label onto him like a soup can and call him a freak. He even started wearing make-up, if only eye liner, to cover up most of the pain. I mean, I cared for him inside, but why were Temari and I born looking like we are? And him looking like mom? It's not his fault.
Temari, her blonde hair like the sun in the shaded entrance, swung a bag over her shoulder. “OK. Let's go. Got everything?” I lifted a bag slightly, showing I had it. She nodded, no smile on her face for the time `bonding' we had spent together, and began walking to the automatic doors of the exit.
I tailed behind her clicking high heels, my thoughts still focused around one thing. Why does Temari want Gaara to be labeled…? I had no answer.
-
We'd been waiting at a light, when the car swerved out of the traffic.
I watched the red light impatiently. This light was so long; it made me want to scream at someone. But Temari was the only someone here, and there was no way I could scream at her and not get whacked upside the head. Finally, it flashed green, and I softly pressed onto the gas pedal. The car went forward, like every car is supposed to do when directed, but I was completely oblivious to the other chunk of metal as it came bolting forward.
And that's how it happened. Temari and I never saw it coming.
End of Chapter Three
PLEASE SPARE MY WORTHLESS LIFE! GRAWL! PROTECT ME! -puts arms over fragile head-
Grawl: Bah.
-cries- YOU CRUEL, CRUEL PERSON, YOU! Oh and don't worry, I wouldn't kill off two really cool characters so easily. Kankuro and Temari ROCK!
Anyway, onto the WONDERFULLY MAGICALLY AWESOME reviews. Yes, yes.
Des: THANKIE ME BESTEST SOMEONE IN THIS COLD, STEEL ROOM! :D
Iluvanime493: Yes, yes! Indeed. Well, it seems Naruto might feel something for Neji, but does Neji feel something right back? BWAHAHAHA! Evil, evil me!
Carrie: Well, I'm not sure you other people read other people's reviews, eh? I listed the something's under someone else's reviewing response. AND YOU RAWK! In an odd, reading-my-fanfic-type-way. YAY! I LUFF YOU!
TheFutureFreaksMeOut: YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY! SLS RRRROOOOOCCCCKKKKSSS!!!! I LOVE GAARA AND SASUKE PAIRINGS, BUT I CAN'T PROMISE YOU THIS IS WHAT IS WHAT IT WILL BE IN THIS FIC! …Why am I screaming? ANYWHO, you are awesome, and thanks for reviewing! Oh, by the way, me and my muse (known in some parts of the world as Kaila) love to quote SLS. We always go around saying, “I'm watching you watch me.” XD
Fantastical Queen Ebony Black: o.o Wow…that is pretty long. But oh well. Yes, yes! Another chappie! Thank you for the comments and suggestions and blah (meaning other stuff)!!!! It helps me, no matter how harsh of a critic you may be. I bow down to you for reviewing my lowly self (erm.) and being…kind? Er, well, being honest. YOU RAWK! Oh and…-laughs manically- Guess what? Since day one of this fic, the parings have been changed, and for some of you, for the better.
Goth Flamango: YAY! A Goth flamingo! Haha! Big words are big! ( -people sigh- Yes people.) Moving right along, THANKS GAZILLIONS FOR REVIEWING!!!
Anna: I've always wanted to say, “Oh yeah. Blackmail on you.” But…it's hard to find blackmail so… Well, I did get some recently on a really, really (stops line of curse words here) at school, so YAY! Thanks for reviewing! American ninjas unite! -cough-
Kamenbutoukai: Oh yeah, totally. Labels are EVOL! At my school, people are all, “OMG STACIE (yes that be my name)! You were all, like, punk, last year! And like, now you're all, like, Goth this year! Why, like, are you all, like emo?” Grrr…DIE! Oh no, not you, them… YOU ARE COOL! REVIEWS ARE SO FUN TO READ!
Kosuki: Thanks! By the way, the smiles, :D, are my favorite in this whole wide earth. YEP! They're so fun to write on paper at school and then pass them as a note. My friend's look at me really weird though… THANK YOU FOR THE REVIEW!
My muse: Dude…the hell you've been! -cries- I only see you like five minutes a day! No, less! IT'S SO EVIL! I LOVE YOU MY MUSE! Oh, and the Uchiha's belong to MEEEE! -evil laugh as I cling to them- I love you Gaara! -gives candy-
Other's I may have missed: I THANK THEE ALL FOR TAKING THEIR TIME TO READ THIS! THANK YOU!