Chapter 16
The morning school bell rang at 7:45am, informing all students that homeroom was starting. The class prior to first period that acted as an attendance tool. Sasuke’s leg bounced up and down frantically, eyes darting around the room at the many faces that peered curiously at him every so often. The prior week he and Kurama spent the hours after school shopping, the fox spirit allowing Sasuke to choose a new wardrobe for himself along with new decorations and bed sheets to make his bedroom more inviting. He could hear Kurama’s words settle over him, “Color and patterns that make you happy are vital to your being. No one color should dominate your space” Sasuke remembered how Kurama pulled out his black clothes, black shoes, and even black and gray linens from the bed with a grimace at the moody ambience.
Now, Sasuke paired a dark blue shirt with light grey shorts, something he had never worn before at school. Coupled with his clean hair and lack of body odor, he swore he was an item on display at a museum with how many looks he received. Just what I needed. More attention, he whined. His self talk was quickly interrupted by his homeroom teachers entrance. Ms. Anko Mitarashi was the highschool’s only biology teacher, and she greeted her homeroom class with an unusual smile.
“Class, we have quite a surprise today.” Ms. Anko’s voice had an assertive quality that grabbed nearly everyone’s attention. “We apparently have a new exchange student attending classes here this year.” She almost mumbled her next sentence, “It appears that all the paperwork involved with the exchange program from Japan got mixed up – haha- so this is news to all us faculty.”
Sasuke felt his stomach sink and then he slid farther into his seat hoping to hide as his familiar fox spirit entered the room. In his human form, Kurama smiled eagerly at the class with glowing white teeth. The orange tattoos that lined his eyes were equally visible, appearing like eyeliner. He wore his trendy baggy red hoody with sweats, and his wooden Japanese sandals. His get-up was totally not small-town Michigan and the class erupted in whispers and excited gossip. Kurama flipped part of his shaggy light blonde hair back and then proceeded to bow before the class which almost created an uproar.
Ms. Anko quieted the group of highschoolers with a stern glare, “Now, this is Kam. Like I said he has travelled here from Japan so please give him our warmest welcome.” She looked over towards Sasuke who felt heat rise to his cheeks. “Sasuke, I know Kam is here living with you as his study abroad family, so Principal Orochimaru asked that he take your schedule.”
More eyes looked at Sasuke and all he wanted to do was hide. Kurama walked up to his desk nonchalantly and pulled up a chair. He had his own backpack and tossed it to his side as he sat down.
Sasuke covered his mouth as he whispered to Kurama, “Kurama what the fuck, why are you here?”
The corner of Kurama’s mouth tugged up as he responded in kind, “It’s Kam, you melodramatic child.” In a louder and more childish voice he continued, “This will be so much fun, I can’t wait!” Sasuke grimaced as a couple girls behind them giggled.
Homeroom was a short fifteen minutes, the bell then tolling for the teenagers to gather their belongings and head to the next period. Kurama followed Sasuke like a duckling with its mother. Sasuke put his head down for most of the walk until he saw Kurama’s eyes grow large with excitement at all of the school decorations and appliances throughout the halls. “What are you looking at Kur- I mean Kam?”
Kurama turned to him, “I have never physically walked in a place like this before. It’s very exciting.” Sasuke looked around the halls, trying to see through new eyes, but only saw the dirty corners of the walls, the small pieces of trash that didn’t make it to the waste basket. The posters with “420 & 69” sharpied across them. He was about to respond when he was pushed from behind.
“Move- ha-ha” the voice of Rock Lee reached his ears and Sasuke pulled himself towards the wall. “Well look at this, a new student?” Rock Lee smiled wickedly at Kurama, who clearly was not paying him any mind. In Rock Lee’s shadows were his cronies – Neiji and Shikamaru – both staring hungrily at the new meat before them.
“Sasuke are you okay?” Kurama asked as he straightened himself. Sasuke could only nod his head as his bully stood inches away from Kurama. “Good, let's get going to our next class.”
As Kurama walked on, Rock Lee’s face turned bright red from being ignored and he lunged forward. “Hey new kid, where are you going? –" Suddenly a large fly flew past Kurama’s face and was sucked into Rock Lee’s next inhalation, just before he could grab Kurama’s arm. The black insect was quite large and was clearly not missed by any onlookers. Rock Lee stumbled back and gasped, gagging and spitting out loudly while his cronies stood behind him embarrassed.
Sasuke didn’t waste a beat to get back up and trail Kurama to first period.
“Was.. Did… How did you do that?” Sasuke whispered near Kurama’s ear.
Kurama turned to him with an expression more blank than a piece of paper, “Do what?”