31Chapter 3: Amongst Angels and Demons
~Who Knew~
I hope you enjoy!
Konoha Academy
Sakura's POV
We walked into the grand entrance of the giant school building.
Our steps echoed on the marble flooring, bouncing off the pristine white walls until it died against the glass ceiling. Crystal light fixtures hung from black beams in the ceiling giving off a soft glow that would be much brighter at night. Glass casings lining each side of the entrance halls showed off trophies and acknowledgments of student achievements. Glancing at both, they saved the case on the right for athletics and arts while the left was for academics. Each filled with student photos with some that have to be a couple of decades old.
That might be something that the snake is looking for… but they might be too high profile.
Taking my eyes away from the case, I steeled my mind how I was trained to as I finished assessing my surroundings.
Both walls with the display cases were about ten feet long, each opening into wide hallways going left and right. Tucked in the corners as the walls ended had wide staircases leading to the second floor's catwalk visible from the front doors. I could barely see another set of stairs in similar positions on the second floor, but they were more hidden by thick double doors.
I'll have to look into what's on each floor. From the outside, there should be four with another set of stairs to the roof.
Dropping my gaze, I saw the space in front of us almost looked like a giant square. Directly in front was a set of grand double doors that opened into a long hallway with even more doors lining the walls. Taking a few steps forward, I glanced to the left and right to see they had similar designs. Wide hallways with grand doors leading down even more halls while each end tapered off into large open spaces similar to the entrance.
Lounging areas? They might also lead to bigger rooms. Gyms maybe?
"Don't wonder." The driver's disinterested voice brought my attention back to the present. Turning around, I saw him drop the last of my bags from the car. Between Satoshi and I, we had four sets of luggage each.
That bastard should've at least sent two guys to deal with those.
"You two have to be our new students!" My eyes snapped to the left as a large man walked out of a door hidden before the staircase began.
He had long spiky white hair that reached his butt, red lines running from the bottom of each of his eyes to his chin. A wide happy smile stretched his lips making the crinkle around his eyes and mouth deepen. His white teeth sparkling as he stopped in front of me showing just how much taller he is than me.
He'll be a problem if I get caught.
I didn't miss the muscles showing through his long sleeve black shirt and red tunic. Nor did I miss his silent steps despite the room's acoustics.
He's a trained fighter.
What kind? I'm not sure yet, but he's not an ordinary older man.
"I'm Vice-Principal Jiraiya. You two must be Sakura," He pointed to me then twisted to meet Satoshi's unamused gaze, "and Satoshi Haruno, right?"
"Who else would we be?" Satoshi responded, slowly shifting his hands to his pockets as the driver gave him a hard side-eye. I bit my lip, my hands instinctively going to my switchblade.
Is he trying to get in trouble?
This guy and the lawyer are going to report all of this to that rat. Who knows what he'll do knowing how willful Satoshi is acting. Will he force Satoshi to go back to the mansion? Hurt him? Kill him?
I won't let any of that happen!
"You could've been girl scouts looking to sell cookies." Vice-Principal mused, his gaze never wavering from Satoshi. They stared at each other for a moment before a ghost of a smile wavered over my brother's lips before he looked away.
"How could I be a girl scout when I'm a boy?" that made Jiraiya hum as he rubbed his smooth chin.
"New campaign strategy to get more women to buy cookies?" At that, Satoshi did smile, shifting his eyes to meet Jiraiya's gaze again.
"We're supposed to be meeting with the principal for our registration information?" Jiraiya's wide smile grew as he stepped to the side, gesturing with his arm towards the door he came out of.
"Right this way then." He paused briefly to look towards the driver. "A group of student assistants will be out momentarily to collect their belongings and take them to their dorms." The driver merely grunted as he made his way out of the school.
Without wasting any more time, Satoshi and I followed the giant man through the windowless, dark wood door. To my surprise, a short hallway with a sharp left turn is what greeted us. As we waited for Jiraiya to led the way, my shock increased as we made the turn to see a long hallway with two doors on the center of each side and a single one at the end of the hall.
How big is this school?
"So, I hear Orochimaru is your guardian?" Jiraiya casually asked, his eyes glued forward and that friendly smile ever-present.
Shooting him a glance from the side of my eye, the nearly mechanical way he walked as if to try to give off a relaxed posture warned me there was a hidden meaning to his words.
When isn't there?
"Unfortunately." Satoshi practically spat even if he hid the malice from his tone. Jiraiya didn't miss it as he studied Satoshi from the corner of his eye.
"You two don't get along-"
"I'd rather not talk about a distantly related uncle." Satoshi practically hissed. Jiraiya looked as if he wanted to pry further, but he seemed to take the hint and dropped the subject.
"You don't seem to have much to add about him. Do you have the same opinion, Sakura-chan?" I swallowed as I felt the weight of his attention on the side of my face. Keeping my eyes forward, I fought the urge to fidget.
Should I answer? Who knows where the lawyer is- he could be waiting for me to slip up.
I must have been silent longer then I thought, as Jiraiya grunted mutedly. Tilting his head back, he gazed at the plain white ceiling with a contemplative look.
"Well, that's not surprising. He had the same effect on people back when I knew him too." That caught my attention as I turned my attention to him. From the looks of the raised brow, it also caught Satoshi's curiosity.
"How long ago was it?" I quietly asked. Jiraiya hummed in thought, tapping his jaw.
"It has to be… maybe 40 years now? Possibly longer?" He grinned as he dropped his head to look at me. "We grew up together." A reminiscent smile graced his lips as he turned forward again. "Actually, the Dean Tsunade Of Higher Education And Head Of The Medical Program was also apart of our little group. Even the principal was like our mentor in those days." He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Small world, ain't it?"
"Did you know our uncle likes playing toying with dolls?" Satoshi asked, his hard eyes practically glaring at the happy thoughts that must be going through Jiraiya's head, a small frown forming on his lips.
I swallowed as I turned away. My fists clenched as I felt a slight pressure forming in my chest.
Here we go…
"From what I remember about him," Jiraiya started as I felt his scrutinizing gaze again, "he was more interested in men." A glance showed the vice principal was also frowning just as we reached the door at the end of the hall.
Satoshi looked as if he wanted to say something, but decided against it as Jiraiya knocked.
A soft, deep voice called from inside, prompting Jiraiya to open the door.
Surprisingly, the inside of the principal's office wasn't as grand as I thought it would be. In the center of the far wall was a giant oak desk with an elderly man sitting behind it. He had to be at least 20 years older than Jiraiya, given the deep lines and age spots covering his face, whereas Jiraya was mostly untouched by age besides his hair color. Our new principal looked rather ordinary if anything as he relaxed in his grand executive chair with a pipe hanging from his lips.
Behind him, the wall held built-in bookshelves. They were filled with various textbooks and even some casual reading material. Besides that, the other light grey walls held multiple pictures of the academy's campus and even a few of what looks like the school in its early stages. The rest of the room was rather plain yet spacious, with four comfortable armchairs situated directly in front of his desk. The lawyer that came with sat in one of the chairs. He glanced over his shoulder to watch us enter, a hint of annoyance in his eyes.
Prick.
"Look who I found in the lobby, Sarutobi-san!" Jiraiya practically bellowed. The principal- Sarutobi-san, chuckled, his eyes squinting in the process.
"Orochimaru's niece and nephew, right?" Before any of us could respond, the lawyer spun around a bright fake smile on his face.
"Correct, Sarutobi-san. Now that we have discussed everything that is needed, I will entrust my client's precious charges into your hands." The lawyer stood as he bowed to the principal.
Fake rat.
With that, he bowed at us before leaving the room without another word. Sarutobi-san was silent for a little while before he gestured for us to sit. I settled in the seat furthest to the left, Satoshi on the furthest right, and Jiraiya between us.
"Welcome to Konoha Academy." He smiled widely as he looked between Satoshi and me. "I'm expecting bright things from both of you." At our lack of response, he took a short drag from his pipe as he pulled out two files from his desk.
More than likely ours.
"I looked at both of your files. You two have exceptional academic records. Orochimaru must have hired the best teachers for your homeschooling." Satoshi grunted distastefully as he looked away while I tried my best to stamp down the memories of my homeschooling.
"I'd rather not talk about that." Satoshi politely stated. Sarutobi-san watched him closely before flipping open our files.
For a little while, he silently turned through the pages of each folder before pausing on the last of each.
"You two remind me of Tsunade-chan and Orochimaru when they were your age." Sarutobi-san drawled. "They lost their parents while they were young, too, along with Jiraiya." That made Satoshi look back at him with a frown. "Orochimaru was an angry child when I met him. I was only a teacher back then, but I ended up being more like a parent." Jiraiya snorted at that, his arms crossed.
"I remember that! It was around the time Haru-Kun became his new brother, right?" Jiraiya let out a humorless grunt as he shook his head. "Those two fought mercilessly for at least two years before you finally beat it out of them." Sarutobi-san shared in Jiraiya's humor as he gripped his pipe, tapping it into an ashtray at the edge of his desk.
"If memory serves," he replaced the pipe into his mouth, taking a few puffs, "you and Tsunade played a role in that." Jiraiya snorted again.
"Not that this isn't a great conversation," Satoshi started, his expression hard to read, "but what does our uncle's history have to do with us?" Sarutobi-san didn't even flinch as he smiled at Satoshi.
"Because knowing your history will help you not to repeat it." Sarutobi-san let out a deep sigh as he relaxed back. "Orochimaru had a bright future here, but he dropped out before his final year in our college program. I haven't heard from him since besides the rumors of his involvement in… unsavory activities." I didn't miss how his eyes glanced my way- a curious yet sadden glint to them.
I don't need your pity.
The bitter thought shocked me as I looked away.
More like I don't deserve it after everything I've done.
"Well, I'd rather get through my time here, so I don't have to be associated with him. I have more important goals in mind I want to accomplish. Talking about him and his ventures is something I'd rather avoid." Satoshi responded dryly.
I saw that one coming.
I thought, dropping my gaze to the darkly carpeted floor.
The room was silent for a couple of heartbeats before I heard paper shuffling.
"Here's a map to your dorms as well as to your first round of classes tomorrow. I've assigned two student assistance to show you two around until you get acquainted. Your things should already be in your rooms." With nothing else to add, he dismissed us. We both bowed and left, with Satoshi keeping a far amount of distance between us.
I glanced at his back before averting my gaze. I didn't like the familiar pressure in my chest building to an uncomfortable state. Letting out a deep sigh, I focused on finding my dorm.
Normal POV
The two men waited until they heard the sibling's footsteps retreating before they turned back to each other.
"What do you think of the Haruno siblings?" Sarutobi asked Jiraiya as he leaned forward to place his elbows on his desk.
For the first time since he met the two, Jiraiya frowned deeply.
"He's pitting them against each other." Jiraiya's brow pinched as he cupped his chin. "He's using Satoshi as leverage to get something out of Sakura, but the possibilities of what that can be are vast when dealing with a man like him." Sarutobi mirrored Jiraya's distressed look as he rested his chin on his hands.
"Do you believe he's abusing her?" The analytical glint in the younger man's eyes told Sarutobi that he thought about all the possibilities.
When it comes to cases like this, Jiraiya is an expert. He has years of experience as he used to be a detective in the special victim's division of the police force after transferring out of a more gruesome sector. In his time, he's seen many abused children- some of which not even Sarutobi has seen. It's that reason that he recognized the signs the moment he saw the siblings.
"The extent is unclear." Sarutobi took a breath as he braced himself.
Unlike Jiraiya, Sarutobi has spent decades in the educational system. He's seen countless abused and distressed children in his years that broke his heart. Unfortunately, there isn't much he hasn't seen or heard about what the degenerates and lowest scum in society have done to children. All of them had a particular look about them that showed how haunted they were from the deprived actions of those they trusted. There have been many that he was able to save, but something was telling him that these two siblings will be a challenge.
"The signs are there. He's done something to condition her behavior." He closed his eyes, a weight settling on his shoulders. "He's crushed any hopes she might have had of escaping him, and I'm pretty sure her brother is only half of the equation."
For a long time, there was silence between the two men. One trying to think of what an old friend's plans could be while the other contemplated what they could do to help the troubled siblings. Eventually, Sarutobi sunk back into his chair, a deep sigh followed by a long stream of smoke escaping his thin lips.
"Keep an eye on them. Report any developments." Jiraiya nodded straightening.
"Of course." Jiraiya paused for a moment, a deep frown covering his face. "What are you planning to do about Orochimaru? After that lawyer's performance, notifying the police won't do much." Sarutobi hummed thoughtfully.
"That much he made clear." Taping his pipe into the ashtray, Sarutobi gave Jiraiya a leveled look. "I'll make some calls. There are a few old friends that could help."
Meanwhile
Sakura's POV
The girl's dorm is a large four-story building in the back left part of the main building. I had to walk to the end of the main entrance, where the wall tapered off to find a set of glass double doors that led outside that I couldn't see before. There was a covered pathway leading from the doors to the entrance of the girl's dorm. An expansive courtyard filled with benches, a storage house, and the school's pool facility separated the girl's dorm to the boy's. Even as I walk down the path, I can see, each dorm room has a private balcony.
This is a rich kid school.
As I reached the double doors leading into the dorm housing, I quickly scanned the door frame.
For a school with high profile students, they didn't invest much in security systems.
I was expecting security cameras and guards in every nook and cranny, but I haven't found any of that. I don't even think they have a security guard.
Unless they're better at hiding it then I'm giving them credit for.
Taking a mental note to investigate further, I pushed open one of the doors.
Stepping into the lobby, it reminded me of the waiting area of a five-star hotel rather than a dorm. There was a fireplace to the far right with a faux fur rug, two armchairs, and four bean bag chairs surrounding it. To the right corner of the wall was a door that was labeled "Theater," while the left corner had a door with "Game Room" written on it. To the left of the room was an empty receptionist's desk with a small bell. To the far right were a restroom and a storage closet to the left. Directly in front of the entrance was a grand staircase, an elevator, and another set of double doors that must lead to the first-floor dorms.
Spare no expense, I guess.
I made my way over to the desk and rang the bell. For a few seconds, nothing happened as I stood in the empty lobby looking around.
Hopefully, this place is this empty so I have an excuse for not finding "cargo" for a while.
"You must be our new student, right?" I turned my head to see a woman descending the staircase.
She had dark hair that touched her shoulders and bright red eyes. She was a few inches taller than me to the point I had to look up to keep eye contact. A red and white wrap dress covered her frame with black sandals topping off the outfight. As she grew closer, I could see fishnet stockings covering her toned legs and arms.
She's fit, but not at the level Jiraiya was. Avid gym goer, maybe?
"Yes," I responded, turning fully towards her as she walked up to me. A welcoming smile graced her red lips.
"I'm Kurenai Yuhi. I run the girl's dorm, but I also teach in the mathematics department. You must be Sakura Haruno, right?"
"Yes, Kurenai-san." Her smile grew as she walked behind the desk and bent down.
"I was just speaking with your new roommate. Your driver and the student assistants just finished bringing your bags up, so you don't have to worry about that." She finally stood, a small package in her hand. "However, your driver said he has a message from your uncle for you, so he's still up there. I'll show you to your dorm and give you your keys, ID's, and uniform then." She flashed me another smile as she motioned for me to follow her.
Is everyone so cheery to newcomers here?
I couldn't help the small smile as I trailed behind her up the stairs.
We climbed another set of winding stairs until we reached the third floor. Passing six doors, we finally stopped near the middle of the hall in front of a door labeled 312. Kurenai-san reached down the front of her dress before pulling out a chain with a handful of keys. She unclipped the keys from the chain before using one to unlock the door.
"If you ever get locked out, just let me know. I have a master key for every room in the girl's dorm." I nodded taking note of that.
I might end up needing them.
Pushing the door open, she stepped to the side to let me enter first. As I did, I saw more extravagance.
The small entryway led straight into a good-sized living room. There was a dark blue comfy looking three cushioned couch with two swinging chairs of the same color on either side of it. A white wooden coffee table separated the seats from a similar wooden TV stand holding a 45 inch TV and a wi-fi tower. A green bamboo plant sat in the corner next to a glass sliding door flanked on each side with dark grey curtains revealing a balcony.
To the left of the entry was a decent sized kitchen. It had a normal-sized refrigerated, oven and stove combination, and microwave against the same wall as the front door. On the far wall was a sink next to an extra-large set of dark blue cabinets with two sets of double doors on the top and bottom.
Pantry?
Separating the kitchen and the living room was a short granite top bar that held three barstools. Bottom and top cabinets filled the space above and below the C shaped area. The floor was covered in dark wood while the waffle ceiling was a deep blue.
As I moved further into the dorm, two simple doors sat opposite each other in the space between the living room and kitchen. The one on the right was closed, but the left one was open, showing my bags and the driver just inside.
I was hoping I wouldn't have to see any more of that rat's goons for a while.
I mentally took a deep breath as Kurenai-san closed the front door as she entered. The moment she did, the closed-door flew open, revealing a girl around the same height as me. She wore a white qipao-style blouse with red trims and dark red pants. Her dark brown hair was up in two neat buns with some of it loose to create side bangs. She had big dark grey eyes that lit up the moment she saw me.
"You're here!" The excitement was apparent in her voice. I blinked, nodding slowly.
I thought people hated getting roommates.
"Sakura." The harsh tone of the driver made me stiffen. Slowly, I turned my gaze to him, keeping my expression carefully neutral. "Your uncle wanted me to pass on a message." His eyes roamed over the other two occupants in the room before settling back on me. "In private." I swallowed before turning to Kurenai-san and my new roommate.
"I'll be out in a minute." With that, I quickly entered my new room, closing the door behind me. I only took a few seconds to examine my new room.
As I thought, it was somewhat generic with a luxurious charm to it. The room was a decent square size with enough walking space in the middle to work out if I wanted. There was a bare full-sized bed with a comfortable looking mattress pushed into the right corner of the room. At the foot of it was a dark brown trunk with a lock sitting on top. A nightstand sat between the bed and a decent sized window lit up the room in natural light. On the other side sat a dark brown desk and dark grey chair. Besides that lay two folding doors that must be a closet.
About what I expected.
Stepping further into the room, I turned to face the driver. Now that we were alone, I leveled him with a cold glare. "What does he want?"
"Your handler will be reaching out soon. Be ready." My hands clenched into fists at my sides.
I almost forgot about that.
"Who is it?" He merely blinked at me before moving to the door.
"Oh yes," He paused, looking at me over his shoulder, "if you screw this up, Lord Orochimaru said your brother would take the punishment while you are recentered." The air painfully left my lungs as I whirled towards him.
I don't have to look at myself to know my eyes were wide, my chest heaving, and my arms shaking.
"I-!"
"Don't screw up." In a second, he was out the door.
It took a long, long time for the image of that icy glare to disappear from my mind. As my head pounded, my chest tightened, and my breathing quickened, it took even longer for me to realize I wasn't there.
That I wasn't locked in the concrete room. Chained to the ceiling, feet barely touching the floor, the pain shooting through my body as-
No-no-no!
Squeezing my eyes closed, I covered my ears, blocking the sound of approaching feet, grinding metal, and laughter.
That's a bad dream! It's in the past. It's not happening. It's not happening!
A shuddering breath left me. Two knocks on the door made me tense.
"Sakura?" An inaudible sigh of relief left me at the soft voice of my new roommate. "May I come in?"
"Y-yes," I called, swallowing hard as I counted backward from 10. By the time the door swung open, I forced my body to stop shaking, my face carefully neutral.
She could be my handler- I can't show her weakness.
"Hey." The brown-haired girl from early stepped into my room, leaving the door open. She rubbed her hands together, an awkward air forming around her. "Kurenai-sensei is talking to that guy, so I thought I would come in to say hi." She flashed me a small smile. "My name is Tenten Usui." Blinking, I looked her up and down before nodding.
No way she's my handler. She's far too innocent.
"Sakura Haruno." Her eyes seemed to light up as her eyes scanned over my bags.
"I can help you unpack if you want? Unpacking can be exhausting by yourself." Glancing over my bags, I thought about it for a second before thinking better.
"It wouldn't be fair to you." She looked like she wanted to argue but decided against it.
"In that case, you shouldn't do all that work on an empty stomach. Would you like to join me for lunch? My treat!" Before I could even think of a response, she grabbed my hand, excitement lighting up her face. "I can introduce some of my friends! They'd love to meet you!" She didn't wait for my response. She just dragged me out of our dorm with a short goodbye to Kurenai-san.
"What made you want to transfer here? It is in the middle of fall semester." TenTen asked, watching me from the corner of her eye. We were walking down the hall in the left-wing of the main building.
The actual building formed a giant C. As we re-entered the school through the glass double doors, TenTen led me around the corner into an ample open space with three doors. The entrance to our left had a large window cut out of it and the words "Auditorium" written above it. Light spilled from the window from the door in front of us. I didn't need to look at the red neon sign above it, declaring it to be an exit to know it led to the side of the building. Finally, to our right was another set of double doors with "Cafeteria" written above it.
"I needed a change of pace," I muttered, remembering the list of responses written in my file the snake gave me.
Can't tell her that I was sent here to find "cargo".
I resisted a shudder as I crossed my arms across my chest. TenTen didn't seem to notice as she hummed.
"You didn't like your old school?" Her curious tone made me feel guilty for lying to her, but it wasn't anything I couldn't swallow.
"I was homeschooled." Her eyes lit up in wonder as she watched me as if I was a science experiment.
"Really?" She pushed open one of the doors to the cafeteria, stepping aside, allowing me to enter first. "How long were you homeschooled for?"
"9 years." I absently stated as I glanced around the room.
It was big, like everything I've seen so far. There were loose chairs, and square tables pushed around to allow for more people to sit together. To the left and the back of the room were doors that led outside. Four vending machines also stood in the rear, with a few students standing around them. The right side of the room was lined with food bars that had labels above them for the theme of each section. It was somewhat crowded with loud chatter filling the room, but not so much that it was deafening.
Probably also helped that there were a lot of students outside.
"Wow- that long! It must have been lonely." I barely registered TenTen's voice as she stepped beside me again.
"Not really," I started slowly, turning my gaze to her, "my tutors kept me company."
To help torture me.
She nodded in understanding as she led the way to the food bars grabbing trays as we joined the short line.
"Do you have any siblings?" A weight settled in my throat that was difficult to breathe around.
"I have an older brother." Her eyes lit up again as she began to pull food onto her tray.
"Then, at least you had someone else besides adults to hang out with."
If only…
"We're not that close, unfortunately." I grabbed a few random items, not really hungry. "But, he's here too."
"Oh, I'm sorry for bringing it up." I didn't need to look at her to know she was pitying me.
I don't need it.
I let out an inaudible sigh as I tried to reel in my emotions.
"Um," I could practically feel her discomfort as she hesitated, "Is… do you mind if I ask why?" I paused for a second, my eyes glued to the bowl of miso soup, letting off a waft of steam.
"When our parents passed… we drifted apart." I finally started, my chest feeling tight. Her soft gasp drew my eyes to her. Tears shined in her eyes as she stared at me with so much sympathy. It made my chest feel tighter. "We were young when it happened." quickly added, a pathetic smile forming on my lips. "We just cope differently." She pursed her lips as if she wanted to say something, but decided against it.
"I'm sorry I-"
"TenTen!" The loud, boisterous voice was a welcomed distraction, even if it came from a stranger. Looking over my shoulder, I blinked in confusion.
A boy around our age approached us wearing a tight green jumpsuit and bright orange leg warmers. His black hair was in a bowl cut that nearly blended into his extremely bushy brows. Adding in his full, shining dark eyes, he stood out like a sour thumb in the more muted crowd.
Isn't there a dress code here?
Next to him was a boy that blended in more with the posh crowd. He had brown hair that cascaded down his back with a band at the end. His eyes were a light grey that looked nearly translucent.
That's an odd eye color.
I swallowed as I glanced at TenTen. She seemed to perk up at the sight of them.
Good, that means our conversation should be over.
Turning back to them, they finally reached us. The bowl cut boy had a blinding smile on his face while the grey-eyed boy simply watched with a passive demeanor.
"Do you want to join us for lunch?" His eyes finally flashed to me. For a second, he seemed to falter, a dust of pink touching his cheeks. Quickly, he turned back to TenTen. "Unless you're busy?" TenTen returned his smile with one of her own.
"This is my new roommate, Sakura Haruno." Addressing me, her smile softened. "Would you like to join? You don't have to if you don't want to. It may get a little crowded if our usual group shows up."
If I agree, it could make her forget about our previous conversation.
"Sure." Her eyes lit up as she gestured to the bowl cut.
"This is Rock Lee. Everyone just calls him Lee." Flicking my gaze to him, I saw determination burning in his eyes.
What's up with him?
Blinking, I nodded in greeting.
"And this is Neji Hyuuga." Shifting my attention to the silent grey-eyed boy, I moved slightly as he stared back at me with narrowed eyes. It wasn't in a threatening manner, but the way they shined as if he was trying to place where he's seen me before struck fear in me all the same.
I don't remember encountering anyone like him in my missions.
Swallowing, I nodded at him as well.
"Hello."
"Nice to meet you." His voice was deep but distant, proving he was deep in thought.
That's going to be a problem.
"Where is everyone else? I didn't see them when I came in." Thankfully, TenTen's interruption brought his attention to her. Letting out a breath, I relaxed, releasing my death grip on my tray that I didn't know I had.
Stay calm. You don't know who's watching you yet.
"They're usually here by now," TenTen adds as she began sliding down the bar again towards the register.
"Ah, there they are!" Lee's yell brought my attention from the dessert display to the door as they opened to a rather large group walking in.
Like Lee and Neji, they looked odd together. The first being a boy with a shock of yellow hair adorning his head. His eyes were such a bright blue that they shined in the light. Lines marred his cheeks, almost like whiskers. Orange and black track bottoms made him stand out even more despite his plain black T-shirt. He was annoying another boy who was growling at him.
This boy had dark hair that looked almost blue in the light. It was spiked up in the back with a few pieces framing his nearly feminine features. His eyes were a little wide, but they were a deep onyx. Unlike the blonde next to him, he wore black track bottoms and a black muscle shirt.
Next to him was a girl that looked as if she was trying to stop the ensuing fight. She had the same light grey eyes as Neji, but her hair was a deep black that shined with blue highlights in the light, similar to the dark-haired boy. A deep red blush coated her cheeks as I heard her stutter for the boys to calm down. She wore an oversized grey hoodie and dark purple leggings.
She's shy.
I bite my lip as I gave her a once over, bile rising in my throat.
She must be at the top of my handler's list of potential "cargo". Poor girl.
Tearing my eyes from her, another boy wearing a sleeveless vest lined with fur watched the fight with a gleeful expression. His features were almost wolfish with the hood covering his head, adding an extra layer of brown fluff on top of his wild dark brown mane. His eyes were a deep brown and reminded me of a dog's with the way they watched people. His hands were stuffed into his black athletic pants with a strap leaking out towards a-
Is that a dog?
I blinked at the rather large canine santering next to him. It's white fur looked fluffy as it stared up at the boy next to his owner with wide eyes, his tongue hanging out of his mouth.
How is he allowed to have-
As the dog turned slightly, I caught sight of its collar. I couldn't help the "oh" that escaped me as I tilted my head.
It's a service animal.
I hummed, my eyes traveling to the boy the dog was enamored with. He was thicker than the others with him. His light brown hair went down his back in a wild mop with a red headband keeping it from his face. A plain black tracksuit covered his frame as he kept his attention straight ahead. He was happily munching on a bag of chips seemingly ignoring everyone.
Finally, next to him was a boy and a girl. The boy had his hands stuffed in his black athletic pants, his shoulders hunched, and his head down as if he was exhausted. The white T-shirt he wore was crinkled from his poster. His black hair was tied in a tight ponytail on top of his head. His eyes were closed as he listened to the girl next to him, seemingly rant about something.
She had platinum blonde hair that reached down to the small of her back, even in the high ponytail. A long bang covered her right eye, stopping just below her chin. She had pale blue eyes that weren't as vibrant as the other blonde's, but they were still sparkled in the right lighting. She wore tight purple leggings and a black racerback tank top with a purple flower on it that matched her leggings.
They look like they came from the gym.
I blinked at them, trying hard to ignore the blonde girl's physique.
My handler shouldn't expect a list now, right?
"Guys! Over here!" Lee yelled, waving his arms wildly over his head. The group glanced our way, the blonde-haired boy waved exuberantly back.
"Always right on time." I turned just in time to see TenTen putting away her wallet in her pocket. The total on the register showed she had to of paid for both of our lunches.
"You didn't have to pay for me." She shot me a dismissive smile, walking away from the food bar.
"I did say I'd treat you to lunch." I wanted to argue but relented.
I can always sneak money in her room later.
I followed her with Lee and Neji trailing behind me to a group of empty tables in the back left of the cafeteria. A glance showed the group that walked in was heading to the line to get their lunches. While we waited, Lee and Neji pushed the tables together, making enough room for us to fit together. TenTen sat near the middle, her back to the front door. She smiled at me as she gestured for me to sit next to her. I swallowed relenting.
Sitting with your back to a major entrance. Stupid considering what you do.
She flashed me a smile as Neji settled on her other side and Lee in front of us. Both pulled out lunch boxes I didn't realize they were carrying and began to layout their lunches. Within a minute, the rest of the group joined us, crowding the table.
"You must be the new girl, right?" the blonde boy shouted as he plopped down in front of me to Lee's left. I nodded.
"Of course she is, dope. Have you ever seen her around here." The boy he was fighting with earlier deadpanned, sliding in the seat next to him. The blonde boy looked accosted at him.
"We don't know everyone, teme!" The dark-haired boy didn't even blink as he began to sip his water.
"You two couldn't even last five seconds without getting at each other's throats!" The wolfish boy howled as he hazardously dropped in the seat next to me. I didn't have time to glance at him before a warm wet nose nudged my leg. Looking down, the large canine stared up at me with bright, happy eyes.
He's… adorable.
I reached a handout but stopped myself halfway. The poor dog looked disheartened as he cocked his head at me.
I almost forgot you're not supposed to pet service animals.
Inwardly sighing, I withdrew my hand, opting to stare at the cute animal.
"You can pet him if you want." Raising my gaze, the wild boy grinned at me, ruffling the dog's head affectionately, causing the large animal to lean back against him contently. "He won't get distracted." I gave him a small nod as I petted fluffy white fur.
It's even softer then it looks!
The canine thought I scratched in a perfect place as his back leg began thumbing. I couldn't help as my smile widened.
"He's adorable." I whispered, pulling my hand back."
"His name's Akamaru." I nodded, finally peeling my eyes back to the owner. "The name's Kiba." His grin widened. "What's yours?"
"About time you asked and stopped flirting." The female blonde scoffed, sitting on his other side.
Across from her was Neji's relative, followed by the boy who was still munching on chips despite having a full lunch tray. Finally, the tired-looking boy sat in the last chair by the blonde.
"I wanted to wait till you all got here before introducing her." TenTen mused as she turned to me. "That girl is Ino." A sly smile appeared on her lips as she leaned towards me. "She's not as bitchy as she seems." An indignant huff came from the other end of the table.
"Who are you calling bitchy?!" TenTen didn't even try to hide her giggles as she moved on.
"The sleeping guy next to her is Shikamaru." The boy didn't even flinch, causing TenTen to roll her eyes. "Across from him is Choji, Hinata, Sasuke, and Naruto." She finally finished, leveling me a kind smile. "You already met everyone else." I nodded, lazily trailing my eyes over all of them. "Everyone, this is Sakura Haruno. She just transferred here today."
"Hello." I nodded. They each waved back at me, and we all began to eat.
"Why'd you transfer in the middle of the semester?" Naruto asked his curious gaze on me from across the table. Setting down my bottle of water, I gave him a friendly half-smile.
"I needed a change of pace."
"Did ya get in trouble at your old school?" He shoveled a mouthful of ramen into his mouth. Something must have come to his mind as he tried to ask me another question around the noodles, stuffing his cheeks.
"Dope," Sasuke grimaced, smacking the blonde on the back of the head. It's incredible how he didn't chock or spew his food all over the table. He simply swallowed hard before turning angry eyes to the other boy.
"What the hell, teme!"
"Don't talk with your mouth full, dope." The two began to bicker loudly as Hinata looked between them alarmed.
She looked as if she wanted to intervene but didn't know how to. Kiba simply watched on howling with laughter. Ino, on the other hand, glared at the two and began scolding them loudly. It didn't seem to do much to the two as they completely ignored her and escalated their fighting. Everyone else didn't pay any of them any mind as they ate.
They really are an odd bunch.
I couldn't help the soft smile that tugged at the corners of my lips.
This is what I missed most about going to school—the mindless chatter.
In a second, an intense cold chill ran down my spine, bringing my senses into overdrive. I didn't have to turn around to know someone with unsavory intentions was approaching. The feeling of his eyes on the back of my head made the hair rise on the back of my neck. The closer he got, the more antsy I felt.
This has to be my handler.
My skin crawled as a cold, heavy hand landed on my shoulder.
"There you are." Almost as if a switch was flipped, the table went silent. Everyone stopped in their tracks as they turned threatening glares at the newcomer. Even Hinata looked apprehensive.
"What do you want, Kabuto." Sasuke practically spat, his hands clenched into tight fists.
Kabuto!
My blood ran cold as I slowly raised my gaze.
The reflective glasses that always stood hauntingly next to that snake peered down at me. A slimy smirk on his face framed with grey bangs. He tilted his head slightly, his empty onyx eyes pierced through me. It took all the self-control I had not to shiver.
Why did he have to send this monster?!
Between this freak and that snake, I can easily say I hate them equally. Besides, this bastard was the one who led all of my "recentering" training.
"Nothing much, Sasuke-kun." His eyes flicked up to the said boy, that disgusting smirk growing. "Sarutobi-sama sent me to make sure our new classmate is well acquainted with the school before classes tomorrow." With that, his suffocating gaze dropped back to me. "I'll meet you in the hall, ok?"
His tone may have been friendly, but those dead orbs promised something horrible if I refused. Not trusting my voice, I nodded. For a fraction of a second, his dark eyes narrowed—a silent threat to hurry up. With an absent wave, he walked away from the table, leaving a dark cloud over us.
Breathe- stay calm, Sakura.
With that monster watching me, any ideas I could've come up with to escape with Satoshi are ruined. Even though I've never personally worked with him, his reputation of being a ruthless puppet for that snake echoed throughout the organization. No one is more hated yet feared then him.
It also doesn't help that he's the snake's lap dog. Literally, if you believe the rumors.
Allowing myself one more moment, I began to stand when a hand on my arm made me pause. Looking down, TenTen's guarded eyes were glaring at the doors that Kabuto no doubt already disappeared behind.
"You don't have to go with him if you don't want to." I blinked, pursing my lips.
If only I could.
"I hate that guy!" Naruto huffed as he glared down at his bowl of ramen.
"He's a creep!" TenTen added. "Not to mention how he tried to frame Sasuke for drugging five girls last year."
"After he tried to pick a fight with me on the roof." Sasuke bitterly interjected, his face covered in dark shadows.
"He almost got you arrested!" Naruto exasperatedly shouted, throwing his hands in the air in frustration. His bright blue eyes snapped to me, a serious glint that didn't belong in them leveled at me. "Stay away from him- he's bad news!"
"I'll show you around if you want," TenTen stated. "I don't trust him being alone with any girl. He's known to skulk around the girl's dorm late at night. There's even rumors that some of the girls he's watched went missing!" My heart stopped.
He's already been trafficking here?!
"I can talk to Sarutobi-sama." Shikamaru finally spoke up. "I work rather closely with him on a few personal projects. It wouldn't be a problem."
Seeing all of them practical plead with me not to go made the part of me that longed to escape wanted to stay- to spill the beans about everything. The rational part that feared what Kabuto would do if I did is what kept me from accepting. If he's openly picking "cargo" and being so indiscreet that rumors spread of his involvement, I don't want to know what bold action he would take against me if I disobeyed.
If anyone needs "recentering" training, it's that monster!
"I'll keep that in mind, but I can't be rude to Sarutobi-sama's kindness without a good reason, right?" They all just stared back in resignation. I felt my chest tighten as I turned away from them, grabbing my tray and dumping the unwanted food in the trash.
As I walked out the cafeteria doors into the hall, a single thought echoed in my head. When my eyes landed on that monster leaning against the wall next to the door, the sentiment only grew louder. It was a thought that hit me as much as realizing that a group of practical strangers was willing to help me get away from someone they thought was merely creepy. Even when they had no idea of the true horrors he's done, they felt such a strong pull to help me- save me. Despite not knowing me at all. Despite not knowing what I've done.
How can kind people like them live in a world filled with demons?
I hope you all enjoyed it! Let me know what you guys think in the comment section! Things still haven't slowed down with work or school but I made this chapter extra-long in case I'm a little late with the next installment. I'm getting closer to finishing the planning for the sequel to Save Me. I've hit a point where I'm debating which turn I want to take, but I'm still shooting to get the first chapter out by October or November! Anyway, thank you all for reading!