[kararayn]

Enter the Horizon: Chapter 1:

A blinding rain, pounding down over her head. Not yet numb, she shivered, entirely soaked, and yet having far left to go. Now she felt silently grateful that she hadn't had to carry any of her things, and that they were already in her room, just waiting to be taken out. Sloshing through the puddles, she ignored the stares of the ones driving past. Not noticing, however, that one roaming eyes had become sympathetic. She didn't know they had walked over, till she nearly crashed into them. Glancing up, she froze at first, greeted by the toothy grin, of a blue-skinned boy.

"Need some company?" he asked sheepishly. She realized she'd seen him during orientation, and relaxed. Nodding, he fell into stride before her, as she noticed, he was completely wet as well. An awkward silence fell between the two teenagers, until she spoke up finally, trying to break it.

"..um...thank you," she mumbled.

"No problem," he laughed a little. "The name's Hoshigaki Kisame, btw."

"Kumiko..er...Kumi, Rayn."

"Well, Kumi-san, I hope you enjoy the Academy." She tilted her head slightly. He seemed to roll over his words, with an accent she couldn't place.
Shrugging it off, as he broke into her thoughts. "Is this your first year?" he asked.

"Well...first year here, anyway," she nodded a bit.

"So, your the transfer?" he asked.

"...huh?"

"Ah, sorry. Gossip," he placed a hand behind his head, nervously. "We don't get transfers very often, and I thought you might be..well, the one who was."

"I'm from Mokugakure," she laughed.

"Seriously?" he stopped, and looked at her.

"Eep! There's a dog!" she shrieked suddenly. "Kisame!" She took off running right out in front of a car, as it swirved quickly, slamming on the breaks.

"What the heck, woman!" he yelled, rushing over. She was shaking, but unharmed. "What were you thinking.." His voice drifted off, as he spotted the trembling dog in her arms. She was petting it gently, trying to calm it, and herself down. "Shit..." he cursed, squatting down in front of her. "Give me a heart attack, why don'tcha?" He shook his head.

"Akamaru!" someone screamed running over, and taking the dog out of her arms. Hugging him tightly, the boy buried his face in it's fur. "Don't do that again, boy.." the person, said in a low voice. The dog whimpered in response, and licked one of the red stripes on his cheek. Lifting his gaze, he nodded to her.

"..t-thanks.." he mumbled.

"Is he okay?" she asked, quietly, standing up.

"Yeah...Really, thank you. I'd go crazy if i ever lost Akamaru," he sighed, petting the dog quickly, and worriedly.

"Oh my gosh! Kumi?!" a voice yelled, loudly. Looking over, she recognized the black - haired boy, getting out of the driver's side of the car.

"Madara?!" her eyes widened, as he hurried over.

"I'm really sorry Kiba, I didn't even see Akamaru, till she jumped in front of the car," he bowed, apologetically.

"Maybe you should learn to slow down.." the dog's owner growled.

"You know each other?" Kisame asked, glancing back and forth between the two. Madara glomped her suddenly, and squeezed her in a tight hug.

"Need...air.." she laughed a little.

"Sorry!" he let go quickly. "Oh! I know! Hop in. I'll give ya a lift to the school. It's the least I can do, at the moment." He grinned sheepishly. They all shrugged, but hesitated a bit, before squeezing into his backseat, with Kumi, sitting in the middle. Once they started off, Madara spoke up. "To answer your question, Kisame, yes, we do," he laughed a bit.

"It's been awhile though," she added quietly.

"Well yeah...but that's only because you live somewhere else!" he grumbled, pouting a bit.

"And you know why I do!" she stuck out her tongue teasingly.

"All cause of your village..." Madara sighed.

"Oi." she shook her head. A sudden bounce on her lap, made her jump a bit, till she realized Akamaru had hopped onto her lap. Her cheeks flushed embarrassed, but gently petted the dog, scratching behind his ears. He grumbled happily, and Kiba laughed beside her.

"Well, he seems to like you!" he grinned.

"Oh?" she giggled.

"Yeah! He usually won't go to anyone else!" Kiba nodded excited.

"Ah stop hitting on the new girl, already," Kisame grinned, causing the dog boy's face to flush red.

"S-shut up!"

"Ah, so you are?" Madara joined in, winking to the other.

"I am not!" his blushed deepened.

"So what grades are you in?" she spoke up, trying to change the subject.

"Junior, with the hyperactive wierdo who's driving," Kisame jerked a thumb that way.

"Hey!" said person pouted, while the others laughed.

"I'm a freshman," Kiba shrugged.

"Oh, cool. Maybe we'll have some of the same classes!"

"So, what extras your planning on?" he asked, grinning.

"Mm...not sure yet," she admitted.

"Ah, you'll figure it out," Kisame shrugged. "If either of you need any help, just come find me, k?" They both nodded, thinking they might need to take him up on that later.

"Wait..so your allowed to bring your dog to school?" she asked, as the thought came.

"Several people bring animals to school. Usually, have to be trained, or something first. But you have to get a Summons tag for that," they explained.

"Oh."

"We're here!!" Madara cheered, swirving into a reserved spot, and slamming on the breaks, as he parked. The others groaned, and hurried out of the backseat. Happy to see, the rain had finally stopped, and that their clothes had started to dry a little, thanks' to the heater.

"Which dorms are you in?" Kisame asked.

"Co-ed," the two freshman answered at the same time, laughing after doing so.

"Ah okay.." the blue-skin grinned. " Madara and I, have to go to the upperclassman ceremony, for a bit. The co-ed dorm is over there." He pointed toward a dark brown and tan building. "Nice to meetcha!" He started dragging a protesting classmate away.

They waved bye, to each other, after Kiba left to go over to greet a few people he had recognized. She walked inside, glancing about, before finding the roommate board. Searching for her name, she stood up on her toes, trying to be able to read the higher papers. "Damn it..." she grumbled. Hearing a set of footsteps, she turned just as someone spoke up.

"Name?"

"Kumi Rayn.." she mumbled embarrassed. The figure was male, with dark - red hair, and a blank expression on his face. He was a good four inches taller at least, with light skin. He scanned the papers, for a few minutes.

"2B," he said finally.

"Thank you.." He met her gaze then, and nodded.

"Your roommates with the genius, and the art idiot."

"Huh...?" Her head tilted to the side.

"Your new aren't you?" he sighed quietly.

"Yeah...sorry."

"Sasori Akasuna." He shrugged.

"Nice to meet you," she bowed a bit.

"Ah! Don't bow!" he waves his hands quickly, and nervously.

"Oh...um...sorry."

"Follow me," he started off, and she fell into step just off to his side. "I'm in 5B, if you need any help with the blonde idiot." He stopped in front of a door, and pulled out a key.

"Who?"

"One of your roommates," he chuckled.

"Oh."

"What class are you in?"

"Freshman."

"Ah.."

"You?"

"Freshman. I had some...trouble last year, so I'll be in the class again."

"Maybe we'll end up having some together?"

"Perhaps," he hummed. " What extras are you taking?"

"I' wasn't really sure what ones there were," she admitted.

"I see." He shrugged. "Football, cheerleading, chess, track, art, drama." He named off, as though he had stated them many times before.

"Maybe art then, if it's not too late."

"I can let the teacher know your interested. The class usually is pretty empty."

"That would be great."

"I'll see you there then."

"Your in art?"

"Art is a way a life. It is something meant to last through the times."

"I'll take that as a yes."

"What about you?"

"Hm?"

"What do you think art is?"

"Art is your view of what you want, and how you see the world." she smiled sheepishly, as he hummed again.

"I think this year is going to be interesting."

"Um...huh?"

"Nevermind. See you later."

"Thank you, Sasori."

"Kumi-san," he nodded, and ducked inside.

She laughed then, before heading to her own room, and flipping the key in the lock, slowly, pushing open the door. Stepping inside, she smiled, realizing her roommates had already begun setting up the apartment-like space. Peeking around, she found there was an open kitchen, a nice -sized table./counter, and regular fridge. Off to the right, was a bathroom, with two other doors down that side, and another, across the living room from that.
Not sure what else to do, she knocked on the first room door. Hearing a groan, it swung open slowly, revealing a boy, with pineapple - style
hair. "How troublesome.." he sighed. "So your the missing roommate?"

"Um...yes. I'm Kumi.." she smiled a bit, nervously. His jaw dropped in shock.
"Oh thank god! I got at least one normal person with me!" He said, suddenly cheerful.

"Uh..?"

He sweatdropped. "You'll understand when you meet our roomie." She could only nod. "I'm Shikamaru." He rubbed the back of his head, slightly embarrassed. "We kinda claimed our rooms, so you got the corner. The school already put your things inside."

"Nice to meet you," she laughed.

"Yeah," he smiled a bit. "Hey... you drink coffee?"

"Yes!" It was his turn to laugh, as she blushed.

"Want a cup, after I make some?" he asked.

"Sure," she nodded. He went over to the kitchen.

"I'll call you when it's done brewing."

"Thanks!"

"No problem."

Going into her room, she found a bed, desk, decent-sized closet, with drawers on the bottom, and a bookcase she'd brought from home. The floor was covered with a shaggy, dark-red carpet. Smiling, she hung up her coats, and put away what clothes she had brought. Stacking books on the shelves, along with notebooks, and journals, she grinned, as she took out a vase, and filled it with pens and pencils, before putting in on the desk. Throwing her black and silver cover over the bed, straightening it just in time, for Shikamaru to poke his head in, to tell her it was done.

Both claiming places at opposite ends of the couch, they sipped their sweetened coffee quietly. "Well, I'm guessing we're both freshman?" he spoke up, and she nodded. "Can i see your schedule?"

"Sure." She got up, and pulled it out of a binder in her room, before walking back out, and handing it to him. Glancing it over, he smiled.

"Ah..we have all the same classes."

"Really?" she looked over at him.

"Yeah. Though for my extra says Art, I go help out in the office, during that period." She laughed.

"I was actually thinking of taking art class.."

"Why would you willingly go?" his eyes widened half - mockingly.

"Um..Why not?"

"Ugh. Our roommate is art obscessed!" he grumbled. "All he ever talks around is art, and he gets that damn clay everywhere!" She laughed a little quietly.

"I'm sure he can't be that bad.."

"Just wait.." Shikamaru sighed. "He's very troublesome."

"Would you stop saying that, yeah!" a voice spoke up behind them loudly, causing them both to jump, and nearly spill their coffee.

"Damn it.." the pineapple hair grumbled. She looked him over, noting he had a light tan, and bright blonde hair. Part of his hair was swept back into a high ponytail, while long bangs, covered his left eye. He has a kinda smirky grin, but seemed friendly enough.

"Name's Deidara, yeah." He smiled.

"I'm Kumi. Nice to meet you," she smiled back.

"So your gonna take art, hmm?" he asked, jumping over the back of the couch, and plopping between them. Blinking in surprise, a bit, before she answered.

"I was planning to, if i can."

"Well, don't listen to Danna then, un."

"Danna...?"

"Red hair...artist, but quieter then him," Shikamaru spoke up. "He's art insane too."

"Don't talk about him like that!" Deidara growled.

"Oh...Sasori-san?" she asked.

"You met him?" Shikamaru asked, while Deidara's face fell almost instantly, when she nodded.

"...and..do you agree with his view of art?"

"I can see what he means, but...no. Not really," she shrugged. He grinned again.

"I can't wait for class now, yeah!" he cheered excited.

"So troublesome.." Shikamaru sighed, annoyed by how loud he was, while she just laughed.