[kararayn]

Enter the Horizon:

Chapter 2: Enter the Sun

The salty, sizzling, smoke-smell of the sausage as it was stirred around the pan. Cooking in the hot grease, frying and grilling till it was done. Sipping his coffee slowly, Shikamaru's barely awake mind, could hardly focus, even as the girl before him made their breakfast. The beating for the pounding water behind a closed off shower; mixed with the occasional clank, as the pan was spun, and the chink of several coffee cups. A steady hum, and the no words tune that escaped her lips added to the drowsy surrealness of the early hours.
The semi - quiet chime of the clock, only caused the tired genius to sigh. He set down his cup, even as she turned around. Waving her off, he lay his head on his arms, just as the bathroom door swung open. A flushed, and extausted artist stepped out. His trademark blonde locks left loose, and only half - dried. Setting a cup of sweetened coffee on the table, as he picked his place, she spoke up.
"Good morning, Deidara. Hope your hungry."
"Good morning, Kumi," he yawned, rubbing his eyes, and sipping from the cup. She laughed a little, serving breakfast, and then soaking the dishes, vowing to finish them after class. Sighing, but complimenting the food, Shikamaru got up, explaining he has to leave early for a club.
"Which one?" she asked.
"Sorry, i'm late. Swear i'll tell you later," he bowed a bit, before darting out the door; almost running into the red haired man, who had been about to knock. "Ack!" He waved in apology, before heading off. The boy shrugged, before walking right into the kitchen, and taking the seat Shikamaru had been in before.
"Oh, Good morning," she said, blinking in surprise.
"Ah, Sasori!!" Deidara hurried to gulp down his coffee, before darting back into the bathroom to finish getting ready.
"He better not keep me waiting too long..." the other sighed.
"Impatient?" she tried.
"Easily."
"Oh."
"Where'd they order from?"
"Oh, nowhere." Sasori raised his brow. "I cooked."
"Ah." he nodded.
Eventually, they left, and headed towards class together. Deidara complaining loudly, about how early the hours were, while she just laughed, and Sasori sighed. Shrugging it off, she smiled, and starting talking to them, a little, only to find the red head, was obviously the dominant of the artist pair, though far less talkative. Deidara was friendly, and had a speech impediment, that caused him to end his sentences with a 'hm' or 'un' sound.
He seemed nervous about something as they got closer to the building. She glanced over, and realized she spotted Kiba, along with the people he'd run over to the day before. There seemed to be a lot of three, or four people groups. Shrugging, she looked up at the boys on either side of her, blushing a bit, when a loud wolf - whistle blew through the air. A wild - haired, black blur, glomped her quickly.
"Eeep!" she squeaked in surprise, and ended up falling down, tumbling with the result being the person falling over her stomach.
"Oww..." the lump groaned.
She stared at him. "GET OFF!" she yelled, shoving him off her lap, while Deidara has doubled over with laughter. He was not alone, as quite a few other students, were grinning, or chuckling at the sight. The older uchiha, sat cross - legged, and pouted his lower lip like a child.
He gave her the puppy eyes.
"You don't like me anymore...?" his pout deepened.
She tackled, and hugged him quickly, causing him to burst out laughing, catching her in his arms. He lifted her into the air, as he stood, and spun around, grinning. "You know you'll always be my best bud," he told her.
"Masterchief, second admin for life!" she smiled back, and both laughed, before she squeaked, as he carried her bride - style, back over the pair, he'd led her away from. Her face was red, by the time he set her back down. "Evil bastard..." she muttered, while the boys chuckled.
Suddenly a hand reached out, and pulled her away, from them. She glanced up, tilting her head to the side, before her eyes widened, recognizing, the one pulling her away. "Shikamaru?!" she squeaked, confused as to why the lazy boy, was leading her towards the main group, and away from her friends.
"Hey..!" Deidara yelled.
"Enough. We're late as it is," Sasori scoffed.
"Hmph...fine. C'mon Tobi!" Deidara hurried after. The dark haired shrugged, waving to his friend, being taken away.
"See ya later Kumi!" he yelled, before following the artists.
Shikamaru sighed with relief, while she grumbled. "What the hell... was that about?" she looked at him, and then cowered a little, when she realized they were surrounded, by other students.
"You must be either crazy, or a newb, to actually talk to them," a blonde girl scoffed.
"Why wouldn't I talk to them?" All six stared at her like she'd grown a second head. "What?"
"You really don't know anything, do you?" Shikamaru sighed.
"They are Akatsuki," the blonde girl whispered, then shuddered.
"Akat...suki?" she tilted her head to the side.
"Yeah, yeah! You have to know!" Kiba got excited.
"You mean the group, Tobi's in, right?"
"You knew?!" the rest of the group anime - fell, to the ground.
"Um...sort of." she shrugged.
"How in the heck did you end up meeting with gang members, and not getting attacked?" the blonde girl recovered first.
"Gang?"
"The Akatsuki are a criminal organization," Shikamaru put in. "That Uchiha who carried you, Deidara, and Sasori Akasuna, are some of the members."
"Kisame is a member too..." Kiba added.
"So?" she blinked, and stared blankly at them.
"Damn it girl, don't you get it?! They are cold - hearted killers!"
"Ino.." a chubby boy sighed.
"Hey!" a yell was heard. They turned to see a raven - haired boy, being dragged up by a girl.
"Forced by Sakura again, eh?" Shikamaru smirked slightly, and the boy scowled.
"Eh?!" her eyes widened. "Sasuke?" her voice failed her with a squeak.
"Another.. fangirl?" the girl known as Sakura whined.
"I'm not a damn fangirl, so shut the hell up, Pinky." she snapped.
"Kumiko?!" Sasuke was staring at her, for awhile, before shaking his head. " A Moku transfer, I should have known..." he smirked. "Still short as ever, neh, Kumi-chan?" She growled, and pounced on him, twisting his arms behind his back, and pinning him on one knee. "Nice. You've gotten way better, since training."
"Nice to see you too, Sasuke." Sakura glared, while the others were staring blankly. He never talked much, and was well known for hating girls, due to his fan club. She let him go, and he stood up, then hugged her tightly. They fell then.
"How ya been, Mimi?" he asked, glaring at Sakura to back off, and causing the kunoichi to shudder, and look away.
"Training as usual, and traveling alot."
"Brother, still?"
"Yep."
"Why do you listen to him?"
"He might be hard to understand, but I love him to death."
"Will never see why."
"I think you will eventually."
"You know exactly why I won't."
"I know why you think you won't. But trust me, you will, even if when it does come down to that."
"Hn, whatever."
A shrug was the only response.
"How the heck do you know each other?" Ino blurted out.
"Been to Konoha before, obviously. She's "best buds" with my cousin, Madara, aka Tobi," Sasuke explained. "Never understood why though, but she sure does beat hanging out with the hyper maniac, and the cold weasel." She laughed at that.
"And Mr. Duckbill here, was nice enough to add some normalcy, after the insanity."
"Stop calling me that, Miss Kuku!" Sasuke glared at her. "Besides your insane yourself, anyway."
"Randomness is awesome though," she whined. "Besides, sanity is boring.. "
"Yes, MOM.." he groaned, but smirked teasingly. They both laughed.
"Well, she's as pretty as you said, at least." It was her turn to smirk.
"No."
"No...?" she feigned innocence.
"No, torturing this girl. I'd like to get to try this time." He looked at her intensely, but she didn't even flinch.
"What... I only did that, because the last one, was well.. you know," she shrugged. "Anyway, don't scare Ino before i get to meet - meet her, geez!" Kiba had long since been on the ground, though Shikamaru finally joined him, unable to contain his laughter any longer, over the exchange.
"I...I'm Ino..Yamanaka, " the blonde girl, stuttered.
"Don't worry, sweetie. I only did that, because she, and I had a bad history." the other smiled reassuringly.
"Oh, okay.." she sighed with relief.
"I'm Chouji Akimichi," the chubby boy, pulled his hand out of the bag of chips, and shook her hand.
"Akimichi? The ones who's house always smells like their making alot of food?"
Shikamaru laughed as he got back up. "Yeah, that one." Chouji shrugged, smiling sheepishly.
"Where's the dobe?" Sasuke turned to Sakura, while the others introduced themselves.
"I don't know. I told him to meet us here."
"I...I...ano...um.."
"Hinata Hyuuga, ne?" the mumbling girl's head snapped up. "Uh..the eyes...:" she added, and the girl nodded, as she sighed with relief.
"Sick! Shino...." Kiba whined. "Did you have to bring the bugs with you?"
"Yes." the boy replied flatly, while she bent down to look at the cocoon inside his container.
"Butterfly or Moth?" she glanced up, at the shaded eyes.
"Moth." He gave her a quick once over, before nodding.
"You approve to, eh?" Kiba prodded the other boy.
"If anyone doesn't approve of her, they can take up their complaints with me." Sasuke said with an emotionless tone.
"Approve for what?" Ino asked.
"To be in our group, of course!" Kiba exclaimed, excited.
"Though I supposed Naruto would take care of it first, if I don't," the Uchiha smirked.
"No way...!" Sakura stared.
"Yes, way. She knows him too." He shrugged, sticking his hands in his pockets.
"The Akatsuki didn't seem so bad to me," she whispered, thinking out loud to herself.
"Itachi is one of them." He whispered in her ear, before pulling Ino away, and into class.
"Oh...shit..."
"What?" Kiba looked at her.
"Um...nevermind. Just got stuck in my thoughts," she shook her head.
Her first class, was quiet when she went in. Not understanding why, she looked around, only realizing what it was, when someone tapped her on the shoulder. "Kankurou?!" she yelped, jumping backwards.
"Since you seem to know each other already. Kumiko will be your new lab partner." the teacher spoke up, and they took their seats. Ignoring the boring lecture for a moment, they hugged each other tightly, just before the bell rang. He ripped out a paper, then tossed the note onto her lap.
Man's it's great to see you!
It's really good to see you too. What are you doing away from Suna, though?
She folded it, and handed it back, and it came back just as crumpled as before.
I could ask you the same. What are you doing away from Moku?
She prodded him in the side, and he had to cover his mouth to hold in a laugh.
I asked first, she wrote.
We wanted to get Gaara, away from our father.
Oh.... he sighed.
Your turn.
For my brother. was all she said.
Just how far are you willing to follow him?!
Anywhere
... seriously?
Hai
He sighed, stuffing the note under the table as the teacher passed. He glanced over at her, and patted her head, a few times. It was her turn to sigh. "I'll be fine, Kankurou." she whispered. He lowered his hand, but hugged her tightly, only letting go when the bell rang.
"You better be." He smiled, half - heartedly.
"I can't leave you alone, now can I?" They laughed a little.
"I'll tell Gaara to find you." he shrugged, as they moved through the masses of students. Mostly, eople tended to avoid the puppet master, due to what he carried on his back.
"Tell Temari I said hi. Or We could actually not be lazy for once, and get together."
They laughed.
"Good to see ya Ku-chan. And yeah, let's actually not be lazy. I'll find out, so we can talk about it tomorrow, if we don't see you before then." He waved, and walked off, and she entered the gym.