The last call for the train echoes over the platform. The dean could not be there, so Takamichi is there in his place. Covered from head to toe in bandages, Naruto glares death at Jiraiya behind the windows, who waves with a cheeky grin. Takamichi sweat drops. The whistle sounds and the train takes off, quickly disappearing into the distance.
A sigh. “Hey, Takamegane, could I live with you for a bit? The apartment I was living at with Ero-sennin before was being paid for by the dean and I don’t really want to rack up anymore debt.â€
“Actually Jiraiya-san and the dean already worked something out for you.â€
Blue eyes blink. Look skeptically up at the bespectacled teacher. “Huh?â€
“You’ll be living with another in the service of the Konoe family in the student dorms. Actually, I think the two of you might get along pretty well.â€
“Really?†the two turn to leave, walking alongside each other, Naruto’s eye-blindingly orange outfit drawing nearly as many stares as the bandages visible through the ruined orange fabric.
Takamichi nods. “I can take you to meet them if you want to before tomorrow but there are some things we need to take care of first.â€
A small flame is generated with a click of the lighter, igniting the end of the cigar that hangs lazily between his lips.
“First we need to get you acquainted with the area. More than likely Konoemon-sama will just have you run errands unless something
important comes up. After that we need to go shopping. Towels, soap, a tooth brush and a new set of cloths.â€
Naruto blinks. Looks down, just noticing the ragged state of his trusted orange jacket and pants. The only pair of cloths he has in this world. There is a guttural rumbling and he grabs his stomach in embarrassment, chuckling sheepishly. Letting out a chuckle of his own, Takamichi smiles.
“Though I guess we can get something to eat first. Is there anything you want? My treat.â€
-0-0-
Twelve bowls of ramen later finds one satisfied Naruto and one slightly despairing Takamichi at a clothing store. Konoemon had granted the whiskered boy a small sum of money that he wouldn't have to pay back to buy him new cloths, if only to help the boy appear more inconspicuous. Orange and black seem to be the colors the whiskered boy favored most, choosing most of his clothing in such a pattern.
Takamichi is pleasantly surprised. Apparently the boy did not dress like an orange eyesore just to dress like an orange eyesore.
The rest of the afternoon goes by fairly quickly. The two make their rounds, stopping to buy whatever Naruto might need. They talk,
Takamichi lecturing Naruto about magic and the things he needs to know about this world.
“So this person is kinda like my senpai right?â€
His torn up jacket and pants have been replaced by an orange hoodie and black pants, orange strips running down the sides. The bandages have been discarded, his minor wounds from his scuffle with Jiraiya long healed. The headband bearing the symbol is his village rests in his pocket, the scroll containing his bags in his other pocket and the green gem of the Shodai's necklace rests on his chest.
"I guess you could say that." Takamichi responds. The train is relatively empty, only the odd few running last minute errands the day before the start of school. The sun has just begun to dip below the horizon, engulfing the sky in the color of flame.
The train jerks to a stop, the conductor announcing they have arrived at their stop. They stand. Exit the train and continue on their way.
"Konoemon-sama has a job for you tomorrow." Takamichi says as they enter what appears to be the student dorms. "A young mage by the name of Negi is going to be taking over one of my classes for his training. He's a friend of mine. Very smart, very talented but he's still just a child. The dean would like you to watch over him for his first day here and make sure that he stays out of trouble."
“Alright. That sounds easy enough.â€
Ascending the stairs, Takamichi stops at one of the doors. Curiously Naruto glances at the nameplate.
'Sakurazaki Setsuna'
"Setsuna-kun should have been notified by Konoemon-sama. If anything comes up, feel free to contact me or the dean.â€
They exchange goodbyes, leaving Naruto alone in front of the door. Wondering what kind of person his roommate will be, he knocks on the door with his friendliest smile.
The door opens to reveal a feminine face, a few centimeters taller than him. Brown eyes, pale skin and black hair tied into a side
ponytail, the two stare at each other for a moment. A single black eyebrow perks.
“Can I help you?â€
Naruto blinks. Once. Twice. He allows his eyes to roam from sharp brown eyes, to the school uniform, to the skirt and legs and back up. Not out of perversion but for an entirely different reason.
When Naruto had been informed he would be living with someone he assumed it would be a boy. For the simple reason that most would say it is inappropriate for boys and girls to be living together at his age. That belief was enforced when Takamichi referred to his roommate as ‘Setsuna-kun’. While Setsuna is a fairly gender ambiguous name, -kun is typically used to refer to males. So one could not blame Naruto for assuming his roommate to be a male.
The gears in his head begin to turn on dilapidated, rust covered hinges, the memory of a certain far too feminine boy drifting to the
forefront of his mind, and Naruto, in typical Naruto fashion, opens his mouth to ask without thinking.
“Are you a boy?â€
A sigh. “Hey, Takamegane, could I live with you for a bit? The apartment I was living at with Ero-sennin before was being paid for by the dean and I don’t really want to rack up anymore debt.â€
“Actually Jiraiya-san and the dean already worked something out for you.â€
Blue eyes blink. Look skeptically up at the bespectacled teacher. “Huh?â€
“You’ll be living with another in the service of the Konoe family in the student dorms. Actually, I think the two of you might get along pretty well.â€
“Really?†the two turn to leave, walking alongside each other, Naruto’s eye-blindingly orange outfit drawing nearly as many stares as the bandages visible through the ruined orange fabric.
Takamichi nods. “I can take you to meet them if you want to before tomorrow but there are some things we need to take care of first.â€
A small flame is generated with a click of the lighter, igniting the end of the cigar that hangs lazily between his lips.
“First we need to get you acquainted with the area. More than likely Konoemon-sama will just have you run errands unless something
important comes up. After that we need to go shopping. Towels, soap, a tooth brush and a new set of cloths.â€
Naruto blinks. Looks down, just noticing the ragged state of his trusted orange jacket and pants. The only pair of cloths he has in this world. There is a guttural rumbling and he grabs his stomach in embarrassment, chuckling sheepishly. Letting out a chuckle of his own, Takamichi smiles.
“Though I guess we can get something to eat first. Is there anything you want? My treat.â€
-0-0-
Twelve bowls of ramen later finds one satisfied Naruto and one slightly despairing Takamichi at a clothing store. Konoemon had granted the whiskered boy a small sum of money that he wouldn't have to pay back to buy him new cloths, if only to help the boy appear more inconspicuous. Orange and black seem to be the colors the whiskered boy favored most, choosing most of his clothing in such a pattern.
Takamichi is pleasantly surprised. Apparently the boy did not dress like an orange eyesore just to dress like an orange eyesore.
The rest of the afternoon goes by fairly quickly. The two make their rounds, stopping to buy whatever Naruto might need. They talk,
Takamichi lecturing Naruto about magic and the things he needs to know about this world.
“So this person is kinda like my senpai right?â€
His torn up jacket and pants have been replaced by an orange hoodie and black pants, orange strips running down the sides. The bandages have been discarded, his minor wounds from his scuffle with Jiraiya long healed. The headband bearing the symbol is his village rests in his pocket, the scroll containing his bags in his other pocket and the green gem of the Shodai's necklace rests on his chest.
"I guess you could say that." Takamichi responds. The train is relatively empty, only the odd few running last minute errands the day before the start of school. The sun has just begun to dip below the horizon, engulfing the sky in the color of flame.
The train jerks to a stop, the conductor announcing they have arrived at their stop. They stand. Exit the train and continue on their way.
"Konoemon-sama has a job for you tomorrow." Takamichi says as they enter what appears to be the student dorms. "A young mage by the name of Negi is going to be taking over one of my classes for his training. He's a friend of mine. Very smart, very talented but he's still just a child. The dean would like you to watch over him for his first day here and make sure that he stays out of trouble."
“Alright. That sounds easy enough.â€
Ascending the stairs, Takamichi stops at one of the doors. Curiously Naruto glances at the nameplate.
'Sakurazaki Setsuna'
"Setsuna-kun should have been notified by Konoemon-sama. If anything comes up, feel free to contact me or the dean.â€
They exchange goodbyes, leaving Naruto alone in front of the door. Wondering what kind of person his roommate will be, he knocks on the door with his friendliest smile.
The door opens to reveal a feminine face, a few centimeters taller than him. Brown eyes, pale skin and black hair tied into a side
ponytail, the two stare at each other for a moment. A single black eyebrow perks.
“Can I help you?â€
Naruto blinks. Once. Twice. He allows his eyes to roam from sharp brown eyes, to the school uniform, to the skirt and legs and back up. Not out of perversion but for an entirely different reason.
When Naruto had been informed he would be living with someone he assumed it would be a boy. For the simple reason that most would say it is inappropriate for boys and girls to be living together at his age. That belief was enforced when Takamichi referred to his roommate as ‘Setsuna-kun’. While Setsuna is a fairly gender ambiguous name, -kun is typically used to refer to males. So one could not blame Naruto for assuming his roommate to be a male.
The gears in his head begin to turn on dilapidated, rust covered hinges, the memory of a certain far too feminine boy drifting to the
forefront of his mind, and Naruto, in typical Naruto fashion, opens his mouth to ask without thinking.
“Are you a boy?â€