Kitsu read the papers Iruka had given him while he waited for his turn to speak again. Excitement practically<em>boiled</em>his blood. He felt giddy, and even a little light-headed. This was it! This was the path he had chosen ─ a ninja! He could do it. There was nothing that could stop him. He would be remembered, after his life was over. He could ─<br/><br/>"Well, boy, now that we've gotten everything arranged, I'll be going now. You already know the place you will be staying..." Kitsu's father paused for a moment, eyes centering on his son. The pause was brief, yet significant enough to cause Kitsu to look up from his papers and to meet his father's eyes.<br/><br/>"We'll be leaving now," Kitsu's father told Iruka-sensei. Then, grabbing his son by the shoulder he steered the young boy outside.<br/><br/>As the sun died on the horizon, his father let go of his shoulder. "It's not too late, Kitsu."<br/><br/>"I want this."<br/><br/>Kitsu's father stared at him for a moment longer, then grunted. "Good-bye." Then he was gone.<br/><br/>Kitsu didn't watch him leave ─ his eyes were on his papers. He began moving on auto-pilot, and when the light had gone he grudgingly stuffed them away until he got to his unfurnished new home; a sleeping mat and blanket were all that awaited him. He flicked on a light, and finished reading the papers long before midnight arrived. He fell asleep then, notes impressed into memory, and dreams of stories about himself the only things to keep him company.<br/><br/>He never thought about the other girl, except to think: "I should say hello tomorrow," and slip off into sleep.<br/><br/>-----<br/><br/>Kitsu arrived perhaps a bit earlier than most of the students, despite having no way to be sure. He wanted to be there the moment the doors opened to allow him into the classroom. He read a book on famous ninja in the meantime, and kept a look-out for anyone he needed to say hello to. He made himself conspicuous: reading, but open. Were it possible, he'd stop to talk to anyone.<br/><br/>Some did ask, including a pink-haired girl who only briefly introduced herself before leaving to moon after a dark-haired boy. A kid in orange clothing also appeared, and he left a good (if stupid) first impression on Kitsu. The boy left a moment later after asking Kitsu where the pink-haired girl went. More came, more left, and while Kitsu wasn't an outcast, he was new and not necessarily welcomed. He could feel it; a few minutes before the doors would open for class to begin, he was alone again.