This way to the stars

Hear ye, hear ye...
It's AU, and very very overused. I know. But I still adore this plotline, so deal with it. ^_^ Give it time, and the plot will hopefully turn interesting. No pairing to be revealed yet... Because honestly, I don't know. But since I'm more inclined towards SasuxNaru this might be the case. Maybe. You guys get to vote. I hope you stick with me till the very end. Thank you.

~~Steps
"The journey of a thousand miles,
begins with a single step."
-Confucius


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"I give up on you, you useless child. Go bother someone else so I can finish my work."

Naruto winced as the cook tossed him the knife, nearly slicing off his fingers in the process. But Naruto caught it- he must. Quickly putting the deadly utensil back in its drawer, Naruto slipped out of the kitchen before the cook decided to throw something more hazardous at his way, particularly that butcher's knife. He wanted to sigh. Tomorrow would be the start of the new school year, and Naruto wasn't exactly looking forward to meeting strange new faces and making a fool out of himself in front of said new faces. His face darkened as he remembered his first few days in his former school, wherein Sakura had made sure his life (and reputation) would be hell for the rest of his middle school life.

He paused for a while and listened intently for any signs of movement from the living room. He did not want to be caught by Sakura, or any of the Haruno's for that matter. He had spent the day scrubbing floors and did not want to be sent on another of Mrs. Haruno's endless errands. Deeming it safe, Naruto quickly scampered down the hall way and ran up the stairs leading to his room.

The house was beautiful really. It was a three story building with white walls and winding staircases. The first floor was dedicated mostly to lavish decors and expensive antiques and furniture, no doubt to impress any impending visitors that may have happened to stop by. The second floor consisted of five rooms- The masters bedroom, Sakura's room, the room for Sakura's pet cat 'Princess', and two guestrooms. Figures that Sakura's cat would have a room all for itself. Naruto hated the feline and resisted every temptation to kick it out of the widow. The third floor was unused- and where the attic was. Naruto was actually glad that he had the attic. Here, no one would disturb him. It was like a haven.

He opened the door and flopped down the bed, absently pulling off stray threads from his blanket. He initially went down the kitchen for a little detergent to rid the small stain on his uniform, but did not know how to acquire it without the cook knowing. He had tried to help the beefy man with dinner to appease him and distract him, but had accidentally upended a colander of noodles and ended up pissing the man enough to spit at him and throw him out.

"It's not a big stain, and anyway, its not as if anyone would notice me anyway." Naruto said aloud, appeasing himself. Nodding, he decided to give up on the detergent and readied himself for the following day. It was going to be hell, so he had to prepare to get burned by its flames.

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The next morning found Naruto standing behind a daintily eating Sakura, ignoring his grumbling stomach and choosing his words carefully.

"Sakura..."

Naruto shifted uneasily as green eyes looked at him sharply in distaste, as if talking to him would be something so unpleasant.

"Ano sa... I just wondered... how are you going to get to school?"

"I'm being dropped off, of course." Sakura said as a matter of factly. "And you're not going with me."

"As if I would." Naruto muttered.

"But..." Sakura tapped her cheek, a sly glint in her eye. "I JUST might reconsider... if you get down on your knees and beg for a ride. I mean, it's a looooong walk, Naruto."

"I'd rather kiss a newt." Naruto said flatly.

"Of course you would. It's probably the only thing that could stand to be kissed by you." Sakura tossed her strawberry hair.

"At least I'd be able to kiss something. You'd probably die an old hag without even experiencing one." Naruto shot back, just as easy.

Sakura's eyes flashed. "Why you little runt- I'm more kiss material than you'd ever be, ten times over. No one even likes you, much less look at you."

Naruto gritted his teeth. He wanted to scream 'and that was your fault too, wasn't it?!' but wisely kept his mouth shut. Sakura sniffed and put down her tea cup, signaling him to clean up breakfast. Naruto did so, stiffly, making more noise than necessary. He just wanted directions- directions dammit! He had no idea where Konoha High was, and he did not want to get lost in the city. But his fate was sealed as Sakura got up from the table and made her way outside to the shiny new sedan her father had bought along with the house. Naruto miserably took the dishes to the sink and climbed up the stairs before the cook could consider making him wash them. Quickly putting on the white button up shirt and black pants that was the custom uniform of Konoha, he grabbed his satchel and the (wrinkle nose) green tie that was part of the said uniform and whizzed out of the house without so much of a goodbye. As if anyone would care anyway.

Naruto carefully kept track of his route, so if ever he failed to find Konoha, he could at least find his way back to the house. He looked around curiously at the many different colored buildings around him- their height was dizzying. He yelped as a whizzing car sped by him, nearly grazing him on the arm.

"Watch it, you crazy blockhead!" Naruto yelled, glaring at the car speeding away. Muttering to himself, he rubbed at his arm. God, he hated the day already. This was going to be bad- really bad. He just knew it. He walked more cautiously now, glancing around here and there in hopes of spotting anyone that had the same uniform he wore. Gradually though, he realized that there was an odd, yet gratifying change in the atmosphere that he was used to. The people weren't glaring at him, or trying to trip him with their foot. There were no whisperings behind his back, and there was definitely no rude catcalls. In fact, Naruto braved approaching a middle aged woman and asked for directions, half expecting a slap or a dark glare, but was pleasantly surprised when she smiled kindly at him and pointed southwards.

It was crazy, he knew. But he felt a tingle of hope in his heart that maybe, just maybe, these people didn't hate him. At least, not yet. And they were treating him like one would treat a normal person. He, Naruto, was a normal person.

Soon enough, he saw someone wearing the Konoha uniform. Jumping at the opportunity, he ran to catch up with the boy and shyly tapped him on the shoulder. The boy turned, and Naruto was met with a pair of impossibly gray eyes, the color of pearls, looking at him expectantly, and a bit guardedly. Suddenly, Naruto was at loss for words.

"Uhm, excuse me.. uh, d'you... I mean, do you know... Er-" Naruto took a deep breath. "...can you give me directions to Konoha?"

The boy stared at him, his eyes narrowing in suspicion before turning a calculating eye at him. "Are you new?"

Naruto nodded his head, wondering at the guarded tone of his voice. Did he look dangerous or something?

"What's your name?"

Naruto frowned a bit, but decided to comply. "Naruto. Uzumaki Naruto. And you are?"

The boy looked a bit surprised at being asked, but his tone had lost its edge. "I'm Neji. Hyuuga Neji." The boy- Neji, looked at him expectantly, as if waiting for a reaction, but Naruto did not- could not give one.

"Heya, Neji. Nice to meet you." Naruto decided to go with being friendly, seeing the boy had no intention to bully him. "So¡... how's about those directions?"

"You can walk with me if you like." Neji shrugged. "It's not far, anyway. Just a few more blocks."

Naruto grinned happily, clapping his hands together. "You mean it?!"

Neji raised an amused eyebrow and nodded. Naruto happily fell into pace with him, and started humming a tune. Someone was actually willing to walk with him, Naruto thought blissfully. If it was going to be like this, then he didn't mind moving to the city anymore.

"Hey Neji..." Naruto looked up at him.

"Hm?"

"Why are you scared?"

Neji looked startled. "I'm sorry?"

"Scared." Naruto repeated, cocking his head curiously to the side. "Why are you scared?"

"I'm not scared." Neji indignantly said. Him? The Hyuuga genius? Scared?? "What made you think so, Uzumaki-kun?"

Naruto blinked at him. "Naruto's fine. I don't know... it's just... When I talked to you, you seemed so scared. As if, you were scared of being talked to." Naruto furrowed his brows. "Okay, so I'm not making sense¡... forget it." The blonde laughed, easily brushing it off.

Neji gazed at him, feeling a myriad of emotions swirling inside him. This boy... he saw. He easily broke past the barrier Neji had worked so hard to build. Was he scared? No, yes, maybe... he did not know. It was amazing. It was terrifying.

"What year are you, Naruto?" Neji softly asked, wanting to continue a conversation.

"I'm a freshman. Just moved here three days ago." Naruto replied, nearly tripping on a stub on the road. "I'm really, really not looking forward to classes."

"First days tends to get one scared." Neji lightly said.

Naruto snorted. "I'm not scared!"

"So am I."

Naruto looked up at him (Neji WAS a head taller) and grinned. "You're real sharp guy, Neji. I like you."

Neji couldn't help the laugh that bubbled up his throat. "Same to you, Uzumaki Naruto."

And he did. Neji honestly did like Naruto. The blonde was not like the others, who selfishly befriended the Hyuuga because of his money or fame. Naruto did not even flinch when he revealed his clan's name. The Hyuuga's were one of the richest companies in Japan, and the eight richest in the whole world. Never mind that Neji was a branch family, being a Hyuuga was still very, very tiresome. Especially if said Hyuuga was Neji, the genius of the Hyuuga bloodline.

Soon, they were nearing the looming buildings of Konoha, and Naruto's incessant chatter gradually came to a stop. He was paling now, and his steps were visibly getting smaller and sluggish. Neji patiently nudged him from behind, encouraging him to move.

"Come on, Naruto. It would only be denying the inevitable."

"I know, alright?" Naruto snapped, fighting back unpleasant memories. Oh god, oh god... whatever possessed him to think that moving to the city would be alright- scratch that, it wasn't all right. It's never been all right. And it's never going to be all right.

"Naruto, what's your class?"

"Wha-? Class? Oh yeah... uh..." Naruto fished in his pocket for a slip of paper. "Class 1-D... room 208." He read.

"Room 208 huh? I'll drop you there." Neji casually offered.

"You will?" Naruto beamed, perking up a bit. "Thanks a bunch, Neji!"

Neji shrugged, but offered a small smile. The blonde's smile was contagious, its brightness rivaling the sun. Neji found himself wanting to please the blonde, just so he could see the warm smile once more.

"Ugh, why are they staring at us like that?" Naruto whined, drawing closer to the dark haired Hyuuga.

Neji ignored the many eyes that were curiously upon them and purposely strode forward, a reassuring hand on Naruto's back. "Come on, Naruto. We'll be late."

Naruto took one more uneasy glance at the staring people and obediently followed Neji. He tried hard to memorize the many (many) twists and turns of the large building as Neji led him through it with practiced ease. His butterflies returned with a nauseating kick and he almost asked the Hyuuga to slow down. Almost.

"Here we are." Neji announced, and Naruto felt himself pale once again.

Grabbing onto Neji's sleeve, Naruto turned frightened blue eyes on him. Neji looked at him expectantly, and Naruto wanted to punch himself.

"Um¡...so... yeah, you're from another class huh?" Naruto mumbled, suddenly shy.

"I'm a sophomore." Neji gently informed him. "My room's on the third floor."

"Oh." Naruto reluctantly dropped his sleeve. "I see. Uh, t-thanks for dropping me off, Neji. It... really saved me a lot of trouble."

"You're welcome, Naruto." Neji said, and paused. "Don't be scared, alright? They don't bite."

Naruto flushed. "I'm not scared!"

Neji nodded mock seriously. "Yes, of course."

Naruto laughed, feeling a bit better. He beamed at Neji. "Thank you."

The dark haired boy nodded once again and bowed. "See you around, Uzumaki Naruto."

Naruto grinned and waved at the retreating Hyuuga's back, calling out a goodbye. As Neji disappeared around the corner, Naruto squared his shoulders and faced the door that serenely announced "1-D" in bold blue font. Taking a deep breath, he pushed open the door, saying a quick prayer as he stepped inside his new class, and undoubtedly, his new life.


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Thank you to those who reviewed. They have my undying gratitude. Please do take time to tell me what you think. Your reviews mean the world to all authors. Sorry also for any typo's that you may have encountered. I'll try to fix it as soon as possible so let me know if there are any.
Cheers.