[Aria's pov | Kakashi's bathroom]

"Aria, come on out! You have to go to the academy. The Hokage ordered it." Kakashi said from outside the door. "No!" I shouted, staring at the locked door nob. It had been around a week now that I'd been with Kakashi, and so far it had been okay. Well, up until this point at least. "It's just school." Kakashi said. "Exactly." I muttered, hugging Canterbury to my chest. I heard him sigh. "I'll break down the door." He threatened. "I'm naked." I lied. "You're lying." Was his instantly reply. "I won't be in a few minutes." I stood up, ready to strip. 

"Wait, wait! Okay, I won't come in." He said desperately. I sat back down, bringing my knees up to my chest. "Come on, Aria." Kakashi pleaded. "I'm so sorry, but I can't." I told him. "Why not?" Kakashi questioned. "They're probably still around." I informed. "Those shadow things? We haven't seen any." Kakashi assured. "You can only see them if they want you to." I told him, my voice quiet. Kakashi was silently.

"I'll let you eat ice cream for breakfast."

[Aria's pov | Outside the academy]

"You tricked me." I grumbled. "No I didn't. I gave you the ice cream." Kakashi said. I looked away, holding Canterbury closer to my chest. "Whatever." I mumbled more to myself than to him. It was good ice cream. "Now, go in." I told me. My head snapped to him, my eyes wide. "Go in? Alone?" I croaked. "Well I can't come. I'm an adult." He told me, a closed eye smile on his face. I frowned, looking at the large building. "I don't want to." I told him. "Hey, you got ice cream." He told me in a semi-threatening tone. I sighed.

"Alright." I mumbled, beginning towards the building. My thigh still pounded from the carving I'd given myself a week before, but my ninja pants covered it. My outfit was similar to Kakashi's. Pants tucked into ninja sandals, and a plain shirt. Of course, he had a vest. He said I would get my own when I was older and when I became a chunin. I was a bit skeptical at first, but read up on it. I guess I really will have to wait to get my own vest. It's alright though, Kakashi said they're really quite heavy anyway. 

The coldness of the academy immediately set me on edge. I nearly ran out the door and straight back to Kakashi, although he was probably long gone by now. I looked around the large building. I was around twenty minutes late due to my little bathroom stunt. My eyes landed on a desk, someone who had to be the secretary sat behind it. I trotted over. "Hello?" I had to stand on my toes to look over. She looked up. "How can I help you?" Her voice was dry and quite grumpy. She clearly didn't like her job all that much. Or maybe she did, and she just hated children. "I need to find my class. I think I'm eight." I told her. She raised an eyebrow.

"You think?" She leaning back in her seat. I nodded at her. "Alright. Go down that hall. It's the third door on the left." She pointed to a hall. I nodded. "Thank you." I picked up Canterbury and scurried away before she could say anything else. The pig in my arms let out a snort. "I know. I didn't like her either." I told her as I slowly crept down the dim hall. I'm not sure why this place throws me off so much. Maybe it's because I had to be alone while Gaara went to the academy, so I'm secretly salty towards them?

I stopped at the third door on the left as instructed, hesitantly reaching out. Do I knock or am I just supposed to open the door? I've never done this before. I didn't exactly have friends in Suna, just one. And he wasn't what you'd call normal. Not that that's an issue. In fact, I loved Gaara the way he was. I wish I could go back. I'd do anything to go back there again. Anything at all.

Taking a deep breath, I opened the door.