Raven's pov

I sat down on my bed, bored out of my mind as I watched all the girls chat and giggle. They're annoying at first, but I have to admit, they've grown on me. I've only been here a few days, but their persistence and determination is somewhat endearing. Although, they fact that they ask me for fashion advice is sort of annoying, not to mention awkward. I'm not really sure how I'm supposed to tell them that I don't know anything about clothes. Whatever, they seem alright with what I tell them. 

The Hokage told me I'd be starting the ninja academy tomorrow. I'm quite excited to learn more about... that stuff. Chakra. I've never heard of it before, but apparently I have it. A lot of it. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet. I only know what it's called, not what it does. I wish I did so I could hurry up and learn to use it. Kuro insists I just need to be patient. I think he knows what it is, and Igneous too. He starts giggling if I think about it too much. 

"Girls!" The direction appeared in the door, her face alight with excitement and slight panic. "We have a visitor! Hurry, hurry, get ready!"

She closed the door just as quickly as she opened it, and the room was immediately in a frenzy. I was blown away at their frantic behavior. Who knew a stranger coming around was such a big deal. "We haven't had a visitor in months!" Amanda's exclamation was full of joy and anticipation. "Hurry!" Suki cried out in response. I could only sit on my bed and watch the chaos occur, dumbfounded. 

"Pink or purple, Raven?" Mika ran over, two dresses in hand. I didn't hesitate. 

"Purple." The color of my shirt. 

"Which shoes?" Amaya asked came to me next. 

"Which dress are you wearing?" I may as well act like I actually know what I'm doing. No need to embarrass myself. "The pink one with ruffles." She answered. "The one I showed you yesterday."

"Cat heels." I'm not sure what the other pair was called. 

If I've learned anything at all about these girls, it's that they don't dress up to look pretty. I mean, they do, but it's deeper than that. They dress up nice to make it look more. It makes them feel better about themselves. They have nobody but each other and their clothes. People in the streets look at them with pity. They just want to blend in, and to seem like they have someone. Anyone, really. 

The orphanage has no money, and most of the girls here are too young to get jobs. They get clothes from donations, and they want to prove something. What they want to prove is probably something I'll never know. I don't know how they feel. I don't think the same as them, and I think that's okay. I just hope one day they get what they want. What they're looking and waiting for. 

"Raven, can you do hair?" Suki's question caused everyone to turn to me. There aren't many girls in the orphanage, which is a good thing. There are six, including me. Amanda, Suki, Mika, Lilly, Marta and Amaya. Along with the director, they've formed some sort of family. I really don't know what I'd call them. But I am glad. 

"Uh... I can try?" What should have sounded like a statement came out as a question, but Suki still sat down. She handed me a few hair ties. I swallowed thickly, rubbing my hands together and taking in a deep breath. I'd seen hair done before a few times. I'd even had mine done, against my will, more than once. If I could just remember the patterns...

Using what speed I could siphon off of Kuro without him getting pissy about it, I swiftly braided her hair the same way  I used to have mine braided as a child. I had never liked the look, and was glad when I was able to drop it and go with the one I liked. I braided her hair in a waterfall braid, and it turned out pretty damn good if I do say so myself. 

I was done in seconds, and I enjoyed the way the girl's eyes widened. They were in shock. I really didn't blame them. I was pretty surprised with myself too. I didn't know I could do that. "Me next!" Mika seemed to decide, diving onto the bed and shoving the squealing Suki off. I almost snorted at her savage nature. When it came to hair, there was no stopping Mika. She was merciless. 

I ended up doing everyone's hair. My knowledge is so limited that I had to get pretty creative. I'm not sure if some of the hairstyles I did are actual things or not, but they are now! None of the girls have killed me yet, so that probably means they're too nice to tell me how bad their hair looks, or they're genuinely satisfied with the looks I dropped on them. "Girls!" The director was outside the door, I could hear. "Are you ready?"

Each girl was at the foot of their respective bed in seconds, standing up stiff and straight like soldiers. I shivered slightly. "Yes, ma'am!" Amanda's voice was curt and lady-like. I shivered some more. This is seriously giving me the chills. Are they that desperate for adoption? That's depressing, really, it is. Not only are they acting like the king is visiting, but they're also acting like certain death will be upon them if they're not satisfactory enough!

The director cheerfully stepped in, moving to the side to reveal the man I caught staring at me yesterday. Of course. Wonderful. Story of my damn life. 

I didn't stop my jaw from dropping, and I groaned. He didn't react, walking down the row of beds with his gaze locked on me. Which is creepy, by the way. I just sat there cross-legged on my bed, waiting for the inevitable. For the unavoidable social interaction. It's not like I can jump out the window. I mean, I could, but I'm under trial right now. To see if I can hide out here. The Hokage's got his eye on me, and running away from one of his ninja guys would probably send the wrong signals.

He stopped at the foot of my bed, still staring with his lone eye. I raised an eyebrow. "What's your name?" His question made my non-existent hackles raise. I let my walls rise up, my eye's narrowing. "What's yours?" I asked back, my tone sarcastically casual. There was no way I was letting him get the upper hand here. He could be anyone! Anyone! 

Amusement danced in his visible eye. "I thought I was supposed to be the one asking the questions." He said nonchalantly. 

"Nobody said I couldn't."

"I'm Kakashi Hatake." He offered me a closed eye smile that, personally, I found creepy. He should really look on his people skills. Or rather, his child-interaction skills. I'm just a mere teenager, if I even count as one yet. This land is pretty weird. But that really isn't the point here. "Raven." I offered, even though I really want to curl up in a ball and shriek until he leaves.

"No surname?" Kakashi's question made my eyebrows shoot up. I gestured to myself firmly. "Um, hello, you're literally in an orphanage what is wrong with you-"

He sweat dropped, cutting me off: "Tell me a bit about yourself." 

Great, now he's avoiding his own idiocy, which is a sign of his sheer incompetence. This will be a real doozy, I'm sure. I know nothing about this guy, like hell I want to tell him anything about me. All I know is his name, that he's a ninja, and that he's hiding something behind that headband. Whether it be a scar or and empty eye socket or something else. 

"I hate dresses and clothes shopping." I can tell him about me without divulging anything important. Because I'm clever like that, and because I'm not sure what else to say. I don't really have anything I can tell him. I'm just now getting a chance to be a real person. Where I'm from... well, it wasn't good for me, and I was used a lot. And when I wasn't being used, I was locked away somewhere. 

"How old are you." This man is probably a pedophile.

"Twelve."

"Are you a ninja?"

"No, but I join the ninja academy's graduating class tomorrow."

"Any friends?"

"No, everyone here hates me and refuses to talk to me." I scoffed sarcastically. Lilly giggled, which caused the grinning Marta to lightly elbow her. The girl only giggled harder. I guess I'm funnier than I thought I was. That means Kuro can suck it. He thinks Igneous and I are lame, which just proves how much of a clueless old man he really is.

"I'm right here."

"Do you posses any special skills?" Kakashi's question made me stiffen, and my eyes narrowed again. I get why he may want to know, but it's still putting me on edge. "Why do you wanna know?" I asked cautiously. Amanda gave me an odd look. I don't blame her. I'm a weird person, who gets a lot of weird looks. I really should be used to it by now, but it still cracks me up to see the different expressions sent my way. 

"If I were to adopt you, I'd need to know these things." Kakashi seemed amused by how uncomfortable I was. I looked at the director, who was standing by the door still. My eyes screamed at her that he was finding enjoyment in my pain, and wouldn't be a fit guardian for anyone. She just smiled and nodded to me. Wonderful. I guess some people just can't read eyes. Proof that I'm more badass that most people. 

"I see." I muttered in response to the man's question. 

"She has amazing fashion sense." Amanda blurted out. My head snapped in her direction, and I watched her face go from it's usual peachy complexion to bright red with embarrassment. I swallowed heavily, pleading with my eyes. "Really now?" Kakashi's eyebrows raised. I almost shrieked when Mika opened her mouth. "She's super fast!" She can't read eyes. I repeat, she can't read eyes-

"What do you mean?" Kakashi asked, his curiosity renewed. I almost sobbed. Of course the girls had been observing me. They probably didn't even mean to do it either. More proof that I should have been more careful. It's biting me in the ass now. I'm screwed. I'm so screwed. They'll expose me, Kuro and Igneous.

"No, just you." Igneous shrugged as though none of this were a big deal. As if things were fine and I wasn't going to die if my six roommates didn't keep their mouths shut. "Yeah, we'll just watch you burn." I swear on my life that Kuro is eating popcorn. No shit. I can hear the kernel shells crunching. 

"She braided my hair in five seconds." Suki sounded proud of me. I shook my head rapidly at her, to which she smiled. Oh my God. She knows what's happening. "Really?" Kakashi was smirking. I could see the indent in his mask. I had to glare. "This is interesting." He continued, analyzing me as I tried to get his head to explode with my mind. So far I wasn't making much progress. I'm still a badass though. 

"She also likes forks." Lilly said. I scowled slightly. She noticed. I was really, really hoping that nobody would. Even more proof that I wasn't careful enough! I can't believe I let my guard down because I thought I was out of the woods. I can't afford to make this mistake again. Even now, it might all be over. If too much about me is revealed, I'll have to run away again. Any chance at a real home and a real life will be crushed. 

"What?" Kakashi was completely lost.

"She takes the silver fork she used to eat after every meal. And she barely touches her food." Amaya informed, pushing her glasses further up her nose when they began to slide. I began to mentally screech, but Igneous only laughed. Kuro seemed equally amused and equally annoyed by my pain. I hope my internal screaming hurts his ears. 

To explain the forks, it's my hunger for metal and fire. I need both to survive, and actually prefer them over most foods. The forks here are made from good silver. I only take the forks because of the orphanage's large supply, unlike spoons and knives. I'm pretty metal-deprived right now, having been unable to get my hands on much. It's been a while since I've had any at all, relying on fire to keep me going. It was too tempting to pass up. 

"So you collect forks?" Kakashi asked curiously. He was smiling. He probably thinks it's cute or some pedo-shit like that. This man is seriously starting to disturb me. "Um... sure?" I shrugged. If he wants to think I have a fork collection, then he can think I have a fork collection. Better than the many, many much worse alternatives. 

"Where do you keep them?" Kakashi's question was met with silence from me. He turned to the other girls for help. Great, they've rallied against me now. "We aren't sure." Amanda is NOT helping me today. Not even a little! "They always seem to disappear. 

I'm wincing. I'm wincing so hard. This is physically paining me right now. 

"Now I'm intrigued." Kakashi sat down next to me, acting like he was rubbing his chin. I coughed a little, my nerves rising. "R-Really now?" I coughed again. Great. Most people who're nervous might burp a little, maybe barf. Me? I, because I'm so great, let out puffs of fire and smoke. It's no intentional. It just happens somehow. My body is able to house flames and such, but when my emotions rise, so does the fire. And too much smoke and flames can be bad for one's organs. 

I covered my mouth as I coughed, a but of smoke escaping my hand before I could force it back down. Kakashi's one eye widened, and he leaned closer. "Are you sick?" He was staring at me as though that would give him the answer, when all it would get him was my disgust and want for his death. I'm still waiting for his damn head to explode. I'm starting to lose hope if we're being honest her. It's just not going me way. 

"What? No." I pushed the fire rising up my throat back, smiling tightly. Great. I look and sound so believable right now. "You sure?" His persistence made my growl slightly. I gave him a dry look. "I'm positive." I said through clenched teeth. This man is asking far too many questions for my liking. When someone wants to adopt someone, they try and learn about the kid's personality and try to get to know him. This man isn't doing that, not even slightly. He's learning about what I can do, not who I am.

And I don't like that.