Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Year of Change ❯ What a day... ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I had a wonderful dream last night! I dreamed that I owned Naruto! It was wonderful! And you were there, and you, and so were you!! …and then I woke up and realized that I really didn't own Naruto… or the cast… but at least the story is mine!!

 

 

Chapter 1, Part 3: What a Day

 

It was during the start of October that Gaara had his first encounter with him. Normally Gaara only saw him from afar and didn't pay him much mind other then trying to avoid the swarm of girls around him. But on that one faithful day, it couldn't be avoided one way or another.

 

To his credit, Gaar had done his best to have lunch with Naruto since his last appointment, not so much with Sakura because she had her own group of friends to sit with during lunch time, but today he wanted some time alone. He had just finished eating and looking through the roof fence, watching as some of the kids were running about on the track field. He had one of his sketch pads out and was drawing the area beyond the fields. Landscaping wasn't something he normally did, but the weather was good and he wanted to give it a shot. The door had opened quietly and he was only aware of it because of the squeak it make mid way.

 

When he had looked up, he was surprised. Sasuke Uchiha looked back at him. He was alone. Their eyes looked for a few moments before Gaara went back to eating his food and looking down at the field. Even though he wasn't looking at him… his every nerve was paying very close attention to what Sasuke was doing. There had been a reason that Gaara had not liked Sasuke. Not a logical one, but one none the less.

 

He didn't trust him.

 

There were no outward signs… but it was something in the way he walked… how he carried himself… And Gaara had noticed very well at the look Sasuke gave those around him. Like they were something below him. Although he didn't try to attract a group of people, it seemed to happen naturally. While over half the school female population was drawn to it, he avoided it. He had seen that type of manner before and wanted nothing to do with it… ever again.

 

“What are you drawing?”

 

Gaara gritted his teeth for a moment before turning to look up at the other youth, who had quietly walked up behind him. He was looking at his pad of paper with mild interest… and that look. He had come to see if Gaara was interesting or not.

 

“Just some scenery art…” Gaara muttered. The strokes from his pencil were too hard. Too jagged. He forced his hand to relax before going on.

 

“It's nice.”

 

“… Thank you.”

 

Sasuke moved to lean on one of the fence poles, looking down at the view that Gaara was drawing. “You don't want to draw the people?”

 

“They move too much.”

 

“I can only imagine.”

 

There was a bit of a silence, and the pleasant mood that Gaara had been in was gone. Sighing, closed his sketchbook with a small snap and put it back in his bag. He stuffed the last bit of sandwitch in his mouth before putting his pencil away.

 

“It was nice talking to you, but I think I will be going.”

 

“Going to class already?”

 

“No. I just don't want to be up here anymore.” He placed his bag strap over his shoulder and stood up to leave.

 

“Do you hang out with Naruto because you like him, or because you like to know that you're smarter then someone else?”

 

Gaara paused at mid-motion as he stood. Grinding his teeth slightly, he straightened himself out and adjusted his bag. Pretending not to hear him.

 

“Or maybe because you think he's cute?”

 

Gaara couldn't stay silent after that comment. “Please tell me you didn't come up here to try and push my buttons.”

 

“No…” Sasuke said. He grinned slowly, but it didn't touch his eyes. “I came to smash them.”

 

They stared at each other. In situations like this, Gaara had only one weapon in his defense. His unblinking stare. His stomach was tight and at the moment he would have given anything to be in the cafeteria instead. He watched as the grin slide off Sasuke's face and how he was glaring slightly. There was tension in the air now, almost to the point where lighting bolts would spark.

 

Gaara was relived to hear the ten minute warning bell for class. He stared at Sasuke for a moment longer before turning his back on him and making his way for the stairs.

 

“I'll talk to you later.” Sasuke called out to him when he reached the door.

 

“I look forward to it.” He called back. It wasn't till he was halfway down the stairs that he realized that he had actually said something sarcastic. His brother would be so proud…

 

As if his day wasn't one a bad note now, there was also a teacher that was following Gaara around as soon as he reached the landing. The hallway was already busy with people going this way and that, chatting in the hallway or walking around in swarms.

 

`She must have been waiting for me…' he thought. She had been watching him quietly at the start of the school year, but when he saw her now, he saw that there was a certain determination in her eyes. With his luck, she would make him her little pet project like one of his teachers in his last school did. When he saw that she was trying to zero in on him, he tried to rush down the stairs to his next class, but…

 

“Mr. Sabaku.” She called out for him. Her voice carried easily over the loud buzz of students rushing by in the effort to get to class. He couldn't pretend that he didn't her.

 

Turning around, he made his way over. “Yes, ma'am?”

 

“Would you come with me to my office? Don't worry about being late to your next class. I'll escort you.”

 

He couldn't say no. Bracing himself for whatever little pet talk she was going to give him, he nodded and followed her down the hallway. He felt like everyone in the hallway was looking at him, when in truth… they were all too busy with themselves to pay attention to another student and a teacher walking past them.

 

She lead him to a door near the principals office and opened. She waited for him to walk inside, and he had a sudden flash back at being at the therapist office. He walked in and took a seat in one of the chairs in front of her desk. She walked in and sat down.

 

“Would you like some tea?” she asked while pressing a button on a little desk water heater.

 

“No thank you.” He wondered if he should take his bag and place it on the ground. He could be here a long time.

 

She didn't say anything while waiting for the water to boil. While he waited, the bell went off, signaling the start of the after lunch sessions. Did she want to talk to him about how he wasn't supposed to eat on the roof? No, she won't have called him in here for that. She could have just said that when she saw him.

 

The water heater was quicker then he thought it would be. She placed a tea back in the cup that was already on the desk and started to pour the water inside it.

 

“Do you have any after school activities?”

 

He lifted one of his non-existing eyebrows. “What do you mean?”

 

She shrugged. “Are you part of any clubs? Or are there any sports you are thinking of trying out for?”

 

“No.” He said at length, not sure what she was getting at.

 

“Would you be willing to do one?” She said before sipping her tea.

 

“I don't know. I never really thought about it. Why?”

 

“I was wondering if you would be willing to join one of the school clubs… I think you have some talent for it.” She said while setting her cup down.

 

“Which… club?”

 

She didn't say anything at first, and then softly. “Chorus.”

 

“No.” The answer was out of his mouth before he could even think about it.

 

“Now wait, wait, wait…” She waved her hands at him, not wanting to leave. “I know it isn't something that you might be interested in, but I really think you would do really well. Don't take this the wrong way… but you have a very nice sounding voice… and we are short on male singers.”

 

“I'm sorry, but I am really not interested.”

 

“How about just one practice?” She asked quickly. “Tonight? Just to see what it's like. They always say try something out at least once…”

 

He looked at the determination in her eyes and realized that the likelihood of her leaving him alone about this subject after he left her office was zero. She might even send some of her little singer girls after him. He could make up some excuse… but he couldn't think of anything. He had already confirmed that he didn't do anything after school besides get on the bus and go home…

 

“…fine. I'll come tonight.”

 

“Oh, thank you.” Her grin was huge and bright enough to take the place of the sun. He felt strange for knowing that he was the cause for it. “Let's get you to class then.” She was so happy while she escorted him down the hall that she was practically prancing. When they reach his class, she opened the door and poked her head inside.

 

“I borrowed one of your students. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

 

“Just don't make a habit of it. Get in your seat, Sabaku. You're just in time for the fun bit.”

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“Hey Sakura…” Ino caught up with Sakura in the hallway again, although unlike normal, she seemed to be a little worried. “You're friends with that red haird goth guy, right?”

 

“You mean Gaara? Kind of. Why?”

 

“I think you should tell him that Sasuke is gunning for him.”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

Ino looked around for a moment to make sure that no one was paying attention to them as they stopped outside Sakura's next class. “You know that I am doing that teacher aid thing, right? I work in the main office… well… so does that Karin girl… I saw her snooping in some of the student files last period. His and a few of the other students.”

 

“Are you sure?”

 

“Yeah, cause she's not much of a filer so I was able to see which ones she was looking at.”

 

“What makes you think that she just isn't just looking for potential boyfriend material?”

 

“Come on… you know she licks the ground Sasuke walks on. She'd be more then happy to snoop in some files to let him know what his competition for the year is. There's something else too…” the warning bell went off. Ino shoved a small packet of paper in Sakura's hands. “Don't get caught with that.” She said before running off

 

Sakura after Ino before going inside the class and taking her seat. In this class, Gaara normally sat right next to her, but when the bell that signaled class went off, he still wasn't there.

 

`He must have eaten on the roof and not heard the bell.' She waited till the teacher turned his pack on the class to write something on the white board and then took the papers and tucked it into the sleeve on the inside of her binder before she noticed what the top of it said.

 

Assessment Report: Gaara Sabaku

 

Before she could stop herself, she read more. She skipped past the student information till she reached down to:

 

REASON FOR ASSESMENT:

Gaara has enrolled in Konaha High School with a IEP (Individualized Education Program). The assessment is to determine if he meets criteria for attending the following honor classes due to his two year absent from his schooling.

 

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Medical History is not on file at request of his guardians.

 

Gaara is presently living with his older brother and sister who as his guardians. He has previously lived with his father(seven years) and his uncle(three years), however, due to domestic issues with both of them, he was removed from both their homes and placed in a foster care till his sister file legal paperwork to take him with her and his older brother.

 

The rest of it was blocked by the binder sleeve. As much as she wanted to read more of it, she forced herself to close it and pull out her notes and made the attempt to pay attention. She remembered the day that Gaara and his family had moved in… and how the first thing she thought was how young they all were.

 

Because they all were young. The woman there had been the oldest… not even twenty-five…

 

…due to domestic issues with both of them, he was removed…

 

Normally that meant only one thing… and then missed two years from school? Was that possible? Didn't people show up on your doorstep when you were gone for more then three days? She was extremely tempted to open her notebook and look at the rest of the packet of paper… but she didn't want to get caught… and then explain how she got it.

 

The door to her class opened and Mrs. Yuhi popped into the room, looking extremely happy, with Gaara in tour. He looked rather miserable. As if someone had just told him he had to clean the school buses by hand.

 

“I borrowed one of your students. Sorry for the in inconvenience.”

 

“Just don't make a habit of it. Get in your seat, Sabaku. You're just in time for the fun bit. Open you book to page forty-nine. Now as I was saying… when Francis Quarles wrote…”

 

Sakura watched as he took his seat next to her and rummaged though his bag for the text book… and recognized the look a student gets when they find out that they don't have the book they need. She scooted her desk over to his till the top corner of her desk touched his and pushed her book over the junction so they book could read it.

 

“Here.” She said softly.

 

“Thank you.” He placed his notebook on the desk and started to take notes. She wanted to say something to him now… but it wasn't the time and place. She would talk to him after she got home… and after she finished reading the packet.

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

He placed the phone on the receiver and thanked the secretary before walking out of the school office. He left a message on the answering machine saying that he would be coming home late tonight. Sighing, he walked down the hallway, going in the opposite direction that most of the other students were going.

 

`Just one time, and I won't ever do it again. I'll tell her I didn't like it and she can find some little church boy to sing for her.'

 

When he managed to find the class, he was surprised to see that there was only one other person.

 

`She's not short on male singers… she's short of the whole chorus…'

 

The other girl was sitting in one of the chairs in the center of the room with her hands in her lap. She was pale like him, but her hair was long, reaching down to her mid-back. Its dark blue color made her pale complexion stand out even more.

 

She gave him a small wave. “H-hello.”

 

“Hi.” He moved and thought about taking a seat on the other side of the room… but surprised both of them by sitting next to her.

 

“Did Mrs. Yuhi ask you to join as well?” The girl asked after a moment.

 

“'Asked' is the nice way to put it.”

 

The girl actually smiled at that, and Gaara saw that she was very pretty when she did so. “Mrs. Yuhi is very determined when she wants something. My name is Hinata.” She held out her hand for him to shake, which he did.

 

“Gaara.” Hinata… Hinata… where had he heard that name before. It took him a moment before he remembered. “You're the girl that is going out with Naruto, right?”

 

Her entire face went red. She started pressing her two index fingers together while quickly saying, “Well, no… We're not going out. We are just going to the Home Coming. I don't think he has time for a girlfriend and I also don't think I am his type and…”

 

“Breath.” Gaara said, which she did. He found it amazing that she had even been able to ask him. Was it possible for someone to be so shy?

 

The door to room opened again and Mrs Yuhi walked inside. “Hello my two stars.”

 

“We're you're only two stars.” Gaara said dryly.

 

Unfazed by his comment, she walked over to rack on one side of the room and pulled out two booklets. “Do either of you have any experience with music?” She asked while walking back to them.

 

“I play the piano.” Hinata said, taking the booklet.

 

“Violin.” Gaara replied, surprising both girls.

 

“And you're both not in band?” Yuhi asked amazed.

 

“My father felt I should be working more my academic goals.” Hinata looked down at her hands. “I wanted to, but he said that I should work towards more important things.”

 

“I need the credits from the classes I am taking now to get out of High School on time. Band wasn't part of the education plan that was set up for me.”

 

“Well, lucky me then.” The teacher said. She moved to take a seat at the piano in the room. “Lets go over some warm-ups.”

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

“That was a good workout!” Guy said. The only other person standing in the Karata club was another boy, Lee. The rest of the class was either laying on the ground or sitting. To Sakura's credit, she was one of the ones sitting and not nearly passed out on the ground. Which was an improvement from the start of the year. “You are all shining examples of youth!”

 

“Thank you, sir!” Lee called out. The rest of the class muttered something along the same lines.

 

“You are all dismissed! Study hard and I will see you tomorrow!”

 

The newer club member's moaned at the thought of coming back the next day. Sakura stood, bowed to Guy, to the flag and stumbled out of the doju with the rest of the students. She wasn't sure that she had the energy to take a shower and still make it on time to the after school actively bus. She got back to the locker room, she just stuffed her normal clothes in her school bag put her shoes on and walked out in her Gi.

 

There was a cool breeze when she walked outside. It ruffled her clothes and dried the sweat on forehead. Sighing, she went and made her way to where her bus would be. As she climbed down the stairs, she saw the normal group of after school clubers waiting for their own bus. It was easy for her to pick out who belonged to what club. The kendo team sat on the grassy hill, with Sasuke sitting in the middle of the group. The soccer team would the ones passing the ball back and forth. Normally Naruto was with them as well… yell out encouragements and… wait… he was there. She stared at the back of his head while he was balancing a ball on top of it.

 

`So much for hitting the books hard this year.' She mused. `Mr. Jiraiya must have talked him into joining again this year.'

 

“Hello Sakura.” A soft voice said behind her. Turning, she saw Hinata and… Gaara. She didn't remember him doing anything after school normally. Was he doing some extra tutor session today?

 

“Hi. How are you two?”

 

“Good.” Hinata said.

 

“Well enough.” Was Gaara's simple answer.

 

Hinata shared a few more words with them before walking over to Naruto, saying she wanted to talk about some Home Coming details with him. They waved her off and watched as she jogged over to him.

 

“They are an interesting pair.” Gaara said while watching them talk.

 

“I think they are rather cute together.” Sakura smiled. She looked up at Gaara. “So, what kept you here so late?”

 

Gaara shifted, “I… joined a club.”

 

“Oh really? Which one?”

 

To his relief, there was a loud stomping sound coming up from behind them. Both of them looked back at the school to see Lee running towards them. He had already changed back into his normal day clothing, complete with still wet hair from the shower he must have taken.

 

“Sakura!” He skidded to a stop in front of them. “Go to the Home Coming with me, please.”

 

Sakura rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to say no before you'll stop asking?”

 

“Until you already have a date, but even then, my devotion to you will not stop!”

 

Gaara noticed that there were a few people looking at them, enjoying the show. He sighed and was about to walk off so the `lovers' could quarrel… till an Sakura's arm wrapped around his.

 

“Well, I am going with Gaara.”

 

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

 

 

NA:

I know that Sasuke maybe a little OOC, but I figured that since he wasn't going to have some amazing quest of vengeance that he should be a bit more elitist and… well… a bit more of a dick. When later chapters come out, you'll understand.

 

Also, in the first chapter I had said that Naruto was part of the track team, but I changed that to soccer instead, which I have gone back and changed already.