Disclaimer: It's time for me to once again continue my Rehabilitation story! Aren't you all lucky, since you've been hanging on a cliffy since the last chapter. Well, anywho. Okay, fine, Naomi. I got the Neji-Tenten idea from you, happy? But the ideas are mine now! I stole them fair and square! Get over it. In the meantime, please enjoy this chapter. And remember; there's a time-skip here of about a week. And a surprise guest! Oh, and more violence, sadly. I just can't get away from it in this story!

Rehabilitation

Chapter 9

Time Skip: 1 Week

"Ah, doesn't it feel just great to be going back to school?" Naruto asked his forever-companion Gaara, who was lounging next to him on the couch.

Said redhead merely glared as he stuck another chocolate pocky stick in his mouth. He was not at all happy to be going back to school; it was a complete waste of time.

"Aw, come on, Gaara! We'll be able to do some actual stuff other than lazing about all day! And we'll get to see the rest of the gang!" Naruto whined, tugging lightly on Gaara's arm.

Gaara just sat there silently, his body falling to the side everytime Naruto tugged him. But he still didn't speak. They were Naruto's friends, not his, therefore he had no reason to feel happy about seeing them later on today.

"Hmph. You know, you're no fun." Naruto pouted, causing Gaara to stop staring off into space and instead stare at him. Naruto, noticing the stare, smiled gently and leaned foreword, biting off the tip of the pocky stick hanging from his friend's mouth. He grinned as he chewed happily.

"I try not to be. Now, are you ready? We should leave now if we want to be on time." Gaara commented, chewing his half of the pocky as he put the rest in his pants pocket.

"Yep! Oh, that reminds me! Kakashi-dad made us both lunches; yours is in the red paper bag; I have the brown. He made tuna, your favorite, since you said you don't like turkey. And there's also crackers, an orange, and apple juice!" Naruto handed Gaara the lunch bag, watching as he took it with what almost looked like surprise. Hadn't anyone ever made him a lunch before? Naruto scowled when he realized that no, no one probably hadn't before. Man, that pissed him off. Shaking his head to dispell those thoughts, he pasted a smile on his face and took Gaara's shoulder to lead him out the door.

The redhead resisted, looking down a few centimeters to stare into Naruto's baby blue eyes. Eating healthy food was making him grow a little height-wise. But his voice was still soft when he spoke. "Don't ever pretend with me, Naruto. If we're...friends, as you say, then you should tell me what's bothering you." He commanded, his teal eyes sharp.

Naruto sighed. Sometimes Gaara was just too perceptive for his own good. "It's nothing, really. I was just thinking how no one probably bothered to make you a lunch before. It made me mad, that's all." He winced, looking up to see how Gaara was taking his words. Surprisingly, the redhead had what looked almost like a smirk gracing his pale lips, but it disappeared so quickly Naruto couldn't be sure he saw it.

"Stop thinking such things, and let's go. You're my family now; what happened in the past stays in the past. No reason to still think about it." He shrugged, but carefully so as to not pull the skin on his back taut. It was still pretty sore.

"Yeah, you're right! Okay then, sure! It's a new day, and it's a day to get out of the house! It's time to be happy!" Naruto grinned and took Gaara's hand, waiting for the initial cringe to pass before he began leading the kid out of the house. It was still weak, but Gaara was getting used to people touching him. Or at least, getting used to Naruto touching him.

"Naruto! Hey, Naruto, man! Where ya been?"

Naruto looked up at the shout, noticing Kiba rushing towards him at what looked like inhuman speed. How did that kid always find him?! Oh, right, his nose. Naruto sighed and gave a happy wave to his friend who it felt like forever since he'd seen. He saw Akamaru running beside Kiba, growling happily. "Kiba! What's happening?" Naruto called, squeezing Gaara's hand tightly. He felt elated when he felt a small squeeze back.

Kiba almost screeched to a stop in front of him, panting. "Nothing really. Just hiding from the Bitch all week. Where've you been? Hey, Shakaku, right?" He asked, holding out a hand. Damn, a few weeks with Naruto and the boy really cleaned up good.

Fiery red hair now gleamed in the light, shadowing those pale teal eyes that watched his every move. That pale skin stood out starkly against the one-size too large black Nirvana t-shirt, hanging loosely over new jeans. He had on what looked like old-style black boots, and a sand-filled vial rested against his neck. Yep, the boy was definitely a looker once he got some food in him and some good clothes.

Of course, that said nothing for his manners. Kiba scowled when Gaara just looked at his hand and turned his head away in disgust.

Naruto laughed nervously and spoke quickly to difuse what could become a potentially dangerous situation. "So, you said you're hiding from the Bitch? Is she still stalking you? I thought she'd have given up by now."

Kiba shrugged and sat on the grass before his blond friend; they were all outside during their lunchbreak. "I don't know. I thought for sure she'd have given up too. Apparently she's more persistant than I thought, though. But Shika's happy; she's stopped badgering him now."

Naruto grinned. "Yeah, he's happy. Remember all those freaky phone calls he got from her? And how she'd randomly show up at his house and invite herself in? It was totally weird."

Kiba nodded, turning his head when his sensitive ears picked up Gaara's voice, pitched very low.

"Who's this "Bitch?" Has she been giving you trouble?" His voice turned into a growl. It wasn't known to the others, but Gaara was beginning to develop a very large protective streak over our little blond. And it was slowly beginning to show itself.

"Who, me? Nah, she hasn't come after me yet. Thank God. If she did, I'd probably try to kill myself. She's famous for stalking and/or harrassing the male students of our school, no matter their age. Which is why we've dubbed her "the Bitch." Yep, she's definitely a freak." Naruto nodded enthusiastically, his blond hair bobbing up and down with his head.

Gaara raised a non-existant eyebrow, but nodded as well. That made sense, he supposed. Shrugging, he turned to his lunchbag, which he opened with a certain gleam of anticipation in his eyes. It was quickly becoming fact for him that Kakashi-dad was the best cook he'd ever known.

Naruto and Kiba watched with secret smiles as Gaara eagerly bit into his tuna sandwhich on Italien bread, before turning to their own lunches. They allowed the rest of the lunch period to pass in companionable silence as they waited for the bell to ring, although when it did none wanted to part.

Kiba was the first to get up after feeding the rest of his hamburger to Akamaru. "Well, I suppose it's time to get to class. You doing anything after school, Naruto, Gaara? How about heading over to the arcade?"

Naruto stood up as well, reaching down to help Gaara up. They dusted themselves off, and Naruto allowed Gaara to throw away their garbage before answering his friend. "No, we were just planning on going home. The arcade? How about a movie instead? I heard that new live-action Death Note movie is showing for the next two days."

Gaara returned at that moment and immediately reached for Naruto's hand. The blond surrendered it as he waited for Kiba to reply.

"Hm, that Death Note movie? Sure, we can see that. What time is it showing? If it's showing later, let's get some food before we go to see it."

"7:30. How about the Panera's across the street from the theatre?" That was Naruto's favorite place to eat.

"Sounds great! So, we'll meet say...5ish? How about 5:15? That way we can go home to change first."

Naruto nodded, and even Gaara gave a small affirmative. An afternoon out on their first day back; it was going to be awesome!

Gaara waited impatiently for Naruto to get done with his after-school talk with his history teacher, Ms. Anko. What the boy had done to get in trouble, the redhed didn't know, but he didn't much appreciate having to stand in the sun waiting for him. It was annoying. That's why, when Naruto finally showed up, waving his arm frantically to get Gaara's attention, Gaara merely glared at him and began walking towards Kyuubi's car should be.

"Gaara! Gaara, wait up! I'm sorry for making you w-Gaara!" Naruto grunted when Gaara suddenly stopped, forcing him to run right into his back. "Gaara, I'm sorry, okay? Don't be mad!" Naruto whine, rubbing his nose.

Gaara turned, sighing. "Stop whining; I'm not mad. Now would you like to explain where your brother's car is, seeing as it isn't here?" Gaara asked in a low voice.

Naruto turned to where Gaara pointed, his eyes widening. "What the hell? Where'd our ride go?"

Gaara shook his head; sometimes, Naruto was just so stupid. "Isn't it obvious? He's left us to do what he wants. Can't you call Kiba and ask him to give us a ride?" Surprisingly, when he suggested it, Gaara didn't immediately flinch at the idea.

The other gave him a look, as if wondering how it was he came up with that idea. Of course, Gaara was wondering that too. "That's a great idea! I know for a fact he doesn't leave school for another 20 minutes, so as long as Hana doesn't mind, we can mooch a ride off of him!" Naruto seemed thrilled at the idea; of course, that may be because he got to spend even more time with his best friend. "Let's go find him then! Or rather, wander around until he finds us!"

They did, indeed, wander around for the next 12 minutes until finally Kiba called their name from behind them. He was walking towards them sedately, a confused look on his face.

"Hey, guys, what's up? I'd have thought you'd have left already." Akamaru barked an agreement from inside Kiba's shirt.

Naruto shrugged. "Kyuubi's gone. Or at least, his car is. We were hoping you could give us a ride to your house, and we could just stay there until we go for dinner and to see the movie." Naruto scratched his cheek, while Gaara just stared stoically ahead.

Kiba stared at them for a few moments, before shrugging. "I guess that's okay. Just let me give my sister a call. Shouldn't Kyuubi have told you, though, if he was just going to leave?"

Before Naruto could answer, though, Kiba pulled out his cell phone and dialed his sister Hana's number. She answered on the first ring.

"I'm not coming earlier than usual, Kiba, so don't bother asking me to!" Her loud, rough voice could be heard by all three occupants of the hall.

"I wasn't going to ask you to. I was going to ask, though, if you would mind driving Naruto and Gaara to our house when you come to pick me up; it seems Kyuubi left them here with no ride." Kiba informed her, already sensing she'd say yes. Hana seemed to have a soft spot where Naruto was concerned.

"...Gaara? Who's this 'Gaara?' I don't remember you ever talking about him before! What's he doing with my Naru-chan?!" Her voice got even louder, if possible.

Kiba cringed. "He's Naruto's new friend and roommate. If you drive him to our house, you have time to get to see him." He wheedled just a little.

"Fine, you little mut. I'll drive them. Front entrance in five minutes. Be there."

With that, she hung up. Kiba grinned and give Naruto and Gaara a thumb's up. Naruto wasn't too sure this would be a good experience for Gaara, but didn't say anything. They really did need a ride.

"So, you're this 'Gaara?' You don't look like much." Hana Inuzuka commented when Gaara slipped into the backseat of her Jeep.

Gaara didn't say anything; instead, he merely watched her, as he seemed to do a lot lately with people. Hana, like her brother, had dark-brown hair, although it was pulled back in a low, loose pony-tail, allowing two thin strands to fall over her face, into her cold brown eyes. Also, like Kiba, she had thick, almost triangular tattoos running down her cheeks. She must be pretty, he decided, in her own way, wearing a tight fishnet shirt that showed her stomach and what looked like leather pants. Of course, Gaara didn't care about anything like that.

"Hm. Doesn't talk much, does he?" Hana snorted, before turning her cold eyes to Naruto. They immediately warmed, and her harsh voice softed. "Hi, Naru-chan; how have you been?"

Naruto smiled, leaning foreword in the backseat to talk to her. "I've been great, thanks for asking! Anyway, this is my really good friend now, Gaara! Gaara, this is Hana; she's like my big sister." Naruto was grinning; he was happy two of his favorite people were meeting.

"Hn." Gaara grunted, crossing his arms and looking out the window.

"Heh. What a weirdo you're hanging out with, Naru-chan." Hana smirked, flicking on her radio. Flyleaf's All Around Me began instantly playing.

Weirdo?! How dare she call me a weirdo! Gaara raged in his mind, his teal eyes flashing. Suddenly, he felt a light touch against the back of his neck, and turned the few inches to the left to see Naruto smiling at him happily. Well, that doesn't matter, as long as he doesn't think of me like that. Gaara inclined his head, before allowing it to rest against Naruto's outstretched arm.

They stayed like that for most of the ride, until Naruto's Star Wars ringtone suddenly broke the silence. He answered it onehandedly, his face paling at the message.

"What's wrong?" Gaara asked quietly, at the same time Kiba asked, "Who is it?"

Naruto turned first to Kiba, then Gaara, his pale face frightened. "I-it's Kyuubi's phone, but it's not him."

"Then who is it?" Hana asked, her eyes flicking to look back at him.

Naruto flinched when the person on the phone yelled in his ear. When they heard it, Kiba's and Hana's eyes narrowed, and both ground out in unison, "Sasuke."

When Gaara heard that name, he growled loudly. The bastard Sasuke was daring to threaten his new family?! He would pay!

Whew! Still getting really long! But that doesn't matter! I promised to have someone show up, but it was getting too long to add him, so I just gave you the second person who was going to show up! Next update, I swear I'm having the person really appear! And it wasn't going to be Sasuke, but he'll be showing too, I guess. Dude, I'm so freaking happy! Finals are done, school's done, and I can finally write some more! Today, I plan on updating every single one of my stories, and this was the first! So be happy, mes lecteurs! I can finally update every few days again! So keep watching now!

Ayame

Sneak Peak:

The ground was cold against his feet, dusty. The room reaked of old blood and mothballs. It was sickening, but he didn't really care. It felt like home; he had returned.

But there was no one to greet him. They were all dead now.

"We should go; I just heard something. Someone's coming."

Naruto turned around, preparing to flee, but a large hand suddenly caught his shoulder. He "eeped!" turning to swipe at the offender.

"Naruto? You would attack me?" The voice was incredulous; it was light, lilting; different from the other voice.

He knew that voice, a voice from the past. He gasped in fear and recognition.