Chapter 10: It's strange

Naruto's POV

I must have the biggest smile on my face right now. I enter my room, Sasuke slumped over his computer. He looks up when he hears me close the door behind me. I give him a smile, my eyes forming into little slits. God I'm just so happy, and I want to share it with everyone.

"What are you so happy about," Sasuke questions.

"It's…" I stop, thinking I'll only get scolded if I tell him about Gaara, "…nothing." He says nothing, and doesn't push for an answer. I plop down on my bed, joyfully. When I look out the window I see the little red head slowly walking back inside. Something springs up inside me, and it felt like my joy was overloading. God, did I feel this happy when I finally broke Sasuke? I did a dance and I was happy, but like this…? I don't think I was like this. Then again Sasuke hadn't been as direct as Gaara. The name echoed in my head, and I just felt great. I wanted to spend time with the red head, but what would he want to do?

He still hasn't ever really been off campus to do anything fun. I'll maybe ask him to do something with me next weekend. This weekend I had already promised Kiba we'd hang out. He doesn't seem too concerned as Sasuke about the whole Gaara thing, maybe I could tell him about my success.

In science, Gaara was drawing a picture of the offspring we would have. For the second trait that differed between us I had picked our eyebrow colors, and I was the one who did that punnette square. Yeah, Gaara did most of the work, but he didn't' seem to mind. We also flipped a coin to find out the gender. A girl blonde hair, green eyes, and visible eyebrows. I was looking over the red heads shoulder the whole time he was drawing, I also every once in a while repeated that I wanted to color it. The picture looked so life like, and he handed it to me when he was done. I take out a color pencil and start with her hair. She wore a frown though and I stop and look up at Gaara, who wasn't focusing on anything in particular.

"Why do you always draw sad things?" I ask. He doesn't answer. "You could have given our daughter a smile at least," I tease. Then Kiba came up to me.

"Well Naruto check it out, handsome devil isn't he?" he says showing me the picture of his and Lee's 'son'. Black eyes and black hair. They had drawn the eyes slightly larger then Kiba's but not as big and round as Lee's. The hair was spiky like Kiba's too.

"Thankfully he takes after me more than Lee," he chimes. The picture wasn't bad, Lee had drawn it, though it looked more like a cartoon. Unlike what Gaara draws like, more life-like. "Let me see your picture," Kiba says snatching it from me. "Whoa if she were real, I'd do her," my friend says.

"Kiba I told you to turn in our paper, not show it around," Lee says from across the room.

"Yeah, yeah," Kiba mumbles picking up the drawing that had the worksheet stapled to the back.

"She is pretty, even if she is pouting," I say more to myself as I finish coloring in the picture. Then I turn in our paper just as the bell rings.

I go to the shower room, not many people were there seeing as how early it was. Most of the boys usually take showers in the evening. It was a nice relaxing hot shower, but I wanted to get it done as soon as possible. After all I do have Gaara to meet like usual, I don't want to keep him waiting. A grin spread across my face, there was just this great feeling of accomplishment when I think about what had happened yesterday. I still wonder about all the whispers about him. I think most of the stuff they say about the red head isn't true. I mean, after all they're starting to say untrue stuff about me. Saying I've join his cult and shit. Why can't people just mind their own business?

I wonder why he didn't' push me away. I mean I hear stories about him pushing others away, ignoring them and stuff. On top of that I experienced first hand what kind of things he does to get rid of bullies and other people. Maybe he didn't treat me any different, maybe he treated me just like anyone else who tries to get to know him. Maybe I just didn't notice, or didn't want to notice, and not give up. The boy's just too interesting and I feel so excited about being able to hang out with him. Next weekend I'll try and get him off campus and have a good time. I don't care what he says, he's coming off campus with me. I mean he can't just stay at school all weekend, not since he's admitted we're friends now. Ok, so he hasn't called me his friend, but I won. I broke him and he's just like Sasuke now. A friend even if he won't say it.

But, he's so different from Sasuke...so different..but somehow the same. I mean his coldness and indifference, though it's a little stronger then Sasuke's, it's basically the same. I don't know if Gaara tried his hardest to get me to lose interest…but I like to think that he didn't. I know it sounds really stupid, but I like to think that maybe from the start Gaara let me be around him, let me talk to him. I go off into an almost daydream like state, before I shake my head.

"God, did I ever act like this around Sasuke?" I ask myself as I reach to turn off the shower. "Somehow it's like you're different…" I say to myself when the daydream fog I was in comes over me again. I slap myself in the face. "What the fuck is up with you Naruto," I yell at myself, and dry off. I grab my close and pull them one, running my hand through my hair once I exit the shower stall. Throwing the wet towel in a laundry basket nearby I go up to the mirror. I rub my hands through my hair, trying to get all the moisture out. Of course that simple act didn't dry my hair, but it did give it a little bit of it's bounce back, rather than it just being flat. With one more look over myself I head out to see if Gaara was in the courtyard, I'm sure he is.

On my way out a group of boys in black stop me. Eyes were outlined with black makeup and one even had lip liner on. Gothic kids, the other freaks of our school, although below Gaara on the weirdo scale that the other students have come up with. Me, I'm climbing higher near Gaara, seeing as I've been seen hanging out with the red head and everything.

"You must think you're so important," the one with lip liner says. All four of the boys' hair was died outrageous colors of green, red, and purple, along with black streaks.

"You think just cause Gaara lets you hang out with him you're special," the one with green and black hair says with a snotty kinda tone.

"Well your not, watch your back Naruto. People like him don't hang out with people like you. But we'll be laughing once you get crushed by him," the one with lip liner explains.

"He's a magnificent being and shouldn't hang out with the likes of you." Another says.

"His art is a blessing and we've heard about your attempt to destroy it. Just back off and stay away! He's only using you, for what that's unknown to us, but be assured prep, he doesn't keep you around because he likes your company!" With that I'm shoved into the wall as they rudely make their way past me. Why is everyone so concerned about me hanging out with Gaara? Why is everyone making it their business? On top of that what gave them the idea I've tried to mess up one of Gaara's pictures? I feel kinda odd, as I stood there for a while letting their words sink it. They sounded familiar. Kinda like what Sasuke said, but they were putting me down while Sasuke wasn't trying to make me feel bad. I wonder why everyone thinks I can't be friends with the red head? It's making me feel a little sick.

I slowly walk out to the courtyard, ignoring the weird feeling I have that somehow made me a little depressed. It's best to overlook and ignore thinks like that. Telling myself this, I get ready to put on my famous smile as I see Gaara sitting in the courtyard just like always.

Gaara's POV

I sit outside like usual watching people go by. Watching the looks that they give me and not at all caring about them. They haven't changed at all, but they seem to be in more abundance. People in this school have always given me dirty looks, sometimes accompanied by a whisper to their friends as they pass by. I've always brought strange reactions out of people and I didn't mind, I ignored it, but now there's always whispering and more people have become brave. They approach me, speak to me, insult me. I should have chased the blonde nymph away, he's made me appear weak. Yet I don't plan on giving up that nonsensical noise that graces my ears every time he appears to keep me company.

Though he's made me appear weak, I'll keep him around for study. He's odd and by keeping him around I can figure out why he was so determined to become my 'friend', and I can maybe prevent something like this from happening again. There's also the fact that the boy can bring out the best in my art. I wonder why. I doubt you get to pick your muses, just like you don't get to pick your fate, yet I wonder what it is about the boy that inspires my hand to move so gracefully. Or what made me keep the boy around. That sound, so many times before I've blamed that familiarity. A nymph I call him, a deserving name, possibly a creature of the sea. One that is perched upon a rock and with it's song blinds sailors that do not notice the rocks they are about to crash into.

Have I crashed? I must say I probably have, seeing as I keep the boy around. But drowned I have not. The boy is a luxury and nothing more. I don't plan on making 'friends'. I'm not as concerned about such things as others are. I somewhat regret having opened my mouth and saying words that only encouraged him towards his goal. He probably even thinks he's reached that goal. Yet at the same time I don't mind at all, not having much of an opinion. I admit I'm a little afraid. The boy is hard to read, and I expect him to do something strange. Dragging me out past the gate of the school to 'hang out' with him, or something of that nature. Regret creeps in again, I really should have thought some things over before I said anything the other day.

Yet again what could I have asked myself? After all, the things that intrigue me about him are unexplainable to me. Why I've fallen for his annoying song, now a familiar lullaby, or why if and when he says something of intelligence my mind and hands are inspired to put pen to paper. I don't understand it, how can something be bothersome and enjoyable all at the same time? I have no word for it, I don't know how to explain it clearly so that anyone else could understand, so I settled on the thought that maybe the boy's tricked me. Tricked me into this 'friendship'. Then I ask myself is this really a friendship, or just a tolerance? I have no idea, but settled on the simple explanation, and a relationship I never experienced, friendship. So is this what it's like?

I've never had much of a relationship of any kind. A brotherly bond, a father-son relationship…a mother-son relationship, I don't have these bonds and fond memories. I don't trust others. I still somewhat don't trust this little blonde elf that prances around with a smile on his face. He must want something from this, I must have something to offer, he wouldn't just randomly decide to try and get to know me. There must be some sort of motive, and that's all the reason I need to be careful, all the reason why he's a luxury I'm ready to throw away. He may have tricked me a little but I'm far from being blinded from the rocks before my eyes.

A squeak echoes through the almost empty courtyard, and the few boys that were still heading to a destination glance toward the door that's being opened. Only to rest their eyes on me and whispering some things. I could hear them but I didn't listen. I do however look in the direction only to see Naruto. He had his head down, and his expression held that sadness I saw once before during spring break. It was there again, the sadness he let no one see. Why? I don't understand him, yet this only makes me think more that there must be some motive behind him wanting to be my friend. There's something I don't know or understand about the boy. He lifts his head up, a glimpse of determination, and the sadness disappears into joy. I wonder how is it that he can keep his sadness so easily from others? It intrigues me, what is it that made him sad?

"Hey," he greets me and sits down. I look at the floor. I would never dare ask him about anything private, and that sound comes to grace my ears. Like always I don't listen to any particular word, only the rhythm. I let him speak until it becames dark and then I went off into my dorm.

I should work on my self-portrait. I had transferred the rough draft onto a larger sheet of paper only partially. I didn't feel like working on it, not right now, and not this weekend. I wanted to take a break from art, maybe read a book. Something I don't do often seeing as I usually pass my time sitting out there in the courtyard or drawing. It's my reading habits that started some of the rumors about me in this school. I've read many different bibles. I've read the New and the Old Testament, I've read the Kaaren, and yes I've even read the more devil-oriented version of the Bible. I like to read about religions and get a view on all of them, and know about all of them, along with the culture they bring. Amazingly enough I've never set foot into a church. I know where the most beautiful church is located in my hometown, but I've never stepped inside. Though I remember standing in front of it many times. One of those times a holy Father had asked me to come inside. I declined, and ever since then never went back to the church.

I rummage through some drawers that hold my many religious books. I uncover one that I hadn't read in a long time. I wouldn't really call it a religious book, but more a book of the history of a people. Another book that I was caught reading one time entitled "The History of Witches." I sit on my black silk covered bed, and open the book. I've read the book about two times, the Bible I've read three times, the Kaaren twice as well, and the notes about devil worshipping I've read four times. This spreading from the time I was twelve, and never had I read any other books in my life. I don't like to read stories like the popular Harry Potter stories, or Vampire Chronicles of Ann Rice, no matter how many times I'm accused of reading and doing vampiric things. Of course I did once read a small collection of stories from the ancient Greek gods that I had spotted in the library.

My brother came into the room and not soon after I was forced to stop reading as the lights turn off.

Naruto's POV

I'm with Kiba at the arcade near our school. We're playing Tekken, when I bring up Gaara. "You know, I wanted to hang out with Gaara next weekend, but I have no clue where he'd like to go."

Kiba loses and then looks at me with an amazed expression. "Dude, like he'd let you take him anywhere man, just give up dude. The weirdo's not worth it."

"Wrong, he doesn't mind me sitting with him out in the courtyard, he even told me so," I say triumphantly.

"Man…I have to agree with Sasuke, Naruto. I mean I haven't been saying anything, 'cause it's not my business, and I was hoping you'd get tired of sitting around outside with the kid. But honestly Naruto, are you deaf? Rumors don't just pop out of nowhere, they had to start somewhere, and I think some of them are probably not that far off. The kid's strange, why hang out with him?"

"Why are you gonna go there, why are you gonna be like Sasuke? You never had a problem when I was trying to become friends with Sasuke!"

"Yeah but you weren't so…obsessed. On top of that Sasuke was just a bastard, not a weird blood sucker."

"You honestly believe that shit? And how am I obsessed?"

"You never gave Sasuke that much attention, you'd even back off a little when Sasuke wasn't giving you anything in return. I remember you used to come into mine and Shino's dorm and fucking scream in a pillow because the prick pissed you off. Spending the night to try and get away from him. But you just keep going back to Gaara," Kiba explains.

"Well Gaara isn't like Sasuke, he doesn't do or say stuff to piss me off!"

"He doesn't do or say anything. I mean I'm not trying to get all up in your business man. If you think the guy's cool then go ahead and hang with him. Just be a little bit more careful. I don't trust him. Like I said, I do believe some of those rumors, I don't think someone just pulled them out of their ass."

I shake my head, what does everyone have against Gaara? There was a long moment of silence between Kiba and me before we started talking again. I wasn't mad at him, well not completely. A little annoyed but I know he doesn't mean it in a bad way.

"Well, if you're gonna hang out with the kid, I'd say do it somewhere in public. Like the mall. Or maybe take him to the pool, they're opening it tomorrow. Which reminds me, you busy tomorrow? Shino and me are gonna hit the pool. But in the morning, Shino's shy like that. He's hoping not a lot of people will be there in the morning. See if Sasuke wants to come too," I smile and tell him I'll be there and I'll make sure to tell Sasuke about it. He's talking about our school pool. It's usually reserved for the swim team only, but after spring break all the way till summer it's open to the students on the weekend. We both have an indoor and outdoor pool in Konoha Greens.

It's evening and the sun is setting. I was out late with Kiba, but now I head straight to the flower bed that I know Gaara is resting on. This time the boy has a book in hand. I think I've only seen him with a book out here once and that was an anatomy book.

"So how was your Saturday?" I ask the boy. He only continues to read his book, I smile. I look at the book the boy's holding, and my eyebrows frowned. It's a book of witchcraft, or history, that being the word in the title. But I keep a smile on my face, it was a sort of sad smile. Should I be careful around the boy? Kiba's right, rumors have to start somewhere, and seeing this book…I'm a little uneasy. But isn't this one of the reasons why I wanted to get to know the boy, to find out if all those rumors are true? I look at the boy's face, he seems so at peace, but still his eyes…I can't stand them. They're so lonely, does he even know how lonely he looks? He reminds me so much of myself…maybe Kiba's right, maybe I am obsessed. Is it really that bad? I don't know, my head's starting to hurt and I'm confusing myself. Just something about him made me want to talk to him, the challenge just like with Sasuke. But maybe also the fact that he always looks too lonely and that no one seemed to care. Making fun of him, spreading rumors.

But why does everyone want me to stay away? Can Gaara really be that bad of a guy? So he's a little on the odd side, but he seems nice. His eyes shift and I can't help but stare, my heart speeds up. Am…am I afraid of him? Is that why I'm sweating? God I have no fucking idea, but looking at him is making me sweat. Maybe I should listen to my friends, they only mean good, but at the same time how can I just leave? I'm not one to give up. I'm not giving up on Gaara when I came this far!

"Can you sing?" The red head asks me, and I'm surprised. He hardly ever starts a conversation. But maybe he's just tired of the quiet, seeing how I'm not being my usual self and blabbing my head off.

I laugh a little, "What makes you think I can sing?" He only gives me a shrug of his shoulders and goes back to reading his book. I can't help but feel happy, he really just wants me to talk. I like how I can do that without having to fear feeling stupid or someone telling me to shut up. I like that he wants to hear me talk, a lot of people don't. They just think I'll have something stupid to say. I start telling Gaara 'bout what I did with Kiba today and my plans for tomorrow. He may not talk back like Kiba said, and he may be strange, but I know he wants me around or he wouldn't ask me to talk or want me to talk.

A/N: This chapter was a little bit longer then usual. See what Naruto has planned for Gaara next chapter.