~Konoha High School Art Club~
6
The Day Her Smile Disappeared...
Days had passed and Uzumaki Naruto was slowly settling into this rich place, albeit feeling out of place. Though...During Art Club, he felt right at home. The members of Art Club didn't etch into his past and never forced him to talk about any of the rumors that were spreading...
"That symbol he weras...on the back of his coat? And that head band? It's an old Gang symbol!"
"No way!? He's a gangster!?"
You didn't hear? Apparently he lives in Leaf Shadow..."
"LEAF SHADOW!? NO WAY! Now it all makes sense..."
"What a thug! What's the likes of that doing in OUR school!?"
Naruto sighed. he was growing overly irritated with all the buzzing birning his ears.
Jeezus...It seems my reputation follows me everywhere...
He sighed and pressed the Ignore button in his mind as his eyes narrowed and drearly focused on the Uchiha girl next to him. She seemed out of it. Her eyes had darkened over..and she seemed to be roboticaly focused on her sketch. A Charcoal image of Sasuke, sleeping before her in the seat in front of him. He came to notice that Gaara too, seemed a bit un easy...as he watched her...and Naruto couldn't help but raise a brow.
Finally the lunch bell rang and the stammer of muttering student voices over powered the teacher's.
"And remember kids I highly reccommend you study ALL the time especially for our QUIZ ON MONDAY-!"
"Awwwwwwww!" the echoig groan of dissatisfaction echoed through and the sensei laughed.
"GOOD that means you were LISTENING!" he stated, "...No quiz...ain't nobody got time for that shit."
"You're the best, Kakashi Sensei!" Kiba could be heard grinning ear to ear down the hall.
"Yeah, yeah." Kakashi huffed, "Whatever I'm going to go read..."
"Kakashi Sensei..."Gaara muttered, "...The bravest man who has no shame about reading pornagraphy on school grounds..."
"First off...Gaara..." Kakashi muttered, "The proper term is Erotica." he stated, "Secondly-Get the hell out of my class room!" he huffed as Naruto let out an entertained snort.
" Have a good day, Sensei..." said Saseme as she bowed politely out the door.
"yes, you too, Saseme." he said, with a tender smile. He then shifted his eyes to Gaara and Naruto, who were generally the last ones to leave the class room, as they initially liked to walk with Saseme, and Hinata liked to join them.
"You know...she's my favorite...out of your little group there." he teased jokingly, "And of course Ms. Hyuuga." he bowed, "Have a good day."
XXXXX
"HaHaHa~ Man, Kakashi Sensei is a riot." Naruto snickered, "...Does he seriously read Porn on school grounds."
"Major fan of the Make Out Make Out Series..." said Gaara, "Sometimes you can even catch him reading it before class starts...why do you think he's always late to start the class most of the time?"
"The Make Out Make Out Series, huh?" Naruto chuckled.
Man...the old man will be thrilled to hear about that later...
"I like Kakashi Sensei..." said Saseme, "He seems rather aloof most times, but he really knows his stuff." she stated, "Definitely one of the better ones in my opinion..."
"Saseme!" a sharp tone sounded from behind to catch up to them. None other than Uchiha Sasuke.
"Welcome to the land of the living~" Naruto grinned.
"Shut up!" the Uchiha glared daggers at him, which made Naruto twitch in frustration.
What the hell's up with is guy!?
"...Come on." he said firmly, hooking his arm into his sister's, "Let's go."
"Right..." she said softly, allowing herself to be led by the arm, "I'll...see you guys later."
"Geez...how does she put up with that guy!?" Naruto huffed as he watched the twins walk away hand in hand. Sasuke seeming to pull her a bit faster than she could keep up...the sight of it annoyed him.
"Grumpy ass..." he muttered.
"That's Sasuke Uchiha for you..." Gaara sighed,"He's like that with everyone...so don't feel too bad." he stated, "I am supposed to be Saseme's Fiancee...and he still glares daggers my way...and we've known each other for 10 years at this point."
As the twins were now gone from his sight...
Naruto finally saw his opportunity.
"...Hey." he spoke up softly, just enugh to get Gaara's attention.
"Yes?" Gaara blinked, "What's up Naruto?"
"Saseme..." he said her name softly, "...Is she okay?" he wondered, "Going back to our conversation the other day...I'm sorry if I stepped out of line...or said something I shouldn't have."
Gaara's eyes slightly widened. Though it was hard to tell, with how thick he wore his eyeliner. But the shine in them said more than enough. He was both shocked- and rather impressed at Naruto's attention to detail in the change in Saseme's mood.
"O-Oh uh-N-No...no." he coughed slightly as he cleared himself, "It's...It wasn't you." he corrected, "Saseme has always had sort of a...thing when it comes to talking about her family and their life style." he stated, "It always darkens her mood..."
"I see..." Naruto blinked.
Maybe she doesn't have it as good as I thought at home...
He pondered.
"What about you?"
"Huh?" Naruto jumped a bit, startled by Gaara's raspy voice directing him such a question.
"Well?" Gaara blinked, "Are you all right?" he asked, "The rumors about you ar spreading like wild fire..." he stated.
"Hmph...and?" Naruto snorted with arms folded over, "What? Does it bother you or something?"
"Well...no, not in particular." said Gaara, "I mean...I know what it feels like...to have people talk about you..." he stated, "All the whispers...behind your back." he blinked.
"Hm...so what?" Naruto sighed, "Doesn't bother me none...I'm used to that type of nonsense." he stated, "Lots of people judge me...not surprising considering where I live and all that...Why do you ask?"
"I see..." said Gaara, "...No reason in particular..." he stated softly, "I thought maybe...it might make you feel a little lonely inside..."
"Huh?" Naruto blinked as he trned his curiosity toward the brunette who seemed to be pondering in his own memories.
"I've...never been known to really have many friends growing up." he stated, "In fact...Quite Frankly...Saseme was my first...and to this day...whom I consider my only friend so far."
"Really?" Naruto questioned, "But...I mean...aside from being a rich boy with an attractive fiancee...you don't peg me s an asshole or anything like that." he stated, "So...why is that?"
"Heh." Gaara chuckled, "Naruto...Have you taken a good look at me?" he asked, "I'm that Emo Kid in the corner..." he stated, "That weird guy...creepy...with no eyebrows..." he shrugged, "...Honestly there are a lot of foolish reasons that people will talk about another person...just to entertain themselves from their own mundane boredom."
Naruto stared at him a while. Tilting his head and rubbing his chin, as though trying to see what Gaara was mentioning. Then he shrugged.
"Yeah, okay." he stated, "So I don't know a lot of guys who tattoo black hearts on their forehead...or wear their eyeliner as thick as yours..." he shrugged, "But hey man...to each his own of you ask me."
Gaara's eyes widened. This new transfer...really didn't seem to believe in judgement of anyone. It was a good trait...but an uncommon one to see. He smiled.
"Honestly..." Gaara chuckled, "I actually have a rather selfish reason for wearing my eye liner this way."
"Wait." Naruto blinked, " A selfish reason?" he laughed, "All right you got me curious...I gotta hear this!"
"Heh..." Gaara gave a half hearted chuckle followed by a sigh as he seemed to ponder back into his memories once again.
"...I first met Saseme...at the age of six years old." he began, "She was...a hyperactive child...always squealing...giggling...her brother Itachi absolutely adored her..." Gaara blinked, "...Even Sasuke smiled a bit more back then." he sighed, " Saseme's smile however...was brighter than the sun..." he blinked, "She was...playful... to say the least."
Naruto's eyes raised curiously.
"Uhm...are you sure you're talking about the same Saseme?" Naruto asked and Gaara let out a gentle laugh.
"I can understand your surprise." he stated, "But I assure you it's no lie." he smiled, "I have an Older sister...She wanted a younger sister...but wound up with two younger brothers instead." he chuckled, "So Naturally...she adored Saseme." he stated, "She used to dress her up...do her make up." Gaara stated, "I was rather shy back then...I still kind of am." he said, "But back then...her personality was just...so different from my own...I didn't know how to approach her...not right away." he stated, "...But I wanted to." he smiled, "She looked like she had so much fun when my sister put eyeliner on her...she was so excited to show Itachi how 'pretty she was now'." he said, "So when they left...I thought...if I tried it...maybe I would have fun too-"
"Pfft-" Naruto snorted, which earned a narrow leer from Gaara.
"...You're right to laugh." he chuckled, "I know it was a rediculous notion..." he grinned, "I put it on way too dark around my eyes...My older brother laughed so hard- even my sister could hardly contain herself." he sighed, "But they were my siblings, I was used to getting that sort of treatment from them...when I saw Saseme laughing too...THAT's when I felt foolish-"
"Really!?" Naruto snorted, "THAT was the moment!?" he laughed.
Gaara chuckled as he nodded.
"But then...Saseme said something." he said softly, drawing in Naruto's attention. The curious expression on the blonde's face brough a smile to Gaara's lips.
"She said to me...Gaa-chan! You look like a Red Panda!" He laughed, "Now..six year old me...didn't know how to take that." he stated, "Was it an insult? Was she happy? However six year old me longed to be her friend...so I finally braved up...and I asked her..."Do you like red pandas?" he chuckled, "...Do you know what she said?"
"What?" Naruto asked.
"She said to me..." Gaara smiled, "I Love them! They're so cute! You're so cute Gaa-chan!" Gaara laughed, "And so...I wore my eyeliner like this...ever since." he chuckled.
By this point, Naruto was gasping for breath from laughing too hard.
"Okay...Okay..." Naruto laughed, "That shit is like...choke me with a bottle of syrup sweet." he snorted, "Honestly- I almost wanna throw up!"
"I know..." Gaara chuckled, "It's so dumb..."
"Wellllllllll~ You were six." Naruto laughed, "So...I'll let it slide this time." he grinned with a wink. Then something dawned on him.
"Say...Gaara." Naruto blinked.
"What is it?" he responded.
"...I know you said that You and Saseme were engaged by contract..." Naruto stated, "But after hearing that...I can't help but wonder..." he blinked, "Are you actually...in love with Saseme? Like...For real?"
Gaara blushed, and Naruto's grin couldn't get any wider.
"OH MY GOD you actually ARE!" he laughed, "Does she know about it!?"
"...W-We better get going!" Gaara coughed as he quickly stumbled on his feet, "...She'll meet us at the Art Club soon enough!" he ran off in a blushing huff, nearly tripping over himself and running into almost every corner.
"HaHaHa...Damn...he sure dipped out in a hurry~" Naruto grinned. A gentle sigh was released from him as he looked out the window toward a cloud scattered sky.
Hmmm...a smile brighter than the sun, huh...?
He thought to himself.
I wouldn't mind seeing that for myself some day.
He chuckled.
But still...I wonder...
Saseme...where did that smile go...?
To be Continued