A bit of a mix of P.O.V.s in this one. I think it's only Sasuke and Neji's. Gaara's a baby-eater. Lol, just kidding. And so the fanfic continues on…

kawaii kitsune-kun – Lmao! Your master plans amuse me greatly. Don't worry, Sasuke's a big boy and he's not going to let Gaara walk all over him…or Neji for that matter. ;) And to be quite honest with you, a Sasunaruneji was what this fanfic was originally supposed to be. At least I started it telling my friend "I'm going to write a Sasunaruneji. Then Naruto had to show no interest in Neji and that just screwed everything over anyway. Mmm…I love Sasuke obsession. I tend to get drawn to all the prettyboy jerks in animes.

Chapter 9: Confrontation

The next time he laid eyes on that new kid, Sasuke was going to hurt him. He growled and squirted another large glob of shampoo into his hand. This was his third washing and he still had sand in his hair. That exchange student had no right to be nosing into other peoples' business. Sasuke couldn't believe Neji would follow such a strange kid. For all he knew the boy ate babies or something.

Sasuke rinsed his hair, unable to get the scowl that was plastered onto his face to wash off. The kid was creepy looking for sure, and Sasuke was angered that he was useless against fighting the sand the boy had brought to life. He'd need to train harder. Sand just wasn't an enemy he thought he'd ever have to face, but apparently it was effective.

The redhead looked like he could easily break if Sasuke was able to penetrate his sand defenses. He was small and scrawny, and probably not fit for physical combat. Sasuke cracked his knuckles. A nice beating would do well, and put that creep in his place. Making enemies with Uchiha Sasuke was not smart. Everyone else had heeded that lesson, and it was about time the new kid learned as well.

- - -

In class the next day, Neji was once again counting his exits. Though Sasuke and Naruto's advances weren't coming as often as they had been, he was still on the edge. They would strike again soon. Sure enough, when the bell rang, the two approached Neji. To the brunette's surprise, he saw Gaara waiting for him at the door. Relieved that he would be able to slip out and avoid the uncomfortable situation with the two quarrelling boys, Neji hurried over to join him.

Gaara turned to head out when a hand grabbed his shoulder. Sasuke pushed him roughly around so that sand-nin was facing him. "Just who the hell do you think you are?" Sasuke said, narrowing his eyes. Gaara did not answer and just regarded Sasuke calmly, which only proved to anger the nin more. "You stay away from Neji."

"He should be free to go wherever he wishes," Gaara replied simply. "Leave it for him to decide what he wants to do."

Sasuke gritted his teeth. "That's it, I don't know why, but you seriously rub me the wrong way, and I still need to get you for what you did yesterday."

Neji tensed as Sasuke lunged towards Gaara. The boy with the gourd only smirked in his unnerving way.

"Uchiha!" The sensei's voice cut through the quiet of the room, stopping Sasuke in his tracks. Neji whirled around quickly. He hadn't realized that the sensei was still there, and by Sasuke's face, the offending nin didn't seem to either. "Leave the training to outside the room. I do not want things broken. And if you're just picking on the new student—which I sincerely hope you are not—then you'll be quite sorry indeed. Regardless, aren't you supposed to be serving your punishment now?"

Sasuke glared at his feet. "Yes, sensei."

"Well, then get to it. As for the rest of you, class is over, so unless you have any more questions I would suggest you get going."

Neji nodded and walked out with the others. Sasuke gave a menacing look at Gaara before stomping off to where they were building the wall. Gaara's smirk never left his face, and he watched Sasuke walk off. Naruto seemed to be debating with himself over something, and was about to speak, but seemed to think the better of it and walked off as well. Neji was left standing alone with Gaara, whose face had returned to its regular stoic mask.

"You didn't have to wait for me again today," Neji finally said, wanting desperately to break the awkward silence.

"Would you rather I didn't?" Gaara asked.

Neji was struck dumbfounded by that statement. Gaara always seemed to say the most unexpected things so simply and to the point. Neji fumbled with an answer. "Well, I am glad you stayed, but you really don't have to go out of your way to do that for me."

Gaara shrugged. "We go out the same door. It's no trouble to leave a few minutes later than everyone else. I'm not in a hurry to go anywhere."

"I guess." Neji was still surprised that this boy was being so nice to him. Still, there was no reason he shouldn't be. It was probably lonely to arrive in a new place where you knew nobody and you were regarded at a distance. Perhaps Gaara wanted a friend, and chose Neji. Neji wasn't very good at making friends, but he could put some effort in for Gaara. After all, the sand-boy had put some effort in for him. "Would you like me to show you around?"

Gaara considered for a moment and nodded.

Neji smiled and began to take the nin around the village and the surrounding forest, acquainting the newcomer with what there was to see. Neji found it unnerving how he couldn't read the boy's expression. He couldn't tell whether Gaara was enjoying himself or if he was just humoring Neji. The boy did listen intently to what Neji had to say, rarely dropping in a brief comment of his own.

As they made their way past the construction site, Neji saw Sasuke carrying large stones towards the wall. Their gazes met for an instant, and Sasuke gave a cold glare to Neji, and an even colder one to Gaara. It didn't last long and Sasuke quickly turned away and ignored them for the rest of the time.

"Rude little boy, isn't he?" Gaara stated, walking off. Neji paused and looked behind him at Sasuke, then hurried to catch up.

"How did you know what they were doing?" Neji asked, walking beside the redhead.

"It was rather obvious," Gaara said simply. "I sit behind you in class and noticed how your discomfort seemed to grow day after day. Finally, I decided to step in and stop this nonsense. It's cruel of them to use you in their little game."

"Yeah," Neji agreed. They walked in silence for a while. "So where are you staying?" Neji finally asked.

Gaara raised his arm and pointed to a building not too far away.

Neji nodded. "That's a nice place. I knew someone who used to live there."

The sand-nin said nothing and continued to walk. The sun had started to set and everything was cast in a reddish glow.

When the silence had carried on for another minute or so, Neji spoke again. "I think I better head back. I'll see you in class tomorrow?"

Gaara just looked at him and nodded, walking off silently to his home.

"What a strange kid…" Neji thought aloud as he watched Gaara leave. He turned and started to head back to his own house. On the way, he passed the wall again. The workers were all gone, but Sasuke was still there, carrying slabs of rock from the wagon to the wall.

Neji was surprised that Sasuke was still working. He didn't have to, everyone else had quit for the day, and sensei was not that strict. "What are you still doing here?" Neji asked after watching Sasuke for a while.

Sasuke didn't even slow his movements as he carried the next chunk of rock to the wall. His eyes turned to focus on Neji briefly. The dying sunlight reflected orange and red highlights over his hair and in his eyes. The Uchiha boy continued his work and did not look at Neji again. Neji tilted his head to the side in confusion.

"What's wrong with you? If anyone should be huffy, it should be me for the way you've been acting lately. Why are you suddenly pretending I don't exist Uchiha? You worked so hard the past week doing anything and everything to get my attention. Look at me Uchiha!" Neji was getting really irritated with Sasuke's behaviour. While he did not like to have the spotlight entirely on him like it was recently, he also disliked being totally ignored. There was no reason for it either.

Still, Sasuke carried the stones back and forth as if he were the only person there. His eyes never met Neji's again. Frustrated and angered, Neji turned away. "Fine. No wonder Naruto finds you to be such an ass sometimes. It's nice not to have you hounding me anymore anyway. Have fun wearing yourself out, and leave me alone in class from now on. If you see Naruto, pass that message along to him as well. I'm no longer going to be your toy." With that, Neji stomped away.

Sasuke watched him disappear over the hill in the fading sunlight. Part of him felt guilty for how he had acted with Neji, but an even larger portion felt betrayed. He continued to carry the rocks even as the last bits of sun faded and the stars began to twinkle overhead.

Well, since I'm starting to get rather far ahead (I wrote quite a bit yesterday) I'll post multiple chapters to catch up and keep you guys happy. Stupid chapters not showing up right away... I'll post these this morning and they wont be readable until tonight most likely. 'rolls eyes' (lol, I found out my stars for my actions keep getting eaten so I've settled for ')