Vindicated

Chapter 2: Curiosity

Neji rolled out of bed trying to turn off his alarm and landed with a loud thud. Groaning he sat up and turned the alarm off. Half asleep he grabbed his bathroom stuff and got in the shower. The warm water felt really good and woke him up a bit. His aunt knocked on the door a few minutes later telling him that it was 6:15. He hurriedly washed his hair and body and got out. He knew it made him seem really gay to straighten his hair, but it got all weird when he didn't so he straightened it anyway. Putting on a bandanna, he left the bathroom and returned to his room to get dressed.

He left the house earlier so that he didn't have to ride to school. It's not that he didn't mind getting the ride, but he very much enjoyed the cool morning air and a quick jog to stay in shape. The crisp air filled his lungs and made him feel more energetic. He was in a good mood that morning. Not only was it a nice day, but it was FRIDAY! What more could he want?

The three siblings got out of the house as quickly as they could to avoid any confrontation. Temari had gotten up early to make hurried lunches from the three other them. Kankurou greatly wished that Gaara could have saved home, but that would only make things worse. The confrontation the previous night had left Gaara with a black eye that was somewhat covered by the dark circles already there, but he had a nasty looking bruise on the side of his head and his lower lip was cut. Nothing else showed but they could see him limping slightly as well which made them hurt inside.

"Hey guys!"

They turned at the greeting and saw Neji jogging up to them.

"Morning, Neji," Temari said.

"How are you guys doing?" he asked, jogging in place when he came up to them.

"Ok, I guess," Kankurou replied. "Do you jog every morning?"

"Yep!" Neji replied. "It keeps me in shape for the season and it keeps me warm."

"Dude, you are weird," Kankurou stated.

"Hehe, thank you," Neji said smiling. "Hey what are you guys doing tonight? I thought maybe we could hang out or something."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Kankurou said at once. "Our dad kinda…expects us back right after school."

"Ok," Neji said nodding. "You guys wanna stop at the 7/11 for something? My treat?"

"Are you trying to bribe us to make friends?"

"Mmm…..maybe. Is it working?"

Kankurou chuckled. "Kinda."

Neji led them into the 7/11 and told them to pick out whatever they wanted. In the light of the store Neji saw Gaara's face and his eyes widened, but he quickly looked away, not wanting to be caught staring again. As he pulled a Gatorade out of the fridge in the wall he watched Temari bag donuts for the three of them. Then at Kankurou who was getting coffee, then at Gaara who was following Kankurou around like a second shadow. He studied their faces, noticing differences from the day before. Temari's eyes were red and puffy like she had been crying. Kankurou looked distant and Gaara had the new bruise. What the hell happened last night?

"Neji, we're ready," Temari called from the front of the store.

"Healthy breakfast," he commented looking at the donuts, chips and soda in their hands. He placed his things on the counter (muffin, carrot sticks, the Gatorade, and crackers) and they put theirs down too. He paid for it all then they continued on to school.

(2nd period Art-Neji and Gaara)

Gaara watched Neji paint, trying to be discreet about it. Since the rest of the class was still finishing their final project, he hadn't gotten an assignment yet. Suzume-sensei's only order was that he not be loud and talkative. But he never talked much anyway so it didn't matter. He looked down at his own sketchbook given to him when he turned in his paper and the money Kankurou had given him. He wished he could draw like that. Gaara looked back over at Neji whose total focus was on his work. He noticed some of the kids sitting around him staring at him then whispering to each other. He sighed. It didn't matter where he went or how scarce he made himself. People would always stare and whisper.

"Ignore them, their idiots."

Gaara looked over at Neji who sloshed his brush in his cup of water causing it to turn red from the paint.

"Hey are you hungry?" Neji whispered leaning towards him.

"I still have the stuff from this morning," Gaara whispered back.

"Here, this is better," Neji said, holding out a bag for him. Gaara reached in and pulled out a handful of pistachio nuts pre-shelled. "These are like my favorite snack food. Except they're so salty…they make you real thirsty." Neji laughed to himself, smiling at Gaara.

Gaara gave him a small smile in return and munched on the nuts. "What lunch do you have?" he asked after a moment of silence.

Neji looked up again, surprised. "I have C lunch," he replied.

"….." Gaara didn't say anything for a while. "Kankurou has that lunch," he said finally. "I have D."

"Oh," Neji said, not really sure of what else to say. He turned back to his canvas then looked back at Gaara and saw him tenderly touching the bruise on his head, but rubbing his side, where Neji suspected was another bruise. He pretended not to notice anything, but made up his mind to ask Kankurou about it later.

(4th period Gym-Gaara)

"Gaara, why aren't you getting dressed again?" the gym teacher, Anko asked coming up to him, where he sat on the bleachers.

Gaara shrugged silently.

"Your grade will go down if you don't participate," Anko warned.

"I don't like gym," Gaara mumbled.

"Why?"

Another shrug.

Anko gave him an impatient glare then calmed herself down. "Look, I'm going to have a hard time passing you if you don't get dressed and participate," she said. Gaara didn't reply he continued to stare at his feet. "Look, how about this, I'll give you an article and a ditto to work on and I'll give you half credit for the day ok? But I can't do this ever day, you have to dress sometime."

"Ok," Gaara mumbled. He watched her go then watched the rest of the class play.

(4th period Health-Kankurou)

"…there are many symptoms for depression and many things that can cause it," the health teacher, Shizune lectured. "Can anyone name a few?"

Kankurou didn't raise his hand, even though he knew a few. He was to busy staring at the clock. God he was hungry! The food bought at the 7/11 had last him through…first period and left him starving for lunch.

His thoughts wandered back to his siblings, wondering how they were doing. He wasn't worried about Temari; she was such a suck up when it came to school. The only thing teachers had a problem with was her attitude and patience level. Gaara was never good at making friends. He had a hard time trusting people other then his siblings, which Kankurou understood. The last time Gaara had had a friend was a long time ago, but he had found out about the happenings at home and told Gaara he didn't want to be friends anymore. That had been the reason for the first time they switched school. Kankurou had vented his anger out on the boy, getting him expelled and Temari in trouble.

His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the bell. Putting his notebook back into his backpack, he got up and headed towards the cafeteria.

Someone tapped his shoulder. Turning, he saw Neji standing behind him.

"I didn't know you had this lunch," Neji said. "Gaara told me in 2nd period."

"….Gaara talked to you?" Kankurou asked in surprise as they sat down at a table.

"Yeah, why, is that weird?" Neji asked pulling out his lunch.

"Well…yeah… mn…no, I mean," Kankurou paused. "Gaara doesn't usually talk to any one. He's real shy around strangers." He didn't say anymore as he began to eat the lunch Temari had made (there wont be any cracks about her cooking in this. Her food's pretty good in this).

Neji also ate, but finally decided to ask his question. "Kankurou? I know we only met yesterday, and I'm sorry if this is a personal question, but—"

"I don't want to talk about it."

Neji bit his lip. "You don't know what—"

"Only the entire school is wondering about my brother," Kankurou said, coldy.

Neji looked down at his applesauce. "Oh…"

Kankurou didn't say anything for a while. He seemed deep in thought, as he polished off his sandwich. Swallowing, he finally looked up again. "Look, sorry … I just don't want to talk about it."

"I understand," Neji said nodding. "But, hey, if you ever want to talk to someone, I promise that I won't tell anyone."

Kankurou gave him a hard look. Then he smiled. "Thanks."

(5th period Tech Ed-Temari)

Temari looked up when someone poked her.

"Hi," said the girl sitting next to her. "I'm Sakura."

Temari blinked then smiled back. "I'm Temari."

"You're new here right?" Temari nodded. "That's cool. I've been going here, like, my whole life."

"Whoa…but that's cool too right? You know everyone and all that."

"Yeah, like see that boy right there?" Sakura pointed to a black haired boy with a blue shirt and white cargo pants. "That's Uchiha Sasuke. Isn't he cute?"

Temari looked. "He's not really my type," she said. "He looks too stuck up."

Sakura looked again as well. "I know," she said in a sad voice but her eyes were all sparkly.

"Too bad, Miss Wide-forehead! Sasuke-kun is mine!" said a blond girl sitting in front of them.

"Shut up, Ino-pig!" Sakura warned, her eyes shooting sparks that met the blonde's in mid air.

Temari couldn't help but laugh at them.

"Ladies, please pay attention!" Ebisu-sensei called from the front. "You can talk after I explain the lesson."

"Yes, sensei!" they said.

"So where are you from?" Sakura whispered, ignoring the teacher's order.

"My brothers and I came from Sunaga," Temari said. "We just moved here."

"Cool," Sakura said. "Who're your brother's? Maybe I've seen them."

Temari reached down and pulled out one of her binders and showed her the front cover where she had put a few pictures in. "This is my older brother Kankurou," she said pointing. "And this is my little brother Gaara."

"Hey, I know him," Sakura said, tapping Gaara's picture. "He's in my gym class, but he never gets dressed and he doesn't talk to anyone."

"Gaara hates gym," Temari stated, looking at the picture again.

"Hinata-chan told me," Ino said turning around again. "That her cousin's been trying to make friends with you all."

"Hinata….?" Temari thought for a moment.

"Hyuga Hinata, her cousin Neji."

"Oh yeah," Temari said, remembering the dark haired girl from the day before. "Neji's really nice."

"Oh, my god, yes. And he's hot!—but not as hot as Sasuke-kun," Sakura said, quickly. Ino nodded her agreement. "But… I think he's gay…why are nearly all the hot guys gay?"

"I know! But Neji's like the best soccer player we have here," Ino said.

"Oh, my god! I love watching them play!" Sakura said.

"Oh, my god! Me too!"

Temari looked from one to another. 'Wait…weren't they fighting a few minutes ago…? Weird girls…' But they were nice Temari decided and listened into their conversation about the boys in school.

(Hallway, sometime before 7th period)

"Gaara, hey!" Kankurou pushed though the crowd to his waiting brother. "What's up?"

Gaara shrugged. "Nothing," he mumbled his reply.

"Where're you going?" Kankurou asked, as they turned to mount the stairs.

"Grammar 9," Gaara said, shifting the weight on his shoulder. He turned to go into the side door at the '1 ½ floor'.

"Hey Gaara, wait," Kankurou pulled him aside, out of the flow of people. "Neji's been asking about you," he whispered.

"Everyone's been asking about me," Gaara retorted.

"Yeah I know, but he wants me to tell him stuff," Kankurou said, leaning against the wall. He shrugged. "I donno, you don't usually want people to know, but Neji said you've been talking to him."

Gaara was quiet as Kankurou waited for a reply of some sorts. "He paints good," he said finally.

"Paint's well," Kankurou corrected. "But, anyway, what do you think? I see Neji next period."

"….." Gaara looked down at the floor for a bit. "I donno," he said finally. "Not now."

Kankurou smiled. "That's ok, see ya later." He turned and went up to the 2nd floor while Gaara continued down the other hall. 'No, way, Gaara's making friends!' Kankurou thought to himself. He decided then that he would spur on this friendship, because he was a good brother. (hell yeah!)

"Hey dad?" Kankurou said at dinner that night.

Their father looked up with a questioning look.

"Um, I've got this friend who's in my 7th period class, and he invited all three of us to come to his house to hang out this weekend," Kankurou said.

Temari and Gaara exchanged looks wondering who this friend was, while their father thought about it.

"Who is he?"

"His name is Hyuga Neji; he's a sophomore and lives about three blocks away from us. I have his number and his uncle's name if you want to call and talk to him."

Temari and Gaara's sweat dropped. 'Someone's thought this out..' was the though that ran through both their head.

"He lives with his uncle?"

"Uh, yeah…"

"Why?"

"Never asked."

"I guess its ok," he said finally. Temari and Gaara smiled broadly at this. "Why'd he invite all three of you?"

"We met him on our first day, he showed us around and we kinda became friends…I know his cousin too," Temari said. She discovered that Hinata was not only in her lunch but also sat next to her in family studies ("what the freak how did I not know who she was!").

Their father turned his eyes on Gaara, who shrunk into his chair. "He's in my art class.." he mumbled.

"You can go," he said, beginning to eat again.

All three kids mentally cheered. 'YES!'