Vindicated

Chapter 18: A Blank Paper

Junsui Kegasu: in my school yearbook is a class. I chew on my finger and sleeve all the time…that's my bad habit I put in for Gaara

Ebony: omg I canna wait for carousel to be updated I love how u write and—(freaks out) ACK HIGH PITCH VOICES SINGING ANNOYING AONG! (pant pant) sorry, I'm watchin shrek while updating…anyway…yeah I love how u write and I can't wait to see Neji and Gaara cause it's sooooo awesome!

K-bob: yeah Kankurou went to the bathroom…just at night, when Gaara was in Temari's room or during the day when everyone was at school. Why Kankurou? Cause their father's an abusive asshole…

Shinobi Gaara of the Sand: Gaara's actually good at 2 things in soccer, he just never knew it. goalie is one thing, and the other ull see in this chapter. Omg I haven't talked to u in forEVER I'm so upset! I canna wait for ur next chapter! (sob) I miss u so much! (hey I'm talking to you now :3

Arigato to every one!

Ooh! Random note to readers:

I AM GOING TO FINISH THREE AGAIN!

I saw like, the human version of the story and was struck with inspiration … although I might finish vindicated first

Kankurou relaxed on his bed, eyes closed yet unable to fall into the peacefully quietness of sleep. It's not that his room was loud; in fact the soft breathing of the figure sitting on the floor by his bed was calming enough to put anyone to sleep. However, Kankurou's mind was too full to let himself be in peace, despite Gaara's presence that somehow made him feel more comfortable then he had at all in the past week. He never realized how much he needed Gaara around just as much as Gaara needed him around. He cracked an eye open and looked down at his brother.

His face was set in concentration, total focus on the Gameboy in his hands. Knees drawn up to his chest and hair still damp from his shower. Gaara's pajama's were in the wash right now so he was now clothed in on of Kankurou's old t-shirts and plaid pajama pants that had to be rolled down at the waist four times and tied as tight as it could and the pants legs still hung over his toes.

Kankurou smiled as his little brother muttered things at the Gameboy as if cheering himself on to victory or cursing the nasty turtle people who were beating him, though he was only playing the old Mario 3 game (H-R and Shukaku: That's our favorite game!). He got up slowly and painfully, feeling like an old man to crawl over and rest his head on Gaara's shoulder to watch.

"Where are you?" he asked, voice muffled at the limited jaw movement.

"The water world," Gaara said quietly, keeping his voice as low as he could out of habit.

"That's all?" Kankurou said, laughing.

"Shut up," Gaara mumbled with an embarrassed frown, his focus back on the game.

Kankurou sighed and bit his lip then reached over and took the game from him. Gaara turned around, protesting as he saved and closed the game. He set the game down on his end table and sat back; ignoring Gaara's protests and assuring that the volume was down and not bothering him.

"Gaara, I need to talk to you," Kankurou said quietly.

Gaara stared at him curiously, completely lost. Kankurou smiled to him self; Gaara had always been good at unconsciously forgetting things he didn't want to remember. He gave his bed a pat and Gaara climbed up to sit cross-legged at the foot of his bed, still watching him, questions running across his face. One stuck out more then the rest and Kankurou answered it for him.

"About what happened downstairs."

Gaara froze and began shifting nervously as the memory resurfaced. "You don't have to," he stammered badly. "It's ok."

"No it's not," Kankurou said, shaking his head. "I told you before. I've been a real bastard to you in the past week. I can't believe you went through an entire week without eating!"

"I—I wasn't hungry," Gaara stammered.

"That doesn't matter, you can get really sick from not eating. Kyu says she thinks you were depressed and forgot to eat."

"I—I was worried about you…cause you were l—locking your door…a—and not coming out…"

"I know, I'm sorry, and I'm really sorry I yelled at you to go away. I didn't come out cause I didn't want you to find out. But you really need to know. And I should have told you a long time ago."

Kankurou knew he shouldn't have made Gaara stay up with him like he was, it being a school night, but the words had to be said. It started with an apology, then the rest just spilled out. He talked for over two hours, he lost track, but Gaara listened, not interrupting at all; he seemed to understand that Kankurou just wanted to get it all out. Kankurou told him everything about his own past he'd been holding in and the truth about Gaara's, much of which Gaara could not remember. When he was finished, they both sat in a deep silence for a long time.

"I—I didn't…kill mom?" Gaara said quietly.

"No, Gaara, you didn't," Kankurou said, shaking his head. "I've been trying to tell you that since you were little, but you never believed me. Dad was always mean. The day you were born…you were born too early, cause dad hurt mom and she has to go to the hospital and went into labor. Mom died giving birth to you. It wasn't your fault."

"B—but dad loved mom…"

"He did…he just has anger issues…they got into an argument…a big one, and dad pushed mom down the stairs…" Kankurou told him.

"Well…I don't understand…why did he…h—hurt…you?"

"I don't know, Gaara, I've never understood him," Kankurou said, looking down at the bed in between them. "It's just…after mom died, dad would get irritated and angry at the littlest things. It started with little things…snapping and yelling, then it progressed to hitting and stuff. He's gotten a lot…braver since I was little. I hate the way he treats you…what he does to you, it's horrible!"

Kankurou sighed and looked up at him. Gaara's eyes darted away from where he had been looking at him, back down to the bed.

"I was so mad when I found out that he was hurting you. Then I came home from school one day and he was…strangling you…hitting you and yelling at you. You were eight, and so little…I couldn't stand it. dad and I got into an argument and it turned into a fight…the first one we ever had. I lost, badly, but I realized that I could fight back…and I decided I wouldn't put up with his shit anymore. I tried to get dad turned in, but dad caught me trying to smuggle you out at the same time. He hurt you real bad, and left me alone. It hurt me worse then if he would have hurt me instead. When he was done, he shoved you at me and told me that if I tried anything stupid, he'd kill you…"

There was another long silence.

"…W—why can't I remember any of this?" Gaara finally asked quietly, frowning to himself as he desperately searched for the lost memories.

Kankurou thought for a while. "Maybe cause you didn't want to remember," he suggested. "You're not that good at remembering things anyway." He said grinning sheepishly.

"Oh," was the only reply.

Kankurou tilted his head to the side, watching him brother. "Are you ok?" he asked.

Gaara slowly raised a shoulder and let it drop. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"What are you sorry for?" Kankurou asked, surprised.

"I-I don't know…I just…am," Gaara said quietly. "Does T-Temari know?"

"Yes."

"Oh," Gaara said quietly, his voice not giving anything to what he was thinking. He slowly got off the bed and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.

Kankurou looked after him, gripping his covers tightly as panic rushed in. He forced himself to relax, telling himself that Gaara just needed time to let it all sink in. It was a lot of stuff that was probably hard to believe. Kankurou looked at his door again, wondering where Gaara would go if he didn't sit in his spot on the floor.

Neji yawned and flopped down on his bed. He was bruised. He was battered. He was full. And he was clean. A nice combination of wases. He was tired too though. He curled up under his covers, drifting off instantly, not even bothering to change out of his bathrobe. No dreams came to him, which he was grateful. He wanted to rest, even in his dreams.

He woke up later, feeling annoyed by doing so, because he could tell it was long before he needed to get up. A glance at his clock told him that it was only two in the morning. He closed his eyes again, but sleep wouldn't return to him. He brought his hand up to brush hair off his face and froze.

Frowning slightly, he fumbled around his bed, reaching blindly around in the dark. His fingers touched warm skin and he jerked them back, sitting up, surprised. The moon and street lights were shining in his window casting a very dim light in the room. He widened his eyes as much as he could, taking in the light to see better and looked back down at his bed.

"…." Neji stared, then reached out again, touching the figure, taken by complete surprise.

The touch wakened the dozing figure, who groaned and shifted slightly, emerging from sleep into awareness.

"Gaara?" Neji said, shaking his head, still shocked.

Gaara sighed sleepily and pushed himself up on his elbows. "I'm sorry," he mumbled.

"What are you doing here?" Neji asked, glancing at the door, as if expecting someone to walk in on them.

"I—I don't know…I was walking and… I ended up here," Gaara sat up suddenly and started to swing himself off the bed. "I'm sorry, I'll leave."

"No, no, no!" Neji reached out and pulled Gaara back. "Don't leave!"

"But I shouldn't be here! I'm gonna get you in trouble."

"Who let you in?" Neji asked.

"The back window was open."

"You snuck in my house because you were going for a walk?" Neji asked, confused.

There was a pause between them. Gaara hung his head, still convinced this was a mistake. Neji looked at him and leaned towards him.

"Did something bad happen at home?" Neji asked in a much softer voice. He reached out and put his arm around Gaara's shoulders, bringing him closer.

Gaara didn't answer for a while. He moved into him, burying his face in Neji's warm robe. "Kankurou and I had a talk," he said.

Neji made a thinking sound, remembering how Gaara had come up to him every day, worried about his brother. He supposed they must have made up, but there seemed to be more to the story, but Gaara didn't tell and Neji didn't press. He smiled warmly, lying back down and wrapped his arms around Gaara's smaller body, pulling him closer so that Gaara was lying on his stomach using him as a pillow. Gaara sunk into his embrace with no flinching or shakiness. He wanted Neji's comfort. Neji rested his cheek on Gaara's head and began running slow soft circles with his fingers on his back.

"Sh…" he whispered, though the other boy was completely silent. "It's ok…Talk to me, Gaara…tell me what's wrong."

"Kankurou told me…that when he was little, dad..dy use to hurt him too," Gaara said slowly and softly.

Neji frowned at the use of the word 'daddy'. Gaara rarely referred to his father as daddy and only when he was thinking about something wrong, something that Neji would be upset with. He didn't say anything about it though.

"Really?" he asked.

Gaara nodded against him. "W-when I got home, he was hurting Kankurou, and he called Kankurou a wimp and a sissy like I am…and then he hurt me and sent me upstairs … Kankurou didn't come up until a lot later."

"He hurt you too?" Neji asked softly. "Where?"

"My hair," Gaara answered quietly. "He pulled it and grabbed my neck."

Neji lean forward and kissed his fore head, the moved his hand up to gently rub and run his fingers through his thick red hair. With his other hand he went to the back of Gaara's neck and rubbed it as well. He felt Gaara lean into his touch, wanting it more. Like a cat when you touch it's favorite spot.

"It's not your fault though," Neji whispered in a soft soothing voice.

When Gaara spoke, his voice sounded funny. It was a mix between the pleasure of Neji easing the pain in his neck and the upset one that was the one he was trying to use. "B—but Kankurou said…that the only reason daddy was leaving me alone was because he…he was…h—hurting…Kank—" As he spoke his voice cracked and his shaking became uncontrollable as tears spilled down his cheeks. "S—so it—it is m—my fault…"

Neji bit his lip and hugged him. "No…no…no, no," he said.

Gaara looked up at him, and Neji pulled away, looking down at him, eyes half closed in a content way.

"Kankurou could have fought back," Neji continued, "but he didn't. He chose not too. Right?" he cupped Gaara's face in his hand and leaned forward. "It's much too heavy for one person to bear all alone," he whispered, his lips barely touching Gaara's.

He leaned forward more, meeting his lips in a soft kiss. He lingered there for a moment then broke it, pulling Gaara to him so that any space that was left between them was now nonexistent.

Gaara allowed Neji to pull him in, resting his head on Neji's chest, the warmth of his arms around him were more comfortable then the softest blankets. He sighed sleepily and wrapped his own arms around Neji. Maybe it was the fact that he was tired and Kankurou's story that left him dazed and confused, but he didn't mind the kiss, or the closeness of the other boy. He found himself feeling upset when Neji broke away, but was content to lie in the boy's arms. Neji continued to draw circles on his back, running his hands up and down his spine, sending small shivers throughout his body. He fell asleep that night listening to Neji's heart beat.

Hyuga Hanabi was at the age where she thought she deserved to be treated like a teenager even though she was only ten years old. Her sister Hinata was a morbid, quiet girl whose stare could stop a herd of raging bulls in their tracks. Her cousin Neji was a cool, gay, soccer player. Neither was willing to play the role of the popular kid that knew everything. Hanabi decided that she would take on the role. She didn't care if she was annoying, or sometimes mean, it wasn't her fault that she was superior to all around her. But she forgave them for their mistakes because they could not help it; just like she was forgiving Neji right now for sleeping in late by going into his room without knocking and waking him up.

However, she was not expecting to see what she saw when she walked into his room.

"…." she raised an eye brow. "DADDY! NEJI HAD SEX LAST NIGHT WITH HIS BOYFRIEND!"

"I swear we weren't doing anything!" Neji insisted, blushing darkly from where he sat in front of Hiashi, who was trying his hardest not to laugh. "Gaara came over last night and fell asleep. Nothing happened. Clothes were kept on throughout the night!"

Hiashi folded his arms and gave him an even look. "When did Gaara come over?" he asked.

"I don't know…late. Everyone was asleep. Someone left the window open," Neji said.

"So you planned this ahead of time?"

"NO!" Neji cried, freaking out. "Oh, my god!" he groaned, head in hands.

Gaara peeked in from where he sat in the kitchen, eating breakfast. He looked back at Hinata's mother with a questioning look.

"Did I get Neji in trouble?" he asked, quietly.

"Oh, no," she replied laughing. "Hiashi's just humoring himself. We know you two didn't do anything and even if you did, why should we punish you two for it?"

Gaara blushed and shrugged. "What about me coming in so late?" he asked.

"It's ok," she said. "We love having you over here, just call first next time so you don't have to climb through the window."

"Ok," Gaara said with his mouth full of muffins.

Neji came into the kitchen a few minutes later looking harassed. He sat down next to Gaara and muttered a thanks as his aunt placed a plate of waffles in front of him. They ate in silence until Gaara got up to put his empty plate and cup in the sink. The cup slipped through his fingers and smashed on the floor.

He whirled around to Hinata's mom as one of the butler people came over to clean it. "I'm sorry! I'm really, really sorry!"

Gaara dropped to the ground and started frantically trying to gather up all the broken pieces, repeating over and over how sorry he was. Hinata's mom, worried he'd cut himself, knelt down next to him and put her arm around his shoulder, bringing him to stand up straight again. Gaara shook and squeezed his eyes shut, expecting some kind of punishment, but none came.

"It's ok, Gaara-kun, it's just a cup," she said smiling. The butler finished picking the pieces up and threw them away. He bowed to Hinata's mom and backed away again. "See? It's all better now, calm down."

"But…" Gaara's voice trailed off, staring, very confused off into space.

Hinata's mom gave him a slight pat on the shoulder and gave him a nudge to go back and sit with Neji, who just smiled reassuringly at him, mouth full, gesturing to his waffles. Gaara shook his head as Hanabi pointed her fork at Neji, demanding why Gaara was allowed to touch his waffles but she wasn't allowed to look at them. Neji glared at her and mutter 'can it' around his mouthful, pointing his knife at her.

Neji refused to ride with his cousins because of what happened that morning. He and Gaara walked to school, Gaara afraid to even look at the fuming Neji. Hanabi barely let him eat from embarrassment. He finally left the table and went upstairs to shower. Gaara went up to his room later, still confused at why he hadn't been yelled at or punished, but neither could look at the other without blushing. He lent Gaara clothes and shoes for the day since Gaara had walked over in Kankurou's pajamas and bare feet. It was all big for him, but Gaara was use to it. It was chilly this morning so they were both wearing hoodies as they stepped onto the school ground. Neji sat down with a huff on a bench under a blooming tree, hands on his knees. Gaara stood near watching him warily, like a bomb about to go off.

Finally, he inched over so he was nonchalantly closer. "Are you mad at me?" he asked.

"No!"

"Ok," Gaara said, looking away. "Should I not do that anymore?"

Neji glanced up at him, then rolled his eyes grinning. "Nah, it's ok. I'm just annoyed with Hanabi," he said.

Gaara looked very relieved and sat down next to him.

"N—Neji?"

"Hm?"

"Why wasn't your aunt…mad at me?" Gaara asked quietly.

"It was just a cup," Neji said shortly. "No big. We have lots."

"But…but I broke it," Gaara persisted.

"I know," Neji said smiling kindly. "But still, it was just a cup."

Gaara hung his head. "I still don't understand why she didn't yell at me," he mumbled.

"It's ok," Neji assured him. "You will…eventually."

"Um…Neji?"

"Hm?"

"Could you…um…would….please…." Gaara stared down at his hands as they fiddled nervously. He blushed darkly.

Neji smiled, reaching out to lift his chin, then leaned in and kissed him. Gaara smiled embarrassed, blushing darkly as Neji smiled at him.

"That what you wanted?" Neji asked.

Gaara blushed darker and stared down at his hands.

"GAARA!"

The two boys looked up as Temari and Kankurou ran up to them. Temari threw her arms around him, crying about her worries and how he should never do that again. Kankurou pushed her away and grabbed both his shoulders.

"Where did you go?" he demanded.

Gaara couldn't hear any anger in his voice at all, which made him feel better. He looked down and said apologetically, "I was at Neji's. I'm sorry."

Kankurou sighed and seemed to relax. "Ok…Sorry I was just worried," he said, releasing him.

"It's ok," Gaara assured him.

Kankurou gave him an even look and pulled him away from Temari and Neji. "Ok … what's wrong?" he asked.

Gaara looked confused. "Huh?"

"You look like you're floating on cloud nine," Kankurou said crossing his arms. "What happened and should I kill Neji?"

Gaara grinned sheepishly. "No…" he said, all sparkles and shonen ai.

"….." Kankurou's eyes narrowed. "He kissed you didn't he?"

Gaara blushed slightly and tried not to smile, quite ineffectively, then nodded. Kankurou pursed his lips together and turned to glare at Neji.

(Art-Gaara Neji)

Neji glared at the piece of paper on his desk. It was a blank piece of paper. The most hated thing on Neji's 'I hate' list. It was up there with Gaara's dad, Itachi and spinach. It screamed for something to unblankify it. However, Neji could not, for the life of him, think of anything to do just that. He glanced over at Gaara who was going scissor happy with the magazines donated to the Art department for students who like going scissor happy. Gaara's assignment was to make a collage out of whatever he wanted out of magazine clippings. Neji had to sketch out two pictures of chaotic, emotional figures and paint one with expression. But no matter how much Neji racked his brain, he couldn't think of anything.

Laying out his options, he ignored Gaara, who was tossing another destroyed magazine, nearly all the figures in it missing at least one of their eyes, over his shoulder into the box where they came from, then picked up another, and thought hard. Which emotions were chaotic? Fear, anger, angst, rage, wrath, depression. This was a pretty depressing assignment.

Abandoning it for the moment, he turned to Gaara who was poking through his large pile of different color and size eyes.

"I don't have enough," Gaara said, thinking aloud.

"Maybe not, but you look like your enjoying yourself, so I don't think finding more will be a problem," Neji said, leaning on his elbow.

"Wanna see?" Gaara asked.

Neji scooted his chair over and joined him in shifting through the eyes, smiling as Gaara showed him each one he picked up as well as the one Neji picked up.

Haku smiled at the substitute who was monitoring the bathrooms for who ever they were subbing for and handed him the pass. The sub smiled at him then gave him a weird look as Haku turned and went into the boy's bathroom. Haku smiled to himself at this, finding delight in confusing people with his gender. As the door closed behind him he heard someone loudly clearing their throat behind him. Turning, he was surprised to see Kankurou.

"Hi, Kankurou," Haku said, smiling. "What's up?"

"Not…much," Kankurou said slowly.

"What's wrong?" Haku asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I donno," Kankurou said, shoving his hands in his pockets. "Maybe I just want to know…why you brought Gaara back to the house last week." He ended this sentence with anger and a demanding tone.

"Oh," Haku said shortly. He hung his head and tried to explain himself.

Flashback

"Haku, this isn't the way to my house," Gaara said, confused, frowning. "Where're we going?"

"Um…we're going to my house," Haku said, keeping his eyes on the road.

Gaara stared, but Haku couldn't see his expression. "Why?" he asked. His voice had a hint of fear in it, and confusion.

"Kankurou asked me to take you there," Haku explained. "He's coming later with Temari."

"I don't understand," Gaara said.

"Well,…Kankurou wants you three to…not be home for a while," Haku said. "You'll go to my house for a while, and then Kankurou's going to come and take you somewhere safe he said."

"Run away?" Gaara asked staring.

"Yeah."

"No!" Gaara cried. "Take me home, Haku, please! I don't want to run away!"

"Why not?" Haku asked.

"Cause! Dad'll be so mad at me!" Gaara said.

"I don't think you'll be seeing your dad after this, Gaara," Haku said as they came to a red light. He finally turned and looked at Gaara.

He looked so scared to Haku. Afraid, not trusting, feeling betrayed. Haku looked at him sadly, wondering what thoughts were running through his head. He looked nearly ready to cry.

"Please, Haku!" Gaara begged. "Take me home! I don't want him to be angry with me anymore!"

End Flashback

"I'm sorry, Kankurou," Haku said, quietly. "I couldn't bare the look on his face. He didn't want to leave and I didn't understand why. I still don't and I don't understand why you wanted him to leave in the first place. I'm sure you wouldn't want to tell me, but I just could stand it."

Kankurou sighed. "Right," he said, thinking. He knew Haku hadn't had it out for him, he knew Haku really cared about Gaara. He just couldn't bear to do something that would make Gaara upset.

"Thanks anyway," Kankurou said, turning and leaving the bathroom. Haku stared after him still upset about what had happened.

(C Lunch Neji Kankurou)

"GOD DAMNIT MOTHERFUCKER!"

Kankurou's eyebrow slowly went up as his eyes followed Neji as the angry Hyuga sit down across from him. Neji threw his book bag onto the table, ripping out his lunch then knocking his bag onto the ground. He sighed loudly and exasperatedly and began demolishing the poor carrots his aunt had packed for him.

Kankurou waited until Neji became so annoyed that he wasn't questioning his rage that he was burning holes in the older boy's head before saying anything.

"Is something bothering you?" he asked, smiling kindly.

Finally, Neji was allowed to vent the pent up rant that had been boiling inside him since the end of second period. "There is a piece of paper, up in the art room and it has my name on it and it is blank."

"So?"

Neji glared at him. "It's blank. There is nothing on it. It is empty of that which would be my art work."

"Why's that?"

"Because I can't think of anything to put on it!" Neji cried, making wild, angry gestures with his hands.

Kankurou grinned. "You'll think of something, I'm sure," he said, drinking his soda. He watched Neji huff and began eating his sandwich before continuing. "Draw Gaara."

Neji's head snapped up. "Huh?"

Kankurou shrugged. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind if you asked him," he said. "It just popped up in my head, that's all."

Neji sat back and thought for a moment, but that moment was all he needed as thousands of inspirational possibilities ran through his head. Drawing a subject always was easier to get ideas from. Neji smiled, feeling better, he'd ask Gaara after school.

"Speaking of Gaara," Kankurou said, clearing his throat pointedly.

Neji smiled suddenly and looked at him expectantly.

"Dude…you kissed my brother."

"We've been over this before," Neji said in a perky voice.

"Yeah, but I mean…you really kissed him this time!" Kankurou said louder then he intended. Several heads turned to stare at him, but Kankurou didn't care. "I was ok with the cheek thing, but you kissed him kissed him!" he shrieked.

Neji just smiled and shrugged. "I don't think he minded," he said, taking a sip of his water.

"I MIND!" Kankurou shouted.

Just then Kyu walked by, getting quotes for the yearbook since the person she was interviewing wasn't available during seventh period.

"Hi, Kankurou!" she said cheerfully, as she hurried by.

"Hi," Kankurou said in a dreamy voice watching her until she turned and left the cafeteria. He turned back to Neji. "I MIND!"

"He asked me to."

"THE HELL HE DID!"

"Young man you need to calm down," a random cafeteria monitor person said.

Kankurou slumped back down in his chair and glared at Neji. "I'll deal with you later," he promised the still smiling Neji.

Gaara watched the players from where he was perched in a tree to get a better view, chewing on his pen. Every once and a while he'd make a little note on the clip board Genma gave him. He really didn't feel comfortable evaluating the players and their skills, since he wasn't good himself, but that was what Genma wanted him to do whether he liked it or not.

As the whistle was blown for a break, the players flocked over to their stuff for their drinks. Gaara climbed down out of the tree and went over to them, handing Genma the clip board before going over to Neji and his friends. Neji gave him some of his Gatorade, which he sipped then gave back, listening to the soccer players talk. Someone grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.

"Did you say nice things about me?" the boy who grabbed him said.

Gaara swallowed and backed away. It was the boy from the first practice. He didn't know this boy's name. How could he remember what he wrote down? "I don't know," he said, honestly.

"Sure you don't," the boy said, glaring down at him. Gaara could see his friends standing behind him, laughing. "I hope you said pretty things, you—"

"Back off," Kiba said.

"Or what?" the boy said. Neji turned and faced him as well, standing next to Gaara and Kiba glaring. The boy addressed Neji. "You gonna fight me too? How romantic. You'll be off the team if you do."

"My only question is why you would need to know what he wrote," Neji said, calmly. "If you're a decent enough player, you should have to worry about it."

The boy and his friends glared at him, then laughed as if they made them say exactly what they wanted, then walked passed them, knocking into Gaara doing so, giving him nasty looks and muttering things only he could hear clearly.

"Assholes," Kiba muttered. "Don't worry about it, man," he added giving Gaara a grin.

Gaara laughed nervously as the other boys laughed also and poked fun at the boy and his friends. He watched Neji grin then shake his head at them. Neji took another few gulps of his drink then picked up a ball and a ball bag then walked out onto the field, not asking Gaara to follow him, since he knew he would anyway.

"Shouldn't you be resting?" Gaara asked.

"I did," Neji said. He took his bandanna off and shook his hair out. He rolled the bandanna up again then wrapped it around his head, tying it underneath his hair, then slipped a hair tie off his wrist and pulled his hair off his face in a pony tail just below the bandanna tie (normal Neji hair do like how we first saw him in the manga). "There," he said satisfied. "You learn to kick straight yet?"

Gaara shook his head.

"Throwing's good then," he said. "Wanna help me?"

"Sure," Gaara said, catching the ball Neji threw at him.

"Throw the balls towards the line, but not over it. Let it bounce a few times and I'll try to keep it from going out," Neji said.

Gaara nodded and pulled the bag of balls over to him. When he looked up Neji was watching him, looking him over as if analyzing him. Gaara froze where he was and glanced around confused, wondering what was wrong.

"What?" he asked.

"You know that thing I have to do for Art?" Neji asked.

"Yeah," Gaara replied slowly.

"Could I use you for subject?"

Gaara stood up straight again, looking surprised. "Me?" he asked.

"No, the other you behind you," Neji said sarcastically. He almost laughed as Gaara started to glance behind him. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

"No, it's ok," Gaara said quickly. "I'll do it."

"Yeah?" Neji asked his smile widening. "Awesome, thanks. Alright, let's go."

His eyes locked on the ball in Gaara's hands, waiting for him to throw it. Gaara drew his arms back then did so, letting it fly across the field, watching Neji sprint after it. Neji slid his foot underneath the ball just before it went out and clipped it up into the air. Once he righted himself, he dribbled the ball back to where Gaara was waiting with another ball.

"Like that?" Gaara asked.

"Yeah, just like that," Neji said smiling. "Where'd you learn to throw like that?"

"Huh?"

"That was a really…good throw," Neji said, gesturing towards the direction he had come from.

"I—I don't know…"

"Well…that was a really good throw," Neji repeated. "Lemme see you do that again," he added, smiling broadly, getting ready to run again.

Gaara threw all fifteen balls towards the line, allowing it to bounce at least twice. Neji chased after them, trying to catch them before they bounce out, then brought them back and started again. Out of the fifteen balls, Neji only missed two. As he brought the last one back, pissed at himself for missing it, his friends came up wanting to play a game.

"We're short one," Neji said frowning.

"No we're not," #5 said, grinning. He draped an arm around Gaara's thin shoulders. "Gaara makes an even eight."

Gaara stared then pulled out of his arm. "I can't play," he said, apologetically. "I can't even kick a ball right."

"You'll be GK then," Kiba said, grinning.

"But—"

"Hey, you're good man," he insisted. "Besides it's just for fun."

Gaara frowned, disturbed then glanced up at Neji, who looked ecstatic at the thought of him playing with them. He bit his lip then nodded, saying ok.

"Alright then!" #2 said, grinning widely. "I get Gaara," he added, leaning on the smaller boy.

"Neji," said #4.

"Kiba," #2 said.

They divided the players then started the game, playing until Genma blow the whistle for the twenty minute break to end.

Hiashi got out of the car as Gaara did after he pulled up to the house. Neji and Gaara looked at him curiously as he shut his door.

"I'm just going to assure your father that there was no problem about last night," he explained.

Gaara instantly whirled around to Neji, looking terrified. Neji bit his lip and got out of the car as well. As Hiashi turned and started walking towards the house, Neji took Gaara's shaking hand and the two walk slowly behind him. Hiashi knocked on the door, which opened almost instantly revealing Gaara's father standing behind it. Neji frowned at the thought of Gaara's father waiting for him to come home. An eyebrow was raised at the two Hyuga's and dropped to a frown at the sight of Gaara standing with them.

"Where were you?" the question was practically spat at the redhead.

"Sorry," came the quiet response.

"He was at my house," Hiashi said, cutting in. "It's fine though, we enjoy having him over."

Gaara's father gave Hiashi an exasperated look. "I don't care whether it was fine with you. He snuck out last night with out permission and with out calling. Kankurou didn't even know where he was."

"I understand your concern," Hiashi said. "He should have called, but I didn't think of it until after they left for school. If it's alright with you, Gaara could spend the night after practice so that your family wont have to delay dinner."

"I do not reward disobedience, Hyuga-san," Gaara's father said, eyes narrowing. "Gaara, get inside. Now."

Keeping his eyes downcast, Gaara let go of Neji's hand and went inside. His father thanked Hiashi for bringing him home. Hiashi and Neji bowed their goodbyes and returned to the car, immersed in their own thoughts.

Gaara watched as his father turned to him after making sure the two Hyugas were gone, every ounce livid at his youngest son. Gaara backed away from him until he met the wall in the living room.

"I—I'm sorry," he whimpered as his father approached him. Cold sweat clung to his face and he couldn't stop his shaking that felt like giant tremors racking his body. "I'm sorry daddy, I'm sorry. P—please—"

"Shut up," his father said. Not a shout—Gaara would have preferred a shout, but a soft voice, icy and dripping with venom. "Stop your sniveling. You know you were bad. And you know you need to be punished. Don't you dare make a sound."

Gaara bit his lip until blood filled his mouth. He didn't make a sound. He stayed where he was, pinned to the wall by his father's hand at the base of his neck, ready to choke him if he struggled. Each blow hurt worse then the last, but he didn't make a sound. He was wrenched from the wall, and then slammed back into it, his feet hanging a near foot from the ground. He coughed up blood from his lip or somewhere else, he didn't know. It wouldn't stop. He clung to consciousness. He couldn't comprehend anything his father was saying. He felt his arm snap as it got caught in a funny position behind him as he was slammed into the wall again. He whimpered in pain and was rewarded with a hard punch in the face and was slammed side ways into the wall, his face hitting a frame of a picture on the wall. Noises were blurring together as was the living room and the man in front of him.

Someone scream.

His father cursing and he fell, the world going black before he hit the ground.