Vindicated

Chapter 20: Sleeping Angel

YAY! Happy birthday to all! finally everyone can get something new! surprises for all! and absolutely never before read chapter of Vindicated!

Dragon man 180: nyoh…gomen, just watch and take care of him for the rest of the afternoon…wouldn't it be awesome if he told Neji to take him away? Ha! Neji the puppy! Funny mental picture!

Alisha: (scuffles over to hide behind shinobi Gaara)(peeks out) don't kill me! if I killed kazebastard it would completely ruin the near future plot… I don't wanna haveta change the entire ending I have planned!

Junsui Kegasu: yep yep after this its ALL new stuff! Someone of which not even you have seen (but will probably see in the near future (hail IM)) (dot dot face) temari bit…(goes back to check) what temari bit? U mean how she hid in the closet?...oh right…poor temari….(sob)

Shinobi Gaara of the Sand: I don't like nice kazebastard…ruins the whole thing…SQUISHINESS SHALL CONTINUE! (falls off chait from being overdramatic)

Chinese Fairy: (h-r has been overblown by flattery) u all need to stop before I float away or something….h-r's head is getting too big for her hat…wah in answer to ur question…have you read my earlier works? The writing is horrible…childish! Vindicated on the first go round was pretty bad too, but I got into the angst style and that's what happened (nod nod) I read too much and I think too much…it's a thinking thing….plus I have like no life whatsoever so this is how I occupy my time!

VanillaPudding: Neji is sweet! He just doesn't like to show it that often in the manga! I sent u an email with the bored cow face picture I hope that worked (heart)

Kankurou and Temari went home as fast as they could after school, stopping at the store first to get little things they thought their brother might like and be able to keep down. When they walked out of the store they each had bags of multiple types of soups and other food items they thought their brother might enjoy and keep down. Their father's car wasn't in the driveway when they walked up to the house. Both grew angry at the thought of him leaving Gaara alone and hurried inside. Temari said she was going to make some of the soup and Kankurou went upstairs.

Opening the door to his father's room as quietly as he could, he peeked in, thankful that he saw somewhat what he expected to see.

Neji was sitting behind Gaara on the bed, his arms wrapped defensively around Gaara's chest. Gaara was sleeping soundly; his head slumped down from lack of support, leaning slightly on Neji's arm. His own arms were lying loosely on the bed next to Neji's legs.

Neji's head rolled lazily towards the door as Kankurou opened it the rest of the way. He blinked sleepily and smiled.

"Hey."

"Thought you might be here," Kankurou said. "Where's my dad?"

"Left. Bastard."

"Don't I know it," Kankurou scoffed. There was a paused then, Kankurou gave him a worried look. "He wasn't gone when you got here was he?"

"No," Neji said. "He left a bit after I got here." Neji made a noise then sighed, shifting as much as he dared. "He's asleep isn't he?"

"Like a baby," Kankurou said, carefully sitting on the edge of the bed. Frowning, he reached out and brushed Gaara's cheek. Finding dampness, he looked up at Neji. "Why was he crying?"

"Cause your father's an asshole," Neji snapped.

"Don't I know it," Kankurou repeated.

He reached out and gently shook Gaara's shoulder, calling his name softly. Neji couldn't see Gaara's face, but saw Kankurou smiled as Gaara shifted and apparently opened his eyes.

"Come on," Kankurou said, holding his arms out.

As the weight, light as it was, was lifted off him, Neji stretched, trying wake up his sleeping legs. Kankurou carried Gaara out of the master bedroom to the family bathroom off the hall. Neji followed, but didn't turn into the bathroom. He continued to Kankurou's room when he sat on the bed and waited.

Gaara groaned sleepily as Kankurou sat him down on the toilet. He let Kankurou slip his shirt off and waited, eyes closed, as his brother examined all of his bandages and bruises. Kankurou smiled as Gaara placed his elbow on the sink to rest his sleepy head on his hand. Satisfied that nothing need to be changed or altered, Kankurou sat back and studied his brother, who was starting to fall asleep again. He seemed fine and recovering quickly, but Kankurou wasn't so sure.

"Are you sure nothing's broken?" he asked.

Gaara sleepily held up his left arm.

Kankurou couldn't help but shake with anger at the thought of this. Their father had made him hold Gaara down as he set the bone. Gaara had been terrified and even the warning of not to make a noise from their father couldn't keep the red head from crying out in pain.

"I know your arm's broken, but dad set it right?"

Gaara nodded, barely hearing what he was saying.

"I mean here," Kankurou persisted, pointing vaguely around Gaara's chest area.

There was no response.

"Gaara, wake up," Kankurou called, smiling slightly.

Gaara in took a breath sharply and sat up straighter, blinking stupidly, giving Kankurou a questioning look.

"Does anything hurt here?" he repeated, pointing around Gaara's chest.

Gaara shook his head.

"Not at all? Does it hurt to breath or anything?"

Another shake.

"Can you move around comfortably?"

Gaara shook his head. "Where bandages… hurt…" he mumbled sleepily.

Kankurou smiled, relieved. "Ok, good. Temari's making you soup."

"Wha' kind?"

"Chicken and stars I think."

"Yay…" Gaara cheered in a pathetically sleepy voice.

Kankurou smiled at him then sat down on the edge of the bathtub. Gaara's head started nodding again. Kankurou watched him closely, then sighed heavily and looked at him in concern.

"Gaara, why were you crying?"

"I wasn't!" Gaara cried, suddenly fully awake.

Kankurou stared at him evenly then got up and helped him put his shirt back on, not saying anything. Gaara stared down at the tiled floor for a moment.

"He—he said I was a worthless piece of shit," Gaara mumbled quietly.

Kankurou paused in his movements but didn't say anything.

"He said that Neji was an idiot for wanting to be near something as disgusting as—as me."

As he spoke, his voice broke and tears welled up in his eyes. Kankurou wrapped his arms around Gaara and hugged him tightly. Gaara did the same, burying his face in Kankurou's shirt.

"He—he told Neji how p—pathetic I am! I didn't want Neji to know that! I didn't want him to think that! Neji'll hate me now!"

Kankurou gently rubbed his brother's back as the boy cried, trying to calm him with soft words.

"He—he told Neji how p—pathetic I am! I didn't want Neji to know that! I didn't want him to think that! Neji'll hate me now!"

Neji moved away from the wall that divided Kankurou's room from the bathroom. He slumped down to the floor against Kankurou bed and covered his face with his hands, anger boiling up inside him. He wanted to run into the room next door and hug Gaara. Hold him and tell him that he wasn't pathetic, or a worthless piece of shit. Tell him that he thought Gaara was perfect and he would always think that. He was so mad at Gaara's father that compared to Itachi the Uchiha was his best friend. He half wanted the man to come home so that he could storm down and beat the man like he beat Gaara.

He hadn't realized the pressure he was putting on his own face out of anger until Temari came in and touched his arm. He looked up at her concerned face, then back down at his knees.

"You really care for Gaara don't you?" she asked.

Neji nodded. "How could that…monster…do that to Gaara?" he demanded, keeping his voice to a low hiss. "Why does Gaara think he's so pathetic?"

"Because that's what—"

"His father tells him," Neji finished, not even sure why he asked the question.

"Neji…" Temari started, setting the bowl of soup she's been holding on Kankurou's nightstand. She sat down next to him. "Gaara really likes you too. I've never seen him so comfortable with someone other then Kankurou or me. But…as much as he likes you…he's just as much afraid of you."

"Why is he afraid of me?" Neji asked, mortified by the thought.

"He's afraid of your rejection," Temari said. "That's why he always tries to hold back when you ask him questions and gets upset when you push. He wants more then anything to be able to get away from that fear and trust you, but he loves you so much that he's afraid you'll push him away if you knew everything."

"I'd never do that!" Neji insisted.

"I know that, and Kankurou knows that. And Gaara wants to believe that, but, Neji, he's had so many problems with friends that it's hard for him."

"Those people weren't friends," Neji said darkly. "They were bastards that need to burn."

"Yeah, I know," she said. "Trust me, the ones Gaara told Kankurou about paid for what they did, but you have to understand, Gaara doesn't even tell Kankurou everything that happens. When bad things happen, he usually just smiles it off and pretends everything is alright, but we can tell it's not. He wont tell; he doesn't want Kankurou to worry about it. As much as he loves being with Kankurou, he doesn't want Kankurou's life to revolve around his needs. He wants Kankurou to have fun, and enjoy himself. It's the same with you."

Neji looked down, thinking this over, but looked up as the door opened again and Kankurou and Gaara came in. Gaara's eyes were dry, but they were red and slightly puff from crying.

As Kankurou placed him on the bed, Neji instantly got up and sat down next to Gaara, wrapping his arms around him, hugging him tight, biting his lip as he did. Gaara blinked in surprise and looked sideways at Neji, but all he could see was the blackness of Neji's hair.

Kankurou and Temari exchanged a knowing glance before turning and leaving, letting the two be alone. Gaara stared after them in surprise, completely unsure of what to do.

"N—Neji…what's—"

"Gaara…" Neji started, his voice uneven. "Gaara, I love you…no matter what h—happens or—or what anyone says, understand?"

Gaara started and tried to pull away from Neji. "Neji, don't cry!" he said worried. "D—don't cry, please."

Neji held him closer, not letting him go. "I can't help it!" Neji cried, tears dripping down onto Gaara's shoulder. "I don't think you're worthless and you're hardly pathetic. I love you so much…please understand that and believe me!"

Gaara bit his lip as it trembled and buried his face into Neji's hair, tears forming in his own eyes. His arms slowly went around Neji and hugged him.

"I believe you, Neji."

"I think I'm gonna cry," Temari said, her ear pressed against the door to Kankurou.

Kankurou smiled at her then sat down against the door, waiting. As many horrible things their father had ever done to them, He had done one good thing: bringing them here to the Konoha district. As bad as things were, they were starting to slowly change from black to grey, slowly coming into colors neither of them had seen in a long time.

They waited another silent ten minutes then quietly opened the door again.

Both boy's had fallen asleep in each other's arms. Neji hadn't slept much the previous night and his immovability earlier had tired his body. Gaara was just plain exhausted and still in pain; he must have just let his body shut down for a while.

Smiling at the two on the bed, the two older siblings snuck into the room and went up to them, gently separating them.

"Ino-chan, I'm worried!"

"Why's that?"

"Gaara-chan was not in school again," Haku stated not caring how loud he was being. It was an open street. He could be as loud as he wanted.

"Maybe he's sick," Ino suggested, swinging her purse a little.

Haku paused a moment. "Something tells me he isn't," he said shortly.

"Then maybe he skipped," she said. "What does it matter?"

Haku didn't answer, keeping his pouting face on while inside he thought it out in his head. Gaara missed school a lot. Unfortunately, he did seem like the kind of person to get sick easily, but his confrontation with Kankurou in the bathroom made him start to doubt that. Unknowingly, his guesses were starting to near the truth, but to him, the thought of the three having problems at home was a wild guess and he dismissed it.

He said good bye to Ino as she turned to go into her work then continued on down the street. As he walked he noticed a familiar lavender haired boy coming out of a 7/11 with a bag of cigarettes in his hand. Frowning in determination, Haku stormed over to the unexpecting older twin.

"UKON!"

Ukon jumped three feet in the air and whirled around to face who ever had screamed his name, clutching his bag tight.

"IT WASN'T ME! I SWEAR! I'M INNOCENT! I—Haku—?"

"You are gonna tell me what I want to know! Or you will suffer a slow and creative death!" Haku glowered, grabbing the front of his shirt and slamming him against the wall of the store.

Ukon broke out in cold sweat. "Huh?"

"Don't gimme that! I know you know! And you're gonna tell me!"

Ukon whimpered and held his hands up. "Ok-ok-ok-ok! Please don't hurt me!" he cried. He looked at Haku's glowering expression, the looking away. "Sakkon!" he whined in a high pitched voice, loud enough for the entire street and the next one over to hear him.

"Oh, no! Don't you go calling your brother for backup!" Haku said. "You and Kankurou are friends and drug buddies! He must have told you something!"

Ukon's franticness died and he looked back at Haku. "Oh, it's that," he said, calmly. He knocked Haku's hands away and crossed his arms. "Look, Haku—"

"Their father hurts Gaara-chan, doesn't he?"

Ukon's eyebrow raised and he turned and walked away, heading towards the red truck where his brother was waiting. Haku stormed after him until Ukon reached the car and turned to him.

"Do you know you're annoying?"

"Do you know child abuse is illegal?"

Ukon opened the truck door and sat down, but didn't shut it. He just sat in thought, then glanced at his brother, who shrugged.

"It's not for me to tell," Ukon said, finally.

"I'm right though, aren't I? That's why Gaara-chan comes to school every day with bruises and limps and—and bandages," Haku said. The thought of it all hurt him inside, and it was starting to show on the outside.

"Doesn't matter if you're right, don't tell anyone," Ukon said.

"Why not? If he is, he has to be stopped!"

"Don't you think they've tried?" Ukon said, his voice rising to a shout. "You think Kankurou hates his brother so that he doesn't try to stop him? You selfish idiot!" With that he slammed his door shut and asked Sakkon to go.

Haku watched the truck drive away. Kankurou didn't hate his brother. He knew that. The missing pieces of his puzzle slowly came together. Kankurou had wanted to get Gaara away from the house. Kankurou had tried to help Gaara run away, trusting him to get Gaara away. He had brought Gaara back to that house and let Kankurou down.

Turning sadly, he stepped back onto the side walk and slowly walked down the street again.

What a horrible person he was.

Gaara yawned as he opened his eyes, mentally noting how much he had been sleeping that day. It was day right? He glanced over at the window and saw the blinds and shade pulled down to make the room almost completely black, but some of the daylight was shining in from their cracks. The room was dark, but the dim light was on Kankurou's nightstand next to his head lighting the room enough for comfort.

He wondered where Kankurou was. Maybe downstairs eating or something. Or talking to Temari. When had he fallen asleep? He remembered waking up with Kankurou in the bathroom then being taken into his brother's room and talking to and crying with Neji.

Neji.

Where was Neji?

Gaara turned his head and glanced over, towards where Kankurou slept all the time. Kankurou wasn't sleeping there though, it was Neji.

Gaara suppressed a startled gasp and looked away, blushing. Then slowly glanced back and stared at him.

Neji was sleeping on his side, facing him. The covers were pulled up to his shoulders, one hand under his pillow, the other tucked under his cheek. His face was at complete peace, eyes closed, his mouth partly open. His raven hair was spread around him, on the pillow, falling down in his face. Gaara could help but do anything except stare. To Gaara, Neji looked like a sleeping angel that would disappear any second and be gone forever.

With a hesitant, shaking hand, he reached up and, barely brushing Neji's skin, pushed the strands of hair off his face. Gaara smiled when Neji didn't disappear. He slowly and carefully rolled over on his side so he was facing him too. He brushed aside a few other hairs and smiled as Neji shifted in his sleep, meeting his fingertips and allowing him to gently touch his face. Gaara rested his head back on his pillow and pulled his hand back, silently watched him sleep.

"You get the door," Kankurou said.

"I'm cooking, you get the door," Temari said.

"I'm cooking too, you get the door," Kankurou said.

"Gaara probably isn't awake yet," Temari said. "You don't need to make him anything."

"It's got his medicine in it," Kankurou said, glaring sideways at her. "He wont take it any other way and he needs to take it at a certain time."

"So that's how you've been getting it down him," Temari muttered. "But seriously, you don't need to watch soup cook. I'm making stir fry."

Kankurou gave a snort of dissatisfaction and went through the dining room to the front door. However, his father, looking pissed that no one had answered the door and he had to come out of his room to answer it, beat him to it.

"Can I help you?" he asked, who ever had knocked.

"Um…Would it be ok, if I talked to Kankurou for a minute?"

"He's got a girl friend already," his father scoffed and started to close the door.

"I'm not his girlfriend…I'm not even a girl."

It took all of Kankurou's will power not to bust out laughing as his father paused and slowly opened the door again and stared at the boy standing in the doorway. What he ended up doing was nearly doubling over and loosing his balance then lean on the table for support while covering his mouth.

"That's Haku, dad," Kankurou said, regaining his composer.

His father turned towards him with the strangest look on his face, obviously not totally convinced that Haku was indeed a boy. He stepped back and let Haku walk in, then turned and walked upstairs, then paused.

"We're eating dinner soon," he stated.

"I wont be here long," Haku said, flashing on of his nicest smiles.

His father gave him another weird look then shook his head and continued up the stairs. Haku stayed where he was staring at Kankurou's feet instead of Kankurou himself. Kankurou crossed his arms and leaned against the table, waiting.

"What's up?" he asked.

"I—I came to apologize," Haku said quietly.

Kankurou frowned. "What for?"

"For bringing Gaara back here," Haku said even quieter. "You were trying to help Gaara and I let you down."

Kankurou nodded and sighed, realizing that Haku knew the truth, or had guessed the truth. "Did Ukon tell you?" he asked.

"No, I figured it out on my own," Haku said. "I tried to get Ukon to confirm it, but he wouldn't tell me anything. B—but I'm not stupid, Gaara comes to school ever day looking like he'd just gotten in a fight, and Gaara doesn't seem the type to fight anyone. I shouldn't have brought him back, and I'm really, really sorry."

"I forgive you," Kankurou said, giving him a small grin. "Thanks."

"How's Gaara?" Haku asked, still staring at the ground.

"He's fine; he's sleeping upstairs," Kankurou said. "Neji's up there with him."

Haku flinched and Kankurou saw a glare with a twitching expression flash on his face, before it returned to normal and he smiled. "I'm glad he's ok," he said.

"You wanna go up and see him?" Kankurou asked, smiling.

"I don't want to wake him up," Haku said, edging towards the door.

"Nah, I have to wake him up anyway to take medicine," Kankurou said. "Stay there, I'll be right back."

He turned and went back into the kitchen and scooped out two mugs of soup, dropping the medicine in one. Picking them both up, he went back to where Haku was waiting for him. He told Haku to follow him and went up the stairs and over to his room. Handing one of the mugs to Haku, he silently opened the door and went in, Haku following close behind.

He set the mug down on his end table and leaned over to look at Gaara's face. He smiled when the smaller boy turned his head slightly and finally looked away from Neji.

"Oh, good, you're already awake," he said. "You have company," he added moving away so Gaara could see Haku.

Gaara blinked in surprise. "Hi, Haku," he said, turning over on his back.

"Hi," Haku said, swallowing hard when he saw Gaara's face and the shape he was in. He forced a smile on his face. "How are you feeling?"

"Better," Gaara said, smiling as well.

His smile made Haku's sad thoughts brighten for a moment and his smile became real. "How's Neji, is he sleeping too?" Haku asked.

Gaara nodded looking over at the Hyuga.

"Here, I want you to eat this," Kankurou said, taking the mug from Haku and holding it out for Gaara.

"What's that one for?" Gaara asked, nodding at the mug on the end table as Kankurou helped him sit up.

"Neji."

"Why can't I eat that one?"

"Cause I said so," Kankurou said, holding the mug out for him again.

"There's something in this one isn't there?" Gaara asked, disgust clear on his face.

"Of course," Kankurou said. "I'll be back in a sec'." He turned and started out, but stopped and leaned over to Haku. "Watch him like a hawk."

"Ok," Haku said, smiling. He went over and sat on the bed by Gaara's feet as Gaara sniffed the soup in his mug and looked suspiciously at it, then glanced over at Neji's. "Taking medicine when you're not sick can be very bad for you," Haku said, reading his mind. "You shouldn't be able to taste the medicine in the soup though."

"I still don't like it," Gaara mumbled.

Next to him, Neji yawned and stretched, sitting up and blinking stupidly, looking like a zombie. "Mnn….what time is it?" he asked, pushing his hair back off his face, only for it to fall right back where it had been.

"Five thirty," Haku said, glancing at his watch.

Neji gave him a weird look, then frowned glancing around the room. "Where am I?"

"Kankurou's room," Gaara told him, finally decided to sip the warm soup.

Neji shook himself and seemed to wake up more, then turned to him. "Oh, hey," he smiled at him. "Sorry, didn't mean to fall asleep."

"It's ok, I fell asleep too," Gaara said, smiling too.

Haku gave Neji a look, as though daring him to do something in front of him, but Neji isn't really all there when he first wakes up and didn't notice him at all. Neji yawned again and laid back down, wrapping his arms around and snuggling against Gaara, who flinched in embarrassment and blushed darkly. Gaara continued to swallow his soup until it was all gone, then set it down and leaned back against the back board, playing with Neji's hair. A sleepy smile spread across the Hyuga's face as Gaara's thin fingers ran through his hair.

Haku couldn't hide his jealous, twitching glare anymore and crossed his arms. He had long silky black hair too, damn it!

"Neji, does your uncle know you're here?" Haku asked, suddenly.

Neji popped right back up and frowned. "Oh crap," he muttered. Frowning still, he looked over at Haku and blinked. "When'd you get here?"

"Five minutes ago," Haku said.

"Is it really five thirty?" he asked.

"Five thirty-two," Haku corrected.

Neji groaned and Gaara looked at him in concern. "Hey, I gotta go, ok?" he said to Gaara.

"That's ok," Gaara said hurriedly. "I don't want you to get in trouble."

Neji slid out from under the covers and went around the bed. He picked up his back pack and slung it over his shoulder, then sat on the edge of the bed next to Gaara. He reached up and touched his cheek.

"You ok?"

Gaara gave him a small smile and nodded.

"Good," Neji said, smiling too. He leaned in and the two shared a kissed for a moment then Neji pulled away and ran his hand down Gaara's cheek and stood. "Bye. Bye Haku."

"Bye Neji," Gaara called, smiling slightly giddily at the kiss.

"Bye," Haku said through clenched teeth.

Gaara glanced at Haku as Kankurou's door clicked shut after Neji. "Haku?"

"Yes," Haku asked, smiling pleasantly at him.

"What's wrong?" (dense as a rock)

"Nothing, Gaara-chan," he replied. "But, I have to go now too. My mom is expecting me back for dinner."

"Oh, ok," Gaara said, giving him a smile. "Um…thanks for coming over."

"Oh, you're welcome," Haku said, cheerfully. "See you later." He waved then hurried out the door, leaving Gaara sitting alone in the room.

Despite the worry and protests from both Neji and his siblings, Gaara thought it best that he go to school. His father had allowed him three days of peace at home, but said he had to go back to school on the fourth. Kankurou and Neji had sat down and started coming up with a plan around that, but Gaara had quietly said that he felt better and wanted to go to school.

Neji was keeping an annoyingly close watch on him the whole time they were walking to school and on their way to the nurse to get her permission for Gaara to leave class five minutes early so that he would have time to get to each of his classes. Though Gaara seemed up set about his constant worrying, Neji could tell Gaara was quite glad of his accompaniment to the nurses office. The lady kept asking Gaara questions, especially about his previous visit, and how he was doing now. Gaara was so nervous he'd slip and say something wrong that he ended up falling to pieces in a shaking, stammering fit. Neji had stepped in and told the nurse that they need to go.

"I'm only doing my job," she said, indignately.

"Well, you're being awfully nosey about it," Neji snapped angrily. "We nee to get his make up work and stuff before the bell rings, could you hurry up please?"

Gaara had scurried after Neji as they left the room looking shocked. He hadn't known Neji could sound so harsh. He thanked Neji for his help, but the Hyuga simply shrugged it off smiling, taking Gaara's side bag from him and slinging it over his shoulder and led him to his first class.

Genma looked mildly surprised to see them both walk into his class. He was still somewhat mad at Neji for missing so many practices, but forgot it when he saw Neji helping Gaara sit down in his seat.

"Gaara-kun, are you alright?" he asked in concern.

"I'm ok," Gaara said quietly as Neji set his bag on the floor next to him and pulled up and chair to sit with him.

"Are you sure? You don't look ok," Genma said as he approached them. "What happened to your arm?"

"I—I f—fell—"

"He's fine coach," Neji insisted, leaning on the desk with Gaara. "He fell down the stairs at my house."

Gaara shot him a thankful look then fumbled in his pocket and held two pieces of paper out to him. Genma took them and glanced at them. He handed the blue one back and nodded.

"I'll give you the make up work and homework before you leave," he said, with a nod. "Let me sign this now and give it back to you."

He took the absent note up to his desk and filled out a piece of paper and signed his name then handed the new paper to him. "Just get your teachers to sign it as usual and you'll be fine."

Gaara gave him a nod then pocketed the paper. Neji smiled at him as Gaara laid his head down near his elbow and relaxed. Neji put his head down too, placing a gentle hand on Gaara's head, gently running his fingers through the red locks.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly.

"I'm kinda tired," he murmured back, closing his eyes for Neji's comforting touch.

"Did you sleep ok last night?" Neji asked.

"I donno…" was the quiet reply. "I can't remember."

"It's ok, you—"

"Gaara?"

The two boys looked up at Genma as he approached them with a small blue slip in his hand.

"The principle would like to see you in her office," Genma said, dropping the note on the desk. "As soon as possible, apparently."

Gaara and Neji exchanged a look then Gaara slowly got up and headed for the door. Neji trailed behind him, carrying his backpack for him. He said good bye to Genma and hurried after Gaara.

"W—why would the—the principle w—wanna talk to me?" Gaara asked, nervously poking his fingers together.

"I donno," Neji said shrugging as they walked in silence to the principle's office.

Neji knocked on the door sharply and the two waited until it was open.

"Hello there, can I help you?" The principle asked.

Neji stared, not meaning to. The first thought that ran through his mind was 'How does she fit her chest in her shirt?' He blushed slightly and looked away.

"Um…Gaara has a pass to come see you," he said, motioning behind him where he was sure Gaara was hiding.

"Oh, yes," she said smiling broadly. "Come in." She opened the door wider for them. Neji entered, glancing around while Gaara tailed him. She frowned, glancing at Neji. "Hyuga Neji, yes? The soccer player?"

Neji nodded.

"Pleased to meet you," she said. "I've seen you play. However, I need to speak to Gaara alone for a minute or two. You can wait outside if you want, but I don't know how long we'll be."

"Oh…" Neji glanced back at Gaara, who had started biting at his sleeve. He gave him a forced smile that said he couldn't think of a way around this and started towards the door. "I'll wait outside," he whispered as he passed him.

Gaara watched him close the door behind him, then turned back to the principle, looking like a lost puppy. She was smiling kindly, but it didn't make him feel any better. He could feel his legs shaking, turning into jelly. He stood in the middle of the office until she motioned for him to sit. He hurried to do so; he didn't think his legs could hold him for much longer.

"My name is Tsunade, Gaara, and I've called you down here to talk to you about something very important."

"What?" Gaara asked quietly.

"Well, you see, our records show that you've been missing quite a lot of school on a regular basis. Our rules say that if you have a certain amount of absences, our teachers cannot pass you for the year," she said. "Unfortunately, you have missed nearly double the amount allowed. You have brought in a note for each time you've missed a day, but it's getting to be a bit too much."

She sighed and sat back, watching Gaara's arms tense up and his fingers fiddle nervously with his sleeves.

"N—not pass?" he asked in a shaking voice. His terrified look startled her.

"Who is it that decides whether or not you are able to go to school?" she asked, continuing her kind voice.

"M—my brother, K—Kankurou," Gaara stammered quietly.

"Where's your father?" she asked.

"We—we don't s—see him in the—the morning…"

"I see…" she paused in thought then turned to him. "I think I'd like to talk to him, do you know what class he has first period?"

"English t—twelve…w—with K—Kurenai-s—sensei," Gaara said quietly. He mentally smacked himself for stuttering so much. Why couldn't his voice just stay even? She could probably see everything he was hiding. He hoped she didn't ask him anything, he wouldn't be able to lie.

"Wait here for me, ok? I'll be right back," she said as she stood and walked out of the room.

The second she was gone, Gaara jumped up and ran to the door to see if Neji was there waiting for him. Of course he was, and looked at Gaara with concern when the red head poked his head out.

"You ok?" he asked.

"I—I donno…" Gaara mumbled, biting his sleeve. "She—she's going to g—get Kankurou. She w—wants to talk to him."

Neji frowned in thought as he reached out and took Gaara's hand away from his mouth, then glared as the bell rang for first period to begin. He leaned against the wall by the door, glaring at the official people around him, mentally daring them to tell him to go to class. No one could tell him to go to class!

"N—Neji, shouldn't you go to class?" Gaara asked quietly.

Neji's eye twitched. Ok…maybe Gaara could tell him. "I told you I'd wait outside, so I'm gonna wait," Neji replied, crossing his arms.

"B—but you'll get in t—trouble!" Gaara cried quietly. "K—Kankurou's coming I'll be fine."

"You don't sound fine, Gaara," Neji said, turning to face him. "You're stuttering a lot more then you have been in the past few days."

"I'm sorry," Gaara said, hanging his head. He knew how much Neji hated when he stuttered; almost as much as Kankurou did, but he couldn't help it. He was nervous about returning to school when he was still having trouble getting around and the principle's talk only made it worse. "I—I'm just…"

"Nervous?" Neji finished for him. "Don't be, ok? It'll all work out fine, I promise."

He kissed Gaara's forehead and pulled him close. Gaara fell into his embrace. He was surprised to find himself liking this more every time it happened. Neji was pleasantly surprised when Gaara nuzzled his face into his shirt, smiling to himself. Their embrace was short though. One of the officers came up to them and told Neji to get to class unless he was here to see a guidance councilor. Neji sighed sadly and broke away from Gaara.

"I'll see you in second period ok?" he whispered quietly.

"Ok," Gaara whispered back, watching him leave until he disappeared through the office door. He pulled himself back into the office and sat down on the chair, swinging his dangling feet nervously as he waited for Tsunade to return.

Kankurou smiled happily as he walked into his first period class. Kyu was sitting at her desk waiting for him. They had just sat down and started talking when a woman walked in and addressed their teacher.

"Kankurou!" Kurenai called from the front.

Kankurou and Kyu looked up in surprise.

"Come here please."

Kankurou stood and walked to the front where the two were waiting for him.

"This is Principle Tsunade; she would like to speak with you in her office."

"Ok," Kankurou said, shrugging and stuffing his hands in his pockets.

As he followed Tsunade out, he glanced back at Kyu who gave him a questioning look. He merely shrugged back and followed the woman out of his class room to her office. As they entered the office, Kankurou was surprised to see Gaara already there, looking horribly apprehensive, but relieved to see him. Tsunade motioned for him to sit next to his brother as she went around, taking her good old time, to her desk. While she was sorting through some papers on her desk, Kankurou leaned down to Gaara.

"What's going on?" he muttered.

"I—I d—donno," was the reply.

Kankurou frowned down at him. He could hear the suppressed panic in his voice. Gaara didn't know what was going on and he was afraid he was in trouble and didn't know what he did. Kankurou noted, though pretending not to show it, that Gaara was inching towards him, trying to hide himself, while still sitting. He gave Gaara a small smile of reassurance then both boys looked up at Tsunade.

"Kankurou," she said finally, addressing him. "Gaara tells me that you make the decisions of when you or your two siblings is too sick to come to school, because you're father isn't around in the morning."

Kankurou nodded, frowning slightly.

"Do you know our absence policy in this district?"

Kankurou's eyebrow went up. There was an absence policy? "Um…no…"

"The district rules state that if a student is absent for more then nine times they are subject to fail," she said shortly. "Our records show that your brother, Gaara has been absent over fourteen times since you transferred to the school."

Kankurou winced slightly at this. He hadn't known it was that many. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Gaara start chewing nervously on his sleeve. 'Damn it…' he frowned in thought. If Gaara failed it would be the devil to pay at home. Cursing, Kankurou glanced over at Gaara again. He was still no where near being completely healed from the happenings if last week and he knew his father would care about that if a note was sent home about this.

Gaara glanced up at him as well, giving him a nervous, yet questioning look. Kankurou glanced down at his sleeve and cleared his throat to get him to take it out of his mouth. Gaara chewed instead on his lip. He knew exactly what would happen if their father found out about this.

"…is there anyway around this?" Kankurou asked, making his voice sound more professional and grown up.

"I highly doubt it," Tsunade said shaking her head sadly. "I wish I could bypass this, but fourteen is a lot of missed days."

"He's brought in a note every time he's been out," Kankurou reminded her, "and he's made up all his missing work in the time his teacher's have given him."

"Yes, yes, that's true, but it's the district's policy and I have to follow it," she said.

Gaara glanced up at Kankurou as his older brother paused in thought.

"What if…what if instead of punishing him, you punished me instead?" Kankurou ventured.

Tsunade raised an eyebrow and Gaara started in surprise.

"It's my fault anyway," Kankurou said. "I made Gaara stay home all those days because I didn't think he was well enough to go to school. Please don't punish him for my bad judgment."

"You—you don't have to do that, Kankurou!" Gaara cried suddenly. "I don't want you to get in trouble because of me! I don't want to be a—"

"Gaara…" Kankurou said quietly, but sternly. He didn't need Gaara to say that now. He wasn't a burden to him. Even if he was, he didn't mind carrying it. Tsunade was surprised when Gaara instantly obeyed and sat back, still looking upset on the matter. "What do you think?" Kankurou finally asked Tsunade.

"I'll see if I can find a way around this and I'll get back to you," she said finally. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment. "Yes, I'll get back to you on this. Please go back to your classes."

Kankurou thanked her, stood and walked out of the office. Gaara picked up his side bag and hurriedly limped after him.

"Kankurou, you didn't have to do that," he said quietly.

"I know, but I wanted to," Kankurou said smiling. "How do you feel?"

"Ok, I guess…"

"How's your arm?"

"Still hurts a lot," was the whispered reply.

"Lemme look at it," Kankurou said, leading him into an area where there was least likely to be people randomly walking by. He pulled Gaara's sleeve up and held up the makeshift cast where his father had set the broken bones. Everything was still intact and seemed to be healing nicely from what Kankurou could see.

"Kankurou?"

"Hm?"

"What if she can't find a way around the absences?" it was barely spoken. Green orbs filled with fear stared up at him.

"We'll worry about that when we get to it, alright?" Kankurou said, smiling reassuringly.

"B—but…i—if dad finds out…he'll be mad, c—cause I wasn't s—supposed to st—stay home a—and—"

Kankurou took both of Gaara's shoulder tightly and made him look him in the face. "Gaara, calm down," he said softly. "I don't want you to have a panic attack in the middle of school ok? Don't worry about it…we'll find a way around this I promise."

"O—ok…"

"What time is it? You know?" Kankurou asked as he pulled Gaara's sleeve down.

"Um…" Gaara looked up at the clock hanging on the ceiling. "Eight-forty."

"Time to go to second period," Kankurou muttered.

"I'm sorry."

Kankurou turned to him staring. "What the hell for?"

"You didn't get to talk to Kyu…" Gaara said quietly.

"Aw, don't worry about it," Kankurou said, placing a hand on Gaara's shoulder. "We can talk later. You needed my help. Here." Kankurou turned his back to him and knelt down. "Hop on I'll take you to your second period."

"You don't have to…"

"I know. Come on, when's the last time I gave you a piggy back ride?" Kankurou asked grinning over his shoulder.

Gaara stared at him then smiled happily and wrapped his good arm around Kankurou's neck. Kankurou stood, lifting him up as easily as if he wasn't carrying anything at all and put his arms around Gaara's legs and walked down the hall with him to the art wing. Gaara let his head rest on Kankurou's shoulders as he sighed.

"Hey Kankurou?"

"Hm?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, little bro."