Lost and Found

By: Junsui Kegasu

A/N: Special thanks to Vindicated (MY HUSBAND! (sparkles)) because I was rereading it and suddenly got hit with the urge to write this! And here I thought I'd be on writers' block for days! You guys sure got lucky!

Disclaimer: Dude, Kishimoto would be better off making Sam God than giving me Naruto.

All through school that day, Kankurou couldn't help but feel extremely proud of himself. While he had never really feared his father, at least, not like Gaara did, he normally wouldn't have dared to do something like he had just done. It made him swell.

He also knew that he should've been paying attention in science, either to the teacher or Dosu, Zaku, and Kin, who decided he didn't need the lecture at all, but he couldn't help doodling random stick figures being beaten into a scribbled pulp by others.

"Hey!" Zaku whispered loudly, poking him in the side. Kankurou was very ticklish, so he managed to suppress an ungodly squeal, but he still jumped, making his stick figure distort.

"Were you listening to me?" he continued, annoyed, crossing his arms over his chest. "I was saying, that those druggies we have in 4th hour totally got away with a drug deal right under the sub's nose a few weeks back. Isn't that wild? Kankurou?"

But Kankurou wasn't listening, again. This time, he was paying attention to what was going on with the teacher. A certain redheaded student had walked in from the room behind them and was conversing with Kakashi-sensei in inaudible, but Kankurou was sure stuttering on Gaara's part, whispers. After a minute, Kakashi nodded and bent over a pass. Kankurou wondered if it was for Gaara, but then noticed the blue slip of paper Gaara had clutched in his hands, which he was wringing out of nervous habit.

"Kankurou!" Kakashi called from the front of the class, holding up the pass. "You've been summoned to the counselor's office. You might want to take your stuff with you." He drawled, waiting as Kankurou organized his open and ready for note taking (which was just an image he pulled off to hide the fact he was doodling on the lined paper he should've been writing on) and packed it all up, then raised from his seat.

Gaara was speaking in a hushed whisper to Kakashi again, looking slightly worried. The silver-haired man chuckled softly, and said, loud enough for the rest of the class to hear: "Yeah, sure, you can go back and get your stuff…you only come from the room behind us."

Gaara nodded and quickly made his way to the back of the room and disappeared behind the swinging double doors. Kankurou made his way to the front and took the pass from his teacher, then waited at the front of the room for Gaara to emerge. A few seconds later, he did, straining under the combined weight of his binder, science, math, and world studies book.

They made their way out into the hall together. It was then, when they were closer, that Kankurou realized Gaara's face was paler than usual and his eyes were wide and scared looking. He felt his euphoria dissolve like a t-bone steak in coke. "Gaara, what's wrong?" he asked gently.

"K-kankurou, th-the counselor w-wants us…wh-what if he's figured out something?" he asked, an alarmed edge to his voice. "H-he wants to s-speak to all three of us…t-together…"

Kankurou frowned, deep in thought, and then realized something. "But Gaara, our counselor is your 1st hour teacher. How is he going to be counseling us?"

"H-he had to t-take a day in the office t-today…" Gaara explained in his quiet voice. "Wh-where's Temari's class?" In their semi-conversation, they had wandered deep into a cluster of hallways with temporary walls, and Kankurou was sure this wasn't it. "I think we missed it. It's back here, up by your locker," he told him. They backtracked until they found it and peered inside.

The class looked like they were having free time. Most of them were enjoying it, walking around the rooms, conversing and joking with their friends. Temari, however, had stayed in what they both guessed to be her assigned seat. She looked annoyed with the group of boys around her, including a silver haired one with long hair and glasses, an extremely pale boy who probably surpassed Gaara's level and wore what looked to be purple eyeliner, another pale boy, but admittedly good looking with long black hair and (strangest of them all) a blue boy with spiky blue hair.

When they walked in, they could hear snippets of the conversation. It sounded like they were trying to pull Temari in, but they were so far failing.

"Yeah, that kid's always been an ass, do you know him Temari-chan? He plays basketball here…Deidara, the fucking girly bastard. Know who I'm talking about?"

"Yeah, and can you believe it? He accused me of being gay just for wearing violet nail polish! I mean, come on, you and Kisame wear it, too, so how come I'm the only 'gay' one?"

"Well, Itachi, you do have a knack for looking rather…well…flaming…I can't say I blame whoever told you…"

"Deidara told me!"

"…"

Kankurou and Gaara generally ignored all of this, but Kankurou couldn't hold back a snigger;Deidara was in his year. He had him in 5th period. The boy was totally gay looking, from his long,blonde hair to feminine features that had even fooled him into thinking that the boy was a girl. It was amusing thatDeidara could call anyone gay,considering his appearance. It amused him.

When he snapped out of his thoughts, Gaara was explaining their predicament to Temari's teacher in his usual shaky voice. Temari had perked up and was trying to listen over the conversation, which was proving difficult, as it had risen in volume.

"Yeah, Sasori looks like a wimp…but he's actually pretty good at basketball."

"No shit? Temari-chan, did you know that?"

"I'm dead serious, he does good on offense. Not as good as me of course-"

"Oh, Itachi, you're so full of it!"

Kankurou stopped eavesdropping when he saw the teacher go over to Temari and tell her something, then handed her a pass. She gathered her things, which were already decently organized, unlike how Kankurou's had been, and walked over to the pair of them, curiosity all over her fair features.

"Counselor," Kankurou told her gruffly. Gaara was still looking slightly ill at the prospect of talking, but try as he might, Kankurou could come up with no words of reassurance for his little brother.

"Gaara, maybe it's not what we think it is," Temari provided for him. "Maybe they need to…talk to us because we're new!"

"They would've done it ages ago…" Gaara said miserably. He was obviously not even trying to be slightly optimistic.

They walked in silence until they reached the main offices, where they walked in and stood nervously at the main desk. A lady wearing library specs attached to sequin covered strings that went around her neck looked up in question.

"Um…we're here to see our counselor, Umino-sensei," Temari informed the lady, somewhat shy.

"Oh! You three, yes, yes, he and the principal will see you now," she said kindly, unaware of the effect this caused.

Gaara turned a brilliant shade of green. If there had been any hope in the air, mostly provided by Temari, it had all evaporated now. They were all thinking the same thing:

Someone had found out.

Neji was extremely bored. He hated Japanese History; who cared about something that happened in the 1800's? He didn't, that was for sure. The teacher wasn't exactly helping, either, as she paced around the room and lectured in a passionate voice that sounded like she was having a one-sided conversation.

He didn't care about a word she was saying. Plus, he knew that whatever she was so passionately ranting about would be right in the textbooks for him to read later. He'd rather soak up knowledge that way.

Therefore, this class was always a time to let his mind wander, but he had already thought about all the happenings from yesterday. It was still so hard to believe that anyone could want to hurt something as small as Gaara.

'Hn…your step dad didn't seem to care,' a voice in his head told him. 'You were small.'

He shook his head to clear it. He had already poured all of that out of him. There was no need to relive it a third time. He believed in keeping the past behind him, since it couldn't be changed.

But how could he ignore his past, full of abuse, when Gaara basically lived his past at its worst times one hundred. It felt so selfish to try to ignore something when the redhead lived through it, making it impossible to deny.

'Okay, fine, so I'm not done with my thoughts…' he told himself. 'Whatever, that just means I'll have something to do for ten minutes.'

He wondered just how bad the abuse could escalate. His leg had looked pretty bad, that didn't seem like it could be the worst of it. He paled. That scared him. How bad was their home life, exactly? Kankurou hadn't specified. It was like he didn't want Neji knowing exactly what went on.

Part of him felt that was only fair on their part, but a larger, curious part felt that he should know. He hadn't exactly admitted his crush on Gaara in the presence of any of them, but he wanted to know the younger boy's secrets.

No, he wanted more than that. He wanted to heal him.

The bell rang suddenly, interrupting his thoughts. Neji scooped up his belongings and hurried out the door with everyone else.

Gaara swore his heart's pounding rhythm in his chest was audible to anyone standing within three feet of him, A.K.A Temari and Kankurou. However, it must not have been so loud, because if it had been, Kankurou would've said something.

They were currently standing in front of a door. No voices could be heard from inside, but the door and walls could have been soundproofed for privacy reasons. After what seemed like an eternity, the heavy oak door swung open, and they were face-to-face with a kind looking man, who smiled and ushered them in.

"Hello, you three! Please, please take a seat," he told them, gesturing to the extremely comfortable looking couch. Exchanging nervous glances, the siblings did so, although, very stiffly.

"I'm Umino Iruka, your counselor, and this is Principal Tsunade, as you probably already know. We've called you here today to ask a few questions," Iruka informed him. He really was a kind man, but Gaara seemed utterly terrified.

Tsunade nodded. "You see, as teachers, counselors, principals, whatever, we're supposed to notice little things that make us suspicious, especially high school, because it is here when teens try things like drugs, underage drinking, underage sex, and the likes. We are also, however, entitled to notice things like students who come to school battered looking."

If she said anymore, Gaara didn't hear it. He felt sick, like he was going to throw up. Shukaku wasn't exactly helping.

Good job, brat! Now, we're both screwed! They'll have me exorcised from you, and you'll get your fucking ass kicked at home!

He whimpered inaudibly, squeezing his eyes shut, hearing Tsunade's last question:

"Now, tell me, are things going okay at home?"

He didn't need to answer, thankfully, as Temari, who would provide the most convincing answer piped up.

"Yes, of course!" she told them. "You know who our father is!" she added, hoping to present them with a reason why there definitely was nothing bad going on.

Tsunade, however, scowled. "Yeah, and I supported the child-abuse rumor." Her voice had lost that professional edge, and now she was talking to Temari like she would to her friends. "I knew him in high school. He was manipulative, and he didn't exactly have the best parents."

Kankurou's eyes widened. "Dad was abused?" he asked, dumbfounded.

Tsunade nodded. "Or at least, all evidence pointed to it. He came to school every day with bruises, bruises, bruises, and often limping. Up until his junior year, he stuttered a lot, but over the summer, he got taken away from his mother and was living okay." She paused for breath. Gaara wondered why she was telling them this, it wasn't her business, but at the same time, he couldn't help but be curious. So this was continuing the cycle, as they had learned in child-abuse programs throughout their lives.

"But, come his junior year, he wanted revenge. On them, on anyone who ever teased him. He just became so…mean that at one point, a friend of mine remarked that she hoped he never had children, because he wasn't going to do too well with them.

"That was in our senior year. We were surprised, five years later, when he became a political leader of Sunaga, but somehow, it fit him. His job was pretty violent, fighting with other officials and the like. Even more surprised, however, were we when we got news of him being married and having one child." She stared at Temari for a moment.

Kankurou and Gaara exchanged glances, amazed. They had never known.

'It makes sense…' Kankurou thought. 'I feel stupid for not seeing it before…and what Gaara's demon told me, too! It all fits! That's why he's such an ass!'

'But,' countered a little voice. 'It doesn't give him license to do what he does.'

No, of course it didn't. Now, it just made a little more sense. His eyes widened slightly when he realized that Gaara would never blame him now for what had been happening for eleven years.

'D-dad…Dad's parents…they hit him too?' Gaara thought to himself. He was amazed.

'So…he had it as bad as me…maybe worse…I mean…I don't know…'

He thought about it for a minute. A silence had filled the room, allowing the three of them to digest the new knowledge. He realized, with a startling jolt, that he felt bad for his father. He always knew that he'd never hate him…but he never thought he'd pity the man. Something about him just made him appear so…strong. Perhaps it was the fact that it was those arms that slammed him into walls daily.

He was startled when Iruka began talking again.

"This knowledge is very…well, shocking, Tsunade-sensei, and it only further increases my suspicions that this man may have just continued the cycle. If everything is okay at home, can you explain the fact that your brother is 16 lbs. underweight?" he asked them, as if daring them to make an excuse.

Luckily, Temari had one ready, which was half true. "Gaara was born really early, and he's always been sickly and underweight. His metabolism is extremely fast, and he used to go through phases where he wouldn't eat-"

Kankurou gave her an alarmed look. They'd ask why he didn't eat, and if she said depression, they'd bother him more. Gaara hated counselors; they scared him to no end.

"He's been doing better with that, though," she said, catching his drift. "Right, Gaara?"

Beside him, Gaara nodded. "I j-just w-wasn't hungry," he told them.

Iruka stared at him, scrutinizing the small redhead, but then nodded. "Alright. Is there a particular reason for you to come to school so bruised?"

Tsunade nodded. "Actually, you look a lot like your father did in high school, and you," she nodded to Kankurou. "Look like him when he started getting healthier."

Gaara didn't do anything, he had been told many a time how much he looked like his father. Kankurou, however, flinched and looked away. He never wanted to be told that. It hurt even worse now that he knew he reminded someone of his father when he started becoming who he was today.

It was a moment before anyone answered Iruka's question, and even then, it was in such a whisper that Kankurou was sure the man couldn't hear it.

"I'm clumsy…but I like to skateboard, so I fall over a lot and get hurt."

Kankurou and Temari blinked as one. That was a pretty damn good excuse. Iruka scrutinized him a moment more before sighing and shaking his head.

"Well, Tsunade-sensei, I guess this clarifies a lot. You guys can go," he told them, going over to open the door.

All three of them were absolutely silent and rigid until they reached the main hallway. Temari let out a deep sigh of relief and Gaara a shaky exhale. Kankurou let himself slouch again, jamming his hands back into his pockets.

"That teacher of your's is pretty observant," he remarked. Part of him knew that was dangerous. Another part of him, however, almost wanted Iruka to intervene, to take at least Gaara away from their father. It needed to be done.

There were a lot of things that had been necessary, but didn't happen. He was nearly used to it.

Neji glared at the clock. The clock 'glared' back by making its already extremely slow pace appear to stop. He sighed. He had come to a conclusion through all his boring classes today, and right now, he was trapped in ninth hour, which was keyboarding. He had already finished his assignment and was now willing the clock to suddenly skip forward five minutes.

He was eager to do this. He had thought about it all day. He would admit his crush on Gaara to the redhead and ask him out. It just seemed like the right thing to do. Knowing his secret, he couldn't hold back anymore.

He would save that tormented soul if it was the last thing he did. When the bell rang (this time, he was prepared) he grabbed his belongings and zoomed out into the hallway, ahead of the rest of his class.

He made it to his locker in record time, and with the practiced speed of one having the same locker for over a year, he spun the dial and wrenched the thing open, pulling out his bag and shoving his books into it, not caring that he wouldn't need half of them. He slammed the door shut when he was done and darted down the hall to Gaara's locker.

The smaller boy appeared to be having trouble undoing his lock. Neji grinned, he was so cute when he was frustrated. He watched the redhead sigh and bend over to put his books on the floor, then got up and tried again. This time, the lock opened easily and he hastily began getting ready to go home.

Now was the time, but Neji's will seemed to have turned to mush. Steeling his nerves, he took a deep breath, and began, loud enough for the redhead to hear him.

"Gaara…" The halls were clearing now, it was only them in this little section. Temari and Kankurou were waiting for them outside. Gaara turned around, a confused look on his fair features, then smiled softly in recognition. There was something false and nervous about that smile, more than usual.

He frowned. "Hey…what's up? You look kinda…" he couldn't really describe it, but now that he looked closer, he wasn't looking all that good. "Sick," he finished.

Gaara sighed, as if wondering whether or not to tell him. "Well…I-iruka-sensei a-and T-tsunade-sensei w-wanted to t-t-talk to us about h-home…th-they almost figured it out…" he seemed scared, and Neji just wanted to wrap his arms around him.

"Ah…well, they didn't, did they?" he asked, hoping to comfort Gaara. When the redhead shook his head, Neji smiled. "That's good. Hey…Gaara, um…I know this might sound weird…but…um…" he fumbled his words, unsure of how to say this. "I know we just met, really…but…well…I…I think…and…it's okay if you don't like this kind of thing…I think…I think I have a crush on you." There. He said it. Now the redhead would go scampering away, terrified.

Gaara stared at him blankly. Neji couldn't help but spill.

"Ever since I carried you in the hallway to class…when Kankurou and I got into that fight…I just…couldn't stop thinking about you. It developed into a crush at that business meeting…and…I don't know, I just can't help it. It's okay if you hate me," he added as an afterthought. "I won't be too sad."

Gaara seemed to be thinking about this for a moment, but then, he spoke, so quietly, Neji barely heard him. "I…I th-think…I ha-have a crush on y-you too…" he said, blushing fiercely. "I d-don't hate you."

Neji blinked, then a grin spread across his face so wide, he swore his face would break in half. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "Would…would you be willing to go out with me? You know…like…dating?"

Gaara nodded. Neji was very pleased to see that he was looking a lot happier, and couldn't stop himself from pulling the small redhead into his arms and hugging him tightly, holding him there.

Gaara's day hadn't been going well at all after the counseling incident. He had been clumsy and flustered, and now, at his locker was no exception. He had never been good with locks. Today wasn't an exception, of course.

Frustrated, he set his things on the floor and tried again. Much to his surprise, the lock popped open, and he started shoving his belongings into his bag, trying to be quick because the halls were emptying out.

"Gaara…" came a voice from behind him. He peered over his shoulder and saw Neji standing there. He wasn't in the mood to smile, but he forced one anyways.

Neji could obviously see it was fake. "Hey, what's up? You look kinda…sick," he asked, concern etched across his pale face.

Gaara sighed. He wasn't sure if he wanted Neji to know, but there was no point in hiding it now that he knew their secret. He told Neji about the counselor, but he omitted his father's past. Neji didn't need to know that; it was his father's personal business.

"Th-they al-almost found out…."

"Ah, well, they didn't, did they?" he asked him, concerned. Gaara shook his head. Neji appeared relieved. "That's good. Hey…Gaara, um…I know this might sound weird…but…um…" he paused, as if fumbling. "I know we just met, really…but…well…I…I think…and…it's okay if you don't like this kind of thing…I think…I think I have a crush on you."

Gaara stared at him, shocked both that Neji liked him and that Neji was telling him this.

"Ever since I carried you in the hallway to class…when Kankurou and I got into that fight…I just…couldn't stop thinking about you. It developed into a crush at that business meeting…and…I don't know, I just can't help it," he continued. He added at the end: "It's okay if you hate me, I won't be too sad."

Hate him? How could Neji think he hated him? He could never hate Neji! Neji had done so much for him in his pitiful existence! He needed to prove to Neji that he didn't hate him.

"I…I th-think…I ha-have a crush on y-you too…" he said, very quietly. He felt a blush coming up. "I d-don't hate you."

He saw Neji blink, like he was surprised at his feelings being returned, and was shocked when the Hyuuga's face split into a large grin. "That's great!" he exclaimed. "Would…would you be willing to go out with me? You know…like…dating?"

Of course he would! He nodded, happily. He was pulled off guard when Neji pulled him in for a tight embrace, holding him against his chest.

'This…this is very comfortable…' he couldn't help but think, relaxing into strong arms that weren't hurting him, weren't making him feel like nothing.

He definitely didn't feel like nothing, now. He felt like he could take on the world.

AND IT ENDS! Not the story, the chapter! Ha! You thought you could escape! WELL YOU WERE WRONG! Okay, okay, I know, I know, I'm off to play with Haunted for a while, do review!