Studying for finals, practicing band auditions, and life in general caught up. Thus inspiration was killed for a little while as the brain refused to function, but never fear my inspiration has reappeared. (Finally)

I had to get the plot moving. The last few chapters have been a lot of random fluffy stuff. Cute but not really advancing the plot a whole lot.

Note: Was the last chapter that bad? Only 2 reviews. I mean I know I wrote it after physical therapy and I wasn't feeling too good, but was it really that bad?

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Gaara fell back onto his bed with a sigh.

There's nothing to do. Neji and Sasuke have a soccer match, Naruto has to finish his service project, and the diner is always closed on Sundays. There must be something I can do for entertainment.

Gaara got up and walked over to his computer and pulled up instant messenger. He quickly scanned the list of who was in the game room and chose a recently open game of checkers with only one occupant.

If anything, this will distract me from my boredom.

L0vedeath: Hey want 2 play

Silent1: sure

Silent1: if u want to

L0vedeath: I asked didnt I

Silent1: yeah…

L0vedeath: then let's go

Silent1: ok (AN: Anyone got the identity yet?)

The game lasted a surprisingly long amount of time and for a while it looked like anybody's game, but in the end Gaara lost.

L0vedeath: good game

Silent1: thanks

Silent1: u 2

Silent1: care for another round

L0vedeath: ur on

The next match was just as long, but as it progressed, Gaara noticed that his opponent was making some foolish mistakes. Mistakes that he/she had not made in the previous game.

L0vedeath: whats up

Silent1: huh?

L0vedeath: ur making the mistakes of a novice

Silent1: oh, sorry

Silent1: im a little

Silent1: distracted

L0vedeath: by?

Silent1: just stuff

Silent1: trust me, you wouldn't get it

L0vedeath: try me

Silent1: I will

Silent1: If u really want to hear it

L0vedeath: go on

Silent1: it silly really, I shouldn't worry at all

Silent1: just because he decided to finally come out doesn't mean it will go back to the way it was, right?

L0vedeath: a little lost here

Silent1: u c, my cousin finally came out

Silent1: but not everyone is going to be so supportive u know

Silent1: I just don't want to see him hurt again

L0vedeath: again?

Silent1: a bunch of stuff happened when we were little

Silent1: our families were fighting, but we were his only living relatives

Silent1: so when his parents died, he moved in with us

Silent1: for the longest time, no one would even talk to him

Silent1: if they did, it was only cruel words

Silent1: I tried to be friendly, but he locked himself up and became cold

Silent1: he kept all his emotions to himself

Silent1: eventually it became too great

Silent1: he tried to commit suicide

L0vedeath: harsh

Silent1: yeah, but things got better

L0vedeath: how?

Silent1: well, after he tried to kill himself, a lot of the family felt guilty

Silent1: they all started to be kinder, and in the end…

Silent1: well, he has been fine for a couple years now, but he's still kinda quiet

Silent1: hes got some friends now, so things are better

L0vedeath: and u r afraid his coming out may change this

Silent1: u never know

Silent1: the world can be cruel

L0vedeath: even more than u know

Silent1: what?

Silent1: er, sry got to go, my dad's yelling

L0vedeath: wait, what's the name of your cousin

L0vedeath: I might be able to help out a bit

Silent1: Neji

Silent1: l8er (AN: Surely you saw that coming)

Gaara stared at the computer screen.

Surely she mistyped that. There's no way.

Gaara looked at the screen again and shook his head.

It couldn't be, but maybe I should check. Just to be sure.

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Naruto looked down at the sniveling kid infront of him.

"Tell me again, what happened?"

"Susi stole Marcy and gave her to Danny who threw Marcy into the tree, and…I…can't...get…her...down!"

The girl broke into a new wave of tears and Naruto scratched the back of his head with a sigh.

He walked over to the tree and grabbed a low branch. It didn't take him long to climb up and grab the doll. He swiftly climbed back down the tree and gave the doll back to the girl.

She smiled widely and said cheerfully," Thanks mister."

Than she ran off to go play some more.

Naruto shook his head as he watched her go. Children were so easily pleased and happy. Now if only he could figure out how to make Sasuke happier.

He always seems so serious. Brooding or something. He doesn't smile enough either.

I know, I should try to make him smile every day.

Yeah, that'd be a start.

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After their soccer match, Neji practically dragged Sasuke to the library. He immediately went over to the section on law and began pulling out a number of books and handing them to Sasuke to hold.

"Do you really need all of these?" Sasuke groaned from behind the increasingly large stack of books.

"Yes," Neji answered," this one too."

He stacked another 4-inch thick book onto the stack.

Who needs weight training? Just accompany Neji to the library.

Why in the world does he need all these anyway?

"Hey Nej, what are all these for anyways?" Sasuke asked as he scanned the titles. (An: That wasn't a typo.)

"Research."

"And what kind of research has inspired you to read Laws of Abuse and Molestation, Understanding the Criminal Mind, and How to Prove Abuse?"

"I'm doing it for a friend," Neji answered.

"You know Neji, you're a terrible liar," Sasuke said with a smirk.

"I'm not lying!"

"You're not telling the whole truth either."

"Uh…"

"Don't worry, I already know. It's about Gaara right?"

"How'd you know?"

"Naruto told me…I can't believe you were going to try and deal with it by yourself. You're not even that good with sort of stuff."

"Yes I am."

"Yeah, and that's why you decided not to help that kid with his project on laws…because it would be too boring."

"Okay, so maybe they're no my strongest point. That doesn't mean I can't try to help him!"

Sasuke was slightly taken aback by Neji's sudden rise in volume, but he quickly regathered his thoughts.

"Hey I've got nothing against you trying. I'm just disappointed you didn't ask for my help."

"Well, I didn't know that you already knew, and I really didn't want to worry you…"

"Oh, and you thought checking out books with disturbing titles wasn't going to worry me?"

"Sorry, okay? You want to help?"

"Of course."

"Then let's keep going."

Neji placed another book onto the stack.

If my arms break I'm blaming you Gaara.

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So, not much fluff, but the plot is finally moving on. (Screams and Cheers)

If updates stay spread out, I'm really sorry, but life is hectic. I'm in physical therapy restoring motion to my arm, and finals are right around the corner.