I don't own Naruto…

Author's Note: Chapter 6. Sorry it took so long. It's all my fault. My aunt died of cancer yesterday and it's just hard right now. I'm working REALLY hard to keep my mind off it. Like this storey, and reading as much Neji/Gaara I can find!

Pairings: Neji/Gaara, Naruto/Sasuke…Not to sure about others.

Warnings: Violence, guy and guy loving, self inflicted violence, crazyness, OCCness.

Reviewers: Thanks to all of you! 8D And would any one be mad if I added some Kakashi/Iruka pairings? Sometimes I feel like I add to much Yaoi and over doing it… I know some people don't like them together but I think they're cute…So tell me so I have an idea of how you guys would feel about it.

A Dangerous Game: A Date?

By: Dead Walking Raccoon

This was a day Gaara dreaded every week. Kankuro was working after school and Temari had her driving class. That meant either staying at school until his sister came back from driving or going home. Neither sounded appeasing to him. If he stayed at school, there'd be a good change of him getting beaten up. If he went home it was definite he'd get beaten up. Their father was going to be home for another few days.

Seeing the lesser of two evils Gaara decided he'd go to the library and wait for Temari to be done. Usually no one was there after school, and he'd be able to get done with some of his homework.

In the past few weeks since his 'episode' Gaara had become very jittery around Neji and not in a 'nervous-because-he's-going-to-hit-him' type either. Neji had said nothing about what had happened and Gaara switched from taking his pills in the morning to night.

Naruto had been very curious about what was between him and Neji. Unfortunately for Gaara his blonde haired friend had seen the two dancing, whenever no one was in hearing range he would ask about it. In turn, Gaara would ask about Sasuke. This quickly shut up the blushing blonde.

'Spanish, Math, and English homework.' Gaara repeated to himself in his head as he quickly walked down the hallway to the library. He pushed open the heavy soundproof door, and was happy to see no one else in the room. Just in case any one did decide to come into the room he walked into the back of the room where it was secluded from the rest. It was the best place to study if you didn't want to be interrupted.

Turning past a bookcase Gaara stopped dead in his tracks. Cheeks burning and slapping a hand over his mouth, he high-tailed it out of the library. He would study outside. Outside where Naruto and Sasuke weren't making out and touching each other and-

Gaara shook his head closing his eyes, pretending that he was a computer and deleting the scene with the two other boys on it. It was easier said then done. He'd always thought Naruto might have liked the silent boy since he was always complaining about him but this…this was totally unexpected!

Forgetting that in order to walk down a hallway without running into anything, Gaara did just that and almost fell backwards if not for two hands catching him. Eyes snapping open, Gaara gasped. "S-Sasuke!"

"Itachi." The person said in a calm monotone voice, deeper then the boy he'd thought he was. Even though Gaara had thought he was someone else when he took a closer look he couldn't believe he had. This man was older, longer hair, and crimson eyes.

Gaara gulped and took a step back. This was the kind of guy that looked tough, he probably was.

The man, Itachi, smirked slightly looking down at him. "Have you seen Uchiha Sasuke?"

Feeling his cheeks turning colors again he pointed behind him. "D-down the h-hall in the library…" He mumbled.

Itachi nodded and walked down the hallway. Gaara thanked any gods that were looking out for him today. He'd escaped any conflicts with Naruto or Sasuke, and hadn't been punched in the face for running into whom he knew had to be related to Sasuke in some way.

Begging for his good luck to go on for the rest of the day Gaara headed to the parking lot to wait for his sister to return. He knew it'd be at least an hour of waiting in the hot sun but he was used to it. After living in Suna's hot climate for practically his whole life he was used to it. The hockey team was out practicing, and he caught a few glances of some of the people he knew or was friends with.

One person in particular caught Gaara's attention more then any of the others.

Neji noticed him only seconds after Gaara did, and waved at the redhead. Gaara was glad for the distance between the two for he blushed, and gave a small wave back.

After a while of watching the drills the teams were doing Gaara got down to business. 'Spanish, Math, and English homework.' He chanted to himself pulling out his Spanish and English book. He wasn't looking forward to his math homework at all.

Being so absorbed in his work Gaara failed to notice a figure standing before him. It wasn't until their hand was resting on his shoulder he had become conscious of them and looked up.

"You didn't jump." Neji pointed out sitting next to the boy with a water bottle in hand.

"Yeah…" The red haired boy said softly looking back at his homework.

They sat in silence for a few minutes, Neji looking out ahead of him, and Gaara at his papers. Finally Neji spoke. "Would you like to go some where after school with me tomorrow? I can pick you up around six."

Gaara looked up in surprise, his cheeks turned pink. "A d-date?" he asked nervously.

The other turned, smiling at Gaara softly, giving a small nod. "Yeah."

Looking down at his homework in hopes of hiding his spreading blush, he answered. "I'll ask my dad if I can go out."

Neji nodded and was about to say more when his coach blew the whistle. "Hyuga stop flirting and get over here!" Kakashi yelled waving the rest of the team over.

Smiling, Gaara waved to the older boy as he left. His heart fluttered, a tightness in his chest. How was he going to ask his dad about this?

"D-dad…"

"What?"

Gaara swallowed the lump in his throat. He'd practice saying the words over, and over in his mind, but now confronting his father was a whole different level.

"A few f-friends are g-going out t-tomorrow and they asked if I c-could come…c-can I?" Gaara had decided while he and Temari were walking home he'd lie about going with just Neji. He knew his father wouldn't approve one bit if he knew he'd had a date with anyone, let alone another guy.

"Why would anyone want to you go with you?" His father's words stung but he held his ground as much as possible. Laughing at his own cruelness, his father waved him away. "I don't care, anything to get you out of the house and away from me. But don't think I'm giving you any fucking money."

"T-thanks." Gaara muttered and quickly exited the room. As he all but ran up the stairs two pairs of eyes stared down at him. Being pulled into Kankuro's room, the door shut and locked, his siblings wasted no time questioning him.

"Whom are you going with?" Kankuro asked in a serious voice.

"Oh you're going to have so much fun!" Temari smiled hugging her youngest brother.

When Gaara was released from his sister's vise like grip he looked down at his hand nervously while the other touched his tattooed forehead. "With Neji…"

Silence filled the air around the three. The eldest two looked at each other, then back down to their brother. "A date!" Kankuro and Temari shrieked as quietly as possible so as to not irritate their father.

Blushing once more and nodding Gaara looked away. He had to be sick or something. Or maybe his body just thought it'd be fun to torture him today. He'd never blushed so much in his life!

Temari hugged him again, very tightly, while saying how he'd have to wear some of his new clothes. Kankuro on the other hand had his arms crossed over his chest, with a guarded look as he calculated everything. Gaara knew his brother, and trusted him. If there were in any way a doubt in his brother's mind about him going, he'd listen to him with out a second thought. Giving Gaara a small nod of approval he turned, heading for his own room for the night. Unknown to Gaara his sibling had some plans of his own for the next day.

Finding the Hyuga was an easy task, Kankuro found out. Getting him away from the group of girls that hovered around him was another problem in itself.

He'd decided when he'd given the go ahead to Gaara that he'd speak with the Hyuga privately before they went on their…date. He cared for his brother more then most siblings did. He was content that Gaara was happy and finally socializing with kids his own age, besides him and Temari. But if there were any way that he could get hurt he'd stop it from ever happening.

Even if it meant, getting through the claws of the girls around the Hyuga.

Luckily for him they had the same third period class together. While the teacher was babbling her head off he glared at some kid out of his seat next to Neji. When the seat was unoccupied he sat and leaned over to the Hyuga's desk.

"Are you really taking Gaara on a date today?" Kankuro whispered so only he could hear.

The Hyuga turned slightly, looking the older boy in the eyes with a blank look of his own. "I am."

Making sure the teacher was still absorbed in her teachings; he glared harder at the other. "You hurt him, and I'll kill you."

Neji finally turned and stared at Kankuro with a look that would cause any other person to freeze in their tracks. "I'm not the one you should be saying that too."

Kankuro's brows frowned, but before he could say anything more the bell had rung and Neji left.

Kankuro picked up his things quickly, waiting out in the hallway for where he knew Temari would pass by. When he saw her he waved her down and told her about his conversation with Neji.

"What do you think he meant by 'I'm not the one you should be saying that too' crap?" Temari asked after a lengthily silence between the two.

"I don't know…" Kankuro sighed.

"Do you think he knows about…" She assumed, not wanting to say anymore in public.

"No. If he knew I think he'd have said it right out if the Hyuga thought it was him. I think he's thinks I did it…"

Temari snorted. "Yeah right! You two are like best friends. What if he thought it was me!"

"I don't know. But he doesn't seem like he's going to hurt Gaara, so we'll just have to wait and see." Kankuro said. His sister nodded and headed to her classroom as he headed for his own.

At lunch Gaara tried his hardest to ignore how he was spotting out things he usually didn't noticed before regarding how Naruto and Sasuke acted. He really did. It was hard though, especially when Sasuke would move slightly closer to Naruto sitting next to him or whisper something that would cause Naruto to blush and look away.

"I can't believe I got a C- on my last test! Best grade I've gotten so far!" Naruto yelled loud enough for the world to hear, not to mention the lunchroom.

"Congratulations. You'll only be the second stupidest person in the school." Sasuke smirked.

"Shut up Teme! I wasn't talking to you." Naruto folded his hands over his chest once again turning away from the dark haired boy. "What'd you get Gaara?"

"Um…B+…" Gaara mumbled. Naruto gaped, mouth hanging open, before closing it and giving an excuse that he'd been attacked the night before. Gaara again tried to ignore the glare sent Sasuke's way, or the smirk sent back.

Biting into the sandwich he'd bought, he forced himself not to remember what he'd saw his two friends doing the day before. Someone's foot bumped against Gaara's, stopped, and then moved against his under the table. When he attempted to move his foot away, the other kept his in its spot. Leaning back slightly and looking under the table he saw Sasuke's foot...

Sasuke's foot which was trying to play footsy with him…?

Choking on the food he had been in the process of eating caused a few people at the table to turn and stare at him. He could make out the forms of Sasuke and Naruto looking at him, the foot drawing away, and Naruto jumping up ready to help his friend.

Neji, whom had been sitting next to Gaara, patted his back in an attempt to unplug the food in his throat. "Are you alright?" The Hyuga asked when Gaara could breathe again.

Gaara nodded, taking a sip of his water. Sasuke was glaring at Naruto through his side vision and Gaara thanked the gods that Sasuke thought he'd been…that with Naruto and not him. That would have been embarrassing!

"GAARA!" A voice yelled above all the others. Gaara turned to see who had called him, only to see a girlish-boy running up to him. "Gaara!" Haku yelled again happily throwing his arms around the redhead's neck.

"H-Haku, I didn't k-know you were in this l-lunch hour." Gaara didn't know if his shuddering was from lack of air, embarrassment, or just his normal shuddering.

"I'm not, but having two study halls in one day can leave you without much homework for the second." He pointed out, and took a seat next to Gaara, on the other side from Neji. "Plus Kankuro wanted me to come and check on you."

"C-check on me?" Gaara asked.

"Yeah, but I can't remember what for anymore…" Haku said thoughtfully.

Gaara stared at the older boy questioningly. Neither of his siblings ever got high that he knew of, but he was pretty sure Haku was at the moment. Haku was smart, and sharp, he wouldn't forget something so easily. "Are y-you ok?"

Haku looked at him thoughtfully before looking upwards as if it would give him answers. "I have 5 tests today and was up the past two days with no sleep running on only coffee…does that count as being ok?"

"Ahh…" Gaara didn't get to answer as Haku again threw his arms around Gaara's neck before letting go.

"Well I've got to get back. Bye!" The longhaired boy waved and was off.

There were a few moments of silence around the table before Naruto broke it. "Was she high?"

"I-I don't know…and that w-was a guy." Gaara said still looking at the spot Haku had been sitting in.

"What!"

Gaara wondered briefly if his siblings could walk any slower then what they were doing at the moment.

It was very rare when he was impatient. It was also very rare that Gaara went out without his brother or sister, was excited, and wanted to run as fast as he could home and watch the clock in hopes it'd move faster.

It was very rare indeed.

He had tried occupying his mind with thinking of all the different kinds of animals in Suna. When that failed as well as a number of other ideas, he settled for slowly walking faster, hopeing the other two would catch on.

"In a rush or somethin' Gaara?" Kankuro asked looking at the sky.

"N-no…" Gaara blushed. They all knew the real reason, but his brother seemed to like to tease him at the moment.

Saying Gaara wasn't excited was a big understatement. He wasn't to get home and figure out what he was going to wear. He couldn't wear his normal clothes and look like the underprivileged kid he was. Even though it sounded like something a girl would think. He didn't want to humiliate Neji by looking like a slob. He would not let something like clothing ruin his first date!

"So when's Neji coming over?" Temari wiggled her eyebrows at him.

"S-six."

"When are you coming back?" Kankuro asked soon after.

"I don't know." Gaara responded noting the way Kankuro looked up to the sky once again in thought.

"Thank god…" Temari whispered as they walked up their empty driveway. She hoped that for once their father would be late coming home, for Gaara's sake.

Gaara took off his shoes as quickly as he could while trying to look as normal as possible. First he took a shower. It soothed his muscles while giving him some time to catch up on his healing wounds. The worse of them were on his arms, one on his side, on his stomach. After taking his shower he picked out some of his nicest, and also casual clothes.

He found it funny how different he was acting, and all because he was trying to impress Neji. He even had Temari help him put on the coating of black eyeliner since she was a girl and woman seemed to just be naturally better at it then men. He saw it as one of the mysteries of the world.

When he was done Gaara looked at himself over in the mirror in the bathroom. He was wearing a red long sleeved shirt under a black band T-shirt Kankuro had bought him. His pants were also newer and fit better then the hand-me-downs of Kankuro's. They were black, with a few pockets and small red stitching. He only wondered briefly why almost all of his clothing was black.

Time passed by slowly as the redhead waited for six o'clock. But it always did seem to go slower when one was waiting for something or when they were bored. He occupied himself by doing homework or talking with Temari and Kankuro but there was only so much he could have a conversation with some one about he could take.

It was when the front down opened and closed that his head shoot up to stare at his brother nervously. Kankuro's eye narrowed slightly and he got up from his bed, walking out of the room. He'd made a promise to make sure Gaara went on his engagement.

Gaara silently walked behind his brother to the edge of the hallway near the stairs and peered down to the first floor. Both of the boys could tell their father was drunk. He swayed from side to side, mumbling something to himself, and walked at a sluggish pace. Nodding back to his room, Kankuro pushed Gaara away from the stairs. When they were both safely in his room he turned and locked the door.

"What am I going to do?" Gaara asked softly. He could feel his heart already racing. Their father drunk was never a good thing. Their father drunk on a weekday was even worse. Since he was drunk now it meant something at work had gone very wrong and he needed someone to take out his anger on: Gaara.

"Don't worry." Kankuro said sitting at his desk, next to the door. "Finish doing your homework."

Gaara stared at his brother from across the room on the other's bed. Kankuro almost never sat at his desk, even if he had homework. He'd always sit on his bed pushing Gaara over to make room. He was sitting there so he'd be between him and his father if the man decided to barge in.

Saying a silent thank you to his brother, Gaara rechecked over his math homework. The next time he looked up at the clock it was six o'clock, he jumped to his feet. Kankuro looked over at him, raising an eyebrow as he walked across the room and to the door.

"Bye." Gaara said and waving.

"Don't get back to late."

Nodding, Gaara walked quietly down the stairs and to the door. Before he could get to it and fully leave the house, a strong grip on his wrist pulled him back. "Wher' da fuck da ya tink you goin'?" His father asked in a slurred and almost un-understandable voice.

Panic was shown clearly on Gaara's face. He'd almost made it out without any interaction between him and his father. "I-I'm going o-out w-with my f-friends." Seeing the man's eyes narrow, he added. "Y-you said I c-could g-go before."

"Und wha if I say you can't go now?" He asked as his grip on his son's arm tightened. It was plainly obvious just by breathing the air around him he'd been drinking, a lot.

Gaara stammered for words, not knowing what to say. He saw Kankuro rush out of his room and hastening down the stairs, Temari not long behind him. His father's hold wasn't lessening at all and he was becoming even more panicked that the man would break his arm.

The soon to be panic attack was put on hold as the doorbell rang. All eyes looked to the door and Gaara turned around and opened the door as the hand gripping him dropped. Neji stood outside on his doorstep, looking as great as ever.

If Gaara could, he'd jump into the other's arms and thank him for his great timing. He didn't, instead smiled shakily and asked him to wait a moment while he got his shoes on. He knew Neji would be able to pick up on the alcoholic odor coming from his father and his more then likely nervous attitude. Looking up and seeing his white eyes slightly narrowed only added to his conclusion.

"Um…b-bye." Gaara said quietly not looking up to meet any of his family member's gazes. Closing the door behind him Gaara walked down the few steps alongside Neji.

A hand touched his shoulder lightly. "Are you alright?"

Smiling softly, Gaara looked at the Hyuga. "So where are we going?"

I didn't have the heart to have anything drastic happen to Gaara before his date. I really didn't. Neji came to save the day though!