Thanks MikiLovesShikaTema, Axel0913, ohud63, and Katara Tojiro for the reviews! It honestly makes me happy you guys are enjoying this.

Also, anyone who might be interested, I started another Shikatema fic, called "Babysitting is Troublesome". Dunno if you'd like to check it out.

All characters belong to Kishimoto-san.

Chapter 21: Sasuke vs Gaara

Clouds filled the sky the next morning, turning it a dull grey color. The sun was hidden and the air was cold, drawing fog from everyone's mouths; it was almost as if the weather could sense the three siblings' darkening moods.

"I hate banquets," Kankuro announced, stabbing his waffle viciously.

"Your waffle has not done anything to you," Gaara said quietly, though he did not look pleased, either.

Kankuro stopped his stabbing, opting to pour more syrup onto his waffle instead. "Fine. But I still hate banquets."

"Stop thinking about it," Temari said. "It's not until tonight, so can't you just forget about it for now?"

"How can I forget it when it's today?" Kankuro demanded. "I hate making polite conversation with strangers! They always ask the same things, and then expect me to be an exact replica of Father, or something!"

"Calm down," said Temari, placing a hand on her younger brother. "Just smile and answer them. They'll probably get bored of us, anyways. It's always Baki-sensei and Gaara they want to talk to."

Temari paused, watching her youngest brother for a reaction. The redhead slowly dripped a tiny amount of syrup onto his breakfast.

"I do what I must," Gaara said. "If the Uchihas wish to talk to me, then I will comply."

"What if they ask stuff you don't wanna answer?" Kankuro asked, knowing full well he was venturing into dangerous territory.

Gaara did not glare at him. "Then I will not answer."

"Fair enough," Temari said.

Ever since yesterday, Gaara had been acting nicer than normal. Temari and Kankuro had taken turns testing him, and, to their surprise, not once had he snapped at them.

"Are we doing anything after school today?" Temari asked, hurrying the conversation along.

"I'm staying with the art club," Kankuro said, absentmindedly dumping more syrup onto his food. "I started building this puppet yesterday and I want to finish the rest of its head before I move on."

"Oh," Temari said, though her focus was more on her brother's food as she eyed it in disgust. "Isn't that a bit too much?"

"What?"

"Syrup," said Gaara, and Kankuro looked down at his plate.

"Oh, fuck," the puppet-boy said, hastily removing the rest of the syrup before it could find its way to his waffle.

"Language," Temari warned, taking custody of the syrup.

Kankuro rolled his eyes, offering his plate to Temari. "Want some of my syrup?"

"Not really," said Temari, but she used her fork to scoop some of the syrup off her brother's plate anyways.

"Thanks," Kankuro said, inhaling waffles into his mouth.

"Slow down," Temari said. "We still have time."

"I know," said Kankuro. "But I just remembered I forgot to do a homework assignment last night."

.

As it turned out, Kankuro hadn't needed to cram in a whole chapter's worth of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. His first period teacher, Daikoku, droned on about the chapter that they were supposed to have read last night. He didn't even bother to ask the students questions, or to see if they were paying attention, which made Kankuro frustrated because he had wasted this morning trying to read the damn book in fear of being called upon.

Second period was much better. Asuma, saying it was a Friday, had them watch a physics documentary for the entire period. Most of the class either went on their phones or fell asleep, with Kankuro doing the latter.

Third period was P.E., and Kankuro was in a cheerful mood at this point. It had started raining heavily halfway through second period, and the rain continued into third. Guy, seeing the muddy soccer field, had them run laps inside the gym, and then left them to play basketball.

Calculus fourth period started to dampen Kankuro's mood once more. Asuma gave them a pop quiz—which Asuma had claimed was rare and was unlikely to happen—and Kankuro was sure he had missed at least half the questions. After the quiz, Asuma forced them to take notes, working right up until the bell rang.

Kankuro fled from Asuma's room as soon as he was released, using his puppet-backpack as a shield from the rain that was still pouring down.

"This sucks," Kankuro said. "I hope the Uchihas aren't planning on having a banquet outdoors. Those were fine in Suna, but here, it's just going to be a pain to sit in the rain."

"They're not crazy enough to have a banquet outside," Temari said, holding up an umbrella for Kankuro to duck under.

"Where'd you get the umbrella?" Kankuro asked. He was sure none of them had thought to bring umbrellas to Konohagakure.

"Shikamaru let me borrow it," Temari said. "Or more precisely, Ino said I could borrow it and gave it to me."

"That makes no sense," Kankuro said. "She just took his umbrella?"

"He doesn't use umbrellas, apparently," Temari said. "But his mother makes him bring one to school, anyways."

"Weird," said Kankuro. "When were you so close to Yamanaka Ino, anyways?"

"When were you so close to Rock Lee?" Temari retorted.

"True," Kankuro said. "I suppose it's easier for us to make friends now that we're not automatically grouped with Gaara."

"Speaking of Gaara, where does he go during lunch?" Temari asked.

"He's with Naruto," a feminine voice said behind them. The two siblings turned around to see Yamanaka Ino and Akimichi Chouji standing under flower-painted umbrellas that mimicked the one Temari held in her hands.

"Oh, hey, Ino," said Temari. "What're you doing here?"

"Looking for Shikamaru," Ino replied. "It's raining so he's unlikely to be at his tree. I was wondering if he was with you."

"No, he's not," Temari answered, uncertain as to why Ino would think the lazy boy would be in her company.

"Thanks, anyways," Ino said, cheerfully waving goodbye.

"What was that?" Kankuro frowned. "Why would she look for Nara here?"

Temari shrugged. It was one of Ino's many mysteries. "No idea."

.

It had finally stopped raining by the time Gaara stepped out of his fifth period class, biology with Suzume.

Chouji and Shino, Gaara's lab partners for the day, politely bid their goodbyes to him and Gaara nodded back in acknowledgement. It was time for the class he was most looking forward to—and to the one fight he knew would confirm his purpose in the world.

Gaara impatiently handed his consent form to Kakashi and sought Uchiha Sasuke out. Instead, he got Uchiha Sasuke's best friend.

"Gaara! Come fight with me!" Naruto said, offering a wooden staff to the other boy.

Gaara accepted it, not knowing what else to do. He couldn't refuse Naruto, the first friend he had ever made in his entire life. But at the same time, what he really wanted to do was fight Uchiha Sasuke, not Naruto.

The blond boy was already pulling Gaara forward, and into one of the crudely drawn dueling circles on the floor.

Gaara shifted so that he was in defensive position as Naruto did the same opposite him. Blood pounded in Gaara's ears, and he could feel the wooden floor beneath him trembling. The lights seemed to dim, and a haunting voice echoed in the room.

Kill him, boy.

Naruto lunged and Gaara deftly blocked it, countering with a fast swing to Naruto's neck. The younger boy stopped it clumsily, staggering backwards from the impact.

Why do you play with him? You know he is not your opponent. He is weak.

Gaara ignored the words, focusing instead on his breathing and the irregular, almost frantic, thumping of his heart.

"What's wrong, Gaara?" Naruto asked, stopping at the sight on Gaara's face.

"Nothing," Gaara managed, forcing Shukaku into submission. I am your creator, and you will obey me!

Hurry up and finish him off. Shukaku was undaunted. He is not worth your time. Remember who is.

"Where is Uchiha Sasuke?" Gaara said, feeling sweat sliding down his face as he continued his efforts.

Naruto frowned. "I think he's late. He's never late, though, dattebayo."

Gaara nodded slowly. He raised his staff up. "Let us continue until he arrives."

Naruto concurred and the two once again faced off.

Uchiha Sasuke is here.

A grotesque grin wound its way onto Gaara's face, causing even Naruto to back away slightly.

"Uh, are you okay, dattebayo?" Naruto asked hesitantly.

"This fight is over," Gaara said coldly, his eyes trained on the boy making his way over.

"But—" Naruto protested, but Gaara pushed him roughly aside.

"You're late, Uchiha Sasuke," Gaara growled, trying to stop himself from pummeling the other boy right away.

"I'd say I'm just in time," Uchiha Sasuke replied coolly. "Naruto, let me borrow that."

Naruto submissively handed the weapon over, watching the two boys anxiously with his mouth slightly open. Gaara was acting strange.

"One round," Gaara said. "Or do you need more to prove that you're weaker?"

Uchiha Sasuke smirked. "One is more than enough."

Without warning, Sasuke attacked, his staff a wooden blur. Gaara blocked each one, Shukaku's voice edging him on.

That's right. Show the Uchiha who is stronger! Show me what you were made for! You're a weapon, made to kill people like Uchiha Sasuke!

The two boys moved faster, barely registering the growing audience around them.

"We might have to interfere," Guy said quietly as he and Lee stopped their training.

Kakashi said nothing and continued reading his book, though his eyes were not on the page.

"That's right," Gaara said softly, green eyes fixed on the wispy figure in front of him. "I have to fix my mistakes. I must atone for killing you… Mother."

Uchiha Sasuke was behind Gaara, probing with the end of his staff—two quick jabs that should have made their mark, but Gaara was faster. He spun around, knocking the weapon from the Uchiha with such force that even Naruto, who was standing the closest, flinched.

Weaponless, but not defenseless, Uchiha Sasuke pushed forward, ducking under Gaara's staff and attempting a punch, which was blocked by Gaara's wooden weapon.

Kill him now. He has lost already.

Gaara obeyed, seeing nothing but the red of Uchiha Sasuke's blood before him.

"I am nothing but a weapon," Gaara growled, beating Uchiha Sasuke back with his staff. "I am a monster, created to kill you, Uchiha Sasuke! You will taste blood, your blood!"

Gaara whirled the wooden weapon expertly in his hands and Uchiha Sasuke was not fast enough to slip away. There was a sickening crunch as the round end of the staff contacted with the other boy, sending crimson blood spraying into the air, and splattering onto the ground, marking the ground as his territory. There was no one who could escape Gaara. No one.

Guy stepped forward, but Kakashi held him back.

"Wait a bit," Kakashi said, his book long forgotten. His one eye watched the match with keen interest. "Nothing serious has happened yet."

Guy frowned, but reluctantly complied.

Uchiha Sasuke sat up, wiping blood off his nose and chin. His normally dark eyes were filled with anger, turning an almost red color.

"G-Gaara," Naruto started. "Aren't you taking things a bit too far, dattebayo?"

The redhead did not hear his words, his ears deaf to all but the voice in his head.

"Giving up so soon?" Gaara snarled. Not waiting for a reply, he slammed his staff down onto Uchiha Sasuke.

The young Uchiha rolled to the side, already stepping out of bounds. Gaara pursued him, his face fixed in an ugly grimace.

Both boys had long forgotten where they were, or the conditions of their duel. All that mattered was their opponent.

Taking a deep breath, Uchiha Sasuke attacked, his leg sweeping Gaara off his feet. Gaara, startled by the sudden burst in speed, fell. He landed hard on the ground, the wind briefly knocked out of him. However, he was back up as soon as he hit, still as bloodthirsty as ever.

"Go ahead, Uchiha Sasuke!" Gaara bellowed. "Try your best! You can't defeat me, Sunagakure's greatest weapon!"

Uchiha Sasuke, wisely, chose not to reply, conserving his strength for the rest of the fight. As Gaara drew near, Uchiha Sasuke dealt a blow, using his fist to knock the weapon out of Gaara's hand.

Gaara, swaying slightly, let go, his grip on his weapon already weak. Uchiha Sasuke had the advantage now. He was the one with the weapon.

Uchiha Sasuke charged, as brutal as his opponent had been. Gaara held up his arms in defense, and Uchiha Sasuke had to try again. Each time, both would attack, but neither landed a hit.

Suddenly, Gaara had the advantage again as Uchiha Sasuke lost his footing on his own slippery blood.

"You're dead," Gaara crowed triumphantly, kicking the staff away from the Uchiha's hands. Raising his foot, he stomped down, hard, onto the other boy's body.

Gaara's foot met with the gym's hard floor. The boy looked about wildly.

Where did he go? How did you lose him, stupid human boy?

"Too slow," Uchiha Sasuke said.

The Uchiha was behind him. How had he gotten there? There was no way Uchiha Sasuke could be faster than Gaara. It was impossible.

Gaara spun around, hands already up in defense, but there was only empty air. Something hard struck the base of his skull, and Gaara lurched, his consciousness wavering as bright lights flashed across his vision.

"It's over," Uchiha Sasuke said.

The pain hit him, and Gaara howled, the agony unbearable as scarlet drops decorated the floor. He was bleeding.

"I will kill him. I'll kill him! I'll kill everyone! I have to!" Gaara swore. "Or else what is the point of my existence?"

"I think that's enough, Gaara-kun," Kakashi said quietly. The ANBU stood protectively over his student, his eyes chilling. His hand was over his gun, and Gaara glared at him.

"Shut up," Gaara snapped. "Get out of my way. You don't understand! I can't lose! I still have to fight—"

"You've lost, Gaara." It was the other teacher in their club, and he looked less pleased than Kakashi. "Don't force me to take you out and bring you to the office again."

It was then that Gaara noticed the liquid on the floor, the red seeping from his own wounds. Pain shot through his body and Gaara winced, his breathing out of control.

And suddenly the voice was gone, and Gaara's vision cleared. He saw the looks around the room, how afraid everyone was; he saw Uchiha Sasuke standing over him, his blood-streaked face in a mask of victory; but most of all, Gaara saw Naruto's concerned expression and frantic, almost caring, gestures.

The boy stared dumbly in front of him.

"I… lost?"

Also, did anyone notice the title of this chapter...? It's exactly like the one from the manga. I think I'm so funny or something.