Chapter 4
Chouji looked across the cafeteria from their table. "Where's Athrun?"
Naruto shrugged. "I think he's making up his test from Friday."
Sasuke pointed to the cafeteria line. "He's right there."
They watched as her eyes flickered to them and her feet shift indecisively. It was like the weekend he had just cared for her until she was healthy hadn't happened, for her concern of his mindset.
'He has to be mad at me…' she thought. Ino looked down at the hot tea on her tray, reminding her that he continued to care for her up until this very morning, slightly making her less anxious.
Naruto jumped to his feet as she retreated and quickly blocked her path. "Hey, where are you going?"
She stared down at her tray. "To that table," she mumbled.
"Why don't you sit with us?"
Ino shifted her feet awkwardly. "Uh, because… I…"
He put an arm around her shoulders and steered her towards their table. "What's wrong?" he whispered.
"Aren't you still mad at me?"
Naruto couldn't answer because they were too close to the table and Chouji asked, "Why weren't you going to sit with us?"
"I…" she started, looking around the table, "I didn't think you wanted me to."
"Why wouldn't we?" Deidara asked, putting a French fry in his mouth.
Ino's eyes flickered to Naruto and back to her tray. She shrugged. "I don't know."
"As long as you don't give us what you had, we're okay," Chouji assured.
Table conversation was as loud and animated as usual, but Ino paid little attention. She didn't notice how Naruto was partially withdrawn from the conversation. Deidara elbowed Naruto in the side. "So, are you going to the dance?"
"What dance?" he asked.
"The dance in two weeks! Kids from the nearby schools will be coming, too," Chouji explained.
Ino froze as Deidara awed, "Their girls are so hot! The dance is going to be huge and everyone is coming."
"Everyone?" she asked.
Oblivious, he replied, "Oh, yeah."
Naruto looked over at her paling face as she scurried to gather her belongings. "I'll see you guys later."
"What's wrong?" Naruto asked, sensing her distress.
"It's nothing," she answered quickly as she stood and sped out of the cafeteria.
"What's his problem?" Chouji asked.
Naruto shrugged. "I'll ask him later."
Sasuke poked at his salad with his fork. "You two are getting pretty close."
Everyone at the table watched Sasuke, but he and Naruto ignored them as if the two were speaking privately. "We've just been talking a little more over the weekend."
He chewed his food and looked up as he swallowed. "What did you talk about?"
"Just general stuff, like family and school and stuff."
Sasuke's eyes locked on him. The two were very close from their time as roommates, and they had known each other before Naruto's parents were killed and he had to move around. If anyone could make the blonde feel like a window, it was Sasuke. The Uchiha was harder to figure out, but Naruto could see through him, too, with enough effort.
"I see," Sasuke replied briefly before returning to his food.
"You two are kind of weird, do you know that?" Deidara commented.
The cafeteria began to clear out so Naruto stood. "Later, guys," he said as he left for his next class.
"The new kid is moving in today," Chouji said as he and Naruto entered the lobby, "And he's staying in the room a couple doors down from you."
"I just wonder what Athrun is going to think. He's been acting weird lately and he dodges the subject when I ask. It's not like him," he replied.
Both boys stopped in their tracks when they saw Ino running down the stairs at full speed for the door. Naruto caught her just outside the door, but she didn't give up. "Hey, what's wrong?"
"Let go," she gasped in panic, "He'll recognize me."
"Who?" He was dragging her back through the door that Chouji was now holding open for them.
"Yamanaka, what's your problem?" Deidara asked from his stance at his room's doorway.
"Athrun, are you okay?" Chouji asked.
A door opened from the second floor, but she didn't freeze until she heard a voice ask, "Is he okay?"
Ino didn't move, so Naruto looked up to see three people standing on the second floor. Only one of them wore a school uniform, the other two seeming to be siblings of the redhead. One was a girl with long, blonde hair, one hand resting on his shoulder. The other sibling wore a black hoodie and smiling, apparently the one who spoke.
"He should be okay," Naruto answered, "Who are you?"
Pointing to the redhead in uniform, he replied, "Gaara," he pointed to the girl, "Temari," and he indicated to himself, "and Kankurou."
Ino twitched. "Naruto, let me go," she whispered pleadingly.
He ignored her. "I'm Naruto. What school are you from?"
"The high school just a few towns over. Temari and I were just making sure Gaara was settling in okay, and we'll check on him at the upcoming dance," Kankurou explained.
"Dad is waiting in the office; we need to go," Temari said quietly.
The two walked down the stairs and slowed when they neared the door. "It was nice to meet you," Kankurou said, "I look forward to seeing you again at the dance."
The moment the two were out the door and Gaara retreated to his room, Ino's arm was released and she wordlessly hastened to her own room. Naruto ran after her and opened the door seconds after it was slammed shut and closed it behind him.
Ino was scrambling around the room for her cell phone, but it was nowhere to be found. "Where is it, dammit? It's gone," she whispered desperately to herself.
Naruto knelt beside her on the floor where she was searching and grabbed her by the shoulders. "What's wrong?" When she didn't answer, he shook her shoulders and pulled her away. "You can't call your mom; someone will know at this time of day."
She froze with realization: Gaara would hear then, too. "But, Naruto, I can't stay here. He knows who I am!"
"Calm down, start from the beginning," Naruto soothed, cupping her damp cheeks with both hands to hold their eye contact, "What's going on?"
A knock echoed on the door and Gaara's voice asked, "Is everything okay in there?"
"We're fine," Naruto answered. When he saw the handle begin to turn, he barked, "Don't you dare open that door!"
The handle turned back quickly, and his footsteps soon retreated. Footsteps returned, but it was Chouji's gentle voice on the other side. "Naruto, can I come in?"
He looked to Ino first, who was calming down and trying to wipe away her tears. She nodded to give permission and stood when he released her cheeks. "Come in, Chouji," he said.
The door opened slowly and Chouji entered. "Are you guys okay?"
"I think so," Naruto said, eyes flickering to Ino.
"Close the door," Ino said quietly.
He did as he was told and leaned against it so they wouldn't be interrupted. "What's this about?" Chouji watched them exchange glances and asked, "Why are you even at this school? I remember you from Konoha Elementary."
Ino sighed. He really had recognized her. He had kept quiet. "Chouji, I need your help."
"Like what?"
"My phone is missing and I need to call my mom as soon as possible. Any suggestions to how I can get to the phone in the kitchen without being noticed?"
"There's no way unless you go in at the end of the dance so it'll be empty and easier to get in and out."
Ino sighed heavily and ran both hands through her hair. "Damn," she muttered. "Is it enabled for long distance to call her?"
"It should be."
"Should or will?"
"Will," he replied.
She rolled it over in her head. "It'll have to do. Thanks, Chouji."
"Why do you need to call her?"
"That's my problem," she replied, "Can you please leave now?"
Chouji sighed, "Always the bully; you never change."
Ino laughed once. "Well, you always did what I said."
Chouji opened the door and Gaara caught the door as it began to swing shut. "Athrun, can I talk to you?"
She watched him for several moments before muttering, "Sure."
He stepped in the room and turned to Naruto. "Could we have a minute?"
Naruto left the room, oblivious to her distress. He had enough sense to not stray far from the room, though.
Gaara smirked. "Nice haircut, Ino. How is my nephew?"
She glared. "What do you want?"
"Not much," he replied, stepping across the room to where she sat. "My brother would like to talk to you, though." Gaara held up her cell phone for a moment before tucking it in his pocket again. "You're not telling anyone, right?"
Her eyes pierced his defiantly. "What if I do?"
His hand flashed out and gripped her neck. "That would be a very bad idea for you," he growled.
She mentally kicked herself. She should have remembered his short-tempered and violent nature. "Got it," Ino choked out, "When does he want to talk to me?" She gasped for air as the blood pooled painfully in her head with no exit.
"He would rather talk in person. I don't know when yet, but I'll let you know." His hand loosened slightly so she wouldn't lose consciousness. "You'll know when because I'll either tell you or I'll knock on your door twice with a pause and then once."
His hand tightened again. "Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," she gasped.
"Good," he answered, releasing her and standing. "I'll see you later." Gaara leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "For now, I'm your ex-boyfriend, Athrun. Or your little roommate is going to disappear." With a cold kiss on the cheek, he stood and left eh room for his own.
Ino choked back some tears at the threat, and rested her face in her hands. She knew he could hurt Naruto, and he would if she gave him a reason to. She also knew Gaara wouldn't stop there: Riku and her parents would be gone, too, and possibly herself.
The door closed in her distant mind and she was shaken gently back to the present. "Please, stop crying, Ino. Someone will hear you," Naruto begged.
She scrubbed at her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Sorry," she sniffled.
"What happened? What did he say to you?"
"Nothing, he just wanted to check who I was."
"You know him?"
She nodded. "He…" she thought about his threat, "He's my ex-boyfriend."
"Are you serious?"
She nodded slowly and stiffly, like the motion was painful. It was, thanks to Gaara's previous grip on her neck, but that wasn't the reason.
"Is he going to tell anyone?"
Ino shook her head in the same slow, stiff fashion. "No." She choked back another quiet sob.
"Then what's wrong?"
She quickly made up a story. "I broke up with him for a reason, so I really don't feel like seeing him." Her hand rose over her eyes in an attempt to calm, but it was only made worse. "God, I can't believe this," she whispered to herself.
Naruto reached out and wrapped his arms around her shoulders awkwardly. "Don't cry, it'll be okay," he hushed quietly.
Ino wanted to disagree; she wanted to tell him it wasn't going to be okay, but her voice wouldn't work. When she found it, she said, "I need a shower."
"I'll take one after supper," he said, removing his arms as she stood.
She was opening the door to leave as she said, "I'm not hungry."
"I was hoping to get dinner together. It's been a while," Gaara said from his doorway.
He had been listening; she knew that. "I'm not really hungry. I'll pass today."
"Aren't you going to introduce me to your friends?"
Ino sighed with defeat. "All right, but I want to eat early." She leaned over the railing to yell to Chouji and Deidara in the lobby. "You guys hungry?"
"I'm starving!" Chouji answered.
"We're going to go eat. Are you coming?"
"Of course!"
Deidara shook his head. "Tobi and Sasuke probably are, though. Both of them missed lunch for tests."
"Go ask them," Ino answered.
He did so while she went back inside to put away her change of pajamas. "Are you coming, too, Naruto?" Gaara asked.
"Yeah, I'm coming," he replied.
Tobi didn't come to dinner, but it was just as well. Ino hoped to sit in between Naruto and Chouji but Gaara beat Chouji to the spot. Ino only had tea and fruit. Gaara watched her eat from the corners of his eyes. "So, what have you been up to, Athrun?"
"You two know each other?" Sasuke asked.
"More or less," Gaara replied.
"How?"
Gaara put an arm around her shoulders. "We used to date."
Chouji spit out his water. "What?" he coughed. He looked to Ino disbelievingly.
She didn't meet his gaze. "Yeah, he's telling the truth."
His hand reached up to tussle at her hair. "It's a shame things didn't work out."
Ino leaned away. "Please, don't do that, Gaara."
Sasuke stood. "Athrun, can you give me a hand with my worksheet for history class? I wasn't paying attention today."
There hadn't been homework in history, but she saw the opportunity. "Of course. See you later, guys."
The two walked briskly out of the cafeteria and Ino released an unconsciously-held deep breath. "Thanks, Sasuke. I owe you one."