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Confused

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Chapter Four: Gaara's Cloak

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I hugged Teri-Chan happily as we reached the meeting point. She looked just as different as I did – her usually straggly black hair was now thick and glossy, and reached nearly to her waist. She was wearing a black top, similar to mine, and shorts similar to mine, only hers were jean shorts. Her eyes had changed – now they were red, but not Sharingan eyes – she looked like Kurenai-Sensei's daughter. I laughed at this thought.

'What?' she asked her expression of confusion all too familiar – I'd seen that look so many times.

'I was just thinking how you look like Kurenai-Sensei's daughter,' I replied, still giggling.

'Oh, yeah,' she said, giggling a little as well.

I turned to Temari and grinned at her. She was just a little shorter than Kankuro, but I was still shorter than her. I was keeping my fingers crossed that I wouldn't be that short next to all of the other ninjas in Konoha – if I was, I'd be depressed.

'Hi, Temari!' I said, remembering my friend Becca which adored Temari – she was like her idol.

My friends.

I ignored that thought, tossing it aside. I wasn't to make myself regret anything.

And I didn't.

Suddenly, I shivered. Blinking, I realised it was cold – the weather here wasn't much different from back in the real world's. I hadn't noticed it earlier – either because we had been moving from place to place quickly, or because of Kankuro's body heat, or maybe both. Now, though, the cold had come back, full force.

Kankuro didn't miss the slight movement, and he groaned.

'Trust Sakura to pick clothes that are unsuitable for this weather,' he sighed. Turning to Temari, he snatched her bag off her shoulder.

'Hey!' she said, surprised, but Kankuro was already rummaging through it. 'Aha!' he said, pulling out a teal-green full-length cloak that was a little faded. Tossing it to me, he said, 'Here. Try this on for size.'

I flipped the material over my shoulders, surprised and pleased to see that it fit me well, and that it was very warm. It had a distinct smell, of lilies, maybe. It was a nice smell, and I had an urge to pull the soft cloth to my face and inhale the beautiful scent, but one of my instincts was stopping me.

'You like it? It's one of Gaara's old cloaks,' said Temari, putting and accent on the r like she always did.

I now realised that instinct had done the right thing. I went pink just imagining what could have happened if I had followed my urge rather than instinct. Embarrassing.

But I suddenly thought of something else – something Kankuro had said. 'Trust Sakura to pick clothes that are unsuitable for this weather,' he had said. But how could have Sakura picked us clothes when they didn't even know we were coming?

I also remembered when Kakashi was talking to me in the hospital. What was it he had said? 'Listen, we really don't know much. So don't ask us loads of questions.' But he'd said it hurriedly, as though he wanted to skip the subject.

There was something about all of this that was mysterious. I was decided to find out what the heck was going on. But subtly – I didn't want to embarrass myself again if it turned out to be nothing; which it probably was.

But then I got distracted as Teri-Chan shivered. 'Hey – you're frozen!' I said, clutching her hand. Kankuro blinked then searched through Temari's bag again.

'There's nothing there,' he said matter-of-factly.

'Give that here!' said Temari crossly, grabbing her bag out of Kankuro's hands and going through it herself. When she looked up again, she looked a little shame-faced.

'He's right,' she admitted, pink in the face, 'but don't worry. We'll get you something to wear. Come on,' she said, her voice a little stronger. Linking arms with Teri-Chan, she turned to Kankuro.

'Take Lela to the school. Tell them we'll be a little late. We'll catch up in a bit.'

'OK.'

Then Temari and Teri left, in the direction of the shops, Temari still clinging to Teri's arm. I turned to Kankuro, a questioning look on my face.

'Why are we going to the school?'

'That's the meeting place – the second meeting place,' he amended quickly, 'where we're supposed to meet with the others.'

'Who are the 'others'?'

'Basically, some of the other leaf ninja. Some are Genin and some are Chunin.'

'More specifically?'

'You'll see!' said Kankuro, his voice full of annoyance. I shut up immediately and followed him.

We retraced our steps. On the way there, I kept rubbing the material of the cloak against my hand; I was awed by it. I couldn't believe that Gaara had actually worn this. God, I thought to myself, I sound like a stupid fan-girl or something.

Quickly, we reached the school groundsand entered the school building. It was exactly the same as I remembered; glancing into the dark shadows near the trees, I could see the swing where I'd seen Naruto sitting so many times. The school itself was pretty ordinary on the inside, but very quiet. No-body was there; the silence was a little unnerving. The air smelled musty and it was dark, with only a little light filtering in through the closed windows.

I was about to question Kankuro if he was sure when he quickly began to march down the corridor. I followed him, my (actually Gaara's) cloak flying out behind me. He turned right sharply, walking fast, and I had to hurry up to keep up with him. Then he stopped abruptly outside one of the white wooden-framed doors. He slid it open and went inside, me close behind.

Inside, I nearly turned and walked back out again – it looked like every single ninja from the Naruto series was there. I already knew every single one of their names, what their special abilities were and more.

I felt awed.

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Lo-Chan: Yes!!! Please review people!!! I have already had 3 people reviewed!!! Special thanks to:

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