Sorry about the late update. I know I said every Tuesday, but I also used words like "try" and "we'll see". I was basically setting myself up for failure, but here's the new chapter and not that late. Thank you to everybody who's been keeping up with my story. I really appreciate knowing that I have people out there enjoying my work. :)
Disclaimer: I don't own anything Naruto.
Chapter 8- Don't I Know You?
Nanami found her next class no problem thanks to Gaara's instructions. She was still kind of smarting from her last comment, but she guessed that's what she gets for opening her mouth. Luckily, she found Tenten in a pink sleeveless blouse with red shorts in her next class and they finally had a chance to talk.
"So that was it and he just walked away?" She asked after Nanami spilled what had happened to her that morning.
"Yeah. Pretty crazy, huh?" Nanami agreed.
"You are just a magnet for strange boys!" Tenten teased.
Nanami just laughed along with her friend. She was relieved to know that she shared Computers, History, Art, and Chemistry with her. However, with as athletic as Tenten looked Nanami was surprised to learn that she didn't play any sports. She was apparently a very talented singer and had dedicated herself to the vocal and the arts.
Tenten led Nanami to History where she found Lee and Neji. They all sat next to each other and chatted for a little bit. Neji was wearing a brown polo and a pair of jeans. Lee was wearing a funky looking green jumpsuit that tightly hugged his body. As much as Nanami liked hanging out with them, she couldn't help but wonder about the freshmen who she had grown so close too. History was over with quicker then Computers and Tenten led Nanami to the only class she dreaded: Art.
"Oh come on, Nanami. They can't be that bad." Tenten tried to reassure her about her drawings.
"You really don't understand. I make stick people look bad." Nanami admitted.
At this point they had reached the door to the room.
"Just try it this first week and if you need to transfer-"
"YOU!" Nanami nearly screamed after studying her classmates cutting Tenten off.
A bunch of kids jumped staring up at her, but for the first time in her life she didn't worry about them. Sitting right there at the front of the room was none other than Sai. He hadn't looked up from what he was doing, and he probably didn't hear her come in. Nanami raced over to his table taking the seat across from him glaring to get him to look up at her. Tenten had followed Nanami uncertainly over to the table and sat in the seat next to her.
"You know this guy, Nanami?" She asked.
"Know him? This is the guy who left me for dead in the woods that one day." She explained to Tenten finally catching Sai's attention.
"Well hello, I would have assumed you had graduated years ago. Did you fall into the hole you were looking for?" He spoke up giving Nanami that weird smile again.
Tenten looked like she was trying hard not to laugh, while Nanami sat there fuming.
"As a matter of fact I did, although you would have known if you had bothered to wait up." She retorted.
"Well it looks like it all worked out in the end." He ended the conversation.
Nanami would have said something back, but the teacher walked in and Nanami didn't want to get in trouble again for talking.
The teacher, who let the students call her by her first name of Kurenai, gave them the assignment to use whatever median they wanted to draw how they perceived the world. Nanami thought that this was the dumbest assignment in history since she had no idea what to draw. She stared down at the blank piece of paper before her. Luckily, Tenten distracted.
"So you weren't making him up." Tenten whispered over to her.
Nanami felt a smug grin coming across her face thinking about how everyone had teased her about Sai that day. Did she have a surprise for them come lunch.
"Yeah, it's funny how that works. I say I saw somebody in the woods, and here he is alive and breathing." I poked back.
"Oh, shut up! There wasn't anyone standing there! What were we supposed to think?"
"I don't know you could have trusted me."
"I didn't even know you. You're lucky I didn't think you were completely wacko."
Nanami didn't have anything to reply back to that since was probably true. So instead she stuck her tongue out at Tenten.
"Aren't we real mature?" She joked back, laughing.
"So what are you drawing?" Nanami asked trying to get an idea.
"It's the music room I practice in." She responded as Nanami could clearly make out a baby grand piano.
"Wow, that's really good." Nanami commented.
"Your shading in poorly executed on the right side." Sai piped up, not even removing his eyes from his work.
"Oh yeah, well what are you working on?" Nanami sneered back, rolling her eyes.
She tried to look over the table, but Sai quickly covered up his work.
"Nothing that would be appreciated by you I sure." He responded.
Even though it was an emotionless response, Nanami instantly felt bad. Maybe she had been a little too hard on him. Then again he did insult her and leave her in a forest she knew nothing about. Still she didn't press him again to show his work. Instead, she went back to wondering what she was going to do for her picture.
At that moment the bell rang, thankfully getting Nanami out of this stupid art project, for now. They would get all week to work on it, and Nanami was pretty sure she was going to have to switch classes. She was not artistic or creative at all.
"So do you want to go off campus or head over to the cafeteria?" Tenten asked her as they left the classroom.
"We can go off campus?" Nanami asked.
"Yup, just juniors and seniors though." She responded.
"Oh." Nanami slumped a little. "Well, let's go to the cafeteria today. I haven't had a chance to see the freshmen yet."
"That's fine." Tenten agreed.
"Oh, and one more thing. You're coming with us." Nanami said grabbing Sai by the arm much to everyone's surprise.
Sai tried to protest, but Nanami wasn't listening. She was too busy following Tenten and scanning the people around her. She hadn't seen any of the freshmen yet and she desperately wanted to prove that she didn't make Sai up. Finally, Tenten led them to the cafeteria doors with Nanami and Sai on her heels.
Nanami was surprised by the massive amount of students in front of her. She hadn't realized Konoha High was so big. Despite the dull roar sounding from the constant noise everyone continued to create, Nanami heard Naruto's distinguishable voice and found him sitting with the other freshmen at a table towards the front of the room.
Excited, Nanami marched over towards them locking Sai's arm with hers to prevent his escape.
"Why are you doing this?" He finally asked her.
"Because my brother and his friends didn't believe that you were real." Nanami grumbled.
"They didn't think I was a real person?" Sai clarified amusement lighting his normally monotone voice.
"Yeah, yeah. Just shut up. This won't take that long and then you can go annoy someone else."
"Hey Nanami!" Naruto hollered as they finally reached the table. "Who's your friend?"
"Everyone, this is Sai. The guy I was telling you about at the Hole." Nanami announced loudly.
Everyone at the table went silent. Naruto was surprised, Sasuke and Shikamaru looked uninterested, Choji didn't even look up, the girls were sizing him up, Shino was expressionless, and Kiba had a slight tent of anger.
"So he wasn't imaginary?" Sakura finally asked.
"Nope, I was just as surprised as you guys." Tenten piped up from behind Nanami.
Nanami jumped a little forgetting that she was back there.
"I guess we owe you an apology." Naruto smiled rubbing the back of his head.
"I suppose you do." Nanami declared in mock hurt.
"Please, you started thinking he wasn't real yourself." Sasuke threw out there.
"Nobody asked you!" Nanami yelled defensively.
"Then that means you're the one who just ditched her, right?" Kiba clarified still upset about something.
"Correct. Although I would hardly call it ditching when I never confirmed that I was going to lead her out." Sai finally spoke up.
"You know, you've got a lot of nerve!" Kiba yelled at him.
Nanami was completely surprised by the outburst. "Kiba, calm down. This is just the way Sai is."
Everyone turned toward Nanami surprised that she was defending him. She was even shocked that she defended him, but she was the one who led him over there. She would feel guilty about throwing someone to the lions, even if they're as rude as Sai.
"Thank you, Nanami. I suppose wisdom does come with age. Of course it helps when you're twenty years ahead of everyone else." Sai smiled.
Nanami turned red and glared at the group as they tried their best not to laugh. Snickers were loudest from Sasuke and Shikamaru. Screw guilt, Nanami was ready to offer Sai up on a silver platter.
"Well thank you Sai, but why don't you go draw yourself your own hole and fall in it. Hopefully, somewhere far away from here." Nanami growled.
"Or you can sit with us." Ino offered.
Nanami shot her a glare, but she didn't pay attention.
"Yeah, we don't mind." Sakura encouraged.
Everyone else looked at her like they would mind, but of course Miss Sunshine had to open her mouth.
"That's quite alright. I'll find another place. Thank you Nanami for introducing me to your mediocre and ragtag group of friends." Sai ended taking his leave.
Everyone watched after him in silence. Then all at once everyone had to give their opinions.
"I don't like him." Naruto grumbled.
"Who did he think he was?" Kiba snapped.
"Mediocre and rag-tag?" Sasuke questioned with one raised eyebrow.
"Poor guy." Ino sighed.
"What a jerk." Sakura scoffed.
"Quickly, let's leave before they notice we're gone." Tenten whispered to Nanami.
Nanami laughed realizing that the freshmen could be overwhelming when they were all provoked as she remembered the first day they all met in the mall. She shook her head and followed Tenten over to the lunch line. Nanami had heard terrors about cafeteria food, but was pleasantly surprised to be able to distinguish what each dish was.
"Are you sure you don't want to go off somewhere?" Tenten asked pleadingly.
"I'm fine where I'm at, but if you want to go find Neji and Lee you don't have to stick around for me." Nanami confirmed figuring out exactly what she was after.
"Really? Are you sure?" Tenten double checked as both relief and guilt lit her face.
"Yes I'm sure."
"Okay then. I'll catch you in Chemistry." Tenten waved as she backed out towards the doors.
Nanami turned her attention back to what she was going to get, and decided upon a hamburger, fries, and a pudding cup. She picked up her tray and was going to go over to Naruto's group when someone else caught her eye. Not too far away was the red-head from earlier content with leaning against the table reading a book. His fedora covering up his stunning green eyes.
Nanami was torn between sitting with her friends and trying to talk to Gaara again. She was never one for bravery and the idea of him making fun of her last comment scared her. Of course he was sitting by himself. Nanami's decision was made for her when Naruto careened over to the table. Curious she made her way over there wondering once again what their connection was.
"Hey Gaara! Long time, no see." Naruto said slapping Gaara on the back.
Gaara looked up surprised and Nanami thought momentarily that he would snap at Naruto. However, he actually smiled and looked genuinely pleased to see Naruto.
"Naruto, it is also a pleasure to see you again."
Nanami stopped a couple of feet away wondering if she should interrupt the two oddly matched friends. She decided to turn around and go back to the freshmen when Naruto noticed her.
"Nanami! Come here, I want you to meet someone. And trust me, he's much better than who you brought over." Naruto remarked dryly.
"Actually Gaara and I have already met." She blushed as Gaara turned around and blushed.
"Really how?" Naruto asked eagerly.
Nanami went ahead and sat down figuring it wouldn't be that bad as long as Naruto dictated the conversation.
"How about you tell me how you two know each other?" She prompted.
"She's in my math class." Gaara jumped in answering Naruto's question before Naruto could answer hers.
"Awesome. You really are a genius." Naruto nudged Gaara.
"Gaara, did I mention Nanami was my sister?" Naruto piped up again as Gaara tried to cover up his blush from being called a genius.
"I thought you told me that you didn't have any family?"
"Well actually-"
"I told him this morning that we were siblings." Nanami blurted out.
Both boys looked at her quizzically, but she merely raised an eyebrow at Gaara. If he wanted to play that game, he would find out that she was definitely a worthy opponent. He smirked realizing that she wasn't going to give up her secret if he wasn't going to give up his.
"Great!" Naruto commented back forgetting that he was fixing to say something to Gaara.
"Hey Naruto! Choji said he's going to eat the rest of your cake if you don't get back over here!" Kiba hollered over to their table.
"Hey I was saving that!" Naruto yelled running back over to the freshmen.
Kiba gave Nanami a last glance before getting pulled back into the conversation. Nanami found herself shaking her head at the crazy freshmen.
"You could go back over there if you want." Gaara commented already becoming absorbed in his book again.
"I'd much rather stay here and perhaps get the answer to the question you refused to let Naruto respond to." Nanami brought up.
"So you did catch that." He smirked.
"I'm not an idiot." She retorted.
"No, but I suppose you are a hypocrite." He said finally looking her in the eye.
"What do you mean by that?" Nanami asked unsure as to what he was referring to.
"Well your distraction from my question wasn't what I would call subtle."
Nanami frowned knowing that he was right. Of course hers was just retaliation. He was the one who refused to give up the information.
"Fine, if you tell me how you know Naruto. Then I'll tell you how I suddenly appeared out of the blue."
"How about we make it interesting? First one to find out the other's story gives that person their math homework for a month." He smiled evilly.
Nanami's interest peaked. "Are there any rules to this challenge?"
"We can't go to Naruto for the answer."
"This sounds like fun. Alright, I accept." Nanami agreed smugly.
"Very well then. So you are an A student right? I can't afford to let my grade slip."
"Don't be so confident already. You have no idea who you're messing with."
"Really, and who is that?" Gaara asked innocently.
"Nanami Uzumaki and you're not tripping me up that easily." Nanami caught herself before she mentioned anything else.
"What about you smart guy? Did you skip a year?"
Gaara smirked already returning his gaze to his book.
"If that's the best you've got then this contest is already decided."
Nanami admired Gaara's confidence. She normally didn't like people who were cocky, but there was something entrancing about Gaara. Before she could make another response the bell rang, and Gaara jumped up to go to his next class. Nanami stared down at her half eaten plate wondering where the time went. She sighed and deposed of the rest of her lunch before moving on to her next class.
Who do you think is going to win? Review and tell me what you think! I can't guarentee that'll be the winner, but I'd like to hear what you guys have to say. That really goes for the entire chapter. In fact, just review period. Thanks again for reading!