Chapter 8: Are You Serious?

Previously:

Shikamaru skimmed over the thought, she might not feel the same way. He couldn't stand to even consider that. It would pulse an ache through him that he didn't want. Didn't need.

The hair on the back of Shikamaru's neck stood on end as someone brushed past him. He probably wouldn't have noticed - after all, kids were shoving past him even now. But the touch was different; intentional, soft…and loving.

Shikamaru spun around and eyed passing kids. Wistful thinking, he decided. Then dropped his gaze as a piece of paper caught his eye. He caught his breath as he picked it up and read who it was addressed to:

Shikamaru

What?!Shikamaru stared at the paper in shock. His name. What the hell?! With shaky hands, Shikamaru unfolded the note and stared at it uncomprehendingly. Over and over he read it, still not quite understanding why he got it. His thoughts and feelings…All of it…Right here; from someone else.

I can't stand this! Our brothers and sisters are being retarded! Please tell me you don't feel like them! This whole thing…Tell me you're through with it! Please…?

If you feel like it do, meet me outside in the back of the school after your last class. Please…

-Ino

Meet her after school…How exactly does she feel though? Does she feel like I do? Maybe I won't have to ignore all my thoughts and feelings like my brothers are…

Naruto sat in class, idly doodling in his notebook. He felt horrible. Everyday, he'd walk past Hinata and see her with Kiba. Only recently did that change, but now Hinata looked depressed. I wonder how things would have turned out if I hadn't given that note to Kiba to give to Hinata… Naruto looked up at the blackboard and sighed. Probably less different. Naruto still wouldn't be able to tell Hinata how he felt because his brothers were completely against it. Honestly, Naruto had never felt this way about anyone before. The girl who dumped him in his earlier years…Well, Naruto had never truly liked her. It still hurt when she broke up with him, yes. But he was fine now. His brothers didn't believe him and were still convinced that all girls were like that bitch. Naruto was starting to think differently, he thought that maybe there were a few girls in the world who were worth while. And Hinata was one of them.

Could he fix it now though? Really, he could see how upset his brothers were, but he could also see how hurt they were. Neji was probably out to seek revenge on Ten-Ten. The other two? Who knew what they were thinking. If Kiba had broken apart from Hinata, then maybe Naruto had a chance to patch things up between them. That is, if Hinata was ready and willing to forgive him…

Gaara stared at the kids in the halls. Worthless and pitiful and in his way. He didn't want to be here; he didn't want to have to talk to anyone; and he really didn't want anyone talking to him. He was just here because Temari and Kankuro were being asses and making him attend this retarded school. They kept saying, "Maybe if you're lucky – and nice! – you'll make newfriends." Who said he wanted friends? He could stand acquaintances, but friends? The people who followed you like puppies? The people who tried to make you laugh? The people who talked to you nonstop about crap you don't even care about? I'll pass thanks.

Besides, who could share the same thoughts and feelings as him on life? Who could even come close? No one. Not even his family could relate.

Gaara sighed and wandered around the school until he found his first class.

"RETARD!" A redheaded man yelled, resisting the urge to throw his arms up in agitation.

"I'm sorry, Master Sasori! I didn't mean to, yeah! Itachi won't be that mad…will he?" A blond man cowered under the wrath of his angry partner.

Sasori paused and glared at the blond below him. For once he felt tall and strong. It was a nice feeling. "Of course Itachi will be that mad. Deidara, you almost hit his brothers!" Deidara's face went blank. He winced at the thought of how angry Itachi would be if he found out what happened the night before. "I can't believe I let you drive, even for that short distance!" Sasori continued, yelling again. "When Itachi finds out…"

"You mean if," Deidara corrected quietly. Sasori glared daggers at the blond. "He doesn't have spies all over the city, yeah. I doubt if he has anyone working for him besides Kisame – but he's there for other reasons, yeah. Anyway, no one will report what they saw to him. We won't get caught, yeah!"

Sasori calmed down a little. For once, Deidara didn't sound all that stupid. He sounded like he knew what he was talking about, and that was a new one. The redhead sat down on the floor and stared at the wall. "Okay, so all we have to do is keep your big mouth shut."

Deidara flinched at his master's insult, but hastily agreed as to not piss off Sasori again. Just gotta think about other things and not what happened the night before…Easy, right?

Shikamaru walked out to the back of the school after his last class – and after he escaped Naruto and Sasuke. He looked around cautiously. When he didn't see anyone, he sighed and sat down under a tree and stared at the passing clouds. He felt kind of depressed now; Ino wasn't here. It was just a prank to mess with him after all that he'd done to her. He assumed he deserved it. But to strike at the heart? Cruel.

"Hey. Sorry I'm late. Sakura and Hinata wouldn't stop bugging me." A shadow stretched across Shikamaru and blocking his view of the clouds. His heart skipped a few beats as he looked up at the person above him.

Not as long as the last chapter and I apologize for that. That piece on Sasori and Deidara was half-requested by one of my reviewers, so I randomly put it in. Who knows? Maybe later, they'll be more important. And to clear up why Deidara was calling Sasori "Master", in Japanese he calls him "Sasori no Danna" and translated, that means "Master Sasori". So I go with the translated, English version. Sorry to those of you who like the Japanese version.

Anyway, to my reviewers:

Pinkberry Soda: thanks for loving my story. :D

Um…I kind of put a little bit of SasoDei in here. But there shouldn't be much.

I have another high school story up now, and it revolves more around SasoDei. It's called "Rendered Weak." If you'd rather read that. I'm going to post another SasoDei called "Dear Diary" soon, if you want to check that out too.

Thanks for your support!

fantasycrazyperson409: I might put some Tobi in later chapters. But I dunno how he'll be incorporated.

If you want more Tobi and a little Pain, check out my other high school story: "Rendered Weak." It's more SasoDei, but it will have more Tobi and Pain than this story will. Or, I'm going to post "Dear Diary" soon. And it has some of everyone in it (even though it's SasoDei). (Yay for promoting my other stories! Lol)

Thanks for not giving up on me quite yet.

NarutoFFF: thanks! So glad I'm still getting support.

kawaiibaka10: Don't get overly excited! Lol. Thanks for supporting me! (Haven't I said that at least 4 times now?)

crazybunnyperson: I update when I can think of things. So, sometimes fast and sometimes not. Sorry.

NeonAlchemist: Um…what can I say to that? You should already know if you read this chapter. Hmmm…

Well, I lost several reviewers due to my really long no updating vacation thing. But I gained a few too! So, yay me!

I did get some Gaara and Naruto thoughts in since I forgot them in the last chapter. Sorry they aren't longer. But, hey, they're there. If you want someone in this story that I haven't already put in, please tell me. I won't, however, take Jaryia or Orochimaru because I hate them both and the less I have to write about them the better. Sorry.

I've decided that this chapter's so short because this is a filler type thing for the story. It's just pretty much explaining stuff before the stuff happens in the next chapter. -Head spins- So yeah, more stuff should happen in the next chapter.

Anyway. What do I have left to say, but please review?