Chapter 22

"So explain to me again how you were accepted into the school."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. "I told you, Naruto. My parents sweet talked the principal and made it look like I really was a guy. That's it."

"I just don't see how Jiraiya could be fooled so easily." he mumbled under his breath, and I sighed.

After the little commotion at the food court, and after we were effectively kicked out by a very angry manager, we came back to the dorm rooms with the girls in tow. We didn't speak a word on the way here, and I could feel the tension rolling off everyone in waves.

It had me on edge.

So far, only Naruto, out of the people who had been left in the dark, seemed to be the only one taking it remotely fine. I was grateful toward him.

"Why didn't you tell us? Couldn't you trust us?" Tenten demanded from her perch on the desk beside Kankurou.

I glanced at her, noting her usual warm chocolate eyes were now hard and angry. Though her eyes reflected anger, the hurt shone underneath, and it cut at me.

"Of course I trust you," I answered quietly and leveled my eyes with hers. "But I needed to keep my secret safe. I didn't want to take any risks."

"Risks? Isn't it a risk telling us this now, then?" she countered.

"The year is almost over and I couldn't bear leaving you all believing a lie." I shot back.

She was quiet after that, and the anger ebbed from her gaze to show more of the hurt and confusion. But also the slightest hint of understanding.

"How did you manage it? The sneaking around I mean." Kankurou spoke up and stared at me.

I ran a hand through my, now loose, brunette locks and averted my gaze to the ground. "It wasn't that hard. Just some parts were difficult."

"You mean it was actually easy being a girl in an all guy's school?" Sakura asked incredusly

"Hardly." I answered dryly and thought of the moments of my fainting spells and nose bleeds and the matter of Kiba seeing me in only a towel. "It's not easy in the least, just some days were less stressful than others."

The room was silent for a little while, and I glanced around at everyone. They had the same expression of contemplation playing on their features. Except for Temari. She was staring at me with her sharp, blue-green eyes.

The way she looked at me made me even more on edge. She wasn't glaring or looking at me in rage. Actually, she was looking me like you would look at a puzzle. I felt like she was picking at me, seeing the pieces that made me what I am.

It seemed she was trying to figure out what I was thinking, just like I was trying to do to her at the same moment. The respect was still in her eyes, hidden beneath the confusion and hurt. Just like the rest of them, which wasn't a surprise.

I sighed and met her stare for stare. "If you don't know, then ask me. If you don't agree, then argue with me. If you don't like me, then say it to me. But don't keep silent and judge me."

My words had an affect on her. She looked at me in shock, her blue-green eyes widened fractionally as her mouth opened slightly to respond, only nothing came out and she snapped it shut again as her eyes narrowed in an emotion I didn't know how to describe.

"I'm not judging you... Matsuri." she sounded slightly uncertain as she spoke my name aloud. "I just can't understand why you wouldn't believe that we would keep this quiet."

"I..." I was going to say that I did believe they would keep it quiet. But that died on my lips. It was based on the trust, and of course I trusted them.

But, if I had trusted them, wouldn't I have told them? Did I trust them? Or was it just the basic, average, 'yeah I trust you' thing? Was it just a line that I threw out there casually, trying to convince them and me?

Or was it just another lie. Another fib to add to the ever constant web of false truths.

I stared at her, and the pregnant silence enveloped the room.

It was odd. I wanted to say something. Anything. I needed to reassure them... myself included.

"How could you even think that Temari!"

I glanced over at Kiba who was leaning foreward slightly and glaring at the blonde across the room.

"Of course she trusts us, that's why she is telling us now. If you were her, wouldn't you hesitate to tell someone that you were really a girl in disguise?" His eyes narrowed. "Put yourself in her place."

"..."

Temari blinked at the male, before glancing back and me swiftly and letting her gaze fall to the floor.

I stared at Kiba for a moment. I couldn't believe he had just stood up for me. Well, I could believe it, but I wasn't expecting it. I didn't know what I was expecting really.

Kiba's eyes slid to mine and he gave me an encouraging smile, which I returned.

After taking a deep breath, I faced everyone fully. "Look guys, it's late so why don't we finish this tomorrow. That way we will have more time to discuss this." I sighed and glanced at the girls in the room. "Besides, don't you girls have curfews?"

Tenten was the first to stand, followed by Hinata and Sakura. Temari stood last.

"We'll see you tomorrow, Matt.... I mean... Matsuri." Tenten amended and gave me a small sheepish smile before she slipped out the door.

Hinata paused and glanced back at me. My heart sped up and I prayed she wasn't to hurt. God knows that if she gave me that pained look, it would make me feel like I had not only kicked a puppy but stomped at it to.

But, instead she only gave a small reassuring smile before leaving after Tenten.

Mentally I collapsed in relief. Thank Kami.

However, as my onyx eyes slid back to Temari, I tensed and watched her almost warily as she walked over to me.

Since she was taller than me, by a few inches, she knelt down next to my ear and whispered in a cool voice, "We need to talk. Outside. Now."

At first I was confused. What did she want with me outside? What couldn't see say in here?

And then it hit me. Hard.

SHE WAS GOING TO KILL ME!

I could already see it! She was going to lead me out into the hallway, acting nice and understanding before she whipped out the metal bat and bashed my head in!

"Student beat to death mysteriously and left in the hallway of local boarding school." Would read on the headlines of tomorrow's newspaper while she went about her daily life casually as if she hadn't 'done away' with me.

OH KAMI! I wasn't even going to graduate before I died! From a bat!

Mentally I could see myself running around crazily looking for an escape, but there wasn't one. I had no choice but to follow the blonde murder out the door and to my doom.

"O-okay." I stumbled over my words and shakily followed her out, all the way weeping silently in my head. Repeating over and over how sorry I was.

Once in the hall, I looked up at her with huge eyes. Her brow furrowed over her blue-green eyes in confusion.

'Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me. Please don't kill me!' I chanted and gripped the edge of my shirt in my hands.

"So..." she started and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Ple-.." I started, but she cut me off.

"You and Gaara, huh?"

My breath caught in my throat, and I merely stared at her. That's what she wanted to say?

It took a moment for the question to actually settle in, but when it did, I did a complete 180 and almost dropped to my knees.

'Please kill me. Please kill me. Please kill me!'

I didn't want to answer that question! It was awkward, especially with her being his older sister. I couldn't tell her that I was at the verge of fainting every time I actually glanced at him!

Besides! I stayed in the same room as him. What if she put up those little camera's to watch my every move?

She could still kill me, but I remained silent and averted my gaze --stubbornly-- to the door of my room.

I heard her sigh, and I would swear there were undertones of soft, amused chuckles. But when I looked back, she was looking at the ground.

Effectively hiding any smile or amusement shining in her eyes.

"That's all I need to know. I'll be going now. See you tomorrow, Matsuri." she nodded slightly at me before turning down the hallway and walking away.

I stayed put for a second before her voice caught my attention, and I turned to where I thought she had disappear, but was now standing with her hands on her hips and a sly smirk on her lips.

With Sakura and Tenten sporting the same stance while Hinata stood with her hands behind her back and a shy smile on her lips.

"Take care of my brother now, Matsuri." Temari grinned at me. "I don't want to have to hurt his girlfriend."

My face immediatly flushed beet red, and I heard them giggle at my response before leaving the building.

Perfect.

I didn't waste any time as I zipped back into the room still full of male's.... my face still red.

"Oi, what's wrong with your face?" Kankurou immediatly asked as he leaned against one of the desks.

"Nothing."

He shrugged and turned to Naruto and Kiba, continuing a conversation I had apparently missed. Shikamaru yawned and slouched further against the wall while Gaara grabbed and straddled a computer chair, folding his arms over the top.

I blushed deeper and turned to my bed. Completely missing the knowing smirk that flashed onto the red-head's features before disappearing just as quick.

"So how much did you see you when you walked in on her?" Kankurou asked Kiba and I saw him gesture at his chest.

Naruto gave a foxy grin. "Oooh, Kiba you peeked!" he pointed at Kiba's wide eyes.

I frowned in confusion and looked at Kiba. This time his face turned red as he glanced over at me.

My eyes shot open wide as I gaped at them. They had better not be talking about that day in the bathroom when Kiba walked in. Kiba jumped back with his hands in the air in a surrendering motion while Kankurou stared at me.

They were.

"I mean... oops." Kankurou rubbed the back of his head and gave me a wary look.

The room went really silent, broken only by Shikamaru's cough. I saw Gaara glare daggers at his brother and friends.

Before I could do anything, which I was debating on kicking him or puching them, Gaara quickly snatched up the nearest book and chunked it at Kankurou's head.

And it so happened that book was our Law book, which was very, very heavy. Which must have hurt when it connected with it's target with a muffled 'thunk'.

"AH!" Kankurou yelled as he tripped to the floor in a futile attempt to dodge the book and cradled his abused head.

Kiba snickered and Shikamaru snorted from the wall. Naruto grinned at Kankurou's hunched over form.

"Jeez Kankurou, that would have been so easy to dodge." the blonde teased.

Another book flew at Naruto's head, causing the blue eyed blonde to drop to the floor next to Kankurou, nursing his bruised head.

I couldn't help it. I laughed as Gaara gave a satisfied smirk after hitting both his targets, and watched as his bright eyes flashed to Kiba.

Kiba took one look at Gaara before opening the door and stepping halfway out. "I think I hear my radio calling me." he said quickly before disappearing down the hall, hurrying to dodge flying books.

It wasn't long before the others followed his example and left, wary of the books littering the floor, and keeping an eye on Gaara to make sure he threw nothing else. I was relieved they didn't make any comments on me being a girl, and I was grateful for guy friends. It seemed they took everything in stride.

"I think it's time we used the blackmail." Gaara's monotone voice broke through my thoughts and I glanced up at him as he made his way to the computer.

"What?"

"I have Hinata's and Sakura's email address, I don't think one picture would kill them." he replied as he pulled up our yaoi pictures of Naruto and Kiba.

I grinned and crawled to the edge of my bed to watch. "Now that you mention it, I have been meaning to get back at Naruto." I smirked as I thought of when he knocked right when Gaara had admitted he knew about me all along.

Gaara nodded. "Me too."

I should have felt bad about it sending the pictures. Especially since we were sending them to their girlfriends.... but I didn't. I felt giddy and happy.

Besides, they would find a way to laugh about it. At least, I hope they did, and didn't try to get back at me. I grimaced slightly at that.

"What did you and Temari talk about?" Gaara questioned as he hit the send button and turned to look at me with his piercing jade eyes.

I glanced away. "Oh, nothing. Just... girl stuff?" I hated that it sounded like a question.

He smirked and leaned foreward, placing himself just a few inches from my face. I felt the heat rise to my face, but I didn't move because I was frozen. Even if I felt like I was burning.

"Hm, alright." he blinked slowly at me.

I attempted a smile, but it came out shaky. But it wasn't my fault. I couldn't really think straight with him so close!

And to make it worse, or better, whichever way you looked at it. He completely sabatoged any thought by pressing his lips against mine.

My stomach flopped as my heart jumped into my throat.

"I'll find out later." he said quietly as he pulled away, and his eyes shined with hidden amusement at my dazed and spaced out face.

What an ending for a weird day, I thought and sighed.

Well, I think it was funny and cute. What do you think?