Lonely Faces (*aka. -Roommates) | Chapter 23

Beta: abnegation218


Lonely Faces (*aka. Roommates)


Chapter 21

Sasuke’s eyes traveled to Naruto, then to Kiba, his smirk widening.

“Naruto, I didn’t think you’d be here.” said Sasuke, his voice high and innocent, yet somehow full of condescension.

Naruto stood up, and all the eyes in the room where drawn to his angered features. But before he could utter expletive of offence, another boy walked in behind Sasuke and interrupted him.

“Oh, Naruto is here? Now is the perfect time Sasuke.” said the newcomer, his face and voice void of any detectable emotion.

The boy was around Naruto’s height, his skin was pale, even paler than Sasuke’s ashen features. His short black hair matched the colour of his rather skimpy clothing; a tight pair of jeans and an equally taut tank top.

The boy turned to the pair and smiled at them, a heavy, fake smile that looked unpracticed.

Sasuke faced the boy. “But Sai, I thought you said-”

“You can do it now since you are both here.” replied Sai, his tone and demeanour once more being apathetic.

Sasuke sighed and turned to Naruto again, his visage had changed from pompous and arrogant to resigned and irritated. Naruto eyed him suspiciously as he walked forward slightly.

Kiba rose from his chair and stood beside Naruto looking wary.

Sasuke stopped a few feet away from them and bowed his head, muttering something incoherent.

“What was that?” asked Naruto, his speech irate.

Lee stood looking panicky. “Now, now. Let’s just please-”

“I said I’m sorry!”

A piercing silence filled the room as they took in what Sasuke had just said, and their jaws hit the floor.

“Please forgive me for any trouble I might have caused for you and your boyfriend …” mumbled Sasuke, his gaze still on the ground.

Sai glanced over at their open-mouthed expressions and gave a mirthless laugh.

“Are you trying to catch flies?” he asked, his robotic tone twisting into some form of humour.

They all quickly shut their mouths, looking embarrassed.

“Are you happy now?” asked Sasuke, turning to Sai.

“Yes, very pleased indeed.” replied Sai, his countenance remaining unchanged.

The two newcomers took seats beside one another and looked round at the still stunned assemblage, even Gaara had a look of surprise cracking his stoic features.

Naruto didn’t know exactly how to take this recent development; Uchiha pride forbade Sasuke from ever verbalizing an articulation of regret, never mind seeking redemption. He looked at the new boy, wondering what powers of persuasion he must possess to provoke a response from Sasuke.

Naruto looked at Kiba, his fists were clenched and his jaw was set. Naruto deduced from his posture that he didn’t trust his apology as far as he could throw him, a notion he’d dearly love to test, and suspected a two-faced significance to his admission of guilt. He couldn’t say he was convinced either, but saw no other option but to play along.

Naruto sat back down, pulling Kiba’s arm to make him do the same. Kiba parked himself beside Naruto and glanced at him questioningly. The blond gave him a reassuring nod and patted his hand, trying to convey that it was alright. Kiba looked slightly placated and faced the inside of the circle once again.

Lee was still standing, looking cagey as he gazed at each party, anticipating a fight to break out. Gaara took him by the forearm and guided him down to his seat. Lee tried to calm himself by breathing slowly, and a gleaming smile returned to his face.

“Well, this meeting already seems to have solved a few problems.” said Lee, glancing at each of them.

Kiba and Naruto remained silent. Sasuke grunted, and Sai gave another pseudo-smile.

There was another knock and Lee rushed over to answer it. Pulling back the door, he revealed two teachers, and at once, Kiba understood the confrontation he had observed in his English class earlier that day.

“Ah, our two members of staff have arrived for the meeting.” said Lee, motioning them in.

Professor Hatake and Professor Umino walked passed him into the meeting room, Kakashi looking cheery, and Iruka looking extremely heated.

“Hello everyone.” said Kakashi, waving joviantly.

The group muttered a greeting while Iruka glared at his back.

‘If looks could kill …’ thought Kiba, watching the two take a seat.

They all waited over the next ten minutes while a small trickle of students entered the room. Kiba recognized a few of them, there was Shikamaru, one of the only students in the school he considered more intelligent then himself, Choji, a rather burly fellow that he knew was quite good natured, Tenten, a butch girl who enjoyed picking fights, and Tamari, or the girl with the silver tongue as some people called her. The rest of the students he had only seen in passing on the way to his various classes.

There was a buzz of chatter as they killed time until the meeting started. Kiba was rather surprised at the turn out; he hadn’t known there were that many differently sexually oriented students at the school, never-mind that many who would be brave enough to endure the intense scrutiny of the rest of the school.

Lee cleared his throat to call the meeting to order and the attendants hushed as they took their seats.

Lee stood and addressed the students brightly. “I’m glad so many of you could make our meeting today. I’m sure many of you have been worrying about the subjugation that you may need to bear by being present at this gathering. It is the purpose of these meetings to address these issues and meet them head on.”

Kakashi clapped and whistled.

Lee smiled and inclined his head in Kakashi’s direction. “Thank you. As I was saying, there is a great many tribulations threatening our community. Being educated in a hostile environment can cause irreversible damage to one’s psychological development, never-mind the physical bullying some of us have already faced.”

He paused again, nodding at Naruto and Kiba, and looking meaningfully at Gaara who remained stoic.

“Our first order of business is to get to know the community we are trying to protect. We’ll go around the circle, introduce yourself and give a brief description of your first experience in the non-heterosexual world.”

There was a disgruntled muttering from the assemblage but Lee continued. “Now, now. You can pass if you’d like. I’ll go first. My name is Rock Lee, my first experience in the non-heterosexual world was when I first met my boyfriend Gaara!”

Lee gestured towards the red-head, who glared at the circle, as though daring them to laugh. None of them did.

The energetic boy sat down and nodded to Kakashi, who was sitting next to him.

The teacher cleared his throat loudly. “Well, I’m Professor Kakashi Hatake. My first experience would have to be back in high school when I kissed Billy Mathews under the bleachers at our last football game of the season.”

Iruka gave a loud huff, crossed his arms and turned his head away from Kakashi.

The white haired teacher sighed. “It’s your turn Iruka.”

“Pass!” he replied harshly.

Kakashi laughed. “Come on, you can tell them Iruka-bear. I went to-”

Iruka pressed his hand to Kakashi’s mouth, blushing fiercely. “Shut up, Kakashi!”

Kakashi muttered something incoherent from behind Iruka’s hand.

“Not a word!” said Iruka threateningly.

Kakashi gave another sigh and leaned back in his chair, beaten.

They continued around the circle, and Naruto paid little attention, that is until they reached Sai. The pale boy smiled and explained that Sasuke was his first boyfriend and that a book told him that homosexual relationships can be a good experience in a person’s life.

Naruto nearly snorted as the boy continued to explain in a monotonous voice how he was “benefiting greatly from the experience”. He wondered vaguely how Sasuke could even have a relationship with someone who had the emotional scope of a rock.

When it came to Sasuke, he muttered some lie about a guy in his old school named “Bob”; Naruto was actually his first boyfriend, but he must have been trying to avoid a fight, honouring his recent accord to end hostilities.

Naruto watched Kiba warily, and with each person who gave their name and story, he got steadily paler. The blond took his hand in his and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Kiba looked over and smiled appreciatively, but still appeared anxious.

When it came to Naruto, he too gave a false tale of his first experience, which none in the circle truly believed as they all knew what had happened between he and Sasuke, but didn’t challenge it.

Naruto turned to the brunet, and was surprised to see a determined gleam in his eye that wasn’t there before.

In truth, Kiba had been panicking a second before. His palms were sweaty and the apprehension was almost enough to eat him alive. Kiba looked back on why he was at this meeting, the significance of the cause he was here for and his resolution was set. People didn’t deserve to be treated like they are different, like scum, because they liked the same sex and he needed to convince these people that they needed to continue attending these meetings and not just ignore who they were.

He swallowed a lump in his throat. All the eyes in the room looked avidly at his clammy face, and his resolution wavered for a moment, but was fortified by the pressure he felt on his hand as Naruto grasped it once more.

“My name is Kiba Inuzuka.” he said, his voice cracking slightly.

Some people’s faces changed from interested to confused; they could clearly sense his discomfort.

Kiba made an effort to look more at ease as he continued. “My first experience in the non-heterosexual world was with my boyfriend Naruto. We have faced many things at this school due to our relationship, and many difficulties that none should have to face. If these meetings can help prevent attacks such as those we have suffered happening to other people, then I full heartedly support this group and its message.”

“Here, here!” said Kakashi, shoving his fist into the air.

A few people followed his example and cried out. “Here, here!”

Kiba smiled and Naruto beamed at him.

The rest of the group gave their names and stories and the remainder of the meeting was devoted to discussing issues they have had to deal with at the school due to their sexuality. Once the meeting was adjourned, everyone was invited to stay, talk, and enjoy the snacks at the back of the room.

There was a loud buzz of chatter, and many people approached Lee to congratulate him on the success of the gathering. Naruto and Kiba had just done so when Gaara came up to them.

“May I have a word, Naruto?” he asked.

Naruto eyes widened in surprise; it was the first time he had spoken the entire meeting.

“Umm … sure.”

“In private?” he asked, looking pointedly at Kiba.

Naruto nodded and gave Kiba a short kiss on the cheek before following Gaara out the door. Kiba’s eyes pursued Naruto out of the door before returning to a philosophy discussion with Lee.

Naruto ambled outside the door in the deserted hallway, looking at Gaara, who had his back to him.

“So what did you want?” he asked tentatively.

Gaara remained silent and Naruto began to feel tense.

“… do you remember yet?” whispered the red-head.”

Naruto furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. “What?”

Gaara spun on the spot and grabbed Naruto by the shoulders. He glared into Naruto’s eyes, looking angered and desperate.

“Do you remember yet?!” he asked again, his voice was shaky and searching.

“What are you talking about? Remember what?” said Naruto, feeling scared now.

Gaara gave him a smirk that sent shivers up his spine; that smile was even less natural than Sai’s, and extremely chilling.

“And they always said you were the best … I guess we all greatly exaggerated.”

Naruto tried to free himself from Gaara’s steely grip unsuccessfully. “W-what are you talking about?!”

Gaara chuckled lowly. “What they did to us was despicable, but it is our job now. The slumbering stage is over, he will reveal himself.”

“What? Who will reveal himself?” he asked, struggling to loosen the red-head’s clutch on his upper arm.

Gaara laughed again and brought his face closer so that he could whisper in Naruto’s ear.

“The Kyuubi of course, Chief.”

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A/N: OMG!!! It's been over a month since I updated this! So sorry! I'm going to try and make a new chapter for one of my storied every week or so. Anyway, next chapter is going to freak you all out. XD

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