Angel's Touch

Artemis: You know…I kinda hated how I ended the previous chapter. But I had to or else ruin the surprise! That’s right people…time for the Shia-chan equivalent character of the story to appear!! Shia-chan’s a really cute girl in Pita-ten who Misha-chan takes in. I already know about what Shia is and what happens to her, but no this character will not meet the same fate in my story. So no worries there.

Now who possibly could it be? And does Sasuke really hate Naruto now or is there something behind his suddenly cold behavior?

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And no it’s not Sai. So you guys know, I’ve been watching the Japanese anime of Naruto (say no to the English dubbed), so characters in the Naruto 2 series will not appear except for a couple of exceptions. That includes Sai. I haven’t seen enough of Sai to bring him in without totally OCing his character. I tried reading the mangas, but I only got to the chunin exams before my manga source had a site crash and now I have to wait for them to get the manga section back up. =(
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By the way, this story is going to be a long one. XD But wow these chapters are just coming to me. Oo Sorry if a certain new character here is a little OC. I’m basing this on his quiet, kind personality. So nah! XP

And yes. Fast updates. But don’t expect that always. XD I’m on a typing craze at the moment. ^^

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Chapter Eight: Caged Bird


This pain…it was unbearable. His whole life he’d never felt this pain unless that sort was near him. Neji continued to stare at the waiter, clutching his head to try and lesson the stinging pain. This person…he had to be! Why else would his mind scream such agony in his presence?

“A…a demon?” Neji gasped, still staring at the stranger.

Naruto furled his eyebrows with a frown, looking at Neji when he said this. He then looked at the waiter, not sensing the normal sickening feeling of ill will.

The waiter straightened, his light blue eyes widening slightly and a small frown forming on his lips. The other male was pale in the sunlight, with no eyebrows and sunken eyes darkened as if he never got sleep. His hair was short and spiky and very red, the color reminding Naruto of the red leaves of autumn there on the Earth. There was something sad in his expression, something that struck Naruto as haunting. It was a painful look that felt too familiar to the blonde.

Bowing his head slightly and staring at the ground, the waiter avoided Neji’s accusing stare. “I’m sorry. Have a nice day.”

He turned and left the three, heading for a door near the café counter with the employee tag on it.

“N-Neji-niisan...that wasn’t very nice…”

Neji frowned, watching the waiter till he was gone. “Hinata-chan…everytime a demon has gotten near me in the past I get these migraines.”

“He didn’t look bad…” Hinata argued softly, stirring her milkshake nervously.

Naruto tuned them out, thinking about the waiter. He had been an odd sight to the blonde. Immediately he’d sensed something odd about him, but none of the normal ill he felt around demons. There was a scent of dried blood lingering around him, but also sorrow and loneliness.


“Demon! Freak!”

“Go away! No one wants you here!”

A snowball was thrown, smacking the boy in the face hard. Tears welled up in his eyes, both from the stinging cold pain and the hurtful words from the other children.

“What makes you think we want a monster like you playing with us!?”

I’m not a monster………why do they hate me?

Naruto felt his heart clench, the memory suddenly popping up out of no where. It was like his dream that morning. But…that had never happened to him in Heaven. Was it…something from his life? When a person dies and becomes an angel, they forget the things that happened to them in their human life. To regain such lost memories…that sort of thing could only happen when the memories are strong ones.

Naruto frowned and stared down at his lap, suddenly back in an unhappy mood.

“Naruto-kun…” Hinata spoke up, jerking the blonde out of his thoughts.

The other two had already gotten up, money lying on the table. Naruto remembered that they were going shopping and he was going to go along. He finished the hot cocoa and got up, glancing towards the door the waiter had gone through. He wanted to know more about that person. He wanted to talk to him…but he wasn’t sure why.

Frowning softly, Naruto looked at Hinata and Neji apologetically, “Sorry…you guys go ahead without me. I just remembered…there’s something I need to do.”

Hinata frowned, “S…Sasuke-kun?”

Naruto looked down sadly at the mention of his charge, shaking his head. “No…I…not Sasuke. Something else…”

Neji frowned, not wanting Naruto to run off.

Naruto noticed the frown and forced a smile, bowing, “Sorry. Thank you for cheering me up.”

He turned and left the café, heading down the sidewalk and making sure Hinata and Neji didn’t follow him. When he was sure no one was looking, he quickly formed some hand seals and cast his invisibility spell, then took a seat and watched the café. A minute later, Hinata and Neji walked out and started down the sidewalk, Neji looking unhappy about something. Naruto smiled a little, glad to see that at least something about the stadium event had gone right.

Sighing, Naruto pulled his knees to his chest and rest his chin on them, thinking about Sasuke and the waiter and the battle at the stadium. He couldn’t remember to well what had happened after Sasuke had taken that hit and ‘died’. A few fuzzy memories of it popped up but slipped away from him as soon as he tried to grasp hold of them. Sighing in frustration, he abandoned that attempt and turned his thoughts on Sasuke. Why had Sasuke been so harsh and cold? Did Sasuke truly hate him? Was it a test…a test to see if he’d leave like he promised not to? Feeling his throat start to choke up on him, Naruto quickly shoved thoughts of Sasuke away before he started crying again. Besides, if it was a test then he would surely pass. He wasn’t planning on going anywhere.

He then thought about the red haired waiter. He was certain the boy wasn’t a demon, but he was also certain that he wasn’t normal. There was something haunting and lonely about him. And definitely something painfully familiar. Did he know him? Maybe it was someone he’d forgotten long ago? There was a bond between them…and he wanted to know what it was. He only hoped he didn’t screw up.

“Night…” A familiar voice called, bringing Naruto out of his worrying.

Naruto looked towards the café door, seeing the waiter from earlier. Except he was dressed in normal clothes rather then the waiter uniform. Naruto watched him close the door gently and turn, walking down the sidewalk in the opposite direction of Naruto. He tucked his hands into his pocket and turned his gaze to the sidewalk, his pace slow and in no hurry.

Naruto scrambled to his feet and checked his spell. When he was certain he was still invisible, he followed after the young man. He’d watch and see where the red head goes, then confront and try to talk with him.

Still keeping his gaze down, the young man walked down a couple of streets and through a neighborhood. There were children that stared at him coldly and some that ran, but it was the older people that upset Naruto. Some of them spat at the red head or called him a fowl name. But the young man just ignored them all and kept walking.

Near the park he slowed to a stop and turned, eyes falling on a young woman reading a book. They were alone in this area of the town and Naruto wondered if maybe these two knew each other. Suddenly a sound like someone rubbing sandpaper against something swelled up. Looking around, he tried to find the source of the noise, before a shriek drew his attention back to the waiter and the lady.

The lady was suddenly covered with sand, and it crept over her lips like a hand, muffling her from screaming to loudly. The red head watched patiently, showing know emotion, before walking over to her.

For a moment Naruto was relieved, certain the other was moving to help her, but then his eyes widened in horror when, rather then freeing her, the other male suddenly bit down on her neck. Fear and confusion at what he was seeing crept up and clutched at Naruto’s heart. What…what was that guy doing!?!

Should he attack? Or run? Or what!?

Naruto racked his brain for something, anything he might have been taught in the academy about what he should do in this kind of situation. Or what that guy was for that matter. He suddenly wanted to be home rather then here, snuggled close to Sasuke with a bowl of ramen while his charge studied. Spreading his wings, Naruto turned to flee the scene quickly but didn’t get far. The sound of moving sand filled his ears and he was suddenly engulfed in a huge ball of it. Everything went dark and Naruto quickly balled up, covering himself with his feathers. This was different…this wasn’t like anything he’d learned of in school! These weren’t powers that a being should have!

Naruto whimpered, expecting pain any second. But the sand started to dissipate in places on the walls and light returned. Confused and curious as much as he was scared, Naruto peeped out from behind his feathers. The sand had taken a round, cage like form around him and the red head was standing there, staring at him calmly with a small trickle of blood on his chin. Naruto glanced at the ground, seeing the lady that had been attacked lying there still and lifeless.

He whimpered and closed his eyes, wishing Kakashi would show up and save him.

“Why were you following me?” The other asked, licking the bead of blood away.

Naruto started slightly, then carefully peeped out from his feather shield. “N…Nani?”

“You’ve been following me since I left the café,” He answered.

Naruto calmed down a little, hearing no threat in the other’s tone. “I…I don’t know. Why did you kill her?”

The red head turned and glanced down at the lady, before looking back at Naruto, “She’s not dead.”

Naruto blinked at that, then carefully unballed himself and folded his wings, sitting there in the sand cage with a frown.

“She’s just weak…I only needed a little bit of blood,” He explained, tilting his head and looking at Naruto. “You’re an angel.”

Naruto rolled his eyes at that, then stopped himself with a squeak and blushed. Right…anger his captor by mocking him…brilliant. Rather then getting angry, the other smiled just a little bit in amusement, then the smile vanished. Naruto noticed though and suddenly he wasn’t so afraid of the other anymore.

“Why is an angel following me?” The boy asked.

Naruto blinked at the question, then grinned in a friendly manner, “Maybe I’m your guardian!”

The red head frowned and looked away, dissolving the cage away. “I have no guardian.”

Naruto frowned, then yelped as his sand seat vanished and he plopped on his butt. Wincing, he rubbed his poor bottom and looked up, noticing the boy was leaving. “H-Hey! Wait a minute!”

The red head stopped, glancing over his shoulder.

Naruto scrambled to his feet and pulled his wings back inside, smiling, “My name’s Uzumaki Naruto! What’s yours?”

“Why would you want to know?” The boy asked.

Naruto blinked, then shrugged, “Maybe we could be friends...”

“…friends?” The red head echoed softly, turning and facing Naruto. “You’d want to be my friend after I did something like that to that lady?”

Naruto frowned and scratched his cheek, “Well…you said you didn’t kill her. I don’t know why you need blood but…you don’t seem like a bad person. So…let’s be friends.”

The boy blinked softly, surprised and slightly warmed. He’d never…had a friend before. He glanced at the lady then back at Naruto, then looked down at the ground in front of Naruto’s feet, “My name is Sabaku no Gaara.”

Naruto grinned merrily, folding his arms behind his head, “Hiya, Gaara! Say…now that we’re friends…let’s do something. Hey, I know! Can we make a sand castle with that sand thingy of yours!?”

Gaara blinked, watching Naruto bounce hyperly at the suggestion like a child. “Um…sure?”

“YIPPY!!!” Naruto cheered and grabbed Gaara by the arm, dragging him off to find a good place for sand castle building.

Gaara’s eyes widened in surprise, not used to people physically touching him. A light blush formed on his cheeks. Was this angel…real?

“Ok! Right here!” Naruto grinned, plopping down in the shade beside a tree and grinning up at him expectantly.

Gaara recovered himself before sighing and sitting down, forming a pile of sand in front and around them. He sat back and watched the blonde go at it, still surprised to suddenly have a friend.

“Hey, Gaara. Why do you need blood?” Naruto asked, attempting to make a tower by cupping his hands together.

Gaara looked at the sand, willing it to rise up in a swirl and winning a smile out of the blonde. “It’s the price I pay.”

Naruto blinked at that and tilted his head, “Are you a vampire thingy?”

Gaara grinned slightly at that. “No…not a vampire ‘thingy’.”

“Are you…dead?” Naruto asked, wondering if that was why the other felt strange. But…if he was dead shouldn’t he be either angel or demon? Why didn’t Naruto sense this in him?


Gaara was silent for a moment, before nodding softly, “You could say that...”

“So…you’re kinda dead and need blood. But you’re not a human or an angel or a demon…but not a vampire thingy either,” Naruto deduced, sitting up looking utterly confused. “Then what are you?”

“Does it matter…?” Gaara asked softly.

Naruto thought about it, then shook his head with a grin, “Nah! I was just curious.”

And the conversation ended there, both boys sitting in companionable silence while building a rather impressive sand castle. Naruto sat back with a happy grin when they finished, brushing his hands off on his pants. It was a really, really good castle. Sasuke would have probably complimented him. Naruto frowned and slumped, the sting returning as he thought of the other.

Gaara noticed and looked at him with a slight frown. “What’s wrong?”

Naruto shook his head and sighed, “A really special person to me just told me today that he hates me.”

“Why?” Gaara asked, tilting his head slightly.

Naruto shrugged. “I’m not really sure. Hey…where do you live?”

Gaara shrugged, poking windows into the castle. “No where really…”

Naruto straightened a little, “You don’t have a home?”

Gaara fiddled with one particular window, not meeting Naruto’s eyes. “I did……a long time ago.”

Naruto sat back and watched Gaara fiddle with the window, a thought forming in his head. He looked at Gaara, then around them, then rubbed his neck with a slightly nervous expression. Then he made the final decision and smiled his best. “Well…come live with me!”

Gaara started and looked up with widened eyes, “Huh?”

Naruto grinned toothily and waved his hands in the air. “It’ll be fun! We can be roommates and stuff! And if you need blood, take it from me. I don’t mind and I heal quickly being an angel and all. Then you wouldn’t have to attack anybody.”

Gaara sat up, his expression unreadable but his eyes moistening a little. “You…would let me live with you?”

Naruto nodded, smiling warmly at Gaara. “Back in the café, I sensed so much pain coming from you. I used to know what it felt like…to be called those things and treated like that to. To be alone and hated… but…I’m not alone anymore. And you shouldn’t have to be either.”

Gaara looked at their castle, feeling warmth inside where there had always been emptiness.

Naruto stood and brushed off his pants, offering Gaara his hand, “So. What do you say?”

Gaara looked at the hand, then smiled and took it, standing up with Naruto’s help.

Naruto cheered and took hold of Gaara’s wrist, leading the way, “This will be great! It’ll be like we’re brothers or something! Just one rule, no hurting Sasuke or people in general and only take blood from me, ok!?”

Gaara nodded, letting Naruto lead and smiling a little. If this really was real, then he’d do his best to keep this friend.


***reviewer responses***


Anna - I know. I made a cliffy. XD Sorry, but it happens. And I'm glad I made Neji act like he had a crush without being blunt about it. ^^ Are you happy with the waiter?

Nomme de Plume - Don't worry. The next chapter after this focuses on what the hell is going on in Sasuke's mind. ^^

CommGonn - Naruto's naive innocence we should say. XD But thank you. ^^

Miko hanyou - Well...Sasuke's regret will come later in the form of mostly guilt and worry. You'll see in the next chapter. And are you happy with the waiter's identity?

innerchild - No, you can't hurt Sasuke. And I'm sorry you can't write your fic cause of me. XD Now I feel bad. =P

Donedin - Don't worry about it. I've had an awful stomach ache for the past four days myself, but at the same time an urge to type chapters. Oo

Everlasting Skies - Hinata rules. ^^ She's so cute. *hugs her* Anyways, the Neji thing I'm not completely sure on myself. I know he greatly treasures Naruto's friendship even if he doesn't come out and say it, but that's about it. But Neji was a good choice in my opinion. Gaara/Lee is equal grounds to Sasu/Naru in my opinion. ^^

americanXminority - the next chapter will focus on Sasuke. ^^

Jadejj - thank you! ^^

rasengan22 - Wow, have more faith in our Sasuke-kun, ras. ^^ Next chapter will be on him. But otherwise, um...thanks for the review? ^_^

Carla - This story doesn't follow the anime exactly. So people dead in the anime are not dead here...yet...unless I say so. XD Anyways, it's not Orochimaru, so no worries their. And no Sai...I haven't seen or read the Naruto 2 series yet *explained above the chapter*.

damionwright - No Sai. Sorry...don't know him enough to bring him in. ^^

Yuri-san - Well, in the beginning I made it clear that Sasuke was the resident asshole of the school. XD And Neji's probably the president of his hate club. XD Especially with the crush he's developed on Naruto. =) Which shall..only get worse. Hee hee... And more on Sasuke in next chapter. ^^