Fading Scars

This is an Alternate Universe fic set perhaps a day or two after Orochimaru’s retreat from Konoha. A lot of liberties were taken from that point on in terms of time-line. This is also a very angsty (especially Naruto) and sexually graphic fic—just the way we like it!

This was written as a one-on-one RP, so the point of view of the story will change, usually with every paragraph. Scenes will also change abruptly and large periods of time will pass with little notice, though I’ll try to give some warning at the beginning of the chapter.

// = thoughts
* = emphasis

Please read and enjoy!

Fading Scars
Chapter Sixteen:

Naruto waited with Gaara just on the outskirts of the town, having sent Lee on ahead to bring Guy to them. They had figured that the best way to bring Gaara into the city would be to get him accepted by the jounin.

Naruto glanced at the boy, sitting with him on a fallen log. All through the journey Gaara had barely left his side--it was almost flattering, really. He reached out, setting an encouraging hand on Gaara's shoulder, grinning. "Don't worry. Guy-sensei might be a little strange, but he's really a good guy."

"I remember him," Gaara said, staring fixedly ahead at the village. His hands tightened around his knees. "Will he really accept me?"

"He can't argue with both me and Lee," he teased. "Don't worry, as long as you're determined to get stronger, he'll accept you." Naruto straightened as he heard voices approaching, licking his lips in anticipation.

"So, you and young Naruto have returned from your secret mission, eh?" Guy grinned widely. "And you have found some great warrior to join us?"

"Yes, Sir!" Lee declared, trying to keep from tugging him along. //Please let this work!// "I think you'll be surprised, Guy-sensei. But he's really strong, and he's...not all that bad, just like you told me. And he's really looking forward to meeting you."

Gaara stood as soon as he spotted the pair, his fists still held tight at his sides. He pursed his lips nervously.

Naruto stood as well, keeping close but letting Gaara face their teacher on his own.

Guy came around the bushes, and he froze when he saw who his students had brought. For the first time, he was speechless, fingers tense as he looked over the boy. //They brought...Sand's Gaara?// When he got over his surprise he turned to Lee. "He is the one you meant?" he asked, just to be sure.

"Yes, Sir!" Lee quickly assured, determined to keep his enthusiasm high. He faltered a little under Guy's startled gaze. "You're not mad, are you, Sensei? I knew you'd be surprised, but he really wants to help us. It's okay if he stays, right?"

"He's very determined," Naruto added.

Guy perked an eyebrow at that, crossing his arms. "I see." He paced forward to stand directly before Gaara, holding his gaze. "I expect a lot out of my students," he stated grandly. "Loyalty, discipline, and dedication. Are you willing to work hard to better improve the strength of your mind, body, and heart?"

Gaara stared up at him, lips still pursed and eyes wide. //Loyalty…my heart…?// "Yes," he answered shortly.

Lee stood tensely beside them, nearly about to burst. "Sensei...? Is it...okay?"

Guy finally allowed a smile, moved by the obvious enthusiasm in his students. //And Gaara seems different. There's something that's changed.// He reached out, setting a firm hand on the boy's shoulder. "As long as your convictions hold firm, you will not falter. I will accept you as my student, Gaara, as I took in these two lost souls as well."

"Yes!" Naruto jumped, punching the air. "Thanks, Guy-sensei! I knew we could count on you!"

Guy raised his other hand in a thumbs-up. "Of course!"

"Wahoo!" Lee cheered with them. For a moment he was caught up in his enthusiasm, and thought nothing of grabbing Gaara's hand in a tight grip. "Isn't that great? Welcome to our group!"

Gaara's shoulders crept up, a little overwhelmed. He lowered his head as he attempted a slow, shaky smile.

Naruto beamed, copying Lee's movements in taking Gaara's other hand. "We're so gonna kick ass now! We'll be the strongest team in Konoha history!"

Guy found himself completely won over then, both by his two student's enthusiasm and by the sincere but faint pleasure on Gaara's face. He couldn't help ruffling the boy's hair. "Now, I'm going to go speak to the Hokage to inform her of these latest developments. But you three have come a long way and should get much rest before we start our vigorous training." He pulled a cloak seemingly out of nowhere and offered it to Gaara. "It would probably be best if you kept your head low until I make everything official. Understand, all of you?"

Naruto nodded reverently. "He's gonna stay with me for now, so we'll go right to my place and crash."

Gaara accepted the cloak, though his smile quickly vanished when he realized what it meant. //I have to hide, because they'll be frightened of me. Like everyone else.// But by then Lee was already taking the fabric from him, draping it playfully over his head.

"Ready?" Lee said with a grin, taking Gaara's hand once more. "We'll have to get you something really good to eat, and then some rest so you won't be so pale."

"Ramen!" Naruto cried in delight, ushering Gaara from the other side. "We'll eat at my favorite place--the guy there is really nice and will even give us extras." He waved over his shoulder as they pulled Gaara away. "Thank, Guy-sensei! We'll see you tomorrow!"

Guy waved back. "Enjoy your rest!" he called. //While I take care of the hard part.//

Gaara ducked his head within the cloak. "I can't eat like this," he reminded them. //I don't want to meet anyone. I just want to be alone with them, so that no one will bother me.// The thought of risking another encounter, just to be rejected again when he already felt so fragile….

Lee frowned slightly, and exchanged a glance with Naruto. "Well, we are tired," he said thoughtfully. "Maybe we can just get carry out?"

"Sure! The old man won't mind--I'll even treat." Naruto was determined to keep their spirits high, and he gave Gaara a little tug to keep him moving. "If you want, I could run ahead and get it, and you guys can meet me at my place?"

"That'd be great! I know how to get there." Lee sent his companion a wink. "Be quick, okay? We'll be waiting."

Before Naruto could take a step away, however, Gaara's hand tightened abruptly around his. "No," he said simply. //Naruto's staying with me.// "Make Lee go."

"Ah..." Lee frowned. "Well, okay..."

Naruto shrugged. //Well, he hasn't left me alone since we got him, so....// He dug into his pocket with his free hand, turning over a fistful of bills to Lee. "Tell the old guy it's for me--he'll give ya extra, okay?" He grinned in reassurance, pulling Gaara along. "Don't go too fast, though," he teased. "You'll beat us there."

Lee released Gaara's hand so he could salute. "Yes sir!" He started down the street towards the ramen shop, hoping...Gaara would warm up to him eventually.

Gaara pulled closer to Naruto as their companion left. "Let's go," he murmured. A few people were watching them curiously, and he was anxious to get away from their stares.

Naruto easily led the way, ignoring the people on the street watching them. //Though usually, they're the ones ignoring me.// "It's not too far," he assured, leaning forward so he could see Gaara for a moment, grinning. "Have you ever had ramen before? It's my favorite food--I eat it almost every day."

"I don't think so," Gaara admitted. "I don't know what it is." He had only ever eaten what his group leader would give him, or occasionally Kankuro or Temari--and even then was fairly sure they were doing so against Kazekage's orders. Otherwise…if he were hungry, he'd find something to take. He didn't associate many foods with their names, but if Naruto liked it so much….

"Oh yeah? Well, I'm sure you'll like it--it's all warm and good tasting and it fills ya up!" Naruto pulled them around a few corners, taking short-cuts to avoid most of the crowds, and soon was leading Gaara up the stairs and down the hall of his apartment. "Here we are!" he declared grandly, unlocking the door and throwing it open. "It's a little dusty, since I've been gone for a while, but...yeah."

Gaara started inside, but was forced to pause a moment when his gourd knocked against the doorframe. Frowning, he tugged off the cloak and twisted enough to get him and the item inside. He glanced around--the apartment was small, but...so different than anywhere he'd been in a long time. "This is yours?"

"Yup!" Naruto bounced inside, grabbing a few loose clothes items and tossing them into the closet. "I even got my own bathroom, too! And the raman shop is just down the street, so we've got everything we need!" He faced Gaara, suddenly anxious for his approval. "So so? What do you think?"

"Think?" Gaara turned, trying to see everything, but his gourd bumped into Naruto's kitchen table. He frowned. "It's small." After a moment of anxious hesitation he slid the gourd off his back and set it aside.

Shrugging, Naruto tried to gather up a few other trash items, hoping to improve his apartment's appearance. "Yeah, I know, but I can't really afford much better right now. That's why we need to become chuunin!" He bounced in excitement. "We'll be able to do bigger missions, make some money to get a bigger place." He crossed his arms, staring around as if daring something else to be out of place. "But for now, this'll do."

Gaara moved about the apartment, checking things curiously. There was...food in the fridge. A bathroom, a bed.... //So this is where he sleeps. His demons…aren't quite like mine.// He turned back to Naruto. "So this is where I'll stay?"

Naruto nodded, though he was a bit anxious again. "Yeah. I mean, if you don't like it or don't want to, I'm sure we could come up with another place. Something bigger...?"

"It's fine." Gaara continued to wander about, poking at the items he found that interested him.

"Naruto-kun! Gaara-san!" Lee appeared in the doorway, grinning breathlessly as he hefted the ramen he'd brought for them. "Mission accomplished!"

"Hooray!" Naruto dropped down to the floor, pushing his small table aside so they could all sit together. "Sit sit! God, I'm really starving. Good job, Lee!"

Lee hopped over, setting their food down in the middle. "I got us some juice, too," he offered as he unpacked the bags. "A whole bunch--I wasn't sure which ones you'd like, Gaara-san."

Gaara regarded the different cans with a frown, and at last selected a red one. He took a few sips, and though he didn't comment he continued to drink as he drew one of the ramen bowls toward him.

Naruto beamed. //This is my group.// Grinning widely, he took a long drink from his own can. "Thanks for going, Lee," he said, breaking his chopsticks and digging in. "This is just what we needed for our Formation of the Best Genin Group Ever Party."

"Party?" Gaara echoed. He fumbled with his chopsticks, having trouble getting a hold of the slippery noodles. He tried leaning forward, to snag them before they slipped from the chopsticks.

Lee tried not to laugh at the scene he was making. "Of course! This is our celebration. And later, we can introduce you to some more people and have a real party."

Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "Hinata, Shino, and Kiba will be pleased--they're the only real group that's still left since the exam, and they'll be glad to have another to help with the missions. Oh, and Shikamaru!" He grinned as he turned to Gaara. "He's the only one of us that got named chuunin after everything, because he's so smart, you know. He can be a little boring, but he's a good friend."

Gaara frowned thoughtfully, trying to place the name with what he remembered from the exam. But thinking of it now made his head ache; he shook himself. "I don't remember him."

Lee started to tell him--he paused, from the look on the boy's face deciding it best not to mention the exam too much. //It was pretty rough, after all….// "Well, you'll meet him," he said instead.

"Of course! But we'll all be really busy, too, training and stuff." He grinned suddenly. "You know that Shikamaru's group was able to make a combination attack? We could do that, too, you know? We all are really good at different things, it would be best to combine them, don't you think? Like a real team would!"

"Yes!" Lee excitedly agreed. "We should definitely!" //Like a real team…not like how mine used to be.// "Right, Gaara-san?"

Gaara didn't look up--he had abandoned his chopsticks in favor of his fingers, and was all but shoveling the noodles into his mouth. He paused to gulp them down. "Okay."

Naruto laughed, patting Gaara on the shoulder. "Well, at least we know you like ramen! I bet we can find all sorts of different foods you'll like here." //Maybe then he won't look quite so sick.// He returned to his own bowl, eating happily. "You picked some good ramen for tonight, Lee."

"Thanks, Naruto-kun!"

The three finished their meal together, which consisted mainly of Naruto and Lee chattering excitedly while Gaara proceeded to drink more than his fair share of the juices Lee had brought. At last it was nearly sunset, and Lee helped clean up their trash before moving to the door. "I'm going to check on Guy-sensei," he said with a grin. "See how things went with Hokage-sama. Will you two be okay?"

"We'll be fine," Naruto assured, grinning. "We'll meet you in the morning by your tree, right?"

"All right! Bright and early, okay?" Lee flashed them both a grin before starting happily down the hall.

Gaara watched him go, his shoulders drooping a bit in relief. He still wasn't sure what to do with the strange boy, and it...hurt a little, seeing how he sometimes favored his leg. He sipped noisily at the last can of juice.

Naruto shut the door, stretching his arms up over his head. "Man! What a long day." He grinned down at his new companion. "Do you want a bath before bed? After all that traveling, I feel all sticky and dirty."

"I don't take baths," Gaara told him knowingly. He finished his juice, remembering to toss the leftover can into the garbage. "I'm...not supposed to go near too much water."

"Not go near water?" Naruto dropped back to the floor with him. "Why not?"

"Because...." //It scares me.// Gaara frowned and glanced away. "The sand doesn't like it," he explained. "It doesn't want me to."

Naruto glanced over at the gourd, frowning. "Well, I guess I can understand that--it would just become mud then, right?" He tilted his head. "Even just a bath, though? It's not like anything will happen to you in a bathtub, and you can keep your gourd nearby without it getting wet." He stood up. "I'm gonna get it ready, and if you just want to wash up a little without getting in, that would be okay, too."

"Oh." Though Gaara was still uneasy, he was also a bit curious. In Sand it was difficult to get a bath, with water hard to come by, and the children always seemed to make such a big deal over it…. "Okay." He pushed to his feet, and began unwinding some of his straps and sashes.

Pleased, Naruto hurried into the bathroom, turning a few creaking knobs and watching the water spill out. "Come on in when you're ready." //He's being really agreeable--I guess it's a good thing. At least he seems to trust me.// He scampered around, finding towels and cloths and other assorted bath items, preparing. When that was done he started pulling off his jacket and shirt. //I can just wipe down if he wants to try the bath.//

Gaara finished undressing, leaving only a sash wrapped around his waist as he followed Naruto into the bathroom--dragging his gourd behind. He watched as Naruto tested the water with interest. //No one will hurt me if I do go in. Right?// He gulped.

Naruto grinned over his shoulder. //He really is pale, though. Well, I'll take care of him.// "It's really warm…" he teased, splashing the surface of the water invitingly. "If you want, I can stay here."

"Okay." //He'll…look after me?// It was a strange thought, and Gaara tried not to let it affect him as he came further inside. He tucked his gourd under the sink and removed his last sash. "Is it...really okay?" he asked as he reached out, hesitantly touching the water's surface. He could feel something curl inside him anxiously, like a warning.

"It's just water," Naruto pointed out, still running his hand through it. Grinning, he cupped a handful and splashed it on his own face. "See? I think your sand just doesn't want to get all muddy, but it should be just fine over there, right?"

"Okay...." With a deep breath Gaara slipped a foot into the water. He could still feel his stomach churning, enough to make him ill. //No--it's just water!// He jumped suddenly in, splashing water over the sides as he dunked his entire body.

Naruto laughed, surprised as he was soaked. "Hey! You got me!" He wiped the water from his eyes as he leaned against the side of the tub, waiting for Gaara to reappear. "Well? How is it? Isn't it nice?"

Gaara resurfaced with a heavy gasp. He was shivering, and was suddenly afraid he might be sick, but then...it began to fade. The tension behind his ribs drained away, leaving him...calm. He wiped some of the water from his eyes. "It's warm."

"Course it is." Naruto beamed. Gaara looked even younger now, his hair matted and eyes wide. "Do you like it?"

"I don't know." Gaara sank down in the tub until the water came up to his chin. //It's quiet.// "It's...relaxing, I guess." He flexed his fingers, finding it strange how the water seemed to come right into his skin. Already the water was darkening with all the sand washing off his body.

Grinning suddenly, Naruto grabbed a bottle of shampoo, edging closer to Gaara's head. "Come here--we should wash your hair, get all that desert dirt out."

"It's not dirt. It's sand." But Gaara sat up, allowing Naruto to come closer. //It's strange. Why do I feel so calm?// Gaara passed his hands idly back and forth under the water, then splashed lightly. //It's warm.//

Naruto poured some of the thick gel into Gaara's hair and began scrubbing. "Better close your eyes--if the soap gets in, it'll sting a bit." He massaged the shampoo into Gaara's scalp, taking some pride in that he was able to care for the boy in this way.

Gaara closed his eyes as asked, continuing to move his hands in the water. When he felt his shoulders beginning to dry he quickly splashed more water onto himself. "Do you have...soap?"

"Of course." Naruto pulled back. "I'll grab it. You go ahead and rinse that out of your hair." He crawled across the wet floor to the other end of the tub, hunting up a fresh bar of soap.

Gaara took a deep breath, dunking his head under the water and giving it a shake. When he came back up he paused to wipe his eyes; by then Naruto had returned with the soap. //Is being clean really that great?// He rubbed the soap against his cheek and wondered if it was working.

Naruto giggled. "That's right. You gotta rub it all over." He stole the bar a moment, rubbing it between this palms vigorously before handing it back, then proceeded to scrub at his own face and neck. When he was satisfied, he quickly leaned forward to submerse his head.

Gaara leaned back, frowning as Naruto cleaned himself--he was suddenly and inexplicably protective of the water. He continued to clean himself with the soap. "Do you...get to bathe often?"

"Pretty much whenever I feel like it," he said, wiping his eyes. "Mostly I'll just jump in quick after training, just so I won't be all sweaty when I go to bed." Naruto sat back on his hands, watching Gaara with a faint smile. "Do you really like it that much?"

"Yeah." When Gaara was satisfied with his cleanliness he sank back into the water, so that just his head was above it's surface. "It's quiet," he murmured, letting his eyes slip shut. He couldn't feel the sand on him, the thin, coarse particles that would creep into every fold of skin. "I like it."

Naruto beamed, crawling forward again so he could see the other over the edge of the tub. "That's the first time I've heard you say you liked something," he pointed out happily. "I was starting to wonder if you like anything at all."

"I do like it," Gaara murmured. As he breathed in the warm steam of the water, he could almost feel everything dimming around him, becoming silent... When he realized what was happening, he jerked himself upright with a panicked gasp. //I was…I was going to….//

Naruto flinched at the sudden movement, eyes wide. "What? What's wrong?"

Gaara pressed a hand to the side of his head; it wasn't aching, like it usually did, but he still felt nauseous. He looked away. "I was falling asleep," he admitted quietly.

"Hmmm....." Naruto leaned closer, watching him. "Would that...I mean, would it really be bad?" he asked. "Before, you had to be all transformed and stuff, right?"

Gaara pressed a hand against his chest. "I don't know," he whispered. "I don't sleep. If I do, that...that thing...." His face contorted in frustration. "I don't want it to."

Naruto tilted his head. "You want to try?" he asked honestly. "I'll be right here, so if it looks like there's trouble I'll just wake you back up." He brightened suddenly. "Maybe being in the water will help! If the sand doesn't like it, maybe it won't be able to form?"

"If I'm in the water...." Gaara frowned, lifting his hand slowly out of the tub so that thin waterfalls dribbled off his fingers. //Is that why the sand is scared of it? Why I'm not allowed?// He shivered. "If that's true...the water would leave me defenseless," Gaara murmured, his eyes narrowed. "It's my weakness."

Naruto snorted. "We're all a little defenseless, when we sleep," he pointed out. "But no one's gonna come here to hurt you. Besides--" He grinned. "I'm here. You really think I'd let anything happen to one of my comrades?"

Gaara's shoulders crept up. //That word again.// "Fine." He closed his eyes, and dropped back into the tub. //If he's right, I'll…sleep, and nothing will happen.// His brow furrowed. //And if he's wrong I'll change in my sleep and kill him, and destroy this village. But it'll be his fault, for being wrong.//

Naruto fell quiet, watching, before he glanced over his shoulder at Gaara's gourd--it sat, unmoving, right where it had been left. //Maybe...it's working?// He smiled, pleased with himself until he glanced around the room. //I guess I better stay in here, though, just to be sure. Which means I'll have to clean.// When he turned back to Gaara, however, he decided it could wait a bit longer.

Gaara let his breath slip out of him. //It really is quiet. Is Naruto still there?// His body felt heavy in the water, as if it were dragging him down deeper. //Whatever. If I change, and Naruto has to kill me…so be it.// At last he relaxed completely, letting a darkness he'd never known fall over him.

Naruto watched, though when Gaara began to sink a little too deep he carefully reached in to support his head. Thinking quickly, he found a towel to roll up and slip beneath him. //There. That will keep him from drowning or anything.// Pleased, Naruto watched for a few more moments before finally pulling away. "Now to clean up and get some sleep."

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When Gaara finally awoke, it was slowly; bit by bit his consciousness came back into focus. He was still in the water, though by now it had cooled, and his limbs felt heavy and wrinkled. His eyelids fluttered open. //Did I really sleep?// He stared at the ceiling as he tried to make himself understand.

Naruto hummed to himself as he continued to move around his apartment, munching on a meatbun Lee had delivered for him earlier. He wandered over to the tub as he did every now and again, peering in to see how his comrade was doing. When he saw Gaara looking back, he grinned brightly and knelt down. "Finally! I thought you were gonna sleep all night again."

Gaara blinked at him. "Again?" he echoed. He rubbed at his eyes, and was startled to find crust in them. There was a funny taste in his mouth, too. "Was I really asleep?"

Naruto laughed. "Are you kidding? You slept all night, and now it's only a while before sunset. I'll say you slept." He beamed. "Guy-sensei and Lee even came to check on you, and Guy-sensei said you probably needed the rest and said he'd forgive us for not training today."

"I was...sleeping...?" Gaara shivered beneath the water, and slowly, he smiled--just barely, but he smiled. "I've never done that before."

//He looks really good when he smiles like that.// Naruto leaned his arms against the edge of the tub, beaming. "Maybe we'll have to make this your bed, huh?" he asked, trailing a hand through the water.

Gaara glanced up at him. "Really?" It was almost too much to think that he would have his own place to sleep--to think that he would even be able to sleep, every night, like a normal person. "But it's your bathtub."

Naruto shrugged. "So long as you let me take a bath now and then, I don't care." He tilted his head. "So? It would be nice, wouldn't it? And if this is the only way you can sleep, I wouldn't mind giving it up at all."

//He'd do that for me.// Gaara's head ached a moment, but it wasn't as bad as it had once been. He was starting to get used to Naruto's kindness, dangerous as that was. "Can we warm it back up?" he asked suddenly. "I still want to sleep."

"Sure. We should probably replace the water anyway, since it's so dirty." He reached for the drain. "I'll just--"

A loud knock at the door paused him, and Naruto looked up in surprise. //Who would be here now?// He smiled at Gaara. "Just pull that plug out and let the water drain all out, and we'll fill it back up. I'll be back in a sec." Hopping to his feet, he hurried to pull his door open. "Guy-sensei?"

"Naruto." He tried to grin like usual, but it felt just a little strained. "How is young Gaara? Has he woken up yet?"

"Naruto-kun." Lee peeked out from behind his teacher. "I brought some more food. You haven't left all day, right? And some for Gaara-san, too."

Naruto grinned. "Thanks! I'm sure he'll appreciate it."

Guy set a hand on Lee's shoulder. "Before you eat, I was instructed by Hokage-sama to bring him to meet her." He glanced towards the bathroom.

Naruto straightened, eyes narrowing. "Well, I'm going with him, if that's the case," he said strongly.

Gaara glanced up at the sound of voice. //Hokage? But I want to sleep.// He stepped carefully out of the tub as it drained and found a towel, beginning to dry off. //Will the Hokage try to kill me, like Kazekage did…?// He glanced at his gourd, and despite how much he had enjoyed the bath he felt relieved when the sand in it stirred in welcome. "Naruto?"

He moved quickly to the doorway, glancing in. "Did you hear?" he asked. "Hokage-sama wants to see you." Naruto glanced back at Gaara and Lee. "We'll just get dressed really quick, okay."

Guy nodded easily. "Of course." Secretly, he was pleased that Naruto had decided on his own to go, and he glanced down at Lee.

Lee beamed up at his teacher. "I told you he'd come," he reminded Guy with a grin.

Gaara dressed back in his outfit, frowning a little as the dirty clothes spoiled the clean feeling he'd gained from the bath. He shook them irritably. "I'm ready."

Naruto tightened his headband and joined his group. "Ready." He slapped gently at Gaara's shoulder in reassurance as they followed Guy towards the Hokage's building.

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