Static

INTERMURAL : Layer two

Disclaimer: You know You do, don’t you? *psst: I don’t own Naruto*

Scratch… click, click, click. Scratch… click, click, click.

Vaguely Naruto watched the pebble bounce off the road. He stopped while scratching his forehead, wondering vaguely if rocks minded being kicked. He chuckled quietly to himself, trying to escape the mental picture of being yelled at by a rock with a ponytail and a scar across it's nose.

Of course trying to escape the image only made him laugh harder…

:: Circling… your circling, your circling your head ::

[Presence...]

Naruto jerked his head up, responding to the familiar alarm he had grown use to... someone was too close to him, slowly he turned his eyes to the closer chakra signals. He blinked once, coming face to face with one person he did not expect to see on this particular night.

"Ga-Gaara?" He looked closer, into Gaara’s eyes… Naruto's eyes widened briefly, that look… desperation… Naruto let his head drop so his eyes were no longer visible.

"What's wrong?" He looked up again, causing Gaara to flinch ever so slightly. How did Naruto know him so well...

The familiar blue was more intense now accompanied by pupils too slit to be considered as such. The brilliant color slowly being infected with increasingly intense flecks of red and hazy violet.

Naruto knew. Gaara smirked.

Gaara was the first to speak... something unusual. “Let's go then.” Naruto nodded. Lunging forward at the figure who was now rushing equally fast toward him. They did this more than they should… beat the bloody hell out of each other.

Gaara sighed out loud, it helped though, it made him feel better to hit something that hard and have it not give way… only to hit him back. It reassured him he was alive, the pain was real… and he existed. As Naruto's fist collided with Gaara's jaw the sand came up behind him.

He too was familiar with this, familiar with the frustration and confusion caused by one's own existence. The problem was, Gaara didn't know where he fit… he didn't know what to do. He was lost again, he needed a new existence.

:: Contemplating everything you ever said ::

The sand armor cracked more with the second hit Naruto landed. Gaara spat onto the ground, his saliva mixed with a little of his own blood, after being in Konoha for the period of time he had been, he was used to being hit. Naruto had made sure of it.

The town was exceptional when it came to strong ninja. It seemed Konoha was the home to all those who became truly great.

:: Now I see the truth I got a doubt ::

This was one of the reasons he had stayed. Not only that but the only other person in the world, most likely, that had a demon bound to them as well was Naruto; a good reason to stay if the only one.
The sand came down on Naruto's back, hitting hard. Naruto gasped for air but nothing more, he coughed a few times crawling up from the ground, allowing the familiar red to engulf him, using the chakra that would allow him to tire less easily… the chakra of the Nine-tails. The horrible Kyuubi... the reason his own village had shunned him...

The sand came up and engulfed his ankle lifting him off the ground. He looked into Gaara's eyes again, now inverted it seemed the anger had subsided slightly. The look was now replaced with something else, a vague curiosity.

Silent contemplation that was slowly consuming him…

Leaving him with questions that knew no answers. The 'why' and the 'how' were shouting, sparkling and stark clear. The answers were much too elusive for something so unstable as the human mind.
Especially one that was forced to share its existence with another caught within its confines.

:: A different motive in your eyes and now I'm out ::

They stayed that way for a while. Unfortunately for Naruto the blood that sped into his brain was causing time to go unusually slow. He was about to yell at Gaara to let him down, when Gaara flew forward, landing a nice one to the left side of his jaw line.

Naruto cringed as the blood trickled out of his mouth.

He spat as the sand released him, falling gracefully to the ground flipping to his feet before he touched... Naruto crouched a bit more waiting for another blow, when it didn't come Naruto glanced up toward where he knew Gaara was. Feeling his jaw set and heal itself... it never did stop tickling, the healing that made his skin itch and crawl.

Naruto had thought Gaara was acting uniquely different and he soon realized the reason why. He followed Gaara's line of vision to the bright apparition of the full moon, hanging mid way in the night sky, calling attention to the tiny orbs of light that lay behind it.

Gaara put a hand out in front of him, blocking the moon from the sky. “It's nice if there's no obstruction…” He said quietly, as if testing his voice for solidity.

Naruto watched him closely, had the fight finished, or was this only an intermission. Naruto took in some much needed air and followed the moon’s path once more to the stars that lay behind it, in all their white hot glory. He allowed his head to fall to the side a bit.

Watching closely as Gaara lowered his hand, perhaps to attack again. Naruto fell back into the familiar stance he had practiced so thoroughly over time.

:: See you later ::

The blow he had been expecting never came, Gaara just stood… as if contemplating time itself. Challenging it to a never ending duel of wit and power. He closed his eyes and dropped the sand armor, the sand slowly sifting its way back into the gourd that rested so easily on Gaara’s back.
Naruto thought it was interesting how that thing grew along with Gaara. Of course he’d realized long ago the entire thing was made of sand, but over the last year or so Gaara had gained a good inch on his height, giving the gourd another good inch or more to its volume.

Perhaps it was because Gaara was taller and needed more sand to use the shield. Naruto wasn't sure… but it was interesting. Perhaps if they survived this he would ask Gaara about it.

:: I see your fantasy, you want to make a reality paved in gold ::

Gaara turned and looked at Naruto, crossing his arms and narrowing his eyes. Naruto stared back, quite unsure what was going on in Gaara's head at that time in particular. Hell, who could tell what was going through the guys head at any point in time!

Gaara walked toward Naruto until he was about an inch away from him, Naruto not wanting to back away. Fully realizing it made Gaara agitated when people shirked and avoided him. He would never make that mistake.

Like he said 'Smart, but incredibly annoying.' Although, Naruto was become increasingly aware of their closeness.

“Uh, Gaara?” Naruto whispered. No need to speak loud when you didn't trust your voice and someone was that close to you. Gaara inspected Naruto closely. What was it about him? And, what the hell was this feeling. He put a had hand on Naruto's chest, feeling the rapid heart beat beneath his palm. He blinked and looked at Naruto again. Was he afraid? Gaara's eyes narrowed and widened again.
No that wasn't it…

That wasn't it at all. Naruto's eyes spoke their own story. Gaara closed his eyes, it was nice to be this close to someone, especially when they were warm… Naruto was warm…

He let his head fall forward slightly, just barely resting in the crook between Naruto’s neck and shoulder. Feeling Naruto tense very little, just unsure... not afraid. Gaara’s heartbeat sped at the realization, Naruto smelled good...

:: See inside, inside of our heads, yeah ::

“Gaara...”

Shit His voice was reacting badly to this situation. “Is something wrong…?” Naruto spoke softly, not wanting to ruin the moment, only to stir Gaara from his thoughts, the train of thought he was currently lost in.

Unless he realized how uncomfortable Naruto was and he was just teasing him…

It wasn't as though Naruto had never been this close to someone before, it was just… well it was Gaara. He was different… Naruto blinked at that thought, Different? Different how…?

:: Well that's over, I see your motives inside ::

Pulling away gently, Gaara searched Naruto's face, for something, anything that could be taken and harvested as an answer. Something to tell him why he felt this way. This feeling it was almost like… happiness. He hadn't felt that in a very long time.

It was the most foreign sensation he could possibly imagine. Or maybe not...

Naruto took a deep breath leaning back a little, just to catch some air out of Gaara's scent, it was after all slightly overwhelming. Almost intoxicating... With his new improved sense of smell from Kyu he was having a difficult time... now he new what Kiba had gone through... except Kiba wasn’t stuck with it.
Gaara turned his head to the side a little, are you afraid? Naruto blinked, Gaara's voice… it had changed slightly, less… malice and contempt, only curiosity.

“No,” answered Naruto. It was the truth he wasn't afraid… just disoriented. It was interesting, this new sense of disorientation. “Just unsure…” Gaara blinked. 'Unsure? Unsure of what? Now it was his turn to be confused. Gaara stepped back a little, allowing Naruto some personal space.

:: Decisions to hide ::

Gaara took three steps back and filtered the sand armor back on. Naruto narrowed his eyes… Gaara was acting really strange, almost desperate. “I need answers and I will not stop until I find them…” He said, quiet and dangerously low. Naruto shuddered at that tone, he hadn't heard it since the Chuunin exams.

“Answers to what?” Naruto asked. Again falling into the familiar pattern of steps that were all a mere insignificance within that which was battle. Dodge, duck, spin left, punch… land, kick… connect. It was all too familiar. Naruto sighed audibly as he landed another blow. This was growing tiring, he turned to land another when Gaara spoke again.

“What is this feeling…” Gaara had stopped, hand clutching tightly to his shirt, clenching the cloth that resided over his heart. He looked bad… really bad. Naruto dropped his mask for just that moment. Just that piece of time, shifting empathically to comfort Gaara, even if only a little.

“Feeling…?” Naruto asked cautiously letting his leg fall without a connection for the kick, Gaara didn't feel. It just simply wasn't like him. Although, Naruto knew it was a clever masquerade. Just like each time he took off his own mask to put a new one on.

Since he had become an adult he had not suffered so much, his worth becoming more evident each time the city was in danger, people no longer thought of him as a monster and this made life signifigantly easier.

But, they still feared Gaara. They still blamed him for what happened to Konohagakure so long ago because it had been partially the Hidden Sand's fault. Although, Orochimaru's plot had been pushed into the open and the knowledge of the Kazekage's death was frequently mentioned. They had a new, more respected Kazekage now.

And Orochimaru was no longer, hidden in the shadows of lifelessness. Naruto had, dealt with it.

:: Back off I'll take you on. Headstrong to take on anyone ::

Naruto watched as Gaara slowly dropped his head, obscuring his features. Naruto watched in shock as Gaara fell to the ground in slow motion, as with all significant events the moment seemingly took minutes to occur. Although, gravity would speak a different story entirely.

Gaara fell to his knees, hand leaving his chest to comfort the growing ache in his head.
“Too much chakra…” were the vague words Naruto was left with when Gaara fianlly passed out. The eternal insomnia finally catching up with him, the act of sleep his last resort to fight his growing insanity.

:: I know that you are wrong. Headstrong we're Headstrong ::

Naruto walked to the stilled form slowly, so he did not disturb Gaara's absolute defense, Shukaku would most likely try to kill him when he got close enough to Gaara. But, to Naruto's utter astonishment the sand did not stir, merely shifted into the gourd and rested.

Naruto watched cautiously as he lifted Gaara into his arms. 'Damn that gourd is heavy.'

As Naruto leapt toward the city and his apartment, he snuck tiny peaks at the one so peacefully slumbering in his hold. Perhaps he would just take Gaara to his apartment… he would wake in the morning. Confused as hell and in someone else's apartment, nope… that wasn't very smart.
Gaara stirred slightly, murmuring quietly. “Love… I think.” Naruto's eyebrows scrunched in confusion. Love? What did that have to do with anything? Naruto made his way to Gaara's place, shifting him, not seeing the need for haste. If Gaara was sleeping and the Shukaku wasn't driving him mad, hell if Naruto was going to be the one to wake him.

:: This is not where you belong ::

Naruto stopped before the door of the house, it was fairly nice, in a good portion of Konoha. He knocked on the door.

Kankuro had come with Gaara when he returned to Konoha. Temari had stayed taking a position as a top Sand Anbu, guarding their new Kazekage, a woman much like Konoha's godaime…. Tsunade. Kankuro had told him Temari hated war. She despised it within the depths of her very being, and would gladly die before she was going to let something like the Orochimaru incident happen again, sand's reputation had been growing steadily since then.

Fortunately in a good direction, known for it's newfound dependability.

Temari's other goal was to make sure no one was able to replicate Gaara's retched experimentation. She would not allow someone else to have to go through the torment Gaara did as a child. She had watched him grow up after all.

And she had watched Shukaku grow, into a burden that was too difficult for Gaara to carry alone. A sister who could do nothing to help her little brother, it must have been hard for her...

:: I can't give everything away ::

One of the lights in the front was illuminated as someone stirred in the house. There were several open windows upstairs but Naruto doubted he would be able to tell which room was Gaara’s. Beside the fact he really didn’t want to snoop around someone else’s house.

The door opened slowly, Kankuro's inadmissible face peeking through. People were still not fond of them and like hell was he going to open himself to an attack. He blinked the sleep away to find Uzumaki Naruto and an unconscious Gaara at the door.

His eye's widened substantially and he opened the door quickly ushering them in before closing the door and locking it. He turned and looked at Naruto, one of the few friends he and Gaara had. Not that friends were really important. But, he would admit Naruto looked after Gaara to the best of his ability. And that was more than Kankuro could ask for.

Kankuro shuffled to the kitchen sitting on one of the stools behind the counter, swiveling a bit to look at his ‘guest’, as Naruto placed Gaara gently on the couch, setting the burdening gourd next to him.

“Let me guess… he attacked you again.” Kankuro asked taking a swig of Sake. He held the bottle out in a gesture to Naruto who shook his head ‘no’. Kankuro shrugged, it was late and he needed something to wake him. He wiped his mouth and turned back to Naruto who shrugged. “It was a sparring session of sorts.” He motioned to Gaara who was sleeping quite peacefully.

Kankuro stared for a moment. Sleeping? And to all appearances the Shukaku wasn't bothering him at all. He hunched forward a little, the muscles in his arm flexing as he brought a hand to his head. Perhaps they had finally reached an agreement. He scratched his cheek, his face felt naked without his paint.

:: I won't give everything away ::

Of course it had certainly taken long enough… the bastard of a Shukaku never let Gaara rest. It was just weird to see it with his own eyes. He took another swig of Sake as Naruto spoke again, quietly while observing Gaara. Showing his quite understanding of the importance of what was taking place.

“It seems though, his stamina wasn't up to par.” Kankuro snorted out a laugh. Gaara had been wondering aimlessly for the past couple of weeks. Sure he didn't sleep, but he could rest… and that had not been done in a while. Gaara's energy was most likely completely depleted.

Gaara stirred on couch curling into himself slightly. Putting both Naruto and Kankuro on guard, but once again nothing. Just a soft murmur, unheard by human ears. Of course Naruto's were not human ears. “Why… Naruto?” That's what he had heard. Thoughts turning and churning to find a reason for Gaara’s... less that Gaara behaviour.

They sat in silence for a while. Kankuro sipping softly on his Sake and Naruto contemplating Gaara's actions and words. Still he couldn't put the pieces together. Confusion clear on his face... it had been almost three weeks since Gaara, had come to him and challenged him. Which was an all time record. Naruto hadn’t been all that shocked when Gaara had shown up that night. But, why the wait?

Every time he came upon a conclusion the pieces would again crumble with either a missing or extra piece. It just didn't make sense. Everything he’d seen and heard that night.

:: Visions manifest, your first impressions got to be your very best ::

After a while Kankuro stood and looked at Naruto. “If your worried you can stay the night…” His eyes flicked toward Gaara quickly then back to blonde. “But, I wouldn't worry if I were you… he'll be good as new in the morning.” Naruto looked at Gaara, still slumbering peacefully and nodded. He really shouldn't impose, but he wanted to ask Gaara some questions. Like, were they friends… and what was with the strange implications...

After a bit of contemplation he stood, looking away from Gaara. Shrugging he turned toward the door. “I'll come back in the morning to be certain…” He flashed a foxy smile at Kankuro who nodded, then turned to go back to bed.

“Naruto stepped outside into the night air, and took a deep breath… 'what the hell was that'. Was all he could think as he locked the door and wondered his way back to his apartment. As he passed the Hokage tower, a voice called out to him. “What are you doing out so late… dobe?”

Naruto huffed, not bothering to stop, “You're not my keeper, what do you care…” he snarled looking up toward the arrogant jerk that was Sasuke. His best friend… how sad. Naruto crossed his arms stopping as Sasuke jumped down avoiding the traps and alarms, that ensured Tsunade's safety.

:: I see you're full of shit and that's all right ::

“Why were you there?” He asked pushing his Anbu mask up and pointing to the house he had just left. “Did you finally beat Gaara?” He asked smirking one of his bastard smirks. He’d seen Naruto carry Gaara in. “No, and for you information I happen to friends with them… butt out Sasuke-teme ”

Sasuke frowned behind Naruto's back. “Naruto…” Naruto turned to look at Sasuke surprised by the sudden change in the tone of his voice. “Don't get yourself hurt…” With that Sasuke pulled the mask down and disappeared as fast as he'd come. Naruto sighed slouching forward a bit, having friends was really, bothersome… he laughed to himself on the rest of his journey home. Putting a hand to his head he sighed. 'I'm beginning to sound like Shikamaru…'

:: That's how you play I guess you get through every night ::

Naruto walked into his apartment and closed the door. He plopped himself down on the couch not even bothering to turn on the lights as he threw his shoes to their proper location. His eyes softly illuminated by the tiny bit of light filtering through the curtains as they gathered the light, allowing him to see quite well when no one else saw a thing. Night vision was cool like that...

What a day… he sighed as his cat crawled on his stomach purring to Naruto her welcome home. Naruto stroked the soft fur lightly, as he let his thoughts wander.

:: Now that's over ::

“What do you think?” He asked his cat. She turned her eyes toward him and stared unblinkingly. Green eyes that very much reminded him of someone he knew. The cat had been a stray who frequented Naruto's front porch… Naruto being the kind person he is took her in. But, there was something about her…

It was almost like she knew what he was talking about. Curling against him when he was sad, purring softly when he was happy. He looked at the black fur beneath his fingers… thinking of Sasuke. What was his deal… he'd never worried about Naruto before.

'Don't get yourself hurt…' the words rang softly through his head. “Maybe he wasn't talking about physical hurt…” The cat blinked and lay her head back on his chest, purring her contentment with his warmth. He laughed, softly shrugging, “I think there’s something in the water...” He got up as she followed him to his room.

He liked his apartment… Tsunade had given it to him when he had completed his first S rank mission. He smiled a little more, with flying colors might he add. Being a Jounin wasn't as hard as they made in out to be. He had honestly seen more action in his Genin days then he saw now.

Then again after the substantial growth of his power… he never had a problem handling a few rogues here and there. With one exception... he frowned at the thought.

:: I see your fantasy you want to make it a reality paved in gold ::

He crawled into bed, the cat curling up beside him. Sometimes I think you just use me for my warmth. He laughed as she snuggled closer. He was always warm after all… the Kyuubi saw to that. He sighed giving into much needed sleep. He would visit Gaara in the morning, just to make sure he was okay and all. He yawned widely thinking the last thoughts most do before they fall into restful slumber. Not a dream to disturb them.

Not too far away another was sleeping a peaceful dreamless sleep, unlike any he had ever experienced. And like hell was he going to wake up in the middle of the night. He shifted again to gain comfort as he slept for the first time since his childhood… slowly regaining bits and pieces of his personality that had been so long ago eaten by the one called Shukaku.

:: See inside, inside of our heads ::

Kankuro stood in the entryway to the living room. 'What the hell was going on'. Gaara sleeping and Naruto showing concern for his well being. He shook his head. Hell must have frozen over today. He flicked his wrist as if agreeing to the thought. ‘Wonder what happens when he wakes up…’ Kankuro stifled a yawn, unfortunately he needed rest as well, and standing here was not helping the situation. He turned and walked up the stairs to his room closing the door behind him. He hadn't felt the gaze upon him downstairs…

Obsidian eyes peered through the window and blinked several times before they comprehended just what it was exactly that they were seeing. Gaara Asleep And no dead bodies, no blood, not even a stir in the sand. Interesting… he would have to investigate further.

For now he had to check on his favorite blonde… He watched Kankuro scratch his head and turn to walk up the stairs before he left the small piece of rock he was standing on in favor of the direction to Naruto’s.

:: Well that's over I see your motives inside. And your decisions to hide ::

Naruto snored softly, oblivious to his guardian sitting next to him. ‘I'll never let anything happen to you love… nothing at all’. She turned her green gaze to the window, where emerald met black.

She growled softly until she realized who it was. Uchiha Sasuke, one of her loves’ friends… she stood and walked slightly toward the window before the gaze disappeared. Sitting she turned her head to look at Naruto as he turned over. Yawning widely herself she curled into a ball next to his shoulder and drifted into slumber.

Sasuke's eyebrows scrunched… when did Naruto get a cat? And what was it's deal?

She went back to enjoying the heat Naruto gave off as she purred him silently into the world of dreams, where no one could ever harm him.

:: Back off I'll take you on ::

He turned on his side and opened his eyes slowly, the action not hurting as much as he was used to, could it be he actually got rest while he was asleep? Strands of red fell across his eyes as he sat up, rubbing his forehead with his hand, the scar burned a little less than usual today.

Gaara looked at his hands, no blood… no screams… nothing. And he had slept…? Only one knew the answer to these questions, that was Shukaku…

(What is it my dear boy…)

Was the answer he got, Gaara's eye widened. “What?”

(Fascinating isn't it? I learned it from the Nine-Tails while you two were busy fighting…)

The taunting in that voice was getting on Gaara's nerves. He shut the link he didn't know had existed… he couldn't have said how for the life of him… but he did it.

He turned to look out the window, still night and still beautiful. The events of that evening came back when called into his memory. The absolution of the answer he found made his blood pump a little faster. Naruto… is that so? He smirked to himself.

First father, then I will have Naruto…

(Hahahah! Good plan!)

:: Headstrong to take on any one ::

Gaara shuddered, it was going to take a while to get use to that, he wondered if the Kyuubi bothered Naruto like this? Or if it’s voice was as creepy…

Goals were good… they kept you busy and busy was also good because busy meant no boredom… no interaction… no problems. As Gaara sat there contemplating his plot, steps fell near silent on the stairs, Kankuro poked his head around. Blinking when he saw Gaara sitting.

“You're awake?”

Gaara nodded slowly. Kankuro walked into the room and looked Gaara over, “and no harm done?” Gaara shook his head, his lips curved a little upward just a vaguely faint uplifting of the corners of his mouth.

If Kankuro hadn't known better, he would say Gaara was actually a little happy at that moment. He looked at Gaara again, motioning to the bruising that was forming on his chin. Gaara shrugged, “It'll go away eventually.” Kankuro nodded.

Wow, Gaara was in a good mood. And he hadn't even killed anyone today…

:: And this is not where you belong ::

“Something's different…” Gaara stated simply, Kankuro nearly smiled, a keen observer of the obvious brother… But he instead scratched the back of his head opting for stretching first, he had an appointment with one of the leaf council members early in the morning and really needed to get some sleep.

“Well, now that your awake and…” Gaara cut him off. Nodding and motioning it was fine that he went back to bed. He sat on the couch not moving a single inch, running a thorough plan to assassinate his father…

Those morons who call themselves sand hunters had just used his father's appearance as proof enough he was dead. Gaara smirked, 'dead my ass'. They couldn't kill him in a million years. The question was: where was he hiding…? All of this time... it had been 'fact', that the Kazekage was dead... but-

Information gathering would start tomorrow the first day of his self induced mission… But, first a visit to Naruto. Before he could move, he again passed out. Slumping slightly on the couch, he wouldn't wake for a while this time.

:: Where you belong ::

(Yeah! My plan is going perfectly. The boy is smarter that he looks, to know his father wasn't dead even after all the hell he was put through because of it.) Shukaku stopped tracing the contours of his chin with his thumb and index finger.

:: I know, I know all about ::

(Interesting…)

:: I know, I know all about ::

(Very interesting…)

:: Where you belong ::

A/N: Whew... chapter two! The mystery of Naruto’s cat will be explained... eventually. *dodges sharp pointy objects*