From Friends to Beyond

Naruto couldn’t get any sleep. He had tossed and turned all night with dreams of horrible torture running through his head and the small kiss that Gaara had given him. He licked his lips, flinching in pain and shuddering slightly at the metallic bitter taste of blood. His throat was dry and swallowing was painful for him. Pulling himself together momentarily he began to notice a dull pain in his stomach. Very quickly though, it began to sharpen and his face scrunched up in pain. Letting out a low groan he grabbed his stomach and curled up on his side. The pain increased and with his eyes shut tight he let out a small scream.

The door opened suddenly and Gaara appeared at Naruto’s side. A tray of food was set down and Gaara pulled Naruto against him.

“Shhh. It’s okay. They’re only hunger pains and the sand trying to leave your system.” Gaara pet his hair softly and held him tight as the pain increased again. A small amount of sand began to shift through the pores of Naruto’s stomach and rolled across the tan skin to fall to the floor creating a small puddle about the size of a half dollar. It swiftly glided across the ground and adhered themselves to Gaara. “There that’s better. Now eat some food.”

“Why…why was there sand inside of me?” Naruto pulled away from Gaara as soon as the pain subsided and glared at him.

“You ingested it when I took you. It is easier for it to work its own way out then to forcefully pull it out.” Gaara made no move for him but stood up and then pushed the food closer to Naruto with his foot. “Eat. You’ll need your strength for tomorrow.”

Naruto raised a brow and narrowed his eyes, “Why?”

“Because that is when your punishment begins…” Gaara swept out the door and shut it leaving Naruto to stare at it in disbelief.
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Sasuke cursed once more. He had just gotten back to Konoha and his dearest friend, and now someone had taken him. Based on the sand alone he had a good idea of who had done it. He had been traveling as fast as he could for the entire night and had only made it to the edge of the tree lines. As far as the eye could see, there was nothing but sand now. He knew it would take him two more days to get across the desert. Taking a deep breath he brushed his hand through his short spiky black hair. He cut it in celebration of his brother’s death and to prevent himself from looking too much like him anymore.

Staring out across the vast desert, Sasuke punched the trunk of the tree he was standing on and vowed under his breath to get the rotten bastard who took Naruto. As the sun rose Sasuke hunkered down to rest. It would be easier to travel the desert at night. Although there would be more dangers from the animals, he knew he could handle those far better than the direct heat from the sun beating down on him as he traveled. Sitting down on the branch and leaning against the trunk of the tree Sasuke folded his arms across his chest and closed his eyes.
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Naruto looked down at the plate of food that Gaara had set down before him. There was a good sized hunk of bread with a few slices of cheese, but what surprised him was the beautiful arrangement of fruit. Melons and orange slices lay on the plate. He knew that the fruit was a rare treat here because of the harshness of the environment and yet Gaara was kind enough to bring him some of this treat. Not wanting the gift to go to waste Naruto grabbed up a piece of the melon. Inhaling its scent deeply, he put it to his lips. It was cold and felt good on the dry cracks. Licking his lips he got his first taste of the sweet perfectly ripened fruit. With a soft moan of appreciation he slowly put piece after piece of fruit into his mouth. Savoring the flavor of every bite, he didn’t care when some of the juice dribbled down his chin. Licking his fingers as he finished the fruit, he took the bread and ripped a chunk off and slowly ate that as well with a piece of cheese on top until it was all gone. Noticing that there was a small cup of milk he drank it down and slid his empty plate away.

“What I wouldn’t give for a good bowl of ramen…” Naruto muttered as he started to doze off.
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Naruto awoke to find himself spread eagle on the floor. Three more cuffs were added to the original one and left him splayed out across the floor on his back.

“What the hell is going on now?” Naruto pulled at his chains to no avail.

Gaara stood down at his feet watching him closely. “Your punishment is about to begin…” Gaara’s voice was a little hoarse and his eyes full of an emotion that Naruto couldn’t quite put his finger on. “Do you know where it hurt the most when you didn’t come back?”

Naruto stared at Gaara and shook his head.

“Here!!” Gaara threw his hand forward and a whip of sand flew forward and struck across Naruto’s chest slicing him just above his heart causing him to cry out in pain. “Do you know where else it hurt?”

Again Naruto stared at him and shook his head tightening up in anticipation of another hit, and it came hard across his forehead, knocking his head back into the stone ground. Stunned Naruto stared at the ceiling. His breathing was deep and slow. He didn’t move as Gaara walked around him and came to look down at his face.

“Just a small serving today Naruto. I’ll be back tomorrow…so think about what you have done…” and with that Gaara left Naruto lying spread eagle on the floor.

Naruto could feel the blood as it traveled down his temple and into his hair. He could feel the blood that trickled across his chest and pooled in the small dip between his pectoral muscles. He could also feel the tears that began to well up in his eyes and fought as weakly as he could to prevent them from gliding out of the corners of his eyes and joining the blood in his hair.