What we will do for our villages ...

Disclaimer - I do not, nor have anything to do with Naruto. Because if I did … things would just be weird.

ONWARD TO, CHAPPY 9!!

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Chapter 9

A long night of thoughts


Dinner had gone on without a hitch some hours ago. It was now well into evening, and everybody was starting to think about going to bed.

“I’m going out on a walk.” Gaara said to the room of quietly chatting people. He could feel their eyes looking at him. He knew it was Temari who had stood and was now coming over.

“Gaara?” Temari asked gently as she walked around her little brother to look him in the eye. “Are you okay? You’ve been quiet all day.”

“Why do you ask such a question if you already know the answer?” Gaara asked with slightly narrowed eyes.

“Because I want you to talk to me.” Temari said, keeping her voice low. She didn’t want to embarrass him. ’I don’t know if Gaara can be embarrassed’ she confessed inwardly.

“I am not fine.” Gaara said deadpan. “Now let me go.”

Temari was fighting the urge to keep him home. She really didn’t want him to go out, she just had a feeling. She also knew though, that if he really needed to go out; she should just let him. It had been almost a year since he had to go out on an evening walk. It’s not liked he still killed people regularly, or even rarely; she supposed it was just big sister instinct.

“Alright.” Temari said half heartedly as she stepped aside. “Try not to be too late?”

“I will try.” Gaara said quietly as he walked towards the door.

“What’s he doing?” Kankuro asked his sister as he came up.

“Going on a walk.” she answered quietly, as she tried to figure out what exactly had happened to her brother that day.

“Come on Temari, Gaara can take care of himself.” a gentle tug. “Lets all go to bed it’s late.”

“Yeah.” Temari said as she watched the door close. “He’ll be fine.”

* * *

Gaara sat on a roof top, looking out upon the Sand Village. His thoughts had been erratic, as well as disjointed. He couldn’t keep his mind on anything, and that was unusual for him. He could feel the slight wave of tiredness waif through him. Despite himself, he yawned.

‘I’m actually tired.’ he thought to himself as he settled on the fat railing. ‘This is where it happened …’ his mind voiced as the thoughts of the past rose up. Gaara turned his attention towards the street, trying to find something else to focus on; anything but what it wanted to. The thoughts of his uncle were still, even after all these years; too hard to bare.

He sat back and closed his eyes and mind to the world. He thought of his brother and sister, thought about their quirks; and their little arguments. He started to think about how he had no recallable memory of his brother without his makeup on. Which was the same as him having no memory of Temari with her hair down. His brother and sister, his important people.

‘He would look like dad.’ Gaara thought, knowing he’d never actually call the man that vocally. ’I wonder how long his hair is, what colour it is; how much he looks like dad.’

Gaara shook his head, he didn’t want to be thinking about his father, that would only lead to his mom, then his uncle, then … then he would have thought about everything he hadn’t wanted to think about. Gaara yawned again, hard enough to bring tears to his eyes. He began to blink them away, and when that didn’t work as well as he would have hoped; he rubbed them away with the backs of his index fingers.

Slowly he got up, tiredness enveloping him as it had never done before. He could feel himself lurch forward slightly, then struggled to gain back his balance. Deeply he yawned again, followed by another. This time, he left the tears be.

‘Hmmm.’ Shukaku grumbled deep within. ’I’ll do something for you, Gaara.’

‘What’s that?’ Gaara asked inwardly, a slight tone touching his thoughts.

‘You want to sleep correct?’ the voice asked deep within Gaara’s psyche.

‘I will sleep once I can control you.’ Gaara said as he slowly started to walk. ’Until then … leave me alone.’

‘Okay, but I was going to say you could sleep; and I’ll leave you be.’ the voice answered back.

‘So you can allow me a taste of sleep, then deny it to me later? No, I’ll sleep once I can sleep; not when you tell me.’ Gaara thought towards the demon. ’I will, one day soon have control over you; I can wait until then.’

When Shukaku didn’t answer back, Gaara knew that the conversation was over. He knew that one day he would sleep, it just wouldn’t be now.

* * *

Gaara sighed. He could hear Naruto snoring through the door, but part of him smiled. He knew that the blond would probably be sprawled out across the bed, sheets kicked and tangled around his legs. When he entered, he saw that he was a little off.

Naruto was sprawled out on the floor, his left leg tangled up in the sheet on the bed; keeping it up at an odd angel. Gaara sighed inwardly at the sight, and began debating wither he should move him or not.

‘It would serve him right to get a cramp’ Gaara thought as he moved over to his chair, deciding not to move him.

Gaara sat slowly on his chair, crossing his legs as he rested against the back fully. He yawned tiredly then he blinked.

Gaara looked around, he wasn’t in his room; he was standing in the stadium where the finals of the chuuin exams had taken place. He opened his mouth to speak, but nothing happened. ’What’s going on.’ he thought as he looked around the stadium. ’What’s happening?’

Panic like he had never experienced before, started to overcome him. He clutched at his chest, and whirled when he heard giggling.

“Who’s there?!” he cried, startling himself at the sound of his own voice. He felt scared, never had he felt this way.

“We’re here …” came a voice that sounded built up of many.

“Who?” he cried again, as he acted to raise his sand shield. “Hu?” he sounded when nothing happened.

“It can’t protect you here …” the voices said together, becoming clearer.

“Who are -” his voice failed.

“It’s okay … don’t be afraid … Master Gaara …” floated a familiar voice.

Gaara felt a violent tightening in his chest. Suddenly there where dozens of bloody people surrounding him. They all looked at him accusingly as they approached him. “No …” Gaara began as he started to back up.

“You didn’t let us say no …” the voices began, a betrayed tone filling their tone. “We won’t give you the option.”

“Ah … ahhh - AHHHHHHH!” Gaara screamed as they swarmed him.

* * *

Temari sat up suddenly. “Gaara?” she asked quietly as she started to get up.

“What’s wrong?” came Sasuke’s voice, now fully awake.

“Something’s wrong with my little brother.” she said as she stepped out the bedroom door.

“Temari.” said Kankuro as he met her in the hall. He shifted Crow around him, as he saw his sisters scared face.

“I know.” she said as the two of them walked over to Gaara’s door. She reached out to open it, when she heard a crash followed by Naruto’s voice.

Temari whipped open the bedroom door violently and ran in with her brother. They couldn’t believe what they were seeing. “My god.” Temari breathed as she struggled to register what was happening.

Naruto was hugging Gaara, who appeared unconscious as Gaara‘s sand whipped around the room violently. It was arcing and swirling in wide circles, the edges taking on a sand thin edge. The words Naruto was seemingly yelling could hardly be heard over the sound of the angry sand. Suddenly all the sand gathered at a violently fast speed, then lunged at Naruto.

“Naruto ….” Temari said distantly, having no idea of what could be done at this moment. Something similar to this had happened once before, but that was when they were still children. But she remembered that experience like it had just happened. She had been so scared, and she had as much as an idea to do then; as she does now.

Kankuro couldn’t just stand at watch, especially now that a massive amount of sand was rushing Naruto. He let Crow fly into the room.

The sand didn’t even change it’s original target, a small fraction of the sand projected out towards Crow. Kankuro realized then, that this wasn’t going to work as he violently moved his puppet. Hoping that this would do as more of a distraction, or target practice than anything else. He watched helpless as the sand far to quickly caught up with Crow. Kankuro began to try to move it again when the puppet attacking sand lunged at him.

Naruto couldn’t help but cry out in pain when the sand hit him in the back. He himself had no idea that the other Sand siblings were watching, or were trying to help. He could feel the sand start to envelope around him, like it was making a second skin. ’Gaara’s sand armour.’ Naruto thought as it worked it’s way around his arms. He could feel a seeping warmth spreading sickeningly across his back, as the blood from the sand caused wound was forced between the apparent thin layer of his body and the sand.

Temari could only watch as Kankuro was hit with the fist size of sand. He was in her vision for a moment, then gone. Kankuro’s scream of pain and agony filled the home as he was forced through the thin wall and into Sasuke who had been standing in Temari’s room. The pain had reached an area of pain that Kankuro had never experienced before in his life. It was white hot, and breath taking; then everything went dark.

Suddenly the sand stopped, then slowly and leisurely made its way over to Gaara’s gourd. The wound on Naruto’s back was clearly visible and bleeding.

Temari looked over to Kankuro who was being tended to by Sasuke and Sakura. She decided that due to her lack of medical skills, she didn’t need to be present for what the two of them were doing. Temari rushed over to Naruto and Gaara.

“Gaara.” Temari tried as she stroked her brothers sweat soaked hair. “Gaara? What happened?” she asked, directing her question to Naruto.

“I … I don’t know. I woke up and I saw sand everywhere. Then I saw it starting to cover him, and … I don’t know. I rushed over and was trying to stop it.” Naruto tried, his mind attempting to catch up with what had already happened.

“Gaara.” Temari tried again. “Please Gaara.” This time there was a slight stirring.

Temari and Naruto watched as Gaara woke. He looked like a spooked little boy, Naruto fought the urge to hug him; in a vain attempt to help him.

‘I don’t think he needs me hugging him right now.’ Naruto thought as Temari hugged Gaara for him.

“Gaara are you okay?” She asked as she stroked her little brothers hair.

“Let go.” Gaara said in a dangerous tone.

“But.”

“Let go.” Gaara said again.

Reluctantly, yet somehow not fast enough Temari let go of her little brother. She hadn’t heard him used that tone in years. It scared her.

“Leave.”

Slowly Temari stood and started to back up. “We’ll be here if -”

“GO!” Gaara yelled as he stood.

“Come on Temari.” Naruto said as he grabbed Gaara’s sister strongly by the arm, his tone allowing no argument.

Temari looked at her little brother as Naruto dragged her out of the room. Tears freely flowed down her cheeks as the ancient fear of her brother blossomed in her chest. “We had come so far …” she said quietly, as the tears flowed easier. She watched as Gaara’s head violently turned towards her, having actually heard her whispered comment.

“What did you say?” Gaara asked as he took a dangerous step forward.

Temari actually managed to pull her arm free and get away from Naruto. “Don’t be this!” she cried as she strode up to him. “Don’t, not even if your angry! Please!”

Naruto watched in horror as sand immediately swarmed Temari and formed an oval around her, encasing her entirely.

“NO!” Naruto cried as he stepped up. “Stop it Gaara!”

The eyes that turned to him were the ones from back then. The same eyes of the child that murdered people to reconfirm his existence. The ones that had looked down at Lee when their fight had been going in Gaara’s favour.

“No.” Naruto began. Not even hearing the sounds of Sakura talking urgently to Sasuke behind him. All of his focus was on Gaara, and the orb of sand. He noticed instantly when it shrunk a little. “STOP IT!”

“No.” Gaara said distantly as he raised his hand.

Naruto lunged at Gaara faster than he thought he would. He was soaring across the space at a violent speed.

“WE’RE LOOSING HIM!!” came Sakura’s voice loudly and clearly from Temari’s room.

Naruto forced a land as the words sunk in. He looked at Gaara, watching for any sign at all.

Gaara heard the words but they weren’t registering fully, at the moment he didn’t care who ’him’ was. He only had the primal want to crush his loudmouth sister and rid himself of the blonde. ’Hey squirt how ya doin?’ rose the eerie voice in his head. ’Hey, wanna come out with me bro? I can show you Da Ladies.’ For a moment, nothing was fitting. None of the pieces were fitting with each other. Then he saw his brothers face in his mind. “Kankuro.” he blinked hard.

When Gaara looked around, he saw Naruto looking pale and pasty; as well as his sand in an orb. He easily withdrew it and saw Temari, she was curled against herself tightly.

“What was I …” Gaara tried as he looked from his sister to Naruto.

“Hey, you okay now?” Naruto asked as he managed a smile.

“KANKURO!! STAY WITH ME!” Sakura’s voice yelled.

The pieces suddenly fit.

Sasuke rushed into Gaara’s room and looked at the site.

“Oh my god …” he voiced as he saw Naruto’s back. “Naruto!”

“I’m okay … Sasuke …” Naruto said as he turned towards his brother like friend. Showing his back to Gaara in the process. “I’ll … be …”

Between the two young men, Naruto fell.


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I’m sorry if this was taking a little bit. Been preparing for the big Canada Day weekend!!

ANYWAY!! I hoped you liked the chapter!!! Remember please Read and Review!!!

Blisblop - x2 - Heyo’ yes Sakura did try. Thanks for noting the interaction between them ^^ I work really hard to make sure it seems ‘Real’ to the characters. And as for Temari, she was changing, but then stopped. There are a great many reasons as to why, but the one I chose being her remembering how she would do it with her boyfriend. Who is no longer there. But that will be addressed later on ^^ Thanks for Reviewing!!

Ghonchi - o.O too lazy to sign in eh? Hehehe. Thanks I’m glad you liked it. ^^ although I am a real sucker for guys hugging. Thank you for saying so, I am extremely happy that you give my story the honour of saying it’s well written and original. I’m so happy that people like it. … I noticed that to, I try to make my chapters 4 - 5 pages long …. But I did noticed that my last ones were a little on the short side. I’m going to try to make them between 5 - 6 pages. ^^. Teehee, I love your word ’Anygate’ I’ve never heard that before. And grey eyes are cute ^^. …. God … the cuteness is …. Killing … mee …….. Meeeeehhhhhh… Lol.

Pipinssong- thanks on liking my Wootens ^^. Depends what the personal profit is. ^^ if you make money I’ll glare at you. -.- LOL. I’m happy your liking the story. ^^.

Jadejj - LOL I’ll take that as a complement ^^. Thanks a lot, on saying it was ’different neat and different’ hehe.

Raphael Argai Thanatos - x2 - LOL, I was hoping somebody would comment on that. ^^ thanks. We’ll you, as well as everybody else will just have to wait and see. I’m happy you love the story. WOOTANS!!! I got an OOOSU!! YAYA!

Akuma_river - ahhh so we meet again. ^^ , You’ll just have to keep reading to find out who ends up with who. And I will keep up the good (can’t say great work about myself just feels off and egotistical …. Girls have ego’s too right?) work. YAY WOOOT!

Chelsey - LOL, I’m updating hehe.

Arielle - ^^ thanks a lot for saying so. Like I’ve said you’ll just have to wait and see ^^. I like setting up the whole stage then letting things go where they may. ^^ I will say though, something will be happening between two characters very, VERY soon.

Xgirlrougue - ^^ just read and wait ^^. Lol, I have no comment, because if I were to say anything, everybody would form an opinion, and I know, just from life not all would be right. And I don’t want to say my couples yet ^^. Like I said above. There will be something Very VERY soon!

Mehla Seraphim - Poor Gaara indeed. And I wasn’t much nicer to him in this one ^^. I think you do always say that. But I’m actually far to lazy to scroll up my Reviews page to see just cause … I’m soo tired and lazy right now. I had such an urge to finish the chapter. …. X_x soooo tired.

Well everybody there it all is. I hope you like this chapter. ^^. And yes something will happen very soon ^^.

THANKS TO ALL WHO HAVE BEEN READING!!! And HAPPY CANADA DAY!!!! WOOTANS!!!!