Once Upon a Nightmare
AU where Gaara isn't the Kazekage, Sasuke is back and a lot of people have a lot of secrets.
GaaNaru (mainly many many more *evil laugh* )
Waking with a sudden jolt, sweating and panting, Gaara gets up and walks his was to the bathroom. He knows, it's happened again, the nightmares, the horrible scenarios in which he loses himself. Turning on the tap and looking into the mirror while his hands are being drowned in hot water he hears a voice.
"Why do you bother Gaara? You know every time you close your eyes this happens" This voice belongs to Shukaku, the monster within him, but though after years of fighting back he manages to control the beast, although there is an ounce of fear of him losing his control when he sees the ones he loves hurt.
"Because, I need to sleep, eventually" He was right, he managed to spend days without sleeping but sometimes he couldn't help but feel so fatigued. He washed his face, walked out into the balcony of his room and stared out into the night, thinking, what he could do to keep him occupied. He had tried almost everything, reading, writing, exercise, sports… but nothing seemed to work.
"Gaara, you had nightmares again didn't you?" said a female figure at the door. This woman was tall and slender, but above all, Gaara's sister. One of the few people he cared about truly.
"How did you know?"
"You kept screaming…"
"Oh. Do I always scream?"
"Most of the time, I brought you a glass of water an-" she was cut off by a hug. Gaara wasn't the type of person to come out and hug someone, even if it was out of love. So she just stayed holding him until he let go and walked back into bed, Temari knew this was the time to leave and so she did.
Inside the village of Konoha, Uzumaki Naruto was in a bar by himself, drinking sake till no end. After all, it was the year anniversary of his godfather Jiraiya's death.
"You can't drink this much Uzumaki, you can't handle it." Of course he ignored the Kyuubi and continued to drink away his pain. He hadn't realized it before but he never really grieved Jiraiya's death, he honoured it, but didn't grief. That time had finally come.
Looking around at all the other people together, laughing and having a good time, Naruto felt as if the pain was too big to bear, there was no one around to share his pain… Pein, he had killed their sensei, the man who cared and taught them. Although Naruto was over it he still couldn't help but be angry at Pein, even though he was now dead as well. He just wished he had company. Every other friend of his was busy with their dates. The night was going to be lonely. He always had the beast in him but tonight he couldn't care less about it.
I hope you're in a better place Ero-Sennin…
As the dreaded night prolongs itself with drink flowing and random chatter from random strangers in the bar, which this boy couldn't give less than a damn about, Naruto decides it's time to finds his way home; walking in this city at night, a lone, has made this the worst night so far. No one to talk to, to keep him company he can't help but think of his mentor. Looking up into the night sky he's forced to feel small. There are some difficulties to find the key and put it in the lock, he's stumbling and can't seem to stand up straight, and he finally managed. While he enters his house he sees the one picture he owned of himself and Jiraiya on the table near the door still with the flowers his best friend, Sakura, had given him... They're wilting, holding the picture in his hand the blond leans his back against the wall, sliding down and falling to the floor he begins to cry. Maybe this is a healthier way to deal with the pain. He seems to not understand why Jiraiya had to die; couldn't he help change the world while still alive? Was that really his fate? These questions rolled around his mind until he finally fell asleep on the cold wooden floor of his foyer.
Morning sunlight breaks in through the window, hitting Naruto in the face causing him to wake up with a discomfort; sleeping on the floor made his back hurt. Feeling dizzy and nauseous he regrets his drinking decisions from the night before, but this won't stop him from leaving the house; getting up and walking into the bathroom he washes his face. His face is a mess, horrible bags, his hair is a disgrace and the morning breath mixed with pings of sake. Why did I drink that much… I need to go train. Deciding to take a shower he takes off his clothes throwing them on the floor, turns the water on and places himself inside the shower. The hot, steaming water hitting his naked chest and running down his back; it's refreshing, it wakes him up and he knows he's ready for a new day. After getting dressed he heads out to Sakura's house. But as soon as he steps out of his house he hears a voice.
"Mah, Naruto."
"Eh? Ah Kakashi-sensei, what do you want?"
"A little cold aren't we this morning? Tsunade-sama wants to see you."
"Ehh! Now? But I wanted to go ask Sakura to have brunch with me before I went training… Okay, I'll go to her now." What can Tsunade-baa-chan want now?
Walking into the Hokage's building there's a lot of commotion, more than usual. There are people running for papers and shouting orders – something's not right.
"You wanted to see me? Oh, hey Sakura.. What's wrong? You seem upset."
"Nothing, just listen to Tsunade-sama." Tsunade's face looks concerned; surely Naruto won't like what's going to be said.
"Naruto, you need to clear your head. We can't have you like this. I'm not talking this from a Hokage's perspective but as someone who cares about you. Konoha isn't doing you any good, especially now since Jiraya's death." The godaime's face talking about Ero-sennin's death, that's pain. She feels the same as me but can't show it, she has to be strong for everyone…
"Can I choose where I go to?"
"If it's acceptable, yes you can."
"Then I choose Suna."
"I figured you would, I've talked to The Kazekage there and we've made arrangements for you to stay there. But you'll need to stay with Gaara for a while because the place you're staying is under renovation."
"That sounds fine with me.. If that's all I'll start packing now.. Sakura, come with me."
Going down the stairs of the Hokage's building Naruto remains silent, filling the air with awkwardness. He keeps gawking at Sakura trying to say something but whenever he tried to he ended up chewing his words. Something was obviously bothering him and Sakura couldn't stand it.
"Naruto, what do you say for us to go grab something to eat?"
"I'm not hungry…"
"But you're always hungry, and besides, if you're going to Suna you might as well go on a full stomach don't you think?" This was it. Naruto's face when she mentioned his leaving was covered in pain, but why? "Why is this bothering you so much?"
"… because my mentor, my sensei and my godfather has died Sakura! And what did we do? Go to war! I didn't mourn and I didn't have time to miss him because of all the commotion. But last night, last night just proved that it was real, he's gone and nothing can bring him back! I don't know what to do! Every family member I've ever had has died and I'm alone… I'm alone…" BAM! Naruto started feeling dizzy for a second and his head hurt, what happened? Oh. Sakura hit him, again.
"What was that for?!"
"For your stupid ass saying you're alone! What about me? Don't I count as anything? I've been here for you all along and I won't leave your side, I'm your best friend and I love you. I see you as a brother and I won't ever let you feel this way now let's go to my house and I'll make you ramen!" She can even be mean when she's trying to console me… But I guess I feel a bit better.
Naruto had been very quiet as he made his way to Sakura's house, only thinking about leaving his home, leaving the village that tortured and ignored him as a child, the same one that now houses the very same people who now consider him a hero. Leaving the place he and his whole family were born into, leaving all his friends. It was going to be tough but at least he knew he'd be with one person he could trust above all, and he just might see Shikamaru from time to time seeing as he was Gaara's brother in law. When they finally arrived at the door of Sakura's home, he simply looked up at her, gave her a tight hug and whispered to her "Sakura-chan, gomen, I can't do this, say goodbye. I'm going home to pack now but I'll write you every time I can ok?" She was about to protest when she felt a tear fall down to her arm. Naruto, her best friend, was crying in her arms again, she had never thought that this would pain him so much so all she did was hug him back with equal strength until he released her and gave her a warm grin, turning his back and walking back to his home.
Back in Suna, the redheaded Gaara was planning out how he would accommodate his blonde friend better in his home while the house Naruto would be using was under renovation. He thought an all the things that could make Naruto feel more at home, and it hit him, he was going to buy a mini-fridge and place it in his room and fill it with Ramen. What more could make the blue eyed teenager happier than this? "You sure are working hard to make this boy happy Garra. Why?
"How about, it's none of your damn business?" was the 19 year olds response to the tailed beast in him. He didn't care what Shukaku taught, he only cared about greeting his friend with open arms and making sure he'd stay accommodated. After all, this was his last year as just a regular Shinobi. Next year, he was going to fulfil his promise and become the Kazekage, but this year was the last year he could be and act his age… And with Naruto around, it would be easy.
Temari walked into Gaara installing the mini-fridge and looked somewhat confused, until she saw the packaging of Ramen that her brother bought and instantly knew it was for their soon to arrive guest. She was always looking for a way to help her brother do something he enjoyed, because that way she could be close to him when he wasn't upset or screaming in the dead of night. And it would be easier now because Konoha's number one unpredictable Ninja had a calming and soothing effect on her brother, she didn't know why but she always wished he was there when she ran to her brother's screams.
The redhead was done socking the mini-fridge and had a rare, but pleasant smile on his face. This is how Temari liked to see her younger sibling, and she would see him even 'happier' when Naruto arrived. She got the servants to fetch new silk bed sheets from the store, as was tradition in their house. When they arrived they brought back 3 different coloured sheets; white, red and black. Giving the choice to her brother Gaara pointed to the black ones, meaning that they would be the ones to be used tonight.
"Ladies, if you could bring me some fur wraps and place them on the balcony it would be wonderful" Said Temari in a sweet yet demanding tone, and the servant girls nodded and went. Gaara looked at her with slight of a bemused look on his face, not believing that she would ask that.
"I know he likes to stay on the balcony and look at the stars, last time he stayed here he was there almost every night when you were on missions."
"Looking at the stars…" Temari was slightly confused as to why this was the part that her brother thought best to extract from her little explanation but didn't fret over it. She left the redhead in his room and continued to run errands. "I might just go for a run before he gets here" these were Gaara's thoughts and he did. Some people couldn't understand how the boy could run for 4 or 5 hours straight without getting exhausted.