I am back, first of all I will apologize with the delay, last week my hand was—er-you could say injured? And I couldn't type much, not to mention school drove me into insanity and since I missed two days last week well I got extra homework to catch up, I had to sign up for the ACT'S and blah blah blah, I could go on about my misfortunes for a while, but I won't XD Because I don't want to bore you, I just hope you understand. Oh and like always I send a big kiss to those who reviewed I am in love with all of your reviews and that's why you get a bit of a lime in this chap –gasp—darn! I just gave you a spoiler XD The flu is getting to me. Well, thing is I love reviews they inspire me! What would I be without you people? Lol well on with the story!

Important note: My amazing beta OMG I Found Waldo is having technical problems (her laptop charger broke) So I was not able to mail her this I didn't want to put extra pressure on her, so I will kindly ask you to forgive any mistakes I might have left uncorrected, I did try my best, but then again Grammar is not my forte. I wanted to get this story to you before too much time passed so I just decided to update what I had. I hope you understand!

Rating: M Ok, it's official people, the rating is official now, so no kiddies unless you are here on your own free will I will not stop you XD Ratings didn't stop me when I started either lol!

Disclaimer: I do not own, as much as I hate to admit. They belong to Masashi Kishimoto! (-Grr's—at Mashashi Kishimoto, 'mine!')

Chapter 3:

Even if it means Hurting You

A soft caress, slow, gentle, sweet.

Naruto opened his eyes, and was met by pale blue, Gaara. "Night, Naruto." Naruto wiped the sleepiness off his eyes, as he tried to sit down but Gaara pulled him back into bed.

"Shouldn't you be out already? What time is it?" Gaara frowned, "That doesn't matter, I want to stay here," Naruto rolled his eyes, as he attempted to sit down.

"You have work to do." Gaara almost whined but he stood anyways heading towards the bathroom. Naruto allowed himself to stay in bed, looking off into space.

He could hear the shower running; he gazed at the window noticing the sun had gone completely down. Gaara came out dripping wet; the only thing concealing his most important part from Naruto was the towel around his waist. Naruto stood and headed towards the wardrobe taking some clothes out and handing them to Gaara. It was their routine, but today there was one exception, whereas Naruto would have loved to stay with Gaara as much as possible, at the moment he just wanted to run out into the garden. He felt like a traitor to both men.

Gaara started to change, and at the same time stared at Naruto, once he was done he pulled Naruto into a hug. "What's wrong?" He whispered.

Naruto took a long shaky breath, the words just wouldn't come out, he wanted them to, yet they wouldn't leave his mouth. Gaara gazed at Naruto's wild eyes, and his heart clenched, Naruto had not looked so conflicted in years.

"Can't," He whispered shakily, Gaara frowned, he took Naruto by the chin and made him face him.

"Together," That was the second word. Naruto stepped away from Gaara, and looked him in the face, "We can't, I can't" Naruto was cursing himself for being so damn confusing, he couldn't even mutter one simple sentence, Gaara was giving him a confused stare.

"Naruto, Love I'm not getting you…" He tried to step closer but Naruto stepped back.

"Will you stop moving I'm trying to talk here," Naruto said clearly exasperated. Gaara raised an eyebrow but stayed in place either way. Naruto took another breath and looked Gaara in the face.

"This," He pointed between Gaara and himself, "Can't—" But Naruto didn't get to finish as the door opened and Temari came rushing in. Her face was red.

"Gaara what are you thinking you are doing, I need you down in the ball room now, you can play later, and Naruto please go help everyone else." With that she dragged a very confused Gaara out of the room, and Naruto stood in place.

"Well that went well," He whispered sarcastically, to no one in particular. He was useless. He sighed took his own shower and headed down to the kitchen, he had to do some work before disappearing or Haku would have his head for it.

Meanwhile in the ballroom a very mad Sasuke was trying to run away from the wondering stares and the continuous whispers. Sakura had made sure to wake him super early only to tell him that before he even though of escaping to meet his 'love' he had to meet the leaders. That of course was her way of keeping him away from Naruto, lame but valid.

There was a little commotion when a redhead arrived at the stairs. He was going to use the little distraction as an escape route until he heard who the man was: Gaara. Sasuke stopped and concentrated more on the man. Jealousy tore at him; he was good looking, and he emanated power, not to mention he had Naruto. His Naruto.

Gaara looked up, feeling quite uncomfortable and met the raven's eyes, wild and full of fury. Gaara frowned; he hadn't seen the man before. But he could feel the hostility that emanated from him, something about the raven seemed familiar tough, he tried to remember if he'd meet him before. Sighting he shook his head as if he hadn't had enough with Naruto's weird rambling that night. Now a crazy vampire was plotting against him; which was a stupid thing to do when he was in his property.

He leaned down and whispered in Temari's ear, "Who is he?" Temari looked up and flushed a bit.

"I heard he's one of Sekai's new representatives, quite handsome don't you think?" She whispered back. Gaara just ignored her comment.

"He looks pretty young," Not that looks mattered in the vampire world, after all they didn't grow old…

"He is, you should have heard what our elders thought of him," She whispered, "But I heard he's really strong," Gaara decided to just ignore the boy as he went on with Greetings.

Naruto was in one of the guest rooms, cleaning up. Everyone was down at the ball room greeting and talking and doing well political shit. So that was the best time to clean the guest rooms. He wondered if Sasuke was downstairs too. Was he trying to escape the crowd? Naruto chuckled a bit to himself. Sasuke had always hated crowds even when he was human.

"Is cleaning rooms that much fun?" Drawled and icy voice and Naruto instantly whirled around. The cold snake like eyes that roamed his body gave him the shivers.

"Lord Orochimaru, I am sorry I thought you wouldn't be in your room," If he were to be honest Naruto hadn't known it was Orochimaru's room, if he had known he wouldn't have come in.

"You don't have to be so polite boy," Orochimaru spoke, as he got closer. Naruto fidgeted.

"I'm done cleaning your room is there anything else you need my lord?" Orochimaru eyes ran through Naruto again.

"Now that you mention it," Orochimaru stepped closer and Naruto backed up only to feel the bed behind him, he cursed inwardly as fear started rising, he couldn't fight against Orochimaru he was a guest. What was he supposed to do?

"Excuse me, if there is nothing I should be leaving," He whispered shakily, Orochimaru grabbed him by the wrist.

"I'm really sorry my lord but I can't give you the kind of service you want, I'm taken." He blurted in a rush. He saw as Orochimaru's interested eyes centered on his neck, "You're young, how come you're marked already?" He spoke clearly annoyed, he was about to have his way with the pretty blonde. Feeling brave Naruto answered.

"I think you should take that up with my partner." Orochimaru raised an eyebrow, for someone who works under Hanabi, the brat was too cheeky, not that he minded he would in the end take what he wanted from the vampire.

"Lord Orochimaru?" Called a voice from the entrance, "I'm coming Kabuto." Orochimaru answered as he turned and left the room, as soon as Naruto heard the soft 'click' he let out a breath of relief. He scurried off the infernal room.

"Naruto!" Naruto turned to see Haku, he groaned, but Haku was too busy to bully him.

"Go deliver drinks at the ball room!" Naruto gave a nod and Haku left as soon as he'd come. Oh how Naruto hated this meetings.

Naruto entered the ball room with a tray full of drinks and his eyes were immediately drawn towards Sasuke, who was talking to some unknown vampire. He bit his lower lip softly; his mind felt at peace, Sasuke was still there. Then he spotted Gaara not too far away from Sasuke, he headed towards Gaara, in an attempt to get closer to Sasuke.

Gaara had seen Naruto enter the room, and smiled as he started walking his way. But so had Sasuke seen his blonde, beautiful and perfect, servitude didn't fit him, Sasuke wanted to take Naruto out of this place.

"Can I have one of those?" He asked softly, and Naruto's eyes met his, "Of course, please go ahead." He answered politely, as he grabbed a glass with his free hand and offered it to Sasuke. Sasuke's hand graced Naruto's skin, as his eye lingered on Naruto's face, Naruto adverted his eyes slowly, pretending nonchalance with Sasuke right there was not an easy task.

"Excuse me," He whispered, as he slowly walked away. He met Gaara a few steps after he started walking away from Sasuke, Gaara offered him a smile, and Naruto returned the gesture, too much trust, Gaara trusted him too much, and Naruto was about to break him. Out of nowhere the room was small, there was not enough air, did he even need air? It was hot. He wanted out. He quickly finished delivering all of the blood and stepped out.

He wandered out into the garden, he stood there in the middle of beautiful, untouched flowers, it was too much, he didn't want to deal with this. He wasn't prepared for the pain that was coming his way, just as he wasn't prepared to cause others pain.

"Naruto…" Naruto whirled around and ran into Sasuke's arms.

"It's too much, even now, even now it seems so hard, for you and me to be together." Sasuke's arms tightened around Naruto.

"This time were not going to give up that easily Naruto, we are not, look at me," Naruto's gaze met Sasuke's.

"Do you love me?"

"Yes," Naruto answered without even thinking it twice. Sasuke kissed Naruto tenderly. "That's all we need then, nothing else matters, nothing else should have mattered back then either."

"Love hurts," Naruto whispered lowly. Sasuke chuckled, "It is so damn painfully bittersweet" He answered. "And we can't live without it," Naruto finished.

He took Sasuke's face, and kissed him, Sasuke kissed back. Naruto opened his mouth moaning out loud as he felt Sasuke's tongue enter him. Sasuke's hand roamed him, as he started taking Naruto's shirt off. Naruto gasped, as he started unbuttoning Sasuke's shirt the fabric protesting at the harsh treatment. There in that ethereally beautiful garden Naruto was willing to commit the worst of crimes against his master. He was willing to take on any punishment as long as he could feel the man on top of him again. Their shirts where off and he could feel Sasuke's skin against his own. It felt amazing.

"God," They both whispered at the same time. It was heaven. They both kneeled on the ground.

"Sasuke" Naruto whispered as he felt Sasuke place butterfly kisses all over his face, going down to his neck. Naruto pushed against Sasuke's body feeling his hard on. He moaned softly. Sasuke unbuttoned Naruto's trousers and his hand slipped in and grabbed Naruto's member squeezing it softly. Naruto's head was thrown back as his hands clenched on Sasuke's shoulders.

"Touch mine too," He whispered lowly. Naruto needn't be told twice. He undid Sasuke's trousers and his own hand went in. Sasuke let out a soft groan as both of them started moving their hands. Gasps filled the garden, passion was burning the place, as both Naruto and Sasuke pumped, kissed, and groaned.

"So close-"Gasped Naruto. Sasuke's head was buried in the crook of Naruto's neck; he sucked softly at the skin. The heat rose and Naruto finally crumpled from ecstasy, as Sasuke followed straight up; biting softly on the spot he had been sucking on. Both of them lay on the ground grasping at any skin available. More. They wanted so much more. They needed so much more.

They gasped for air, trying to regain conscience, there was a whole party going on and it was still too early. Their absences would be noticed. "It's too soon," Naruto whispered, "I don't want to leave yet." His voice desperate. They both hugged, peace seemed to settle around them for a few minutes.

"I will not be gone in weeks, we have time to fix this," Sasuke whispered reassuringly. And Naruto believed him. Both of them dressed as an unspoken promise of coming back to the garden if there was time hung in the air.

"I have to go back," Sasuke whispered as he gave Naruto a longing gaze. Naruto sighed.

"Me too,"

"For how long will we have to hide?" Asked Sasuke.

"For as long as it takes, I have to make sure no harm will come to you," Whispered Naruto as he placed a sweet kiss on Sasuke's lips. Sasuke disappeared into the darkness, and Naruto followed as soon as he knew Sasuke was back on the ballroom. He hesitated when he came to the end of the garden something felt off. He stepped out nevertheless, and fetched more glasses from the kitchen, he had to do his job, he had to get himself together, and he had to face Gaara and tell him about Sasuke, because he just couldn't let anyone else touch him after having felt Sasuke again.

Thinking had always been easier than talking tough. He was a few feet away from the ball's door, when the snake like voice reached his ears for the second time that night.

"By what I heard from the guy named Haku I investigated you, the raven you just so pleasantly served minutes ago is not your Master." Naruto froze and turned bewildered. The peace Naruto had won around Sasuke's arms crumbled under him.

"Wha—t?" Naruto half choked in his words.

"Out in the garden, that was a pretty hot rendezvous if may say so, you looked absolutely stunning."

"You confused me," Naruto whispered.

"Oh, believe me, I wouldn't confuse you my boy, not you I've been watching you for too long, it has been an interesting turn of events though, if I'm not wrong the one who marked you is Gaara isn't it?" Naruto swayed in place, this couldn't be happening.

"What do you think would happen, his Gaara knew if little pet is cheating him?" Orochimaru drawled a smirk gracing his lips.

"Don't, please don't tell him." Naruto spoke softly, he was too afraid his voice wouldn't come out right. Orochimaru stepped closer a finger traveling through Naruto's cheek.

"What would I get in exchange?" His voice laced with lust, and Naruto shuddered.

"Anything, but please don't tell him." Orochimaru seemed happy by the response and moved closer,

"I want to see you later tonight, make an excuse for Gaara, if you are not convincing enough, your pretty boy is going to end up hurt," Naruto was shaking and he knew it.

"What's going on here?" Came the hard voice, Orochimaru turned and faced Gaara's cold stare, he stepped back from Naruto.

"Master Gaara, what a pleasure, you're servant here and I were having a conversation, but where done, if I may excuse myself." Gaara's stare moved to Naruto's trembling body.

"Orochimaru." His voice boomed, Orochimaru stopped in his tracks and some of the guests stared in wonder at Gaara's sudden change of mood.

"Stay away from him." He ordered, Orochimaru nodded unwillingly and kept on walking.

Coal black eyes set on Naruto's shaking blue Sasuke could see Naruto's desperation something had happened, he wanted to step up, to ask. But it was too late; he saw Gaara exchanging a look with Naruto and then knew he wouldn't be seeing Naruto again that night, his hands balled into fists as he stormed out of the room, leaving a very confused Naruto staring at the curios crowd.

Naruto flushed and left the room, he was silently given orders by Gaara, and they were to see each other immediately. Naruto knew Gaara was mad, what was he supposed to do, should he lie like Orochimaru told him? Or should he be honest with Gaara? He sat in the empty room in order to wait for Gaara, the party would be ending sometime, for some reason the silence in the room echoed through his head.

Two hours had passed before Gaara was able to rest, what where two hours in vampire time? Well to Gaara they seemed eternal; his mind told him that his fragile relationship with Naruto was about to enter a chaotic time. The blonde seemed so breakable, the only thing he had ever wanted to do was protect him. These parties were too dangerous Naruto drew much attention. If Gaara paid extra attention to Naruto everyone would notice that their relationship was serious, and then Naruto would become his weakness, Naruto would be the bait and Gaara the fool who would give his life in exchange for the blonde.

He opened the door to his room, his hand running through his red locks. Some of the pressure diminished as he saw his little angel, Naruto had fallen half asleep on the bed, his blonde tresses spreading around the dark covers. Gaara sat gingerly on the bed and Naruto shot up, fear clouded his eyes. He let out a sigh of relief though as he spotted Gaara.

"Are you ok?" Whispered Gaara, his eyes centering on Naruto as he remembered they had a pending talk. Gaara grew anxious as the silence dragged on.

"No," Came the answer from Naruto, the fact that Naruto had actually admitted something was wrong only added to the pressure hanging around the air.

"Does it have to do with Lord Orochimaru?" Asked Gaara, he was not an idiot. He knew the snake liked Naruto, the way he had been hanging around Naruto today was unusual though he would never take the risk of actually nearing the blonde. He had to have something against Naruto. With Naruto he could deal, he was not sure he could deal with Orochimaru blackmailing.

"Yes—but there is something else," Gaara looked into Naruto's guilty eyes, Naruto in exchange gazed at the floor, his eyes downcast. This was it, the moment of truth, it was now or never.

"Oh, Naruto what did you do?" Gaara was hoping with all his heart that Naruto had not done something he would not be able to protect him from. The words that came out of Naruto's mouth where the only ones Gaara had not expected to hear though. Those were the words that would probably break Hanabi's leader. As he kept his eyes downcast, Naruto uttered:

"Betrayal." Naruto closed his eyes, he was too afraid. Too afraid of looking at the damage he had caused to the second most important person in his life. To the person he had sworn not to hurt.

Gaara stood in the middle of the room, his hands hanging, his eyes widened.

"Betrayal," he repeated, slowly, the taste of treachery staid in his mind, he'd given Naruto everything, never had he though Naruto capable of doing such things, guess that's what he got for trusting too much in someone. As innocent as Naruto seemed, he could be as much as a vixen as every other vampire, He'd always thought of Naruto as the victim, not the perpetrator. Naruto's eyes wouldn't meet his that only maddened him more.

"Get out." Gaara could see the blood falling onto Naruto's lap, but tears wouldn't cure the damage Naruto had done.

"Let me explain," Naruto half whispered. Gaara shook his head, "No, get out."

Naruto did not dare argue, he stepped out of the room, the click of the door as it closed sounded more like a crack, he sobbed softly as he headed to his room, he washed, and sat down and placed his hands lightly on his lap, he was in a state of stupor. 'What was he going to do about Orochimaru now?' He couldn't blame Gaara, as much as he wanted to, he understood how Gaara felt. Now for the first time, he would have to deal with his own problems.

Finally coming to a conclusion he stood and headed for Orochimaru's room, he'd rather let the man do as he pleased with his body rather than have Sasuke physically hurt. Gaara didn't have a name and Orochimaru would give him one if Naruto didn't follow instructions. Naruto would do what he needed for Sasuke's sake even if it meant betraying him again.

Naruto knocked, and the pleased, "Come in," followed up. Naruto screwed his eyes shut as he willed his trembling hands to grab the door knob and turn it. He had to do this and he would do it. He opened the door and immediately spotted Orochimaru standing in the middle of the room. Orochimaru beckoned him and he stepped up unwillingly.

A finger slipped through Gaara's mark, Naruto shivered. This wasn't right, he couldn't do this.

"Beautiful, there is no other word to describe you," Orochimaru murmured as he walked around Naruto.

"You must really care about this Sasuke, otherwise you wouldn't be here, but don't worry I'll make every minute worth it." Naruto doubted that, his instincts where screaming at him to run, to get away, but he forced himself to say in place.

Naruto could see the anticipation in Orochimaru's eyes, the fear running through his body tightened. "It feels amazing you know, to have in the grasp of my hands Gaara's pet boy, to have what he has, which is the highest quality." Naruto frowned, but before he could truly understand what Orochimaru was talking about his head was thrown back since Orochimaru pulled at his hair. Naruto screwed his eyes shut.

Think of Sasuke.

Fangs pierced delicate skin.

Think of Sasuke.

Blood stained sun skinned skin.

Just think of Sasuke….

It would be over soon.

Omg! NO! How could I allow the bitch to touch Naruto! I have become…A monster! –cries—why oh cruel world. Lol, well That's what you get :) I hope the story did not disappoint! I tried my hardest, I hope you do understand the delay though, I am trying hard and I don't want this to become a half assed story, so I rather take a bit longer and give you good quality, make your reading worth it! Well as you all know I am a review freak so if you review I will give you all my love! Well I know I usually write more but well, I have the flu and you know how annoying that gets I just wanted to get this to you guys as soon as possible! If you review I will give you imaginary cookies, hugs and kisses!

Love;

Chio3

Oh and the song of the week, well it didn't have much to do with the storyline but I guess the feeling in the song just got to me! I couldn't stop listening to 'Someone like you' by Adele while writing this! XD It's a beautiful song, go check it out!

Oh and yes Breathe Carolina is irreplaceable glad to know there are others fans out there who support them!