A/N: Woah...so...I've got nothing. Seriously, I was just a lazy ass. Chapter four's been saved and ready on my computer for ages but...well, I just don't know what happened...I do apologize, sincerely and whole-heartedly. But I guess I can't really say anything to make up for the time and lateness so I'll just let you hate me and stop talking so you can get what you waited for. Once again, my bad.
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Chapter Four - Explanations
"So, are you going to finish what you started, or what?"
Gaara's head snapped up. Was Naruto asking him to…?
"Woah! What's with that look? If you don't want to tell me what you were going to say earlier, it's ok, I was just asking."
Gaara felt the heat in his face and breathed a relived sigh. For a second there, he thought the blonde had been asking him to…just like He had…
No, don't think about it.
"Oh..um…"
"Really, you don't have to," Naruto repeated, a concerned look coming over him.
Gaara, hearing the sincerity in the voice and words, looked up. The look on Naruto's face only achieved the end of convincing him even more. He took a deep breath…and released.
"There is…this…creature…A demon…at least that's what I've been told." Gaara paused, unsure of how to continue. "I heard that it was born from the…corrupted, I think the word was…spirit of a sand priest. But that doesn't really matter I guess."
Another pause was placed and Gaara was grateful that Naruto continued the silence.
"The truth is…before I was born…when my mother was pregnant…my father, the Kazekage, sealed it within me. You see Naruto, I am the jinchuuriki of Ichibi no Shukaku."
"You're…a jinchuuriki?" Gaara looked to face the tentative voice. Naruto's face was plain shock.
Don't be afraid…don't leave me…
Gaara couldn't answer. He looked away, ashamed, regretful, guilty, as if it were his fault. He simply nodded. He waited. He knew what was coming. There were few reactions. The blonde could simply run off in fear. Or maybe he'd throw an insult and then run away cowardly. Every reaction included them running away. Now all he could was—
He heard a strange sound, something he would've never expected. He looked up, unsure of whether the blonde was healthy as he laughed and chuckled. Gaara felt his brow furrow, his jaw drop the slightest. Why was this boy so difficult to understand?
Maybe he's crazy, the thought did not easily sway from his mind.
Finally, the redhead gathered some courage, "Why are you laughing?"
Naruto ceased his laughter and looked up with a shining grin, "Because we're like brothers! I've never had any type of family!"
"I don't understand."
Naruto smirked playfully, "You see, I'm a jinchuuriki, too! I've got the Kyuubi no Yoko, the nine-tailed fox!"
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A/N: Yeah, I cut it off right there. It seemed rather short to me, which just makes me feel worse about the whole 'near-abandonment' ordeal we had going on, but...whatever...Hopefully you can have mercy and for some unfathomable reason still leave me a review despite my mistake of lateness? (Puppy-dog eyes)
