(Disclaimer I regret to inform you, I don't own Naruto or the characters there in.

Note thank you for the reviews!!!

I'm trying to get this story going but I keep revising it before I ever get the thing up... I'm not so sure what to classify this story as, I'm trying to keep it fairly in character but damn it's hard. So many possibilities for this to get seriously twisted, and knowing me it might just end up like that anyway. This is still going to remain rated M for later chapters... that and I tend to get a little over enthusiastic with the blood 'n' guts some times.

Please review! Thanks!

'Thoughts'

"Out loud"

Chapter 4: Are you? A-an a...

A.k.a. You think I'm a...

Teal eyes watched in shock as the boy sat, clinging to his stuffed bear, in mute witness to what was happening. This was different, of all nights this one this one was special.

He had known that 'They' were coming, again, and he knew nothing he could do would break the pattern of what was becoming a nightly routine. As always he'd wondered how bad what he did was that they kept coming for him, night after night. He'd tried to be good, he really had. He'd tried to apologize but no one would listen to him. Drawing his knees to his chest, he wished 'They' would go away or that someone would stop them! Or keep more of 'Them' from coming for him again. Shaking slightly he had watched as They landed on the far end of the roof that he was sitting on.

Then it happened, unlike all the other nights his silent pleas were answered. As 'They' had closed and the first kunai had flashed in the moonlight on it's way towards him it was stopped. He'd watched in silent awe as his mind realized someone had caught the blade before even the sand could react.

Gaara couldn't help it he had sat transfixed by the sight of the small form garbed in ivory cloth standing protectively in front of him. A large section of cloth fluttered to the ground as the figure tossed away the cloak it had been wrapped in; both Gaara and his attackers seemed to be entranced by the small form that now fully visible in the moonlight. The moonlight seemed to cause the milky cloth of the boy's garments to glow in the pallid light, from the strange outfit of pale cloth and lengths of bandages that covered the most of the boy's body.

"Leave him alone," the young rescuer practically growled as he moved between the attackers and their intended victim. "Any who try and harm him will answer to me."

Teal eyes blinked in shock, though the voice was low, ragged, cold, and seemed incredibly out of place on such a small figure, Gaara was positive he'd never heard a voice half so beautiful before in his life. Gaara soaked in that moment etching it deeply into his mind enjoying this new feeling the bizarre boy's words caused and trying to make the moment stretch as long as it could.

But it seemed that 'They' had other ideas on the matter. A tall muscular one of 'Them' began to laugh at the strangely garbed boy's words. Laughing the man sped forward the gleam of a sword flashing for a heartbeat in the moonlight before he brought it directly down on the boy's head.

Gaara's eyes widened as he gasped in shock at the sight, but his eyes only increased further when the blade went through the boy with not a drop of blood.

The Laughing one stopped his laughter his own eyes going large themselves in surprise as the boy, he'd attacked and had his blade halfway through, slowly faded out. Straightening and spinning around he saw that the boy he was aiming for had been behind him. Even as the look of puzzlement began to cross the attacker's face the pale boy darted forward, the kunai that the child had claimed from the air now was clenched in a small fist.

The first of those who had set their sights on killing Sabuko no Gaara fell to the rooftop, dead before he even truly had a chance to realize what was going on. In many ways the 'Laughing Man' was fortunate, as his death was so fast that it had been virtually painless, the others who were with him on their mission were not so equally blessed.

Silence settled over 'Them' in a thick haze that was partially one of shear and utter disbelief. 'They' could not seem to comprehend that death could have suddenly appeared among them in such a diminutive and innocent looking bundle.

The boy, in turn, seemed completely unfazed by what he'd just done. Turning to face Gaara, the boy seemed to completely ignore the others who had been plotting to attack, "Look away, please, I do not think it is wise for you to watch."

Gaara found gawking as his eyes trying to drink up the sight. The boy's slightly messy black hair some how seemed to still find enough light to shine brightly in the night, though the blade held casually in the boy's hand was stained with blood not a drop was visible on his garments, and those hauntingly dark eyes framed by thick lashes which only served to captivate the young native of the village hidden in the Sand.

The boy sighed slightly noticing the awe in the Gaara's gaze, his large dark eyes slightly lidded and painfully downcast, "I ask that you close your eyes and do not look, for no child should need see battle while so young."

Gaara knew any question he had wouldn't be answered right now. He wanted to know what it was about this outsider that made him feel at ease. It took him a moment but Gaara figured out what it was that was so different about the mysterious boy. It was his eyes they held deep kindness, an equally deep sorrow, and yet those ebony orbs seemed only to hold light, there were no signs of hatred, fear, or disgust in them. Obeying the stranger, Gaara closed his eyes as he clung to his teddy bear with all his strength. Moments passed thumps and the sound of running feet reached Gaara's ears, but no screams nor sounds of death reached him as he sat eyes closed trusting this fearless stranger.

When a strong hand gripped his wrist, Gaara's eyes snapped open and he found himself face to face with his rescuer. Gaara was alarmed for a half second that the sand might hurt the other boy, but when the sand remained motionless the alarm was replaced by curiosity.

"I think we would best head out now, " the other child said grinning slightly. "Let us go some place else."

Gaara nodded weakly as he his mind tried to find an explanation for what had just happened. The only conclusion his mind could seem to find was surprising even to him. Angel, Gaara thought quietly as he gaped at the hand that was touching him and leading him off. An Angel! He protected me; the sand doesn't think it needs to protect me –from him anyway-, and he Smiled at-at MeGaara's mind buzzed with that last bit. No one had done that before, not at him anyway. Dark rimmed eyes looked up from the bandaged hand to stare at the soft rounded face, He must be an angel, he's gotta be. There's no other reason why anyone would be so kind t to me.

Gaara's 'Angel' turned seeming to notice that Gaara was watching him. The Angel looked at him confused tilting his head slightly for a moment before smiling again at him. Gaara timidly grinned back, which only merited a warmer larger grin from the small tenshi leading him.

End Chapter

Authors Notes

Ages of characters

Lee 3 (was 28)

Gaara 3

More familiar faces will be added as time goes on. (And before you ask this happens before Yashimaru, forgive me if I spelt it wrong, became Gaara's guardian. Hence no smiles before at Gaara.)