Tears in the Rain

AN: Naruto not mine. But I do want a Gaara plushie! Durn fixed crane machine...

Chapter Seven

Pain, that's all there was for him as he laid on the bed with his hands tied over his head. "Wh..why?" he managed to get out as he was struck with the rod again.

"You killed her, the only one I loved," came the answer, "So now I have to make you suffer." a weight came on top of him, lips hovered over his, "Such a good little boy... you almost look like she did," the voice said more gently this time as a hand lovingly caressed his cheek.

But it was all a lie. He would turn harsh again very soon, just like he had done so many times before. As those lips touched his, the tongue thrust in, the boy couldn't take it anymore, he bit down hard... too hard. He tasted blood...

And then suddenly his hands were free and soon the whole room turned red.

"No!" Gaara yelled as he sat up in the bed, then hugged his knees and stared at his hands, almost seeing the blood dripping on them again, almost tasting it in his mouth.

He got up and ran across the hall to the bathroom, barely managing to get in there before he started to throw up.

A knock came at the door, "You alright?" came the concerned voice of Neji.

"Y...yes..." Gaara managed to say, and he turned on the faucet and used the cool water to wash his face, "Just... just a bad dream..." He collapsed onto the floor and leaned his head against the wall, How many times before I ended it... just because I wanted... he shook his head, what his uncle gave him certainly wasn't love.

And now wasn't the time to be thinking about that. There were beginning to be a few too many of those things that he couldn't face at the moment. Taking a deep breath, he slowly got up, and stared at himself in the mirror the see how badly he looked.

Certainly a lot better than he had a few days ago. The shadows around his eyes were still as dark as ever, but he actually did sleep for two whole nights, even if one of them ended in nightmares. He was doing much better than when he was out on the streets shivering as he tried very hard to ignore the environment and rest. Hell, it even looked like he was gaining a bit of weight, he knew that his cheeks were much more sunken than they looked now.

Peeking out into the hallway, he hurried back into his room, and got dressed in the black clothing he had picked out the night before and taking a deep breath, went back out into the hallway and into the kitchen.

There was a plate of saltines and a small glass of ginger ale waiting for him, Gaara sighed and sat down, then noticing the small note lying on the table. A small smile came to his lips, but he shook it away as he picked up the paper.

You're on your own for a bit. I had some business to take care of in preparations for tonight.

"Wonder what," he mumbled before biting into the crackers.


It was well into the evening, almost an hour before the appointed meeting with Demarco that Neji returned, with Tenten, who was carrying a box of electronics, in tow.

"Let's get you wired up," he said to Gaara and pointed to a earpiece he had clipped on, "I'll be able to hear everything that happens this way, so I can try and get in there if you have any trouble."

"They shouldn't notice the receiver," Tenten added, holding up a very small electronic, "I had to mess with it a bit, but it should work fine."

Gaara stared as she fitted the electronic into a dark silver feather hanging on a black cord, "You're not going to put it on me?"

"There's a chance they'll look for something like this on you, but a lot of people overlook jewelry, especially simple pieces like this," she handed it to him, "If it makes you feel better, Neji picked it out."

There was a slight hint of teasing in her voice, but it was lost on Gaara as he tried on the necklace, "It's really nice." he fingered the ruby bead that separated the feather from the cord, "But will it work?"

"It will," Tenten smiled, "Neji and I tested it out this afternoon before we brought it over here. And I figure that this won't be the only case it comes in handy," she grinned, "It's going to be great not to be the undercover operations."

Neji glared at her, "Didn't you have something else to do?"

She chuckled, "Oh that's right," she reached down into the box and pulled out a skinny box, "Gaara give me your left arm."

He complied and she fitted him with a black leather armband, "I have more gadgets than Batman," she bragged happily, "This is a dart shooter, so if you get into a real tough pickle, just press this button," she pointed to a almost unnoticeable circle on the wrist, "It'll fire a projectile at who you point it at."

"But I'm right handed," Gaara managed to say as he stared at the bracer.

"I know!" Tenten grinned, "That's why it's so perfect. It's designed as a last defense though, so don't think you can just shoot your way out with it," she gave him a deadly serious glare, "After this if you want some serious weapons training, I know a good guy," she looked at her watch, "I'm off to set up shop Neji," she said as she got up to leave, "Good luck you two!"

"You too," Gaara said quietly.

She smiled and left the apartment, leaving Neji and Gaara alone.

"What have you been up to all day?" the red-headed boy asked.

"Something that will make tonight much easier," Neji smiled, "But I'll tell you what later."


He pulled the burgundy coat closer around himself as he stepped closer to the doors of the nightclub, Damn at all this rain. Making it colder than it needs to be. He resisted the urge to turn around and look at the building behind him, where he knew Tenten to be.

"What do you want kid?" a tall beefy man asked, as he looked at a list.

"I have an appointment with Demarco St. Claire... about Maya," Gaara looked up at him, All of them are this huge... will Lee be able to... he chewed his lip, willing away his uncertainties, You've seen him fight before. These guys will be nothing.

"Name?" the man looked down his list

"Gaara Sabaku."

"Ah. Last room on the left, past the kitchen," the bouncer grinned evilly then, something that unnerved the boy, though he didn't show it, "Came for a private party then?"

"Not entirely," came the whispered response as Gaara ran inside.

He slowly navigated through the much too noisy dance floor and found his way to the kitchen, which had nauseating smelling food. Not even bar food... just crap. he noted before he saw the door leading to the room he was looking for.

Taking a deep breath, Steady... steady... he'll come if there's any problems. Besides you need to get the evidence to make this guy pay for what he did to Maya and Kari.

A small voice suddenly spoke up then, Do you really think it'll be that easy?

He growled at the doubt and reached his hand to open the door.


"He's in," Tenten's voice came over the speaker, "And I got a clear shot from up here."

"Hold off until I give the word," Neji spoke into the receiver at his collar, then turned to Lee, "You have the chocolate Gai gave you right?"

"The super secret power chocolate! Yes!" Lee said happily, "Along with the instructions that I shall not use them unless in case of dire emergency!"

Neji nodded, and adjusted the speaker in his ear to listen for Gaara, but the boy hadn't made it to the back yet, based on the music blaring through the electronic device.

The music started to fade, and he heard sounds of a kitchen, and then finally...

"Good to see you boy."


"Very nice of you to meet with me," Gaara said as politely as possible and bowed to the man with the slicked back grayed hair. "I am pleased that you are willing to speak with me on Maya."

"Nonsense," Demarco gave a chilling smile then, "My prodigal daughter was very fond of her few close friends. When I had heard she quit my operations, I knew it was because of someone she had met."

"So you did use her like that," his eyes narrowed.

"Too many people paying good money... especially for worthless girls with her type of look. Did you know boy... you should be in movies" he snapped his fingers and a hand appeared in front of Gaara. He felt himself being grabbed from behind, but before he could call out, the hand came closer, holding a piece of cloth.

He collapsed to the ground, and Demarco kicked the boy, "Take him down to the cellars with the rest of the unwanted ones." he said to the thug in the room, "And prepare a gift for his friends outside."


"Now!" Neji shouted into the receiver, as he and Lee ran to the front of the building, "Tenten, damn it..."

"I'm afraid that she won't be of any service," a silky voice came over the speaker, "I have her quite incapacitated now."

Neji's eyes narrowed, "Lee be careful, but it seems we're on our own right now."

Lee gave a small gasp of surprise, but steeled his expression and leaped into attack at the bouncers, "I will keep them off! You go in and get Gaara."

"Lee... there's ten of them," came the protest.

"I have Gai's belief and support!" Lee said happily, "I can easily take down hundreds more!"

Neji gave him a last look and almost smiled at the site of Lee enjoying himself and ran into the club, rushing past the dance floor and kitchen, and into...

An empty room. He looked around, pressing the walls to see if there was a trap door.

There! A panel opened up and he ran downstairs into darkness vaguely aware that even this was a trap, Please let him be alright!