Subjects

CagedRaven

A/N: I wrote a Naruto/Sasuke oneshot for anyone who can't wait for the yaoi XD

Chapter 10

I was tired of not understanding anything, from the humans to our group. Everyone seemed to like to talk in riddles or empty sentences. Why couldn't they just be straight forward? I ran a hand through my hair roughly, pulling out a few of the strands in the process. My three companions stopped conversing and looked in my direction.

"Why don't I repeat it since you don't get it?" Shikamaru sighed.

"You don't have to, just tell what you want me to do. All the other information will just make my head explode." Sarcasm coated my words heavily as I ignored the little wolf at my feet and fell back onto the bed.

"Glad you said it for us." Gaara's voice was becoming a trigger for me. At the sound of it I was loaded and ready to fire. A snarl ripped through me as I pushed up from the sheets, my face in his.

"I've seriously reached my limit with you!"

"Naruto!" I looked at Hinata who was sitting on the floor with the four wolf pups in her lap, all of them looking for safety from me. "Please…"

Her voice was still small and shaky but there was something new behind it that was hard to identify. When I had talked about it before with Shikamaru he had called it purpose. Those wolf pups were hers to protect now - even if that meant from the rest of us. It kind of hurt to know she didn't feel one hundred percent safe around me with the wolves. I couldn't be that bad though seeing as how we had all been sleeping in the same room.

"I said that you were going to have to baby-sit." He pointed to the pups and ignored my whine. "But maybe you should run off some steam first. I'll go with you."

"Why do I have to watch them?"

Shikamaru sighed again, rubbing the bridge of his nose and letting me see that he was clearly annoyed. "Hinata's going to be busy with that doctor tomorrow, Tsunade. Be our eyes and ears. I'm going to be with Hatake Kakashi which means going into the forest. And Gaara's seeing if there are any other wolf packs we can drop them off to, which leaves you to watch-"

"To baby-sit, I get it." I glanced over to Hinata, watching her rub one of the pups behind the ear. "But why are we looking for another pack? I thought we were keeping them…" The female 02 had grown attached.

"We won't be able to move how we want if we leave with wolf pups in our group."

I nodded, comprehending that. However, from the way Hinata looked at the pups I didn't think she liked the idea. I look back at the brunette, "And when exactly are we leaving? It's already been over a month. I'm surprised not one human found us out yet… maybe."

"I'm just waiting for the right moment, Naruto."

My blue eyes rolled as I walked over to the window, opening it fully. I doubted that was really the reason. An 02 wouldn't need a week to leave without a trace let alone over a month. We should never have stayed here after I was healed.

"Ready?" I asked, already stepping on the sill. He nodded, pushing himself up from his chair and without a second look to the other two we were off.

To my surprise Shikamaru had let me go after whatever animal I wanted. Excluding the dear of course. Didn't want to end up like the wolf pack I had met before in the forest. Hunted down by humans for being just what they were. What I was - a hunter, born to love the chase and the mouthwatering bloody end.

The brunette slapped the back of my head, taking away the bird I was about to consume whole.

"What was that for?" I hissed, holding the sore spot with both hands.

"I told you a million times not to eat things raw, cook it then eat it." He was still walking away from me and soon I forgot about my head, following him close behind. "And to be honest, I'm sick of smelling your vomit."

I grinned, "Is that why you came with me?"

His dark eyes met mine before he shook his head, picking up another stick for our fire. "No, I needed to talk to you."

"About Gaara?" I almost snapped.

"Yes and no."

I felt uneasy. "What else then?"

"Uchiha Sasuke."

Fuck, had the 02 noticed my odd behavior around the pale human? I tired really hard not to make it obvious but I guess by now I should have known nothing slipped passed him. Taking in a deep breath I poked the fire he had just made with a random stick, readying myself for whatever speech he had planned.

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Naruto," I looked at him, biting the inside of my cheek to prevent myself from saying something stupid. "Just give him a chance."

"Like you gave that female human one?" So much for not saying something stupid. Shikamaru sighed, rolling his shoulders before laying his back on the ground, face pointed to the tree covered sky.

"Yeah, I guess. I don't feel like going through all the details- probably wont help you anyway, but bottom line is it was something I'll never forget. At least talk to him, it's been a month now."

I was confused but just shrugged my shoulders. The last time I spoke to Uchiha Sasuke I felt weird. I didn't think I was ready for that again. Actually, I knew I wasn't ready. The memory alone of him over me as we kissed was hard enough to push out of my thoughts. I didn't need new ones distracting me. I needed to change the subject.

"And what about Gaara?"

Shikamaru moved his hands under his head, watching me out of the corner of his eye before closing them with a sigh. "Just leave him alone."

"He's the one always starting everything! Why do you always pull me aside and have this same conversation?" I growled, throwing my stick completely into the flames as I grabbed my cooked bird. It had to be done by now.

"Gaara's a special case. Hard to understand. But for your own good, ignore him." The 02 was watching me again as I ate the animal. I took a mouthful of meat so I was busy chewing it to pieces but I couldn't stop my eyes from rolling. That had been the answer to all my problems lately: ignore it. When would Shikamaru get that I couldn't ignore shit. When something got under my skin it always hit one nerve or another.

"How do you know so much about him?" I asked around the meat.

He sat up quickly, taking me off guard , facing me fully as a serious expression overtook his face. "I'm only going to tell you once so listen good." I nodded repeatedly, swallowing my food and forgetting about the rest of it. "Gaara has a history of losing himself. Not being able to tell the difference between the enemy and his comrades." He paused, looking at me as if I was unable to keep up already.

"And?" I scowled, knowing there had to be more to the story.

"Remember back when we first met, I said you had cracked?" I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek. "I've seen it happen to class 01's; Gaara was the first time I'd seen it happen. I wasn't on the mission with him but he was sent with three others and the 02 leader. He killed everyone."

I was shocked to say the lest but it being Gaara I could believe it. "You're scared he wouldn't stop at me if we fought and he actually won?"

Shikamaru shook his head. "I know he wouldn't stop. More then that, I don't want or need you to fall into the same category."

"I wouldn't..." I muttered, a little unsure. Shikamaru must have heard it but didn't say anything, only shrugged.

"Never know, but you have to fight it. Class 01s were designed to be blood thirsty up to a point. Killing their own team is considered to be unforgivable and labeled as a failure."

It felt like he was trying to implant that idea into my head but Shikamaru didn't have to worry, I had no intentions to kill anyone in our group. I only wanted to beat the shit out of the red head's face. "If Gaara is such a problem why not just kill him?"

"I'm giving him the second chance our makers didn't."

That did it - now I really did feel like an asshole. The 02 was trying to help Gaara and every time we had a little fight I was throwing him back at square one. "Sorry."

"Finish your bird," Shikamaru sighed, lowering himself onto the earth again with his eyes closed. "We'll run for another hour and then head back."

I stuffed the bird into my mouth, taking my time chewing it. It was dry but I bet it tasted better then the foot that's been in my mouth all day.

I woke up to the sensation of something wet running up my cheek. Sinking my face deeper into the pillow, I rolled onto my stomach as I muttered under my breath, "Five more minutes." A multiply of high pitched whines entered my ears as little feet moved across my back.

"Knock it off." I let a huff of air out, raising my head only to come face to face with a pair of big blue eyes. It looked like it was going to cry again…

"All right, I get it, your hungry!" I rolled out the bed, looking at the little beast as they came over to the edge of it. Hinata was no where to be found so I guess it was my turn. Great… I wanted to smack myself for forgetting everyone would be busy today.

Grabbing two in one arm and the last two in the other I pushed open the door with my back, making my way down stairs into the kitchen. I hoped I wouldn't walked right into the pale human I've been avoiding but from what I could smell it seemed like I was all alone for the time being.

Setting the pups free, I could feel my jaw crack as I yawned and I walked over to the fridge to get out their milk, warming it up. Supposedly it was just as notorious as their mother's milk. I couldn't even remember where we had gotten it from but it sure did say that on the bottle. They ate it and were happy, which made Hinata happy, which made me just as happy.

Believing the milk to be hot enough by now, I tested it on my skin like Hinata told me too. Somehow, whenever I saw the 02 flipped the bottle over her wrist pouring a few drops onto her skin it looked natural for her. I, on the other hand, looked like a confused idiot. Scowling at myself I poured the white liquid into a bowl and placed it on the floor where the pups attacked it.

Getting myself a glass of water and some cold meat from the fridge that tasted slightly sweet, I sat on the floor with them. Watching their small mouths race to get the most as they filled the room with lapping sounds. I couldn't help but wonder if Shikamaru was right, maybe they did need to be around other wolves. I had know idea about the others but I sure as hell didn't know what I was doing.

I bit my lip to prevent myself from growling and scaring the wolves. If those damn humans hadn't killed their pack because of a few deer these pups could have been with their birth mother. But then Hinata wouldn't be where is was now, I sighed.

A pup came up to me, licking its nose as it watched me chew on the meat. I shrugged, handing it a little piece and barely keeping my fingers.

"I guess you guys are tired of milk, huh." I grinned as the others came running over to me, tripping over their small feet. Giving them all the rest of my own breakfast I stood up, running my hands over my pants and placed the empty bowl down in the sink. "I'll see what Hinata says later."

As if they understood me the little pups pawed at my shins, clearly looking for something else to eat. I didn't want to over feed them though so they'd just have to make due with what they got.

Freezing as an all too familiar scent entered my nose, I shut off the water and grabbed the pups making my way up the staircase as the front door closed. I cursed myself, walking into the room and flopping on the bed, ignoring the pup licking my chin. I couldn't keep running from Uchiha Sasuke forever but I couldn't face him yet either... I was such a coward.

I woke up to the bedroom door opening and the pups barking happily. Looking over, I saw the red head and almost couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes. Gaara was home already and, seeing as how the sun was still up, he was early. I sat up, watching him stand near the door as I sorted through my thoughts.

"You're back early." came my lame response. I really had no idea what to say to him when we weren't fighting.

Gaara shrugged, crossing his arms over his chest like he was already pissed off with me. I bit my tongue, swallowing my pride as I tried again - just to prove to Shikamaru later that I was mature. "Any luck finding another wolf pack?"

I took his indifferent silence as a no, this time really letting my eyes roll to the back of my head as I flopped back down onto the mattress. Ignoring the red head I took in a deep breath, knowing instantly that Uchiha Sasuke was gone. Sighing in relief I pocked a pup in the leg and earned myself a nip from its tiny sharp teeth. Maybe they were hungry again I sighed pulling my hand free from its mouth.

"I'm going to feed them." I stated even though I knew the other 01 wouldn't say anything but to my great surprise he did take two and follow me down the stairs. Now I felt like he was babysitting me... I slid my tongue over my teeth, huffing as I opened the fridge once more to get the wolf's food.

As I emptied the bottle's warm contents into a bowl the phone rang on the kitchen wall. I huffed, remembering that the older human had asked us to answer the phone earlier. Something about waiting for a call...

"Can you get that?" I asked, looking over my shoulder only to see the red head was no longer there. I closed my eyes, biting the inside of my cheek as I took a deep breath, attempting to swallow my frustration. Slamming the bowl on the floor, I ignored the pups whine and stormed over to the phone.

"What?" I snapped.

"Well, hello to you too." I immediately recognized the voice, biting my tongue until I tasted blood to stop myself from growling into the receiver. "Is Kakashi there?"

"No, he went out this morning." I muttered, knitting my brows in thought as I tried to remember her name. I could all but see the female human. Her long blonde hair bouncing behind her with each step as she ran away from me with tears dancing in her brown eyes, me hunting her down. Going for one limb at a time until she was nothing but a bloody pile of flesh... I grinned, running my claws down the wall lightly as if it was her right in front of me.

"Are you listening?"

My claws stopped digging into the plaster as I tried to bring myself back to the present. "Not really."

"Tell Kakashi I called - to call me back later." She sighed. "Do you have a pen and paper handy?"

"No." I bit out, waiting for her to say something else that would make me want to reach through the phone and break her neck. Taking another deep breath I remembered Shikamaru again and tried to behave myself. "Hold on."

I could hear the end of her pen tapping the desk I knew she was sitting behind with impatience. I wondered if Hinata was sitting there with her, trying with all her might to not stutter and keep the busty human calm. I could see the 02 playing with her fingers nervously as she listened to both sides of the conversation, playing down all of my rude comments in hopes the human was too. I doubted it but I didn't really give a shit.

Throwing a pad of paper onto the counter top I found in a draw, I picked up a pen and rolled my eyes. Now I was he freaking messenger, great. "Alright."

She gave me her number, guess it was new or something, and some other nonsense to write down because I was sure as hell not going to remember it all. "And you never came in for your check up."

I let a breath of air escape harshly, "I'm still alive as you can tell."

"Whatever, your old enough to take care of yourself." I knew she was mocking me, the bitch. "Just don't forget to give Kakashi that note, alright? Tell him Tsuna-"

And everything went black...

Awaking to my own vomit gushing out of throat was nasty, disgusting, and made it hard for me breathe. Panic took full force of me as my mind brought small facts to the forefront. The smell of deep set fear was the first thing that slammed into me, combined with the strong scent of urine, blood, and of course my bile. I wondered vaguely why the world was shaking then realized it was me, taking shuddering breaths against the pain.

What the hell happened? Where the fuck was I?

My eyes darted from right to left, catching glimpses of room I occupied. It was the kitchen... but different. The table was shredded, the chairs were no better, and the walls had multiply holes. Glass was scattered across the tiles and, for once, blood didn't look that great to me. The fridge was even in fragments, its light pooling into the destroyed room and highlighting Gaara off to the right. With the angle I was in I couldn't tell if he was watching me or not.

I tried to move, pushing the pain from my head away as I coughed up some blood. I groaned, trying again when an overwhelming pain took me by surprise, pulling a sharp whine from my throat as I planted my body back on the cool tile.

"Don't move."

Gaara's voice was different, like he was trying to take control over the situation. Judging by the room I wondered if he failed.

"What happened?"

"You don't remember?"

I looked him in the eye, taking in his green orbs before shaking my head. "Should I?"

"I stabbed you in the lower spine. No lasting damage should happen if your careful."

I growled, pushing him away from me but not as hard as I would have liked. "Why the fuck would you do that, you asshole?" I yelled, reaching slowly around my body and moving inch by inch until my fingers grazed the handle of the kitchen knife. It was really there...

"You lost control-"

"Control of what?" I was hyperventilating now. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't feel my toes, my feet, my legs... Was the urine from me as well? Was I paralyzed?

"Don't touch it." He grabbed my hand and moved it from the knife resting in my back and tried to hide it but I saw it. He winced.

"You're hurt too... What happened?" My mind was racing now as I saw the deep gashes on his abdomen. "Where are the pups?"

"They're fine."

"But-" Gaara's head whipped so fast to the doorway that I lost my train of thought. The scent of blood and other things so thick it took me a minute to smell passed it but when I did I felt all the blood leave my face. "Shit..."

No sooner then the word slipped pass my lips did the pale human walk to the doorway. His face was paler, his eyes wide and his mouth opened and closed as if he was trying to get it to work. I felt Gaara tense up next to me and grabbed his wrist to stop him from doing anything stupid, hissing as the action caused my back to throb in pain.

"What happened..." His words were barely above a whisper and if I wasn't a man-made monster I was sure I wouldn't have heard him. I pretended not to anyway.

"It was nothing."

I almost wanted to laugh at the idiot.

"The hell it wasn't. You're bleeding out from your stomach and he's got a knife sticking out from his back!" My eyes were still on Uchiha Sasuke as he moved into the room, careful not to step on any glass until he reached our side. Gaara looked at him for another few seconds before standing completely, making sure to hold his side, and walking out of the kitchen. Leaving me alone with the human I still didn't really want to be alone with.

"What happened?" I shrugged, really not knowing myself. He didn't seem to like it. "Did he try to kill you?"

I rolled my eyes thinking of the knife, "If he was trying to kill me Gaara wouldn't have missed."

"What's that suppose to mean." His brows wrinkled, his hand eased its way down my back to where the knife was embedded in my flesh and bone.

"What it sounds like - Don't touch it!" I hissed, digging my claws into what I guessed was the floor tile. I bit my lower lip, drawing blood as I breathed through my nose roughly. It hurt like a bitch!

"I didn't." He was thinking fast, I could see his eyes zoning out as ideas moved in his brain a mile a minute. "I'll call Tsunade."

I growled, gripping my head as a pounding headache tried to win the battle. "Don't call that witch, I don't need her."

"She's a doctor-"

"I don't care!" Another whine escaped me as I pounded my fist on the floor. "The faster it's done the fast I won't feel it. Just pull it out."

"You told me not to touch it-"

"Well, I'm telling you now its fine!"

"I can't-"

"You're useless." I growled loudly, wrapping my fingers around the handle and ready to pull until I felt a death grip on my arm.

"I told you not to touch it." The red head was back, great. "Shikamaru is almost here." Even better.

"I'll wait with you until they get here." Oh, its my lucky day.

I looked up at the human, taking in his smooth face and dark hair. His deep eyes and thin lips. I wondered briefly why he paid me so much more attention then the others. Why, or when, I started to become more aware of him. Even now when more bile played at the back of my throat, a migraine threatened to overload my brain, a knife was buried in my spine, and a pissed 02 was drawing closer all I could wonder was when the human would kiss me again. My priorities needed help.

My back was still killing me but it had only been a day. Still I was hoping that as the wound closed up the deep rooted pain would leave- not to mention my legs were still giving out on me too. For now I was moving from seat to seat like I was a handicap child, just perfect. To make things even better I would never live it down that I cried like a baby when the 02 pulled it out. Fucking Gaara.

"He told me his story, tell me yours."

Shikamaru was standing in front of me, looking down and I was too weak at this point in time to meet his gaze. "I told you, I don't remember. One minute I was on the phone taking down a note, the next I was throwing up my last meal with a knife in my back."

"So, you did lose control?"

"No!" I glared up at him, biting the inside of my cheek as I thought it over. "I mean... I don't think so..."

"Who were you talking to?"

I shook my head, "What?"

"Over the phone, who were you talking to?" He sounded annoyed but I was pretty sure that was just Shikamaru.

"Uh," I tried to remember her name. It was on the tip of my tongue. "That female human with the big chest... the doctor."

"Tsunade." I gritted my teeth as a sharp pain went through my head almost as if I'd been hit. When it passed I saw the brunette watching my worriedly.

"Probably just after effects of what happened."

Shikamaru's brown eyes were glued on me for so long I thought he might say something important until he sighed, running a hand over his face. "Take a nap, I'll wake you up in a bit."

I pouted, not really wanting to sleep right now but it didn't seem like I had a choice. But I still stalled. "What did you tell Hatake Kakashi?"

Another sigh from the 02 and I realized that he was tired. Tired was coming up with half truths to save our asses. "I told him the truth."

My insides fell into a bottomless hole I didn't know existed. "Everything?"

"Everything."

"But he's the only one who knows." I stated, that had to be it.

"A few others know too." He looked at me, at my wide eyes and nodded answering my unasked question. "Including Uchiha Sasuke."

I wish that black hole would swallow me up completely.

What would the human think of me now? Would he still want to be around me after learning what I was. Why did I care?

"Take a nap," The brunette ordered, covering my eyes with his big hand as he pushed me into the soft sofa gently until my head hit the cushion. "I'll wake you when it's time to eat."

I watched him walk away, leaving me behind in the empty living room. I wish I was upstairs with Hinata and the pups, at least they would have distracted me. This room, this couch. They made me think of him. I closed my eyes, pushing the memory of our last kiss away as I willed sleep to over take me.

I felt my mind drifting and shutting down, getting ready for a dreamless sleep when I was pulled from it all together as the doorbell rang. I heard Shikamaru's lazy steps to the door, as it opened her scent of flowers filled my nose. It bugged me that I was able to put a face and name to it.

"Ino," I heard him say, not that he was shocked to see her there, I was sure he's caught her scent. "What's wrong?"

I was glued to it, waiting to hear whatever she was going to say when I saw Hinata coming down the stairs. I gave her a lazy wave and she smiled but it didn't reach her eyes I noted as she sat next to me. Something was up...

"Shikamaru... I'm pregnant."

I jumped up, wincing slightly as images of the gray wolf's round belly filled my head. I was almost excited - then, quickly, my excitement turned to disgust. I knew it, the 02 had betrayed us. Scowling I faced Hinata unprepared for the tears I saw rolling down her cheeks.

TBC...

Don't forget to review :) I hope to get some more Naruto/Sasuke action in the next chapter XD But until then feel free to read Bump in the night~

Well, I'm finally getting to a point in the this story. Feels like its taken forever but that's because it has - right?

Thank you readers for putting up with me :)

Until next time,

CR~

Went back and fixed a couple things I missed. Sorry for the typos I know they are annoying but no one's perfect.