Void
By: Niiro Yuuyake
Disclaimer: Niiro does not own any of the characters of Naruto. Nor does she own Naruto, nor do I make any profit from writing this, except the joy of knowing I've made at least one person enjoy my work! .
Warnings: Yaoi, abuse, violence, language, angst, lemon, lime, fluff . . .
A.N.- See! I'm trying to make an effort here! I planned on updating sooner, but . . . ah . . . yea, this is how it turned out . . . LOL. I started this chapter right after I posted the last, but it's taken so long to write--I always write myself into holes!!! Damn my writer's block! Anyhow, because of the huge gap of time-while writing this fic-it's taken a totally different turn than what it would have. I didn't plan to include much of Itachi in this chapter, but now that's changed. I've officially decided to make Itachi as evil a bastard as possible . . . Enjoy! Also, I'm thinking Neji/Gaara . . . any objections?
Chapter 12: Devoid : Part one of 3
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Void Empty
Devoid Empty
But only after something has been taken away.
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Rain hit the windshield only to be pushed off by the windshield wipers. Gray-clouds covered the sky only darkening the day as Naruto glanced nervously out the window.
Desperation would be his downfall, he thought, why the hell had he agreed to go with Gaara, of all people?!
It was like committing suicide . . . But then again, why would Gaara lie?
The car ride was quiet and Gaara made no move to turn on his radio either. The windows were rolled up as to keep out the rain, and the only sound inside the car was the light blowing of the air conditioning and the noisy rustling of Naruto's clothes as he shifted nervously in his seat.
He glanced over at Gaara questioningly, hoping the other would start a conversation, or at least turn on his radio, but the red head stared at the road, blinking only when needed.
"So . . . " Naruto started, glancing out the window again. Perhaps he was making sure the car didn't pass the Memorial or maybe he was just too tempted to jump out, even while the car was moving.
The ominous feeling inside the car made his stomach queasy, and every glance he made at the driver only worsened his condition. But Gaara seemed oblivious to it all.
"We've been driving for a while, how much longer?" The blond questioned, looking at Gaara, but quickly looking away as the man glanced over at him.
"Not much . . . " He mumbled, "Be patient."
Gaara's voice sent chills down his spine.
Like a puppy given a command, Naruto obeyed. He slouched in his seat, turning his head to glance out the window. Gaara's presence seemed to fade from his mind and out of his eyesight as he slowly blinked his eyes.
"Wha . . . What-?"His words slurred, as he tried to raise his hand to the handle of the door. If he could just . . . unlock . . .
"Ah-ah-ah." Gaara tsk'ed, "That's not the smartest thing to do . . . "
The sound that escaped Naruto's mouth was between a moan and yawn as he finally became aware of something insistently poking against his inner wrist.
"Ow . . . " He whined softly.
Lifting his hand as best he could, the blond cast his blue eyes down. He could see the slight point of a needle extended from inside the car seat.
Turning his head, with much effort, Naruto glared(or tried to) at Gaara, "You . . . " He heaved, struggling to stay conscious, "You . . . dr--" But he could only fight the effects for so long.
Closing his eyes, Naruto figured he'd just rest his lids . . . a blink or two would solve his problem. Not thinking rationally, no doubt, that blink turned into an all out struggle to stay up.
Once his lids had closed, he couldn't find the strength to open them again . . .
Gaara smirked slightly as he glanced over at the unconscious youth in the passenger seat of his car, "I don't really like to have company in my car . . . " He turned his eyes back to the road, "And now you see why."
He smiled.
Pressing the gas, Gaara glanced over once more at the unconscious blond, "Itachi-sama should be very pleased . . . "
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Neji watched, annoyed beyond belief, as Iruka and Kakashi rushed out of the store.
They wouldn't get to Naruto in time, he knew, but who was he to defy orders and stop them . . .
There wasn't as many people in the market now that it had started to rain harder. In his line, Neji was the only one besides an elderly woman behind him.
She only carried two cans in her hands, so the Hyuuga decided to let her cut him. He stepped aside, motioning for her to get in front of him.
"Thank you, dear." She smiled, putting her two can-goods on the belt.
Neji nodded, placing a divider behind her two cans as he started to put his things on the belt, also. "It's no problem, my pleasure."
After paying, Neji stepped outside. The rain poured down in gallons, accompanied by wind blowing at destructive speeds.
He was slightly worried that his groceries would blow away, but that thought instantly vanished as he glanced around the lot.
It was raining, wind was blowing at hurricane speeds, and he had no way of getting home.
But he didn't have to worry for too long, as the slick, black car pulled up in front of the door.
Sighing, Neji stepped up to the car, letting the driver put the grocery in the trunk.
As he got into the car, and settled in, Neji noted the tight frown drawn on the Uchiha's face.
Before he could even open his mouth to speak, Itachi hissed.
"My patience is very thin. I don't have time for this insolence, Hyuuga. Don't make me rethink my decision."
Neji nodded, turning his head to look out the window. Gaara's trust was something he believed he had, but he wasn't so sure he could trust Gaara. If Itachi-san was mad, then Gaara wasn't doing what was planned . . . Dammit.
So much depended on his redhead now . . . far too much.
Quickly glancing over at the raven-haired man, Neji felt his heart sink. For whatever reason, his love for Gaara wasn't proving to be reassuring. "Perhaps . . . " He started, hesitating once he made eye contact with red-blazing eyes, "We should speed things up a bit."
Itachi narrowed his eyes, a cruel smirk spreading over his lips. "Heh." He glanced over at Kisame, before pinning Neji with his gaze again.
Feeling a slight nudge on his left shoulder, the Hyuuga looked over, more than uncomfortable at how close the blue-man had gotten to him.
He was cornered. Literally.
A slight movement in front of him, turned his line of sight back onto the Uchiha.
Itachi had pulled out a sharp object, jagged on both sides with a hooked tip. He wiped the glistening blade on his cloak, shining it as he smirked, once again, at the boy in front of him.
"I hope you haven't done anything foolish, boy." He leaned forward, his blood eyes twinkling in the dull light of the cloud-covered sun, "Don't let anyone lead you to damnation."
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Kakashi pulled into the parking lot, his tires leaving black streaks on the road as he swerved into the parking lot of the park. It was raining much harder now, but that didn't deter them one bit.
Iruka was out of the car and running through the park within seconds of the car turning off.
Kakashi wasn't too far behind.
There was no reason to run through the park like idiots in the blistering cold rain; no one was there.
None of the concession stands were open with the exception of the hot drink stand, which looked to be closing down,
There was one person sitting there, not at all bothered by the rain that was undoubtedly hitting him . . .
Iruka coughed, out of breath. H
He had to stop running for a second to rest, but was moving again in moments.
"Where the hell could he be?!" He yelled, turning around.
Kakashi grabbed hold of the brunette, shaking him slightly. "Calm down." He ordered.
Iruka puffed out his cheeks, angry. His face growing red as he shoved Kakashi away. "You calm down! I have to find Naruto, now!"
Kakashi brushed the rain off his face before glancing around the park. He grabbed Iruka's hand once he spotted the still open Hot Drink Stand.
He tugged his lover over, sitting him down, before looking around.
And low and behold, not a few bar stools away, sat a raven-haired teen. Clothes soaked to the core, and pale legs dangling lazily over a pair of soaked sneakers.
"Sasuke."
Said teen turned slightly on his seat, dull, black eyes widening in recognition. "K-Kakashi . . . Iruka!"
He practically leaped out of his seat, stumbling over to the pair.
Iruka wasted no time, grabbing the boy and hugging him with all his might. He rambled out a bunch of questions, concerned about the boy's health. The teen readily answered the questions, mumbling out 'yes' and 'no' into Iruka's chest.
"Where's Naruto?" Kakashi suddenly asked.
Sasuke's brow furrowed as he shrugged. "The guy . . . -here- says Naruto left with a redhead . . . and the only red head I know is-"
"Gaara."
Sasuke nodded, "I personally think Gaara's worse than Ani--Itachi . . . "
Kakashi glanced at the raven-haired teen for a moment, after his near-mistake, before frowning. "But Gaara will do only what Itachi wants him to . . . right?"
Pulling away from the brunette, Sasuke frowned, "Maybe . . . I mean . . . I'm not sure, Itachi never really let me meet Gaara . . . I only know him from school and stuff . . . "
"Should we worry?" Iruka suddenly asked, turning Sasuke's chin up, so the teen looked him in the eyes.
Sasuke looked away, unable to look Iruka in the face.
He shamefully bowed his head, looking at his pale feet on the cold cement sidewalk. "I would." He mumbled before pulling out Iruka's hold.
Kakashi watched the teen's expression, contemplating . . . Maybe Sasuke knew a lot more than he realized.
"Sasuke . . . " Kakashi started, but stopped when he noticed something odd out the corner of his eye.
Sasuke turned to look at the gray-haired man, frowning when he noticed Kakashi looking over his shoulder, "What's wrong?" He asked, turning to look, also.
Iruka frowned, noticing the marks on Sasuke's neck. They were still read, a few areas turned purple, but it was quite obvious that the bruises were new.
He reached forward, running a finger under the collar, and over a bruise.
Sasuke winced, pulling completely away from the man, frowning.
"Don't." He hissed, glaring at the older man.
Iruka folded his arms over his chest, in an uncomfortable manner-not defensive, as he observed the teen. Simply put, he'd rarely, if ever, had seen the Uchiha so . . . angry . . . at him.
Standing, Iruka moved closer to Kakashi as the man glanced around the park again, sure he'd seen something that didn't belong . . .
...it was gone now . . .
But he was positive, he'd seen something . . . unfitting in this scenery.
"We should go . . . Sasuke, where do you think they have gone?"
At this point, Sasuke had turned his back to the two men, glancing over his shoulder for a second, before sighing.
Iruka perked up at this. The teen looked . . . almost defeated, as he sighed tiredly, and looked back at the two of them with . . . regretful eyes.
"I'm sorry . . . " He whispered.
The brunette frowned, looking beside him at Kakashi . . .
A sudden movement out the corner of his eyes, make him turn his body fully, to look behind himself--and Kakashi–at the scene.
"Sorry?" Kakashi repeated, "Sasuke, what aren't you telling us?"
Too stunned to speak, Iruka tried to grasp the man's hand . . . grab anything to get his attention! But it was too late.
His mouth was covered and he was suddenly pulled from beside his boyfriend, as a blade came to rest heavily on his throat.
"You never learn, do you Kakashi?"
Kakashi turned his sight away from the younger Uchiha, only to set his sight on the elder Uchiha.
"I've given you far more than enough chances to break all contact with me and my property, and yet . . . " Here, Itachi nicked the tanned skin on the Brunette's neck with his uniquely jagged dagger, "You just shove your fucking nose where it doesn't fucking belong anymore!"
Kakashi glanced over his shoulder quickly at the young Uchiha. Despite the rain pouring heavily over the group, he could clearly make out the salty tears traveling down the boy's cheeks, as he shoved Kisame's arm off his shoulder . . .
And followed the man toward the parking lot.
Vaguely, Kakashi could see Neji standing near the opened door of the limo, with an umbrella and a coat in hand . . .
"Right about now, you should be worrying more about what's your's than what's mine . . . " Itachi grinned fiendishly.
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Gaara pulled the car to a halt, before putting it in park.
He stepped out, ignoring the rain as it poured down in gallons over him as he made his way to the passenger's door.
He pulled the blond out, tossing him over his shoulder as he headed up the shallow steps to the large doors.
After entering, he was greeting, none too happily, by his elder brother.
Kankuro grinned madly as he spotted the unconscious blond . . . "Don't be selfish Gaara, it's good to share."
Gaara glared, though it went ignored by his sibling. "Is . . . Is Temari here?" He asked.
As much as he refused to show emotion--maybe because he couldn't any more--he hated for his sister to see the . . . things . . . he did to . . . his own species . . .
...they were atrocious things, which never should be documented, let alone witnessed . . .
"Nah . . . she's out." Here, the brunette shifted the creature on his back, before dropping it softly on the redwood floor. "Now . . . Lemme have him."
Gaara glared, but handed over the blond, "He's Itachi's . . . don't do anything to him that'll get you killed."
Kankuro only grinned wider, before trotting off with the blond tightly held in his hands.
Gaara smirked, though it looked more menacing and deadly than it should have. He pulled out his cell, pressing the speed-dial button for Neji's phone.
"Where are you?" Was his loving greeting.
"No, Where are you?!"
Gaara frowned, "What's wrong now?"
He could hear the rain hitting the phone dimly, as Neji sighed out a shaky breath. "You're what's wrong."
Frowning, Gaara glared at nothing in particular, "What?" He growled.
"You didn't do what you were told, that's what! I put my ass on the line for you! You better not try this shit again!"
Gaara snorted--his version of a laugh--as he glared harder at the same spot on the floor, "Stop being a bitch and put Itachi-sama on the line."
There was a rustle of fabric, then a few muffled words, before another voice picked up the line. "Gaara?"
A hairless brow raised at this new voice, before it furrowed in anger, "Sasuke."
"I'll kill you if you don't let him go, you asshole!"
Gaara smiled, "You go ahead and try. I'll gladly hold onto him for you until then."
"Bas--" There were a few buttons pressed, then a loud curse, as a new voice got on the phone
"Gaara?"
"Kisame . . . Where's Itachi? ."
There was silence, before an amused chuckle was heard, "He's busy. I trust you did what you were suppose to . . . for the most part?"
Gaara nodded before smirking cruelly, "Hn. I have the boy, if that's what you mean."
Another chuckle, "Good. We'll be in touch."
--------TBC-------
When Sasuke says "Ani--Itachi . . . ," he's trying to distance himself from his brother, emotionally (or something like that!)
A.N.-Well, it's been so long . . . I posted two chapters because I took too long! I know! I had you guys waiting three months for the last chapter--when nothing really happened--and now you waited this long for this one! So you get two chapters--Yay! . Thanks for the great reviews. I love you all! I made some brownies-pot free-so have some! gives brownies I'm quite a good cook . . . as long as it has instructions. LOL.
Enjoy the next(and this) chapter, and please review. Be warned, next chapter is . . . well . . . just read it . . . people get stabbed and stuff! runs of to type next chapter!!!
-Niiro Yuuyake
