Important note!! Please read!!: Please bare with me. For those people who have read my other stories you may have noticed that sometime I stop writing out of sickness. Well it's about time I explain that because sometimes when someone says 'I'm sick', people think it's like a cold. I have chromic Gastritis, which basically means I have a lot of stomach issues and pain. It comes and goes it gets better then worse. I have my good days and my bad. Ontop of that because of earlier sickness in my past, my immune system is crap, and I catch colds very easily, and a lot of food upsets me very easily. Also recently I've been having some mental health issues I've been working out. I don't want to abandon my readers, but please understand that with school and up flares that sometimes I do not have the time, motivation, or will to write. So every so often I need a break. I'll do my best to update whenever I can, thank you.

Chapter 14: Stress

Naruto's POV

I look around the small café as I set a cup of coffee in front of a customer. She's not here. A wave of pride washes over me, I knew I handled that situation well. I turn towards Gaara with a smile. It's good that his coming here was unnecessary. I didn't expect that chick would be back…but you never know. I was worried too after all, but know I feel really relieved.

I head back into the kitchen, wondering what Gaara's siblings are doing at the moment. I almost feel like a bad host leaving them there all alone, even if they didn't seem to mind. Well Kankuro made a remark, but who cares about his opinion?

Cakes and drinks are slipped onto my tray yet again, and my memory guides me to the table, which ordered these treats.

"Here you go, enjoy," I say cheerfully and get thanks in return.

"Excuse me waiter!" I voice calls. I turn towards the noise, and my earlier relief drops into my stomach. I look at the familiar bleach blonde, though she seems more benign, with disappointment.

"The usual," she says and her eyes trail off, and fall on Gaara. I watch her reaction, he face slowly changing. Gone is the soft analytical expression and again I see the almost desperate insanity.

I look around quickly to make sure all my customers at the moment don't need me, before shuffling off to Gaara's table.

"That her?" He questions calmly.

"Yeah…you would think she'd get a hint. Are you sure it was a good idea for you to show up?" I ask studying her face.

"I'll go talk to her, she won't see me as a threat."

"I don't think you can reason with the insane," I mutter out under my breath.

"She didn't seem that far gone when she was displaying some of my art in her gallery." He says in a monotone voice and gets up.

"Naruto talk to your boyfriend on your own time, clean some tables!" Ino shouts out at me suddenly. I push back my urge to yell obscenities at her and just do as I'm told. I'm sure that Gaara can handle himself.

Gaara's POV

Her eyes watch me as I slowly rise from my seat. I look at her calmly and walk her way. Her eyes seem to sparkle for a moment and a smile appears on her face. Before I ask if I can sit she speaks.

"Do you remember me?" she asks with excitement in her voice.

"Of course," I say emotionlessly, letting my eyes study her. She seems content, and gestures for me to sit, I take the offer.

"I've heard so many things about you, in magazines and such…I've talked to your…lover.." she pauses, I wait for her to continue, but she may not have anymore to say. "Are you really attracted to some one like that?"

"He's my muse," I tell her plainly.

"He has no class…he's...a man.." she sneers. "I could support you, I understand you. Don't' you believe I do?" She is pleading with me, and the tone disturbs me.

"You're an intelligent woman and it was a pleasure to do business with you, however my love life is not something that I believe you know anything about."

"I know you, I know you're soul, I've studied your paintings so much. I remember how you looked at me, don't act like you didn't feel something."

I become uneasy, and I realize how very inexperience I am when it comes to human emotion. How is it that emotion can make you feel so joyful…yet drive you insane. This woman is complex, and eerie, and I don't know how to handle the situation.

"Please, Ms. Cowell, was it?"

"Yes," she seems flattered that I remembered her name, which doesn't seem to help her obsession.

"You would be doing me a favor, if you where to leave Naruto alone."

Her smile drops and she stares at me like a homeless child. She turns her head and looks down at her lap, which her purse is sitting on. Then a small chuckle escapes her lips. "Anything for you, Mr. Sabaku." She says cheerfully but her smile is forced. "Have a pleasant evening," she gets up and quickly leaves the café.

However her words do not comfort me, and I look at the kitchen door wonder how much longer Naruto needs to work.

"So she just left?" Naruto's fingers curl around mine tightly.

"Yes," I reply.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you came after all." I didn't go into great detail about the conversation I had with the women, or the uneasy feeling I got from her. I don't want to worry Naruto, I want him to feel safe. I doubt that Ms. Cowell will try anything anymore, if anything she'll try to contact me, not terrorize Naruto.

I take out the apartment key from my pocket as we enter the parking lot.

"You think you're siblings are still awake?" Naruto questions.

"I don't know…" I mutter out. We go up to our home and I unlock the door. I quietly open the door just in case my brother and sister have gone to sleep.

"Oh...Dad I have to go," I her Temari whisper, the click of the phone follows. I step into my home and see my sister smiling back at me.

"You're back," she points out.

"You're still awake," I reply, Naruto closes the door behind him.

"Aren't you tired?" He questions my sister.

"No not yet, besides I was hoping to spend a little bit more time with my baby brother."

"Oh," my muse smiles at her, and then looks around the apartment stepping in front of me. "Where is Kankuro?"

"Night clubbing, he went a little bit after you guys left. I doubt he'll be coming home until morning." She says politely.

Naruto smiles brightly, "Oh all right."

"Gaara can I talk to you? Privately."

Naruto glances over at me, and his lips twitch, attempting to give me a reassuring grin.

"I'll go get ready for bed, upstairs," My blonde says softly and takes his leave, but not before glancing at Temari. He doesn't seem suspicious of her, I'm sure he's happy to encourage a relationship between my sister and me.

I sit down on the couch and Temari takes a seat next to me.

"I know you might not…well you might not know how to react to the news I'm about to give you." I wait for my sister to go on. "Dad's dying."

"I know." I say emotionlessly.

"What?"

"Kankuro told me."

"Oh…"

"Is that all?"

Temari frowns at me. "Gaara—"

"I'm tired…you should get some sleep as well." It was a lie, but I didn't want to talk to my sister about the subject. She'll try to be understanding and force me to express my feelings, it's something I'm not comfortable with. Her kindness can sometimes be forced, as if she's making up for her past mistakes. Sometimes I feel as though I'm her burden and that I weigh on her. I don't want to upset her by saying I could care less about my father. No matter how cruel he was to me, he loved my sister, and my brother…and they respect him.

"I...yeah…goodnight," she mutters out her brown eyes hiding her emotion while searching for any sign of sadness within me. I turn away from her and head up the stairs to my bedroom.

I catch Naruto pulling a nightshirt over his head. Once his blonde head pops through he turns to look at me.

"What did she want to talk about?" he questions.

"She just wanted to tell me about my father...she didn't know Kankuro already told me."

"Oh, well did you talk to her about him?"

"No…there's nothing to say."

"She's just trying to bond with you, get to know you. She's really making an effort to be a good sister to you. I wish you'd try being a better brother."

"It's a little late…"

"But it always seemed like you and Temari got along ok. Why do you push her away?"

"Because I question her motives."

Naruto shakes his head at me, and sits on our bed. "You need to start trusting someone other then me," he mutters out.

I glare at my muse a little, a tinge of annoyance spikes in my heart. "Are you judging me?"

Naruto is taken aback by this question. "No I'm just trying to help. Aren't you the one who told me not to hold on to the past? You're holding on to the past that you had with Temari and now you distrust her. She's try—"

"I don't want to talk about this anymore," I hiss out.

Naruto narrows his blue eyes at me. "You can't hide from your feeling forever Gaara. It's ok to feel…it's ok to feel something other then hate, and betrayal."

"Is that the only emotions I can feel?" I question him in a sardonic tone.

"I didn't say that!" Naruto snaps at me.

"You implied it. How do you think I feel about you? Do I distrust you? Why do you think I keep you around?"

"Don't go taking your anger out on me!" Naruto raises to his feet. "You know damn well what the fuck I meant! I know you can feel other crap, but you always hide from it! You're always afraid to let people in! Even I had to battle my way through ice before you finally showed yourself to me!"

"At least I'm not dependent on human attention like you. You fear being alone, so maybe you shouldn't judge me before analyzing yourself. I may be worried about betrayal, but you worry about abandonment.'

Naruto's blue orbs start to shine with tears, however he doesn't let them roll down his cheek. " If I where so afraid of abandonment, then why did I take you back! You didn't come looking for me like you said you would you bastard! I fucking waited for you, I stuck by your side through all the shit, and now you have the god damn fucking nerves to talk down to me like this!?"

"I don't' know why you couldn't just drop the subject." I say calmly.

"Well I'm sorry for trying to help you! I just thought Temari shouldn't be the only one putting an effort into starting a family relationship!"

"She doesn't even trust you. She thinks you're only with me for the money. Do you question her motives now? Now that you don't have her approval, now that she's judged you without even knowing you. Or are you going to cling to her and annoy her until she changes her mind, and accepts you, because heaven forbid if someone doesn't like you Naruto."

"Well heaven forbid I you don't push every fucking person that loves you away! You're not human...you're just...you're just a self-absorbed bastard. You go around philosophizing about life and people, you don't even see your own flaws. Stop blaming everyone else, not everyone on this earth is out to get you!"

Naruto takes in a shaky breath, and walks past me.

"Where are you going?" I don't catch the tone of bitterness in my voice until it's to late.

"I'm leaving!" he snaps out and opens our closet, he pulls out some jeans and a jacket which he quickly tugs on. I can't bring myself to speak I only watch as Naruto slams the door behind him. My fist shakes and I notice that my fingernails are digging into my palm.

How could I have lost control so easily?

Naruto's POV

I rest my head against the window of the gray hound bus. I can't bring myself to sleep, I just watch the streetlights. I don't' know where else to go…I don't want to go to Iruka, besides Sasuke is a little closer. I take out my cell phone and dial his number.

The phone rings, and rings, and rings. I sigh, no surprise they wouldn't pick up.

"Hello?"

The dull greeting surprises me.

"Itachi?" I question.

"Yes, who's this? Naruto?"

"Yeah is Sasuke there?"

"Hold on." I hear Itachi walking, he must be on a portable phone. The sound of a door squeaking open barley reaches my ear.

"Sasuke wake up," Itachi says from the other end. I hear a groan. "Phone for you."

"Hello?" Sasuke's groggy voice asks with slight irritation.

"Hey Sasuke it's me. Sorry to call so late," I smile a little.

"This better be important Naruto."

"Can I stay at your place?"

"What? Why?" Sasuke seems awake now.

"Shino and Kiba are away for the holidays, and me and Gaara… had a fight…" I say softly with a little chuckle at the end, to stop the tears.

"A fight? Over what?"

"I...I don't even know exactly…It just got really personal, and I don't want to stay there for the night," I say softly and look out of the window. The bus hits a bump in the road, which causes me to gently hit my head against the windowpane.

"You got into a fight with your boyfriend…at this time of the year?'

"Don't give me that tone Sasuke, please..." I rub away a stray tear.

"Where are you?" He questions softly.

"On a bus…pick me up at the bus stop?"

"Yeah, call me when you get there." I end the phone call and continue to watch the lights passing me by. My eyes become heavy and I wonder if I'll finally be able to get a little bit of sleep.

"You can stay in the guest room, did you bring anything with you?"

"No I kinda left in a hurry," I say jokingly, trying to cheer myself up.

"You don't need to smile for my sake," Sasuke mutters out.

"Don't flatter yourself," I say chuckling, my friend smiles at me.

"I'll be in the kitchen making breakfast, if you need me," Sasuke explains and walks towards the door.

"Sasuke?"

My raven haired friend turns around and looks at me. "What?"

"Thank you," I mutter out and give him a wide grin. Or at least the biggest grin that I can scrap together.

When I'm left alone in the room I lay down on the bed. How did last night get so out of hand? I must have hit one of Gaara's buttons...he's probably sensitive with his siblings being around and the whole thing about his dad. Still that doesn't change the hurtful words he spoke to me. It wasn't necessary to let his frustration out on me. I was only trying to help. Besides what does he care if his dad is dying? He already told me he doesn't feel anything. He overreacted, I know he doesn't like his siblings but he's the one who let them come over. It's not my fault…

I wonder if he even cares that I left. I bring my knees up closer to my chest and let out a sigh. I feel like shit. I haven't felt this insecure in a long time, it's scary.

"I guess I'm just proving you right," I laugh at myself. After all I'm afraid of this situation because I'm alone...or at least I feel alone. I have Sasuke, which is good…but what am I going to do next?

A knock on my door stirs me from my thoughts and worries. Itachi walks in.

"Sasuke wanted to know if you want something for breakfast as well." He says in his monotone voice. The uncaring demeanor stings at my heart, as it reminds me of Gaara. Maybe this wasn't the best place to come and ride out the storm.

"No I'm fine, thanks." Without a word Itachi takes his leave.

Not even fifteen minutes later my door opens yet again. Sasuke comes in, and gives me a lopsided smile. "You're not going to pull one of those teenage girl crying in her bed acts, are you?"

"I'm not crying thank you very much," I say proudly.

"Well I hope you're not planing on sitting around in here all day.

"What am I suppose to do, watch TV, talk to you? No offense but I really don't feel up to talking about the problem right now."

"Then don't, just get up and help me with the house. I have cleaning, laundry, dusting, and file organizing to do."

"File organizing?"

"Itachi likes his office organized and neat, to bad he tends to misplace some of his files, or not put them back after a night of studying them."

"Do you do all this even when you're studying to become a teacher?"

"Itachi won't have a dirty house," Sasuke says plainly.

"You sound like a maid."

"Are you going to help me or not?" Sasuke hisses out. I chuckle.

"Sure why not."

I follow Sasuke out of my room and into the laundry room, the washing machine is already working on one load. He gets out the duster and hands it to me.

"Dust the fans, and TV." He explains and then takes out a cloth and a yellow can. "After that you can polish the wood. Oh, dust the fake plants to while you're at it."

"Do you do this every day?"

"I dust once a week, I vacuum every other day, I do laundry twice a week, not including the dry cleaning, which I drop off once a week. I iron every single one of Itachi's damn button up shirts by hand, and of course I cook breakfast lunch and dinner daily." There was a hint of annoyance in Sasuke's tone.

"Wow...what does Itachi do?" There didn't seem anything left for him to do.

"Take out the trash cut the grass, and wash our cars."

"How'd you get stuck doing the majority of the crap around here?"

"Itachi works a lot, and he doesn't have regular hours. I have more free time. In all honesty I don't mind doing it, I don't want to live in a dirty stinking home either."

"You are one busy little house wife."

"Just because you got in a fight with Gaara doesn't excuse you from an ass kicking; now go dust already!"