I hope you guys don't hate me for what's about to happen... It HAS to happen for plot and if it doesn't well... then it won't end right. Trust me; I really don't want to do this... I debated over it for such a long time. Now don't freak out, nothing bad happens to Naruto or them. But ah... you'll see.

Enjoy!

(I hope...)

Day 26

Picking up a scent was actually quite hard and draining for Gaara. It wasn't something he was well trained in and he hadn't had any nourishment for a few days. And having three humans by him constantly was NOT helping. But Gaara fought his vampiric urges.

Now they were once again on a search for Kakashi and Jiraiya. Naruto was getting worried more than anything. But finally, Gaara had a break through. The scent was as close to Naruto as anything he'd ever smelt. But the scent wasn't alone. Two others. Vampire. Gaara wasn't sure he could take on two vampires in his state while also trying to protect four humans.

But Naruto noticed when Gaara tensed. He knew. He nudged the redhead and gave him a reassuring smile. But Gaara didn't have to continue forward for the vampires found them.

"Well, Well, Well. What do we have here?" The tall blonde spoke with a smirk.

The one behind him giggled. "Gaa-Chan!" He wiggled his hips a bit. It was impossible to see the man's face sine he insisted on keeping that god forsaken orange mask on.

Gaara growled in the back of his throat and pushed the three humans behind him. Unfortunately, doing so only broke the hold he had on them and they were exposed to the other two vampires. The blonde's smirk grew as his black eyes landed on the humans.

"Protecting are we?" Deidara purred softly. Gaara's eyes narrowed and flashed black. Deidara chuckled softly. "Oh, dinner then? Mind if you share?" Gaara hissed, clenching his fist tightly. But this only caused Deidara to chuckle again. He found all this amusing.

Tobi bounced behind Deidara, keeping his one visible eye on Naruto. "I want the blonde."

Deidara smirked. "Of course."

Gaara growled animalistic and pushed Naruto more behind him. The blonde was scared but more scared for Gaara. He knew how weak he was right now. Iruka and Sasuke kept as close to Gaara as possible. "You have to get through me before you can touch them."

Deidara smirk turned into a grin. "Oh! So it's a game. Perfect." He purred and turned to Tobi. "Wanna play a game Tobi?"

The brunette vampire jumped up and down. "Yes Deidara-Sempai!"

"Good." Deidara crossed his arms over his chest, turning back to Gaara. "Go."

Again, everything happened so fast. Gaara pushed away from the humans and held a hand out to them, surrounding them in a barrier. His other hand faced Tobi as the man crouched down and lunged at him. Gaara didn't want to waste anytime. He wanted to kill Tobi quickly. But the vampire had other plans. He was faster than Gaara thought. His lack of strength was a downfall right now. It was affecting his speed.

As long as he could keep up the barrier it was enough. But Tobi knew his trick. The vampire was too fast. Before Gaara even knew what happened, something knocked into his side, making him tumble over. The barrier broke for a spilt second but Gaara recovered. He could still hold the barrier using his mind.

Tobi hissed and crotched down, ready to attack again. Gaara glanced at Deidara. The blonde was watching them with a smirk on his face. He was amused. He wouldn't attack. Not yet anyway. Gaara turned back his attention to Tobi who, seeing Gaara's attention elsewhere, took the opening.

He tackled Gaara back onto the snow. The redhead hissed and tried to get the man off him. Gaara was not on for physical attacks. Tobi knew his weakness. They rolled on the ground a bit, Gaara trying to get the bigger man off him. His eyes flashed black more than once. Finally, using whatever strength he could, Gaara pushed the man away.

Tobi stood up, lifting one hand and finally removing his mask. Gaara knew he was in trouble now. The brunette smirked at him, his black eyes boring into his. He tossed the mask aside and attacked once again. Gaara wasn't quick enough.

They fought on the snow covered ground using teeth and claws. It was a typical vampire fight and Gaara was finally letting his vampiric side take over. The added strength was just what he needed. But his mind was becoming fuzzy. All he could focus on was killing Tobi... And so the barrier around Naruto, Sasuke, and Iruka suddenly disappeared.

No one noticed it at first. Naruto was the first to realize it though. But he was too focused on watching Gaara. The redhead had changed. He looked like one of them now. He didn't know what to think. Naruto gripped the ax in his hand tightly. It was Gaara's idea to bring it just in case, and thank goodness he did.

Naruto then remembered Deidara. The blonde was watching him. Naruto's entire body felt a rush of emotions. He was utterly terrified. Deidara smirked. He knew. Naruto swallowed hard and watched the vampire closely. Deidara kept his eyes locked with Naruto's as he slowly started walking closer. Naruto pushed Sasuke and Iruka behind him, both wondering what in the world he was doing.

Deidara's eyes glanced at the ax in Naruto's hand. His smirk only grew. "You really think you have a chance against me with that?" He spoke when he was only a few feet away.

Naruto swallowed hard. His legs were screaming at him to run but he couldn't. He could see Gaara still fighting with Tobi in his peripheral vision. He couldn't leave him, not now. The growls, hisses, and screams of their fight were shaking Naruto to the bone. He did whatever he could to ignore them.

Naruto gripped the ax with both hands, daring Deidara to come any closer. Deidara just chuckled at him. He just knew the stupid human didn't have it in him. He couldn't kill him. With this in mind, Deidara suddenly lunged forward.

It all happened so fast. Iruka screamed. Sasuke gasped. Gaara was finally brought out of his vampiric state, and Naruto swung. Naruto closed his eyes tightly when he felt the ax connect with its target. He heard the crunching sound; he felt the blood splatter onto him. He heard the loud screech the vampire let out.

Naruto opened his eyes to find the vampire on the ground before him clutching his neck. Naruto's eyes widened. The job wasn't done. He only got halfway through. Now he was in big trouble. Deidara was bound to kill him and everyone else now if he didn't finish the job.

Deidara was too focused on trying to heal himself to notice Naruto come up to him. The blonde human closed his eyes tightly and gathered all the strength he had. In one swift motion the vampire no longer had a head. Naruto couldn't look. He just couldn't. He dropped the ax by his side and feel to his knees. He just killed someone. Vampire or not... He killed them.

He began to shake uncontrollably. He buried his head in his blood covered hands and cried. He was just like his father. He could feel it. He just knew it. He was a horrible monster that killed someone. Iruka and Sasuke were frozen, their eyes locked on the blonde boy.

But while all that happened, Gaara finally had snapped out of it. Seeing Naruto take control and hit Deidara gave him enough momentum to finally get away from Tobi. The brunette went in again but Gaara got him. With one hand he instantly clenched the vampire in the air. Not even a second later, blood covered the once white snow. Tobi was no more. Not even a body part was left.

Gaara panted as he stared at the blood. He snapped out of it and quickly ran over to a blood covered Naruto. The boy was still shaking. Doing the only thing he could think of he fell to his knees in front of Naruto and wrapped his arms around him.

"You're not a monster. You saved your friends. It's ok Naruto." He held the sobbing blonde in his arms. Naruto clung to Gaara like he was his last life line. "We have to leave now. I know someone heard what just happened." He tugged Naruto to his feet. "Now." The blonde was too lost in his own world to respond. Gaara hissed and turned to Iruka and Sasuke who had snapped out of it. "We have to go."

"Right." Iruka nodded and grabbed Sasuke. "Lead the way."

Gaara nodded and grabbed Naruto's hand. They took off running. Atleast Naruto was sane enough to actually run with them. They had to find somewhere safe. Gaara needed to rest now or he was going to snap and kill one of them.

Finding an empty house was easy enough. Trying to get Naruto to come back to earth was not. After some coaxing by Gaara and a few kisses the blonde was back to normal. He was still in shock though but that was to be expected. Gaara felt guilty about it but he found a cat and fed. He had to. Otherwise he would have snapped.

He felt so much better when he came back into the room he and Naruto were sharing. The blonde had a bowl of water in front of him and he was trying to get the blood of his clothes. Gaara sighed softly at the mumbling blonde before sitting on the bed in front of him. He took the orange coat from him and looked it over.

"Blood stains don't come out..." The redhead told him. Naruto sighed and hung his head. "But you still need to wear it for now." He placed it on the bed beside them. He dipped the wash cloth into the water and rung it out. He reached over and lifted Naruto's chin with his finger. The blonde stared into his green eyes, his own sparkling.

"Gaara... I killed someone..."

"I know..." He carefully washed the blood away from the blonde's face. "But in doing so you saved Iruka and Sasuke... And even me."

Naruto blinked. "Y-You?"

"I lost it back there Naruto... But seeing you fight... I came back." He ran the cloth down his tan neck, removing the blood.

Naruto smiled softly. He raised his hand and covered Gaara's hand that was moving down his neck. Gaara returned the smile and leaned forward, gently pressing his cold lips to Naruto's. The blonde sighed softly and returned the sweet kiss.

They pulled back shortly after and Gaara continued to wash away the blonde from Naruto. The blonde watched him carefully. "So... Did you know them?"

Gaara blinked, tilting his head slightly. "Oh... I knew their names. The blonde was Deidara, the other Tobi."

"Important?"

"Deidara was..."

"How?"

"He was Sasori's mate..."

Naruto blinked, remembering the blonde from back at the police station. When he first saw Gaara. He tried to think back to the other one with them. "The... other redhead?"

"Yes. Sasori's... the leader."

Naruto's eyes widened and he swallowed hard. "L-Leader? And... I-I killed his m-mate?"

Gaara paused in his actions, realizing what that meant. He took a deep breath and met Naruto's sparkling blue eyes. "I won't let anyone get you Naruto. Never."

Naruto nodded, feeling a little safer. Gaara finished cleaning up Naruto and placed the wash cloth back into the water, tinting it red. He picked up the bowl and placed it on the floor. Before Gaara even knew what was happening he was pushed back into the bed.

Naruto placed himself comfortably between the redhead's legs and buried his head in Gaara's neck. Gaara smiled softly and wrapped his arms around Naruto, holding him tightly. Naruto needed comfort and Gaara was more than willing to give it to him.

Tomorrow they would start again. Jiraiya was close and still alive. Hopefully that wouldn't change by the morning.

OMG! I can't believe I just did that... don't kill me!! -Hides under blanket- Did Deidara's death seem rushed? I bet it did... only because I just wanted to get it over with!! Deidara is like... my favorite character! It was so hard to kill him! -Sigh- But I had to do this... you'll find out why later but yea... I atleast hoped you liked this part.

Please review!!

Thanks!

+Matt+