Gaara's chest hurt.
The pain was making him numb even though he didn't suffer any injuries or diseases to cause the pain.
He remembered how Yashamaru once had told him that no physical injury could ever hurt as much as a heart could. There had been a time were he thought his heart couldn't hurt more...
Today he'd been proven wrong.
Shukaku tried to soothe him, that Naruto was alive, that the revenge could wait until the silly little cub had recovered... but nothing the demon said could sooth his aching heart.
The picture still lingered in his head... how he lay there, beaten and unconscious, Sasuke above him...
He could've been too late. Naruto could've been dead...
Gaara sighed and looked to the side.
They were back in Konoha.
Naruto was in the hospital, but he was awake and his Injuries hadn't been life threatening.
He'd still been unconscious when Gaara left, so he didn't know that his friend was sitting on the floor right next to the door.
It wasn't like he wasn't allowed to see Naruto.
Shikamaru had already visited him. Sakura, the new Hokage and Jiraja too, but Gaara always left before anyone could see him, so no one could tell Naruto he was there.
Still... he couldn't find the strengh to stand and step into the room.
The picture of his sunny fox all bandaged up and gloomy was too much... He didn't know if he could contain himself if he saw him in this state...
There were a few possibilities what could happen.
He and Shukaku could both lose their composure and just hunt the Uchiha down. A dead Uchiha was a good Uchiha in both their minds, but Naruto would never forgive him.
Then there was the possibility that he would just break at the sight. Would he cry? Probably. Would he scream? Probably not, but there is a chance he would. Would Naruto find out he loved him before he was ready to tell him by himself? Very likely.
Not very sunny prospects in Gaara's eyes. None of them.
Gaara jumped a little, when he suddenly heard a sigh right next to him and shifting clothes.
When he looked to the side, Shikamaru sat next to him.
"For someone who isn't all too well-trained in Tai-Jutsu you sure are a trouble to be caught, you know that?"
Gaara only grunted, so his friend sighed.
"You should go in there, you know?" His voice was quiet, so Naruto wouldn't hear them. "He could need your emotional support now. He's really down at the moment."
There was a short silence, but when Shikamaru thought Gaara wouldn't answer he spoke again.
"Your sister is also worried about you two, but she doesn't want to visit until you've talked to him. She said that is the most important thing for now."
The raccoon growled again but his friend just chuckled lightly, stood, stretched and smiled down on him.
"Well, I'll be on my way. Be sure to visit him."
For a long moment, Gaara did nothing.
He just closed his eyes and sat there until Shukaku yet again disrupted him.
"Go little one. You wouldn't want him to break."
Gaara groaned and stood, knocking softly at the door.
"Uhm... come in?" Naruto sounded a little unsure, weak.
It took Gaara another second to actually step in.
Naruto gasped when he saw his friend. "Gaara! Since when are you here?"
"A while..."
He sat down into the chair right beside Naruto and looked at him with worry unhidden across his face.
Naruto went beet-red and turned looked away.
The little Joy that had been displayed on his face upon the arriving of his friend vanished into a sad frown.
"Sasuke is gone... We were supposed to bring him back... but we failed..."
"I know." Gaara's voice was as soft as he let it only for Naruto get. "It doesn't matter."
"Yes it does! I was supposed to bring him back! I promised it to Sakura! I didn't want him to turn to Orochimaru!"
Naruto cried out, but Gaara shook his head and looked into Naruto's ocean-blue eyes.
"And he decided that he wouldn't hear you. You couldn't convince him to come back now. Since when would you give up just because you were turned down once?"
Naruto just stared at him, unbelieving, his mouth hanging slightly open.
"For now, it doesn't matter that you failed this time. The only important thing is that you're all safe. You're safe. As long as you life you can try again, can't you?"
The raccoon softly patted Naruto's hair, who soon smiled a teary smile and nodded.
"Yeah!"
This time it was Gaara who patted Naruto's head until he drifted off to sleep, watching over his little fox while Shukaku was humming a sweet lullaby in his head.
Hey ho! *sing*
So here's the next chap! (＠^∇^＠)ノ
It's a really short one, but brevity is the soul of wit! :D
Is this even how you say this in English? (o_O) Haha! I don't know, but who cares? XD
Yeah, I should probably just get down to business, shouldn't I? (^_^)
A little someone had a few questions and I decided to be a nice little writer and answer them! XD
First, there will be side-pairings.
Couples like... TemaShika, HinaShino and KakashiIruka. They will be there or develop in time, but I mostly won't write all too much about them. Kankuro will possibly get a little bigger role in his pairing, but his partner will be a surprise! ;D
Then... Sasuke... (-_-)
I don't really know what role he'll play later on! *laughs*
I'll just go with what feels right. XD
And last but not least the basic plot.
Yeah... that's a quiet tough question... 'cause I kinda want to follow the original story line... but there will be some minor and some major changes. Many things will stay exactly the same while others are completely different.
As you may remember I don't intend to make Gaara Kazekage, but his brother. Just as an example.I seldom plan things out for too far. Like I said: I just go with what feels right, what feels the most likely.
Some changes are planned, some just pop up in my head while writing and will ruin my whole former plans and I have to begin anew! XD
But the rough outlines should stay the same. ...should. I won't promise anything, but I haven't planned another thing. Yet. XD
Everything clearer now, Andrew? ;)
If you have another question just ask! (^-^)
All of you, ne? ;)
Ok! Enough of my blabbering! :D
I'll see you later, hm? (^.^)
Stay good guy's and girl's until then, eat your veggies and don't forget that I love you! /(●´u｀●)\
See ya! *winks*