Author: Hiya everyone! Yay I'm so happy this is my second to last chapter! And I have to take the time to say thanks to the people that take the few minutes it takes to review to do so, I also want to dedicate the last chapter to the to all the reviewers because I never thought anyone would read this story. Without further interruption here is chapter 19.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto. Strait and to the point for once... .

Chapter 19

Gaara trembled and stood frozen to the spot. Why here why now? His mother's voice had paused but he knew he was going to be hearing more of it soon. Gaara tried to make himself move, Naruto life was dependent on if Gaara could get him some blankets, this thought allowed Gaara to take one step before he was again stopped by his mothers voice.

"Gaara...give me the blood of you little toy, I want to see his blood, I want to taste it, lovely sweet and red...." Her voice sound insane and unstable. "Why are you keeping him to yourself? Share him with me..." There was a pause, "He isn't yours anyways, he belongs to another and you stole him...!"

Gaara couldn't hide the expression of utter shock and surprise on his face. How had she known? After Gaara asked himself that question he realized how obvious it had been. Gaara was growing aggravated, Naruto was dieing in the other room and he was letting his hateful mother prevent him from helping. "Be quiet! Leave me alone you bitch!"

His mothers cruel laughter filled the air "Look at you, you are a monster no one likes you, in fact everyone hates you!" there was a pause, "You new toy hates you...he hate you and he loves another, how could you think that the love you see could every be directed towards you?" she started laughing knowing how what she said would affect him.

Gaara flinched, her words had hit him hard and he was trying to deny what she said was true. "No! It's not true...you're wrong!" She didn't answer him but chose to continue laughing knowing that it was breaking him.

Gaara resolve seemed to crumble and he fell to the floor sobbing, she was right, Naruto hated him just like everyone else, and it wasn't because he was a demon...it was because he had taken Naruto from the one he loved.

"Why wont you let me die then you bitch? Why do you protect me?" Gaara sobbed. "Please just let me die already!" Gaara felt helpless as he begged for death from a dead woman.

"No!" She shrieked, "You must suffer, death is a kindness I will not allow you, you cannot kill yourself and I will not allow another to. This is you punishment for existing." With that she was silent leaving Gaara to sob a few feet from the closet.

"Gaara?" Gaara snapped around at the sound of another's voice, he gasped when he saw it was Naruto. Naruto was holding onto the door frame with a death grip it was the only thing that was holding him up, he was deathly pale and shivering.

Gaara remembered what he had came here to do and then even with the knowledge that Naruto hated him he got up to help him. Gaara turned and took two steps to the closet, he opened it and pulled out four blankets. Naruto was swaying slightly and Gaara rushed over to him placing the blankets on his old bed as he went to the door.

When Gaara tried to touch Naruto he shied away obviously trying to avoid Gaara's touch. Gaara sealed the hurt from his face and stepped closer to Naruto, Naruto finally realizing he couldn't stop Gaara stood still watching Gaara reach his hand out.

Gaara wrapped his arm around Naruto's waist and pulled him close to him body trying to warm him. (A/N sure...) Gaara guided Naruto to his old bed and laid him on it trying to be a gentle as possible. Naruto's eyes were closed and he was breathing shallowly Gaara realized he was slipping again.

Tears were coming to Gaara's eyes again, Naruto was dieing and it was his fault. Gaara stood and spread all four blankets over Naruto and then he turned away. As he was about to leave the room Naruto stopped him.

"Gaara, were are you going?" Naruto's eyes were half lidded and he was struggling to stay awake. Gaara stood for a moment watching him.

"I'm sorry Naruto...its just...its just that I have always been so lonely and hated, when I saw you and Sasuke...I'm so sorry, I no you hate me now...just like everyone else!" The unshed tears in Gaara's eyes made themselves known as they slide down his cheeks.

Naruto smiled a weak smile, "You could try harder to be nice, then people would like you, you have to understand that you are scary..." Naruto closed his eyes all the way and Gaara thought he had fallen asleep but then Naruto said something more. "Sasuke is coming closer I can feel him, bring him to me please...Gaara..." With that Naruto fell into a fitful sleep again.

Gaara left the room and entered the living room where he collapsed onto the still covered sofa. He buried his head in his hands, his emotions had been stressed so much in these past days and he felt numb. Sasuke was coming all this way for Naruto and Gaara couldn't help but feel admiration for them both. (A/N Gaara's redemption?)

Coming to this conclusion Gaara got up and left the house to patrol the boarders, and to wait for Sasuke. It was raining and Gaara couldn't see well but he didn't mind, he could sense anyone's presence and the rain reflected his mood.

Kakashi watched Sasuke's back with a critical eye, the boy's shoulders were slumped but he kept walking. Kakashi had let him walk by himself for the past half hour and Sasuke just kept plodding on. Kakashi sensed someone approaching and but he relaxed then he noticed it was only Iruka.

"It appears out arrival was anticipated, there is someone waiting on the edge of the village..." He saw Kakashi frown and then he looked at Sasuke, how was still walking as if he hadn't heard Iruka.

Kakashi sighed and they took up positions on each of Sasuke's sides acting like guards. Just as Iruka had reported someone was indeed waiting at the edge of the village for them, because as they came out of the forest a figure approached them holding out its hands.

"Sasuke?" The figure called out harshly as it came closer. Kakashi glanced at Iruka and they took up defensive stances. The person stopped wisely, "Fine, whatever bring Sasuke and follow me to Naruto." The person turned and retreated.

Sasuke seemed to brush aside the strange meeting following after the figure because it had mentioned his beloved. The figure was heading towards a small house on the edge of the village and Kakashi and Iruka slowly followed after Sasuke.

Kakashi sighed again, he swore that he was probably going to sigh himself to death. He heard his sigh bring echoed by Iruka, Sasuke paid them no mind and kept on walking.

Sasuke paused at the door of the house which had been left open, he stood there for a moment as if his sense was getting the better of him and telling him to take caution when entering a strange house. This caution was put to the wind though as Sasuke plunged into the house following the unmistakable lure of Naruto.

Sasuke slammed open the door to the bedroom with more force then was necessary and Gaara winced. He watched feeling slightly nervous as Sasuke rushed over to the bed and burst into tears. Sasuke clutched the other boys hand in his own and he kept giving it gentle strokes.

Gaara blinked when two shadows fell over him, they appeared to be the two people that had been with Sasuke. He frowned at then but they didn't move, instead each of them reached out and grabbed hold of his arms, successfully dragging Gaara out of the room.

Sasuke sat on the floor near the bed his Naruto was laying in still holding tightly on to the other boy's hand. Sasuke stared at Naruto as he slept and thought about how innocent and peaceful it looked. But Naruto's face was gaunt and pale giving him a haunted look. Sasuke supposed this made Naruto even more beautiful in a completely different way.

Sasuke felt his eye lids getting heavy but he was determined to stay awake and watch over Naruto. Sasuke was avidly studying the rise and fall of Naruto's chest when Naruto opened his eyes.

"Sasuke?" Naruto blinked again trying to clear his eyes and focus on the person that was kneeling and hold his hand.

"Naruto, you're awake!" Sasuke eyes gleamed and he smile, actually smiled. "Oh Naruto you look terrible!" Sasuke reached out a hand and gently stroked Naruto's cheek as if he was going to break at the slightest touch.

Naruto just stared at him for a moment "Oh Sasuke I knew you would come..." With that he through himself at Sasuke and burst into tears.

Naruto managed to knock himself and Sasuke to the floor and he refused to let go of Sasuke. So Sasuke managed to pull the blankets down on top of them before he and Naruto cuddled up for some much need sleep.

Just as Sasuke fell asleep Naruto snuggled up tightly against him and whispered in his ear "I love you..." before falling asleep.

Kakashi and Iruka wore identical mad expressions as they faced Naruto's kidnapper, except that Kakashi mouth and left eye were covered and Iruka had his hand on his hips. Gaara stood defiantly between them a sweatdrop running down his cheek.

"So...what do you think is appropriate punishment for this one?" Kakashi asked in a menacing voice.

Iruka scratched his chin trying to build suspense "I have just the thing in mind..." he grinned evilly and Gaara and Kakashi raised their eyebrows questioningly.

"Something tells me I'm not going to like it..." Gaara grimaced, he guessed he had had it coming but...

Iruka glared and him "Well of course your not going to like it, it is called a punishment!" his glare if possible deepened "Nobody hurts my poor Naruto without facing dire consequences!"

Kakashi looked at him slightly scared the younger man looked rather serious and that was rather scary.

"For punishment, you will have to................." (A/N SORRY! . )