Haunted

By: Junsui Kegasu

A/N: I have the most random urge to change my penname to Procrastinating Fairy. What do you think? AIM didn't like it, soooo…yeah.

Disclaimer: ……………………

When Gaara woke up, Kankurou still hadn't returned with groceries. Temari had been in the other room, trying to disprove Kankurou's statement of there being absolutely nothing edible in the house.

Yawning, Gaara tried to get up, but found he had no strength and couldn't. Slightly miffed, he tried again, and fell off the couch, creating a semi-loud crash.

Temari rushed out, alerted by the noise. "Gaara! Gaara, what are you doing?"

"I-I was trying t-to get up," he stammered, face flushed both from fever and embarrassment.

"Well, don't, okay? You're really sick. I don't want you getting sicker." She said, coming over and lifting him back onto the couch. "When Kankurou comes back with groceries, you'll get something to eat."

"…" He hadn't known Temari was coming. "T-temari…it's nice to see you." He managed, pleasantly surprised.

"Yeah, it has been a while, hasn't it?" she said cheerfully, tucking him back in. "Nearly a year. How are things going?"

Gaara looked away. "Fine."

Temari frowned. Gaara's eyes said everything about him, and it made him a horrible liar. That's why he had averted his gaze.

"Gaara, you don't have to lie to me." She said slowly.

Gaara frowned. "How did you know I was lying? Why am I that easy?" He sounded so depressed.

"I don't know…but it's okay. Lying…lying isn't always fun, Gaara." she said, trying to assure him.

Gaara made a small noise and turned onto his side, with difficulty, sighing. Biting her lip, Temari looked away, unable to see the happy, young child she had once knew like this.

It was then that Kankurou decided to kick open the door, arms laden in grocery bags. "Hey, Tem. There's more in the car. Did he wake up?"

"He's awake now. I'll get the rest. Just put all those on the table." She said, sounding more and more like a wife or a mother. Exiting the room, she made her way downstairs as quickly as possible to gather the remainder of the groceries.

Kankurou made his way over to the couch, for a moment just looking at Gaara's hoodie-clad back.

"Hey, kid, you feeling any better?" he hoped this comment would get Gaara to turn to him, even if it was just to remind him that he wasn't a kid anymore.

He got nothing but a small noise that could've been a yes or a no. Frowning, Kankurou moved closer. "Can I take your temperature?"

Gaara seemed to think about this, and then rolled onto his back, sighing deeply. "I…hate being this weak…" he mumbled, probably to himself more than Kankurou.

"Well, that's okay right now. I don't mind taking care of you." Kankurou assured him, walking out of the room. He came back with a fresh set of bandages and a thermometer. "I'm going to look at the cut at the back of your head, too, alright?"

"What cut?" Gaara looked very confused.

"There's a huge gash on the back of your head. You don't remember it happening?" That could either be good or bad.

"Not really. Neji had a knife, but I didn't think he got me in the back of the head." How could anyone say that so casually? 'Oh, my boyfriend was waving a knife around in my face. No big deal.' That's basically what he was saying.

"Oh. Well, the bandage probably needs to be changed anyways. You were bleeding all over the floor last night." Kankurou explained, gently lifting Gaara's head to untie the bandage. He set the younger man in a half sitting position and looked the cut over. It was beginning to scab over, and didn't look like it was infected. That was good. Rebinding his head, Kankurou let him lay back down, then pulled out a thermometer and held it near Gaara's mouth.

"I hate thermometers…" Gaara mumbled, but took the instrument in his mouth anyways, being sure to keep it under his tongue.

Kankurou bit his lip and waited. He hoped it hadn't gone up. It was already rather high; any higher and there was a possibility of brain damage. About a minute later, he gently removed the thing from Gaara's mouth and held it at eye-level.

Eyeballing it, he determined that Gaara was probably around 102. That was good; he had gone down, then. Smiling gently, he ruffled Gaara's fluffy hair.

"Hey, you went down. That's good. All right, Temari should be up here by now, unless she forgot where I lived, so I'm going to go help her, and then you're getting something to eat. No ifs ands or buts." He said sternly, knowing that if he didn't, Gaara would protest.

"…Fine…" he said quietly, turning his head to face the back of the couch. He looked so small, so vulnerable.

Like something he would like to protect.

At 12:30, Kankurou left the house, leaving Temari and Gaara alone. After his breakfast of eggs and sausage, which Kankurou made sure he got heaping helpings of, Gaara had taken another nap, and hadn't reawakened until 1:30.

The first thing he noticed in the realm of consciousness was that Temari had fallen asleep, leaving him to his thoughts. He really had to go to the bathroom, so he pushed himself up a little, managing to support his slight weight using the armrest of the couch, and with his support, managed to pull himself into a sitting position.

He frowned when he had to pause to catch his breath. If there was ever something he had hated, it was being weak. He wasn't allowed to be weak; he had to help take care of his mom! His dad certainly hadn't done a good job, so he had to do it for him.

What little energy he possessed back, Gaara swung his legs off the edge of the couch, frowning when his feet just barely touched the floor. He hated being short. But, there was really nothing he could do about it; it was on both sides of his genetic makeup.

Now came the hard part. Again using the armrest of the couch, Gaara pushed himself into a standing position, having to clutch his support with both hands. After a moment, he cautiously removed one hand, and then the other, testing his weight on both feet.

His legs trembled, but they didn't buckle. Pleased, Gaara took a tentative first step; a tiny little thing that required his hand darting back to the armrest for support. When he didn't stumble, he again removed his hand and took another, pausing. He felt dizzy, like he had stood up too fast, which he definitely hadn't. Slowly, he made his way across the room, keeping his gaze on Temari in case she woke up and saw him awake and mobile.

Now, if he remembered correctly, the bathroom was right next to the bedroom. Finding the room, he pushed the door open and was pleased when he recognized the bathroom.

See? He could be independent. He'd be absolutely fine, and he'd prove that to Kankurou and Temari.

Upon seeing the small, sliding glass door shower stall (You know the kind. The really small ones that have no lying down room whatsoever! Grrr…those are the kind I hate. Kanky-chan knows how long I can take showers! Especially if I can lie down!) Gaara decided a shower might be a good idea, too. He slipped off Kankurou's hoodie and got to work at his other clothing.

Within moments, he had done his business and stepped into the shower stall, relishing in the warm, cleansing stream of water. He closed his eyes and suddenly losing his strength due to the heat, leaned against the cool, steamy glass.

Neji…

That's all he could think about. He really did love the slightly older boy. When they had first met, he had seemed to draw Gaara into him like a moth to light. Neji was his light. Something about the dark haired, rebellious boy had appealed to him; how, despite his parents' wishes that he become a doctor, he had dropped out of high school and moved out, living on his own.

So, naturally, it was no problem at all for Gaara to move in with him. At first, his mother had been slightly upset. She didn't want to see her one and only baby disappear into the world just yet. It was hard for her to let go. Finally, after much gentle coaxing – Gaara couldn't ever bring himself to yell at his kind-hearted mother, or anyone else for that matter – she had let him go.

Even though the situation wasn't exactly the greatest, he was still grateful for her permission. He, like his mother, god bless her, had a very soft heart, and if he would've moved in without her consent, guilt would've plagued him for eternity. Even now, he felt guilty about not seeing her, or telling her about he and Neji's current situation.

How could he? She'd only worry, and Gaara hated worrying people. As it was, he hated himself for worrying Kankurou like he did. He loved the boy, him being his only friend for so long, but worrying him wasn't part of Gaara's code for friendship.

Obviously, it was on Kankurou's, because whenever Gaara had tried to bring this up, he was faced with the same answer.

"Gaara, I worry about you because I care. I wouldn't be your friend if I didn't worry."

He had been telling him that for years. Even before Neji. Back during the short time he had known him, when he and his mother still lived with his father.

His thoughts riveting from Neji, he thought about how long it had been since he'd seen him. After the divorce, he had still tried to keep contact. It had been hard though, his father hadn't really been fond of him. He wasn't good with children; it had been Kasuka pestering him to have a child.

She was the one he had loved. He probably still did, but his mother refused to take any abuse like that, and got them out as soon as the signs led them that way.

Snapping back to reality, he coughed once when he breathed in a little too much shower mist. Realizing he still needed to wash his hair, and that the temperature had gone from extreme heat to a mediocre lukewarm (for him, anyways) he decided it'd be best to get a move on.

When he stepped out, he grabbed a towel and began to dry himself off. It was then he realized that he hadn't removed the bandages, which were now soaked through. Kankurou probably kept more in here; he could do it himself.

Once he was dry to his standards, Gaara wrapped the towel around his waist and dug through the medicine cabinet. He found some eyeliner, which he kept out, not particularly feeling up to showing off his wonderful insomniac bags to Temari, who would only worry.

He looked further, and then realized that they probably weren't way in the back because Kankurou had used them recently. Sighing, he opted to let the gash dry out a little.

He had lied before when he said he hadn't remembered it. He remembered very clearly how Neji had put the knife to his throat, telling him he was nothing more than a 'fucking slut'. Gaara had tried to protest, reminding the man that he was still a virgin, but when Neji pressed the knife a little tighter against his throat, Gaara bolted, the knife catching on the back of his head.

If he would've told Kankurou this, his old friend would've cracked and called the police. He couldn't have that happen. It wouldn't be good.

He would be okay without bandages. Putting a hand to the back of his head, he winced when pain lanced through the back of his skull, but it wasn't bleeding. It had already started to scab over.

Slipping back into the clothes Kankurou let him borrow, he applied the eyeliner with the skill and dexterity of years practice and left.

Temari was still asleep when he exited the bathroom, nearly an hour after he had entered it. Now a lot better on his feet, he realized that he was hungry.

But, he was fat, too. That's what Neji had said. He didn't want to be fat. He didn't want Neji to leave him.

Feeling a prickling sensation at the back of his eyes, Gaara shook his head, assuring himself that he wouldn't cry. He also wouldn't eat. He wouldn't be fat anymore.

At around 4:30, Gaara had been watching the television, which was showing some odd anime about three girls who went on 'missions' to help the city so they could buy an island. It was stupid, but it was wasting time. He had originally gone to the anime channel to watch Gravitation, but that had ended at four.

When he heard the door open, his brow furrowed. Temari had woken up and was currently cooking dinner, and Kankurou wouldn't be home until 6:30. So, who was that? And why didn't they knock?

His unspoken question was answered as soon as a tall, foreboding figure entered the room.

"I knew you'd be here," the figure sneered, looking in Gaara's direction. "You fat slut."

Neji.

What was Neji doing here?

Neji never came to get him…

…He always came back…

"N-neji…" Gaara managed, his voice reverting to its normal stuttering squeak. "I-I came here l-last night…"

"Cheating on me?" Neji cut through on Gaara's stammering excuse, glaring down his nose at him in disgust. He was tall, not as tall as Kankurou, but close, with long, deep brown hair and piercing white eyes. Actually, his eyes were an extremely pale blue, but you couldn't usually tell. Gaara knew because he could spend hours staring into those pools and drowning; Drowning in the normally blank orbs that in his presence sometimes lit up in hatred or disgust, but every so often, something warm, fond.

"N-no! Neji, I-I'd never cheat on you! Ever!" Gaara exclaimed, looking up to his boyfriend in pure shock. How could Neji think this?

"Sure you wouldn't," the older man sneered again, reaching out this time to grab Gaara's arm and wrench him off the couch. Gaara made a whimpering noise and tried to pull away. His arm still hurt from him wrenching it around yesterday.

"N-neji…I..ah…K-kankurou said…" he started, remembering his friend's words.

"K-k-k-kankurou s-s-s-said!" Neji mimicked, placing a lot more exaggeration on the stutter. "You live with me. You're coming home. Right now."

"What's going on?" Temari said, coming out into the living room. When she saw the sight of Neji pulling Gaara towards the door by the younger man's left arm, she gasped sharply, clapping her hands to her mouth.

"Neji! Neji, you can't take him home yet! He's sick!" she exclaimed suddenly, rushing over.

"You think I can't take care of him? He lives with me and I'm starting to get suspicious of the fact he spends so much time with his 'friend' anyways!" Neji snarled, giving Gaara's arm a yank so he was ripped from his spot clinging to the couch, scraping his head against the couch and the floor.

He was dragged a couple more feet when Temari and Neji noticed the trail of blood following him.

'M-my…. head's all wet…' Gaara thought feverishly before blacking out.

"What the fuck?" Neji exclaimed, dropping Gaara's arm with a dull thud before making his way over to his head. With gentleness that Temari could never fathom the man possessing, he lifted Gaara's head, his hand immediately being coated with the blood from the cut that had just been worsened.

"Shit." He swore.

"Let me see." Temari said curtly, taking a long glance at the gash without waiting for Neji to grant her position. Finally, she met Neji's gaze, which looked like he didn't really care more than anything.

Swallowing the anger that rose in her throat at the nonchalant stare, she began. "I think he needs stitches there," she said slowly. "My fiancé is a doctor. I know these things. He's at work now. If you promise to let them examine him and possible stay with us until he's better, I'll take him to Shikamaru. If not, then hey, we could always send it to a regular doctor and tell him you did it." she said evenly, keeping her gaze matched with his.

Neji considered for a while, staring at Gaara's relaxed features. "How sick is he?" he asked.

Temari sighed. "When Kankurou checked before work, he was 102. Chances are, he went up."

Neji considered again, still staring at the porcelain boy in front of him. "Fine. Take him to the hospital. I can't stand the fat thing being so pathetic anyhow." He pulled Gaara into his arms and stood up, walking out the still opened door.

Temari frowned at the insult, but followed anyways.

'That man doesn't deserve Gaara. Not in the slightest.'

And voila! Omigosh, this was out late compared to my other updates! I'm so sorry! You see, recently, my dad's being even more of an ass that usual, and he threatened to take away the internet because I had 'no social life' but he compromised it to three hours a day on the computer, and right now no one's home, so it's like…free time for me. Wh00t! Sorry this was so short. Ah, and at the end of the month, I'm going to an anime convention! I don't know what it's called, but it's in Canada! Aren't I just the master of information? So, yeah, at the end of the month, I'm definitely leaving for that, and I won't be back 'till August 2nd, and Kanky-chan is coming to visit!

RP: ...You have family, too, ya know.

I do? Not right now, I don't!

RP: ...You know what I mean...

Fine, fine, I'll share her!