Haunted

By: Junsui Kegasu

A/N: Yay! We're back up to my average number of reviews per chapter! I'm happy with you all!

Disclaimer: I don' own it! COME ON NOW, I'VE BEEN WRITING FANFICTION FOR SEVEN MONTHS!

After their light lunch at the café, Gaara began to get nervous about if Neji was home or not, so Kankurou begrudgingly decided to take him back. He didn't want Gaara to leave yet, but the redhead wanted to go back, and he couldn't for the life of him defy the look on his face. He had looked somewhat scared and pleading with him.

Puppy-dog eyes.

Kankurou couldn't resist them, especially when they were set in that already-adorable face. Gaara's eyes shone with persuasion, although, judging by the boy's personality, he didn't know that, and Kankurou gave in instantly. He'd have to learn to stop looking at Gaara's eyes. It was dangerous.

In the car, he could tell that Gaara felt bad. He had his knees pulled up to his chest and his arms wrapped around him. Was he even wearing a seatbelt? Kankurou couldn't tell, but normally, he was a careful driver, so it really didn't matter, unless they got pulled over. The chances of that were slim, so he didn't worry about it that much.

Feeling that the silence was too much, he cleared his throat so his voice wouldn't have that clogged edge to it like it did when he didn't speak for a while. "Gaara," he started, making the redhead next to him turn to face him. "If you want, I can stay with you…Neji shouldn't be home yet, it's only 4:15. You said you didn't know when he'd be back, but chances are, it'll be five."

Gaara considered this, and then nodded. "O-okay, if you…really want to…" he told him, but Kankurou could tell that he was afraid. He must've really feared Neji, Kankurou concluded with a surge of anger. How dare that boy scare someone so innocent as Gaara? He'd get him away from the bastard if it were the last thing he did…

They were at the parking lot. Kankurou made a sharp turn through the driveway, causing Gaara to yelp and, because he wasn't wearing a seatbelt, fall over the storage compartment in the middle, his face planted firmly in Kankurou's lap. Pulling incorrectly into a parking space so that he was taking up two of the lined off areas of asphalt, Kankurou blushed, screeching to a halt.

They stayed in that position for less than half a second before Gaara, blushing furiously, pushed himself up and flattened against the car door. When he blushed like that, Kankurou noted, he was downright adorable. He hoped he wouldn't explode; it was off the cute-o-meter.

"Oh, my god, Kankurou, I am so sorry!" he cried, bringing his hands up to hide his face. Laughing, Kankurou moved a little closer, though Gaara couldn't see him, his hands attempting to hide his shame and embarrassment. He resisted the urge to pull Gaara to his chest and make out in the car, instead grinning and pulling one alabaster hand away from his scarlet face.

"It's fine, really," he told him. "Now, tell me, what lesson have we learned today?" he added out of jest. Gaara blushed deeper.

"N-no driving wh-when you're excited?" he asked, voice timid. His words caused Kankurou to break out into a blush, rivaling Gaara's in color. His hormones had been giving him a horrible time lately, and the prospect of staying with Gaara alone again made his overactive imagination go wild. Certain organs just couldn't resist…

"Actually," he said, clearing his throat and willing the blood to go back down. "I was going to say to always have your seatbelt on."

His words made Gaara break out into another blush frenzy, giggling softly beneath his hands and bringing his knees up to his chest. "I'm still sorry," he said after a moment, calming down, and his face now pink instead of bright red.

"Don't be, it was partially my fault for making that turn," Kankurou countered, smirking inwardly, knowing Gaara couldn't find an excuse for that. As he suspected, Gaara stayed silent. He gave the boy a moment of thinking before beginning to speak again. "So, are we going to go up?"

Gaara nodded furiously, reaching behind him and opening the door, stepping out quickly and closing it. Following his lead, Kankurou got out on his side; gently shutting the door out of the paranoia every car owner (at least my parents) has that their car doors will break off if they shut it too hard. The fresh air felt good on his previously hot face and, back to normal, as normal as he could be, he began to make his way to the door, knowing Gaara would follow whether he heard him or not.

They walked to the doors together, an awkward silence washing over the atmosphere. It seemed that Gaara was afraid to say anything, and Kankurou was unsure how to respond to that. Neither were ones to start conversations, it just kind of happened sometimes. The uneasy feeling in the air, he swallowed nervously. It had to be him to break it.

"Um, Gaara?" he started, unsure what he wanted to say to the boy.

"Mm…hm?" Gaara responded absently, staring at his mobile feet like they were the most interesting things ever. He was obviously still flustered, refusing to come even close to making any eye contact.

"Um…" Kankurou thought for a second. There had to be something he could mention to the redhead. "Are you hungry?" Good job, Kankurou. Of course he wouldn't be hungry; they had just came from a café!

"…No…" Gaara told him, giving him a look that was questioning his sanity. "I just ate with you at Maoshimao…remember?" It must've been obvious right then that he had been trying to relieve the tension, because Gaara's eyes lit up in understanding and he nodded, a small smile spreading across his features.

"Yeah…sorry. Look, why don't we just forget that happened?" Kankurou asked, nearly begged. He hated having tension between them since there was nothing he could do to stop it, usually. He wasn't good with words; that was more Gaara's forte, and only when the boy decided to speak his mind.

Thinking for a moment, Gaara nodded, smiling a little wider. "Yeah, that's probably a good idea," he agreed, taking his gaze off of his shoes (which still looked black and dirt as usual to Kankurou) and focusing ahead of them. Ignoring the receptionist at the desk, they walked to the elevator, Gaara pushing the button to Neji's floor.

When they reached the apartment, Gaara nervously looked around as if to ensure that Neji wasn't home. Kankurou knew the man wasn't; the house wouldn't so eerily empty and silent. Neji, judging by Gaara's apprehension of leaving the building anyways, would've been jumping out at him, demanding to know where he had been. He didn't know it, but his suspicions had an astounding accuracy.

When they were both assured that the cost was clear, Gaara pushed the door open wide enough for Kankurou to go through (Before, it had been wide enough for only his small frame to slip through, which wasn't very far at all.) and entered, slipping off his shoes and pushing them with his foot to the side.

Gaara, seemingly still afraid that Neji would jump out of nowhere, checked all the rooms of the residence before being completely assured, slumping down on the couch. Kankurou watched with mild amusement, but mostly, he was angry with Neji for intimidating his friend so much.

Actually, what could he consider Gaara now? He was more than a friend…they had kissed. They had touched, too, he remembered, blushing gently. He wanted to do that again. Acting on his thoughts, he walked to where Gaara sat, his eyes closed and slumped over on the couch. With stealth acquired of knowing the redhead for years, he silently lowered himself so he was at Gaara's level, staying there for a moment.

Without any warning, he darted forward slightly, planting a soft kiss on Gaara's nose. The boy's jade eyes opened wide in surprise before he sneezed, his hands coming up to cover his nose and mouth just in time. This was possibly the cutest factor about the boy, in Kankurou's opinion, and he chuckled gently, with one hand removing Gaara's hands from his face and leaning in to kiss him.

Before they could get far, Gaara broke it off, his eyes lit with something. "I have an idea!" he proclaimed. Wiggling out from under Kankurou, he ran to the kitchen, stumbling slightly on his way. Kankurou sat there, confused and disappointed. What was Gaara up to that he would break a kiss?

Curiosity seizing him, he too got up and padded into the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe and watching Gaara as he rummaged for something. Gaara finally unearthed a portable phone and he quickly dialed some numbers, his excitement apparent as he held the device up to his ear. Kankurou gave him a look that plainly asked what he was doing, but Gaara held a finger up, mouthing 'hold on.'

"Hi, is Neji there?"

What was Gaara getting at, calling Neji like this? Even Kankurou, knowing him for years, couldn't figure it out, so he opted to just watch, confusion apparent on his face.

"Hi, Neji? Yeah…no, no, I haven't…u-um…"

Kankurou could faintly hear Neji over the line, telling the redhead to make it quick so he could get back to work. Frowning, he exited the room, searching around until he found the other phone, not a portable, and picked it up as quietly as possible.

"W-well…I just…just wanted t-to know what time you'd be back," Gaara was saying, his voice losing the confidence it had gained when he had been with Kankurou.

"Five thirty. Why?" Neji sounded suspicious. Slight fear rising in him, Kankurou hoped that Gaara could find a good excuse.

"I-I wanted t-to…you know…m-make you dinner," Gaara mumbled. He could practically see the redhead start to fiddle with his sleeves or bringing his hand up to chew on the fingernails.

For a minute, there was silence on the other end. Thinking that Neji had hung up, like the rude bastard he was, Kankurou was about to put the phone down, but in the process, he heard the familiar snap again. Bringing it back to his ear, he listened intently.

"-be there at quarter 'till then." More silence. Then, words that Kankurou was unsuspecting to hear: "Thanks."

"M-mhm!" It sickened the brunette to hear the euphoria in Gaara's voice. He knew why it was there; Neji had thanked him. He hadn't called him stupid or hit him (partially because he couldn't) but thanked him for his efforts. It was sad that something that simple could make Gaara light up so brilliantly, and Kankurou wanted to someday rid him of such low appeasing rates. Unable to listen to any more, he hung up, the mood sinking. He'd need to make it up to Gaara later.

His steps back to the couch were slower, almost sad. When he got to the leather cushions, he collapsed onto them, waiting for Gaara to return. When the boy did, it was with such a smile on his face that Kankurou couldn't help but return it. No matter how badly it depressed him how Gaara could get happy over the tiniest things as a result of Neji's abuse, he smiled back, agreeing with him, trying to boost his confidence further.

"Guess what!" Gaara said, gleefully attaching himself to the older man's arm.

"What?" he feigned, trying to keep Gaara in a good mood this time. 'Not like when he lost his virginity,' he reminisced, grimacing inwardly. Against him, Gaara beamed, though Kankurou couldn't see it. He could, however, practically feel the happiness radiating from his small form.

"I found out when Neji would be home! A-and…and he said 'thank you'!" he chirped, excited. Kankurou smiled, but inside, his heart broke. Gaara deserved so much better…

"Well, that's good!" he said, hoping he didn't sound fake. If he did, though, Gaara couldn't tell, far too happy. Trying to be optimistic, Kankurou forced a smile, remembering that it was good for Gaara to be feeling as he was. He leaned his head over, resting it on Gaara's crimson spikes.

'Whoa, his hair smells good,' Kankurou decided, taking a deep whiff of strawberry. It seemed to suit him, perhaps because he always associated red with strawberries and Gaara. Gaara snuggled into his shoulder, his knees up against his chest. Smiling, the brunette wrapped an arm around Gaara's thin shoulders, trying not to frown when he felt how bony they were.

Without much warning, he took his other hand and tilted Gaara's chin towards him, capturing petal-soft lips in a crushing kiss. Surprised only for a moment, the redhead kissed back, his eyes involuntarily sliding shut. Kankurou had more will power than the boy next to him and kept his open, switching positions so that Gaara was pressed sandwiched between the couch and the older man.

"Nn…K-kankurou," he murmured when the brunette turned his attention to his neck, suckling gently at a sweet spot, grinning against the soft, pale flesh when Gaara tilted his head to the side, allowing him more access, which he took, greedily dominating Gaara's thin neck with nipping and suckling, being careful to not leave marks where Neji would notice them.

His hand sneaking up under Gaara's shirt to roam around, he moved back up to Gaara's mouth, surprised when Gaara put up a (feeble) fight for dominance against his tongue, but enjoying it all the same. Subconsciously, his hips were moving against the redhead's in a slow, steady motion. Remembering a certain spot on the redhead's body that had made him make a particularly loud noise, Kankurou moved his hand to the back of the smaller boy's thigh, slowly moving upwards.

Moaning semi-loudly, and panting in an adorable, but at the same time, sexy way, Gaara thrust his hips upwards, just a few times, his hands finding Kankurou's hair and gripping it tightly. His back was arched, and Kankurou, who had been under the compulsion to just keep moving quickly for the past minutes, slid his hand up more, finding the front of Gaara's waist band and worming his hand into it.

This was unexplored territory, and he used the touch-and-go method, trying to figure out which spots (other than the obvious) would make Gaara moan louder. He captured an earlobe with his mouth, sucking gently and nibbling, his hand plunging back up Gaara's shirt, lifting it a few inches to expose a creamy stomach. Gaara made no move to keep his thrusting subtle; even if he had, Kankurou would've felt it with the hand that was in his pants.

"K-kankurou…" Gaara whispered, his breath coming in uneven pants, attempting to use his hips to move Kankurou's hand to where he wanted it. Kankurou, however, found himself in a 'mood' and decided to tease him, not letting his hand be budged by the movements and moving back down to Gaara's neck, merely ghosting his breath upon it now. Beneath him, Gaara shuddered wildly, mewling softly.

"P-please, Kankurou!" The brunette couldn't take it anymore; Gaara was practically begging for him now. Removing his hand from where it had been dancing on Gaara's inner thigh, he unbuttoned the smaller man's pants, trying, despite himself, to go slowly, just to see what kind of reaction he could get out of Gaara. He would best Neji in this!

Unbuttoning pants was hard single-handed, as Kankurou soon discovered, and he had no sooner gotten the annoying task completed when the lock in the door clicked. Neither boy heard it, lost in a spiral of lust. Kankurou was lifting Gaara's very loose shirt(s) from his body when the door opened, revealing a surprised, stunned, and then angry Neji.

"GAARA!" he screamed. Beneath Kankurou, Gaara jumped, and all action stopped. It had seemed as though the room had ceased to breathe, even. He could feel the redhead shaking, and he even felt himself slightly afraid of the malice in Neji's eyes. They had been caught…now what? It seemed as though this should've been inevitable, but they still had no idea what to do.

"GET OUT!" Neji shrieked again, this time at Kankurou. Taking one final, fear filled glance at Gaara, who nodded, begging him to not be part of this, he got up, biting his lip. Neji would surely kill him, he looked angry enough.

"G-go, Kankurou," Gaara told him, quietly. He seemed like he wanted to say more, but in the presence of Neji, decided it was best not to. Finding that he had full trust in Gaara, he nodded, walking slowly, shakily, to the door.

Gaara knew he was in for it as soon as Kankurou left. Neji loomed before him, seeming to tower even more over his small body when he was this enraged. Suddenly, he was self conscious of the fact that his pants were unbuttoned and had slipped down to his thigh, that he was shirtless. Neji didn't remark on anything though. In fact, Neji said nothing at all.

Silence leaked its way in, suffocating everything. It was Neji, who was a lot stronger than Gaara, who broke it, his face showing disgust, hatred, and was he hurt, too? No, it must've been a trick of the lighting; Neji didn't care. Never had Neji cared; Kankurou cared! Or, had he? Had he cared and was too violent to express it? Gaara was unsure.

"You little slut! I told you to never see him, and what do I find when I come home early? Hm?" His voice had a hysteric edge to it, and he was leaning closer to Gaara. Afraid of how close and dangerous the man was getting, the redhead sat up, shaking gently as he buttoned his pants and tried to find his shirt. It was all the way across the room, out of his reach without getting past Neji first.

Noting that Gaara moved away, Neji got closer, until he was mere inches away from Gaara and the man could smell his breath. Unsurprisingly, it reeked of alcohol, and Gaara knew that either way, whether Kankurou had been here or not, he would've probably gotten hurt for something. Obviously, it would've been something much more trivial and possibly forgivable than this, but he still would've been beaten, possibly to the point of needing to escape to Kankurou again.

"You belong to me," he hissed, tracing Gaara's jaw line. "And me only." As if to ensure that, his lips

(the taste it burns I don't drink get the alcohol away from me please Neji stop stop stop stop STOP!)

crushed against slightly swollen ones, devouring him, but Gaara found that he wasn't enjoying it at all and didn't kiss back. Angered by this, Neji tried to dig deeper, but Gaara kept his lips firmly closed until the raven-haired man yanked on his hair, causing him to gasp in pain.

Where was his hand going? No! That was Kankurou's territory! But Neji had had him first, hadn't he? No, he didn't want this…he couldn't let this happen.

"You need to speak your mind, more, you know?"
"Gaara, at least defend yourself every so often!"
"Oh, my god, honey! Are you okay? What did that do to you? Gaara, you should've told somebody!"

"They told me not to tell…"

"One day, you'll be able to do it. I can read your mind."
He could do this. He was going to do this. As Neji's hand got nearer and nearer to danger, he bit down on his tongue, causing the man to yelp and break the kiss. Glaring at him, he gave him a slap across the side of his head that left his ears ringing, but he wouldn't give in this time.

"Neji, stop! Y-you hurt me last time, I don't want to do this!" he blurted, causing Neji to stop and stare at him in surprise. It was short lived, however, and Neji growled, telling him that he didn't have a choice in the matter.

"No! Neji, I don't want to do this!" he cried, pushing a startled Neji away. The man wasn't used to Gaara doing this; it was new. When he had managed to obtain enough room to dart away, he slid out from beneath Neji, not even bothering to button his pants again, darting out the door.

"KANKUROU!"

HA! I END IT! Okay, a few announcements:

PLEASE TELL ME HOW THE CITRUS WAS, I AM SOOOO PARANOID! I mean, I wanted to do it, but I have NO idea how the quality is…

The next chapter is the end. Coincidentally, so is LaF's…wow. That wasn't supposed to happen.

I am going out of town until Tuesday. I'm bringing a notebook to write, but I'm not posting any warnings on LaF. So, yeah.

See you on Wednesday!