Disclaimer: Not mine

If: Well... little slow on the update this time around, but I was having a little trouble trying to figure out how to do things just the way I wanted them... didn't turn out quite as I had hoped... but I hope y'all like it!

Warning: Umm... this chapter's dark... beware the angst among other things...

Brooklyn'sGurl: I find that I agree with you on the Gaara thing. You can't blame everything on a split personality. So I tried to figure out how to mess with that... don't know if it worked though... 'm glad you're liking it so far! Thanks for the reivews!

wIthOUt A nAmE: Ooo... I left someone speechless. Sweet.

Demonchildssister: He he he... don't worry about the reviewing thing. I've just been an updating maniac since I started this little project. I'm glad you're liking the way things are going and the way the characters are (I try my hardest to keep people IC as much as possible). Thanks for the review!

YINGYANGBLOSSOMS : Wahh... we'll have to see how things go. I don't know if all of that'll be included in the story, but we'll see what happens. Thanks for the continuing support!

xX-Angel.Eater-xX: Woo, thanks for the review!

Darka-Chan: I'm glad you're loving it! I try to please. :)

LETmeCRY: Sweet! I'm honored by your praise! Thanks so much!

Dark Willow aka Admiral2: Yes, poor Gaara... I'm afraid things are only going to get worse for the poor guy... Thanks for the wonderful review and kind words!


"Coming Undone"

Keep holding on
When my brain's tickin' like a bomb
Guess the black thoughts have come Again to get me
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don't affect me


That's right
Deliverance of my heart
Be straight
Be deliberate

Chorus
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate

Choke choke again
I thought my demons were my friends
Getting me in the end
They're out to get me
Since I was young
I've tasted sorrow on my tongue
And this sweet chugga gun
Does not protect me

That's right
Trigger between my eyes
Please strike
Make it quick now

Chorus

I'm trying to hold it together
Head is lighter than a feather
Looks like I'm not getting better
Not getting better

Chorus

Coming Undone, by Korn


Gaara was already clutching and pulling his hair by the time he got outside the building. The noise… the noise wouldn't stop. That song kept ringing in his head. Gaara knew he was losing it. That song always brought out the other him. Gaara knew that he always over-reacted when he lost control. He couldn't blame everything on his split personality. Gaara knew that his mind was just as dark. The edges of Gaara's mind were tinted in blood and that was all it would take to shove him over the edge into the other him. His mind was dark, Naruto had only created a place of light, had made it possible for Gaara to live outside of his dark and bloodthirsty self. Gaara wasn't completely saved, he was just handed a life jacket while still being stuck in the middle of the ocean and he knew it.

Gaara stumbled down the street, barely noticing where he was going. He needed to get home, he needed to get away. He needed… his mind blanked.

Standing straight up and rolling his shoulders, Gaara's second personality reveled in his freedom. Grinning like a lunatic, Shukaku decided to head back to school and terrorize some students. Maybe he could make them bleed. He could even find that new guy… Shukaku had liked the taste of his blood. Turning on his heel, Shukaku started to head back to school. He managed two steps before he could feel Gaara clawing his way back to the surface. Shukaku growled he wasn't giving up his freedom, not now! He was free damn it! He was going to wreak havoc on the unsuspecting public!

Gaara blinked his eyes. It was getting worse. He needed to hurry. Turning around once again, Gaara started to run towards his house. Getting there as swiftly as possible, Gaara got to the driveway before collapsing. He had lost control of his legs. Gaara cursed and tried to pull himself towards the door, but his legs were trying to make him go back to school, anywhere but the house. Gaara struggled and pulled and somehow managed to get himself to the door. He had to get control of his legs back somehow. Gaara's face darkened. There was only one way.

Gaara looked around frantically, feeling every second that he was losing more control. Finally he spotted something that could work. Swallowing, Gaara reached out and grabbed the discarded pocket knife lying carelessly on the porch. Gaara vowed silently to thank whoever had left it there when he was sane again… if he was sane again. Flipping the knife open, Gaara grabbed hold of it and prepared to plunge it into his leg when he felt himself lose control of that arm. Gaara's eyes went wide and he was startled when the knife pressed itself against his throat.

I'm not giving up that easily this time, boy, the deep, sadistic voice rang in his head. This was the thing that scared Gaara the most, when he talked to him.

"I'm not letting you take over!" Gaara shouted, thankful that his neighbors weren't home for the first time in his life. The knife pressed harder to his throat.

You let me take over or I'm ending it for both of us. I don't care about dying, at least then I'd be free of you, the voice sneered. Gaara took in a breath as the knife cut his skin shallowly, as if proving the voice's point.

"…" Gaara had nothing to say. Feeling that his other arm was still his to control, he brought it up and began the struggle for the knife.


Sasuke had finally snapped out of it and was on his way to the nurse's office. He was curious about what was going on with Gaara. Did this happen often? What did it all mean? What was going on? Sasuke decided it would be best to ask Naruto about it later.

Stepping into the nurse's office, Sasuke nearly bolted at the sight of five fan girls.

"Sasuke-kun!" they yelled simultaneously. Sasuke flinched.

The nurse poked her head out of the side room and looked at Sasuke. Sasuke paled at her red eyes.

"I'll be with you in a second," she said, before disappearing once again. Sasuke shuddered and wrapped his arms around himself. A minute later, one Sakura Haruno popped out of the side room. Sasuke twitched.

"Sasuke-kun!" she yelled, running over to him. Sasuke braced himself for the impact that never came. Cracking open an eye he had shut, Sasuke saw that she was just grinning at him and that all the other fan girls were gone. Sasuke was surprised to say the least.

"Please come over here," the nurse said. Sasuke nodded and sat on the stool she indicated. Sakura followed and pulled up a chair across from him.

"Wow Sasuke-kun, he really did a number on you," Sakura pointed out. Sasuke just glared at her. Sakura sighed. "Look, I'm sorry I acted like I did earlier. Sometimes I still just get overwhelmed by you. You were my first love after all."

Sasuke just raised an eyebrow, flinching as the nurse, Kurenai, put some anti-septic on his lip.

"It's nice to see you again," Sakura said awkwardly. She looked to the ground. "Everyone was really worried about you, especially Naruto."

Sasuke lowered his eyes. He wasn't surprised.

"He really didn't like you for a while, but everyone soon recognized it as him just being extremely worried about you. You know he never liked that creep you went off with," Sakura said, her voice thinly veiling her disgust for Orochimaru. Sasuke grimaced. He wasn't ready to admit just yet that everyone had been right and he had been wrong.

"Yeah…" Sasuke muttered.

"There," Kurenai said. "You should be fine. Now both of you get back to class."

Sasuke nodded and Sakura tugged him towards the door. As soon as they were in the hallway she pinned him with a curious look.

"What happened to Gaara?"


Gaara was gasping for air. He wasn't sure how long he had been outside struggling with his inner demon, but he was sure it had been at least a few hours. His face, neck and arms were covered with cuts ranging from deep to shallow. Gaara knew he needed to get inside and get them bandaged, but the blood had only made the demon fight harder. Gaara was finally able to get inside. He pulled himself into the kitchen, discarding the knife in the sink before gazing at the calendar. Gaara flinched. Today was circled several times. Holding a hand to his head, Gaara wasn't sure if it had been circled because of Shukaku or if it was because of…

"What the fuck are you doing here?" came the cruel voice of his father. Gaara's eyes went wide and he turned to face the man that caused him so much suffering. Apparently he wasn't going to wait for an explanation and came over to Gaara and smacked him across the face. Gaara put a hand to his cheek, his mental battle with Shukaku forgotten as he focused on his father, finally gaining full control over the creature within, only to deal with the creature without.

"I…" Gaara tried to say, but was shut up as a fist connected with his jaw, sending him backwards into the counter. Crying out in pain, Gaara collapsed to the ground. His father bent over, grabbed a handful of hair and started to pull him out of the kitchen. Gaara screamed and struggled to keep up with his father's pace to keep his hair for being pulled out. His father threw him into the living room, straight onto the glass coffee table. Gaara crashed through the thin glass, screaming as shards dug into his skin.

"You worthless piece of crap," he father said, grabbing a piece of glass. Gaara scrambled away from him, eyes wide and scared. He knew he could fight back, he knew that he could beat the man that was antagonizing him, but a lifetime of taking abuse had made him complacent and Gaara could only whimper and shy away in fear. Gaara's father stabbed the piece of glass into Gaara's thigh. Gaara bit his lip to keep from screaming again. He knew that any noise he made only fueled his father to be more violent and harsh. The first times he had been surprised.

"You piece of trash. Look what you've done! It wasn't enough for you to be born and take away the only good thing in my life, no! You had to stay alive, you had to need things. You don't deserve to be alive! You murderer! You who kill, you who torture! You aren't worth the air you breathe! Your life is meaningless. No one would miss you if you died and yet you live! Why don't you do us all a favor and end your pathetic excuse for a life! Nobody wants you to be alive!"

Gaara's heart stopped in his chest. It wasn't as if he hadn't heard this speech millions of times before, but suddenly it seemed as if it had finally dawned on him. Maybe his father was right. Gaara couldn't breathe, he couldn't think, the words were echoing in his head. Was he right? Did no one want him around? Was he truly unloved like his father said? Like Yashamaru had said?

Gaara's father grinned sadistically. He brought his fist back and brought it down on a piece of glass that was sticking out of Gaara's skin. The shard was shoved even farther in, causing more blood to flow. Gaara only whimpered. His father continued shoving the pieces of glass deeper into Gaara.

He's right boy, Gaara heard Shukaku say. You are worthless, unloved, and unwanted. No one cares about you. How could they? You're a murderer. You lust for the blood of people; you enjoy the suffering of others. How could anyone love you? How could anyone care?

Gaara screamed. He couldn't take it anymore!


Naruto looked at Sasuke skeptically out of the corner of his eye. There was something up, he just knew it. Why else would Sasuke ask if he could come over? Naruto narrowed his eyes and pondered what it could possibly be that the bastard wanted. He turned onto Gaara's street (living surprisingly close, just the next block over with the pervert). Naruto looked over at Sasuke again, who seemed to be in deep contemplative thought. Naruto sighed. He wondered what had happened to Gaara. He hadn't shown up for any of his afternoon classes, Naruto would know, he had every single one with him. Gaara had said once that he always looked forward to his afternoon classes because Naruto was in them… or maybe that had all been in Naruto's imagination. Naruto glanced at Gaara's house as the walked by it and stopped in his tracks. Sasuke didn't seem to notice at first but turned when he noticed Naruto wasn't by his side anymore.

"Dobe?" he asked before turning to look at what Naruto was staring at in apparent horror. Sasuke's mouth fell open and his heart stopped cold in his chest. There, lying on his own front step was Gaara. Glass was peeking out of his clothes, his face was bruised and he was lying in a puddle of his own blood. Naruto was the first to move.

"Gaara!" he yelled, rushing over to his friend as fast as his legs could carry him. Sasuke followed numbly behind him at a slower pace. He noticed a set of tracks made in Gaara's blood leading to the driveway. Sasuke stared at them in disbelief, who would just walk away from Gaara when he was like that?

The one who most likely did this to him, a voice in his head said. Sasuke's eyes widened and he had to admit the voice was right. Reaching Naruto's side, Sasuke noticed how truly bad the situation was. Gaara was barely breathing. Sasuke panicked and pulled out his cell phone, quickly dialing 911. He hoped they would get here in time.

Gaara...