"we run and run from hell, but in the end we can't run fast enough"

thank you, to those two people who reviewed! you have no idea how happy you make me! okay, well, it's not all going to go to smoothly on gaara's little plans, but you'll find out soon enough...

Second chapter

Eventually, Gaara stopped, having no idea where he was or what he would do when he got t wherever he was going. The red-head was a little dazed, finally realizing what he had just done. He had a little bit of a crazed look to him, as he walked up to a random house, going around back he opened a window.

Gaara hardly registered what he was doing as he climbed through the rather small window and found himself in a large, fancy looking kitchen. Slowly, he started looking around, coming out of his daze just a little. Just as soon as he did, though, he wished he hadn't.

It came at him like a wall, causing Gaara to clutch his head and grab the nearest corner to keep him steady. Up until now, he had been able to push the pain away, but now it was practically unbearable. The results of his father's abuse. Gaara's vision started to faze in and out, eventually just turning black.

It was just before everything went dark that Gaara started wondering when the last time he had eaten was. He couldn't really remember as he floated there in the darkness.

Neji walked slowly down the stairs, he thought that he had heard a crash, someone breaking in maybe? As he walked into the kitchen. His entire body was tense, ready to see someone standing there holding a gun, maybe. What he saw instead took him off guard.

Laying there on his kitchen floor was a person. The brunette walked forward, bending over rather curious about this person. He turned the person over and stared at the boy, who he nearly forgotten broken into his home. He had fire-red hair and pale skin. His eyes were outlined in black eyeliner. He didn't look older than twenty; he actually looked like he was in high school, like Neji himself.

Frowning, Neji picked the smaller boy up and carried him upstairs to his own bedroom. He didn't really know why he was doing it, but the boy seemed so small and frail. So helpless. Neji was surprised at how light the boy was, he had caught Neji's attention. As Neji laid the red-head down on his bed, he reminded himself that the boy had probably broken in to rob him, but the brunette couldn't help but think about how attractive the red-head looked.

Slowly, Gaara could feel the dull aching pain coming back, but it wasn't nearly as bad as before. He shifted his position and was surprised to feel not the hard surface of the ground, but a soft warm bed underneath him, Gaara let a small smile grace his lips.

"You're awake."

Gaara shot into an upright position, eyes snapping open, he hadn't excepted to hear anyone. Then he remembered; he had run. He had broken into a house, probably would have ended up robbing it if he hadn't passed out. Then Gaara started eyeing the man standing in front of him, he didn't look much older than Gaara, he had a passive look on.

Slowly, Gaara took in the brown long hair that was hanging loose over the man's shoulders; he had the palest eyes Gaara had ever seen. He was holding a bowl in his hands; it looked as if he had just come in. Gaara could feel a tug of guilt as he realized that he had been about to rob the man.

Then he started talking again, he had a pretty voice, "I brought you some soup, you're thin and you could afford to gain a pound or two." The man placed the soup on the table that sat next to the large bed. Gaara looked at the bowl, avoiding looking at the person who now sat at the edge of the bed.

"Go ahead, I made it for you. I'm Neji by the way. You don't look familiar, what's your name?"

Gaara turned his gaze to Neji, thinking over whether or not he should tell him his real name.

"Gaara."

Neji nodded his head slowly, he didn't know why but something about Gaara told him that he didn't have to call the police, he actually looked pretty harmless. Slowly, Neji got out of his chair and started towards the door, but a voice stopped him.

"Why?"

It was quiet and soft, filled with confusion. Neji turned back around, "Why what?"

"Why didn't you call the police on me? I was trespassing."

Neji smirked, "So, you knew you were breaking the law. Well, in answer to you're question, I don't know," He shrugged, "I just...didn't." Gaara nodded his head slowly, deciding not to push it too much, in case Neji changed his mind. "You should probably eat the soup, after that I'm taking you home."

Neji could see Gaara go stiff when he heard this part, making Neji wonder why. Quickly, Neji slipped out of the room, to go search for his keys. As he looked he couldn't help but think about the mysterious red-head called Gaara. His thoughts kept straying about Gaara's name, or his pale skin, or pretty face. Even Neji could admit that Gaara looked attractive, actually he was very attractive. Especially with the way the dark black rings of mascara contrasted his sea-foam green eyes.

After many, many thoughts on the rather attractive Gaara, Neji found his keys and was back in the bedroom he had left the red-head in. When he came back in, he noticed that the bowl was empty and Gaara lay there, looking as if he were contemplating something.

"Ready to go?" Gaara visibly jumped; apparently he hadn't noticed Neji walk in. The boy's lips were pressed into a thin line as Neji lead him out to his car. Once they got in and Neji found out where Gaara lived, Neji sighed. Jesus, that's practically all the way across town.

"Are you going to press charges?" Gaara asked, staring intently at his hands, his stomach twisting from being so nervous.

Neji sighed, "I don't think so. You never actually did any damage, but don't rob anyone again, or try to in your case. Not everybody's going to just let you go." Neji glanced over at Gaara, who found something very interesting about his pants. "You came a long way just to rob someone, you know. How'd you get here?"

Out of the corner of his eye, Neji could see Gaara turn a bright red, "I...ran."

Neji raised his eyebrow, "You ran? All the way?" The brunette let a low whistle escape his lips, "I'm impressed." Neji smiled to himself when Gaara turned an even brighter shade of red, the boy really was cute, especially when he was embarrassed. "So...why'd you do it?"

Gaara looked up at Neji, face unreadable, "I don't know."

Neji nodded his head, secretly craving more of an answer, but he knew better than to push people too far. And he could wait...for now. A half hour later they were almost there. Gaara had sunk so low in his seat that f someone looked in, they would think Neji was by himself.

Gaara could sense they were coming closer; each minute filled him with more dread. He had no idea what was waiting for him when he got back, but it wouldn't be good. Gaara couldn't be sure, but it felt as if they had pulled into a driveway. He could feel his stomach clench, as he squeezed his eyes shut.

Gaara was all too aware of the expectant silence that filled the car and when he opened his eyes, he saw that Neji was looking at him, face expressionless. He could feel his face heat up, as he slowly reached for the handle. He heard Neji slam the door his door shut; he saw the brunette waiting for him in front of it. Taking a deep breathe, Gaara climbed out and started walking up the steps, all too aware that Neji was standing right behind him, giving him no chance to turn around.

Gaara stood like a statue as he saw Neji's pale hand ring the doorbell, as the door slowly opened. What Gaara hadn't expected was to see his older sister. Temari, answer the door. He was quickly pulled into an awkward hug; he hesitantly put his arms around Temari, but was still stiff. He listened to her ramble on about how she was so worried and she was so glad he was back.

When she finally released him from the restraining hug, she noticed Neji standing in the doorway, "Oh, hi. I'm Temari, did you bring Gaara back?"

Neji smiled warmly, shaking Temari's hand that wasn't wrapped around her younger brother's shoulder. "Nice to meet you, I'm Hyuuga Neji." He let out a small laugh, "Yeah, I, uh, brought Gaara back."

Suddenly, a third head popped up behind Gaara. The brown-haired boy ruffled Gaara's bright red hair affectionately. Then he turned to Neji, "Thanks for bringing our brother back, we were worried." Neji smiled and nodded, looking at the three siblings standing in the doorway. He assumed they were siblings, but for all he knew, Temari could be dating the brown-haired boy.

Gaara and the other boy disappeared inside, as Temari started talking, "I hope he didn't cause you any trouble?"

"No, not really."

Temari sighed, a relieved look coming to her face, "Thanks for bringing him back, we really appreciate it." Neji nodded and started leaving. Behind him, he could hear the door shut, they seemed so...happy. But something also seemed off, something that Neji couldn't put his finger on. As Neji drove home, Gaara's face kept popping back into his head, how he had gone stiff when he had heard he would be returning to his home. What did he have to dread so much?

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beh, sucky chapter! i don't like it, but yeah. sadly, Gaara-kun just can't get away from his hell. i know, so sad! i kept switching perspectives on ya, but i wanted to do some parts with gaara and some with neji...if you guys even noticed...