-
Gaara sat up, awake, in his bed. His hand clenched around a knife. The clock ticked toward one o'clock AM. Insomnia and fear – yes, fear – kept him awake. He held a loaded gun in his writing hand. His door was locked. He hoped that Naruto was alright, though he was pretty sure he would be because his father was a police officer. Who had the nerve to go after a cop? He couldn't even think of anyone in Suna who would, though that might've been because the Mafia was actually safer than Suna police. Kankuro and Temari had already been in the beds when Gaara returned. The red-head had taken several detours, the feeling of being watched still lingering. It still hung around him, even as he kept his eyes on the window, the only access into the room. The window was even curtained. There was no way anyone could see him even if they pressed their faces up to his two-stories-up window.
The clock ticked to two o'clock AM. Insomnia kept him away, though the fear lifted somewhat. Until he heard the front door open. He froze and kept his ears open. He wasn't about to leave his room unless it was absolutely necessary. He heard his father's voice and he relaxed. Nothing to worry about. But he did wonder who was talking to him . . . .
"Have you lost your mind, Orochimaru!?" Gaara's father shouted from down below, probably from the hall.
The adult must've thought that Gaara's insomnia wasn't affecting him that night. Either that or he was really angry. Gaara thought about why his father would be very angry. His eyes widened when he realized the reason. The man always became furious whenever the mention of child molestation or rape was brought up . . . .
"Come now, what was I supposed to do? He was too tempting, all stoned and drunk. All at thirteen, too," said a voice Gaara didn't recognize.
"He's the little brother of Uchiha Itachi! Do you know who Uchiha Itachi is!"
"Yes, I know who Uchiha Itachi is. But that doesn't matter because Uchiha is - ."
"I don't care if Uchiha is the devil incarnate! You can't just go around – go around – GO AROUND DOING WHAT YASHAMARU DID TO MY SON!"
The sounds of flesh hitting flesh shot through the air as though it were a gunshot. Struggling sounds reverberated back to Gaara. The red-head hopped out of bed. He unlocked the door as fast as he could with one hand carrying a gun and the other a knife. He ran down the stairs, and, as soon as he got into view of the two men, he aimed at the stranger and shot. Shocked, the pale figure disappeared into the shadows and ran out the front door. Gaara's father turned around, his lip swollen. His eyes widened at the sight of his youngest.
"Gaara - ," the man started, but the noise of Kankuro and Temari running down the stairs interrupted.
The older siblings joined them faster than Gaara thought they would. Temari held her special fan, and Kankuro held the bat he kept by his bedroom door.
"What happened?" Temari demanded, looking from the bloodstain on the floor and the gun in Gaara's hand to their father.
Kankuro's eyes widened. Gaara didn't know that eyes could get that wide. He stared at Gaara much longer than Temari did, then slowly turned to their father. He looked like he had been betrayed somehow.
"What the hell do you think you're doing!?" Kankuro burst.
The man opened his mouth to talk, but Kankuro wouldn't let him.
"I heard everything that guy was talking to you about! I heard what you two were talking about in that alleyway a while back, back when Gaara got shot in the head! And, what about the Uchiha kid? You were talking about Sasuke, right? What the hell did that creep do to him!? I don't know the entire story about what happened with Uncle Yashamaru and Gaara, but I do know what pisses you off and I don't like what I'm hearing! If you care so much, why the hell are you letting all of this happen!? You're – you're – YOU'RE NOT SUPPOSED TO HURT ANYONE LIKE THIS! How can you – how can you - ?"
Kankuro dropped the bat and ran out the door.
"KANKURO!" their father yelled, running after him. "IT'S NOT SAFE OUT THERE TONIGHT! KANKURO!"
Temari, trembling, hesitated, then closed the door. She turned toward the phone and dialed the very familiar number of 911. Gaara heard her talking to some cop named Anko before he felt his insomnia lifting and dreamland finally calling his name.
-
The school chattered non-stop about the school party that night. All Temari managed to do was stare at the ceiling, frowning. Tenten tried to talk to her, but her voice seemed so far away to the blonde. Lee tried waving a hand in her face to break her trance, but she merely looked in a different direction. Temari just couldn't stop worrying about Kankuro. He hadn't been found yet, and if he had, Anko-sempai wasn't telling her. Her father did return home and said that he was going to be coming home late that night. Said something about work keeping him very busy lately. Gaara wouldn't tell her anything, but she knew he had heard every word in last night's conversation between their father and the mystery person. All Temari knew was that it had something to do with the Uchiha family.
"Temari, what's wrong?" Neji asked.
Temari finally looked at him. The room was empty except for them. Temari looked at her watch. They should've been in their next class.
"Come on, Temari-chan, please tell us," Lee added.
Temari looked at Lee.
"It's noth - ."
"Does it have anything to do with Kankuro?" Tenten interrupted.
The blonde looked over at the other girl. She sat in a chair, arms crossed. Shadows were unusually hiding her expression.
"The news said that a Konoha High student ran away from home. With the exception of Sasuke, Kankuro's the only one missing," Tenten continued.
"What happened to Sasuke?" Temari asked.
"Something about a doctor's visit," Neji said. "Whatever it was, Itachi-sempai got Obito-sempai to tell Iruka-sensei about it. At least that's what Hinata-chan says."
Temari looked down at her hands. She found that they were trembling. Neji reached out and put a hand on hers. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"My father was yelling at someone – I don't know who – and they were talking about the Uchiha family," Temari said, "It sounded like the person Dad was talking to did something really bad to Sasuke. Whatever is meant by "what Yashamaru did to my son", that's whatever happened to him. But I don't know what that means. Kankuro obviously does, because he got so upset he started yelling at Dad and ran off into the night. Dad tried to catch up to him and make him come back, but he must've outrun him because Dad came back home and called the cops immediately. I don't know if he mentioned Sasuke in the phone call. I – I think Gaara does, but he won't talk to me. He said it wasn't any of my business. I think he muttered something about it also not being Kankuro's business, but I can't be sure. I just don't know what to think or do right now."
They sat in silence. Neji stood up, moved around her desk, and wrapped an arm around her. Tenten didn't look up. She seemed to be a statue, the shadows on her face never budging.
Then the bell rang. They needed to move. They couldn't skip all their classes.
-
Sasuke awoke to a blinding light. He covered his eyes and sat up. His sight adjusted and he discovered he was in a hospital. He winced as his head throbbed. The urge to vomit crept quickly onto him.
"Here," muttered someone.
Sasuke took the bucket that was given to him and puked into it. When finished, he looked at the person who gave it to him. Itachi stood at the side of his bed, face as emotionless as ever.
"When did I get here?" Sasuke asked hoarsely.
"Two hours ago," Itachi explained.
The younger brother looked up at a clock. It was nine o'clock. Sasuke gagged. Itachi closed his eyes as the sounds of retching filled the room again. He opened them again when the sound stopped.
"Are Mom and Dad here?" Sasuke asked, his voice almost sounding far away.
Itachi shook his head.
"I haven't called them yet."
"Do you have to call them?"
"Yes, because they're going to be getting the hospital bill."
"Why can't you pay for it?"
"I'm not your legal guardian. Besides, I don't get paid that much. Dad's the millionaire, remember?"
Vomiting sounds interrupted the conversation. For a second, Itachi looked as though watching this was painful. The look quickly disappeared.
"I don't want Mom and Dad to know," Sasuke admitted.
"I know," Itachi replied.
Suddenly, Sasuke gasped and his grip on the bucket tightened. Itachi raised an eyebrow.
"What's wrong?"
Sasuke didn't answer.
"When you found me, how did I . . . how did you find me?"
"That question has different meanings, Sasuke."
"How did you find me as in . . . what did the . . . scene look like . . . ?"
Sasuke puked again. Itachi thought about how he should answer that.
After the younger was finished, the older said, "You looked like a normal unconscious, stoned and drunk kid except for . . . the fact that . . . your pants were unzipped."
Sasuke closed his eyes and held his head.
"I thought so."
The younger bit his lip as his frame trembled. Itachi shifted uncomfortably, his right arm making obscure motions that looked as though he was trying to put his hand on his little brother's shoulder.
"Arashi has agreed to question you about what happened," Itachi said, his right arm resigning to crossing with the left across his chest. "He won't press any charges for underage drinking or - ."
"Nii-san," Sasuke interrupted.
Itachi looked up. Their eyes met for a moment. The elder Uchiha remembered painfully why he never wanted to deal with comforting victims. The hurt in the dark irises tore the heart everyone thought to be so black inside his chest. Itachi blocked the thought of what else lay in Sasuke's eyes, but the boy confirmed it with two sentences.
"Don't bother. It's all my fault, anyway," Sasuke muttered, his frame shaking even more, just like it was in the bookstore. Tears fought to escape his eyelashes. "It's all my fault for everything. Even what happened with Naruto."
Itachi's hands balled into fists, but he didn't say a word. His voice refused to work despite the need for him to say what he was thinking.
'It is not.'
-
Neji tapped Temari on the shoulder. The blonde turned to him.
"Yes?" she asked.
Neji flushed a light pink.
"Would you care to go to the party with me?"
Temari stared at him for a while. She had actually forgotten that the party was that evening. She managed a smile.
"I'd love to."
Neji smiled feebly.
"Thank you."
-
Noise filled the school gym with noise. Temari and Neji stood near the snack table, neither really wanting to join the dancing. Neji knew Temari was still upset about Kankuro, and Temari knew that they were both concerned about Tenten. The poor girl sat against a wall, wearing a gorgeous Chinese dress and staring at the floor. Kankuro was supposed to be her date. Lee stood near her, keeping an eye on her, but Temari and Neji knew that their friend couldn't abandon his own date. Neji and Temari looked at each other and, knowing what the other was thinking, nodded and they walked over to Tenten. They sat on either side of her.
"How are you?" Temari asked Tenten.
"Just fine considering the circumstances. Have you heard any word about Kankuro?" Tenten questioned.
"Not yet, I'm afraid." Temari sighed. "I miss him, too."
Neji nudged Tenten.
"I know something that'll get your mind off of that for a while. Am I really seeing what I think I'm seeing?" Neji said.
He pointed and the two girls looked. Tenten managed a smile while Temari giggled happily. They could see Naruto and Gaara standing just on the edge of the dance floor. It obviously was what it looked like; Naruto was either attempting to get Gaara to dance with him on the dance floor, or Gaara just didn't want people to know that he was dancing so they were awkwardly walking circles around each other, Naruto's hand clasped around the red-head's elbow. Neji couldn't help but snort.
"They look ridiculous," Neji commented.
"Yeah," Tenten agreed.
Temari stood up.
"I have an idea. Come on!"
The two dark-haired teens followed their friend to the other side of the room. Temari walked right behind Naruto and Gaara, took a deep breath, and yelled, "Hi, Gaara-nii-chan!" Naruto jumped and Gaara turned around and glared at his sister.
"Temari," the red-head growled.
Neji noticed that Naruto immediately let go of Gaara's elbow.
"Have you two finally started dating?" Temari asked.
Naruto turned bright red. Gaara merely glared more.
"W-w-we're not dating," Naruto muttered. "I was trying to get Gaara to ask one of the girls to dance. You know, he doesn't get out much."
"Will you quit it, Temari? You're scaring him," Gaara said. The red-head then proceeded to drag Naruto out of the gym, saying something about coming to this being a bad idea.
Temari grinned as she turned to Tenten and Neji.
"They're probably going to go make out in a closet or something. Want to go see, Tenten-chan?" the blonde asked.
Tenten shook her head.
"No thanks. I'm good," Tenten replied. Temari frowned.
-
The shadows elongated and gained weight. The stars and moon were obscured by the dark clouds.
"Ready, kid?"
"I'm not the one you need to ask."
"Hey, Orochimaru said no arguing!"
"How about all three of you are quiet? You'll give us away. You all remember the mission, right?"
"Yes."
"Duh."
"We're not that stupid."
"So you admit you're stupid."
"Wait – hey!"
"Shut up. It's time."
The four figures dispersed and invaded the school.
-
A figure stood atop the school. He glowered down at the figures who invaded. He loaded his gun and prepared. "Time to fulfill Master's orders."
-
Gaara leaned against the wall. Naruto paced up and down the hallway.
"Where'd she get the idea that we're . . . well . . . ." Naruto said.
"She's crazy," Gaara lied. "Who knows where she gets her ideas."
Naruto seemed to relax. Gaara's facial muscles contorted as though he were raising an eyebrow.
"What's the matter?" the red-head asked.
Naruto stiffened. They stood in silence for a while. Slowly, the gears in Gaara's head began to turn. His eyes widened slightly and his body showed the signs of relaxing into welcome surprise.
"Naruto," he said; the blond turned to him, looking really nervous, "do you - ?"
A sound interrupted him. Naruto and Gaara looked down the hallway, Gaara laying his hand on the gun holster on his belt. The red-head had hid it from Principal Tsunade. Naruto started coughing. A wave of nausea overwhelmed Gaara. The red-head swayed and staggered. Gas filled the hallway. It acted like a fog. The red-head heard footsteps and a thump, as though something – or someone – had hit the floor. Gaara coughed and fell to his knees. Darkness took over, and Gaara knew no more.
-
Lee came over to where Neji, Tenten, and Temari stood.
"Hey, guys," he greeted, pouring himself a glass of punch.
"Where's Sakura?" Neji asked.
Lee pointed to where Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji were.
"Choji asked if Sakura could spare a dance with him. I said I didn't mind. You okay, Tenten?"
Tenten nodded. Temari opened her mouth to ask Lee if he had seen Gaara, but screaming interrupted her and the music. The band halted and everyone looked at the gym doors. Four figures stood there. One wore a porcelain mask. Another wore bandages around his face. Two had nothing covering their faces, but they still looked menacing with their guns in their hands. The porcelain-masked one was the only one without a gun, but the throwing needles looked just as dangerous.
"We're only going to say this once: where are Kankuro, Temari, and Gaara?" the bandaged one asked.
"Answer, and we won't hurt anyone else," the porcelain masked one added.
The third intruder, a boy, grunted.
"I say we kill them all. That way we'll make sure we get them," he said.
"Don't be stupid, Zaku," said the girl intruder. "Temari's blonde, Kankuro's a brunet, and Gaara's a red-head. It'd be a complete waste to shoot them all. Besides, I don't see any red-heads in here.
"Damn it!" the bandaged one said. "I'll be right back. Find Temari and Kankuro."
"Dosu! Where're you going?" the girl asked.
"I know where Gaara is."
-
The man turned the machine on. The machine sucked all the gas out of the hallway. He walked into the hallway. His lungs took a sharp intake of breath.
"Gaara!"
He knelt down next to him and felt for his pulse. The boy was still alive.
'They'll be back once they realize,' he thought.
He picked Gaara up and noticed the blond a ways away.
'That's the boy he was with yesterday.'
He picked the blond up as well and quickly found a janitor's closet. He laid them in there and closed the door.
'Time to find Temari and Kankuro.'
-
Red Roses2: I think that's long enough for now. Please review.