A/N: Sorry for the late update but my Beta had some important stuff to do, and was low on time. But it's only been about a week since I last updated, most likely a little over, so don't start to whine; it's not like it's been a month.

Chapter 13: Withdrawn again

Naruto's POV

I turn to enter the classroom waving goodbye to Sasuke. A wave of relief came over me as I saw my little redhead at his desk, nose in a book like always. "Gaara!" I say joyfully going up to his side. He pats down his hair with one hand, then puts the book down to look at me.

I frown when I see a cut on his lip. "What happened?" He was about to speak but I didn't let him. "Was it your dad? Was he that mad, what did he do!?"

"Calm down Naruto. My lip is just chapped. It's getting cold after all. My bottom lip always gets severely chapped." I raise an eyebrow, I wasn't so sure I believed that.

"What happened?" I ask again.

"My dad just yell my head off….I don't know if I'll be able to see you outside of school." He says in a quiet tone, he wasn't making eye contact. I put my hand over his smaller one.

"I understand." I say, then the bell rings. I move to my seat as the rest of the class comes in. Later on in German class I couldn't help but think someone was glaring at me. Or maybe Gaara. When I lean over to see past my little redhead, I do in fact see very disgusted blue eyes. They belong to a girl named Ino, I wonder what her problem is. I've never paid her any mind before, till now. At lunch it was quiet and I was worried about Gaara. He hadn't said a word to me since this morning. Another strange thing- he keeps messing with his hair. Patting his bangs down, throughout the whole day.

"Is everything all right babe?" I ask my boyfriend. He looks at me and lets out a small sigh.

"Yes." He says quietly, I didn't believe it.

"Come on, tell me what's up."

"It's really nothing, don't worry about it." He explains. Of course I didn't stop worrying the rest of the day. I was hoping maybe the next day I would get some more imfo. I didn't like to see Gaara so upset, or at least he looked upset to me. I sit on my bed, I had just finished my pile of homework, It was around seven, maybe six forty-five or so. I saw lights out of the corner of my eye. I look out my window to find that a car was pulling out of Gaara's garage. I then see the redhead coming out of the garage, the door moving down behind him. He gets into the passenger side of the car. I wonder where he's going. This only worried me more.

The car didn't come back. I tried to stay up late, to watch as my boyfriend came home. But it was almost midnight and I had school in the morning. So I went to bed.

Gaara's POV

One o'clock in the morning, I get out of the car and head up to my room; just wanting sleep. I pull my sweat-soaked clothes off me, in favor of my pajamas. The rituals have started up again, though this time more mind torture then anything else. I have no idea why fire would purify or get rid of a demon. I think they believe the demon would leave me in favor of the flames, I don't know. Either way, I was encircled by a ring of fire. Which thank god was controlled, so no accidental burning. Though I sat in the circle expecting exactly that to happen. The chanting of those in the robes—which the number have increased then the group that exercised me in the past—drove me insane. They said the same thing over and over again, I couldn't understand what they were saying. They were speaking Latin I believe but, the chanting and heat from the flame; it was by far one of the most annoying rituals they've ever put me through.

I just expect it to get worse from here on out. I have to go through these sort of things every night now. My father says because my demon is faced with the opportunity to sin every day. Meaning it's because I see Naruto everyday at school. I slip under my covers and finally go to sleep. Thinking of the blonde boy as I do so. He's so close, but I'll never have the chance to see him outside of school.

The week seemed to fly by fast, and at the end of it I felt like I hadn't had enough time to be with Naruto. And a strange sinking feeling crept into my chest at the thought of going all weekend without seeing the blonde. I sit in the kitchen as Temari works on dinner, my father will be here any minute. Though we don't speak much, I'd say my sister and me have grown a little closer. I sit quietly as she sets the table, just in time to the sound of our dad's car pulling in. She then sets the rest of the table with the food she prepared.

Once my father comes in and put away his suitcase and changes into more casual cloths we all sit down for dinner. Once again I hardly say a word, while the rest of my family was having little chats. Just like any family would around the dinner table.

Afterward I go to lock myself in my room and just be by myself. Though that plan didn't work because my father wanted to talk to me. I let him in and we sit down, he looks at me with fake sympathy.

"I know it's hard, and unfair for you to deal with this demon in you. And I'm doing everything to help." There was a pause, as if he wanted a thank you. "I know you're used to being with your friend on the weekends, but do you see the danger in it? You wouldn't want to hurt your friend, would you?" I nod my head, just so he could get away from me. "Maybe by next week we'll have the demon a little at bay, so you can spend time with your friend. Without having to worry about sinning or dragging him down with you." My father then leaves.

I just relax and try not to get overly aggravated at the stupidity of the situation I am in. But, then again I didn't expect for my life to be normal, or all the way pleasant. That would just be strange, and I'm sure I'd be in heaven.

Tap tap.

I look up at the sound and look at my window. I was very surprised with what I found and walked over to the glass pane. I open it and let out a small sigh.

"What the hell do you think you're doing Naruto?" I ask the blonde who was on a ladder that rested against the side of my house.

"With love's light wings did I o'er-perch these walls; for stony limits cannot hold love out."

"Studying Romeo and Juliet in school I see."

"Yup, can I come in?"

"I …I don't know…"

"Just for a short while, no one will know I was here. Promise!" I trust Naruto's words and help him into my room. This all seemed so…like a love story such as Romeo and Juliet. We sat on the floor, our backs resting against my bed. We talked for a little about school and other normal things. But, then the other questions, the sadder unanswered ones came.

"Gaara, your dad can't keep us apart for too long...right?" The blonde asks me, his head now resting in my lap. I say nothing because I have no answer. "Tell me what you're hiding." His voice was soft, and my mouth almost spoke of all the horrible things that have happened. But I closed it before a sound escaped. I turn my head to the side, as if this would make Naruto stop asking me questions I don't want to answer. And for a while it seemed to work, he was silent. Then he moved off my lap, I look at him and our eyes meet. I was afraid he'd leave me, but I should have known better. His hand brushes away my hair from my forehead.

"He hurt you." Naruto states more then asks. I slap his hand away from the cut on my forehead. "How many times has he hurt you?" The blonde asks me, anger in his voice. I don't see what the big deal is, it's just a little cut. I don't answer and close my eyes tight. Wanting to get away from the question, because I didn't want to answer. "Gaara?"

I still say nothing, and Naruto lets out a sigh. I feel his arms around me, as he pulls me into a hug. He pats my head, though I didn't answer the question he knew.

"It's really nothing." I mumble, not really knowing why I spoke. "It doesn't happen anymore. He only got mad that one time." I lie, why? Am I protecting my father, Naruto? Or maybe it's me? Maybe I'm protecting myself…

A/N: That's it for now, please review. And I've started a new fic, called "To adore the Hellish". If you like this story you may enjoy that one as well, so give it a read.