Captive Brethren
Chapter Six
Gaara noticed a chair and slid it over next to the bed. Then he sat in it and placed his arms on the bed sheets. Then he positioned his head on top of his arms and gawked inaudibly at his friend. Naruto lay calmly comatose like on his hospital bed. So, here we are. Gaara thought miserably. He tugs his friend's hand into his own. Tan skin over pale skin. But Naruto's tan was beginning to turn pale like Gaara's. The ex demon carrier felt a cold breeze from the window nearby and looked away to stare at the moon outside.
I wish…you weren't so injured. He thought. He felt his entire body shudder from the cold and released Naruto's hand. Walking over to the window, he slowly shut it. It would be hours before the sun would rise up from over the hills. He then crooked back to his companion and gazed at him. He hadn't been in the hospital with Naruto for awhile now.
'Gaara glanced at his friend who had suffered a fractured arm. It was from a mission they'd gone on earlier with Kakashi and Sakura. A fierce unknown creature with a taste for blood had attacked him. It was like the beast was acting on instinct. The nurse glanced at the young fox demon. Her dark hair bounced as she shook her head.
"Naruto Uzumaki, when will you learn to be careful?" The nurse pondered blinking her eyes rapidly.
"Sorry. But that bloodsucker had it comin'!" Thirteen year old Naruto exclaimed with a smile. He rubbed the back of his neck.
"Why don't you be like you're friend here?" The nurse gestured her hand towards Gaara. Gaara wanted to throw up his head and laugh. Wanting telling her that Naruto shouldn't follow like the sand nin demon.
But he didn't and remained silent and with an empty expression. He did though throw a smirk at his injured friend. The nurse finally left the room with a grin. The two demon Nins were left alone and they were silent. The sun shined brightly on Gaara's back and he stared outside for a moment. "She's right ya know. You need to be careful."
He looked at his friend's back. It was like he was rubbing it in. Naruto folded his arms persistently and glared too. The wound he'd suffered had a few small dagger like bites in then, still nothing life threatening. But these were covered in bandages.
"Nah, I'll be fine. 'Cause I got the Kyuubi within me." Naruto boasted stubbornly. Gaara couldn't help but grin. His demon…he can freely say, helps him. I mine…just makes me suffer.
"Naruto?" He blond ninja turns to him in inquisitiveness.
"Does…the Kyuubi ever try to talk to you?" Gaara questioned him. His eyes glance down. It was now silent.
Either Naruto didn't have answer or…he didn't really want to talk about it. There was many things Naruto wouldn't really talk about; his past mostly and things about the Kyuubi. Whenever Gaara would try to pry information out of him, he started to act broody and try to avoid the conversation. But Gaara wondered how long it would be before he'd explode with all this anger and darkness stored within him. Gaara was about to repeat the question when Naruto's head snapped up.
"Y-Yeah, it always does. Ordering me around to go kill something." He spats out coldly. He was disrespecting the demon within him. Gaara admired that. "Whispering to me that my friends are plotting to kill me. Then it says that you're gonna try and…"
"Do what?" Naruto's voice retreated into his mind not wanting to talk anymore.
Gaara walked over to the bed and sat on it. Naruto stared at him with sudden disclosure. He grasped his friend's hand into his own. Naruto then gazed down at the bed sheets in silence. The sand demon carrier saw his friend's eyes grow dark and serious. His eyes finally burned into Gaara's sea foam eyes with significance.
"Gaara, will you keep a promise for me?"
"Of course. You know I will." Naruto motioned him to move over onto the bed next to him. Gaara felt Naruto's grip on his over his hand tighten rapidly. He pressed his forehead against Gaara's so he could stare into his serious blue eyes.
"Gaara, if I ever end up in the hospital again then…want you to be right there beside me. When I'm dying I want you to be there beside me." Naruto whispered to Gaara solemnly. Gaara's eyes widen a little and gazed at him in silence.
The sand demon ninja felt the fox demon ninja's breathing against his face and lips. Gaara's face started to light with red and Naruto noticed this. His own face turned crimson too. Neither one wanted to pull apart. They leaned in with their eyes closed peacefully. Just as their lips were two inches from each others, a pair of foot steps came down the hallway. They separated and Gaara moved off the bed. He didn't want to let go of Naruto's hand, but the two demons then separated and they tired to hide the blushing. Kakashi and Sakura paced into the room. Sakura held a flower, a red rose.
"How are you feeling Naruto?" Sakura asks with a small smile.
"Oi, Sakura, I'm feeling better now." He said attempting his fox grin. But Sakura noticed that and he gawked to the ground. Kakashi walked over to Gaara.
"Did we interrupt something, Gaara?" Gaara's face lit up red and looked away. Kakashi's dark eye saw this and smiled lightly. He placed his hand on his shoulder. "It's alright. I won't tell anyone about that blush."
Gaara smiled a little. He glanced at Naruto; he saw this and smiled back.'
The ex demon carrier's heart fluttered like a butterfly as he remembered that memory. That was when Gaara realized that he was in love with the blond ninja. He wanted to feel love from the blond ninja and keep it. The ex-demon carrier wanted to feel the love he never received as a child. He constricted his seize on his friend's hand and placed Naruto's hand on his cheek. His hand was humid against his own cool cheek. I still keep that promise. Even now, Naruto. Gaara thought soothing. Gaara's other hand clenched the bed sheets tightly.
"Naruto…" The young Kazekage called to his sleeping friend. His chest moved up and down in response.
"I know that many be able to hear me 'cause people in comas sometimes can hear people. But though you're not really in a coma just sleeping, but…" Gaara paused and stroked his tan-pale cheek. "I…I haven't been honest about my feelings to you. You're my most precious person and I don't regret meeting you at all. If it had been for you then I probably still be killing people and…you'd be dead."
He hated those words he stated. Even he could picture themselves younger and Gaara standing over his dead body. His friend's blood on his tremulous hands. Gaara shook that terrible image from his mind and let out a gentle sob.
"I love you, Uzumaki Naruto. You're the first love I've ever known for you - and Yasamaru taught me that; love. Maybe when he talked of receiving love from someone to heal my wound, he meant you. I have to thank you for helping me and saving me from death before." Gaara admitted gazing at his friend and then he leaned in.
He gently kissed him in the lips. It'd been the love he'd always wanted from the future Hokage, but he knew he couldn't return it. After a minute, Gaara let go and leaned away. A tear dripped onto his closed eye and as he moved away the tears landed anywhere. He didn't notice one hit the fox demon's stomach. Under his clothes his tattoo like seal was activated and the tear landed there.
Inside his own body, the Kyuubi lay on the other side of the barred water. It was weakening like its host was. Its claws scratched at bars weakly and its red eyes glowed. W…Why am I…fading? What has…that little brat…done to me? The Kyuubi growled in fury in his mind. All he could blame was Naruto at this point. Then a tear drop hit the water outside the cage.
The fox saw where it landed and heard sudden sobbing. Heh…the Shukaku's former host eh? Why is…he here? Why would he...even want to…aid the brat? The fox wondered in interest. He saw the former host clutch where his heart area. Kyuubi's dark crimson eyes smoldered in dark fortitude.Heh…Heh…so you want me to save the boy? Fine, Gaara of the Sand. He shouted in his mind.
Outside Naruto's body, the fox demon host's fragile body began to be surrounded by a red charka. Gaara stared at this in dismay and flinched away in apprehension. The fox host grunted in his sleep many times clenching the bed sheets securely as the charka came out. Gaara couldn't bear to part from his friend and the tears stained his eyes. This red charka was distressing and concerned to the young Kazekage. He gulped loudly and advanced to his friend's side. As he did Naruto's eyes were quivering harder than ever like he was under stress.
But before Gaara could blink, Naruto's eyes shot open. The Kazekage gazed in horror at piercing smoldering, fox like, scarlet eyes. Naruto's head tilted towards him to stare at him and his whiskers were bigger. His canines grew in his mouth and they touched his lips slightly. Claws emerged from all his fingertips and they scratched at Gaara's wrists terribly. The sand was too late to protect him from Naruto's dagger like nails. Blood dripped into Naruto's hand from Gaara's wrists. Then the fox demon host saw his tears flow down the ex-demon carrier's face and he hesitated.
"Naruto…please stop." Gaara whispered with tears in his eyes. Naruto's other hand grasped his head in agony. The pain Gaara was feeling harmed him too.
Naruto's claws and canines retreated back as Naruto was gaining back control over his body. His whiskers returned to typical and his limp body hit back against the bed again with a thud. His eyes remained exposed shuddering ferociously still scarlet gazing at the wall now. It was now hushed in the room. He turned his head to the photos on the stand on the other side of the bed. Gaara followed him and stared at it too. One of the photos was of them, only younger. Naruto had his same fox grin beaming with his blue eyes closed. Gaara leaned against the building with a soft smile gazing at his friend. The other was of a younger version of Team Seven. Kakashi with his hand's on Naruto's and Sasuke's head rubbing them with an attempt smile. Sakura stood in the middle smiling and blushing. These photos made Gaara grin a little and felt the grip on Naruto's hand loosen a little.
He tilted his head to gape at his fallen comrade. Those piercing eyes gazing at him helplessly. Gaara knew he was alarmed of something but he couldn't figure it out. He began to move his lips to speak, but he coughed instead. Then after his coughing fit he was able to mutter to him. "Gaara…" He nodded in response with hope racing to his heart.
"What…where am I?" he asked him feebly. He tired to sit up and felt too much pain still. He clutched his side with a trembling hand.
"You're in the hospital. We saved you." Gaara answered with a soft grin. He wiped away his tears and sighed.
Naruto chuckled weakly with those red eyes Gaara now dreaded. Then he blinked again and his gorgeous sky eyes appeared in the red's place. His eyes scanned around the room with caution but the Kazekage could sense the future Hokage's sudden anxiety. Light was starting to return to Naruto's skin. Once he attempted to sit up again, he clutched his side in pain that he winced.
"God, it still hurts." Naruto muttered cringing again. Gaara saw his distress and now sat on the bed infront of him. His blue eyes stared at him in wonder.
Gaara threw his arms around his neck and held him against him. Naruto was now frozen by this and was blushing hard. Why…why am I blushing? Naruto wondered but he returned it. He needed some reassurance and affection right now. It was silent between the two hosts. Gaara finally let go and gazed at his friend with a sweet smile. Naruto sought to avoid his eyes, but he couldn't release his gaze on his friend. It was those marine green eyes that he couldn't elude from, for they had always made him happier than ever. Gaara's forehead gently pressed his so they could just see each other.
"I kept you're promise, Naruto. Like I said I would." Gaara told him quietly. Naruto glanced into his eyes and then frowned lightly. Gaara was surprised. "What's wrong?"
"I-I really don't know Gaara. It's…complicated."
Naruto looked into his friend's eyes in depression. Then he gawked down at Gaara's bleeding left wrist. Those marks across the former host's skin had left him petrified of his own strength and will. It made him quiver in panic of himself. His bright blue eyes stared at him desolation.
"I'm sorry…I hurt you. I-I didn't know…" His terror-stricken voice trailed off. Gaara placed his hand on his shoulder.
"It's alright." He said emotionlessly. The bleeding began to subside and the red charka came out of Naruto's hand. Gaara wanted to flinch away, but he sensed that it won't harm him.
It wrapped around his wrist and Gaara wanted to fight back. But Naruto restrained him from doing so. The charka burned at his skin physically and he tired to clasp it. Naruto's grip on his another hand was rugged. Though painful, he grunted many times and watched as his wrist was healed. The red charka finally dissolved into thin air. Nothing remained on Gaara's wrist except his pale skin. Then it was hush again between the two again. Their foreheads were still pressed together.
"I knew you would keep it. I always believed you would. But somehow, I wanted…to be with you." Naruto brought up the subject again and said more. "I had heard you talking to me and…"
Gaara leaned in and Naruto did the same. This time they weren't interrupted by Sakura or Kakashi. Naruto and Gaara kissed each other fondly and couldn't release each other at all. Gaara, to steady himself, held onto the bed sheets and Naruto wrapped his arms around his neck in response. In several of the many times Naruto had licked Gaara's lower lip and Gaara licked Naruto's upper lip. They then let go needing some breathing space. They were finally getting the love that they never acquired as children. Gaara kissed Naruto's lower lip and Naruto began to stroke his dark red hair. He let go and their foreheads pushed together staring lovingly at each other.
Naruto leaned towards Gaara's ear and whispered softly. Words that gave Gaara happiness in his beating heart. "I love you Gaara."
Gaara pressed his lips against Naruto's in reply. The clock struck midnight but the two ignored it taking in the pleasure of each other. But they also ignored someone in the hallway gazing through the door in horror. Hinata was the person; she'd watched the entire situation. Her eyes gazed down in sorrow holding back her tears and clenched her fists. Then she heard footsteps approach down the hallway and the Hyuga girl turned back to the two kissing demon carriers. They had stopped kissing and Gaara retreated back onto the chair. Slowly, Gaara released Naruto's hand though they didn't want to part one another. Hinata stepped away from the door and was about to open it when Neji and Raidon came around the corner.
The Hyuga and Uchiha held hands in a loving way. Raidon's head rested on Neji's shoulder as soon as they stopped. Hinata knew the two were in love with each other since they first met as four year olds. Which that even brought up questions among the Hyuga clan of their relationship; what would happen if the two bloodline limits merged together? The Sharingan and Byakugan would be an interesting pair together. Just as they stopped Neji pecked Raidon's cheek and stared at his younger cousin.
"What is it, Hinata-sama?" Neji questioned her as she was standing there. She shook her head and grinned. They opened the door and walked in quietly.
"Naruto are you feeling better?" Raidon asked once they entered. Naruto's bright blue eyes glanced at her and smiled.
"Yeah I feel better now Rae. How's everyone else Hinata?" Naruto said then gazed at Hinata. She thrust her head up and faced her life long crush.
She couldn't stand looking at him now. When she saw Gaara and him kissing, it felt like a betrayal to her heart. She'd known Naruto longer than the ex demon carrier did but how'd he end up falling in love with him. Hinata wanted Naruto more than anything in the world. But she could tell that his interest was in Gaara than her. Her racing thoughts were interrupted by Naruto's voice again.
"Sorry," She apologized quickly glancing away from him. "Everyone else is fine. Shikamaru had just been admitted for surgery and Kankuro had serious injuries."
Raidon and Neji noticed this distress from Hinata. Raidon gazed for at her friend and Hinata didn't look at anyone as she walked out. Naruto and Gaara exchanged looks unsure of what was wrong with Hinata. Neji followed her outside to talk her by him.
"Hinata what's wrong?" Neji asked once they were lonely. Her light lavender eyes gazed into his own eyes. She couldn't lie to her cousin, who now was like an older brother to him.
"It's…Its nothing brother." She stammered her words. She began to walk away when she felt a tug on her wrist. "Neji…please…let go of my hand."
"Hinata," His eyes stared at hers intensively. They were glowing dark for an answer from his younger cousin. He tightened his grip. "Please, tell what's me wrong?"
She didn't want to tell him. It was her own personal problem that she'd try to deal with. But she wanted to tell Neji badly. "Naruto-kun…and…Gaara-kun…they're in love."
His expression softened as she told him that. "Hinata…""Naruto-kun wants him instead of me." The Head family Hyuga says with poison in her voice. "I know can't be around him anymore. It's just too painful…"
"Hinata, you don't have to stop being his friend." Neji told her with a soft smile. He placed his hand on her shoulder in a comforting way. "If you love him then, be his friend. You may know Naruto being a lonely kid with no love, but…he needs that love. Even if it's from someone that's from another village."
End of chapter
Okay, before I post the next chapter I'd like 15 reviews. (I just need 5 more.) Thank you! R&R
