Dislcaimer: Let's not go over this again. Really; are you seriously expecting something different? Anyway, for those who are watching this story and St. Mark's School For Men, that I won't update until around the middle of the week, because at the moment I just don't to continue it yet. I'm on a roll with this story, and going with it.

Chapter 4

Gaara glanced up at the sound of a door opening, his hands busy trying to fit the pink and blue "twins" he'd just acquired in his red car. It wasn't going so well; the pieces were just too damn small! Giving a small growl of frustration, he put the pieces back onto the board, turning to keep "Kakashi-dad" in his sights as the tall man walked through the kitchen.

Kakashi Hatake had silver hair that pointed to the side, and the lower half of his face was covered in a gray mask. (he would just look so wrong without that mask!) He had black eyes, although the left eye looked just a little redder than the right eye. He was wearing jeans and a black t-shirt, and was carrying a book that read "Ichi Ichi Paradise." (that book...) He stood at about 5 foot 11, and seemed to stare at Gaara with a puzzled, yet slightly amused look on his face. But then he turned to smile at Naruto.

"Naruto, I see you made yourself food earlier and didn't clean up." Naruto laughed nervously as he scratched the back of his head. "And I also see you've brought a friend home, and that Kyuubi is not with you. Would you like to elaborate?"

Naruto nodded eagerly. "Yeah! So Iruka-sensei put Gaara and me on the same project, and I invited him over to work on it! Kyuubi said he's going to be working late tonight, because apparntly 'we know how much those people like him.' So you don't have to cook for him."

Kakashi nodded, before turning his sharp gaze on Gaara. "I'm Kakashi Hatake, but Naruto and Kyuubi call me Kakashi-dad. You're welcome to, as well. (that's what I do; call my friend's mom 'mom.') Please stay for dinner; I'll be fixing something in about an hour."

Gaara nodded, unsmiling, before he completely disregarded the man's presence and turned back to Naruto. He didn't speak, but the blond boy seemed to understand what he was thinking.

"Come on; I'll show you my room. We can relax there for the rest of the afternoon."

Naruto led the way down the hall to the last room, where the door was covered in a sign that read "Danger! Insane Teenager Alert Inside!" Gaara almost snorted when he read that, but refrained. The inside of the room was something he was expecting, and yet surprised him all the same.

A large bed, nearly queen-sized but not quite, covered in a bright orange blanket and foxes, matched the curtains adorning the only window in the room. The mattress was directly on the floor; he slept on no springs or boards. An old ramen cup was sitting on a desk where a laptop was booted up. Masses of CD's were stacked on one wall, and movies on another. Clothes, both dirty and clean, were scattered in piles all over the floor. There appeared to be a door leading into what he guessed to be a closet off on the adjacent wall to the window. The walls were a pale cream.

"So, what do you think? Wanna get started on that project, or should we just lay and listen to music?"

When Gaara didn't say anything, Naruto nodded.

"Music it is."

He went and sat on the black stool sitting in front of his laptop, motioning for Gaara to make himself comfortable on his bed. He did after a moment's hesitation. After he did that, Naruto moved his mouse, and, after retyping his password, opened his Windows Media Player.

After a few seconds of searching, he decided on "One Winged Angel," which was his favorite song. After that, it would just play through the rest of his selection, which was a mix of anime, rock, heavy, and gothic metal.

Naruto stood and placed himself so that he was laying on his back next to the bed. Gaara tensed up when he got that close, and Naruto withheld a sigh.

"Hey, it's not like I'm going to do anything. I'm kinda tired, so I'm going to take a small nap. Feel free to do the same; you're perfectly safe here. No one's going to come in my room. Kakashi-dad will knock when dinner's ready."

When Gaara didn't say anything, Naruto shrugged and placed his hands behind his head, feeling his eyes already drifting downward. It wasn't long before he was lost in the land of dreams.

Gaara waited until Naruto's breathing had evened out before he turned on his side, staring into that face as peaceful as a child's. He made sure his last sight before he closed his eyes was that face, trusting and open, as his could never be.

Dream:

It had been raining that night. He was running, his hands full of wallets he'd just stolen. It had been so easy. The rich were out tonight, a cocktail party at the most expensive hotel. It was a good thing, too. Aniki (Itachi) would be happy for his success.

Rounding a corner, he stopped, paralyzed at the sight before him. It was him, Sasuke. He'd never liked the raven; something about that kid who used sex as a way for making money just rubbed him the wrong way. He'd never understand why Aniki kept him around, even if they were brothers. But it wasn't his place to say anything. Except for now, maybe.

That sight sickened him. Sasuke, standing up on his tip-toes, lip-locked with that old snake, Orochimaru. He wanted to gag. How could that bastard do that, right in front of their headquarters?!

But, something wasn't right. Why were there so many men here, so many people he didn't recognize? Why weren't Deidara and Sasori waiting at the entrance, their playful banter making him feel at ease? Something was wrong.

Wait. He could smell blood. His sensitive nose picked up that metalic, salty scent that horrified him, that made him feel helpless. That scent made him realize: they were dead. He could see the bodies now.

The Sharingan gang was wiped out, betrayed by their own. Sasuke had betrayed them to Orochimaru.

At first he didn't feel anything. He was numb. Then he felt rage. Impotent, furious rage that consumed him. He wanted to kill. He would kill.

Sasuke would die by his hands, even if it was the last thing he did.

He moved foreword, intent on his prey, who was completely oblivious to everything except those vile hands moving over his body. But something stopped him: a hand.

It was Aniki. The leader, Itachi, was standing behind him, various cuts on his body and face. Naruto had to hold back a sob at the sight of that bloody face.

"Sshh, Naruto. Calm down. Right now, if you go in there, you will die, just like everyone else. And I won't allow that. I couldn't stop them from killing the rest of my family, but I can still save you."

He wanted to protest; he tried to, but Itachi covered his mouth.

"No! I won't allow it! You will escape! You will escape, and I will find you after I finish this. Do as I say. This is your Boss talking, not your aniki."

Naruto could feel his eyes burning, but he still couldn't say anything. Frantic, he found a way to convey his feelings, and gave the first person he ever cared about in his life a hug. He hugged Aniki as hard as he could, pouring all of his feelings into that embrace.

Itachi stood there awkwardly for a moment, but then he relaxed and petted the boy's messy hair. For once, he allowed himelf to feel.

But then he was roughly pushed away. Aniki pulled away and picked him up, opening the sewer hole as he did so. Before he could think, Itachi shoved him down that small hole, closing the heavy bars back on top of him.

He tried to cry out, but he was falling. His last thought, his last vision was of that pale, bloodied face smiling sadly down at him before turning and disappearing.

And then it was all dark.

End Dream:

Naruto gasped and jerked awake, sitting up straight. Something weighed him down, though, and he looked at his stomach. A pale, scarred arm was thrown around his middle, connected to Gaara, who was staring at him with what looked almost like compassion. But it disappeared from those teal eyes as if it had never been. Without moving his arm, Gaara spoke.

"That would be why I do not sleep. The past is bad enough; reliving it every night is useless."

Naruto nodded; he supposed that was okay. Yawning, he laid back down, only to look at the door at a soft knock.

"Naruto? Gaara? Dinner's ready. I made salted pork with tsukiyomi on the side. There's also mashed potatoes, and green beans. Hurry up, before it gets cold."

They heard footsteps walking away, and Naruto turned to look at who he considered his new friend.

"Are you hungry again?"

At a nod, he smiled and waited for Gaara to remove his arm. After a long moment, Gaara did, although he seemed reluctant. Naruto's smile widened at this, but the sand lover didn't see this.

Hm. I guess Gaara's rehabilitation into the human world of contact won't be as bad as I thought! Good!

Ah, poor Naruto. He has no idea of the troubles that await him. Oh well. What'd ya think? I decided to put in a flashback, to give you guys sort of the brotherly relationship that Naruto and Itachi have, and to give you a little glance of a reunion that might or might not happen. Hm, maybe Kakashi would like Itachi?? I don't know, should I have Itachi return? What do you guys think?

Ayame