Disclaimer: Don't own, haven't ever owned, and will never own. And I may be sick, but I'm just itching to get this chapter out, so I'm getting it to you.

WARNING: YOU HAD BETTER READ THIS! Okay, this chapter is going to be full of abuse; I'm sorry, but it has to be done. But I'm almost positive that after this abusive chapter, Gaara shouldn't be hurt anymore. If you can't bear to watch, I mean read, of Gaara being physically and verbally abused by his father, then you'd best skip the part it's at. Don't worry; I'll warn you when it starts, and when it's over.

Chapter 5

Gaara stayed the night. He hadn't meant to; in fact, he hadn't meant to even stay for dinner. But there was something about Naruto that made him want to stay there, forever. He knew what the consequences would be if he were to stay away from home for too long, and yet he just couldn't help himself.

Now they were at school, Kyuubi had driven them, and he was contemplating not returning home again. But, he would. He decided he wouldn't be any stupider than he'd been already.

He'd noticed that people were treating him a lot differently than they had yesterday. Maybe it was the fact that'd he'd been able to bathe. Or maybe it was the new clothes. Whatever it was, it was annoying to him.

Gaara sighed and glanced to his left, where the brown-haired Nara Shikamaru was dozing off. Apparently, english wasn't important enough for him to be awake during. Of course, Gaara had the same thought; he just didn't do anything about it.

Professor Anko stood in the middle of the classroom, reading a few poems from the Romantic era. Still boring. He didn't bother taking notes, because to do so would be pointless.

Gaara sighed again; the bell rang. It was about time. Shikamaru lifted his head then, and stared at the redhead.

"It over?" He asked in his slow, lackadaisical voice.

Gaara didn't bother to answer; he stood, and walked out of the classroom.

Shikamaru yawned, thinking, how troublesome, before he, too, made his way out of Anko's class.

Naruto was waiting for Gaara by his locker, a smile already on his face. Gaara ignored him, too, in favor of walking right past him.

Naruto wasn't deterred, though. He continued walking beside Gaara, already chatting away.

"So, I was thinking that you could come over again today. We never got started on our project yesterday."

"I don't think so." Gaara felt no hesitation in saying this.

But again, Naruto wouldn't give up. "Oh, come on. You want to get our project done soon, don't you? The sooner we get it done, the sooner I can stop bothering you."

"No." Gaara's voice was deadpan, and the blond sighed.

He gave up for now, but only just for now. He nodded, and walked with the red head into the cafeteria. His friends were already waving to him, and they walked over to that large, oval table.

There was Hinata and Shikamaru, who Gaara recognized, and a boy with long hair who resembled Hinata, eyes and all. There was a boy wearing all green with black hair, buggy eyes, and bushy brows, and a girl with long blond hair covering one of her pale eyes. There was also another girl, this one wearing a pink shirt, with her brown hair pulled back in two buns atop her head. She had brown eyes.

Naruto took the opportunity to introduce everyone.

"Gaara, you met Hinata yesterday. Well, you didn't really meet her, but whatever. That's her cousin, Neji, and next to him is Rock Lee. We just call him Lee. I heard you know Shikamaru already. That's Ino, and that Tenten. Everyone, this is the new student, Gaara."

They all nodded at him before continuing their conversations. Naruto put a stop to that when he opened his mouth next, though.

"Hey, where's Kiba? He was supposed to meet me here today."

"He told me that he had a meeting with Hana to go to. Their family has some business to attend to, and as a member, he's expected to be there." It was Ino who answered; it wasn't really known, but she had a crush on Kiba, and often kept tabs on him.

Naruto nodded; he knew the Kiba business, and knew that if there was a meeting for the family, then Kiba was required to go. It was imperative, and he didn't blame his friend for not telling him. He wasn't that shallow.

But he was a little sad. He was hoping Kiba would befriend Gaara, as he was trying to do. But that would have to wait.

"Sabaku no Gaara. Come to the main office, please."

A voice buzzed over the intercom, and everyone turned. Standing, Gaara made his way out of the cafeteria, not noticing the weird look he was getting from Naruto. Which was good.

When he got to the main office, he noticed it was cooler than the rest of the school. And that Kankuro was waiting for him, a fierce scowl on his face.

"We're leaving. Let's go." Kankuro fairly snarled, startling Shizune, who was on the phone.

Gaara didn't say anything; he followed Kankuro out to his car, and was silent all the way home. He had to work to keep his stoic facade in place for when he faced his father. He already knew by the look on his brother's face that he was in for one of the worst times of his life.

Okay, here's where the horror begins. If you have a weak stomach, or can't read abuse, I suggest you skip down to where I tell you it's over.

Gaara clenched his teeth, not allowing his father the satisfaction of hearing him cry out in pain. The swift kicks to his ribs weren't helping things, not that he really cared.

"Do you see what you make me do? This is all your fault!" The Kazekage, the leader of the Sabaku clan, raged, delivering another kick to his youngest. His reward was no sound at all.

Gaara merely glared up at his so-called father, a small trickle of blood escaping his pale lips.

The Kazekage growled, and hauled Gaara up, only to spit on his son's shirt. He was disgusted; he hated his stupid son so much!

Gaara didn't even flinch, but his thoughts ran along the same lines as his father's. He hated that man as much as he was hated. He had no fear, even when the Kazekage dropped him and drew out a long, sharp knife.

He'd seen it before. He had numerous scars from that knife. It appeared that he was about to get some more.

"You stupid ass. Obviously you don't understand all taht I've done for you. I've housed you, fed you when I could, and kept you safe from others all these years, haven't I? And this is how you repay me? By making friends?!"

The knife drew down on Gaara's bicep, cutting through past scars and making a new one. It burned, but he could handle it. He just willed the pain away, like he always did.

Seeing he wasn't getting the response he wanted, the Kazekage made another cut, this one on Gaara's neck. Still no response. Well, he could fix that. He dropped Gaara, and flipped open the clasp of his belt. He drew it out, a gleam appearing in his eyes.

Gaara closed his eyes as he felt the first slash of that whip, feeling his shoulders hitch. He felt the second slash, and the third, and the fourth. It went on and on, opening the old whip wounds on his back.

He was flinching more now; he couldn't will the pain away. But he kept his eyes closed and his teeth clenched. Behind his eyelids, Naruto's face appeared. The boy was smiling, and he remembered the story he'd been told. There was another like him. Another who went through the same pain he went through, even if it didn't last as long.

Thinking about that, Gaara was able to escape the beating. He no longer felt those harsh, fast whipsmacks, no longer felt the burning cuts all along his body. His bruised, probably broken ribs no longer ached, and he was free.

At least, for a while. But his freedom shattered the minute the Kazekage stopped and called for Kankuro, and he opened his eyes.

"Get him out of my sight." The Kazekage ordered, a sneer on his face.

Kankuro nodded, feeling bile rise in his throat at the sight of his bloody, beaten brother. Despite the way he acted, he actually liked Gaara, but he could never show it because of his father. Well, that and the fact that Gaara wouldn't allow him to. That was why he was extra gentle when he reached down to pick Gaara up.

But, surprisingly, Gaara brushed him off, and rose by himself, resisting the urge to hold his aching stomach. His whole body ached; his head ached. But he refused any help; he'd stood on his own two feet for this long, and he'd continued doing so for the rest of his life.

Okay, those of you who stopped reading up there, you can read again now. The horror's over, thank goodness. I think I nearly made myself sick, again.

He made his way to his room, closing his door before collapsing on that raggedy bed. He heard the door lock, and sighed, before turning so he could rest against his gourd.

And he slept, finally, truly escaping his troubles for even just one night.

Naruto awoke in a cold sweat, feeling as if something was wrong. The world was too still, too quiet for his liking. Something was definintly wrong, he just didn't know what yet.

Standing, Naruto pulled on a pair of black pants, quietly opening his bedroom door. It was nearly midnight, yet the tv blared in the living room. Kyuubi must be up, then.

He was. He was sitting on the couch, resting his head back against it, drinking what looked like sake. He glanced up when Naruto approached.

"Did I wake you? Sorry; I just got home." Kyuubi was unrepentant; he didn't really care if he woke his foster brother or not.

"No. Listen, Kyuubi. Don't you feel it?" Naruto asked, his darkened eyes pleading.

Kyuubi stilled, watching him warily, before placing the sake on the coffee table.

"Yeah, I feel it. There's something oppressive in the air. What is it?"

Naruto shook his head. "I don't know. The last time I felt this was...was when Itachi...well, you know." Naruto still couldn't say it.

"Yeah, I know. Come sit." Kyuubi invited, moving over.

Naruto sat beside him, giving a little sigh when Kyuubi drew him close. They sat there, both looking off into the distance, thinking their own thoughts. They weren't related by blood, but at that moment, they were more connected than even the closest of family.

Neither moved, content to sit in the silence. That feeling of oppression didn't lift, but it did lesson, and they relaxed ever so slightly. Both were lounging comfortably for quite a while that they jumped slightly when a harsh knock sounded on their door.

Naruto looked up, then at Kyuubi, who was watching him.

"Go; answer it. It's raining, so whoever is out there can't be too happy to be standing there waiting for you."

The blond rolled his eyes and stood, stretching a little before making his way over to the door. He opened it, only to stop dead in his tracks when he saw who it was.

Kyuubi glanced up when he realized Naruto was just standing there, and stood to investigate. He, too, stilled when he saw who it was, and heard the name that passed Naruto's suddenly cold lips.

"I-Itachi...?"

And I've decided; Itachi has returned from the dead! Sorry; he's too sexy to die yet. As to what he's going to be doing here; sorry, don't know that yet. Um, ya, last thing I'm writing for a few days, because I am sick. So, hopefully, by the end of this week, or next week, I'll be fine and lucid, and can get back to writing. So, please review on how this went! And don't worry; you'll find out what happens to Gaara in the next chapter, and that odd premonition thingy Naruto and Kyuubi had going on. And, I just realized that I was using "Shukaku" for Gaara's last name, instead of "Sabaku." I don't feel like going back to change the other chapters, but I'll fix that from now on. Sorry again!

Ayame