It was Friday. Oh, horrible, dreaded Friday. One more day until Gaara's departure. Sasuke and Naruto, during school that day, groped the depths of their minds for something they could do that would be special for Gaara.

Haha, you thought "groped"!

He is so gay, Jeffrey joked.

Why don't you annoy some other poor soul once in a while? Sasuke pleaded, having had enough of this ridiculous game they played all the time.

You're too much fun. Do you know how much of our kind talks to people, and they think they're crazy?

So I'm not crazy, it's just you guys?

Nah, you're pretty crazy.

And you aren't, Vietnamese beautician?

You should stop with that, Sasuke. Jeff's getting a little weird. He's shuddering and shivering a bit.

Yeah, right, like I'm scared of a little gay hairstylist--

"Sasuke?" Naruto said loudly into Sasuke's ear, standing over him on the playground as he stared off into space. "Sasuke!"

It was no use. He was completely out of it, a spot of dribble forming and dragging itself from the corner of his mouth. It was like he was wrapped up with something in his mind, maybe a mental battle. Either way, Naruto quickly took advantage of the moment and shot a picture.

As he snickered, he heard a voice call, "Hey, loser!"

Naruto was used to such names and immediately thought it was himself. Half-turning to see who had called on him, he was surprised to see one large boy not staring into his own eyes but another's--Gaara.

Without a word Naruto sprinted to the middle of the playground, as kids started to form a ring around the two boys, chanting, "Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Gaara stood, shaking and tembling, before the school's toughest bully--Hiro Tokio. Why he would be given such a first name Naruto was unsure, but in any case, it was obvious he had taken an immediate disliking to the appearance of Gaara.

Why's Gaara here? thought Naruto, fighting his way through the thick crowd.

"I heard 'bout ya!" exclaimed the bully. "That mutant o' the Kazekage's. I heard they hated yer guts so much that yer own ma left ya fer dead!"

Naruto knew this to be a lie, for he knew his mother had been killed. He also knew that those words would kill Gaara.

Naruto caught sight of the battle. Gaara stood before the looming Hiro, who was staring him down hard. Gaara stared at his feet, not wanting to make eye contact.

"Huh? Ain't it true, wimp?" said the ugly monster, pointing a fat finger straight at Gaara's nose, poking it, then roughly grabbed his collar and forced the boy off the ground.

Naruto had seen enough. This entire fight was only for the monstrous boy's perverted pleasure in seeing Gaara, helpless, shiver in fear.

Naruto shoved kid after kid, trying to get closer, but it seemed his efforts were in vain. Children began to pile up. Every time Naruto took a step forward he had to take two back.

By this time, Jeffrey's mental attack had worn off, leaving Sasuke temporarily ok. Shaking his head, Sasuke looked up to see the writhing mass of students.

He couldn't see what was going on except for the giant bully, Hiro, clenching the cloth of a poor boy's shirt. Sasuke was about to turn away, unbothered, before realizing the boy had a mass of red, messy hair. With a sigh, Sasuke knew there was no way out of this.

Surging forward, Sasuke fought his way through the crowd and was soon joined by Naruto, who was kicking and butting his head.

Yes, Sasuke! Get him! Before he steals Gaara and you lose your chance for the Mangekyo!

I'll just kill you, you bastard.

Wow, I'm sooo scared.

I could sic Jeffrey on you.

Oh, God! I'll be good, I'll be good!

Jeffrey's a good boy, a good boy...mmm...precious...

I think he had a mental breakdown.

But, you're his mind, Sasuke.

What does that mean?

Tobi is a bad boy compared to Jeffrey...heeheehee...

*Cough*Phsyco*cough*

Gaara was still trembling badly, unable to look into the boy's eyes until he started shaking him, shouting, "Look at me, punk!"

Gaara finally was able to look into them, and immediately regretted it. Those eyes were filled with hate. Meaningless, horrible hate that had no foundation. Hate for a person from stereotypes, with no real meaning.

The worst kind. Gaara knew this kind, this hate that left anyone who it was aimed at feeling lower than dirt, like they had no reason for living. That, with the combination of the bloodlust already sealed within him and the shouting of the ignorant children managed to awaken something he had rarely seen before--not his inner demon, the seperate soul that inhabited his body, but the seperate side of himself--his dark side.

Everything seemed to slow down. The dirt from beneath the children's feet seemed to take forever to rise, in little streams that quickly made their way to the two fighters. Sasuke and Naruto were the first to realize it, and Hiro the last. As he laughed sickeningly, the students around him started to lessen their chants as they stood, deafeningly silent.

It was too late before it even started. He was destined to die, unknowingly provoking the worst of opponents.

Black blood flew everywhere, and the closest children got hit with a spray of thick, sticky blood that would probably forever haunt their memories and maybe even stop them from their quest of becoming shinobi.

Cries of agonizing fear filled the air, and Naruto and Sasuke felt themselves being pulled with the crowd as teacher shinobi dashed to the scene, scooping up contaminated children and scurrying to the nurse's office to check if they were ok.

No one had to ask if Hiro had died. It was obvious from the screaming cries of the children and the sickening condition the manipulated sand was in.

Though it made Sasuke's blood boil in fear and slight confusion, Naruto realized completely that none of it was Gaara's fault. It was a combination of the targeted boy's own foolishness and the cruelty of Gaara's father.

School was closed for the day. Naruto didn't even have the chance of talking to Gaara before he was hurried away to be calmed down. Naruto knew he'd gain control of himself, just like last time.

Sasuke and Naruto didn't even say good-bye, just sprinted to their homes and didn't bother to walk to the playground, where they'd planned to meet tht day. It ws obvious that Gaara would not be there, and Sasuke and Naruto felt no need to be near each other--Gaara was the only thing that kept their friendship intact.

The only problem was whether or not they'd be able to see Gaara before he left. Would the slaughter motivate the Hokage into the immediate departure of his visitors, or would they hold it off for tomorrow, since that was their original plan?

That was mad sick, man.

Me wants more. More...

I'm so screwed. So mentally unstable...

Pfft, you, mentally unstable? You should see Juugo. Orochimaru, Tobi, your friend, Gaara...

I have a confession.

*Sigh* What is it?

I'm gay. No, like, seriously.

Haha, I know we make fun of you, but you don't have to say that.

Nah, seriously, I kinda like Naruto...

Holy shit. Hey, wait, then why didn't you head to the playground to see him?

It would be too obvious! Besides, he wouldn't be there...he doesn't feel the same way...I'm sure...

You sound like such a girl...I love it!

--To Be Continued--

--

Ok, about the gay thing. I had a reviewer person--forget who--who said they wanted to know if I'd make one of them like each other or something, and I didn't really think of that before, but I just decided to add it.

If you don't like gay pairings, its ok. The series is almost over, and there won't be any gay scenes or whatever. It's ok, homophobes, there won't be anything of the sort.

Also, I felt like saying this: I just wanted to express my genuine hate for stereotypes and the unfounded strong feelings against people of different races, religions, sexual orientations...and all that. I support every single one of you, and I don't judge people on any of that.

Ok, well, sometimes I think gay people would make the best friends, but otherwise, I'm pretty much open to anything. So, if you dislike anyone for any reason other than who they are personally, you're a dumbass. End of story.

Bye-bye!