Sasuke and Gaara walked to Sasuke's house silently. Gaara out of anger and deep thinking about his father and Sasuke out of fear of releasing Gaara's anger. Sasuke remembered the bruises he saw on Gaara's arm, and beneath his heavy eye make-up, and against his better judgment Sasuke decided to question them aloud.

"So...," at that single word Gaara moved his gaze and glared at Sasuke, "where did you get those bruises?"

Gaara looked forward and seemed to be ignoring the question.

"What bruises?" Sasuke growled.

"Don't play dumb with me Gaara!"

"I wasn't playing dumb Uchiha! I meant which bruises are you talking about?"

"You mean there's more!" Sasuke was angry, not at Gaara but at whoever did this, at Gaara's family for not noticing...at himself for not noticing.

"I'll show you when we get to your house"

Sasuke didn't know what else to say. With such an abrupt end to such a heated argument he was at a loss for words.

"So, Uchiha, I have a question for you.."

Sasuke was on edge already, and with the serious tone Gaara had he knew this couldn't be good.

"Who do you know at the re-hab center?" Gaara barely noticed Sasuke's eyes widen, but he noticed nonetheless.

"No one" Gaara scoffed and allowed a smirk to come upon his lips,

"Now who's playing dumb."

All was silent once again, and Gaara was about to repeat himself for the second time today when Sasuke answered,

"My brother"

"...I didn't know you had a brother"

"And that's the way I wanted it. He went to some ritzy private school, and he was half way through his senior year when he was diagnosed with macular degeneration. Not long after that he was completely blind. My family tried all they could, and every doctor at my dad's hospital were working overtime trying to find some way to cure him, but his case was different. Once the cells and nerves were no longer in use they seemed to disintegrate completely. There was nothing anyone could do for him."

Gaara thought everything through and had a thought.

"But why is he at the re-hab center? You guys have a big house and tons of money. Couldn't you have gotten a servant to help him through out the day?"

Sasuke sighed, "That was because of me. After he was completely blind he was living at home. Still trying to be independent, falling down stairs, ending up in a closet when he looking for the kitchen. One day, back in my eight grade year, I had friends over and he walked straight into the pool, scaring everyone. My friends left and I was just being angry and stupid and told him that he didn't belong at this house because" Sasuke stopped talking and Gaara saw tears welling up in his eyes, "he didn't belong at this house because he wasn't normal."

Gaara didn't say a word and Sasuke was fighting tears when surprisingly enough Sasuke continued

"Shortly after that he packed up and left. He claimed it was because he didn't want to ruin the family reputation but I knew it was because of me. And I haven't talked or seen him since."

"Since eight grade?"

Sasuke nodded and turned suddenly and Gaara realized they had arrived at the Uchiha mansion. Now Gaara's family was rich. They had a big house, nice cars, and every other necessity was far from generic and cheap but the Uchiha mansion was huge! The two boys entered the house.

"I'm home." Sasuke said quietly but he was till heard.

"I'm in the kitchen honey." Gaara heard what he assumed was Sasuke's mother from farther in the house.

Sasuke took off his shoes and Gaara copied the action and followed his friend into the kitchen which, unsurprisingly, was large, pristine, and expensive looking.

"Hi mom."

"Hi Sasuke, and your Gaara right?"

"Right, nice to meet you."

"Wow, you have been my son's best friend for two years and I've never met you before. That sure is sad, on my part and yours Sasuke." With that she softly hit the back of Sasuke's head which caused Gaara to smirk.

"Actually Mom, I was wondering if Gaara could sleep over a couple of days"

"Well I don't see a problem with that as long as your parents are alright with it."

"Yes ma'm, my dad said that it was fine"

"Alright then! Dinner is served in about an hour or so. Oh, Gaara dear, don't you have any clothes, or a toothbrush?"

Gaara exchanged a look with Sasuke.

"Why don't I drive you buy your house and we can pick some up?" Gaara tried to stay calm as he thought it over.

"Alright. Let me just go to the bathroom, which is...?"

"Down that hall and to the left, first door."

Gaara got to the bathroom and took out his cell phone.

"Hello?"

"Hi Temari. Could you do me a favor and pack me some clothes for about a week?"

"A week? Where are you staying for that long?"

"I'm staying at a friend's house for a couple of days and after that, well I'll figure it out."

"Sadly that sounds better then coming home. I'll have it ready."

"Thanks"

Gaara hung up the phone and flushed the unused toilet before returning to the kitchen, and Sasuke was ready to go. Gaara put his shoes back on and they went to Sasuke's car. The ride was quiet and for some reason unknown to even Gaara he felt he had to say something.

"Your mom is nice"

"Yeah, but she has to be to balance out my 'stick-in-the-ass' day"

"So that's where you get it from" Gaara commented with a smirk.

"Hahaha," Sasuke laughed dryly, "what about you?"

"Last time I checked I didn't have a stick up my ass"

"Not that!" Sasuke growled, "I meant what about your parents?"

"My mom's dead"

"Oh...sorry"

"It's fine, I didn't know her."

"What?"

"She died giving birth to me"

"Oh God!"

Gaara glared at Sasuke.

"Sorry, I just wasn't expecting it. I can't believe I don't know any of this."

"I'm quiet. What can I say?"

"Nothing. Because I'm the same way. There's another question you didn't answer."

"What?"

"Where did you get those bruises?"

"...My dad..."

Sasuke pulled off to the side of the road and screeched to a stop.

"Your dad beats you?"

"With a little help from Kankuro."

"Your brother! What the hell! Gaara why didn't you tell me, tell anyone!"

"Like they would believe me. Besides, he's nice to Kankuro and Temari, so why should I ruin their lives"

"You can't be serious! He could kill you! And you want me to drive you there! No way! Were going back to my house."

"Calm down. Temari has my stuffed packed. We just need to pick it up."

Sasuke stared at Gaara. His hands were clenching the steering wheel, making his knuckles white.

"Fine, but your not going back. When did this all start?"

"As far back as I can remember. It started with being locked in closets and turned into this."

"Why? What the hell is wrong with him!"

"Because I killed his wife."

Sasuke nearly swerved off the road.

"Hey! Watch where your going!"

"Sorry! It wasn't like you meant to kill her!"

"Do you really think that matters!"

Sasuke was again silent. They arrived at Gaara's house and saw Temari on the front porch run out to the car and hand Gaara a small suitcase.

"Thanks Temari."

"No problem. Thanks Sasuke"

Sasuke was still angry so he answered with a nod.

"See you later Gaara"

"Bye"

And the pair pulled away.