Hello, dear readers. I bring you chapter 31 of For Naruto, Whenever I May Find Him! This chapter settles the latest problem with Gaara - well, for the most part. So, I hope you enjoy! Also, as usual, thank you for reading and reviewing. Now, on with the chapter!
31. Bridge Over Troubled Water
When Shikamaru arrived at the Subakuno residence with Temari, he instantly felt a surge of panic. Even as they turned onto the street, it was clear something was wrong – there were red and blue lights flashing from numerous police cars on the scene, and an ambulance parked on the side of the road. The area surrounding the house was completely blocked off by caution tape and barriers, and policemen were all hurrying about the yard in an animated manner.
What the hell's going on here?
"Temari, stop the car," Shikamaru said, indicating a spot on the side of the road just at the start of the street.
"R-right," the blonde replied, her face pale from the troubling sight. She mechanically pulled over to the side and put the car in park before hopping out of the vehicle.
Together, Shikamaru and Temari rushed over to the barricade, where they were immediately stopped by an officer with long, white hair. "Sorry, you two. Can't let you through here – this is a crime scene."
"Crime scene? Please, tell me what happened!" Temari pleaded, practically hyperventilating as she tried to see through the sea of police officers.
"That's confidential information. Now, if you need to get through, there's a detour going through some of the side streets here. The signs should lead the way…"
"No, you don't understand, Officer… Jiraiya," Shikamaru interrupted, glancing at the man's nametag. "She lives here – Temari Subakuno. Look it up, if you have to."
"I see," Jiraiya replied before removing his hat somberly. "Well, I'm afraid I have some bad news. It seems your father was murdered."
Temari's eyes went wide. She struggled to speak. "Y-you're lying… it can't be…"
"We're not sure of the exact cause of death at the moment, but it appears he went quickly, if that's any consolation. I'm very sorry for your loss," Jiraiya continued, trying his best to maintain eye contact with the traumatized girl.
Shikamaru threw an arm over Temari's shoulder and pulled her close, allowing her to cry into his shirt as he talked with the officer. "Do you have any idea who the bastard is that did this?"
"Actually, we do. There was a witness – a boy named Rock Lee. He saw the whole thing apparently."
"And? Who is it? Did you find him? Are you looking for him?"
"I have officer's scouring the city as we speak – we will find him – though I'm honestly not sure what we'll do when we find him," Jiraiya responded, scratching his neck uncomfortably.
"What are you talking about? He's a murderer! Lock him up for the rest of his life, give him the chair, I don't care!"
"The suspect is Gaara Subakuno," Jiraiya said flatly, causing Shikamaru to lapse into an immediate silence. "From what we can tell, he and Mr. Subakuno got into a fight, and Gaara came out on top. Lee's understandably shocked by the whole ordeal, so he can't give us all the exact details at the moment. All we know is Gaara took off running shortly afterward, heading south."
Shikamaru didn't know what to say. As Temari continued bawling, he tried his best to console her, though he knew it was impossible. What could he possibly say after hearing such news to make things right? There was nothing – her life had just been shattered, and no words could possibly glue it back together.
Gaara… killed his dad? How…?
"Is Lee still here?" Shikamaru asked abruptly, looking at Jiraiya with renewed intensity.
"He's talking to one of our men on the front porch there. I can't let you talk with him, though – he's been through enough as it is."
Damn… I was hoping I could at least get some more information out of him… What if Gaara's snapped? I mean, if it was an accident and he was innocent, why would Gaara run? It doesn't make any sense… he must know he's guilty, and so he's trying to hide. But what if he's not? What if he's planning to go on a rampage, to go down in a blaze of glory? If that's the case, he'll probably go after the last few people on his list… starting with…
Shikamaru felt his blood run cold. There was only one possible answer: Sasuke. If Gaara had truly snapped, he would want to take down the one guy who ever eluded him, the guy he hated most, and his rival in love. Even if he was wrong, Shikamaru knew he couldn't just sit there and hope for the best – not when there was a chance Sasuke was in danger.
But I can't just leave Temari like this! After what she's just gone through – finding out that her father's been murdered, and by her brother no less! Should I just call Sasuke?
Keeping one arm wrapped around Temari, the Nara patted his pocket, only to find that his cell wasn't there. He cursed his bad luck.
Of course – I would leave it at home, wouldn't I? And it's not like I bothered to memorize Sasuke's number, either… that would've been too troublesome…
"Temari! Thank God you're okay!"
Shikamaru looked up in surprise while the blonde in question lifted her head to find Kankuro rushing towards them, his purple performance makeup smeared from his tears. Without a word, Shikamaru backed up while the two siblings embraced, sharing both their sorrow at their loss, and their relief at each other's safety.
"I came home as soon as I found out, but when I saw you weren't here, I… I didn't know what to think," Kankuro whispered, wiping his tears on his sleeve.
"It's okay, we're safe now, right?" Temari sighed, pressing her face into her brother's chest. "The worst is over…"
I really hope that's the case, Temari. Really, I do.
Standing off to the side, Shikamaru watched the sibling reunion with a bittersweet feeling. On the one hand, both Temari and Kankuro had clearly been through an ordeal, but they at least had the comfort of each other's company for now.
"I'm sorry, kid, but are you family?" Jiraiya asked suddenly, having replaced his hat.
"Who, me? No, I'm just… a friend, I guess," Shikamaru responded, having completely forgotten about the white-haired man's presence.
"Well, I'm going to have to ask you to run on home, then. You understand, I'm sure."
Shikamaru stared at Jiraiya for a moment, considering protesting this order, before glancing back at his girlfriend. It was then that he realized Temari had all but forgotten him for the time being. After the tragedy the Subakunos had just experienced, all they really needed was each other – to have at least some semblance of a family amidst all the chaos.
There's no place for me here – I'm needed elsewhere.
"Of course. Can I just have a moment to say goodbye?"
"Make it quick," Jiraiya replied with a nod before turning his attention back to his scrambling police force.
Shikamaru didn't need to be told twice. He quickly took his leave of the officer and hurried over to Temari, leaning over her shoulder to whisper into her ear. "Temari… I'm sorry to ask you this, but can I borrow your car for a bit? I promise to bring it back, it's just… I don't feel comfortable walking home after all this."
Apparently this was a believable excuse for Temari, who simply gave a slow nod, her head rubbing against Kankuro's chest as she reached into her purse. Moments later, she plopped the keys into Shikamaru's hands, who thanked the blonde graciously. Just as he turned to leave, however, Temari's soft voice called out to him.
"Shika… be careful, okay?"
The Nara froze momentarily, staring at his girlfriend in shock. Had she seen right through his lie? Who was he kidding, of course she had! Temari could read Shikamaru like a book by this point – she must've known exactly what he was planning. At the same time, though, she had given him her keys, so did that mean he had her blessing? Feeling this was the case, Shikamaru pounded a fist against his chest with a look of sincerity. "Promise."
With that, the teen took off running towards the car, which he clambered into as quickly as possible. Though his hands were shaking slightly, causing him to fumble briefly with the keys, Shikamaru soon had the car up and running. It was only then that he realized Temari drove a stick shift.
Well, isn't this special? Okay… so I have to step on the clutch and ease up on the gas…
Soon, the cherry red compact was rolling steadily backward. Trying his best to keep his composure, Shikamaru guided the car back into a driveway, where he shifted into first and rolled forward. After some more fiddling around with the new controls, the Nara was on the road with only his destination in mind: Naruto's apartment.
Hold on, Sasuke… I'm coming!
As determined as Shikamaru was to save his friend from a potential threat, however, he did feel somewhat uncertain as he cruised down the road. Where were they going to go once he got there? What if Gaara was already there? What if he was too late?
No! This isn't the time to have those kinds of thoughts, Shikamaru! Just be rational – we'll cross that bridge when we get there. After all, if Gaara really is looking for Sasuke, he would've checked the Uchiha mansion first. That at least gives us some time…
By this point, it had started to rain, forcing Shikamaru to turn on the windshield wipers as he turned the corner onto Naruto's street. After driving a short distance, he sped into the parking lot, where he found a spot and rushed out of the vehicle, inadvertently leaving the lights on in the process.
Screw it! If the battery dies, I'll pay Temari back…
After darting up the stairs, Shikamaru ran up to Naruto's apartment, where he began to pound on the door frantically. With every passing second the Nara spent in the rain, waiting for the door to swing open, he felt his heart pound ever harder, until he felt it might explode.
Hurry up… just answer the damn door, Naruto! Come on! I know you're here! Just… just be okay…
There was a distinct creak, which seemed to make the world around Shikamaru freeze completely. The door was opening – someone was there. But who was it? Naruto? Sasuke? Gaara?
"Hey, Shikamaru! What's up?" a brown-haired teen wearing a hoodie asked with a grin, cradling a small white dog in his arm.
"Kiba! Are Naruto and Sasuke still here?" the Nara asked, seizing Kiba's collar as he forced his way inside.
"Whoa, man – calm down. We were just watching the rest of Van Wilder – they're just getting to the part where that one guy takes the laxative…"
"They're here, then? Where?"
"Over here, Shikamaru," came Sasuke's distinct drone from the couch, accompanied by a hand waving from over the cushion. "Can you keep it down? The movie's getting almost tolerable – wait, no, Tara Reid's onscreen again. I lied."
"Sasuke! You're okay!" Shikamaru exclaimed, practically beaming as he rushed into the living room.
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?" the Uchiha replied, glancing up at his friend skeptically. He only stared at the Nara for a few seconds before noting his paler complexion and his heavy breathing, at which point he jumped to the inevitable conclusion. "What's wrong? Something happened, didn't it?"
"What're you talking about, Sasuke? He probably wanted to make sure we didn't catch pneumonia out there, earlier. Right, Shikamaru?" Naruto interrupted, trying to alleviate his boyfriend's suspicions.
"No, he's right, Naruto. We have to get you two out of here right away – you too, Kiba," Shikamaru said, snatching up the remote to shut off the television.
"Hey! We were watching that…"
Sasuke ignored the blond's pouting and turned to look at his friend. "Fine, we'll come with you – but I'm not going anywhere until you tell me what's going on."
Knowing it was pointless to argue with the Uchiha, Shikamaru sighed spilled the beans. "It's Gaara. I don't know the details exactly, but when Temari and I got back to her place there were police cars everywhere. Apparently Gaara killed his dad."
"You serious?" Kiba asked, only now dropping his casual smirk as the gravity of the situation sunk in.
Shikamaru nodded solemnly before continuing. "Lee was there – I didn't get to talk to him myself – but apparently he saw the whole thing. It really shook him up, I guess."
"And what about Gaara? Where's he?" Naruto chimed in, resting his head on the back of the couch as he stared up at the Nara.
"We don't know – from what I've heard, he took off running once Mr. Subakuno was dead. They're searching for him right now, but he could be anywhere. That's why we have to get you out of here."
"But he might come looking for us here! We have to be here to help him if that happens, right?" Naruto asked indignantly. He looked from face to face for a moment, waiting for one of his friends to back him up. No one did. "Guys?"
Shikamaru shook his head, placing a hand on his forehead in frustration. Why did this have to be so hard? "Naruto, that's exactly why you can't be here. Don't you see? Gaara's unstable – he just killed his dad, for chrissake! Don't you think he just might try to hurt us if we get in his way?"
"But… we're his friends…"
"Naruto! Think about this for a minute," Sasuke said in as calm a voice as possible. Despite his good act, though, Shikamaru could see the slight trembling in the Uchiha's hands – he knew exactly what was at stake here. "If Gaara knocks on that door, he's going to want one of two things: to be hidden, or to take out a few more of his enemies. We can't hide him – you know we'd have to call the police, and who knows what that might make him do. This can only end badly for us unless we get out of here as quickly as possible."
"What do you mean take out more of his enemies?" Naruto said, tilting his head to the side quizzically.
Shikamaru placed a hand on the blond's shoulder and crouched down, so he was staring the other teen straight in the eye. "Naruto – remember that fight you and Gaara had? Don't you think he might want to finish what he started?"
Naruto sat in stunned silence as the implication sunk in. He chanced glance to his left, where he found Sasuke staring straight ahead and the blank television screen, his hands shaking more noticeably now. Even seeing his boyfriend's palpable fear, though, Naruto was not about to give up on Gaara. "But… Gaara wouldn't do that."
"He wouldn't kill Sasuke, but he'd kill his own father?" Kiba asked, looking almost disgusted by Naruto's though process. "Naruto, you're not making any sense!"
"We don't know what happened, guys! For all we know, Mr. Subakuno's death was an accident!"
"But why would he run, Naruto? If he's innocent, why not tell the police what happened himself? He even had Lee as a witness!" Shikamaru challenged, trying to point out the flaws in the blond's logic.
"I wouldn't expect you to understand… you don't know what it's like to see something like that, but I do. When my dad died right in front of me, I wanted nothing more than to get as far away from him as possible – it wasn't even because I was afraid. I'd been an inch away from death, but I that was the furthest thing from my mind… I just wanted to get away. Like, maybe if I ran fast enough, I'd wake up and everything would be back to the way things were," Naruto said gravely, staring down at the couch cushion as he spoke. "Look, I'm saying I know what Gaara's thinking, but he is our friend. I think we should give him the benefit of the doubt."
"What do you think he'd do, then?" Sasuke asked after an extended moment of silence. "I mean, if he's not coming here or anything, then where is he heading?"
Naruto considered this for a moment, closing his eyes tight in thought. "Well… if I know Gaara, he wouldn't be out for blood after something like this. I mean, he always felt responsible for his mother's death – I'm guessing the burden of both of his parents' deaths is probably crushing him."
"So… he's just running?" Kiba offered uncertainly, with Akamaru concurring with a bark.
"No, no – he's not trying to hide or anything. I think he's trying to escape from… himself, I guess," Naruto said, scratching his head confusedly. "I mean, everything about his home probably reminds him of his family – the family he feels responsible for ruining. He must feel like… a monster."
The blond's eyes widened. Clearly he'd been struck with a realization, though Shikamaru wasn't sure whether it was good or bad. "What is it, Naruto? Do you know where he is?"
Naruto shook his head. "No – but I think I know what he's going to do."
"Well, spill it already!" Kiba urged his roommate curtly.
"I remember how I felt when all the kids at the orphanage kept calling me a monster – it was horrible, like no one in the world wanted me. At the same time, though, I didn't actually feel like I'd done anything wrong. I was sad because everyone seemed to hate me, but mostly I was just confused. Like, what had I done wrong, you know? But then Iruka came, and everything was fine. But… I think, if I actually did hurt someone else, so that I really felt like a monster… I wouldn't have been able to live with myself."
"You don't mean…" Sasuke asked, turning towards his boyfriend in shock.
"I'm not sure, of course, but that might be what he's thinking – that he'll only end up hurting the people he cares about, so it's better just to end it all."
Kiba pushed himself away from the wall and set Akamaru on the floor before pounding his fist into an open palm. "All right! I've heard enough! Shikamaru, did they say which direction Gaara was heading in?"
"Y-yeah, they said he was heading south," the Nara replied, surprised at the Inuzuka's initiative.
"Perfect! They probably have a separate force patrolling the southern part of the city, then. But if Gaara's going to get there, he's gonna have to cross the Konoha Bridge first, right?" Kiba continued, placing a hand on both Shikamaru and Naruto's shoulders.
"I suppose so…" Shikamaru responded, still feeling uncertain about this whole situation.
"Well, then, all we have to do is drive down there and wait. If we're lucky, Gaara will show up, and we can talk some sense into him before he does anything drastic. What do you think guys?"
"Sounds good to me," Naruto said with a look of determination.
"I don't know… what do you think, Sasuke? You're the one most affected by this, after all," Shikamaru said, turning to the Uchiha for a response.
Sasuke looked back and forth between the trio for a moment before gazing at Naruto. Almost immediately, he melted at the blond's pleading eyes and sighed. "All right – let's do this."
With a sigh, Shikamaru headed towards the door while waving for his friends to follow after him. "I swear, sometimes you guys can be such a pain in the ass…"
It didn't take long for Naruto, Sasuke and Kiba to get ready, and soon all four teens were rushing out into the rain to Temari's car. There, Shikamaru was glad to see the battery hadn't died after the lights were left on as he clambered into the front seat. Meanwhile, Kiba grabbed the front seat while Naruto and Sasuke sat in the back.
"Just a warning you guys – I'm still not quite sure how to drive this thing, so hold on," Shikamaru muttered as he strove to get the car started. Once the engine was up and running, though, he sat back with a look of satisfaction and threw the vehicle into drive.
Even though the Konoha Bridge was only ten minutes away from their apartment, even in bad traffic, to Shikamaru it felt like the longest drive of his life. The whole time he was trying to understand Naruto's point of view, while simultaneously struggling to ignore his previous conclusions. He could certainly understand why Gaara might be a bit distraught about killing his father – especially if it was an accident, or if he was just defending himself – but at the same time he'd heard the rumors of what Gaara had done back in Suna. Assuming those were true, this wasn't the first time the redhead had killed someone, and if he'd done it before, then he could do it again.
At least, that's what Shikamaru thought. Glancing back in the rearview mirror, though, the Nara could see Naruto's eyes staring right back at him, fierce in their resolve, but soft with concern.
How can he be so sure that Gaara hasn't snapped? It's not even a possibility in his mind. He's not concerned at all about what Gaara might do to someone else – only what he might end up doing to himself. It's the most insane thing I've ever heard… yet I believe him.
That was what bothered Shikamaru the most. As much as he tried to analyze the situation logically, he never once concluded that they should go out and search for Gaara. To him, the only real option was to hide somewhere safe and wait for the police to find him. If he was innocent, the truth would set Gaara free, and if he was guilty, he'd be punished accordingly, and no one would be put in danger. Still, there Shikamaru was, racing downtown in Temari's car on the off chance that they might find Gaara and save him from himself. It was illogical, it was even crazy, but somehow, Shikamaru knew it was the right thing to do.
I guess Naruto's always had that gift, though – the power to change people and make them do thing's they'd never even consider on their own. Just look at Sasuke! I don't know what they were doing earlier tonight, but I'm positive Sasuke never would've been out by Lake Konoha in his birthday suit before he met Naruto. I just hope Naruto can work his magic on Gaara a second time…
It was around this point in Shikamaru's thought process that they arrived at the Konoha Bridge, which was packed with cars. Thinking quickly, the Nara turned the corner and pulled into a nearby parking lot outside a pizzeria. Without a word, the four teens rushed out of the car and started towards the bridge.
"All right, guys! Keep an eye out for him, okay? Naruto and Kiba – you take the right side. Sasuke and I will take the left!" Shikamaru called out over the roar of the pouring rain.
They all nodded before darting to their designated positions. Soon, Shikamaru and Sasuke had reached the center of the bridge, where they stood side by side, watching out for any sign of the fugitive redhead. No sooner had they stopped, however, than they heard Naruto's voice cry out, followed by a clap of thunder.
"GAARA!"
Shikamaru turned towards the blond in surprise, only to see him pointing up. He followed Naruto's finger until he reached the top of the central tower, where he saw a faint figure standing on the edge, staring out at the sea. His heart sank.
My God… he was right! He's gonna jump!
"Sasuke!"
"I see him," the Uchiha said immediately, having already started across the stopped traffic to the sound of blaring horns.
Shikamaru followed closely after his friend, and soon they rejoined Naruto and Kiba, who were both trying desperately to get Gaara's attention. No matter how much they screamed the redhead's name, however, the teen wouldn't budge, but continued to stare out at the river below like a statue.
"I'm going up there," Naruto said suddenly, turning to his friends as if challenging them to stop him. "If he's not going to listen to us, then I'm going to make him."
"Naruto! You can't do that! It's too dangerous! Just look at how it's raining – it'll be too slippery, not to mention the wind," Sasuke exclaimed, rushing between his boyfriend and the tower.
"Sasuke, I have to do something. If Gaara dies… I don't know what I'll do…"
"And how do you think I'll feel if you die, huh?" the Uchiha replied, looking positively terrified. "Didn't you ever consider that, Naruto?"
The blond was stunned. Clearly torn by the dilemma, Naruto finally embraced his boyfriend tightly, saying, "Don't worry. As long as you're alive, I'll never leave you. Ever."
"How can you say that? Don't be stupid!" Sasuke replied, backing away from his boyfriend in anger.
"Sasuke, look at me," Naruto said calmly, grabbing the Uchiha's hand firmly. At first the raven-haired teen resisted, but soon he met Naruto's eyes and looked almost entranced. "I promise – I'll never let you be alone again."
There was a definite pause, during which Shikamaru simply watched the couple in awe. He had to agree with Sasuke – it was an incredibly stupid promise to make. There was absolutely no way Naruto could ever keep it, yet when Shikamaru observed the intensity in the blond's eyes, he knew Naruto meant it. Somehow, someway, Shikamaru felt Naruto was telling the truth.
Damn it… there he goes again with that gift of his…
Finally, Sasuke nodded and bit his lip. "All right… just come back in one piece, okay?"
"Sure thing," Naruto responded, flashing a thumbs-up before starting up the rungs running along the side of the tower.
As Shikamaru watched the blond gradually ascend, he was suddenly struck with realization. Turning to Kiba, he leaned over to speak into the dog-boy's ear. "Hey, Kiba, can I borrow your cell phone for a minute?"
Kiba looked at his friend in surprise before pulling out the phone. "Sure, go ahead."
Shikamaru flipped the phone open and hurriedly dialed Temari's number. He was only glad he'd made a point of remembering it the other day. After a few rings, he heard his grief-stricken girlfriend pick up with a sob. "H-hello?"
"Temari! It's Shikamaru – I'm at the Konoha Bridge. We've found him."
xxxxx
As Naruto carefully made his way up the ladder on the side of the bridge tower, he could feel his heart throbbing nervously in his chest. He had told Sasuke that he wouldn't die, and he meant it – now he just had to convince himself of it. The wind was blowing hard, picking up mist and causing ever run to become cold and slippery. His hands were already numb, and he was only halfway up the tower – one wrong move and he'd fall. Gravity would do the rest.
Despite this anxiety, though, Naruto moved forward, his hands moving almost mechanically as he climbed the ladder. Even if he was putting himself in danger, it was worth it if he could keep Gaara from doing the unthinkable. He didn't know what had happened between the redhead and his father, but in his mind it didn't matter. Letting Gaara kill himself would solve nothing – if Gaara lived, though, he could at least make up for what he did. Suicide was not the answer.
I think he knows that, too. If he really wanted to end it all, he would have done it already. No, he's hesitating because there's that voice in the back of his head telling him to stop. Now he just needs someone to tell him that in person – another voice to confirm his suspicions.
Chancing a look back down at the bridge, Naruto could barely make out his friends gathered around the base of the tower. He gulped, but pressed onward. Soon, his hands slapped onto the metal bars at the top of the tower, where he pulled himself up.
That's where he found Gaara – or, at least, what was left of him. His eyes were practically lifeless, staring out over the water as his mind struggled with the choice that lay before him. Otherwise, the teen seemed completely numb – he was dressed only in his underwear, and his exposed skin had turned an even deeper pale. Moisture clung to his body, giving it an almost sickly sheen as the wind blew through his matted, red hair. He didn't even seem to notice Naruto, who held onto the bars of the ladder for support as he watched his suicidal friend.
"Gaara! It's me, Naruto!" the blond shouted, hoping to trigger a response in the other teen.
Slowly, Gaara's head shifted to the side, though he never made eye contact with Naruto. Instead, his eyes seemed to stare through him, like the vulpine boy was some sort of ghost. "You shouldn't be here," he said in a weak monotone.
"Neither should you!" Naruto replied, taking a tentative step towards the redhead. "You don't have to do this, Gaara!"
"What other choice is there? If you're here, then you must know what happened… I can't live with myself after that…"
Naruto shook his head. "You're wrong – I don't know what happened. Nobody knows. Only you can tell us what really happened, Gaara."
The redhead chuckled weakly and gazed back at the water. "You want to hear my side of the story? Fine – I killed him."
There was something unsettling about the way Gaara said that. In his current, emotionless state, his words came out so calmly. Though Naruto knew otherwise, it almost sounded as if Gaara had no remorse about what he did. "Is that all? You just decided to kill him?"
"Of course not," the redhead responded with what appeared to be a smile. "He came home early today and caught me and Lee in the act. I guess that was the last straw for him – it looked like he was already drunk. Probably lost his job today or something."
"So he attacked you?"
Gaara's lips quivered slightly as a bit of moisture appeared in the corner of his eye. "He said my mom never wanted me… that I was just a burden – no, a parasite – but that she couldn't bring herself to abort me. So he decided he was going to do what she never could."
Naruto couldn't believe his ears. Mr. Subakuno was going to kill his own son? "Gaara… you were only defending yourself, right? You can't blame yourself for that…"
"Don't tell me what I can't do!" Gaara snapped, his eyes suddenly intense as he stared at the blond with gritted teeth. "You don't understand, all right? Yes, he attacked me first – so it was only self-defense. I knew exactly what I was doing though. When he lunged at me, I saw an opportunity and pounced on it. I knew what kicking him right in the nose would do – that the force would knock the bone back into his brain, killing him instantly. Don't you see? I could've won without killing him, but I didn't – I made sure he'd never come back…"
"I'm sure it was just your instincts, Gaara – muscle memory or something like that," Naruto responded, having stepped closer to the redhead, so that he was within arm's reach.
"NO!" Gaara snapped, swatting the other teen's outstretched hand away forcefully. The shock caused Naruto to stumble back, so that he landed just shy of the tower's edge. The redhead had now moved away from his own spot by the ledge to loom over Naruto. "I killed him, Naruto – I did exactly what I intended to do. In that moment, I decided to make sure he could never hurt me again… never hurt any of us. Now it's time for me to do the same thing."
"But why? If he deserved what he got, why do all of this?" Naruto asked, eyeing the ledge warily as the rain beat down around them.
"Because I loved him!" the redhead exclaimed, turning away from his friend as tears began to fall. "Even though he was a insensitive drunk, he was still my father! And I killed him! Don't you see? If I can kill someone I love, then what's to stop me from killing Temari? Or Lee? Or… you?"
"You can't say things like that, Gaara! We're not like your dad!"
"And why not? Don't you get angry? Don't you bleed? Don't you die? If it can happen to Dad… it can happen to anyone."
"But we love you too, Gaara," Naruto protested, causing the redhead to freeze.
"W-what?"
"Just look down there, Gaara. Shikamaru, Kiba, Sasuke – they all came here to find you so we could help you. They aren't like your dad – they don't see you as a burden. You're our friend, and we care about you."
"And I've managed to hurt you, too. Or did you forget about that little fight of ours?" Gaara spat, turning his attention to the water once more.
"That's all in the past! You're not like that now! We can see that – you just need to open your eyes and see it yourself!"
As if to confirm Naruto's statement, a searchlight suddenly lit up the tower from below, causing Gaara to shield his eyes in momentary blindness. Once he had recovered, however, he gazed down at the bridge along with Naruto, where they found several police cruisers waiting. Standing outside of one of the cars were a blonde girl and a boy dressed in black, who were gathered around a megaphone.
"Gaara! It's me, Temari!"
"And Kankuro!" the black teen responded, leaning into the megaphone.
Temari yanked the megaphone back and regained control. "Gaara! Don't jump! We love you, and we need you now more than ever!"
"Yeah, bro! Come back down so we can talk this whole thing over."
Gaara collapsed onto the floor and stared down at his siblings, tears running down his cheeks. "They… they really do care about me."
"Right! Your family wants you, Gaara. They've lost enough – don't make them lose you, too," Naruto added, placing a hand on the redhead's shoulder.
This time, Gaara didn't refuse the contact, but only nodded. "All right… tell them I'll come down."
Overjoyed, Naruto stood up straight and cupped his hands around his mouth, shouting, "Okay, guys! He's not gonna jump!"
A white-haired officer took control of the megaphone and called up to the two teens. "Good! Stay right there! A cherry picker will be by to pick the two of you up shortly!"
Satisfied, Naruto sat back down on the floor with Gaara, letting the redhead rest on his shoulder as he cried himself out. By the time the cherry picker had arrived, Gaara was fast asleep, being understandably exhausted from the day's events. Along with the white-haired officer's help, Naruto loaded Gaara into the basket, and together they were lowered to the ground with their much-relieved friends.
It'll be okay, Gaara… it'll be okay…
Well, there you have it! Please share any thoughts you might have, and I'll have the next chapter up as soon as possible. Thanks for reading!