Man. we haven't updated in months. Jess and I are both very sorry for not having updated we have just been having some very rough months, but I finally got around to getting these chapters up. I can't promise we'll be updating regularly but we will try. We've been getting into the Yugioh ZeXal craz here lately, but we still adore Naruto of course. So none of these stories are going anywhere even if they may be a bit slow. We've been watching other anime too, but we ended up watching ZeXal twice and just giving up on 5D's and GX. Well, we have watched the first season of 5D's, but the rest of it is a bit weird, and of course it isn't dubbed so that doesn't help. I mean it is to some extent, but not fully. GX is better on the dubbing front, but the story was a bit weird, and we didn't feel like watching it, but we have saved our place. We've also saved our spaces for HunterXHunter (2011) since it's getting updated and Pokemon Sun and Moon and of course Naruto. Meanwhile, we've finished both FullMetal Alchemist series, liked Brotherhood better, but even so. It was nice to see both of them anyway. Now watching Sailor Moon because we can :D. Anyway, now that I have ranted about that we hope you enjoy our chapters. Actually, because I'm going to save this AN for the three stories I'm going to update (I'm still holding back on Fissures of Thirteen because for some reason I want to update certain stories at the same time so I'm waiting until Coiled has the same amount of chapters. I can't really explain why, but hey. We have also been working on our original stories, but also finished a chapter of Hostage. We are not planning on giving it up (though we really wish we were on the sequel already because we are adding in so many characters and many interesting plots). As for our plans regarding the story as a whole, we plan on seeing if we can finish it up then take it off and putting it on our combined channel (Mystic Shade Dragon) we will be posting quite a few stories on there since we love writing together.

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Naruto Shippuden. This is just for fun, no profit will be made from this (and I don't want to either). This is purely for my and the entertainment of Naruto fans.

Dedication: To my beautiful, amazing, intelligent, girlfriend Phillipa (Shadow Spirit Dragon-wolf) for being there for me through not only my writing (both fanfiction and my original story) but real life in general. You have been my inspiration and my support through everything.

Warnings: Violence, explicit sexual conduct (no rape!) homosexual relationship, relationship with a large age gap, struggles with belonging, self-hatred, obsession, self-harm, self-experimentation, human experimentation, mental disorders, a dark view of the "afterlife", (bonding of) pain and isolation, self-worthlessness, and male pregnancy.

Pairings: NaruOro, canon pairings (except, obviously, NaruHina).

Summary: Sometimes, the deepest scars are the ones no one can see, but in a world moving into the light even the oldest inner wounds can be seen

Enjoy! :)

Chapter Thirty-four: Encased

Gaara

I stare out at the village. A light sandstorm brewing. I look up at the sky wanting for Takamaru to deliver a letter from Naruto.

He doesn't.

In fact, I haven't received a letter from my friend in three months. This is troubling.

The things he's been up to were nothing short of amazing. He and Orochimaru being lovers? Who would have guessed?

I never even knew Naruto liked men that way.

Well, I suppose one learns things from another all the time.

What are you up to now, my friend? I hope you're not in some type of trouble. If you are, give me some sort of sign. As much as you've done for me… for the world…

"Lord Gaara."

"I told you not to call me that, Matsuri."

She walks over, standing beside me. She folds her arms over the ledge of the balcony. "I was beginning to worry about you."

"There's no need for that. How is Shinki doing today?"

"He's doing fine. Just taking a nap. He has quite the appetite," she giggles.

"That's because you're his mother."

"That I am. Nine months, thirty-four hours and twenty-nine minutes of hell were worth the lifetime of wonderful memories for the three of us to share," she says with s smile.

I smile at her. "Indeed. I never thought I'd be a father much less fall in love," I say, turning towards her. "It's all thanks to Naruto. If it wasn't for him then…"

Matsuri touches my face gently. "Naruto gave you the strength and a reason to change. He didn't change you, Gaara."

I close my eyes, leaning into the touch. Touches, gentle caresses, I never received any of that. Now it's a common occurrence. I can't say I'm disappointed.

"I suppose."

She looks at me for a while. "You're worried about Naruto, aren't you?"

I nod.

"He'll get back to you."

I smile a bit. I hope you're right, Matsuri. Then again, you're usually right about these things. You proclaimed your love for me in front of the village (much to my embarrassment) and consumed me on your love.

You were the first person outside of Naruto and my siblings to accept me. I could tell you my deepest, darkest fears and secrets, and you still claimed you were madly in love with me.

Your beautiful smile and heart fill me with more joy than you could ever imagine.

"Perhaps I shouldn't worry so much."

"He's your friend; he's important to you. I'd be upset if you didn't worry."

"I neglect you and Shinki."

Matsuri places her hands on her hips. She scoffs, rolling her eyes. "Oh please! You do no such thing."

I look at my soon-to-be wife. "Are you sure you're not just saying that?"

Her arms cross over her chest. "When have you known me to do such a thing?"

I look out again for a while before speaking again. "Do you think I should send Kankuro to find out why Naruto hasn't sent any letters?"

Before Matsuri has time to reply, Kankuro appears on the balcony, bowing.

"What is it, Kankuro?"

"A message from Konoha. It's from Naruto."

I turn around, taking the scroll.

"Naruto?" Matsuri asks. "Isn't he on some mission to help Orochimaru?"

I read over the contents. "Kankuro," I say, rolling the scroll back up.

"Yes, Gaara?"

"Do you mind watching the village?"

"Of course. Say hi to them for me. Oh, and Shikamaru and Temari and Shikadai."

"Of course. Don't do anything I wouldn't do," Matsuri grins.

"And make sure Yutaka is alright."

Kankuro nods. "Of course." Then grins as well. "I'll be sure to."

She laughs as we go inside and make preparations to leave.

Once I've cleared that up, Matsuri and I head to our house where our two and a half week old son is sleeping peacefully in his crib, cuddling the teddy bear I had so long ago.

I release the sand barrier and pick him up. He stares at me with his mother's eyes. "Are you ready to meet your father's friend and your aunt, uncle, and cousin?"

Shinki babbles.

"I think he wants to," Matsuri says, smiling as she gathers all of his things. "Do you think he'll be okay? Maybe we should-"

"Now who's the one worrying? He'll be just fine. Besides, he has your fighting spirit and my DNA. On top of that, we're going to take breaks more often. Perhaps it's not ideal for a baby to go out, but I want Naruto to see what he has to look forward to."

Matsuri frowns. "What do you mean?"

I look down at my son. I smile, ticking his belly. I make a small cloud of sand.

He giggles, trying to grab it.

"Orochimaru is pregnant.

Tenzo

I slip out of the room. I'm not needed nor wanted in there. I wasn't trying to upset him. I sigh and head outside into the forest. I find a tree and sit among its roots.

Ironic how the one thing that made my life hell is the same thing that gives me comfort.

I stare up at the canopy; listening to the rustling of the leaves as the birds take to the sky.

"Weren't you talking with Orochimaru-sensei today?" Anko asks dango stick in one hand, red bean soup in the other.

"I did," I mutter.

She pops a treat in her mouth. "Seems it didn't go so well."

"He almost killed me!"

She frowns. "Seriously? Why?"

"I'm not sure. He went crazy. Said something about reapers." I look up at her, watching her polish off her favourite treats. "Did he ever say anything to you about reapers?"

She places a finger to her chin. "He mentioned that death was suffering and there were important steps to take. He would talk about making us stronger and more resilient. I asked him if we could really bring the dead to life, and he said no."

"My guess would be he created those curse marks and recreated Lord First's wood-style because he wanted something that would be powerful enough for us not to die.

(odd since those experiments killed so many.)

"Seems so. Sometimes he'd talk to things that weren't there I just thought he was talking to himself, but…"

I close my eyes. This has gotten stranger and stranger. How long have these attacks been going on? Why hasn't anyone done anything about them?!

"Why didn't you report his strange behaviour to Lord Third?"

She sits down beside me. "Several reasons, really. But most importantly, because I loved him."

"Then all the more reason…!"

"And that's why. I was a child. I didn't understand what he said wasn't true. To me, he was my world. His word was absolute and he was perfect. Looking back, I regret not telling Lord Third. I had plenty of chances, but…"

"I think Naruto is in a similar situation. He seems to want to protect Orochimaru from himself."

"It's easy to do. There's just something about him that draws me to him."

"I've never felt that with him."

"I know."

We sit in silence just enjoying nature and each other's company.

"Do you think there will ever be a good time to talk to Orochimaru-sensei?"

"No. If you don't talk to him, you never will. Something will always come up. I understand you don't wish to cause him stress, but having you on his life again… I think that'll help him-and you-a lot."

She thinks on it for a bit. "Well alright, but why encourage me after everything? And what happened today?"

I close my eyes. "I suppose today was partially my fault. I just didn't know the mention of death would cause him to go ballistic. As far as ever happened… I don't want to think about such things.

She takes my hand. Dango stick and can of red bean soup in a small bag at her side to dispose of later. "I'm here if you need to talk. You know I'll listen "

Of course, you will. You always do. I stare at her. People find her unsettling and childish, but those are only a small fraction of that she truly is.

"Thank you, Anko. The same goes for you."

She smiles. "I'll talk to him soon."

"He'll enjoy that."

"Yeah, and I want to see this baby."

"How he and Naruto managed to pull that off is a mystery of the ages."

She laughs, leaning her head on my shoulder. "I'll say."

I tense then relax. I look at her for a bit. "Did you and Orochimaru ever…?"

She sits up. "No. I tried, but he would get upset. Which, in turn, made me. So I stopped trying. Not wanting, but trying. "

"Do you still want him?"

"No. I've found someone else," she says, moving on her knees, and leaning in close.

I reach up, stroking her face. She's still pudgy, but I don't mind. She's helped me in so many ways. We connect through pain. Through Orochimaru. And as much as I hate that fact, I embrace it.

Just as I embrace this woman hold so dear to my heart.

Preview

Temari

Shinki crawls over and gives his mom the dragonfly.

She smiles, picking him up and the plush. "Thank you, sweetheart."