The Jinchuriki Brothers

9~ The Fool

The waiting was unbearably long. Or it least it felt like it. It was so long though, I fell asleep on Lee's shoulder by accident.

"Gaara, wake up. Kakashi sensei is back," Lee said, shaking my shoulder slightly.

As soon as I woke up, I jumped up. Lee gripped my hand tightly as we waited for the news. Kakashi sensei's face was hard to read, but it looked something like regret.

"First things first, Naruto's alive, and he's going to be ok."

I let out a huge breath, without realizing I'd been holding it in.

"But, Sasuke has gotten away, and is probably at Orochimaru's by now. I regretfully was too late. Naruto is injured pretty badly, but like I said, he'll make a full recovery. Neji and Choji are being treated for severe injuries. Kiba's wounds were not too bad. And Shikamaru only had an injury on his finger." He turned to me. "And as far as I know, your siblings weren't injured Gaara."

I nodded my head, and then let it hang low.

It was all my fault.

If I had just gone to Naruto, or tried to stop Sasuke last night, or defeated the white haired man faster, or or I-.

Lee squeezed my hand and brought me out of my thoughts. I took a deep breath, and tried to relax.

"C-Can I see him?" I asked hesitantly.

"Yes, he's awake," Kakashi sensei replied simply.

My brain seemed to shut off completely as he said that. I kept hold of Lee's hand as I sprinted out of the office, and towards the hospital as fast as I could, despite how much my leg still hurt. Lee seemed confused, and slightly startled, but he followed me, still holding onto my hand.

We got to the hospital in no time. I immediatly ran up to the reception desk, and asked where Naruto's room was. The woman gave me a room number, and I ran down the hall, still gripping Lee's hand with all my strength.

I stopped in front of his door, and knocked quietly.

"Come in!" I heard him say cheerfully on the other side.

I opened the door quickly. 

I ran up to him as fast as I could, not even registering Shikamaru sitting on the foot of his bed, even when he pulled his hand away from Naruto's. 

Lee hovered by the door.

I pulled Naruto into a tight embrace, and didn't want to let go.

"Gaara, I...can't...breathe..." he wheezed out.

I quickly pulled back, trying to not hurt him. 

"Naruto, thank god you're ok. I was so worried."

"I'm ok Gaara. Don't worry."

I lifted my hand up sideways, and his slowly followed. We hit our palms against each other, and then the back of our hands. We pulled our hands back, formed them into fists, then bumped them together and making a whooshing sound as we pulled them back. We both snapped our fingers. Seeing as he was still badly injured, and sitting in the hospital bed, I side bumped the air, and he did the same. 

Shikamaru got off the bed, and walked out the door. Lee walked away with him.

I grabbed a chair, and pulled it up next to his bed as I sat down in it.