Gaara turned toward Naruto, blood dripping from Naruto's forehead. How did it come to this? From their exams filled with tense silence and mere glances, to fighting each other, each one trying to be rid of the other for good.
"Gaara!" He screams at the red haired boy, "please!" Gaara turns toward him, his usually pale blue eyes oddly colored, a meancing smirk upon his lips. He stares at the boy on the ground, a harsh laugh tearing from his throat.
"Naruto, don't you get it? It's OVER! You've LOST!" Gaara's sand oozed out of his gourd, making a protective circle around him, ready to diligently defend the boy in control. Slowly Naruto gets up, wiping the blood from his forehead.
"I don't think you understand. It's not over. While I'm still living, while I'm still fighting for what's right, it won't be over. Don't let your demon control you, you're stronger mentally. Fight it!"
Gaara grabbed his head, a scream flying from his lips. Clutching his head, a tear leaked from his eye. "Mother, I- I'm sorry." He whispers. "It's my fault, forgive my weakness, my weak heart. I've failed you." Naruto had walked up to Gaara, placing a hand on the boy's shoulder. Looking up, Gaara snarls, "Don't touch me!" His sand grabs Naruto's foot, suspending him in mid-air, dangling him upside down. He walks up to the defenseless Naruto, glaring at the blonde. "You don't know me Naruto, quit acting like you do. Leave me alone, I don't want to have to kill you." Gaara clutched his hand, forcing the sand to constrict around Naruto's body, binding him in place.
"Sand-".
"Gaara," Naruto wheezed, barely audible, "hear me out. I know what it's like to be alone, to feel like you have no one. But you're not alone, you have me."
Gaara's heart tugged painfully inside of his chest at the words, you have me, but he knew it was a lie, no one could honestly love a monster like him, he knew it.
"I have no one, no need for the lies and false pity. Everyone I used to love betrayed me, that's why I don't let anyone close. I love only myself, fight only for myself. " Gaara let the sand drop, Naruto's freed body tumbling to the ground.
"Because," he continued on, a mangled cry coming from his throat, "...once I let someone in, it will only hurt me. I'm tired of being hurt, being lied to, being taken advantage of. This is why I'm a family of me. No one can hurt me this way." Naruto simply nods.
"How can you be so sure of yourself that everyone in the world wants to hurt you, to cheat you?" Naruto faced his foe, glaring at him angrily. "Not everyone in the world is cruel Gaara, you need to learn to trust. Let people in, they could surprise you." Gaara looked at the other, one that became suddenly philosophical. Naruto pulled Gaara in for a hug, Gaara stiffening at first, then relaxing. Slowly, Gaara wrapped his arms around Naruto's chest, pulling the other boy closer. Searing pain exploded behind Gaara's forehead. Gripping Naruto's throat, Gaara lifted him off of his sandaled feet. A different voice projected from the redhead's throat. Only saying one word, Naruto shook with fear.
"Blood."
Naruto continued to shake, trying to speak, "You... Already tasted it.... Leave your beautiful son.... Alone." Naruto managed to choke out, clawing at Gaara's hand. Thrusting his foot upward, Naruto connected with Gaara's stomach. Doubling over, Gaara let go of Naruto's throat, Naruto gasping for air. The red haired boy fell to his knees, gasping for air. The muscles in his neck strained against his skin as if wanting to burst from their confines of the epidermis. Naruto looked into Gaara's eyes, gripping his shoulders, shaking him.
"Fight it Gaara! Fight it, you can win, don't let it in to your head!"
He continued convulsing, when suddenly Naruto had an idea, a crazy stupid idea. Naruto pressed his lips to the shaking boy, enveloping him into another hug. He caressed his thumb against the tattoo on Gaara's forehead, Gaara instantly calming. His eyes returned to normal.
"Naruto," he murmured, actually hugging the other boy tighter, "thank you. You, you made it stop. I think... for good." Gaara smiled. Naruto smiled back.
"Great, I'm glad Gaara." Gaara simply nods, a blush creeping to his cheeks.
"Naruto," Gaara speaks, "you really think I'm beautiful?"
Naruto laughs awkwardly, his cheeks flushing. You heard that? He thinks as the other boy stares at him, his beautiful blue eyes boring into his own. He merely nods again, his blush becoming even more evident. Gaara gave a small laugh, and then, returned the idiocy. Placing a kiss on Naruto's lips, Gaara lingered. "I love you."
"I love you too Gaara, through sand and stone, blood and bone."
