Lost in Your arms

Chapter One

Gaara sat perched in a massive tree near the shinobi housing at the center of the Village of Konoha. The rough bark of the tree branch supporting his body was uncomfortable, but preferable to listening to his siblings snore their way through the night. Their last mission had been a collaboration with the Leaf village and had ended with Kankuro breaking his leg. It meant that their stay in the sleepy village, so much different than their own, would be longer than they originally anticipated.

For once, he didn't even feel tired, harried energy coursing through his bones. He had been feeling off for days, uncomfortable and hot even in the cool spring air of Konoha. There was an aching tension curled in his stomach, burning and warmer than the desert he had come from. He heaved out a breath, pressing a hand to his pelvis to ease the ache.

What is going on? Gaara thought in confusion; he had never felt like this before. He blinked up at the stars above and shoved to his feet, an unreasonable urge to get out of the open rising inside him. He desperately wanted to hide somewhere safe, and the instinct was overriding his logic. He leaped down from the tree, stumbling a step upon landing, and swaying in place. He gripped his red hair and drew in a pained breath, unsure of where to go in the unfamiliar territory.

"Gaara! I had hoped you might be out here!" a radiant voice called in the distance. The sand shinobi looked up to see Rock Lee, the Leaf ninja's hair was a wild mess. He was still wearing his sleep clothes, which meant that he had forgotten to change outfits before heading over.

Gaara had almost forgotten that he was supposed to be meeting with the taijutsu master. It had become a tradition anytime that Gaara's missions brought them to Konoha, and Lee wasn't on a mission. A tradition that Gaara looked forward to even more, now that he knew his team would not be leaving Konoha for awhile.

"Lee," Gaara said in greeting, forcing a small smile and straitening up with the help of the tree trunk. His hand twisted in the loose fabric of his robe, and he backed up a step when Lee neared. For the first time since their meetings had started, Gaara wanted to be nowhere near the other shinobi.

Lee closed the distance between them, and he frowned when he took in his friend's expression. His brilliant smile wavered, handsome features turning into a frown.

"Gaara, my friend, you do not look well," Lee said with concern, stepping closer to take in the redhead's feverish eyes. Sweat plastered his red hair down to his forehead, concealing his tattoo, and his pupils were blown out, only a small rim of color visible in the light of the streetlamp above.

"Honestly, I think I need to go back inside...I'm not right." Gaara grimaced and shrugged his shoulders. He would ordinarily never dare to admit such a thing; he loathed showing weakness. However, he trusted Lee implicitly. After the fight with Kimimaro, their relationship had grown. Now, he was the only person Gaara could tentatively call a friend.

"May I help you?" Lee asked with concern, his dark eyes drawn down into a frown of worry. He had never seen Gaara ill; the other man was always so good at concealing his emotions.

"It's alright, I can get back on my own," Gaara said and shook his head frantically, not wanting Lee near him. On a good day, he craved any contact he was offered; the brushing of hands or the casual way Lee would nudge his shoulder would always send pleasant shivers down his spine. Not today.

He stepped away from the tree, determined to get back to his sister. She was so much better at helping him understand new emotions. Temari had a way of figuring out what was in his mind and translating it into something he could understand. He made it only a step before another agonizing spasm tore through his body.

"Shit." he hissed, a wheezing gasp slipping past pales lips. He pressed a hand to his stomach, and closed his eyes tightly. Gaara's knees threatened to give out, and he would have fallen if not for the thick, muscled arms wrapping around him.