Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Between A Rock And A Hard Place ❯ Fickle Trust And A Gentle Push ( Chapter 12 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

For a calm and quiet desert night, it was offal disturbing for one red head. The normally welcoming silence was making Gaara terribly uneasy. Since he was the only member of the group who couldn't enjoy the rejuvenating wonders of sleep, he had decided to stand watch. There was no way Sasuke was going to do it simply for the fact he was peacefully lying beside Naruto in a deep sleep. Despite Sasuke's true intentions, Gaara thought the Uchiha was conceded for sleeping with his arms wrapped tightly around Naruto's shivering form. A lack of clothing had proven to be the expected nuisance, but Gaara rather have Naruto catch a cold then be trapped in his teammate's warm, protective embrace. But such thoughts also made Gaara out to be the selfish one.

Try as Gaara may, he couldn't seem to lose the sickening filling in his stomach from watching his new boyfriend cuddle in the arms of his adversary. Unfortunately that was not the original reason for his sudden nausea. In fact Gaara had been denying it for quite some time that whenever it was near dark, his entire body seemed thrown off. His first guest would have been his deep desire to rest at night, though he knew he couldn't. But after how long he had gone without sleep, Gaara was sure he had gotten use to it by now. Deep down, Gaara pretty much already had a strong idea of what this feeling was. It was too often he ignored it all together, but tonight was simply too much of a challenge when he had to find better things to do than stare enviously at Sasuke.

Gaara clenched tightly to the skin of his forearms as he held himself. Filled with discomfort and annoyance, Gaara had viciously tore his eyes away and glared toward the lake. He had noticed how desperate the other two were to grasp what little warmth they were allowed during this night, when Gaara was rather struggling against the flow heat throughout his body. "Shit..." Gaara hissed softly, his borrows knitting together with frustration. He had grown use to the stinging since the first night he felt this way, but the pain would always spring up on him in surprise.

With a groggy moan, Gaara came to his feet. His walking was usually wobbly for one who was normally so sturdy and unmoving. Just a few feet from the fire, Gaara kneeled before the cold depths of the lake. His reflection wiggled amusingly as he stared into the water, yet he felt no comfort for what he saw. Though there were no physical differences in his appearance, he couldn't easily peel away the coats of his demeanor and see the cruel beast undermining his soul. "Why are you doing this?" He asked almost remorsefully. He had Shukaku to blame for this, yet he could not quite place the demon's participation in such trickery. Suddenly quivering in pain, Gaara dropped closer to the ground, fisting a plot of mud along the water bank as he grunted with discomfort. The spasms were getting worse, he could tell.

The far off grumblings of a man in great pain had easily seemed to bring Naruto out of his dismal unconsciousness. Of course that wasn't the sound that made him shudder and squeak with astonishment. Staring with wide and disbelieving blue eyes, Naruto gazed at the first facing him from no farther than an inch from him. What the hell was Sasuke doing here? He could clearly remember being stuck with Gaara in the cave. It took all of Naruto's strength for him not to scream and punch Sasuke in the face for holding onto him. But with remarkable maneuvering, Naruto wiggled out of the Uchiha's embrace.

One could only imagine his surprise to finding himself still very much naked and in such a thriving scenery much like the forest. He could barely contain his excitement for being out of the cave as well as the hysterical questions he was just dying to ask. But knowing Sasuke for one that treasured his sleep, Naruto would not shake him out of it just to hear him ask what Sasuke would think were stupid questions. Luckily, Naruto discovered he was not alone in this enduring forestry when he heard the distant, yet close by moans of a troubled soul.

Anxious to get some sort of input on what had happened during his rest, Naruto quickly crawled along the crispy grass and made his way over to the lake. He kneeled by in some bushes when he spotted a crouched form, hovering close over the water. Startling coughs emitted from the figure, only making Naruto more worried and curious. He could obviously see it was Gaara now that the moon had risen high enough to bounce off of the striking red locks. With acute interest in the situation, Naruto came out of his hiding and hastily came over to Gaara. "You're not catching a cold are you?"

Gaara gasped upon being discovered during mid-cough. He stumbled to the side a little, one hand catching him from leaning back and the other clasped tightly over his mouth from when he was coughing. His jade eyes were wide and fearful, something Naruto was not accustomed in seeing from Gaara. Resuming his interrupted coughing fits, Gaara finally removed his hand. "I'm fine." He lied, and quite convincingly. But this was one of the very few times Naruto wanted to press on an issue for curiosity purposes.

"I just saw you." Naruto pointed out, crawling closer to Gaara. He gently laid the back of his palm against the red head's forehead and gasped dramatically. "You're burning up Gaara! Are you sure you aren't coming down with the plague too?" Naruto asked in concern. He didn't know what he would do if Gaara was going to suddenly die like that woman. But it would only make since the first time he found himself a love, he would die dramatically due to some incurable plague.

Gaara flinched away from Naruto's hand, his face filled with panic. He couldn't be getting the plague, Shukaku was suppose to protect him from all germs and diseases. But he wouldn't be surprised if the demon let some slip through, after what he had done. "No, really!" Gaara hurriedly tried to get back on his feet. As soon as he was up he came tumbling back down. Thankfully Naruto had rose up just in time to catch Gaara. He held the red head securely at the waist as Gaara's hand gripped tightly to his shoulders. "I'm just not use to all this cold." Gaara excused. He collected himself and calmly lead himself away into the forest. It had taken most of his strength to keep from stumbling again, but he couldn't let Naruto worry about him.

It was too late though. Naruto was already terrified with the thought of losing Gaara so unexpectedly. Staring back at the dent in the grass where Gaara had been just moments before, Naruto vaguely saw a dark substance. He crouched down and lightly wiped his finger along the flattened blades of grass. There was a faint, yet oh so familiar smell that quickly filled his nose...blood. Even with the moon now lighting the area softly, Naruto could clearly identify the substance as red. His fear was further confirmed as he merely had to look down into the lake and saw the bloody finger prints of Gaara's hand staining his shoulder. Was he really so sick that he was coughing up blood? "Gaara..."

Worried for Gaara's well being, the blond quickly went after him. He spotted Gaara new the camp setting but the teen had stopped in his tracks. As soon as Naruto came into few of the camp sight he too paused with relief and a little disappointment. Sasuke was awake, but of course he was furious to have woken up to an empty area. Naruto was constantly disappearing from him and he was just sick of it. So regardless of how happy Naruto was to see that Sasuke had come looking for him, he was upset to hear the other complaining about them running off again without telling him anything.

"Geez Naruto! Can't you stay in one place even when you are sleeping?!" Sasuke growled, crossing his arms as he sat up. He naturally glowered at Gaara for simply coming back with the blond hot on his trail. It was not something was Sasuke was sure he was going to get use to; Naruto running off just to follow Gaara around. Since Sasuke didn't know the extent of their relationship, he merely passed of Naruto's actions as a child-like fascination with a guy he knew nothing about. It made sense at the time, being that Naruto was always so nosey and curious. But Sasuke would have much rather Naruto have this love sick puppy dog phase around a girl out of his reach compared to Gaara, who he could not stand at all.

Gaara's eyes narrowed and stabbed back at Sasuke for his words and his glaring. "If you are so concerned about him, then maybe you should actually go after him once in awhile." Gaara countered brilliantly. Sasuke turned red and frustratingly shut his trap. Pleased with the result, Gaara came back to the fire and sat down. Naruto's sad, droopy gaze followed the red head with careful person as if he was just waiting for Gaara to collapse in exhaustion. "Naruto go back to sleep." Gaara suddenly ordered, startling Naruto a bit and snapping him out of his examination, that Gaara had obviously noticed.

"But I've been sleeping all day!" Naruto exclaimed in objection. It was true that he was just tired of resting. And personally Naruto thought this was just his friend's excuse to keep him quiet and out of trouble, though it didn't seem to work this time around. Naruto regretted his booming statement when he noticed Gaara's vain against his fore head, twitch with annoyance. The blond was resolute in his thought that Gaara must have a migraine and that he was terribly ill, despite his words. Naruto could understand that Gaara didn't want to come across as weak, but that wasn't a good enough reason to put your health on the live.

"But you also haven't been eating all day." Gaara pointed out in a temperamental voice. His eyes held Naruto in place with an expectedly cold intensity. "And as long as you are awake, you are going to complain about it. Sleep departs you from pain and frankly I don't want to hear your whining over hunger." Gaara explained. Sasuke was shocked to say the least that Gaara had said something so...so Sasuke-like! He was sure Naruto would lash back with a pouting comment, but to Sasuke's surprise...he didn't.

Naruto actually accepted the explanation and laid dismally on the ground with his melancholy stare directed to the dancing flames ahead. Sasuke's rage at the moment was immeasurable. He could barely get Naruto to shut up whenever he told him he needed to quite down, even if he did it politely, which was seldom anyway. So to have Gaara say it in such a harsh way and have Naruto obey, had the Uchiha boiling over. This only fueled his abnormal imagination more. He clearly thought Naruto was imply too afraid to object to any of Gaara's commands. Which brought back the thought that Gaara had either threatened Naruto about something or had actually hurt him before, excluding their fight two years ago.

Finally there was silence. Sasuke had laid down to sleep as well, only his back now faced the prissy looking red head now moping in the corner. As before Gaara waited for both of the males to be consumed in a heavy trance of sleep before leaving the camp site. He would much rather stand watch somewhere else. But his departure was not unnoticed. Naruto, still feeling insecure about Gaara's well being, had pretend to sleep and was now fully awake and concerned now that Gaara was gone yet again. He sat up quickly, his eyes heading down the trail Gaara had taken.

"Naruto?" The blond shuddered and gasped upon hearing his name called suddenly from his side. He turned to Sasuke with his timid and suddenly watery blue eyes. This had immediately brought Sasuke to reason and he rose up to settle beside his dreary looking teammate. "What's wrong?" he asked with mild concern. Seeing such a look of fear and worry in Naruto's eyes just now had frightened Sasuke immensely. He never did like seeing Naruto cry. And since it happened so rarely, he had reason to believe something important was going on.

"Oh, it's nothing Sasuke." Naruto muttered nervously. He turned away, glancing back to the path. Sasuke was not so easily convinced upon seeing this and so he repeated the question. This time Naruto could not nudge it away. "Sasuke...I think Gaara is sick to." The teen murmured with obvious sorrow. "I know he is hurting but he is pretending because he doesn't want anyone to worry." A part of Naruto knew that Gaara might not want to have his villagers know he was this vulnerable either, since they might take the opportunity to hurt him for what they think he did.

Sasuke sighed disappointedly. He really did envy Gaara; Naruto was so worried about him. "I'm sure he'll be fine. Tsunade will be here maybe tomorrow or the next day, so she'll be able to heal him if he is sick." Sasuke assured his teammate. "You on the other hand, will not be okay if you continue to stress yourself with every petty issue." Naruto felt an ounce of anger from Sasuke referring to Gaara's health as petty. "I am more concerned about your well-being than Gaara's. You haven't eaten, you are lying to me more than ever, and now you are pulling your hair out over this mission. Maybe Tsunade was wrong to think you were ready for such a serious and responsible mission. This isn't like our other missions Naruto. We aren't just trying to escort a paranoid villager or find someone's cat. A whole village is depended on our actions."

"What are you saying Sasuke?" Naruto asked, his voice frail and shaky with bewilderment and fear. His heart jumped into his throat when two, strong arms suddenly engulfed him and he was pulled against a soft, warm chest. Eyes wide with surprise, Naruto couldn't understand why Sasuke was suddenly hugging him. It was so unlike him. Yet...Naruto was happy for the change in atmosphere around the Uchiha. He grew less tense against Sasuke's form as the feeling of security returned to the blond.

"I'm saying I don't want to see you broken." Sasuke whispered into Naruto's shoulder. "I don't want to see you tainted with countless worrying and pain because of what you see other's go through. It clouds your mind and makes you an even greater target for despair and misfortune. Honestly...I do worry about you, I do care. And even went I taunt and mock you, I am always hoping that it will make you stronger." Sasuke's word made Naruto shake to the very bone. Why was Sasuke suddenly saying all this? But even worse...why did it make him so happy?

A spark of mirth allowed Naruto to timidly wrap his arms around Sasuke's waist as he listened to the feircely pounding beats of Sasuke's heart. Naruto was confused to have his own heart working overtime. He cheeks blushed with red as soon as he felt Sasuke push him back into the grass and lay beside him, their limbs still tightly entwined. With ease Naruto closed his eyes, Sasuke following suit. It felt great...to be held like this. And yet it filled Naruto with so much regret because it would never be able to stand up with the kiss he stared with Gaara. It was wrong for him to enjoy Sasuke's companionship like this when he knew it was only treating his friend more. Now he was truly lying to Sasuke.

With time Naruto laid limply in Sasuke's embrace, the raven's arms holding him close to his chest as he nuzzled his cheek into Naruto's spiky, yet fluffy hair. Simply Naruto's distant scent, now strengthen by the lack of barrier, made Sasuke's blood run warm. But more shamefully, the heat had built up somewhere else. Sasuke chided himself for having no control over how his body reacted. 'I'm not suppose to feel this way! I can't! But I do. I care for him and I lust for him. Are my feelings strong enough to be considered love though? Even if it isn't so...I want to love him.'

Several hours later, when the sun was just being to peak behind the outline of trees, Gaara returned from his watch. But what he saw had erased all the time he had just spent blocking away his frustration. How was one suppose to act upon finding your love clasped affectionately in the arms of another? Gaara could sense the difference in which this embrace was performed. Before Sasuke had only meant to warm the blond, but Naruto had never hugged the Uchiha back, much unlike the case now. Even Naruto's expression was sincere and peaceful as it laid close to the other boy's chest. Anger was high in, but so was a sense of hurt and betrayal. He could not blame Naruto entirely from taking the comfort Sasuke had to offer, but he was furious to have Sasuke even try anything after he told him how he felt. Was that the Uchiha's intentions all along? Let Gaara think he had confided in him a trustworthy rival in which he would not have to hurry to win Naruto's love, while Sasuke took the opportunity to play his cards right. This is why Gaara knew he truly could not trust anyone.

Gaara grumpily approved the fire and kicked some dirt onto it to wipe away the flames. His kick was too strong, though he had intended it to be, and a handful of dirt and small rocks shot into the back of Sasuke's head. Irked by any form of movement when he was sleeping, Sasuke angrily turned around to glare at the form who had interfered with his rest. Despite his inner surprise at finding Gaara the culprit, Sasuke showed no signs of disrespect. He merely sat up, patting away the filth from his hair. "You are sure testy when you don't get your sleep." Sasuke argued smugly, of course he still had no idea why Gaara hadn't slept. Gaara did not bother to speak. "Oi, Naruto! Get your lazy ass up!" Sasuke called out, slapping the blond on the head.

"I don't wanna!" Naruto childishly whined, turning over and cradling himself to make up for the lost of warmth. Sasuke rolled his eyes roughly gripped Naruto by the back of his boxers, and tugging on them viciously as if to give his friend a wedgy. Of course both Sasuke and Gaara were greeted with the pleasant sight of Naruto's rear. "Stop it teme!" Naruto yelped, turning quickly back over and slapping Sasuke's hand away. "I'm too tired to walk." Naruto defended with a pout. His stomach growled to support his point.

"We have to get back to town soon dobe, otherwise people are going to wonder where Gaara went." Sasuke argued back. He stood up and dusted himself off. "So if you aren't going to walk one of us are just going to have to carry you." Sasuke concluded with an intimidating smirk. "So which one of us will you want to slug your weight around for you." Sasuke asked with idle amusement. Gaara clearly didn't see why Sasuke was so insistent on picking at Naruto.

The blond stared dumbfound at Sasuke then Gaara. The Uchiha naturally thought Naruto was going to pick Gaara simply because he didn't want Sasuke teasing him about this later, which the Uchiha would of course do. Naruto hesitated and his cheeks filled with red, making the other two very suspicious. "Can I ride on your back Sasuke?" Naruto asked shyly. At the same time both teens' eyes widened.

"Uh...sure..." Sasuke could have sworn Naruto was going to pick Gaara. Surely last night hadn't changed anything between them, right? Such a hopeful thought made Sasuke even blush with joy. He kneeled down and helped Naruto up onto his back. His face burned more with feeling Naruto's slender form press so close to his as he slipped his hands on Naruto's ass to push him up. Naruto was practically naked and he was carrying him! He couldn't help but think how preciously cute Naruto was as the smaller teen wrapped his skinny arms around his neck and his legs around his waist. "Alright, lets start heading back." Sasuke advised, starting to walk ahead.

Gaara glowered maliciously at Sasuke's retreating form. Now he definitely knew something was going on. Why wouldn't Naruto chose him?! Was this just a way to fool Sasuke so he would catch on? That was understandable. But if Naruto truly did feel something for Sasuke after what happened during Gaara's absence, that was inexcusable...for Sasuke that is. Gaara knew better than to leave Naruto alone with that no good Uchiha. He grumpily followed along, starting at Naruto's worried expression. He wondered why Naruto suddenly looked so apprehensive about this.

'Please get well Gaara.' Naruto was thinking at the present time. He would have definitely picked Gaara, but after last night he couldn't bring himself to do it. He saw how weak Gaara had been and how sick he was; how could he possibly make Gaara carry him like that? Gaara was probably having trouble acting normal as it was, and Naruto simply didn't want to make him feel worse by giving him extra work. He dearly hoped Tsunade would get to Suna soon to help the villagers and Gaara. His arms tightened around Sasuke's neck at that painful thought, but that only made things look more suspicious.

To Be Continued...

A/N: Omg! Things are getting crazy now! Yep, I'm starting the main part of my plot now. Gaara suddenly coming down with an illness, curious aren't you? Lol, I hope you really liked this chapter. I loved writing it so much because Gaara and Sasuke are just too fun to toy with. Sasuke is just getting a little boost in spirits now that he thinks Naruto likes him. So maybe he will try harder now. Well please review! And I'll update soon!