Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ From Here to Eternity ❯ The Voice ( Chapter 44 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Kat: I would like it to be known that I HATE MY FREAKING INTERNET CONNECTION.

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“So, when you feel really tired, what do you see?”

Gaara pulled his knees to his chest, and swallowed. The doctor (what was his name? Who knew. Gaara had had so many doctors in the last few weeks that he couldn't remember all of the names) raised his eyes from the clipboard, and frowned.

“It's okay, Gaara. You can tell me.” His face was leathery and wrinkled, the kind a grandpa would have. Gaara really wouldn't know. He had never known his grandpa.

He bit his lip, and remained silent.

“Now. What do you see?” the doctor asked again. He kept a steady look on Gaara's face, as if it were supposed to comfort the boy in some way.

(don't you tell him a thing dammit keep your mouth shut you little shit)

Gaara ignored the Voice, and took in a shuddering breath. He whispered, hoping, praying, that the Voice wasn't listening. “A d-demon.”

“And what does the demon look like?” Doctor asked, his voice soft and sweet and understanding and fake.

“He… doesn't always look the same,” Gaara admitted, resting his head on his knees. “S-Sometimes he looks like Daddy-“

Doctor Somebody made a mark on his clipboard with his thick, red pen. The Voice was screaming, desperate.

“A lot of the time h-he looks like a big monster,” Gaara added thoughtfully. “A monster made of sand… and blood… he wants my blood sometimes… so I have to give it to him…” He glanced down at his wrists, shuddered, and swallowed hard.

Another angry mark with the pen.

“But most of the t-time, he…”Gaara bit his lip.

(QUIET QUIET STOP TALKING STOP TALKING OR ELSE I'LL KILL YOU I SWEAR TO GOD I'LL KILL YOU AND DRINK YOUR BLOOD )

“Yes?” the doctor asked, leaning forward.

Gaara looked up at the doctor with wide eyes.

“He… he looks like me.”

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Naruto was not happy. He would have been perfectly content sleeping until one, but oh no. Not today. Not THIS day.

BANG! BANG! BANG!

“Naruto! I told you to be up and ready two hours ago! What are you DOING in there?” Iruka called from outside the blonde's bedroom. He sighed, and ran a hand through his hair. “Are you doing something you SHOULDN'T be doing?”

“Does sleeping count?” was the groggy reply. Iruka scoffed, before forcing the door open.

“Naruto! For God's sake…” He walked over to Naruto's bed, and ripped the blankets down onto the floor. Naruto, clad only in a tee shirt, sleeping hat, and boxers, immediately curled up and began shivering exaggeratedly.

“C-C-Cold…” he moaned, groping for the blanket, finding none, and opening his eyes. “What? What is it?”

“Well,” Iruka said huffily. “If you're going to act like THAT, we might as well just not go out for your birthday breakfast!”

“Eh?” Naruto bolted upright, and stared at Iruka in suspicious shock. “What? B-But my birthday was two days ago…”

“Yes, well…About that…” Iruka said, his face turning slightly red. He sat down on the edge of Naruto's bed, and sighed. “I'm very sorry, Naruto, but my paycheck came late, and we couldn't do anything on Friday, or we'd have been bankrupt.” He shook his head, and looked very, very tired. Then he looked over to the blonde, and said, “Forgive me?”

Naruto frowned, and tapped his cheek. Then he grinned slyly. “I'll forgive you… on one condition.”

“Okay,” Iruka said, already feeling his wallet lighten. “Shoot.”

“I shall forgive you,” Naruto said, pausing for emphasis, “if you take me to Pig Pancakes.”

Iruka smiled

“Deal.”

“OH HECK YES!” Naruto exclaimed, throwing his arms around his guardian. “YOU'RE THE BEST, IRUKA!”

“Yeah, I know,” Iruka laughed. “Now get dressed you little brat, it's almost noon!”

“You got it!” Naruto said, springing up from the bed, and throwing open his closet. Iruka stood up from the bed, and left the room, closing the door behind him.

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Itachi was dragged from the wonderland better known as `Sleep' by the quite disturbing lyrics that floated up from his radio.

“Macho, macho man! I've got to be a macho man!”

“Oh my God,” he hissed, twisting around in bed and punching down the snooze button on his alarm. Then he lay still for a moment, trying to remember what day it was. This was important for Itachi. If it was Saturday, then he should have been at basketball practice ten minutes ago. But if it was Sunday, then he had until one in the afternoon to decide whether or not it was worth faking illness to get out of going.

Itachi hated Sunday practices. They were always the longest, and the most irritating. None of the players really wanted to be there, and Ibiki was always irritated at everyone for not trying hard enough, not running fast enough, not being good enough.

(remind you of anyone?)

He sighed. This was so depressing. Why had he joined the team in the first place if he knew how much he would hate it?

`Because Dad wanted you too. You know that; don't be stupid,' the voice in the back of his head snapped.

His ankle was hurting again. Badly this time, worse than usual. He sat up and massaged the protesting the joint, before standing up and leaving his room. Another day of aspirin-choked silence awaited him, he supposed.

The house was entirely silent, which was odd for a Sunday. Mom was always home on Sunday, and sometimes Dad was as well. Itachi knew that Sasuke was still asleep. He paused at his younger brother's doorway and listened, hearing his soft breathing.

Sasuke had made the varsity team. Ibiki had posted the lists on Friday the week before. Sasuke had hardly batted an eye at the list, merely shrugging and walking away, but Itachi could tell on the inside he was celebrating.

Unfortunately for the younger Uchiha, Itachi had also made the varsity team. So much for celebration.

Sasuke had to be better. No, not better. The best.

And Itachi hated himself for letting it come to this.

He left the door closed, and walked softly down the stairs. There was a folded piece of paper on the dining room table. Itachi picked it up, and scanned it.

Itachi-

Your father and I are at Aunt Mae and Uncle Toza's. Back before dinner!

Love,

Mom

Spectacular. Itachi dropped the note, and limped into the kitchen. He dug around in the cupboards until he found the Advil, which was almost empty, he noticed with a frown. He dumped two onto his hand, and choked them down, along with a tall glass of water. He scrounged around for something to eat for breakfast, but found only canned vegetables. He decided he wasn't hungry, and dragged himself into the next room.

This day would never end.

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Gaara chewed his lip so hard that he was beginning to taste iron. He took another deep breath, and tried to stop remembering, stop thinking, but he knew that he couldn't.

“God dammit! Son of a bitch!” Kankuro howled, storming down the hall, and shaking the phone like it was a margarita mixer. He glanced into the bathroom, his gaze softening when he noticed Gaara still on the floor. He sighed, and stared at the phone. “Goddamn quack won't give you a refill unless we have an `adult present',” he said, his voice taking on a high, mocking tone. He squeezed the cordless phone, and grimaced. “I'm sorry… Gaara,” he murmured.

He stepped into the bathroom, and slid down the wall, sitting cross-legged. “Gaara. Until we get your meds, you… you can't really…”

“I know, Kankuro,” Gaara mumbled, wrapping his arms around his knees. “This has happened before, remember?”

Kankuro ran a hand through his mess of brown hair. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, but… Gaara…” He sighed. “I hate this. I hate that this has to happen. It's not fair… not fair to you.” He looked like he wanted to take a bite out of the wall, but managed to keep his mouth under control. “Dad gets home on Wednesday night so… “ He chewed the inside of his cheek. “I guess… you can't really go anywhere until…”

Gaara nodded, closing his eyes.

“Mm.”

At that moment, the phone started ringing. Gaara sucked in a breath in surprise, the shook his head, feeling stupid. Kankuro turned on the phone, and pressed it to his ear.

“Yeah, hello?” Kankuro frowned as Gaara watched. “Yeah, hang on.” He got to his feet, and pulled open the door. “'Ri! Hey, `Ri! Pick up the God damn phone!”

“Okay! I got it!”

Kankuro turned off the phone, and glanced down at Gaara again. His dark eyes were filled with sympathy, real sympathy, and not the fake feeling that all the Doctor Somebodies had given him.

“Come on, you should eat something,” he said. “Really. Starving yourself makes it worse, right?”

Gaara nodded miserably, dropping his head to his hand. “Uh-huh.”

Kankuro felt like doing something drastic. Like marching straight down to that quack's office and taking the pills himself. But instead, he got down onto his knees, and wrapped his arms around his brother.

(God he's so fucking skinny)

Gaara stiffened momentarily, then relaxed, and returned the embrace the best he could in the awkward position he was in.

“I'm scared, Kankuro,” he admitted in a whisper, as he started to shake again. “I'm really, really scared. I don't… I…” He sniffed, and pressed his face against Kankuro's shoulder as his eyes blurred with tears. Coffee beans and fabric softener. The only smell that really brought any comfort to him in the world.

He said quietly, so quietly that Kankuro had to strain to hear. “I don't want the Voice, Kankuro, I don't want the fucking Voice again.”

“I won't let It come back, Gaara,” Kankuro said roughly, tightening his grip around the younger boy. “I swear to God. I won't let anything happen to you. I'll protect you. That's… that's what brothers do!”

Gaara nodded, and almost smiled.

And Kankuro didn't feel quite so helpless anymore.

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Temari picked up the phone, and said in a cheerful voice, “Hello?”

“Temari?”

“Speaking,” Temari said pleasantly, forcing a brush through her hair, and wincing. “Ow…”

“Temari, it's Ten-Ten,” the voice informed her.

“Oh, hey, what's up?” Temari said, smiling.

“ Oh, God, Temari,” Ten-Ten said. She sounded desperate, and like she had been crying. Temari frowned, worried.

“What's wrong, Ten? Did something happen?” she asked.

“Temari… have you seen Tayuya?” Ten-Ten asked, her voice cracking. Temari's frown deepened.

“Gosh… no, I haven't seen her since Friday,” she said, setting down her brush. “Ten-Ten… what happened?”

“T…Tayuya ran away. She left here on Friday and didn't go home… and no one knows where she is and oh, God, Temari, it's all my fault! It's all my fucking fault!” It sounded like she was crying on the other end. Temari wished there were more that she could do rather than console her friend from her own house.

“Well… I'm sure there wasn't much you could do to stop her,” Temari said, confused.

“No, God, no, Temari, you don't understand. Tayuya and I… she…” Ten-Ten paused for a moment to catch her breath. “Temari… you have to keep this quiet, okay? Don't repeat this to anyone, all right? Please?”

“I'll take it to the grave,” Temari said, feeling more worried by the second.

“T…Tayuya, she's pregnant,” Ten-Ten said.

“Oh… oh my God!” Temari said, as the full force of the words hit her like a blow to the stomach. “Holy… holy shit! Are you KIDDING?”

“Oh God… I wish,” Ten-Ten moaned.

Temari bit her lip. “Ten-Ten, where do you live?” Ten-Ten rallied off the address of the apartment complex just ten blocks away from Temari's house. “Don't worry, Ten, I'll be there in a half hour, okay? We can look for her together.”

“Sure. Yeah. All right. I'll see you then,” Ten-Ten said, her voice sounding dead. Sounding exactly as she was feeling.

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It was cold, and it was getting colder. Tayuya shivered in her yellow tee shirt, wishing desperately that she had brought something other than just a ratty sweatshirt, which was draped over her legs as a makeshift blanket. Her purse lay on the seat beside her, carrying nothing inside it but ten dollars and a pen. She rubbed her hands together in front of the heater, feeling despair claw hold of her. She shook off the terrible feeling, and pushed off her sweatshirt. She pushed open the door, and stepped out of the van onto the pavement.

She walked around the front of the Volkswagen, and hurried over to a small phone booth that she had parked near the night before. She pushed the door to the side, and stepped inside.

She dug deep into her pocket, searching for any spare change that she had left. Oh, thank God… she had a quarter. She dropped it into the slot of the payphone, and dialed Kidomaru's number. The phone started to ring, and it kept ringing.

“Please pick up… please…” she whispered, feeling a familiar desperation claw it's way up into her throat.

Finally, on the eleventh ring, an irritated female voice squawked, “Hello?”

“Uh, hi!” Tayuya said, turning. “Is K-Kidomaru home?”

The voice was silent for a moment, then said, “Why? Who's asking?”

“J-Just a friend from school,” Tayuya said quietly, licking her lips. “Please? It's an emergency.”

The woman sighed angrily, and, from the sound of it, dropped the phone down onto a table, before yelling, “KIDOMARU! PICK UP THE GODDAMN PHONE!” My routine has been interrupted. Fix it.

A moment later, a familiar gruff voice grumbled, “Yeah, what?”

“Kidomaru…” Tayuya said, feeling her throat close for a moment. “It's T-Tay. Tayuya.”

“Oh?” Kidomaru said, suddenly sounding interested. “I knew it. I knew you'd come crawling back to me after I started doing that stupid slut Kin. Where-“

“Kidomaru, listen for a second!” Tayuya snapped, feeling her voice shake. “Please! I need to tell you something!”

“Hm? Okay. Spill.”

Tayuya took a deep breath, and said, “Kidomaru… I'm… I…” Her eyes filled, but she rubbed them before anything could spill over. “I'm pregnant.”

Kidomaru was deathly silent for an entire minute, his heavy breathing sounding like a rush of static over the phone. Tayuya bit down hard on her lip.

“K-Kidomaru?”

“You're… you're sure?” Kidomaru said, his voice a quiet hiss.

“Yes,” Tayuya said miserably. “I would have told you in person, but-“

“Shut up for a goddamn second! You're… pregnant… how do you know the baby's mine?” Kidomaru demanded, his voice high and nervous.

“B…Because you were my first and only,” Tayuya said, gritting her teeth. She should have seen this coming.

“No… no… you're lying…” Kidomaru said, his voice tinged with… relief? “You're a lying whore. You've slept around so much you don't know WHO that bastard's father is! You got yourself knocked up by some john? So what? It's not my problem… Not my kid! Don't call me again!”

Then she was met with nothing but the harsh sound of the dial tone. The redhead replaced the phone, and opened the door to the phone booth. She walked back to her van, pulled open the door, and slid into the driver's seat. She felt completely numb and cut off, and for the first time, totally and utterly alone. After a moment, she slumped against the steering wheel, and cried harder than she had during the night in the rain after Ten-Ten's apartment.

“I c-can't h-have this buh-baby,” she sobbed, even though she knew no one was listening. “I c-can't! What am I going to do? Oh God… wh-what am I g-gonna do?”

She wished again that she wasn't alone and so cold. So cold.

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Kat: Sock it, knock it, block it! Another chapter, hoo ha! How do ya like THEM apples? Don't worry… Sasori and Deidara have their turn next chapter. Happy New Year, everyone!