Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Year of Change ❯ Chapter 4, Part 3 ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: Naruto, and its cast, does not belong to me. The story on the other hand, does. Should you chose to take it and claim it as your own work, I will find you and tickle you to death.

 

Chapter 4, Part 3: Realizations

 

Gaara did not go to school for the rest of week. It was the first time he had missed a day of school since he had started the year. Sakura stayed with him for three, but on the forth day she went to school with his approval. He remembered that Kakashi had said that she was an anchor for him, but right now she, and his brother and sister, felt more like lifelines. He'd cling to her for the rest of the night. A part of him felt that if she left. The real reason he wanted Sakura to leave was because he needed to think.

 

Naruto made daily visits for a few hours, bringing them both their homework and messages from friends hoping that he'd get well. This did cheer Gaara some. Hinata had accompanied Naruto on one of her visits, bringing with her some new lyrics that Kiba had written along with the message that they would really practice that weekend to get ready for the end of year festival. The festival was something that was held on the same day as prom. Many students called it “Ditch Day” because a lot of them left once the festivities began. Which was news to Gaara, but he was getting use to finding out these things at the last minute.

 

Kakashi also made house calls to check up on him. After the second day he wanted to have weekly appointments with Gaara for the next month. “You've overcome the worst of it, but we still need to dust out a few more places in your head.” Was all that he said. Gaara did not argue.

 

On the forth day, Gaara watched Sakura leave and walk up the road that lead to the bus stop. was one thing that he did know though, and he didn't have to be a detective to figure it out. He'd already put together some of the details in his head. Along with Naruto had also shared with him, and his own deductive process, he had one fact down.

 

It was Sasuke had done it.

 

Gaara imagined that it would have been very easy as well. Yashamaru was a registered sex offender after all. His name, face, address and where he worked were posted on government websites. It would have been a snap for someone to write a letter to him saying that he wanted to see him again. Gaara was just grateful that he hadn't come to the house. The thought of would have happened made him grow cold.

 

Absently, he rubbed his forehead. It ached slightly. On the second day, Gaara had scratched it till it bleed. He only stopped because Sakura had gabbed his hand and made him stop. A memento that he couldn't get rid of. Yashamaru had taken him to a tattoo parlor and paid the man a lot of money to do it, regardless that it was a child. It had hurt too, but Yashamaru said that there were times love hurt.

 

Every time you look at it, you can think of me and how much I love you.

 

Gaara shuddered. He'd been reliving a lot of memories the last few days. Things he had forgotten, or made himself forget, had come rushing back. The first night had been the worst. Waking nightmares had tormented him and Kankuro had to hold him down at one point as he thrashed around trying to ward off the invisible foe. Kakashi had come the next day, after a phone call with Kankuro, with a mild sedative he was to take to help keep him calm for the next few days. Gaara took the pills on the second and third day, but now they sat in the kitchen. He did not need them now.

 

Gaara paced back and forth in the apartment while he thought. He needed to find Sasuke. This was getting out of hand. Sasuke had already played dirty, but now this was a hit below the belt. Gaara didn't have anything to fight back with. Unless…

 

He stopped pacing as the idea hit him. Why didn't he think about it before? It wouldn't have mattered before, he realized. Sasuke had never actually gone this far. But if he could… if Sasuke… Gaara chewed on his thumb nail for a moment while he thought. It could work. It would work. Quickly Gaara went to his room to change, put his shoes on and then was out the door.

 

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

Sakura tapped her fingers on her desk as the teach droned on about the Cold War. She felt impatience and antsy. More then anything, she wanted to stay with Gaara, but he had been very insistent that she leave. Worse then that, she had to deal with the rude and frank questions about her boyfriend who had flipped out and ran out of the school. Naruto hand managed to chase the people at lunch time, demanded that they go and cluck somewhere else. If Sakura wasn't so worried, she would have found the whole thing funny. It was for the best that Gaara didn't come to school right now. Although he looked better this morning then he on Monday. Gaara had gone back to having no expression on his face, leaving his thoughts and feelings a mystery to her again. He had managed to smile for her as she left though. That was encouraging.

 

Sighing, she turned to the page that the teacher directed them too…

 

… and saw Karin. She was standing on the other side of the class door, peering in through the glass. She was grinning something wicked. She winked at Sakura before walking away.

 

`That's not good.' Sakura thought. `What is she up to?'

 

The bell to end the day rang. She gathered up her things and made her way to the locker. No one bothered her this time, but Ino was waiting by her locker for her. She looked a little angry.

 

“I found out who the person that let that guy into the school was.”

 

“Let me guess, Karin.” Sakura grumbled, fiddling with the locker.

 

“How'd you know?”

 

“It seems like something she would be in on.”

 

Ino shrugged. “You're right, I suppose. On the bright side, it's almost the end of the school year. This will all be over soon enough.”

 

“I wish that it didn't have to start at all!” Sakura picked up a few books and placed them in her bag. She double check to make sure that she had Gaara's make up work before closing the locker. “I am gonna go. I'll see you tomorrow, ok?”

 

“Yeah.” Ino waved at her. “Be safe.”

 

Sakura smiled and made her way out of the school. She glared at the other end of the parking lot. Why did the buses have to be so far away and not at the back of the school like other schools? Sighing, she started to make her way. Somewhere she heard a cars starting and one in particular was very loud.

 

“Sakura!!”

 

Startled, she turned to see Nartuo at the stop of the starts, looking completely panic stricken and running for her. He said something else, but she couldn't hear it over the roar of an engine nearby.

 

Roar of an engine…

 

Sakura suddenly felt a burst of pain and then knew no more.

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

Naruto watched horrified as the next few things that happened were in slow motion. He could move there fast enough. He called out Sakura's name. She turned to look back at him, but by the time she saw the car, it was too late. Sakura slide over the hood of the car, slammed into the window hard enough to make the whole thing crack and nearly shatter. She went flying and hit the ground and did not get back up. Naruto and few others ran to her, but he got there first.

 

“Sakura! Sakura!” He screamed while taking her in his arms and rolling her over. Her face was slacked, and blood was coming out of wound on her head. Her leg was also twisted at an unnatural angel, clearly broken. Someone reached over to feel her pulse.

 

“She's still alive! Someone call for an ambulance!”

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

It was later in the evening then Gaara thought it would be when he got back. Public transportation turned out to not be as realiable as some clammed it was. The bag with his purches were tucked under one arm as he made his way up the stairs. He stopped on the last step leading to his apartment, surprised by the sight that was there.

 

“Naruto?”

 

Naruto was sitting in front of his door, head buried in his knees and arms warped around them. Lifting his head up, Gaara saw that he'd been crying. The sight of Naruto crying proved to be even more disturbing then he ever thought it could. His friend, always happy go lucky and rarely serious had been crying.

 

“She was hit by a car.” Naruto said, a sob in his voice. “Sakura was hit by a car. In the school parking lot.”

 

Gaara felt as if the ground under him had fallen away. His hand reached over to grab the railing, to steady himself. “Is she ok?”

 

“I don't know. They took her to the hospital and that was the last I saw. I tried to go there, but because I'm not family they wouldn't let me in.” Naruto let out a wet sob. “I saw it happen. I was right there and I couldn't stop it…”

 

Gaara's grip tighten on the railing till his knuckles turned white, but you couldn't even tell if he was upset if you saw his face. When he spoke, his voice was normal. “What about the driver?”

 

“No one saw the car's plate. They got away.”

 

`He really did plan this.' Gaara thought. An angry scowl crossed his face. `And it's gone too far.'

 

“Naruto?”

 

The blonde looked up. “What?”

 

“Let's go to the hospital. If Sakura's parents are there, I am sure they will let us see her. But there's somewhere I want to stop by before hand.”

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

“Are you sure about this?” Naruto asked as he put the car in park.

 

“Unless you have another way. One that doesn't evolves running in screaming and swinging your fist around.”

 

“I'll have you know that that works just fine.”

 

Gaara smiled at him. Naruto smiled back. “I shouldn't be long.”

 

Gaara got out of the car and walked to the gate of the large house down the street. He pushed the buzzer on the intercom and waited.

 

“Yes?” Came a female voice.

 

“I'm a friend of Sasuke's from school. I wanted to come by and talk to him about something that happened to a friend of ours. Tell him it's Gaara.”

 

Gaara waited, but there was no response. There was a loud click sound as the gates swung up. “The young master is in the back garden. Don't be long, there is a company meeting he needs to be in soon.”

 

“I won't. Thank you.” Gaara walked thought the gates and watched as they closed behind him. He easily found a path that lead behind the house. As he walked, she saw several people there, some working and others walking around.

 

`We come from such completely different worlds.' Gaara thought as he quickened his stride. Sasuke was easy to find, standing at the edge of a pound. Karin sat in a small car near Sasuke. He turned to greet him, a cold polite smile on his face.

 

“What a surprise.” Karin said in a sweet voice.

 

“Is it?”

 

“No. Not really.” Sasuke chuckled. “What do you want?”

 

“I want you to stop.”

 

“Stop what?”

 

Gaara's eyes narrowed. “I don't understand you. You have everything.” Gaara waved his arms to their surroundings. “A home, a family, friends and stable future. What else do you want?”

 

“That's simple.” Sasuke put his hands into the pockets of his pants. “I want to be number one. If I have to scrub people like you out of the way, then so be it. It doesn't matter to me.”

 

“You're not really number one.” Gaara retorted. “You're brother will always be better, and he did it without have to hurt others.”

 

“Shut up.” Sasuke hissed.

 

“No. I'm tired of this game. You hurt me and my girlfriend. What next? What else are you going to do?”

 

Sasuke regarded him silently for a moment. He pulled his hand out of his pocket to inspect his finger nails. “I won't do anything else if you just do one little favor for me.”

 

“What's that?”

 

“Just don't show up for the finals. Take the make ups.”

 

Gaara's eyes narrowed. If he did that, then he would be suffering a 10% penalty to whatever he got. 15% even, depending on the teacher. Sasuke would then become valedictorian. He would be the best academically, socially and physically. Number freaken one.

 

“If I do, you'll stop? You won't hurt anyone else?”

 

“Yes, I'll leave your stupid friends alone.”

 

“They use to be your friends. Sakura and Naruto.” Sasuke glared but Gaara went on. “How could you do that to them? They loved you.”

 

“Naruto is an idiot.” Sasuke barked. “A complete moron. Do you know how many times he's had to repeat classes because he didn't pass. Sakura was a good tool till she got too good.”

 

“You mean too smart?”

 

Sasuke snorted. “She was easy to take care of. Little struck fool.” He grinned something nasty at Gaara. “I heard she had quite the look on her face when the car hit her. Shame I couldn't be there to see it.”

 

“I'm sure Karin gave you everything in detail, just like the files she got on me.”

 

“I've wanted to hit her with a car since I first met her.” Karin said, almost gleefully. Gaara glared at her, but she only kept smiling sweetly at him. “Your files were easy to get. Any low rate hacker could get to them, and most of them are public after all.”

 

“We have a deal?” Sasuke asked.

 

Gaara stared at him for a moment before nodding. “We have a deal.”

 

“Good. Now leave.”

 

Sighing, Gaara turned to leave. It didn't take it anytime for him to get back to the front gate. They opened quickly and the shut just as fast behind him. He made his way down the street and got in the car.

 

“So?” Naruto asked. “Did you get it?”

 

Gaara grinned and lifted up his shirt, exposing a small tape recorder with the small little red light on. “I got it.”

 

0o0o0o0o0

 

When she was aware again, the only thing that she knew was that she ached all over. Mostly in her leg and head. Opening her eyes, she found herself distorted. This wasn't her room…

 

“Oh, sweetie.” A pair of hands suddenly grabbed hers. Turning, she saw the faces of her mother and father. Her father looked much older then she remembered. Her mother's face was streaked with tears.

 

“Hey mom…” She said weakly. “What happened?”

 

“You were hit by a car.” Her father side. “Not an accident either. You missed Gaara and Naruto. They stopped by to see you.”

 

Sakura felt a little hurt. “They didn't stay?”

 

Her mother shook her head. “They went to the police stations. They had a confession of the person that had hit you. I was so happy that I kissed them both.”

 

“Neither of them cared for that.” Mr.Haruno chuckled, taking off his glasses to clean them with his shirt.

 

“It wasn't that bad.” Gaara's voice came from the door away, Naruto peeking over his shoulder.

 

“How'd it go?” Sakura's father asked as the two walked into the room. Naruto went to Sakura first to give her and awkward hug as Gaara grabbed a chair to bring it next to the bed and took Sakura's hand.

 

“They asked us a lot of questions. We also had to do written statements. Turns out that there was a special investigation on the Uchiha family. We didn't get to find out a lot, but what we brought them is enough to bring Sasuke and Karin in.” Gaara said, gently squeezing her hand.

 

“Good…” Sakura said, sleepily. “I think I am going to take another nap.”

 

Gaara squeezed her hand. “I'll be here when you wake up.”

 

“Promise?”

 

“Promise.”

 

AN:

 

Heh. This chapter is still a little short, but I think it's good. ^^

Two more chapters and then that is it.