"Maybe I took advantage of you. I loved your green eyes and red hair. Even in this blood red place, only echoes of our voices be heard, I never felt lonely when I was with you. But the day you disappeared, I began hating that place filled with red and echoes."

Chapter 5:

Another Red

"I know you're all busy with preparations for the Skills Fest, however Gaara will be having his rounds in Konoha. So you lot welcome them, ya hear?" Iruka again being so oblivious, couldn't read the freaking atmosphere.

"Why is he here?" Sasuke looked a bit irritated with his eyebrows raised. His face was contagious as Iruka finally caught on and asked, "Why do you look displeased?" Brimming with concerned eyes, Sasuke sighed and grabbed Sakura's arm. Sakura knew exactly what he was thinking.

It was getting annoying.

First Iruka now another was coming. Another 'victim'. They all knew Gaara was one of Naruto's fanboys. Half-joking but he really is fond of Naruto. Who wouldn't be? When that boy changed you and your ideals and practically saved his life.

"I'm trying to make myself think that what that boy's doing is just our imagination." Sakura sat down on the worn-out stool. Sasuke followed and gave a short nod to the old man.

"Usual please." Sasuke relaxed and took a peek at Sakura. Obviously concerned, Sasuke patted her head while she blushed lightly. Sasuke goes soft sometimes at least.

"Well, here you go!"

The noodles were served, warm mist oozing out. Sakura's eyes were glued onto the bowls of noodles while Sasuke looked elegant as ever. Suddenly, Sakura felt conscious of her appearance as she realized Sasuke's pretty figure. She was slouching in contrast to Sasuke's straight back.

'Whoops.' As she slowly composed herself to look appropriate.

Sasuke had been watching her this whole time. Smiling in the inside, he thought his wife was the cutest, alright.

"It's getting cold." Sakura snapped out of her trance, "W-wha.. y-yeah..." even for the short while, their troubles left them.

Gaara settled his stuff as he begged his companions to leave him be. Though they were reluctant, their master gave the order and orders are mandatory.

"Please don't do anything unnecessary." With that, his body guards left.

However even without them Gaara is well capable of protecting himself.

"So this is his new home?" He said observing the massive piece of work in front of him.

"Amazing." He lightly pushed the large front doors and welcomed himself

. Now the adventure to find Naruto was something else. The mansion was too large, Gaara might've gotten lost if he didn't use his senses to feel Naruto's presence. His presence was there but it was weak.

Finally after roaming around aimlessly he found his way to a room with a veranda. Naruto was sitting at the edge swinging his legs since it didn't touch the ground.

"Hey." Gaara said with a slick tone.

Naruto flinched as he let his guard down.

"...Gaara?" His eyes were puffy.

Gaara was stunned by his appearance. Not like it was a rare thing to happen.

"Hey... what's wrong?" He approached Naruto frantically.

Gaara knelt beside him and felt his forehead.

"Are you sick? What's happening? Did someone hurt you?" Naruto was shocked by his concern.

But all he could do was stay silent. Gaara looked at him with serious eyes, while Naruto evaded his. For a while there was a moment of silence, during that silence Gaara took that whole time to observe him. Ignoring his feminine look, what shocked him more was his malnourished state.

'How long was he not eating right?' His thoughts made him worry than he already was.

"Let's talk."

Gaara pulled Naruto with enough force just to get him on his knees. He didn't want to risk hurting him in areas he might've been hiding about. His worries didn't stop when even by just standing, he saw him struggle almost as if he was too weak to even stand.

"What happened..?"

Gaara stormed his way in Tsunade's office.

"What the hell happened to Naruto?!" His words resonated throughout her office. She literally jumped out of her seat.

"W-what-Gaara, calm down." She had to calm down as well, but her words didn't even reach the red head's ears.

"He's starving!" Straight to the point, even though the door was closed their fit could be heard even outside.

"What is this, are you so laid back that you didn't even notice?"

"Notice what?!"

"Naruto! Naruto is sick!"

"Naruto? He's still sick?"

"So he was sick even before...?"

"It was just a cold before-"

"A COLD?"

Just outside the door Naruto sat there with 'unpleasant' written all over his attractive face. He was over dressed. A red thick muffler guarded his neck as it was wrapped around him along with 3 layers of kimono. Underneath that red scarf was a smirk forming as he thought

'That Gaara, such a fool for being concerned about me.'

"What's this another act?"

Naruto knew that voice. He dared to ignore him and looked onwards.

'Sasuke.'

Naruto wasn't feeling so well in the beginning but the sight of a person whom he loved and destroyed is right beside him mocking him. Sasuke laughed at his pathetic appearance.

"I thought idiots can't get colds?"

He sat right beside him. However Naruto remained ignorant and quiet. He wasn't ready to him rather to talk to anyone. The reason why Sasuke went there is to talk about Naruto to Tsunade but it looks like things will get sped up due to their fateful meeting. While Sasuke sees this as an opportunity, this just burdens Naruto more.

"It's Sakura's birthday in 3 days."

Naruto tried his all to keep a straight face. It was awkward enough Sasuke was there and now he's trying to invite him for a party?

"Make sure to come."

Sasuke finally had the guts to look straight into his eyes. Naruto gave out and showed concern through his expression. But being the stubborn man he was, kept his mouth shut and looked away. Sasuke felt a little mixed. That Naruto showed a troubled expression and that he managed to evade him again.

"I don't know."

His answer. Sasuke nodded and gave up for the mean time. Their alone time was interrupted when a certain red head burst out of the Tsunade's office, stomping his feet with a not so pleasing expression on his face. Their eyes met, not Sasuke and Naruto but Sasuke and Gaara.

"Fight, huh?"

Sasuke guessed he's caught up with the mess that's happening.

"Don't think you're partly not at fault."

A bit vague but he could get somehow what he was saying. Naruto tugged Gaara's clothes with a glare.

'Stop.'

Gaara retreated and held Naruto's arm and pulled him up. Without even saying a word to the man who was left behind.

'He can't walk?' Things were just getting worse by the minute. Thinking, to follow them or not? His thinking stopped when Tsunade got a hold of him.

"Let's talk."

"Close the door." Her tone was stern. Sasuke wasn't this nervous in years.

"Inability to do everyday activities, excessive smoking, insomnia, malnourishment, anxiety and severe mood swings..." Her words were endless, Sasuke's head could barely register through all that but when it did, it hit him.

"He's experiencing depression, to be exact, it had Melancholic features." Tsunade's palm met her forehead, almost like a mother knowing her son failed his entrance exam.

"What could have happened which made that boy so sad?" Her tears didn't spill. Sasuke on the other hand was so full of guilt that he covered his mouth trying not to feel nauseous.

"Is it... because of us?" Tsunade looked up to see Sasuke panicking, well, not openly but she could feel him tense up.

"No. Gaara did a brief check, even if he was that sad he couldn't have changed so much in a month."

Sasuke could just imagine, if he was in that state even before, how did he feel these past days?

"Before coming here, he tried to feed him... he had to force him to eat and when he did, he vomited. His body is rejecting it since it's not used to eating. This has gone on for too long..."

"But if we act now-"

"No. That will stun the poor boy. It's best if we gradually confront him."

Sasuke could see that she's a bit disturbed that that's the only solution she could think of. The thought that he might starve again today or tomorrow or the day after without being able to do anything just pierces their hearts.

"Please, just... try to be a little kinder."

"Here."

Gaara set down a whole platter of food. Instead of wanting to eat just made his stomach churn and cover his mouth.

"This won't do?"

He set it aside, rummaging in the kitchen, Naruto was a bit scared at what he would bring out next.

"Here." It was a sandwich. One sandwich.

"Eat up." His words were short but Naruto could feel his sincerity.

Naruto slowly reached of the sandwich, as he tried his all not to feel nauseous. His hands were shaking, holding onto the small piece of effort by Gaara. Gaara sat right beside him and watched his friend getting troubled by that sandwich.

"It's okay. Even a bite would do." He managed a bite but that was the end of it. "Thank you, next time 2 bites." He cutely said while patting his friend's head. "Let's sleep."

Here came another obstacle course with Gaara.

"Beside me?" He asked.

Gaara didn't smile but he gave him a shy nod. They weren't in one bed but their futons were together. Gaara turned off the lights lied down beside Naruto. He looked at him one last time and closed his eyes. Within 10 minutes, he managed to fool him he was asleep. Naruto silently left his futon and crawled his way out to the veranda just beside the room.

His sobs gradually became louder as he made it outside by the garden. Swinging his legs by the edge, much like how Gaara first saw him again. He was bawling his eyes out while holding tight on his stomach. He was scared. He ate today. He was scared that if he ate, it would take up the space where he was. Beneath his chest was once someone he loved so much but just disappeared mysteriously. He needed to keep that space empty for when he comes back, he has somewhere to return to. Stupid. Naruto hated himself for thinking such stupid ideas but he couldn't get himself to stop. It needs to be empty. For him.

Slowly Gaara got up and approached him. He sat beside his sobbing friend, looked at him as his tears overflowed. His lap was soaking from his tears already. Gaara wrapped his arms around him.

"Naruto."

"Are you alright?"

"Naruto."

"Hmm?"

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"You... don't look and sound alright."

"You worry too much... Kurama."

Naruto's eyes widened.

'Kurama'

He confused Gaara for Kurama. Naruto held him close ever so tight and screamed

"Please don't leave me!" Tears continued to run down while he pleaded for him not to leave.

"Naruto?" Gaara was shocked but Naruto held him in such a hug. His arms were around Gaara's neck and his face millimeters away from the other.

"Naruto calm down-"

"Please love me."

"...W-what?"

"Gaara..."

Naruto pulled him in for a kiss.

Author's Notes:

Well hello there. I don't know about you but… I think you know what's next. Hahaha jk. Idk maybe. :P Oh well. So, what is it about Kurama? Idk, maybe human Kurama is just so hot Naruto is obsessed HAHA. Welp. I hope you guys like this chappie, I find Gaara important since he got me to write stuff kekeke without him my fingers would've stopped typing pffft.

Haine's Talk Corner:

countrylovingirl: Hey! Thanks so much for reading! My readers are so silent HAHA I'm glad you liked it :) I will and it will get more hot than ever!