Chapter 5

Naruto struggled as he was held against his will once more. Eyes wide, heart pumping in his chest harder as the initial fear came back. Gaara… wouldn't do this. Those words kept repeating in his head, over and over again. Gaara wouldn't do this to him. They were friends. He wouldn't hurt a friend like this. He would never… right?

Tears welled up in his eyes as his crazed friend crawled on top of him, shaking his head desperately.

"… G-Gaara!"

His face flushed when lips grazed his neck, and he tilted his head away, unwillingly baring his throat to the predator. "Y-you don't have to do this… please, listen!"

"You want me to be yours? Then fine! I'll do it! Just... not like this... Gaara, are you even listening to me?! I said I'm yours!"

"You're lying."

Gaara responded to the pleading coldly, feeling his warm pulse throb rapidly under fingertips as he brought his hands up and around his throat. He brought his head close, proceeding to graze the vulnerable neck. It was his favorite sound; hearing the blood course through in escalating intervals. It's what being alive sounded like.

"There's no way you'd accept me… not now. Not after I've exposed my true nature."

A sinister chuckle escaped his lips as he brought his face closer to his beloved victim.

"That's why I've decided to take you."

He unlocked his jaw, baring teeth that would bite into tender flesh.

Despite his confident tone, Gaara found he could not steady the rhythm of his own pulse. Letting his selfish desires take over was a new experience, but one he felt he could get used to if only he took the opportunity more often.

Biting down forcefully, his teeth pierced into Naruto's neck, breaking the skin ever so slightly. Just enough for him to taste the rawness underneath… the first taste of Naruto's blood. A shiver ran through him instantly at the taste. It was metallic and salty and sweet all at once on his tongue. More intoxicating than he had anticipated. Beads of sweat began to surface on his brow. His heart was pounding so hard he felt it would burst through his chest, breath shaky as he began to feel light-headed. He soon found himself addicted to this part of Naruto Uzumaki as well.

Yes… taking was so much better.

"I've decided I will take you for myself… even if I don't deserve you. Even if our precious bond ends here...you are mine."

Gaara sprung up, short of breath and shaking slightly. A break of a cold sweat had spread over his entire body, like a fever.

It took him a few seconds, but after a moment of recollection, Gaara realized where he was.

Dim light poured through the curtains of his room, signaling the dawn of a new day.

He had just awoken from a very strange, uncomfortably vivid dream. Or perhaps, more precisely, a nightmare.

All of which revolved around his friend, Naruto Uzumaki…strange, considering he hadn't seen or even spoken to Naruto in months.

Going through the fresh memories of it all, he clutched at the fabric of his bed sheets anxiously. He shuddered, recalling the feeling of biting down into his friends' neck, like some sort of carnivorous animal. No… like a monster. Such darkness in his heart, malicious and wicked in his actions. Those overwhelmingly awful desires. Of all his past dreaming, this had to be one of the most unsettling one. It was so… intimate. So real.

Desperately attempting to shove the lingering memories of that dream out of his mind, Gaara rose up fully from bed and made a line towards the restroom to splash cold water on his face.

He dried off with a clean towel, letting his face sink into the softness of its fabric. He flinched when he heard a sudden knock on the door.

"Yes?" he called out automatically, maybe a little fearfully.

The door opened just enough for his sister, Temari, to peek her head in. A devious smirk was spread across her face as she eyed her little brother with a twinkle in her eyes.

"Didn't startle you did I? Someone is here to see you, Gaara… believe it!" she struck a cheesy pose, her hand pointed at him making the victory-sign and grinned widely, giving her best mocking image of Naruto Uzumaki.

Gaara's eyes lit up. "Naruto?"

His sister just laughed at his exclamation, causing him to blush quickly. He didn't mean for his voice to sound so hopeful. He frowned at his teasing sibling.

"Says he wants to go out with you. I'd bet my right arm it's to a noodles joint." she managed to say through her fit of laughter, leaving Gaara dumbfounded as she closed the door behind her.

He wondered what had brought Naruto Uzumaki to come visit him so suddenly. It was like him to not send any notice beforehand, too. He always did as he pleased.

Gaara sighed, but couldn't help a smile tugging at his lips.

Fortunately, there were no meetings to attend to today.