Both males snapped their heads towards the unwanted interruption. Naruto glared and Gaara groaned in frustration.

"Matsuri why are you in my quarters without permission?" Gaara growled.

Before either could register what was happening, Naruto was being shoved off of the bed by an over-excitable brunette. His body was quickly sent falling towards the hardwood floor.

"Gaara? Are you alright! What's this loser doing here?" Matsuri screeched loudly in the redhead's ear.

Said "loser" had his eyes tightly closed in preparation for his soon-to-be harsh landing, but the contact never came. He opened his eyes to find he'd landed on a surprisingly soft bed of sand. He sighed in relief and made to give his savior a smile of thanks but he couldn't see him from this vantage point. So in turn he glared up at his attacker opening his mouth to give her a piece of his mind.

Matsuri turned and glared at the blonde expecting some retort but was shocked when none came. She sat staring at the blonde's blank expression waiting for a response. An awkward silence covered the room and Gaara, being even more shocked then Matsuri, leaned over the edge of the bed to see what was going on.

As soon as she'd set that glare on him he'd been frozen in place. Her expression was so demeaning. So cold. So spiteful.

So like him.

It reminded him of the glare that Sasuke had pointed at him many times before. The glare he'd set on him that night. He shivered violently as he fell back into the visions of that night.

"Gomenasai..." He whispered quietly to brown-haired girl. He was not really there, he was too busy focusing on the images in his head to be all there.

Gaara watched in concern as Naruto appeared to slip back into his thoughts. So he was right, things were far from being fixed. He'd have to watch the blonde vigorously from this point on for any signs. That was when he noticed a shiver shake the kitsune's body.

"Gomenasai..." Gaara barley heard the words uttered past Naruto's lips.

That was the final straw for Gaara. "Matsuri, leave."

Matsuri stared at him in confusion.

"Huh?"

"Leave my quarters. You have no right being in here." Gaara stood up off of the bed and made his way around the pestering female.

"But Kazekage-sama, I have a report that I need to-"

"Out Matsuri! I need you out of this room now!" Gaara would have none of this! His sand began to jump around the floor in anxiety and it freaked out the kunoichi enough that she began to back away.

"H-hai!" Matsuri practically ran out of the room and looked back in confusion as she watched Gaara leaning down to help Naruto up off of the floor.

"Naruto?" Gaara whispered "Naruto are you there? Do you hear me?"

Gaara wrapped his arms gently around the other teenagers waist and lifted him up onto the bed. He decided it would be best to let him sit so he placed him gently on the sheets. He suddenly had a thought. Had Naruto been taken to the hospital after the... accident... or did he still need medical attention?

"Naruto I have a very important question. I need you to come back to me." Gaara snapped his fingers in front of the others eyes hoping to get some kind of response from the male sitting on his bed. As his luck would have it, the blonde sat in complete silence.

"Shit." Gaara sat down next to the unresponsive blonde and contemplated what to do next. He had no clue how to deal with a rape victim. What could he do to make this better. It seemed as though little things were starting to set him off. Perhaps they could avoid his triggers? But he couldn't figure out every gesture and avoid it. That was just illogical.

The redhead sighed and looked over at his companion noticing there was still no change in his rigid posture. He reached over slowly and grabbed the demon vessel pulling him over and into his lap.

"Naruto..." He whispered softly in his ear and brought his arms to encircle the others waist. He hoped this was a comforting position.

"He raped me."

Gaara stared in shock at the male in his arms. He hadn't been expecting that.

"He raped me Gaara. He violated me. And I can't stop remembering it. It just plays over and over in my head. I'm so scared he's going to come again. That he's going to come after me." Naruto felt tears sliding unhurriedly down his cheeks.

The former Jinchuuriki squeezed the Kyuubi vessel tightly and raised one hand to stroke his hair. "Let it out Naruto. Talk to me. I'm here."

Naruto spun around in his arms and sobbed freely into his chest again. "Gaara, I don't w-want him anywhere near me again. I want h-him dead and gone s-so I don't have to be scared anymore. I feel so d-dirty and vile. How could this happen t-to me!"

"Shh, Naruto. he can't hurt you here. He won't get to you with me here to protect you." Gaara cooed softly.

"He was my b-best friend. He betrayed the village and n-now h-he's betrayed me. I can't save him a-nymore. I can't k-keep that promise any longer. I'm t-too scared Gaara." Naruto hiccuped a few times as sobs racked his body. Gaara sat still and stroked the soft hair under his palm whispering softly into Naruto's ear. Eventually he calmed down a little relaxing into Gaara's comforting hold.

"Naruto? I need to ask you a few questions." Gaara spoke against the blonde's ear. His response came in a nod of Naruto's head.

"Have you had medical attention since this happened? Are you hurt?" Gaara voiced his concerns.

Naruto sat up in his lap. "I'm f-fine Gaara, really. Kyuubi healed most of the wounds already and the others will be gone in a day or two. I don't need a medic." Naruto promised, "I swear."

Gaara nodded solemnly ,"If you're sure, Naruto. I trust your judgement."

Naruto grinned his trademark grin and hugged the other tightly around the shoulders. "Thank you Gaara. I just want to forget this ever happened."

"Naruto, I still have more questions that i need to ask you." Gaara looked down at the blonde in his arms as his grin fell the tiniest bit.

"Oh, um okay. If you have to." Naruto responded sounding unsure.

Gaara sighed and looked into Naruto's deep blue eyes. "Do you want me to request a therapist, Naruto? My village has many wonderful doctors and I worry that you may not get over this without visiting one."

Naruto stared at the redhead wide-eyed for several minutes. Inside he was raging a fierce war against his friend's words.

What? A shrink! How dare he suggest such a thing!

Kit, he's just worried about your well-being.

I don't care! that's just, just... ridiculous! It would be so weak of me to need something like that.

I really think he has a valid point kid. You may need this. There's been a lot of mental damage done.

I'll get over it myself! I've dealt with your voice in my head for all these years, I can deal with some unpleasant pictures once in a while.

Narut-

Shut up!

"What?" Naruto practically screeched in the others face. "How could you say that!"

Gaara felt taken aback by the Naruto's outburst and he stared at him for a moment.

"Naruto, why are you so upset?" Gaara reached out and placed his hand on the blonde's shoulder only to have to wrenched away from his grasp.

"Because I don't need some doctor to tell me how to deal with my issues! I've been dealing with issues my whole life! You of all people should understand this! I don't want some shrink analyzing me like I'm some science project! I can take care of myself just fine! I'm a demon vessel for crying out loud! Half of what I think, hear, and see would be labeled insane!"

Naruto growled and got up off of Gaara's lap pacing the floor. Gaara's mouth hung open as he watched the pacing blonde.

"Naruto, I don't think you understand-"

"No! You don't understand! Why don't you get it Gaara? That would be me showing the ultimate weakness, ninjas can't have weaknesses like that!"

"We all have that weakness Naruto!" Gaara snapped standing up and stalking over to the now wide-eyed blonde.

I've never heard Gaara raise his voice so much in my life.

"Why don't YOU get it? You said it yourself! You're scared and hurt, you don't know what to do. You need to do something about this, you can't just act like it never happened! I was just trying to help!" Gaara yelled in a fury.

Naruto growled loudly and stepped closer to the furious redhead bringing them face-to-face. "I don't need your help Gaara! I'm ju-" Naruto saw the hurt expression flash across his pale face and quickly stopped himself."Wait Gaara, what I meant was-"

"No I get it Naruto. You don't need me. You're just fine on your own, just like i was fine on my own. Do you want to be like that? Do you want to be lonely and cold in your self-hatred? Are you to weak to admit that you need someone to help you? You helped me and I'm not ashamed to admit it." Gaara stated in his usual emotionless voice.

"No Gaara, I didn't mean for it to come out that way!"

"Go."

Naruto raised his eyebrows and looked at the other male for an explanation. "What?"

"I said go. Leave. I don't want you in my room any longer."

Naruto felt tears welling up in his eyes and he barely held back a sob as he pleaded with the other male. "Gaara please, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I really didn't mean it!"

What the hell is up with my mood swings lately? Kyuubi?

Gaara turned away from the other male determined to stand his ground. "Naruto, you don't need me."

Naruto lost it as he fell to the floor and cried softly. "Gaara I do need you. I really n-need you right now."

Gaara turned around as he heard the blonde sniffle.

Oh my god, I made him cry. Why didn't I listen when he said he didn't mean it?

Gaara got down on his knees and knelt next to the crying blonde. "Naruto..."

Naruto looked up at the voice and was shocked to find himself right in Gaara's face, their noses almost touching.

"I'm sorry, what can I do to make it up to you? I forgive you for hurting my feelings, I know you didn't mean to." Gaara whispered to the blonde.

"G-gaara?"

"Yes?"

"C-can I do something?"

"Anything Naruto."

Blue locked with teal as Naruto leaned up slowly and touched his lips against the soft lips of the redhead. He was beginning to realize just how deep his feelings were for the Kazekage.

He pulled away slowly to look at the male in front of him. He was kneeling on the floor with his eyes closed and he looked completely content in that moment. Seconds later his eyes fluttered open.

"Please no more fighting Gaara. I can't stand it when you yell at me. It hurts too much."

Gaara nodded softly and placed his forehead against Naruto's "Alright," He breathed against his face, "Alright, no more yelling."

Naruto smiled happily, "And I'll think about your offer. I really will."

Gaara smiled slightly for the other male and leaned forward closing their lips in a sweet kiss.

I'm falling in love with you, Naruto.

I'm falling in love with you, Gaara.