Reckoning

Previously—

“Occasionally I drop a teacup. On purpose. I let it shatter on the floor into a thousand pieces.” Gaara let his eyes fall closed as he pictured it. “I’m never satisfied when it doesn’t gather itself back up again.” 

The blonde looked at him, studying the sadness in his eyes and in the line of his shoulders. ‘It’s hard to picture him shattering his teacups on purpose.’ The blonde thought, as he sat in the dark next to him. ‘But I can. I can see him, standing poised in his kitchen watching shards of fine china flying in every direction. Beautiful and destructive.

Now—

*********************

Konoha City Cemetery, Eastside Konoha City

Kiba and Lee were already there examining the body in the faint shadows cast by the FBI’s floodlights. Kakashi was walking Sakura up to the crime scene, leaving Naruto to simply observe the murder that was on display. Karin’s body was pulled from the ground her arms bent and bound with thin strong cords. Another two sets of arms had been pulled from the surrounding graves. 

“Only in the grave for 24 hours.” Kiba remarked. “That beats Jesus by 48.” 

“I wouldn’t have thought that Karin would made it to heaven.” Lee stated, look at the the twisted form she had taken on.

“His chaos is getting more orderly.” Sakura said narrowing her eyes as she approached with Kakashi, her gaze flicking over to Naruto briefly. 

“Well this killer is certainly trying to gain someone’s attention.” Kakashi frowned. “First his burns her now he’s assembling her?”

“I don’t think Karin was his first.” She says carefully. “Whoever killed Karin killed Kenmoro as well.”

“Do Karin and Kenmoro have a connection?”

“Yes. Naruto.” She replies, glancing again at the blonde. Naruto wants to roll his eyes at her. “Kenmoro was a former patient of Gaaras, and Karin was investigating him and Naruto when she died.”

“Karin was investigating a lot of things when she died.”

“This killer has been hiding fantasying about killing for a while now, has been building himself up.” She paused, feeling horrible. “Or someone’s building him up.”

“He has a benefactor? Someone who admires his destruction?” Naruto questions almost sarcastically, before nodding. “Karin was molded into the shape of Shiva, a Hindu god who is both destroyer and benefactor.” 

“He being guided.” She murmured, still watching Naruto unblinkingly. 

“So this is some kind of… sign post?” Kakashi questioned.

“Maybe the killer didn’t do this, maybe his benefactor did.” 

“Why?” The alpha asked. Naruto turned to lookC curious about what Sakura would say. Her eyes watered and she looked tense. 

“It’s a courtship.”

****************

Gaara's Office, Downtown Konoha City 

“Creativity often has destructive consequences.” Gaara said. “The Hindu god Shiva is both destroyer and creator. The person you were yesterday laid waste to give rise to who you are today.” 

“How many lies? How many lives were sacrified?” 

“As many as were necessary.”

“You sacrificed Matsuri. You cared about her as much as I did.”

“Maybe more.” He said simply. “Then again, how much has god sacrificed?”

“What God do you pray to?” Naruto asked, his face twisting into a grimace.

“I do not pray.” He responded. “I am unconcerned with any consideration of gods, other than to reflect how my own actions pale in comparison.”

“I prayed i would see Matsuri again.”

“You prayer did not go entirely unanswered. You saw part of her”. The redhead responded and Naruto leaned back. His head hurt and so did his heart. ‘How is vomiting you her ear in anyway a fulfillment of my prayer?’ He wanted to scream but Gaara wasn’t technically wrong. Naruto hadn’t been clear, and her ear was as much a part of her as he eyes or her hair. “Naruto,” Gaara began hesitantly. “Should the universe contract and time reverse… when the teacup comes back together a place for Matsuri can be made in your world.” 

“And what place is that?”

“You lost a child. It seems you are now likely to gain one.” Naruto felt his breath catch at the words. Part of him could see how such a thing could be viewed as a method of control but the blonde also felt and saw the genuine sorrow Gaara experiences over Matsuri. Different than his own yes but no less real. 

************************

Gaara's Office, Downtown Konoha City 

Part of Gaara was coming to grow bored of having Neji Hyuuga as a patient. He was rude, and inconsiderate of others and particularly dull in the mind. The other part of Gaara was curious about what morbid or twisted thing he might prod or persuade him to do. Regardless, this session was proving taxing for multiple reasons. The first being Neji’s rather bothersome habit to discuss fate. Gaara has never ascribed to the notion of predestination or fate always favoring the idea of order and entropy and where the differences between them lay. 

“My father taught me how to stab a pig to check the depth of its fat without going to far in.” Neji said, his long and dull musings over fate now past. 

“And your sister?” 

“I’m carefully. I don’t typically dig very deep.”

“This time you struck a nerve?”

“My father was very clear in his will. It must be a Male verger descendent.” Neji frowned. 

“It is a common practice for men to desire to have an heir. To teach and carry on the family name.” Gaara said. “Someone to carry on your name.” 

“I’d have an heir if I died.” The alpha scoffed. “And Hinata would love to stick a knife in me, and it wouldn’t be to check the depth of my fat.” 

“The will states it must be your descendent does it not?”

“Yes, but that will hardly stop her. She’s resourceful.” Neji grumbled and Gaara attempted to wrangle the conversation back. 

“Pregnancy can be difficult to achieve. It is unlikely she is carrying.” Gaara attempts to sooth.

“If she’s not pregnant she will be.” Neji fired back.

“Any child she have would be a Verger. A family for you.” Neji paused thinking.  “Children allow us to grow and become our better selves. It would be an opportunity to teach the child as your father taught you. A family tradition.” 

“A child…” Neji murmured still thinking. 

*****************

Gaara's Office, Downtown Konoha City 

“Often we see that which is already on our mind.” Gaara said, as he retrieved a glass of wine for Sakura. The women sitting perched on the edge of one of his chairs like a half frightened bird. “Tell me, what’s on your mind?”

“I’m feeling pressured to believe something I don’t trust. It’s making me paranoid.” She answered, sighing softly. 

“Who’s pressuring you?”

“Naruto.”

“We’ll never be truly alone will we? He’ll always be in the room.” The redhead responded carefully, feigning sadness and hurt. 

“Do you think your helping him? Making progress?”

“He’s finding himself. He’s getting better.”

“He doesn’t seem to be getting better.” She responded. 

“Are you questioning my therapy?” The redhead asked jokingly, not entirely joking.

“I’m questioning everything.” She admitted, brushing her hand back out of her face. “It’s all…. blurry and subjective.” She sighed. “I feel drained, empty, like I’ve given blood.” 

“You’ve given more than blood.” Gaara said quietly taking her hands in his and giving them a kiss. “You tried to give him your heart, your friendship. That comes with its own wounds.” Carefully while pressing another kiss to her hand he breathed in the scent on her hands and tension wretched up his spine. “Have you been firing a gun?”

“I told you. I’ve been feeling paranoid.”  She whispered before kissing him. 

**************

Gaaras Home, West Side Konoha City

Later after she had left Gaara considered what pressure Naruto had been applying and why quietly in the long shadows of his home. The fireplace he lit did not serve as a suitable replacement for Naruto. 

“Perhaps he simply wants her safe.” He mused aloud. “He failed to protect Matsuri, does he feel if he can no longer protect Sakura with the new child appearing?” He thought for a long moment but ultimately appeared unable to decide. He sat for a moment long before he stood intending to go to bed when he phone rang. 

“Hello?” He said simply. 

“Hello Doctor. It’s Me, Neji of course. Listen, we may have to… post-pone my sisters next appointment. She’s been in a little bit of an accident.” The alpha stated easily as though hardly concerned at all for her well being. Or the infants. Tension snapped hack into his spine and Gaara asked the most important question.

“Is the child safe?”

“Unfortunately, the doctor found something wrong with her lady parents. It’s sad really. Looks like she will be celebrating Mother’s Day with me.” He answered. “Anyway, good night Doctor Subaku.”  The phone line went dead and Gaara closed his eyes and attempted to control himself as fury rolled its way through him. Naruto would be furious, and hurt. The redhead mourned the loss. He had been growing attached to the idea of fatherhood in a way Gaara had seen in few other alphas. He would be lying if he said he found it unattractive. 

“Now the only question that remains, what will he do?” He said aloud, never sure what to expect from him. He never could predict Naruto, he was wild and beautiful. Like a fox appearing among the trees. Cunning and smart but just as shy as a deer. It’s soft fluffy hair and large ears giving it the appearance of some sweet and soft like prey— all to hide its true hunters status. Gaara thought for a moment before making a decision. 

“The plan must be moved ahead of schedule.” He said quietly before pulling out his phone to begin typing up loose ends. He dialed Sakura’s number. 

“Hello Sakura.” He said gently. “No I’m not calling about that. I’m calling because I wanted to speak with you and you deserve to be treated better than by text.” A pause, “I’m apologize.” Gaara glanced at the clock hanging on his wall. He had been looking forward to a good night's rest. “No, it’s not that. It’s about Naruto. We will never be truly alone, he’ll always be in the room and I won’t live my life like that Sakura. I apologize, but I believe we should start seeing other people.” His face twisted as her words. “That would be unethical Sakura. That you would accuse me of such actions over this is troubling. Good night.” With that the alpha hung up, content. 

************

FBI Headquarters, Northside Konoha City

“The most terrifying thing in the world is a lucid moment.” Sakura said. “Now what are you up to?” The Pink haired women had came to convince Kakashi of Naruto's guilt but instead found him tense and waiting for something. The kind of waiting that sets alarm bells of in the mind. 

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“You know what I mean. You are not fooling me Kakashi.” 

“I’m not trying to fool you.”

“Your lying.” She argued. “You are all lying. You, Naruto, Even Gaara. They are lying to each other and they are lying to you.” She finished.

“Tell me. What do you believe is happening?” He said calmly.

“What do I believe? What do you believe!?” She took a breath. “Do you believe that Naruto killed Karin?”

“No. I don’t.”

“And do you believe that Orochimaru is Black Zetsu?”

“There was overwhelming evidence—“

“Stop lying Kakashi!” she pleaded, her scent dripping in angry and worry and fear.  She exhaled, trying to regain some form of control over herself. “You think you moved you pieces around so cleverly.” The pink haired women sounded hurt. 

“What’s changed?”

“I don’t think I know what kind of person Gaara is anymore, and with whatever you know or think you know about him you don’t know him either. And you don’t know Naruto.” She sniffles, wiping away her tears. “You're going to lose— if you haven’t lost already.” 

Kakashi watched her for a long moment, studying her like a scientist studying pinned down butterflies. 

“I want you to come with me.” He said finally and she stood on shaky legs, to follow him. Through the twisting hallways and down empty FBI corridors. Until they reached a single non-descript door. Inside, her heart felt betrayed, used and sick. 

Sitting there was Karin, and Standing beside her looking confused was Naruto.