''= Thoughts

""= Spoken Dialogue

I really don't own Naruto and if I did, it would be so freaking awesome! Dude, I so, do not own Naruto, but it is cool because I can take it like a man.

Chapter One: Degradation

He let his hand slide across to the other side of the bed and just as he suspected. "Gaara didn't bring his sorry ass home last night."Naruto sighed inwardly. This had gotten old so long ago, but he could never bring himself to leave. He let his mind wander back to the very first day he had met the redhead.

Café Konoha was crammed full of people, he ha had managed to snag the last open table. He was desperate for workspace, because his midterm essay was due the next day. He kept his eye trained on the various books and his laptop screen. "I cannot get a B in this class!" Naruto groaned as he turned the page of his book. "I want you." Was whispered in his ear, sending chills down his spine. The scent of freshly turned earth filled his olfactory buds as his gaze was met with green eyes and black eyeliner. All Naruto could think was 'do I have a sign on my back that says Bisexual?' He just grinned at the redhead and never once did he think about how hard things would get from there.

When their love first began, it was all heat and energy. Then in the middle, it was all about comfort and finding a rhythm. But, the ending was proving shaky and painful. He was hiding under the blanket that smelled of his missing other. He pulled inhaled the scent that he had learned to crave and he could almost see, messy redhead hear and unforgiving green orbs. He pouted as he came to the decision that he had wasted a whole year of his life, with someone who wasn't even worth it. "I wasted my love again." He whispered as he rolled back onto his stomach thinking about were he could find free boxes. "I hate buying boxes from U-Haul! It is as if they know people are breaking up! I freaking hate U-Haul!" He pulled the blanket tighter around himself, savoring the scent of the other. He vaguely wondered if Sakura and Ino would let him crash at their place for a while. At least until he found a place of his own.

Naruto's cell began to vibrate pulling him out of his head. His body refused to come out of hiding from under the blanket, sticking his hand out. He felt around a bit until it landed on his phone. He knew it was on its last ring so he just flipped it open. "Yeah?" There was a familiar condescending sigh on the other end. "Dode, why do you sound like that?" Naruto thought, 'Because that bitch-slut of a boyfriend of mine didn't come home last!' But what he said was, "Sasuke! Don't call me that and I sound like me, Teme." He could have sworn he heard his best friend smirk, but he didn't have the strength to argue. "What time did your shift end last night at the hospital, anyway?" Naruto frowned. "At about midnight, because Sakura took the rest of it." Sasuke knew why Naruto had left early (So, he could see if Gaara would make it home). "You got off a midnight? Why didn't you come by the flat?" Naruto sighed because his friend was not a genius for nothing.

"Gaara. Didn't come home last night, did he?" All Naruto could do was force a groan of annoyance out through his lips. "Hn, he was spinning at Dukes last night and I heard Sai was grinding on him pretty hard." Naruto thought. 'At least I know who he's fucking now.' But what he said was, "Gaara and I haven't been getting along lately and besides I figured he was keeping someone's bed warm." The Uchiha just chuckled dryly. "Would you like for the gang and me to come over and pack you up or do you prefer self degradation instead?" He sighed, even though his best friend was a complete ass. He was always there when Naruto really needed him and when it really counted.

"Yeah, But bring liquor and ramen. I need both. To keep me from pulling Gaara's nose ring out with a pair of pliers." The Uchiha chuckled again or was it a cough? "Are you staying with me and Neji or the girls?" Neji's girlfriend Tenten was uncomfortable with Naruto's sexuality so he had to ask... "It depends. How are Neji and Tenten this week?" There was a short pause. "She and Neji broke up and apparently it was for some lame ass reason." He sighed in disinterest. "You will have to ask him." Naruto grinned for the first time in weeks. "Looks like I am taking that spare bedroom of yours, teme!" He just knew the raven rolled his eyes. "It beats the hell out of the couch at the girls, Dode." Naruto snickered because he was right, that futon at the girls house was evil. It was as if that futon was built to torture, Naruto.

With that, he closed his phone and slid it over to the empty side of the queen-sized bed. He rolled over to his back and thought about his friends. Neji was just perfect and so soft spoken, Hinata was too and her touch would heal the world somehow, Naruto just knew it. Sakura was all fire and determination, while Ino just hated the thought of Sakura being better than she was. Rock Lee was all fire and determination, like Sakura. Then Choji was all food and brains, that man was the Best cook ever! Shino was just to cool for his own skin, but one of the best people in the world to know. Kiba. Kiba was the man with a plan and he told the best jokes. Then there was Shikamaru. He was lazy, but ridiculously brilliant.

"Fuck! Shika!" Naruto groaned because Shika's girlfriend; was none other than Temari. Gaara's big sister, he wanted to tell Sasuke not to invite him, but he already knew that the text had gone out, once his phone began to vibrate again. The text read:

Naruto is leaving Gaara (For real this time). Get you asses in gear and bring boxes, ramen, and lots of liquor. Make sure you lock up the pliers before you come, lmao. Lee, I nominate you to pick-up the U-Haul because I already reserved it. It is the U-Haul place located just off Konoha Blvd, the one we used when Shino moved in with Kiba.

(Tempted but, not really)

Naruto slung his legs over the side of the bed and thought. 'Fuck it. Like Gaara will care that I am leaving.' He sighed as warm tears fell over scared cheeks. 'He will probably be glad that I'm out of the way and he can move Sai in.' "I don't care that you hate the thought of someone leaving! I have wasted too much energy in this place." Naruto looked over at his alarm clock. He figured he had time for a long shower, but after that, he would start packing his clothes. Because, this time he really was tired and this time he really was leaving. "And this time it is for good, Gaara." Nothing Gaara could say would bring him back. Because, Naruto really was tired this time…