Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto, if you think/though l did you are a ramen obsessed moron

A/N: I hope you enjoy this story. I would appreciate nice words and some criticisms. If you "flam" me I will laugh at you.

Ichiraku ramen wasn't exactly Gaara's favorite place to eat with his new friend, Naruto. But at least they had really great pork.
Gaara loves his meat.

The red head smiled to himself. Shukaku was gone, he'd had a decent night's rest, and now his favorite little leaf ninja was buying him dinner.
He didn't do much talking, so naturally, Naruto was picking up the slack and chatting up a storm. Most of it little questions about usless information about Gaara.

What's your favorite color?

Why is your hair red?

How long did it take to become kazekage?

What's your favorite food?

He'd humor Naruto by answering bluntly, "Maroon, I was born that way, two years, beef tounge and liver."

Naruto made a face worthy of "Most disguted of the century" award.
"Beef tounge? Liver?! Yuck!" He exclaimed.

"Hm." Gaara grunted, "Your turn. Same questions."

Naruto smiled, he was happy the red haired boy was taking an interest in there conversation, "My favorite color is blue, my hair isn't red it's is lusciously blond" Naruto curled his fingers in his hair.
"I'm not Kazekage but I will be Hokage! And my favorite food is ramen, but I especially like miso ramen!" Naruto finished with excitement, Gaara just had a smirk on his face.

"So Gaara, why"
"Why? what"
"Why would you choses beef tongue and liver as your favorite food, when it can de delicious, nutritious, melt-in-your-mouth ramen?!"

Gaara pondered for the logical reason why he didn't obsess over the noodles like his friend did. He'd never really thought about why something would'nt be his favorite.

"Hm... I just like liver better." He said as he stuffed his mouth with that tender pork again. He then spoke with his mouth full like Naruto did, "And ramen isn't nutritious, but neither is liver I suppose."

He lifted his bowl to his lips and sipped carefully at the hot liquid. Naruto just blinked mindlessly, 'How is Gaara like this? He's so clam, cleared minded. It's like where opposites'

"So Gaara, being Kazekage you must have a lot of money, right? Right so I think I'll just get some more ramen," Naruto started "Hey! Can I have five more bowls of miso ramen and some eh uhh do you have liver ramen"
"Hmm." Gaara mearly sighed to himself.

The old man behind the high counter shook his head no and told Naruto that liver wasn't exactly popular, so he didn't carry it. Gaara was kind of thankful, because liver and ramen didn't mix. Just like Gaara and Naruto.

Lately, there had been spectulation as to why the kazekage visited Konoha so frequently. He was always with Naruto, and however few times he did speak to anyone, it was generally based around Naruto.
His own brother, Kankuro, now had it in his head that his little Gaara was gay. Which was weird because everyone that knew him actually considered him asexual.
Yeah, that seemed more like Gaara. Neither sex suited him.
Perhaps his connection with the blonde was on a deeper level than an intrest in what Temari called "the smex".

"The pay is alright." He mumbled as he fiddled with the tiny remaining noodles in his bowl. "I'm full. You eat to your heart's content.", Of course the fox boy was more than happy to oblige by gulping down a whole bowl.
Instead of getting up to leave like he usually did, Gaara decided to wait for Naruto. He'd just have to deal with the annoying brunet swooning over him from behind the counter.
'Ugh, she's annoying...' He thought as the girl blushed and served the man sitting two seats from Naruto.

"Naruto..." He started. "Do you want to come to Suna with me?" He had to leave in the morning, and he just didn't want to leave his friend behind. Naruto was his... heh, maybe Gaara was getting a crush.
'I hate that word... crush...' He'd just let things happen when they happened. If Naruto was gay, then he would've made advances. And even if he were, he would most likely want to be Sasuke's lover.
'Damn that Sasuke...'

Gaara found himself questioning why he was thinking about such a thing as the possibility of an intimate relationship with Naruto.

He shuddered.

"hm, Gawara whwy would Iw go to Sunwa?" Naruto said with noodles hanging out of his mouth. He slurped up the rest and started again, "Gaara why would I go to Suna? You'd be busy all the time...and would ignore me" Naruto mumbled the last part with a bright blush on his tan checks.
Naruto new Gaara would be leaving tomorrow,but why would he ask him to come along? I just wasn't Gaara like, but he would not give up the offer that fast.

When they were twelve was when he first noticed he was gay, he had Sasuke to thank for that. Back then it was a secret he didn't need another reason for people to hate him, but after his fight with Shakaku he became more opened mined and developed a 'crush' on Gaara that has bloomed over the years. He had always wanted Gaara to be gay, but it didn't seem possibly especially with him of all people. No it was just a wish and like Sakura says "Don't worry Naruto you look better with Sasuke anyways". But thats not it he want Gaara, Gaara to be his Gaara.
Gaara thought about Naruto's logic in the whole ignoring thing, and found all kinds of loopholes in how he could put aside time for his best friend.
Then it hit him. There was lots of time for Naruto. Maybe the fox boy just told him no because he wasn't interested in Gaara.
Was Naruto humoring him all this time?

"Yeah, I guess I would be busy." He was mentally throwing in a dirty white towel into a boxing ring. He didn't want to give up on his clinging to Naruto's company, but if the leaf ninja didn't enjoy his company, Gaara wouldn't protest.
That was just like him. Always letting the love come to him instead of seeking it out.

Gaara gently placed his chop sticks together on top of his bowl, pulled out a generous amount of money, and set it on the counter for the girl.
"There's plenty there... you can have another bowl if you like, Naruto"
Well, that was weird. Gaara never said anyone's name after he spoke. It was a general assumption that whenever Gaara spoke, the person in question knew it was him or her that he was speaking to.
It meant he acknowledged Naruto's exsistence. That he cherished it.

This was a giant step for Gaara.

He stood, and brushed the crumbs from his bread roll off his pants. Messy eater he was.
"I've got to go pack." He said bluntly. "I'll uh... see you later..." His heart twitched in discomfort as he turned to walk back to his complimentary hotel room.

Tsunade was generous when it came to kage visits. She liked to show them how she could throw money around. So, Gaara was living in luxury ever time he paid a visit.
Spacious rooms, indoor hot tub, room service, the whole sha-bang.
He didn't care for the size of the room though. He much rather prefer small rooms with little space for anything.
Maybe that was because Gaara didn't have many material possessions, and liked how it seemed he had a lot when he lived in his cozy one bedroom apartment.
Temari alway nagged at him that he was Kazekage, and he should have more living space or his growth would be stunted.
A little too late for that. He was already the shortest kage to ever live, and he sort of liked it.
But that's all just stuff to say about him that everyone knows.

Gaara sorta hoped Naruto would follow him like a puppy like he usually did.
Past the suspicious looks from the clerk manager. Up the stairs. And to his door where the red head said goodbye.
He always wanted the blonde to stay a little longer. To ask if he could have something to drink, or maybe just for the company.
But now... now he felt he wanted something more.