Holiday with the Ex
Disclaimer: I own EVERYTHING. Except Naruto.
--
The end of the month rolled by too quickly in Gaara's opinion. He and Naruto had made plans; he had the address of the flat the blond shared with three friends, and a plan on how to get to Konoha. He had a date, and a time.
Oh, and Neji will be here too! Isn't that awesome! It'll be just like old times.
Gaara sighed and looked up to the heavens, shutting his eyes. He was sitting outside one of the lecture halls, waiting till it started. He hadn't told Naruto about his new piercings or anything like that. Though, Naruto surely had changed in the past two years too. He took a sip of coffee from the can he was holding and went back to pretending to sleep.
"Gaara!"
He looked up to see a familiar girl with chestnut hair jogging over to him, a bright look on her summery face. He raised the can in greeting.
"You waiting for your lecture to start?" Chang asked.
"Yeah, you can sit if you like?" the girl obliged and seated herself on the bench, close to Gaara. "Want some coffee?"
"Canned coffee? You're kidding me right?" she scrunched her face up. "I don't know why it's so popular."
"Instant energy in a can, what's not to like?" Gaara joked, downing the remains. "What are you doing all the way out here?"
Chang smiled lightly. "Oh, I was just going for a walk by the lake with Genji, and he said you might be here. I figured I'd nip over and see," she gestured up the steps behind Gaara. "And I need to go to the bookshop for something, so it was worth the trip."
Gaara nodded silently. Chang was a good few years older than him, being a mature student. She turned twenty nine that year, and had a child at home her sister was looking after, and she often went to see them. She was training to become a nurse to earn more money to look after her son.
"You looking forward to the holidays?" Chang asked. "You're going back to Konoha, right?"
"Yeah," Gaara admitted. "I guess I'm looking forward to it."
"Not looking forward to seeing you ex-boyfriend?"
It was no secret in the flat that Gaara was gay. He generally wasn't closed about it. "Where you going? Back home?"
"Yes, I can't stand being away from my lovely Toro much longer," she said with a warm smile.
Gaara hummed in understanding, leaving the conversation to settle into a comfortable silence.
The redhead's watch soon beeped, and he looked to see it was time for him to go. Chang seemed to realize this and they both stood up together.
"I'll see you later," she said. "I leave early in the morning, so I'm cooking everyone an early Christmas dinner. I hope you can come?"
Gaara nodded. "I have to go shopping first, but I'm happy to come."
"Wonderful!" Chang smiled brightly. "I'll see you tonight!"
"Later," Gaara raised a hand goodbye and left to the lecture hall as Chang hurried off to the bookshop.
--
"So, you said that there will be how many people with us that I know?"
Naruto sighed through the phone. Gaara looked down at the orange plush bear that he was holding. "Me, Neji, Kiba, Shino, Sasuke and Sakura. Iruka and Tsunade will be visiting on Christmas day, but that doesn't matter. Lee will also be there for some of the time and his girlfriend. There's this kid who lives in my flat too, Mitsuki. Don't get her anything. She's a bitch."
Gaara chuckled, picking up a grey bear. "Does she like teddy bears?"
"How should I know?" Naruto scoffed. "Probably though. Girl's like that stuff."
"Do you like teddy bears? Does anyone want anything in particular do you know?"
Naruto sighed again. "Eh? Gaara, why are you so keen on buying gifts? We haven't seen you in so long! We don't-"
"Care, I know. I do care. I haven't seen you in so long, so I'm not coming empty handed."
There was a pause. "Kiba got a new puppy, so you could get something for that thing. Shino likes fantasy books. Sasuke is refusing to tell me what he wants, but I know he wants this new game- Dead or Alive? I don't know. Sakura likes anything pretty and fancy. Get her a hair pin or something."
Gaara looked up to Kin, who was cooing over all the soft toys. "Something pretty and fancy. Any ideas, Kin?"
The girl looked away from the shelf and shrugged. "There's a dress shop in town. Look there? They had some nice jewelry last time I went."
The redhead nodded. "So, that's everyone but you, Iruka, Neji and Tsunade."
"I'm happy with whatever you decide to get me, Gaara. Iruka likes chocolate. So does Tsunade. You know Neji better than me."
"Naruto, you live with Neji. I haven't spoken to the guy for two years almost."
There was a distant exchange of words.
"Hey Neji! What do you want for Christmas?" Gaara huffed in annoyance. "What, can't I ask one of my best mates what he wants for Christmas?" Kin sniggered at the irritation plastered across the short man's face and took the teddy bear off Gaara.
"I think this is perfect for a girl," she said. Gaara passed her the money and she ran off to pay.
There was a slam of a door from the phone. "Surprise me, he said."
"Motherfucking…" Gaara sighed, calming himself down. "Right. Surprise him. I can do that."
"Gaara, are you trying to impress him?"
"No, I'm not. I just don't want to get him something crap…" Gaara walked to where Kin was. "I'll find something, I'm sure."
"I have to go, Sasuke's here. Talk to you later!"
"Yeah, bye."
Kin looked to her companion, holding up the bag and bear. "Where to next, captain?"
"The dress shop I guess."
The two spent a couple of hours trailing around Suna's larger shopping mall, and snuck off to the black market to see what they could find there. By the end of the trip, Gaara still hadn't decided on presents for his best mate and Neji.
"I've suggested things already, jeez. You say you're over the guy, yet you act-"
"Don't finish that sentence," Gaara ordered. "I just want something…"
"Different."
"Yeah," he turned to her. "That so wrong?"
Rolling her eyes, Kin shrugged. "I guess not. Let's keep searching. This is a big city with lots of shops, after all!"
--
Naurto sighed, putting his phone on the counter and running to the door, landing with a thump at the bottom of the stairs and opening the door with a large pull. There stood a certain blue haired boy, who looked up as if there was no noise or recognition at all.
"Hey babe," Sasuke greeted, walking over the threshold and smacking his lips against Naruto's. "How've you been?"
"I have a surprise," Naruto said with a grin. "But you can't tell anyone, 'cause it's a secret."
Sasuke smirked. "And we know how bad at keeping those you are."
Giggling, Naruto led the taller boy into the house, shutting the door and kissing the other again. "Mm, so bad."
"Ugh, can't you two be gay where I'm not?"
A vein popped in Naruto's head. "Can't you go be a breeder where I'm not?"
Mitsuki scoffed. "At least I do it how it's meant to be done."
"At least I don't add to over-population of the planet," Naruto snapped back.
Neji soon appeared in the doorframe of the living room, smiling at the site of Sasuke with his arms around Naruto's waist. "Sasuke, so nice you could visit."
Mitsuki turned on her boyfriend. "I accept their gay-ness, but I don't want to have to watch it."
"Right," Neji said sadly. "You should go back into the living room, I'll get the drinks."
She huffed silently and marched to her destination.
Sasuke frowned. "When you going to tell her about your past boyfriend?"
"Not anytime soon. Its not like either of them are in my life at the same time, they'll never have to know about each other," a look of mild annoyance passed over his features quickly. "Besides, I don't talk to Gaara anymore."
He walked past the couple into the kitchen.
Naruto grinned up at Sasuke sheepishly. "About that secret…"
Sasuke's eyes narrowed. "Yes…"
Naruto chuckled helplessly. "I invited someone to stay…in this house…for the holiday."
"Who?"
Naruto looked behind him to the kitchen before leaning up to whisper in Sasuke's ear: "Gaara."
The Uchiha let go of his boyfriend and put his hands up. "Hell no."
"Come on, Sasuke! It'll be fun!"
"No, it will not," he lowered his voice to a hiss. "Did you hear what he just said?!"
Neji came back into the hall and drifted to the living room without giving the couple a second glance.
Sasuke turned back to Naruto. "He doesn't think they'll have to meet each other! How awkward will it be?!"
"Look, I've got it covered," Naruto said. "When Gaara gets here, I'll explain to him that the bitch is Neji's girlfriend, and not to be too…weird around her, because she doesn't know about the whole he-dated-him thing."
"You don't know how badly you've screwed this one up, Naruto," Sasuke said with a sigh. "At least tell me you've got somewhere for Gaara to stay."
The sheepish grin returned. "Kane's room."
"What?!" Sasuke exclaimed. "He's staying here-?!"
"Shush!" Naruto pressed a hand to Sasuke's chest, a finger to his lips. "Please, stay quiet about it, I've invited a lot of people over for Christmas dinner, and a few of them are coming the day after Gaara arrives. Just please don't tell anyone."
Sasuke looked unconvinced.
"Everyone will be happy. Trust me," Naruto said. "We haven't seen Gaara in two whole years! I- we miss him…"
The onyx eyes softened and Sasuke took Naruto into a hug. "Okay, I'll stay quiet. So long as you promise you'll tell me when he gets here so I can come round to say hi and stuff."
Naruto nodded into the blue jacket. "I promise."
Sasuke sighed a little. "When does he get here?"
"Friday."
"You've got to be kidding me."
--
On Wednesday, Chang left to go back to her family, and Kin went back to her home city. On Thursday, the boys got together and wrapped up Gaara's presents and helped him pack. And on Friday?
"Does Naruto know you have an eyebrow piercing yet?" Shikamaru asked with a tone of indifference.
Fukazawa laughed. "What about the three ear piercings? They're new, aren't they?"
Gaara rolled his eyes and the two and smirked, pushing his headphones into his ears. "No, and no. They are new though. I'll see you guys when we all get back."
"I hope you come back with a nice story about sex, otherwise it's not a real holiday," Fukazawa joked with a wink. "Have fun."
"You too. Say hi to Temari and Kankuro for me, will you?" Gaara asked to Shikamaru, who nodded.
"Say hi to the others. Take care."
Gaara brought his goggles over his eyes and hopped on the motorbike, kicking off with his boots and rearing it with his gloved hands. "Have a nice holiday," he said before pushing off down the street.
His stuff was all in a large backpack, settled on his back, and he had a leather jacket over his long sleeved ripped shirt for the colder Konoha weather, matching pair of trousers. It was going to be a long ride.
--
"Why are you so eager to get me out the house, Naruto?" Neji asked with a raised brow. "Someone coming over?"
"Sasuke, I just want, you know, alone time with him?" Naruto laughed nervously. "All that jazz."
Neji rolled his eyes, standing up from the settee. "I guess if you're that desperate, I can find something to do. Let me go see if Mitsuki is busy."
Naruto rubbed his hands together nervously and looked around the room. He'd spent the past two days tidying the house for when Gaara got there, even if it was going to become messy again.
The doorbell soon rang and a floor of horror ran through Naruto as he sprinted to the door, praying it wasn't who he thought it was, glancing to see if Neji was behind him, shutting his eyes tight and opening the door roughly.
"Sorry I'm early," was the bored voice. "I thought the traffic would be worse."
Naruto let out a sigh of relief and fell against his boyfriend. "I thought you were Gaara," he said. "I'm so glad…"
"Neji not left yet?" Sasuke guessed, pulling the blond into the house. "Let's go wait in the living room."
Naruto nodded, twiddling his fingers and leaning against Sasuke.
"Hey, you haven't seen Mitsuki, have you? She's not in her room," Neji announced, head popping into the living room.
Sasuke snorted. "Neji, you look like a girl with your hair like that."
The long brown locks were tied up into a high ponytail, stray strands of hair framing his face. Neji fumed. "Thanks, Sasuke. Really."
"Just stating the truth."
Naruto interrupted the conversation. "She went shopping; I think she wants to make a good impression on the guest. I don't know. Do you have to go out with her?"
Naruto's phone beeped.
To: Naruto
From: Gaara
Date: 14 – 12
Time: 17:56
I've just stopped for petrol, but I'm almost there. See you soon.
Naruto panicked. "Cause, you know, you could just go for a walk? A walk would give me and Sasuke enough time to have sex and be done with it. Please. Please?"
Neji frowned suspiciously. "Sure…a walk. I'll wait for Mitsuki if you don't mind."
Sasuke put a hand over Naruto's mouth before the blond said anything. "We don't mind. Take your time."
Neji nodded and walked out the room
Naruto blew up when Sasuke let go of him. "Dude! He's almost here! Neji has to be gone now!"
Sasuke held up three fingers and slowly put them down.
There was the opening of the door and a loud exclamation of the only female arriving home. Naruto sighed in relief.
"Hey Mitsuki, you mind if we go for a walk?" the couple heard Neji ask.
"Sure, just let me put this away."
"Oh, here. I'll help you."
Mitsuki looked into the living room, raising a brow. "Oh, Sasuke. Didn't know you were here."
Sasuke smiled politely. "Mitsuki, nice to see you."
Naruto muttered under his breath. "Don't lie. It's never nice."
Mitsuki forced a smile and left the room.
"She doesn't get me upset because I'm polite to her, and she doesn't have a reason to upset me. You, on the other hand…"
Naruto scoffed. "I don't have the same charm you do."
"That's true, I guess."
There was a long pause where the two sat together, listening.
"You gone yet?" Naruto called.
"Going!" Neji announced, walking into the living room. A light brown jacket covered his cream jumper and fell to his knees, a blue scarf round his neck. "I'll see you guys later."
"Bye!" Naruto said with a grin.
Mitsuki grabbed Neji's arm, pulling him out the door and looking up at the sky, wrapping her arms tighter round Neji's. "It's so cold out…"
"Do you think it'll snow?" Neji asked, looking up.
Mitsuki giggled. "Who knows. Maybe," she pulled him further down the path. "I hope so. A white Christmas…"
Neji chuckled.
"I hope your friend likes me…" Mitsuki said. "I can't wait to meet hi-"
She jumped and looked up as screeching tires sounded along the pavement, exclaiming in surprise. Neji looked up with wide eyes at the flashy black and red motorbike, large new rock boots hitting the floor. White eyes travelled up the leather trousers, jacket and full rucksack to the pale face, pierced brow and ears, thick eyeliner and lack of eyebrows. The bright red hair got his attention the most. He hadn't seen that colour in forever. No one else had the same colour red as that man.
"N-Neji…who's that? That goth punk kid?" Mitsuki asked. "He's not your friend…is he?"
The redhead hopped off the bike and locked it, pushing his orange tinted goggles up to his hairline, walking up the path and ignoring the couple. Mitsuki tugged on Neji's arm and forced him down the path, passing the short boy.
Neji's head followed him.
"Gaara?"
Gaara turned around, looking at Neji in curiosity.
"What is it?"
The Hyuuga was stunned into silence. What did he want, other than to confirm that it was indeed who he thought it was?
"N-Naruto's inside. Just go in."
Gaara nodded in thanks and continued to the door, knocking lightly and opening it.
Mitsuki looked between the redhead and her boyfriend. "Neji?!"
"Huh?" Neji looked down at the purple haired girl. "What is it?"
Her face became even more worried. "That's your friend?"
Neji couldn't help but laugh slightly. "Yeah…Gaara. We went to school together."
Mitsuki grimaced. "Gosh, he's going to be in my house for the holidays?"
"He's not as bad as he looks," Neji admitted. "Real nice, on the inside…you just have to get to know him first.
The girl brightened up. "You were close?"
"Yeah…"
She looked to the door. "Let's go for our walk…I need to think about this."
Neji nodded, happily walking beside Mitsuki. He was in a world of his own.
'So that was the special guest, huh, Naruto?'
--
Gaara shook off his coat and ripped his goggles from his head, putting them on a stand next to a coat rack. He then took off his boots, leaving them by the other shoes. Looking up, he suddenly felt nervous. The hall was plain cream coloured with laminated flooring, pictures and art hanging on the walls. Gaara walked to one particular photo to see a blond and brunet, the brunet with hair that went to his elbow and the blond with long spikes.
"Naruto…" Gaara noted. "And Neji…"
"Neji?!" was the loud exclamation. "Aren't you gone yet?!"
The redhead rolled his eyes and walked into the room he heard the shout from, greeted by two blue sofas and a TV in the corner with a Playstation connected to it. The carpet was a fuzzy grey with a large blue rug across, white and yellow patterns on it. The walls were sky blue, and there was dark blue blinds at the window. Gaara looked to the couple seated on the couch behind the door and smiled softly.
"It's me."
Naruto was up in a flash, his arms tightly wrapped round Gaara's small body. Sasuke was up second and surprised the redhead with a tight, quick hug.
"Welcome back!" Naruto said with wet blue eyes. "It's so good to see you again!"
"You haven't changed a bit," Gaara stated, looking the blond up and down; black jeans and an orange T-shirt. Sasuke was dressed much more sensibly for the weather, while still retaining his sophisticated style. "It's nice to see you both again."
"You two sit down, I'll go get some drinks- I bet you had a long drive. Did you bring your car?"
"Motorbike. I just parked it on the street. You don't have a garden or anything I could put it in, do you?"
Sasuke chuckled. "You say Naruto hasn't changed…"
"Ah, yeah, a small garden out back. I'll get you that drink…is apple juice okay? Or coffee?"
"Coffee would be nice," Gaara said. He looked to Sasuke, who was sitting back on the couch. The taller boy patted the seat and Gaara sat on the other end, relaxing into the comfort it brought. "Gosh, I've been sat on that bike all day…"
"I'll sort out where to sort it, I don't think Kane would like to come back to tire marks in his garden. I still live in the Uchiha compound, so it can stay there if you like?"
"That'd be great."
Sasuke glanced out the window to see the Honda parked outside the gate next to the pavement. "You saw Neji on your way in?"
Gaara blinked. "He told me to come straight in…"
Sasuke smirked. "He looks different, right?"
The redhead nodded, blush rising to his cheeks. "More feminine, I'll give him that."
"He cut his hair a while back because Mitsuki was complaining about it being too long. He didn't cut it that short."
"He suits long hair."
The Uchiha nodded indifferently. "Suppose."
Naruto soon entered the room again, passing Gaara a cup of hot coffee. "It's so nice that you could come for Christmas. How's life? You are your family?"
Gaara smiled slightly. "Sasori and Deidara got engaged last week."
"Oh, wow! That's so cool! I'll have to wish them congratulations later…"
Gaara held the coffee in his hands, meeting Naruto's blue eyes in a piercing gaze. "So, Naruto. Tell me. Was that girl with Neji outside that Mitsuki girl you mentioned?"
Sasuke raised a brow and looked down at Naruto, who was curled up against his side. "You haven't told him about Mitsuki yet?"
Naruto laughed sheepishly. "Well, see, Mitsuki is Neji's girlfriend…"
Gaara took a sip of his coffee. "I see."
"And, uh…you can't really mention anything about Neji's sexuality."
Green eyes narrowed. "If he's dating a girl, doesn't that make him straight?"
"Well, he's bi, but that's not the point," Naruto said. "Mitsuki doesn't know about any of Neji's past relationships that were with men…"
"She's homophobic?" Gaara questioned.
"Kind of."
Sasuke scoffed. "Kind of is a bit of an understatement, don't you think?"
"She's a bitch, and always complains about my gay-ness. She's very close minded. She makes Neji happy though…I guess."
Gaara looked out the window, taking another sip of his coffee. "Close minded, huh?"
He sure must've made a good impression on her when he arrived. A smirk twitched at the corners of his mouth.
"I'm sure you and her will get along great though! I mean, what's not to like about you?" Naruto asked with a wide grin.
Gaara smirked. "Of course, I'll ignore the part where she looked petrified of me when I arrived."
Sasuke burst out with laughter and Naruto cringed. "Oh dear…"
"What games do you have on your play station? I'd kill to do something fun after being on a motorbike for four hours flat."
--
Neji held onto Mitsuki's hands, staring into her stormy grey-blue eyes on the doorstep. She smiled nervously and pulled away one hand, smoothing out her hair. He chuckled and kissed her brow.
"Don't worry, Gaara's fine. He'll seem mean at first, but he's really just a bit defensive. He might've changed though; I haven't talked to him in a while."
Mitsuki nodded. "Just defensive, I got you. Do you think he'll like me?"
"What's not to like?"
The two walked into the hall, kicking off their shoes and hanging their coats up. Neji paused to stare at the new rock boots and leather jacket, letting a small smile grace his face. Mitsuki tugged on his hand and pulled him into the living room.
When there, they saw Naruto and Gaara with Guitar Hero's, battling it out on the playstation. Neji glanced Sasuke, who was still on the couch watching the two with a can of beer in his hands.
"You two took your sweet time," the bluenet noted, being the first to notice.
The two on the game didn't even hear with the sound so loud.
Gaara slammed down the last note and smiled broadly, looking at the screen. Naruto stomped his foot playfully.
"I demand a rematch!"
Sasuke chuckled. "You've been on a loosing streak, you should quit while you still have dignity left."
Gaara turned to Sasuke with his bright smile and saw the two at the door, his face slowly smoothing out into a mask of indifference as he took in the couple. Naruto turned to see what had Gaara's attention and looked between Gaara and the other two.
"Hey," Neji said first.
"Hi…" Gaara muttered, not breaking eye contact once he'd got those white eyes linked with his. "It's been a while."
With a nudge from Mitsuki Neji turned his focus to the girl, looking surprised that she was there. "Oh, right. Mitsuki, this is Gaara. Gaara, Mitsuki."
The redhead leaned across and held out his hand. "Nice to meet you."
Mitsuki smiled sweetly, shaking his hand. "Nice to meet you too, Gaara."
"Gaara went to secondary school with Sasuke, Naruto and I," Neji filled. "He comes from Suna. Goes to the University there now."
Mitsuki looked interested. "Oh, what do you study?"
"Acoustics- like sound engineering."
"Ah, sounds fun. I'm a theatre student," she said with a proud smile. "Costume design."
Gaara smiled softly. "Impressive."
Neji glanced to Naruto. "Have you all eaten, had a drink and stuff?"
"Naruto made me coffee, but I haven't eaten since I left Suna."
"I should make something for you then, while you play that game. Anything you feel like having?"
Naruto grinned and threw his hands in the air. "Ramen!"
Mitsuki winced. "You're kidding me, right?"
Gaara chuckled, but didn't look away from his ex. "Ramen sounds great."
Neji smiled. "Ramen, we have so much of that stuff. I'll see what flavours, you have a favourite?"
Gaara smirked. "Surprise me."
--
The kitchen was bright yellows and greens and attached to the equally bright dining room. A vase of sunflowers sat on the windowsill behind Neji. Gaara sat opposite Naruto, Sasuke between them at the head of the table, Mitsuki next to Gaara and Neji next to Naruto. The redhead and brunet would sneak glances at the other, hoping not to be caught.
"So, Gaara," Mitsuki started. "What do you plan to do when you get out of University?"
"I always wanted to design loud speakers," Gaara informed. "Something like that probably. You'll go into theatre costume design?"
"Of course," she smiled that coy smile. "I would love to design costume for film though. I think that would be so cool."
"Kiba said he'd be around tomorrow, so you can meet up with him again. We could go out to the cinema and watch a movie; they have good ones on round this time of year."
"It's been so long since we all did something together," Neji said.
Gaara caught his gaze. "Just like old times, huh?"
Mitsuki cleared her throat, demanding attention. "Have you got anyone special at home? It must be hard to leave them and come here for the Christmas holiday."
Gaara raised an eyebrow muscle, the piercing moving up to show this. "No, not really. Just friends. I see my family often."
"No partner?"
"I'm single, if that's what you're getting at."
Mitsuki giggled. "I hope you don't feel like the fifth wheel while being here. Sasuke's around often, so it'll be two couples and you," Mitsuki looked across the table at Neji with a wide smile, getting a smaller one in return. She took his hand, and he laced their fingers together. "That would be embarrassing."
Naruto glared. "I'm not the kind of person to abandon my best friend for Sasuke. Especially when I haven't seen him in two years."
Gaara glanced at Sasuke, who rolled his eyes playfully. "They fight like cat and dog."
"We should get you set up in Kane's room as soon as possible really," Neji said, turning his attention back to Gaara while Naruto and Mitsuki glared across the table. The Hyuuga smirked. "I hope it's big enough for you."
Gaara tried to fight down the blush that rose from being given that look. "I'm sure it'll be fine. I like simplicity."
"I know you do," Neji said. "Though, your outfit speaks words."
Gaara returned the smirk, picking up his glass. "Well, I wouldn't want to blend in with the crowd. Besides, you haven't seen me in so long," he winked. "Might as well show you what you're in for."
Sasuke shot a glance to Mitsuki, who was still too preoccupied with Naruto to notice the exchange between the two males. This was going to be an interesting holiday to say the least.
--
Kivea: Are you flirting with a taken guy, Gaara?! My, I would've never expected it! Bwaha, I love this story. I don't even know what's going on!
-loves-
-wants reviews please?-
-loves some more-
Ja ne
Kivea
Preview:
"Whoa! Who's this I see before me?"
"Who did you tell I was coming to?"
"No one. It was my little secret."
"Come here, you old midget! You certainly haven't grown, have you?"
"Careful, Inuzuka. I'll show you how good my punch has become if you don't shut up."