A/N: Oh wow! Over-night I got nearly 10 e-mails telling me about faves and reviews, I almost fainted. Haha! So, since this seems to be a pretty okay story (and since I thought of some new stuff) I have decided to update! Oh, and since someone pointed out how I spelt "Shukuka", I just spelt it differently because that's what I always end up saying it like. If it were anything else, I'd get confused. Please enjoy!

Disclaimer: I am making no money or anything of the kind off of this. The characters are property of Masashi Kishimoto, no matter how much fangirls claim them theirs.

Warnings: the usual; implied crack couples and OOC-ness (even if I try to keep them in character the best I can), and of course, the shounen-ai warning (for those who couldn't tell earlier.)

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Chapter Four

The blonde tossed and turned restlessly in his sleep; tears stubbornly clung to the corners of his eyes. His hands tensed and released the sheets he was clinging to. He mumbled nothings to himself as he kicked around, almost as if trying to escape something. Naruto's eyes snapped open and he shot like and arrow from his bed, promptly falling down from getting up too quickly.

Naruto pulled himself off the floor clumsily and sighed, glancing at the cracked and dirty mirror hanging in his room. He glanced over at his roommate, Kiba. The other boy was still sleeping soundly, probably worn out from running around for Temari all day. Naruto sighed and ran his hands quickly through his messy blonde hair, a nervous habit he'd developed over the years.

Calm down Naruto...it was just another dream... Naruto told himself, trying to ignore how real and vivid his nightmare had been. Images still ran through his mind and he winced, deciding it would be best not to go back to sleep and invite the nightmares back in.

He glanced out the window, the sun was barely rising. The guards wouldn't be there to wake them for at least another hour or so. Naruto ran his fingers through his hair again. Absentmindedly, he walked over to the small open window and looked out. He could see just over the rooftops from where their room was located. It was a peaceful sight to see the world still asleep before they had to wake up to the trivial new day. They were all still dreaming of things they wanted, things they needed, things they wished for...

A smile tugged at the corners of Naruto's lips. The first one he'd had honestly since he arrived in Suna. He surveyed the rooftops for a moment then stopped, pausing on one of the rooftops just beside the palace. There was someone standing on it. Naruto squinted, leaning out the window to get a better look.

Is that Gaara-kou...? Naruto wondered, trying his best to see who it was.

A hand grabbed his shoulder and Naruto yelped. When he saw the red-head turning to see where the noise had come from he panicked slightly and jumped back, falling onto the person attached to the hand. Kiba glared at him. "What the hell is your problem?"

Naruto blushed slightly and jumped off of Kiba, "S-sorry Kiba, I was just looking out the window and I thought I saw Gaara-kou out on the rooftop and...Sorry." Naruto explained quickly, his words slurring together slightly.

Kiba stared at him blankly for a moment then moved to get up, Naruto tackled him again. "No! What if he sees us?! You'll get us both the death penalty!!" Naruto exclaimed.



The other boy glared at him, "You were the one staring at him, now, let me go back to my bed. I'd like to sleep for a few hours before Temari-hime starts shouting orders." Kiba spoke Temari's name bitterly but Naruto took no notice as he was crawling towards the window.

He peeked over the ledge and looked around, seeing no one he shrank down to the floor again. "Right about now is when normally the person I thought I saw will appear in the window right when I think he's gone. Right...now!" Naruto ducked down beside the window. Kiba watched him with obvious annoyance.

"I hear that they have wonderful things in the way of mental therapy now-a-days."

"Hush! He'll appear any second!"

"Naruto, he's not going to—"

"Good morning my toys!"

Naruto and Kiba both yelped and jumped away instinctively. Temari, who was standing in the doorway, folded her arms over her chest and scowled, "Is that anyway to greet your Master?!"

Kiba sighed inwardly and bowed his head to her, "Good morning Master. How may I serve you today...?" Kiba recited, remembering how she'd told them she wished to be greeted. Temari smiled happily with his response.

"At ease my pet, breakfast will be served in twenty minutes. Neji-kun is making it as we speak. And Naruto, you'll be eating breakfast in the west wing. I'll get one of my guards to take you there once you're presentable, kay?" Temari asked with a corresponding wink.

Naruto blinked and nodded slowly, "Um...alright." He said with a small shrug. At least he was getting to eat. Temari smiled at them both then left. When she was safely gone Naruto chuckled, "Master...?"

"Bite me Blondie." Kiba hissed pulling his crimson shirt on over his head. Naruto pouted slightly when he saw that Kiba's shirt fit him much better than Naruto's own shirt fit him. Nonetheless, Naruto pulled the orange, baggy top on over his head and tightened the knot on his belt, making sure they wouldn't fall.

When they both felt they looked presentable, as Temari had said, they exited the room. Naruto was instantly grabbed by the arm and pulled away down a separate hall. Kiba waved after him looking slightly sympathetic to the blonde's predicament. But how could he be completely sympathetic, after all, Kiba himself had never been told he was eating away from everyone he knew in a strange place then hauled away violently by a guard twice his size.

No, Kiba had much better luck than the blonde did.

:..: :..: :..:

Naruto was pulled down a maze of hallways, the guard moved so quickly that Naruto barely had enough time to keep his feet moving. Feeling as if he stopped moving his feet he'd be lifted off the ground and simply be flying down like hallway like a kite.

After almost a minute of sprinting through the house the guard slowed down dramatically and stopped before a large door, Naruto felt intimidated by this large door, not to mention the large guard, large home, and large everything. But he was determined not to show it.



The guard pushed the door open to reveal a smaller room than Naruto had expected. The walls were decorated with tapestries and bookshelves. Naruto marvelled at how many things had been crammed into the space. In one corner there was an oversized chair, most likely for reading the books. On another wall was a table with several pillows (meant as seats), and yet even more tapestries. This room was amazing.

"Wow..." Naruto muttered quietly. The guard said nothing in response to his awe.

"Sit over there and wait," The guard pointed to the table. Naruto nodded slowly and walked over to the table, sitting down on one of the pillows; which were evidently made of silk as well. Just as Naruto was beginning to think he'd be dining alone in the room, the door opposite the one he'd come from opened.

Naruto found similar thoughts from this morning running rapidly through his mind.

I have to be the most unlucky man on earth...

:..: :..: :..:

Gaara stood in the doorway staring at the blonde seated at his table; in his living room; in his seat. Gaara glowered at Naruto for a moment then realized that he couldn't –or wouldn't- be able to find his part of the palace on his own, nor would he sit down in a strange room.

No. This was Temari's doing. I'm going to kill her. Gaara thought decidedly. But that could wait until after he'd eaten, his stomach complained. Gaara stared at Naruto for a few more moments then walked over, sitting begrudgingly in the seat opposite him. Naruto shifted slightly uncomfortably and smiled sheepishly at Gaara.

His smile was returned with an icy look. Naruto shrank back and started eating his food. Gaara cursed him self and Temari in his mind as he ate. I'll kill her. And then I'll kill myself. Why must she always interfere?

"Ano...Gaara-kou...?" Naruto asked quietly, scratching the back of his head. Gaara looked up and glanced at Naruto out of the corner of his eye. "Am I your slave now...?" Naruto asked. Gaara blinked for a moment. That was most likely Temari's intention since no one had come to claim Naruto again. Gaara shrugged nonchalantly and returned to finishing his meal.

Naruto sighed, "That's a bit of a relief..." Naruto muttered, this caught Gaara's attention though he didn't how it. Naruto continued, "I was afraid I was going to be put to death or something. Or made Temari-hime's third sex-slave...or Kankurou-kou's..." Gaara couldn't decide which person the blonde was more terrified of being a sex-slave for. Naruto smiled and chuckled.

"Oh well, I'm kind of glad I'm your slave now...at least I don't have to worry about dying anymore."

Gaara put his chopsticks down, Naruto obviously didn't know about Gaara's reputation. That was quite obvious now. Normally when Temari gave Gaara one of the slaves they begged for their lives, they didn't sigh in relief and smile. And they most certainly didn't say that they didn't have to worry about dying anymore.

Naruto didn't know about the Shukaku, and if Gaara had any say in it, he never would.

:..: :..: :..:

Naruto lay on the floor of Gaara's library; the heat was killing him slowly but surely. And this was not a normal heat. It wasn't a 'oh, that's hot' or even 'the soles of my feet have been plastered to the sand' hot. It was a 'the sun is melting my face off and I'd rather be dead than here' hot.

Naruto moaned, "Gaara-kou...how do you deal with this heat...?"

Gaara glanced over from his armchair and shrugged, not really having an answer. Really, all Naruto would have to do is get used to the heat. Naruto was from somewhere with cooler weather, much cooler weather. And this was the middle of summer for Suna. There was no way that Naruto would survive doing manual labour. So Gaara allowed him to lounge on the floor and got the guards to give him a cool drink every so often.

Naruto wondered why he wasn't being put to work but had no complaints. After another long sip of his drink, Naruto looked over at Gaara and tilted his head to the side, thinking about this morning. Did he really see Gaara on the rooftop or was it someone else?

Sensing that Naruto was looking at him Gaara looked over with a quizzical expression. Naruto smiled, "Hey, you know what? I haven't heard you talk yet!" Naruto laughed. Gaara blinked, suppressing the red rising in his cheeks.

"What does your voice sound like Gaara-kou...?" Naruto asked in a joking way. Gaara shrugged again and turned the next page of his book. Naruto pouted and rolled onto his back, "Don't worry."

Gaara looked up at Naruto's odd comment. Naruto grinned, "I'll get you to talk eventually!"

The smallest ghost of a smile crossed over Gaara's face and he nodded, as if to say 'good luck with that' and went back to his book while Naruto began to plot crazy, elaborate schemes to get Gaara to speak.

Maybe I'm luckier than I thought...

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A/N: w I'm sorry it took so long and it's kinda crappy. But it's getting more interesting, ne? Review please? has out the collection tin once again