(AN: I meant to update this chapter with the first five, but something strange happened. It's like my computer ate the file, because I swear I had it right in front of me, then it disappeared… But it's back now, so everything is good.
Over the next few chapters, I think I make my dislike of Sakura pretty obvious… I'm sorry, I have my own opinion, and my opinion is that Sakura is annoying and just slightly conceited, and that Sasuke should get off his emo ass and ask for Gaara's hand in marriage already. If you think otherwise, STFU and don't leave me a review crying over my abuse of poor wittle Sakuwa-chan)
Pairings: GaaSasu, KankuKiba, NaruSaku later
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Kishimoto, because I would never in my right mind make up characters like Ino and Sakura
Chapter Six: Busted
(Sasuke POV)
"Sasuke-kun…?"
"Hmm? Oh…" I looked up from the book I was flipping through and immediately recognized the pink-haired girl standing beside me. "Hey, Sakura."
"Hi." She looked away from my face and turned instead to the book in my hands. "Wow. I never would have thought you'd be interested in those kinds of books."
"What, this?" I gestured at the thing in my hands (a dark romance about two boys that found healing and safety through each other, or something). "I'm just skimming through it; it's pretty lame, but I can't think of anything else to do."
"Oh, well…" Sakura's face brightened up, and I felt the sense of doom that always accompanied the brightening of her face around me. "In that case, do you want to go with me to the tea shop? It's a nice little place; not too crowded, perfect for if you want some privacy…"
About five feet away, Gaara made the slightest of turns in our direction. His face was calm and betrayed nothing, but I could sense that at that moment he wanted to destroy the entire bookstore. I barely managed to bite back a smile.
"Sorry Sakura, not interested," I said bluntly. Sakura looked down and began wringing her hands.
"Oh, um, I didn't mean like a DATE or anything," she said quickly, though her earlier comments had hinted otherwise. "We could, you know, just go as friends, I'll even bring Ino with me if you—"
"No thanks," I cut her off, my insides shriveling in horror at the thought of being in a tea shop with both girls. "I'm not that big of a tea person."
"Oh… right," Sakura said, as if she didn't already know that. She seemed to deflate a bit, but when she looked up at me again she had a small smile on her face. "That's fine. I'll be going, then. See you later."
A second later she was gone, running down the street to what I guessed was the tea shop. I put the monstrosity (sorry, the book) back on the shelf and looked around; the aisle was empty apart from me and Gaara, who was staring intently at his book as if hoping to burn a hole in it with his eyes. Sensing that it was safe, I walked over and hugged him from behind, putting my arms around his waist. Gaara sighed and leaned against me.
"It's at times like these that I'm going to wish that our relationship was public," he said quietly, also setting down his book.
I frowned. "I'd rather Sakura and Ino flirt with me than you lose your job."
"Lose my job?" he asked skeptically.
"Yes, lose your job. Apparently, the council in Suna distrusts you already. If they hear that you have a lover that's from Konoha AND that's male, it would only take a few days and a couple of announcements before you lose the public's support and get removed from office—"
"Okay, okay, I admit defeat. You win!" Gaara held up his hands in surrender. I smiled and kissed the shell of his ear.
"Hey, do you two work here? Do you know where—Oh! Sorry!"
I turned just in time to see a small, blushing girl run out of sight. Gaara gave a low sigh and gently slipped out of my arms. "That could have been one of our friends," he murmured, giving me a reproving look.
"But it wasn't," I pointed out, scowling.
Gaara snorted. "For someone so worried about keeping 'us' secret, you aren't very careful."
"At least I'm not falling asleep against your shoulder."
Gaara said nothing, but I saw him smirk slightly before he turned away.
It was barely our first afternoon as lovers, but it was obvious that both of us were already frustrated. Naruto, it turned out, had a plan for our vacation (a very vague and loosely put together plan, but a plan nonetheless). The plans all seemed to involve spending as much time in each other's company as possible.
More time with the people that annoyed me; less private time with Gaara. It was as it fate thought it hadn't fucked with me enough already.
I wish we could just go back to the hotel room…
"What was that?"
I blinked; Gaara was staring at me strangely. "What was what?"
The corners of Gaara's mouth twitched. "Do you mind telling me WHY you wish to go back to the hotel room?"
"Ah…" Shit, did I say that out loud? I rubbed the back of my neck nervously and pretended to be absorbed with the book titles behind him. "I'm just, you know, tired of looking around this town…"
"Ah, I get it," Gaara said thoughtfully, nodding slowly. "So you want us to go to the hotel room for a… how does Kankuro say it? A 'change of scenery'."
I sputtered and choked on my own saliva. "G-Gaara!"
"Yes?" said Gaara, looking up at me innocently. My eyes narrowed.
"Don't give me that cute look, you just—" I clapped a hand over my mouth.
"Hmm?" Gaara took a step forward into my personal space. "Did you just… call me cute?"
I let out a loud snort and turned away. "Yeah, right."
"But I just heard you."
"Get your ears checked, Kazekage-sama."
"Why did you call me cute?"
"Damn it!" I ran my hands through my hair frustratedly and made sure to look at anything but the angel in front of me. "Why'd I call you cute? Because you ARE cute, you're cute and adorable and sexy and hot and all the other words you can think of. Jesus, Gaara, hasn't anyone ever told you that you're attractive?"
"…No," said Gaara, so quietly that I almost missed it. For once, he looked completely thrown off guard, as if he had just experienced a physical blow.
"Well, you are," I said, crossing my arms defiantly, "and anyone that thinks otherwise is a bloody fool."
Silence. Shit, even though we were together now we still seemed to have awkward moments. Was that supposed to happen? Are you supposed to feel weird around your boyfriend?
With a tiny moan, Gaara leaned forward and hugged me tightly, resting his forehead against my shoulder. "Thank you," he whispered, and I felt a soft heat pulse through my body. "That was a very nice thing to say."
I let out a low breath as his arms tightened their grip. My hands gently tilted his face up, and I began to lean in—
"Uchihaaa! Gaaraaa!"
I cursed and reluctantly pulled away; through the store window I could see Naruto peering into nearby stores, occasionally calling out our names.
"Stupid dobe," I hissed, the warmth being replaced once again with frustration. "Well, it must be time to go to the next event on this epic journey of his." Gaara rolled his eyes and started walking down the aisle while I followed close behind.
"Oh, Sasuke." Gaara looked over his shoulder at me. My eyebrows rose slightly. "I guess I should say that I also think you are quite…"
He stopped, his brows furrowed as he searched for the appropriate word to describe me.
"…sexy."
With that he headed out the door, leaving an open-mouthed and thoroughly stunned Uchiha in his wake.
--
(Sakura POV)
"Sakura!" Ino ran out of the tea shop, where she had been waiting for me. When she saw that I was alone, however, her face fell. "Where's Sasuke? You said you were going to bring him here."
"He didn't want to come," I said with a heavy sigh. I felt slightly abandoned; you would think that, after years of trying to approach him, he would at least take SOME interest in me, or at least give me a chance.
"Oh well…" Ino looked around, as if hoping I was joking and he would pop out from behind some corner or something. "Better luck next time, right?"
I nodded, but on the inside I snorted and glared. You always say that. "Better luck next time." I get so sick of it! It's been four years since I joined his team already! Come on!
"Hey…" Ino's voice went quiet, as if with awe. "Sakura, have you ever considered that he might have a girlfriend or boyfriend already?"
"What?! NO WAY!!" I screamed, disgusted. "He would tell me, for one thing, I mean, I AM his friend." Then I did a double take. "And what do you mean, 'or boyfriend'?"
Ino shrugged. "Come on, he acts like he might be gay. We could at least consider that he might have a boy—"
"No way," I repeated, anger making my vision go red. Ino, sensing that I was this close to attack the nearest living thing closest to me, backed away slightly and quickly looked over my shoulder. "Oh, hey, Sasuke's over there! He just came out of some store with Gaara; they're going over to meet with Naruto…"
I looked over my shoulder. Sasuke was indeed walking with Gaara, and they were talking… Something caught my eye. Sasuke looked flustered, his cheeks tinted pink and his hands deep in his pockets; Gaara was smirking slightly, as if at some private joke. Naruto didn't seem to notice anything unusual (like he ever did. Honestly, the dunce) but my eyes narrowed and my mind began to race. Ino wasn't the sharpest kunai on the weapon rack, and she was obsessed with Sasuke; if she considered the possibility that Sasuke was gay…
I shook my head. Oh please, Sakura. You've known Sasuke for years now. Don't scare yourself like that!
Still, I had to work harder to keep my smile on as Naruto bounded in our direction, calling out my name and waving. Maybe… if I just kept my eyes on him… it couldn't hurt, could it…?
--
(Sasuke POV)
"Hey, Sasuke! You should have hung out with me and Shikamaru earlier today!"
"Hmm." I picked idly at my food.
Naruto frowned at my lack of attention. "We saw something really wild today, you wouldn't believe—"
"Hmm."
Naruto scowled, then turned to Kiba; it seemed that he had given me up as a lost cause. I sighed deeply (it seemed I was doing that a lot lately) and continued staring at my half-eaten food.
The sky outside was quickly darkening, fitting nicely with my current mood. Right when I'd thought we were going back to the hotel, Ino, Tenten, and Sakura insisted that we all eat at a restaurant together, cutting my time with Gaara even shorter. I was really starting to resent the rice in front of me.
You'd think that after going over sixteen years without Gaara that I could wait a few more hours to be with him again. Ha, not the case. I hated not being aloud to touch him, and I hated it that I couldn't even talk to him like I wanted to. I was still acting, still lying, still painting a false face for the world to see, and I couldn't stand it.
It's worth going through this if it means protecting Gaara, I told myself heatedly. Besides, no matter what I get to fall asleep in his embrace… That should be more than enough…
At the end of the table, Gaara gave a sudden start. I watched, concerned, as he fumbled with his pockets, obviously searching for something.
"What's up, Gaara?" Kankuro asked; it seemed that I wasn't the only one to notice Gaara's change in behavior.
Gaara cursed, which surprised everyone in the vicinity. "I left my wallet behind, probably at the bookstore." He stood up, looking strained. "Damn… Uchiha, come with me, you were there too so you can help me."
I immediately jumped up; I was more than ready to leave behind the noisy crowd of "friends".
"Oh, I'll come with you!" Sakura said quickly, starting to get up, but Gaara shook his head.
"I don't want too many people coming with me. Stay here; it's just a wallet, no reason for everyone to go on a search party…"
Gaara swiftly walked out the door, and I followed just behind. Just before the restaurant door closed, I distinctly heard Neji murmur, "But I thought Gaara NEVER misplaced his belongings."
It took a few minutes of travelling for me to realize something odd. We were passing by buildings that I did not remember, and I never forgot my surroundings.
"Gaara?" I asked softly. "Are you sure this is the right way?"
No response. Gaara kept up his quick pace, his eyes set straight ahead. I trotted to keep up.
"Gaara, this isn't the right way."
Nothing.
"Gaara, seriously—"
"I know."
Gaara reached back and grabbed my wrist with a shaking hand. I was beginning to get a bad feeling; I trusted Gaara, but I'd never seen him so out of it. And why were we going this way if he knew it was the wrong way?"
"I thought you lost your wallet—"
"I lied," Gaara said simply. He sounded so tense that I decided to keep my mouth shut.
A moment later Gaara tugged on my wrist and pulled me into a deserted side road. I looked around uneasily, my body tensing as if I was preparing for a fight.
"Gaara, what's going--?!"
My demand was cut off as Gaara hugged me tightly. My fear disappeared immediately as I gave in and hugged him back, my lips pressed against his cheek. I didn't have to ask now why he had lied; we'd both wanted the same thing.
"Mmmn, Sasuke…" Gaara sighed, his fingertips skimming feather-light across my cheeks. "I'm afraid that you might be bringing out my selfish side."
"You? Selfish? Those words don't even belong in the same sentence." If anything, I was the selfish one. "How does wanting a hug make you selfish?"
Gaara's eyes flicked upward and held mine in a steady gaze. "What if that's not all that I want?"
It was then that I noticed the fire in Gaara's emerald eyes; the fire of something less than innocent, a fire of need. I didn't need a mirror to know that right then the same fire burned behind my own.
"Anything you ask for… you will receive," I whispered, and my lips met with his.
We started off slow, but our patience had been worn thin; our small kisses soon turned into a battle of tongue and teeth with our hands gripping each other's hair tightly. Gaara pushed me against a wall and slowly, torturously rocked his hips into mine. A long, low moan escaped from my throat and my face lit up.
'Oh God, his hips are moving against mine, his hips, his—' Acting on a sudden urge, I pushed back; I could tell by his muffled gasp that I had done the right thing. The movements intensified, and a minute later my small moans had elevated into actual cries. I threaded my fingers into Gaara's hair and pulled him even closer, crushing our lips together to try and stifle our noises, but I could do nothing to stop the rushes of passion or the fact that my pants were way too tight or the fact that I could feel Gaara's—Gaara's—
"Sasuke…" Gaara managed to gasp into my mouth around our tongues. His hands crept down my sides and gripped my waist tightly, holding me against him for a long, heated moment. "I… love you… Sasuke…"
Dark as it was, as soon as the words left his mouth a shadow seemed to fall over us. My heart was struck by a sudden, unexplainable fear; I swiftly broke this kiss, pushed him behind me protectively and whipped around, grabbing a kunai out of my back pocket as I saw the outline of a girl—
Sakura took a step back, her hands clapped over her mouth. "What… on earth… is going on?"
She sounded like she was in a state of shock, and she wasn't the only one. My pounding heart came to a complete halt, and I felt like a hole had opened up underneath me and I was falling… falling… falling…
One day. It hasn't even been one day. Oh no, no, no—
"Sakura—"
"What is this?!" Sakura screamed, her face twisted in blind fury. "I-I saw you kissing HIM! You were kissing Gaara!! Is this why you've always rejected me, because you were getting it on with HIM?!"
"Sakura, please—" I glanced quickly at Gaara; he was as white as a ghost. "Don't shout—"
"I'll do whatever I want! That's what you seem to be doing, at any rate." Her fist smashed into the wall, leaving a hand-sized crater. "You and Gaara were making out! I am NOT leaving here until I get an explanation! WHAT IS THIS?!"