I'm sorry for the slow update, I guess I was more busy than I thought, and then I got a bad case of writer's block. I cured it by writing the first part of a two-shot though, let's hope my inspiration keeps flowing from now on! Well I've done lots of plotting at least so that's good.

This chapter almost only has Itachi and Gaara, and ugh they're getting so gay already hahaha...

I'm adding a small explanation and age list at the end, might be good to read through it.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the mentioned movies.


Chapter seven: A question of time

xxx

-April 23rd 1995-

Gaara sat in his tiny room, turning the pages of his history book, not really paying attention. He'd been up almost all night, and since he had trouble sleeping during the day he'd decided to simply not bother trying. The following morning he had a test that he needed to pass, and he wasn't sure he could.

At sixteen, Gaara was wondering when his growth spurt would arrive so the others would stop calling him shortie. He wished he could play sports after school, get some muscle maybe. It was annoying to be picked on and unable to retaliate. Though, he had to admit, most of the things they said weren't far off the truth. He didn't have friends, didn't have or do anything that was considered cool, didn't speak much and definitely didn't pay attention to girls or parties. That coupled with being scrawny but still considered cute by the girls and he was just begging for trouble.

The only thing going for him was the fact that he was smart, enough to pass most classes without studying, and doing really well in those classes that didn't revolve around boring facts but rather problem solving. Ironically enough his teachers would always complain to his uncle that he was wasting his talent by being lazy, something his uncle pretended to be very concerned about. Yashamaru was the kind of person that looked very sweet, and naturally trustworthy. A funny fact since just last night, he'd beat up a couple of guys during his usual Saturday bar adventure, as he called it. He'd brought Gaara with him, and god knows how he managed to convince them he looked eighteen rather than fourteen, compared to his actual age.

Gaara had sipped a beer and stayed in the background, making his exit shortly after his uncle had been thrown out, following him and pick pocketing a few drunkards on his way. It was sad to think that stealing was also a thing Gaara had going for him, if his uncle's words were anything to go by. "You'll go far in the underworld" his uncle liked to say, snickering to himself.

He wished he could be a soccer prodigy instead, hell he'd be fine with it even if it was ice skating or marathon running, two things he thought of as utterly and completely boring. Not to mention skates were very dangerous, because it was easy to fall when people 'accidentally' bumped into him.

The chime of the doorbell brought him out of his musings, and he shuffled towards the door, taking his time. His uncle wasn't home, and wasn't expected to be back for a few hours. He hoped it wasn't any of his uncle's so called friends.

Opening the door he was greeted with a man and a woman, both dressed casually in the warm weather. He looked at them expectantly, thinking they looked out of place in a neighborhood like his.

"Hello, you must be Gaara" the woman said in a pleasant voice, a slightly tired but encouraging smile on her face. "I'm Yuuhi Kurenai, from the National Board of Health and Welfare, we'd like to talk to you and your uncle, if he's home?"

Gaara didn't move. So they were social workers. He didn't know what to think, the memory of the last time he'd opened a door and found one waiting for him running through his head. Just where would he be placed this time?

"He's not home" he finally answered quietly, avoiding their eyes. It always bothered him when he was looked at with pity.

"Well, maybe you wouldn't mind talking to us while we wait for him?" the man asked, and Gaara glanced up at him.

He didn't look like a social worker, but he did look nice. Though, looks were very often deceiving.

"Am I going to jail?" he asked the man, guessing, and apparently correctly, that he was a policeman.

"You don't need to worry about that, kiddo. I'm Sarutobi Asuma, mind if we come in?"

Gaara accepted the outstretched hand hesitantly, wondering if he could trust this smiling man. He hadn't alerted the social workers that sometimes visited them to check up on his situation, because he didn't think he was worth the trouble he'd cause. He was getting by with his uncle, and he'd heard of kids that had it much worse than him after being put in foster homes. Not to mention that his life now was a lot better than previously. Oh, and he was very scared of going to jail.

Reluctantly he stepped aside, showing them inside the roomy apartment. His uncle made good money, though most of it went to the apartment and drinking, possibly to escorts as well but he hadn't said much about the women he brought home. They sat down on the couch, Gaara rubbing his arms as if feeling cold, nervously looking between the man and the woman. They looked young, and they had that air of comfort around them that Gaara had noticed in people who didn't face too much trouble in their lives.

"Gaara, we're here because one of your teachers alerted us to the fact that he saw you at a bar yesterday with your uncle, and that he got into a fight. Is that true?"

Gnawing his bottom lip Gaara contemplated his options. If that's the only thing they knew, then he probably really didn't need to get punished. But if he told them yes, they might investigate more…

"I know it's difficult to say bad things about family, Gaara, and that nothing has been brought to our attention before, but if there's something wrong we're able to help you. He also said you haven't been paying as much attention in school as you have the potential to, and that you often seem tired. We want what's best for you, and since you already have a troubled background it's important that you get a good new start in life."

Kurenai's voice was serious, with a pleading note at the end. He wondered if she was new to the job, because she seemed a little nervous as she spoke, trying to think of the correct words.

"Gaara, you seem like a smart kid. I know it doesn't sound appealing to maybe have to leave your uncle, that it makes your future insecure." Asuma took a small pause, clasping his large hands in front of him and leaning towards Gaara. "But I've seen it happen too many times, when the child denies it and ends up growing up into someone they don't want to be. Don't think about your uncle, please think about yourself when you answer."

Think about… himself? Gaara hadn't thought much of the future, because he didn't think he had much of a future. And honestly, who would want to take someone like him in, with his 'troubled background' as the woman had put it.

"Isn't it more common that the child tries to get someone to believe them, and nobody listens?" When the two adults looked surprised, Gaara continued. "I do read the newspaper, you know."

Asuma nodded, his dark brown eyes boring into Gaara's.

"Well then" he said, looking at Gaara like few people had ever looked at him, like he wasn't a mere child, but someone who could think and decide for himself. "This is your chance to be heard, isn't it?"

-June 5th 1998-

There was a squeal, the only warning Gaara got before someone jumped him from behind, looping their arms around his neck.

"We made it!" Matsuri shouted in his ear, laughing brightly.

He let out an amused snort, shrugging her off.

"Come on," she pouted, "it's graduation day! You could at least make an effort to pretend to be excited!"

"I'm excited" he answered calmly, following her to their classroom. "I just don't see the point in jumping around like crazy."

"Aargh you're no fun!" she complained, poking his cheek. "You'll never get a girlfriend like that, no matter how pretty you are!"

Gaara stiffened, but quickly caught himself and rolled his eyes.

"Besides, all you do is study and go to practice. You didn't even go to any of the parties!"

Smiling apologetically Gaara nodded to some other classmates as they arrived outside the classroom. It was true that he hadn't, and not just because it meant he could escape unwelcomed attention from women. High school had been a new life for him, and he'd decided to give it his all. After all, he'd made a promise to Asuma that he'd do his best and later join him in the police force. It was like a dream, and he'd spent the past three years building up his grades and physique with, if he had to say so himself, rather satisfying results.

"I'm simply working towards my goal" he stated, fidgeting with his suit, feeling a little strange wearing it.

He looked around himself, taking in the faces of the people he'd spent his high school days with. None of them felt particularly special to him, but he didn't consider any of them to not be a friend. Even if they didn't stay in contact despite earnest promises, he knew he wanted to show them that he was capable of using his potential and get somewhere in life.

As they filed into the classroom he corrected his graduation hat, making sure his fringe wasn't messy. They would have a short meeting with their head teacher, receiving the documents with their grades on, then they'd have lunch, and lastly they'd assemble inside the auditorium before exiting the school into the arms of waiting relatives. He sent a fond thought to Chiyo, the granny he'd lived with ever since he left his uncle. He could picture her complaining grumpily about the mass of people, but still waiting patiently for him to show up outside. Even his brother and sister had promised to come, and he felt a happy nervous surge inside.

This was it. This was him finally getting out into the real world, able to do whatever he wanted and live on his own. It was a heady feeling, to be able to take care of himself, to not have to rely on others and go someplace where no one would know about his past, or ask why he was living with his so called granny. Even if he'd come to care for her a lot, he didn't want to cause her any further inconveniences. He'd still try to stop by as often as he could and make sure she was alright though.

"This is it!" Matsuri mumbled excitedly next to him, and he relaxed back in his chair despite his nerves tingling.

"Yeah" he agreed, "This is it."

-August 16th, 2012-

"Don't overwork yourself."

Konohamaru glared in the direction the voice had come from, rubbing a now sore spot on the back of his head.

"That's rich coming from you, boss!" he shot back, narrowing his eyes even further as Gaara gave him that look again, as if the red-head was allowed to discard sleeping and eating as opposed to Konohamaru, simply because he was older.

"It's already seven pm, if you've got time to stare blindly at your screen you'd spend the time better staring at your girlfriend. At least she'd stare back."

Konohamaru flushed angrily, letting out a low growl. He might be fresh on the job, but he was still an adult, dammit!

"You think you're so funny!" he shouted after the retreating form of Gaara, pointing an accusing finger at him even if he couldn't see. "But I know you're lame as hell!"

Normally, his words would have earned him a lot more than a last backwards wave, so he figured Gaara must have been in a hurry. He slumped in his seat, contemplating if maybe he should head home, but this report was supposed to be handed in the next day. Chewing on his lips he jumped when a hand touched his shoulder, turning around and grinning when he saw Yurika looking at him with disapproving eyes.

"He may be your former babysitter, but a little bit of professionalism wouldn't hurt, you know" she scolded him, but his grin simply widened.

"Oh come on, I respect him more than anyone! He's the one who keeps treating me like the kid he used to babysit, I'm just defending myself, is all."

She shook her head and was about to leave when he grabbed her sleeve, leaning in close to whisper conspiratorially in her ear.

"Don't you want to know any juicy background on him? I could tell you a lot, you know."

He winked, and she curled her lips in a half grin, half grimace of distaste.

"I'm starting to think you really did land this job only because of your uncle."

Konohamaru shrugged, stretching out a few kinks in his back.

"Well, so did our precious boss" he yawned, not bothering to hide it. "But it's just so hard to take him completely seriously when I know his favorite movie is Anastasia."

"The children's movie?" Yurika asked in surprise, eyes wide in disbelief, arms crossing when Konohamaru snickered.

"It's true! He loves those types of movies more than anything. He forced me to watch it over and over again, just because he didn't get to see it when he was a kid. But I swear it was because he had a huge crush on Dimitri…"

Yurika frowned, unable to place the name but guessing it was one of the main characters.

"Anyway, if you ever think he's weird, I won't blame you, he is" Konohamaru concluded with another shrug, having finished turning off his computer, standing up to leave. "I bet that's why he never gets a boyfriend, because he's so lame when he seems so cool!"

Konohamaru grinned brightly, waving goodbye to Yurika and the few others still present. Whistling to himself, not even realizing it was a song from Anastasia, he happily made his way home to his awaiting girlfriend.

xxx

"So this is it, then" Itachi stated rather than asked, slumped over Gaara's kitchen table, tea cup in hand.

"You mean, this is the beginning, right?"

Itachi gave him a tired look, glancing down at the notes lying innocently mid-table.

"It's not a lot to go on."

Gaara shook his head, confusing Itachi as to whether he agreed or disagreed as he rubbed his neck.

"You say that because you don't realize how far we've gotten in just a few weeks. Look, we now know fairly certainly that Akatsuki was formed around the same time your father took over the company, and we know they more than likely helped him out of financial trouble. Add to that the money laundering, and the fact you even spoke to what might just be their leader, who confirmed he killed Baki and also basically confirmed a connection to your father… I'd say we have a lot to go on."

"There are a lot of maybes in that, Gaara" Itachi frowned, letting his chin rest against his palm.

He met annoyed blue-green eyes, but he didn't care that he was a little resistant tonight. His talk with his mother had effectively dampened his mood about the whole thing, and he just didn't know if he could go through with trying to figure out everything that happened in the past.

"Still, from what you've told me, I'm going to make a confident guess that this whole thing started long before Minato and Kushina, probably even before Akatsuki was formed. I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing solves itself once we figure out the past."

Itachi was silent, brooding into his already cold tea. He hated being indecisive, and more than that he hated not being in control.

"Hey" Gaara said, voice uncharacteristically gentle, "I know it's all going a little fast for you. For me it feels like I'm finally at a breakthrough after years… but it's going to take a lot of time from now on too. We'll see what happens after you drop the bomb on the board, if our mystery man turns up we can just ask him instead of digging around on our own."

"You think he'd tell us the truth?" Itachi asked in disbelief, eyebrows raised as Gaara shrugged.

"We won't know until we get there."

Falling silent again, Itachi thought of his father. Just how much had he lied about, and how much of it had he told his mother? There had to be a good reason for Mikoto to break down so utterly… He blinked, remembering something suddenly.

"I might have met the guy" he said slowly, seeing his mother in front of him, angry words exchanged with a stranger. "He talked to my mother. Whatever he said, I think it's the reason she got so… depressed" he finished weakly, rubbing his temples, trying to remember clearly.

"Do you remember anything more specific?" Gaara asked, looking eager, and for a second Itachi felt almost annoyed.

"No" he clipped, still staring into his largely untouched tea. "Just that he had scary eyes."

Gaara sat back, finger tapping his mouth in thought. Then he seemed to realize Itachi wasn't exactly looking happy about this.

"If you're not feeling up to it, we can discuss this some other day. We're not in a hurry, I think at least."

Shaking his head Itachi's lips twitched, and he let the hand holding his chin fall to the tabletop. He sighed, making an apologetic grimace at the other man.

"No, really" Gaara said, standing up and rolling a shoulder. "I'm going to watch a movie and clear my head, you're free to join if you want."

Itachi stared after him as he walked out of the kitchen, probably headed for the living room. He still wasn't sure what he thought of the other, but with one last morose glance into his tea he decided to follow.

"Take your pick" Gaara said when he entered, kneeling in front of the DVD-player to turn it on and waving his hand toward a bookcase filled with rows of movies.

Itachi ran his eyes over the titles, surprised at the disarray of genres and titles. His fingers twitched a little in an urge to at least turn the ones with their backs facing the wrong direction so you could read the title. He found a surprising amount of what would normally be considered children's movies, sending a glance in Gaara's direction. The red-head seemed unconcerned though, already lounging on the sofa. Turning back, his eyes caught on a certain title, and he pulled it out.

"Well?" Gaara asked with a hint of curiosity.

"Aristocats" Itachi answered, placing the DVD in the player. "I have a thing for cats."

"Oh really? You might just be my dream guy now, you know" Gaara joked, pulling a knee up to his chest and hugging it. "Most people seem to pick one of the action movies, but I only keep those for Yugito."

"How old are you again?" Itachi joked back, realizing a second later he actually didn't know.

"Hey, you're the one who picked a cat movie" Gaara defended himself with, holding a hand up to prove his mock innocence.

"I guess we're both five then" Itachi concluded, already in a better mood as he let himself fall into the cushions, stretching his feet out in front of him.

"I wouldn't mind being twenty-five" Gaara muttered, rubbing his neck again, and Itachi wondered if he'd spent too much time in front of a computer lately.

"Tell me about it, I turned thirty this summer."

Gaara sent him a look of mixed pity and envy, shaking his head in amusement.

"Still so young and naïve…" he said wistfully, smirking when Itachi glared at him.

"You say that like you're forty or something, though I probably would guess twenty-five rather than that."

"Hmm, I'm flattered" Gaara mused, watching Itachi with what could only be described as a flirtatious look, but then he chuckled. "Thirty-three would be more like it. What a sad life, two old men watching cute little cats on a Thursday night."

"You don't sound like you're suffering."

Gaara gave him an amused glance, then turned his attention back to the screen, chin resting on his knee. It was true that he would have rather guessed twenty-five, and he wondered how someone who seemed to work so much, and in that line of work too, managed to look so much younger. Itachi himself felt a lot older than he was, had felt old since his early teens.

"I try" Gaara broke the momentary silence with, combing a hand through his fringe absentmindedly. "I have to admit, I feel a lot better now that we're getting somewhere."

Itachi figured he'd been a little selfish, only thinking about his own issues, disregarding the fact that Gaara, too, was personally involved in this.

"I saw them die" Gaara continued, frowning at the screen, thumb rubbing his lips briefly. "Not just Baki, but Minato and Kushina as well. Right there in front of me. I just… you've given me the possibility to solve this once and for all, and I'm really thankful for that."

Gaara still wasn't looking at him, and Itachi wondered what was going through his head, how he'd managed to witness the accident. He could answer, say he had almost seen his mother kill his brother, but his lips wouldn't form the words. He could say he understood, offer encouraging words. They'd solve it, no problem.

But it was a problem, and Itachi wasn't sure he deserved Gaara's thankfulness.

"You shouldn't thank me yet" he mumbled, leaning his head back and closing his eyes, memories flashing over the insides of his eyelids.

He felt a light touch trace the side of his face, gone as quick as it came, but it succeeded in dispelling the visions assaulting his mind.

"It's not that hard to say 'you're welcome'" Gaara disagreed, but his tone of voice was understanding.

A small smile found its way to Itachi's lips, and he wondered when the last time someone tried to comfort him was.

"I'll get there" he promised, tilting his head to meet Gaara's calm stare. "Soon enough."


So, a little more insight into Gaara's past. As for his age versus school, I think I mentioned before that in Sweden, high school is three years and you start normally the year you turn sixteen, and Gaara's birthday is in January as you'll see below. I figured it might be nice to just know when they're born and what their current ages are. I've almost fixed all my Christmas gifts now, just need to order the one for my parents... they told me a tiny bit late what they wanted. And the graduation ceremony is a copy of the one I had... If you wanna know what the hat looks like, just google "studentmössa". The age to get into bars etc. is 18 here.

Also, speaking of ages, if you noticed on tumblr yesterday I had a momentary blackout and forgot my age, seriously. And can you believe that it's almost 2014?! I'll be 23, oh woe is me. (A nice little early Christmas rhyme heh)

Ok here's the list, it's not everyone so if there's someone more you'd like to know I'll add it in the next AN. The age within () is the current as of 2012 age.

Itachi: June 9th 1982 (30)
Gaara: Jan 19th 1979 (33)
Sasuke: July 23rd 1989 (23)
Naruto: Oct 10th 1991 (soon 21)
Sakura: March 28th 1989 (23)
Karin: June 20th 1985 (27)
Yukio: May 23rd 2006 (6)
Konohamaru: Dec 30th 1987 (soon 25)

Not exactly like in canon *cough* but this is for the story:p Anyway, a super Merry Christmas to all of you, I'll be posting a Christmas fic on the 24th (though it's Attack on Titan) and also update my two-shot either tomorrow or the 25th. :3