I don't (sadly) Own Naruto. Sad truth.
Anyways, I think as the story goes on my writing gets better. Or I may just be fooling myself, you tell me that. :D

Chapter 6: Denial

Gaara and Naruto finally got the Ramen shop, with Naruto being the first one to go inside, and taking a seat. Gaara went over to sit next to him. Without even asking Gaara what they had Naruto ordered. Maybe all Ramen shops had the same to offer, because the guy just said okay and when to make the order. Gaara wouldn't be surprised either, Naruto being a Ramen fanatic. Ramen was practically the only thing that mattered most to Naruto. Gaara thought. He probably couldn't live without it either.

Getting the two bowls Naruto instantly began to finish it up. Naruto was already half way down once Gaara began to grab his first take. Gaara had to admit that the ramen was indeed good, but not enough to make him go like Naruto. Gaara needed to remain calm, being the Kazekage and all. Naruto seemed to pay no attention to this, finishing his first bowl and asking for another one. "This ramen seems better than the one in Konoha!" Naruto yelled out, making Gaara slightly jump from his seat.

"Naruto." Hearing his name, Naruto quickly turned to face Gaara swallowing the ramen in his mouth.

"Something wrong Gaara?" Naruto began to get worried, Gaara only called him when something was wrong, or he was pissed at him. Gaara being mad for no reason also was not an option at the moment, so it must have been that something was wrong.

"No, Yes."

"Which is it?"

"Both. Just stop eating like that. People are watching us." Gaara voice seemed to get lower as he finished. Naruto looked around, seeing how there were people looking at them with shocked faces. Well, then they haven't been to Konoha. Thinking that, Naruto smiled. Those faces no longer annoyed him, nor did he have a care about them. As long as he got his ramen, nothing or no one mattered.

"It doesn't matter."

"It does to me." Gaara glared at Naruto. He didn't not enjoy eyes on his back, it always brought him the memories that he wished would never come back again. Naruto helped him seal those memories away, and he hoped to leave them like that.

"Gaara, just don't pay attention to them… Let them be. They can't hurt us like that."

"I can't; but if you don't mind. I'll take my leave before you." Gaara got up from his seat. He would not sit there and take such looks from people that he grew to care about over the time. Not again. As he began to walk away He felt a strong hand grab his wrist. As he looked he saw Naruto smile, the mischievous one of course. That was a smile that Gaara did not like, not one bit. That damn smile meant Naruto had no one those crazy ideas of his.

Like always, Gaara was right. Naruto surely had something up his sleeve. The fact that Gaara was leaving Naruto didn't like at all. As Gaara got up Naruto's brain began to work double the speed, trying it's best to come up with something to make him stay. Without even thinking Naruto's hand move on its own, as he saw Gaaras eye look at his own Naruto just had to smile. He quickly pulled Gaara back to him, taking advantage that Gaara had his guard down, and was pretty much weak at the moment.

Gaara looked at him bewildered as he felt his body being pulled, causing other people to look at their small scene. "What's the meaning of This, Naruto?" Naruto paid no attention to Gaara question as he looked about the place for a second then back at Gaara. A part of Naruto enjoyed the fact that Gaara would be so conscious of the looks people gave, that would give him the advantage. Gaara who didn't have the patience to wait for Naruto to reply began to pull away. Making Naruto get a harder grip, knowing that Gaara would depart from him didn't seem like a good idea.

"Naruto. I demand a reply. What is the meaning of this? People are watching us!"

Giving Gaara a final small tug, Naruto smiled at him. "Come on Gaara. We're just eating. They can't really do anything can they?"

"Even so, I do not like it. Now if you would let go." As he spoke Gaara did his best to get free from Naruto. It seemed none of them really noticed the position they were in. Narutos hand had somehow managed to be placed on Gaaras waist. While Gaaras hand was on Narutos chest, from trying to get free. Both were quarrelling about letting go. Gaara kept insisting that he should let go, because he didn't like the eyes on his back; while Naruto did his best to persuade him to stay.

The owner of the shop got tried of their quarrel that he cleared his throat making the two men look his way. "If you two don't mind; would you take this lovers quarrel elsewhere? You're scaring my costumers away." Stating this, the owner walked away, giving out a bowl of Ramen to a costumer.

"L-l-lover's quarrel!!?" Naruto said as his face went red. Finally looking at where his hand was and where Gaaras was, it was no wonder the man thought this way. Naruto quickly let go of Gaara. Gaara wore his clam face, noticing the position they were in as well. Once Naruto let go, he felt himself almost trip; by luck Gaara managed to balance himself.

It wasn't that the comment didn't affect Gaara, the exact opposite; it scared him in a way. Lovers? We looked like were having a lovers quarrel? Me and Naruto? Gaaras head kept making twist and turns while on the outside he seemed unaffected. Turning around Gaara began to walk. Naruto quickly caught up to him. "Eh, Gaara. Sorry."

"I told you, you should have let me go sooner. If not we wouldn't have gotten into such a misunderstood position. Next time you should listen to me." Naruto only walked with his head down, not really wanting to face Gaara. Yes, he felt bad for the problem he caused, but a different part of him Naruto felt glad about it. He even had forgotten all about the whole reason why he pretended to go out with Kankuro. That was until he heard Gaaras next words.

"You see, someone may have seen us, or get the word of this. That is something we both might not like." Narutos eyes opened wide making him stop on his tracks. Gaara stopped as well turning to face him.

I knew it. H's scared that HE might know about this. Unknown to them both men thought the same. Gaara believed Naruto was for Kankuro, while Naruto for that mysterious person. Yet, why were they so depressed over this little information. It wasn't as if they had something going on. None of that. Naruto and Gaara were nothing more than friends. Yet why did it hurt so much to know this.

There conversation stopped there, both had no words to say to the other. It was better to leave it as it was. Gaara turned his face to keep walking toward the tower, Gaara let out a small sigh. It took Naruto a while to catch on that Gaara had begun to walk once again. Naruto felt himself drag his feet, he wasn't his usual self.

Naruto wanted to break this silence, but it really didn't seem like he could. He kept going back to those words Gaara had spoken. Why did it hurt him so much? Was it because he was going to lose his best friend to a guy? It seemed to be so in Narutos mind.

Gaara on the other hand seemed to be thinking back on the way Naruto had reacted to his comment. Did he really like Kankuro that much? What he had witness in the morning been probably nothing more than a quarrel, like the owner had mistaken them for? Soon enough they would make up and everything would be alright. Gaara should be happy for that. Yet why did he feel so angry at Kankuro for? Not only Kankuro but at Naruto too. Deep in his heart Gaara wondered why Naruto did chose Kankuro over Him. What was he missing, to make Naruto look at him?

Once at the tower, both men went their separate ways, Gaara to his office, to finish up his work for the rest of the day. Naruto wasn't in the mood to do much of anything anymore. His body felt heavier than usual. Mainly his heart kept the constant beating, as if it was going to pop out any moment. Damn it all. Was all that Naruto could say, it felt as if he had been in a battle day and night for a whole week. He almost didn't have the strength to go back to his room. Half way to it, he felt as if he was about to fall. Which is did. If it wasn't for someone grabbing him.

"Yo!" Naruto heard the person say to him as he placed him straight up. Narutos eyes were shut as he got up. The voice sounded so familiar, he just couldn't put his finger on it. "Damn it Naruto, would you at least say something! I came all the way here to get the silent treatment!" Yes, it had to be that person. He always was complaining, maybe the only good thing he knew how to do. Naruto opened his eyes, giving away his fake smile, as he placed his hands behind his neck,

"Yo! Kiba, what brings you here? You still stink like Dog, it woke me up" Naruto laughed, making Kiba only mad.

"Just because I'm tired I'll let it slip, if not you've been dead meat loser!" Kiba said as he smirked, it wasn't a lie that he was lying; in fact he hadn't gotten a good nights sleep, because of his mission. Suna had been the closest village he could come and rest, even for a day. But seeing that Naruto was here and Kankuro, why not take a vacation. Plus, hearing it all from Kankuro, he really needed this vacation now. Things right from the start had been interesting. Plus, it could be his chance to spend some time with the puppet master.

"Yeah yeah, I'd like to see that. But what brings you here?"

"Mission, I was heading back but I'm too tired and Akamaru got injured so they're taking care of him right now. Don't worry he'll be okay; if not I wouldn't be here would I?"

It was as if Kiba had read Narutos thought, since he answered his question before he asked it. "Oh, well them at least now I have someone from Konoha here. How long are you staying?"

"Don't know probably the same time you are. We could leave together, I suppose." Kiba smirked once again. Plus, it's my chance to have some fun.

"Great! Everyone knows you're here? Gaara does too? Kankuro?" Naruto had completely forgotten about his tiredness, he was too caught up in the moment to even care about that.

"Kanky does. Gaara no. Temari is in Konoha for the Chunnin exams, so she might. I was going to go and see if Gaara was there to tell him."

"Oh, I'll go with you. Come on, he's in his office. We just came back." Naruto smiled.

"Oh? Both of you." Kiba raised an eyebrow, making Naruto slightly confused. "Date perhaps?" A laughed escaped Kibas lips, perfect timing as well. Naruto blushed while denying it all. "No, we just went to eat lunch!"

"If it was just that, you wouldn't be turning red, now would you?" Kiba pointed out making Naruto go redder, which only caused Kiba to laugh harder.

"I'm not red dog boy. It's just hot in here. So come on lets go before I regret it!" Naruto began to walk.

"Whatever you say, lover boy." Kiba followed Naruto heading toward the tower.

How was that? Better hopefully.
I have good news, for those that care. Since I have nothing to do for the next to weeks I'll try my best to add more chapters. Working on the next chapter already. i just needed to add Kiba here. I need him to add a bit of confusion in this.
Review please. The ones I've gotten so far make me smile, especially one it really made my day, when it was the wrost. :D