Thanks to Mei-chan for being such a dedicated beta. She was paid with a bowl of miso ramen. You guys should thank her, if it wasn't for her there wouldn't be all this Naru/Gaara goodness in this chappie.

Chapter 9

Gaara stared at the floor between his legs, his arms resting lightly on his knees. Smoke wafted upwards away from the end of the thin white stick held idly in the fingers of a shaking hand. His entire body shook from exhaustion and lack of nutrition. His throat burned with every swallow, a sign of mild dehydration. A week - that's how long it had been since he'd last seen the blond, that's how long he had gone without a decent meal, and that's how long it had taken him to finish the masterpiece that loomed on the other side of the room. It had certainly been a while since he had done a piece that large. His body ached from the effort it had taken.

Taking one last drag, the redhead crushed his cigarette into the floor, leaving a tiny scorch mark in the wood. Slowly, he allowed himself to fall to his side. He barely registered the slight twinge of pain in his head where it came into contact with the floor with a soft thud. Gaara lay like that for a moment, observing his painting. He wasn't even sure if he should let Temari and Kankurou take it to the gallery. He had lost himself in it, in the effort to escape his thoughts and feelings, thoughts that revolved around Naruto. They'd kissed. That single event haunted him, leaving him bewildered and lost.

Gaara had never deluded himself into thinking he would receive any sort of gesture like that from anyone. He understood long ago that things like hugging, kissing, even touching, he was never to experience these things; he never experienced these things as a child and he expected he never would. Yet Naruto kissed him, his first kiss. If it hadn't been for the fact that he could still remember what Naruto tasted like, the redhead would have believed he had dreamt it. Gaara scoffed; maybe he did. He didn't believe that, though. It was real, it happened. He remembered the tang of alcohol, soft lips, the sensations evoked in him when their lips slid against each other.

Gaara desperately wanted to know why Naruto had done it; but at the same time, he was afraid, afraid of what it meant, afraid of the feelings that came along with it, afraid of disappointment, afraid of the pain, afraid that he would wake up and realize it was all a dream. Naruto had avoided him after that at the party. The blond didn't even make eye contact with him. Now a week had gone by. A part of him hoped Naruto would come to see him, and maybe - just maybe - kiss him like that again. It was the delusional part, the part that Naruto had convinced to have hope, that it was possible for someone like him to have a friend. Gaara closed his eyes. His scar was throbbing mercilessly and his eyes burned. The rational part of him wasn't surprised at Naruto's behavior afterwards. People didn't kiss monsters and liked it. It was obvious the blond would realize his mistake and avoid him; thus Gaara hadn't sought him out. It hurt, though. There was a dull ache in a place he'd forgotten ever existed. He had allowed Naruto to get close, allowed him to make him feel, and now he was paying for it. With a tired sigh, the redhead slid into the solace of his unconscious.


Temari felt like crying as she stared down at the prone form of her brother, his pale chest rising and falling with every breath.

"Gaara…" The young woman whispered meekly as she brushed aside a few strands. With a sigh, she tucked her arms under his shoulders and made an attempt to move him. The least she could do was get him off the floor. As Temari half-carried-half-dragged her brother from his studio; she couldn't help but notice he'd gained weight. The blonde woman struggled with her brother's dead weight in an effort to get him on the couch only to be interrupted by a loud knocking at the front door. Temari continued to ignore the annoyance as she finally got most of her brother on the sofa. With one last look at her handiwork, she finally headed to the door.

Naruto shifted nervously on his feet, a large bag of groceries and another large box of chocolates precariously balanced in one hand. He lifted his free hand to knock once more when the door was pulled open by an annoyed looking woman with four blonde pig tails.

"Yes?"

Naruto stared for a moment wondering if he had accidentally come up to the wrong apartment.

"Well are you going to stare all day? What do you want?" Temari asked impatiently. Gaara was out now, but she anxiously wanted to go shopping if she was to prepare something decent.

"Umm…I think I have the wrong apartment." Naruto mumbled as he made an attempt to peer behind Temari. Temari stared at the blond for a moment.

"Who are you looking for?" the young woman asked curiously.

"Umm… my friend Gaara." Naruto answered frowning. Temari balked as her eyes widened.

"Are you okay?" Naruto asked slightly concerned at the woman's expression. She couldn't believe it. Sure Kankurou had told her the stories, but it had been far beyond what her mind could comprehend. Yet here he was standing in the flesh, the man that proclaimed to be Gaara's friend.

"Y-you're-! I can't believe it! Y-you."

Naruto stared confused as the woman before him stuttered.

"Hey lady?"

"Sweet god! Kankurou was telling the truth! I didn't believe him but, y-you're real, aren't you?"

Naruto didn't answer as he slowly began to back away while staring comically at the woman before him. Naruto's movement finally snapped the blond woman from her shock.

"I'm sorry. I'm Temari, Gaara's older sister." Temari said as she stepped aside and gestured for Naruto to enter.

Naruto paused in his escape to stare at Temari before hesitantly entering the apartment.

"I'm Naruto…nice to meet you."

"So you're here to see Gaara?"

"Yeah…where is he?" Naruto continued as he slipped off his shoes.

"He's asleep at the moment, on the couch." Temari said softly. Naruto couldn't help but notice the look that crossed the blond woman's face.

Naruto frowned as he stared down at the unconscious redhead. Leaning forward, Temari brushed aside a strand of hair that lay across the scar on Gaara's forehead.

"He hasn't been sleeping again and he's lost some weight...starving himself all week no doubt" Naruto whispered as he noted the deep, darker than usual circles around the red head's eyes.

"Lost weight?" Temari asked, confused.

With a sigh, the blond placed one hand under Gaara's shoulders and another beneath his knees.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm taking him to bed. He shouldn't sleep here." Naruto said as he headed to the bedroom. Temari followed silently, her eyes fixed on the blond teenager as he gently placed her brother on his bed and covered him. Naruto continued to gaze at the sleeping boy, his brows furrowed in worry.

"It's the only way he can truly sleep."

The sound of Temari's voice caused Naruto to turn and look at her.

"He can't sleep otherwise." She said again as she looked at her brother sadly.

"So he starves himself and stays awake until he passes out?" Naruto asked bitterly. Temari looked up at the young man next to her.

"So you've seen him like this before?"

"Once."

"He says it's the only way." The blonde muttered as she left the room. Naruto stared after her before turning back to his friend. Even though Gaara had gained some weight since they'd met, the boy was still too thin for his height. Naruto felt his heart ache as he stared down at the redhead. Gaara looked vulnerable, pale skin contrasting sharply with the deep red of his sheets and hair, the scar on his forehead standing out harshly. His breath came in steady puffs as his eyes moved rapidly behind their lids. Reaching out, Naruto gently stroked a soft cheek.

"Gaara…why do you keep doing this to yourself?"

Withdrawing his hand, Naruto turned and left the room.

Temari watched, the blond boy, frowning slightly, as he moved about her brother's kitchen with familiarity and a sense of belonging.

"So you're the one that has been cooking for him."

Naruto paused in his washing of vegetables.

"Would you like some tea?" He asked coldly ignoring her comment as he set some water to heat. Temari scowled at the question. The blond was acting as though she was the stranger and he had every right of being there, a sharp contrast to when they had first met.

"Certainly, I'll make some for both of us." The young woman answered acidly as she moved to retrieve two cups. Naruto simply glanced at her before returning to washing vegetables. An uncomfortable quiet reigned in the kitchen while Temari prepared tea and Naruto began chopping vegetables. Temari watched as Naruto angrily slammed his knife into an unsuspecting leek.

"Did the leek do something to upset you, Naruto?" Temari asked amused as she sipped her tea. Naruto ignored her, finished chopping the leeks and reached for a potato. The amusement quickly disappeared once Temari realized she was being ignored. Now there was growing irritation instead.

"If there is something you would like to say to me, Naruto, then say it. I will not tolerate this kind of attitude from some little shit that just walked off the streets!" Temari snapped, slamming down her cup. Naruto stopped his chopping to look up at the upset blonde woman glaring at him.

"How can you let him do that to himself?" Naruto accused, his blue eyes shining. Temari immediately went on the defensive.

"Excuse me?"

"You're his sister! How can you let him keep doing that to himself?!" Naruto yelled, his blue eyes ablaze with anger. Temari stared at the young man in shock before her eyes narrowed in fury.

"Just who the hell do you think you are?! You don't know a damn thing about us, so don't you dare just start pointing fingers!" Temari yelled back.

"You have no right! You hear me? No right! You have no idea what we've been through with him. You have no fucking idea! Don't think that because you go around touting the word 'friend,' it gives you the right to come in here and start acting like that. Gaara is my brother. You hear me? My brother! Every time he crashes, we're the ones who have to take care of him, we're the ones that have to deal with his temper, we're the ones who have been watching him destroy himself slowly and knowing no matter what we do it's never going to be enough to reach him! We're the ones! So don't you act as though we don't care! You don't know what it's like watching your little brother suffer his entire life and knowing you're powerless to do anything to save him."

Naruto stared at the young woman who was shaking, her hands balled into fists.

"You don't know. I try and I try, but nothing that I do works. I'm his sister, dammit!" the woman stammered out as tears spilled out her eyes. Naruto felt immense guilt wash over him at the sight.

"Every time I see him crash like that, it hurts, and I think one day it'll get so bad that he won't wake up and I'll lose him; and it'll be my fault because I didn't try hard enough and I wasn't there when he needed me."

Putting down his knife, Naruto sighed as he gazed down at the counter top.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said that."

"You're right! You shouldn't have said that. It's not your place! You don't know anything!" Temari shouted. Naruto gave a mirthless laugh.

"People have been telling me that a lot lately."

Temari remained silent as she watched the pained expression that crossed the man's face.

"You really care about him, don't you? I could see it in the way you were holding him and in the way you were looking at him." Temari said as she wiped the tears that had spilt during her outburst. Naruto stiffened at the words.

"I'm glad. I never thought I'd see the day Gaara had a friend. He's always been alone, you know. At first he tried, he really tried, but then he just stopped. He gave up. Even when Kankurou and I tried to get close to him, he just pushed us away." The woman continued as she slumped into a chair, exhausted, suddenly looking much older than her twenty odd years of life. Naruto didn't say anything as he returned to his chopping.

"Maybe you can do what I and Kankurou couldn't. From what Kankurou has told me, you've already started."

Temari continued to watch Naruto keenly. His brows were slightly furrowed as he moved about almost mechanically, his thoughts obviously occupying most of his attention.

"Naruto…there's a lot about Gaara you don't know…some of those things…just…I don't want to see him get hurt again."

Naruto paused to look at the young woman sitting hunched forward, tear streaks on her face.

"There's a lot about him I don't know. You and a few other people have already made that quite clear. But I want to find out and that's what matters."

"You might not like what you find out."

"No matter what he's done or what's happened to him before - Gaara is Gaara. and I won't abandon him." Naruto stated as he looked back at Temari. Temari smiled at the determination in the blond's eyes.

"Thank you, Naruto."

"For what? There's nothing for you to thank me for." Naruto responded.

"For caring." Temari said softly as she returned to sipping her tea.


The sound of something hitting the floor and a piercing scream interrupted Temari's laughter, causing Naruto to halt his retelling of an incident with Kakashi. Sharing a quick look, both blondes bolted for the source of the noise. The sight that greeted them caused Naruto to stop and simply stare in horror at his friend. Gaara was kneeling on the floor, hands buried in blood red hair pulling the strands taught. His lips were still parted in a silent scream, green eyes wide open, pupils dilated and hazy from sleep.

"Gaara!" Temari cried as she rushed past Naruto to kneel next to her brother.

"Gaara! Gaara, wake up!" the young woman shouted as she shook her brother. Gaara remained oblivious, his eyes swiveling as he stared at something they couldn't see.

"Dammit, Kankurou isn't even here. Gaara, please!" Temari begged as she made an attempt to pry the redhead's hands out of his hair. Gaara stiffened further under her touch, his grip on his hair tightening, his breathing speeding up to harsh pants, and his lips quivering.

"Gaara." Naruto called anxiously as he knelt on the other side of the redhead.

"Gaara, wake up." The blond whispered again as he reached out and gently touched the redhead.

"Ya-Yashamaru."

The word was whispered, startling the ones who were trying to bring him into consciousness.

"Gaara!" Naruto said more harshly, gripping the other boy by his shoulders. At the sound of his name, Gaara finally snapped out of his dream, jade eyes moving to focus on Naruto.

"Naruto…" Gaara whispered hoarsely as he slowly released his hair.

"Gaara!" Temari said weakly as she launched herself at her brother, pushing Naruto out of the way. Gaara's eyes remained fixed on Naruto, the previous haze gone, revealing an intense, alert gaze.

"You were screaming in your sleep." Naruto mumbled as he leaned back on his heels. Gaara said nothing as he weakly shoved at his sister.

"Get off me." Gaara said, his voice suddenly cold. Temari flinched at the tone as she backed away. Shakily, the redhead climbed to his feet.

"Don't touch me!" Gaara snapped causing Naruto to halt in his actions. Naruto frowned.

"I was only trying to help."

"I don't need your help." Gaara bit out as he headed to his bathroom and slammed the door shut behind him.

The redhead stared at his reflection in the mirror, his body shaking. It took all of his willpower to remain standing. Gingerly, he reached out and ran his fingers over the scar that burned under his touch. He had heard Naruto's voice. As he'd sat surrounded by blood, covered in it, he'd heard Naruto's voice calling him. The redhead slumped to the floor, his legs finally giving out. The memories that had filtered into his dreams were raging through his mind. Gaara clenched his fists, digging his nails into his palm in an effort to stop the shaking. Nausea wafted over him as the smell of blood from so long ago filled his nostrils. Gaara fell forward, his head resting on the cold tiles, as dry sobs racked his body.

Naruto sat observing the woman sitting across from him in silence.

"Has that happened before?" He finally asked. The woman didn't answer immediately as she spun the cup in her hands.

"Yes… though it hasn't happened in quite a while. It used to be more frequent when he was younger. It hasn't happened in almost a year."

"That's why he does that." Temari continued. "Do you understand now, Naruto? That's why he doesn't sleep. That's why he pushes himself to the point that he collapses… so he won't have to remember."

Naruto lowered his eyes to the table. His hands were still shaking from what he had seen, the look of abject horror and panic on the redhead's face, the gut wrenching scream that had left his lips moments before they entered the room. Naruto closed his eyes and shook his head.

"Temari…who's Yasha-"

"Why the fuck are you two still here?" the voice intruded.

Both blondes looked up to meet glaring green eyes, red hair still damp from the shower he'd taken, Gaara's face a perfect mask of fury.

"Gaara! H-how are you feeling?" Temari stammered out as she watched her little brother.

"Get the fuck out now." Gaara said as he folded his arms and narrowed his eyes at his sister.

"Hey! That's no way to talk to your sister! She's been worried sick about you! What's going on with you?" Naruto shouted as he stood up glowering at the redhead. His mind had quickly forgotten that the figure exuding animosity was the same shivering male who had been screaming his life out not too long ago.

"No one asked her to be worried. I couldn't give a flying fuck if she's worried or not. She's only doing it out of some sick sense of obligation." Gaara snapped at his friend. Naruto's temper flared.

"How could you just stand there and say something like that?! After all that she's-"

"It's alright, Naruto." Temari interjected, sending the boy a weak, sad smile.

"No, it's not-"

"Don't worry about it. Besides you're here, right? I'll just be getting in the way." The young woman said as she made her way out of the kitchen.

"I'll give you a call later, Gaara."

Naruto shot the redhead a nasty glare as he followed Temari out of the kitchen.

"Why do you let him talk to you like that?" Naruto asked. He watched Temari rummage through her handbag. Pulling out a piece of paper and a pen, she scribbled down some numbers and handed it to Naruto.

"Normally Kankurou would stay with him. He's the only one Gaara would let near him after something like this. He lashes out at anyone else that's around or near him after an episode. I was expecting it, so it's okay. It's best that I leave now. You know, Kankurou is the only one that can usually wake Gaara up, but he's out of town for a few days. You woke him up, though. When you called out to him, Gaara woke up. If you hadn't been here, I don't know what I would have done. Please, take care of him."

Naruto opened his mouth but nothing came out.

"I know he can be difficult and I know I shouldn't be asking this, but please don't abandon him. He's already lost so much."

Naruto simply nodded as he took the piece of paper.

"Call me later?... It was nice meeting you, Naruto." Temari said before turning and leaving. Naruto stared at the paper in his hand for a moment, before he shoved it into his pocket and headed back to the kitchen.

"Why are you still here?" Gaara asked from the seat he had taken at the table as he watched Naruto enter the kitchen.

"Because I choose to be here." Naruto answered as he stared back at Gaara.

"You were supposed to leave with Temari."

"Yeah well, I didn't feel like going."

"You should be at work."

"I took the day off."

"Why?"

"Because I felt like it."

"Leave."

"Make me."

Gaara narrowed his eyes at the blond that was challenging him. Already he could feel his anger fading under the stare of bright azure eyes, being replaced by the warmth he felt whenever Naruto was around.

"It's been a week."

Naruto didn't respond as he began placing the food he had prepared on the table.

"Sorry about that. I was kind of busy." The blond mumbled apologetically. Gaara stared at him for a moment before averting his gaze to the bowl of leek and vegetable soup in front him. If Naruto didn't feel like telling him the truth then Gaara wasn't going to pry.

The two ate in silence as Naruto kept stealing glances at his friend. Gaara's hands shook as he brought his spoon to his lips. Gaara felt Naruto's eyes on him but refused to look up. He knew what he'd see there. Naruto would want an explanation for what happened.

"Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Gaara bit out as he continued to eat.

"Gaara…about what happened…"

"Forget what you saw."

"What? What do you mean-"

"Just forget it, Naruto!" Gaara snapped as he met Naruto's gaze. Naruto opened his mouth to protest but immediately shut it. Gaara was begging him. He could see the plea mixed with fear in the jade eyes that stared back at him in earnest, begging him not to ask. Naruto stared in shock. Never before had he seen Gaara look like that. Naruto didn't say anything as he resumed his meal, the two teenagers lapsing back into silence.

"I'm sorry." Naruto mumbled. Gaara paused to look up at his friend. Naruto kept his head bowed, his hands clenched tightly around chopsticks.

"You're my friend…yet…there's so much I don't know, so much I don't understand." Naruto said, his voice shaking.

"I never stopped to think about how you felt or really tried to understand. I just forced myself into your life."

"Why are you concerned about that now?" Gaara asked as he finished his soup and reached for the fish Naruto had also prepared.

"What?"

"It didn't bother you before, so why do you care all of a sudden?"

Naruto winced at Gaara's words. Gaara sighed as he looked at the blond, blue eyes hidden by yellow bangs.

"I don't mind." Gaara said softly. Naruto's head snapped up to stare back at the boy sitting across from him.

"I don't need you to understand. I just…"

"You just what?"

Gaara felt his face heat up as he looked away.

"I just don't want you to leave me."

Naruto stared dumbfounded as Gaara's words ran through his mind.

"Gaara…"

At the sound of his name, Gaara peeked up at Naruto. He felt his blush deepen as memories of the kiss they shared came flooding back into his mind.

"You should finish your food before it gets cold." The redhead mumbled as he shoved a piece of fish into his mouth. Naruto's eyes softened as he watched the redhead eat.


"So what's your favorite food?" Naruto asked as he popped another piece of chocolate into his mouth. Gaara studied the design on the piece he was holding before biting into it.

"Salted tongue…and liver."

Naruto made a face at the redhead.

"What?"

"I dunno…just never met anyone that liked liver before." Naruto answered as he reached into the box for another piece.

"Your turn."

"My turn for what?"

"To ask me something." Naruto stated. Gaara titled his head to the side as he stared at Naruto.

"Why do you like orange so much?"

Naruto thought about the question as he chewed the nut that had been in the center of the chocolate he'd chosen.

"I never really thought about it. I guess I would have to say that when I was a kid, I wanted people to stop ignoring me, so I decided to wear the brightest color I could find. People always take the time to look at bright things." Naruto muttered as he allowed his head to fall back. Gaara stared at the blond intently but said nothing.

"After that it just stuck with me. Besides, orange looks good on me, don't ya think?" Naruto asked grinning.

Gaara grudgingly agreed. Naruto was right, in a way the color did suit him.

"So what do you do for fun?"

"Fun?"

"Yeah, fun! What do you do that makes you happy?"

"Happy…" Gaara repeated as he bit into the chocolate he was holding. He stared at the brown filling that was slowly oozing from the piece in his hand. Naruto watched fascinated as Gaara flicked out his tongue to slowly lick the filling that was trickling onto his finger. The blond felt his body grow warm as the tip of the pink appendage dipped into the center to scoop out the remainder of filling as a look of utter contentment graced the redhead's face.
"God, just eat it already!"

Gaara shot his friend a glare before placing the chocolate into his mouth.

"I'll show you." The redhead said as he stood up.

"Show me what?"

"What makes me happy."


Naruto stared in awe at the painting before him. A young woman, lying on her side, her head resting on her folded arm as thick black hair flowed around her, wrapping her frame. She was wearing a stunningly beautiful kimono that lay partly askew, revealing a pale shoulder and slender legs. Her eyes were half lidded, appearing wistful as she stared back at her audience.

"You did this?"

"Yes. This…this is what makes me happy."

"Gaara it's-" Naruto whispered, his eyes wide as he turned to look at Gaara. Gaara stared back at Naruto intently.

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For letting me see this."

Gaara said nothing as he glanced back at the painting and sat down.

"You know, she kinda looks like Neji." Naruto snickered as he sat on the floor next to his friend.

"He looks like a girl." Gaara said flatly. Naruto glanced at the redhead and laughed.

"He does, doesn't he?"

The two sat quietly in the dim light of Gaara's studio as Naruto curiously glanced around taking in the paint stains and scorch marks on the floor. In one corner were blank canvases stacked neatly. A shelf carefully packed with tubes and other containers of paint on one side, and brushes on the other, right above the canvas. Other miscellaneous supplies were stacked on shelves that lined one side of the room. The only source of light hung above the painting of the young woman. There was a window on another side with heavy blinds drawn over it, blocking out all light from outside.

"It's my turn."

"For what?" Naruto asked as he turned back to Gaara.

"To ask a question."

"What do you want to know?"

"Why…why did we kiss?"

Gaara felt more than saw Naruto go rigid next to him. The redhead remained quiet as he patiently waited for an answer. He'd finally asked the question Naruto had been dreading. Naruto had spent all week asking himself that very same thing as he tried to sort his feelings for the redhead.

"I'm sorry."

"Why are you apologizing this time?"

"I shouldn't have done that...shouldn't have allowed that to happen." Naruto mumbled feeling extremely self-conscious as he waited for Gaara's reaction.

"So you regret it." Gaara choked out; the ache he had felt before coming back full force. Naruto glanced at the redhead who was staring at the floor. For the third time that night, the look on the redhead's face caught Naruto by surprise.

"Should I?" Naruto asked, his voice sounding small and weak to his own ears.

Gaara turned to meet the blue eyes observing him.

"I wish you didn't."

"I don't."

"Would you do it again if you could?"

"Do you want me to?"

Gaara didn't answer as he turned to look back at the portrait he'd created. Naruto remained silent as he watched the boy next to him.

"Yes." Gaara whispered as he kept his gaze fixed on the painting, he didn't trust himself to look at Naruto. He didn't want to see the look of disgust on the blond's face at what he had just said. A slight brush on his thigh startled him, causing him to turn to his companion. Gaara remained frozen as he watched Naruto move closer to him until their shoulders brushed. Slowly, the blond reached out, placing his hand at Gaara's nape. Both men stared at each other. Their breaths, sweetened from chocolate, were mingling and ghosting over their faces. Naruto's eyes dropped to the barely parted lips of the red-haired man. With one swift movement, Gaara brought their lips together, surprising the other. Naruto flicked out his tongue hesitantly, brushing it against the soft skin pressed against his own. Immediately, Gaara parted his lips, allowing his tongue to slide against Naruto's. The kiss became sloppy from inexperience as Naruto forced his tongue forward to explore Gaara's mouth, tasting the remnants of chocolate.

Reaching out, Gaara fisted his hand in Naruto's shirt tugging him forward. Naruto complied, forcing the redhead down as the kiss deepened. Naruto moaned into the kiss as Gaara's hands snaked around him bringing their bodies closer together. One pale hand moved to bury itself in golden locks as the kiss became more demanding. The need for air forced Naruto to pull away, eliciting a whimper from the redhead beneath him. Both boys were panting as they stared at each other, lips swollen and red. Naruto shifted slightly, uncertainty reflected in his eyes as he stared down at the redhead beneath him.

"Again." Gaara whispered as he tugged Naruto back down, sliding his tongue into the blond's mouth the instance their lips met. Naruto groaned as Gaara's grip tightened in his hair. The redhead's assault with his tongue was relentless, driving the blond into a pleasure filled haze. It was even better than what he'd dreamt about all week. Naruto moved his hands to caress the soft skin of Gaara's cheeks, as their tongues danced around each other. Naruto felt a hand slide down his back gripping the fabric of his shirt. He felt his body heat up as Gaara pushed his own up, bringing them closer, Gaara's hipbones digging into his thigh as they lay flushed against each other. Gaara grunted his annoyance as Naruto broke the kiss, only to gasp in surprise at the feel of something wet graze against his jaw line. Instinctively, the redhead titled his head back exposing more pale skin for Naruto to trail more kisses down his neck. Naruto's breath was hot against the redhead's sensitive skin, causing him to shiver, and sending his mind reeling from the newness of it all. Gaara's grip tightened in the blond's shirt as Naruto bit and sucked at a spot beneath his jaw that sent bolts of pleasure shooting through his body. Naruto ground his hips into the redhead's beneath him, soft moans escaping parted lips.

"Naruto..." Gaara whispered as his body moved, needing to get closer to the blond over him. With one last nip that had Gaara inhaling sharply, Naruto pulled away. Gaara let his hands fall away from the body hovering over him. Naruto stared at the dazed redhead as his chest rose and fell with quick bursts of breath. Leaning forward once more, Naruto placed a chaste kiss on Gaara's lips before sitting up.

"Stay." Gaara said as he reached out and gripped Naruto's arm. Naruto stared at the hand curiously.

"Tonight. Stay with me." the redhead continued as he tugged at Naruto's arm.

"Alright." Naruto whispered as he allowed Gaara to pull him down to lay next to him. Gaara rolled over to face the blond. Reaching out, he stroked the whisker-like scars that marred the blond's soft skin. Sighing, Naruto closed his eyes as he focused on the feather-light touches.