Disclaimer: And it's finally time to get back to this story. Ah. It's probably going to be the last update for a while for any of my stories. And that would be because I've got five final projects for school to work on, and they'll take up all my time. I'll try to get them done as quick as possible so I can return to my stories, but that might not work out that well, but whatever. So, just enjoy another chapter from yours truly.
Chapter 8
Previously:
It came in the form of the Kazekage, who was waiting for them in the doorway.
"What is the meaning of this?! Who are you people?!"
Present:
Naruto could feel the rage building within him at the sight of the man standing before him, a man who thought himself larger than life. He looked more like Kankuro than his other children, and had many lines on his face. He was wearing a creme suit, and seemed to be favoring his left side a little.
Naruto resisted the urge to growl at the man, but just barely. Instead, he grinned with just a tint of malice. "We're here to kill you." He said simply, still grinning maliciously.
The Kazekage took a step back; being faced with such hate was truly intimidating. But then he composed himself, frowned, and turned to his eldest, Temari. "Explain why you have let strangers into our home, and why they are carrying that worthless gourd with them."
Temari gulped and held up her hands. "Well, you see, Gaara has been taken to the hospital. It seems that Uzumaki Naruto here became his friend at school and was worried about him when he didn't come to school, so he went to visit him."
"Is there more to this story? That hasn't explained why they're taking the only thing that belonged to that worthless piece of shit."
Naruto did growl then; he tried to lunge foreword, but Kyuubi caught hold of his shirt and restrained him.
"Calm down and let them talk." The older hissed in his ear; Naruto didn't make any further moves and instead just stood there seething.
"Uzumaki has demanded we release Gaara to him. He wants the kid to live with him instead of here." Kankuro said, flinching a little when the Kazekage turned his eyes on him.
"..."
They all held their breath as they waited for the man to speak. He didn't for a long while. Instead, he made his way into the kitchen, where he preceded to fix himself a cup of coffee while he took out the makings for a sandwhich. Naruto and Kyuubi carried the gourd into the kitchen; while they waited, they set in on the floor.
Finally, after the Kazekage had finished making his sandwhich and taken a bite, he turned. "Do what you want. I've never liked that worthless child; there's no way he's mine. Take him, but don't expect to ever bring him back here. I won't take him back." He opened a drawer and pulled out a frayed envelope and threw it at Naruto's feet. "That's all the information on his birth, and his life. He is no longer my son. May he cause you less hell than he did me."
Naruto snarled as he bent to pick up the envelope, tucking it into his shirt as he once more picked up the gourd. Kyuubi helped him, a smirk on his face.
"Well, we'll just be leaving then. But let us warn you this time. You have just lost the object of your anger, of your hatred. Who are you going to abuse now? Your other children? Sure. Just don't expect that you can come pick him back up when you realize Gaara leaving won't get rid of your anger. Nothing will. Let's go, Naruto."
This time it was Naruto who smirked. "Sure thing, brother. But before we go, let me just say this. Could you do something for me, Kankuro, Temari? Could you have a great day? Could you do that for me? Thanks." (a/n: Sorry, I just totally couldn't resist! For those of you who've watched Metalocolypse, then you'll recognize those lines.)
They walked out the door, both feeling better than they had when they'd arrived. They had a tough time working that stupid gourd into the car, but they managed to fit it. Naruto was practically laughing as he hopped into the passenger's seat.
"Ah! Man, how I just wish I could punch that stupid fuckface write in the gut! He really pissed me off!"
Kyuubi chuckled, turning up the volume until the band Skillet blasted their song, The Last Night. It probably wasn't that good, but it was still good, heavy music.
"Calm down. Gaara's coming home with you, his father has disowned him, and we're all going to be fine in the days to come. You just need to relax; everything will be fine. Don't worry so much."
Naruto sighed but nodded, and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. It worked; he could feel his tense muslces relaxing. Although, he was still pissed. There wasn't anything he could do about that.
Instead, he tilted his head back, and closed his eyes. The next few days would be a trial, he guessed, but that meant more time with Gaara. More time to help Gaara relearn what it meant to be in contact with humans.
Time Skip: 5 days:
Naruto felt his eyes fluttering in the midst of awakening, a blurry vision of red entering his mind. He smiled, remembering that Gaara once more shared his room, sleeping in his bed while he slept on the floor. Gaara didn't much like being so close to people; he usually kept to himself, recuperating in Naruto's room, but the others sort of knew how he felt. They left him alone.
In the meantime, Naruto entertained Gaara with humorous stories of his time with the Sharingan gang which, although Gaara never once cracked a smile, seemed to amuse him.
Naruto's smile widened as he sat up, and noticed Gaara was awake and staring at him. Did that guy ever sleep? He was awake when Naruto slept, and awake once more when Naruto awoke. Geez.
"Hey, Gaara, you hungry?" He yawned, covering his mouth politely.
Gaara nodded wordlessly, still staring at him.
"Well, it smells like Kyuubi cooked breakfast, which is awesome; he makes the best food ever! I'll get you a plate after I go brush my teeth and go to the bathroom, alright?"
He pushed the covers back and stood, stretching while he walked into the bathroom. He closed the door, but left it ajar, having been used to keeping the doors open with Gaara around. It seemed natural. He brushed his teeth, peed, and went back into his room, finding Gaara leaning against the headboard of his bed and reading a magazine from the pile on the nightstand. He couldn't see the cover.
"I'll be back with our food in about a minute. Apple Juice, right?" He'd learned that was Gaara's favorite drink for breakfast.
The redhead just looked up from the magazine, his teal eyes watching Naruto's every move. It appeared he thought the answer was obvious.
"Right. You just wait right here, Your Majesty." He just couldn't resist, even when Gaara glared. He was snickering as he walked down the hall into the kitchen.
"What's got you so happy?" Kyuubi asked, flipping the eggs cooking next to the sausage on the frying pan. He was an expert cook, surprisingly.
"Just teasing my new roommate. We need a big plate for him, and a plate for me. We're eating in my room again." Naruto commanded, placing two plates next to the chef while taking out two long glasses. One he filled with milk, the other Apple Juice.
"What am I, the family slave?" Kyuubi scowled, but he was really just kidding.
"Yes! Vite vite! We're starving, here!"
Kyuubi rolled his eyes, but began piling food on the plates. He gave Gaara three fried eggs, four sausage patties, and two pieces of toast. That seemed to be about all he could fit in his stomach; at least, for now. They were hoping he'd be able to take in more as time wore on. Naruto, of course, got two eggs and two sausage patties, along with toast.
"Thanks! Is Kakashi-dad working already?" Naruto had to yell; he was already carrying the breakfast down to his room. His older brother yelled back the affirmative.
"Your feast, milord." Naruto laid the food on his bed before he bowed, withholding another snicker.
Gaara didn't say anything. Instead, he scooted over so that he sat next to the wall, a pillow behind him and his plate in his lap. He didn't hear anything, and looked up, seeing Naruto just standing there looking at him. He swallowed a sigh.
"Well? Are you going to come here and help me enjoy my breakfast, or are you just going to stand there and watch me eat?"
Naruto grinned and obediently climbed onto the bed and under the warm quilt, sitting so close to the redhead that he could feel the other's heat on his side; they were touching. Then he picked up his own plate, made sure their drinks weren't going to spill on the mattress, and eagerly dug into his own food. Next to him, Gaara was eating more sedately. They didn't speak.
This is really cool! Sitting here, with Gaara, it feels so right, so natural. Why is that? It feels like it used to, when I was with Itachi, only stronger, more primal. I really don't understand this, but I like it. Naruto smiled secretly, causing Gaara to give him a weird look. But he didn't say anything; he didn't want to speak his thoughts aloud just yet. They'd probably scare Gaara!
He is so weird. But I suppose that's alright. It feels...nice, just to sit here with another human. I'm really starting to get used to this. I can't tell...Is this a good thing, or a bad thing? I suppose it doesn't matter. I'm really starting to like it here, with Naruto. Even Kyuubi, and that "Kakashi-dad" guy I'm getting used to. Gaara's thoughts were a little different than Naruto's, but the same with the basics.
They were both feeling their way in the new relationship starting between them, as friends, and it seemed to be going well. Gaara was really starting to like living, unlike before. And Naruto was getting used to having another being, not of his family, so close to him. All seemed perfect.
Of course, there's always something that has to go wrong with every new relationship. Always. The only question was, what would go wrong?
And there it's ending! What do you think? I was going to have this whole confrontation between the Kazekage and Naruto, where Naruto one and was totally surperior, but I thought the fact that the Kazekage just feeling Naruto's hatred, and being faced with silent rage would be better. I hope I chose right. Oh, that's right! Guess who's going to be coming back in the next chapter! It's going to be a timeskip, only about a week, and Gaara and Naruto will be returning to school. And remember the foreshadowing that I just wrote? Well, that's showing up next chapter too! Actually, it's the reason the person who's showing up is showing up. Care to guess who it is? Please review!
Ayame
