A/N: i love it in fics when either Temari or Tsunade play matchmaker for Gaara and Naruto. in this chapter (and probably in the last) you'll notice i have Temari playing this part, but later i may add Tsunade as well. they both just seem like girls who like to inflict uncomfortable (but good) tension on the people they care about. in this case, Temari inflicts it on Gaara and later Tsunade will probably do the same for Naruto. despite how she acts, we all know Tsunade cares. Temari too. actually, i might have Tem-chan acting a little OOC with how sisterly she's being, but whatever. it's my story, kukuku.

They decided on that action film Naruto and Kankurou had picked out, and with some popcorn made Temari sunk down into the couch with Gaara, Kankurou taking the armchair and Naruto seated on the floor.

"You'll go blind sitting that close to the television!" Temari barked at Naruto.

"But I want to be able to see everything, 'ttebayo!"

"You can see it all just fine from here," the lighter blonde replied. For a second she looked to her side at Gaara, a smile on her lips. Then she said, "Why not sit next to Gaara here on the couch? It's big enough."

The redhead in question deadpanned uncomfortably. "He can sit where he wants, Temari."

"Which I bet is right next to his friend here on the couch," she counters. "Ne, Uzumaki?"

"Um…" He hesitated, looking back and forth. To get possible hit on the head again by Temari, or to make Gaara silently pissed? Choices, choices. "Right… that's where I want to sit."

"Good, because the movie is about to start," the puppet master grumbled, glad Naruto was getting out of the way.

Uneasily, the Leaf nin slumped onto the couch beside Gaara, being careful not to accidentally touch him. He turned his focus to the movie, which started off surprisingly with a chase. Normally movies build up to the action, but it appeared this one wasn't like that. Clicking into attention, Naruto canceled out everything else as he watched the action sequence, completely absorbed. How like him to get so into a movie.

The leading male character, Naruto found about a third of the way through, was very easy to relate to. He was a young adult, hair older than Temari, who was an orphan that only had his little sister to care for. But to care for her he became a criminal, using his self-taught skills to steal and fight. The chase in the beginning was him running off with a load of weaponry and food, so that he could feed his sister and defend himself against the bad guys of the film that wanted to kidnap his sister. Because, secretly, she held great amounts of powerful chakra within her, something like a demon's chakra but purer.

He's kind of like me, the kitsune thought sleepily. He has his precious person to protect, and will do anything to do it, even if it means becoming a criminal; even if it means becoming hated…

Slowly, nearing the end of the movie, Naruto realized how exhausted the exercise with the Sand nins were earlier that day, and he fell asleep.

Sabaku No Gaara

The first thing I felt was the sudden weight upon my shoulder, and the tickle of soft locks on my jaw. The next thing I felt was the plunk of a hand, curled in sleep, landing from someone's lap onto my thigh. Vaguely I smelled sun and grass and heat, most likely the scents left in the blonde's hair after training by himself today. The last thing I felt was a sharp intake of breath and the tense of my muscles, along with a jolt in my chest.

Naruto had obviously fallen asleep, but the action caused him to slump onto me as a pillow.

Beside me, Temari smiled wickedly, and I wanted to take my sand and choke her. But I'm not as good at controlling it anymore, and even though it's been a few days, I'm still too weak to try much of it. As if she wanted me to kill her, Temari leaned down slightly and whispered, "It feels nice, doesn't it?"

My arm twitches, and I give into the urge to hit her. I punch, not too hard, in her side. She grunts but shuts up. The pathetic thing is, she's right: it does feel… nice. He was so warm, a tad hotter than any normal person; maybe it was the fiery Kyuubi that made him that way, maybe it was because I was too cold, or maybe I was imagining things. Either way, it was comfortable in a terribly distracting way. I almost wanted to wake him up or push him away, but I didn't. I couldn't.

Sighing through my nose like I do, I just stay – stiff as a board – against the kitsune. He murmurs in his sleep for a minute before falling silent, the only noise being his slow breaths.

I stared at him in the dull light for a while, vaguely admiring his peaceful face. An urge to touch those strange whisker marks fill my fingers, but I resist. If I touched Naruto's face, it might seem a little… for lack of better words: out of the ordinary. Then the lights were on and I snapped my head up to see Kankurou rewinding the VHS. I start to move, but Naruto stirs in his sleep and turns on his side, clinging to my arm. I freeze in place, my face and heart growing anxious. I was not used to this sort of contact.

Suddenly Kankurou starts laughing. "Need some help there, Gaara?"

I nod briskly. He laughs again, coming over to pry Naruto free. Groggily, the blonde awakes. "Eh?" he yawns. "What the big deal? I was really comfortable, datte… bayo…"

"I bet you were," my brother chuckles, pulling the blonde to his feet. He lets go and the boy sways before steadying himself.

"I guess I'll just… head off to bed…" Naruto slurs. He obviously was the type who didn't like to be woken up from such a deep slumber.

"Yeah, because your bed isn't my little brother," Kankurou tells him with mock scolding.

"Nani?" Naruto asks, but then he glances behind himself at me. "Oh… sorry, Gaara. I guess I did fall asleep on you."

"Don't let it happen again," I murmur, standing up and nearly shoving passed him. "I'll be in my room."

"Uh, sure Gaara. Good night," Kankurou says, ejecting the VHS from the machine.

Down the hallway I find Temari blocking my door. "What's with you? Get out of the way," I tell her.

"Someone's cranky. I wonder why…"

"You know why," I grumble as I walk into my room.

She smirks. "You're right, I do. And I think you're taking it the wrong way."

"Really? Then how should I be taking it?" I snap, yanking off my Kazekage robes. I didn't care if I changed in front of Temari; besides, all I had to do was slip on a shirt to sleep in.

"You should be happy," she says slowly, wrinkles forming on her forehead as she frowns. "Yet you seem… angry."

"Because I am."

"At who? At what?"

"Since when did you become Miss I-want-to-know-everything-about-you?" I hiss, trying not to be too loud. I didn't want Kankurou to hear this, and especially not Naruto.

"And since when did you become Mr. overly-emotional?" she retorts, using the same caution in volume.

I sigh. She had me there. "I… I'm not sure. I don't feel like myself."

"Well there's the understatement of the century."

I stare hard at my sister. "Is this supposed to make me feel better?"

Temari sighs as well. "Not this, no. But I hope this will: Gaara, look, I know what you're going through right now. It's like… the denial state of loving someone. I know it's especially hard for you, since you're so young and never had much love –"

"The proof of that is etched onto my face," I whisper.

"– But I still understand. You're mad at yourself for feeling weak, frustrated that you don't know if the other person feels the same, and longing to be with them. Am I right?"

I nod weakly. "Hai…"

"So why not just go with the flow, Gaara? I learned not to fight it, and now I'm just fine."

I look sideways at her. "So who's the lucky guy I get to kill for being with my big sister?" I smirk.

She flushes a dark crimson before closing her eyes and coughing into her hand. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, but me being with Naruto is yours?"

She gets a cocky look on her face. "Of 'course; you're my little brother, not to mention my Kazekage. So, naturally, I want things to go right for you. I want you to be happy and find the love you're seeking."

I feel my face tint with a sliver of heat. "That's fair, I suppose. But I doubt I can be happy with him in the way you're thinking of."

Her face goes blank, except for her eyes. "Eh? Doushite?"

I smile sadly. "Because I'm Gaara."

She bows her head, because even she knows that I'm right. As much as I'd like to be wrong, deep down I feel sick with how right I know I am.

Because what luck did I ever have in love?

Just that: none.

So why should my luck change now?

Uzumaki Naruto

I woke up still dressed in my dirty clothes from yesterday, and my mouth tasted like really nasty morning breath. I groaned into my pillow, refusing to get up. And why was it so damn hot? I felt like I was frying like an egg. Konoha never gets this hot!

For a moment, I had forgotten I was still in Sunakagure. Hmm, I must really feel at home here if I forgot where I was. Wonder why…

Wiping sweat from my forehead, I sat up and reached for the water on my bedside table. I remember Temari telling me to have it there for the morning. It was supposed to be a real scorcher today, according to the people at the weather tower. Fan-fucking-tastic.

I downed the whole glass, which tasted warm and stale. But it got most of that morning breath taste out of my mouth, so who was complaining?

The first real thought I had as soon as I was awake enough to stand was: what time is it? The next was: how many days do I have left to stay? And the last was: I gotta pee.

So, with the first thought in mind I glance at my clock. 7:06. With the last thought in mind, I hobble out my door to the bathroom, which thankfully wasn't in use. And with the last thought in mind, I mauled over how many days extra I've been here. Just about 3, right? And Sakura said by next week… which would be in another two days or so. Fine, so I'll leave in two days (not including today). The old hag should be satisfied with that. Besides, I kind of need a vacation. It's a blistering hot, sandy vacation, but time off nonetheless.

After answering nature's call, I realized I stunk. Like really bad B.O. and sweat. I grimaced and slid off my clothes, setting them aside while I turned the water on. It was always chilly when I ran the water, I noticed. Maybe that's because I only use it during the day, and all the heaters aren't turned on until after sundown. But I didn't care; the cool water felt good and helped wake me to up.

After my shower I headed back to my room, hoping no one saw me wrapped with only a towel around my waist, dirty clothes in hand. I was lucky, because no one seemed to be in this part of the house within the 'kage's mansion. I hurriedly shut my door and stepped into new clothes, noticing that I was out of clean ones. Shoot, unless I want to smell, I have to do some laundry. Great, I just love laundry, I thought sarcastically. But I might as well get that done and over with.

So, by myself (which felt oddly quiet, and I didn't like it) I did some laundry, or at last enough for a few more days. I hope Temari-san doesn't mind that I'm using her washing machine.

Listlessly, I remembered falling asleep during the end of the movie last night. I remembered something warm and soft, but a little bony. I think I fell asleep on someone's shoulder… but who was sitting next to me again? Oh, wait; it was Gaara, wasn't it? Kuso. I should probably apologize for leaning on him like that. They say it's okay to lean on your friends every once in a while, but I don't think they mean literally. That, and I know better; Gaara's mostly a 'don't-touch-me' kind of person. Oops.

I headed for the Kazekage office, and oddly the door was open. When I glanced inside, I saw the usual furnishings and circular windows, but no Gaara. I frowned to myself before asking a guard that was hanging around where he went.

"Kazekage-sama is in a meeting, I'm afraid," says some guy who acted like he had a stick stuck up his ass. He probably didn't, but who knows, maybe there was some sand up there. Whenever I'm in the desert, it doesn't matter what I do: sand hides everywhere in my clothes, and I have no I idea how it got there.

Sighing, I tell the guard thanks before walking outside to blow time. Where was that ice cream shop again? I remember a dirty, blue-ish canopy over it… shouldn't be too hard to find. Besides, Suna is one big circle for the most part, ne? So I shouldn't get lost trying to find some ice cream place…