Carnal Attraction

Author: Mask of Mirage

Rating: M

Mood Song: Map of the Problematique by Muse

Disclaimer: Rightful ownership goes to Masashi Kishimoto.

Chapter 11: Could I Only Speak Just What's Hurting Me

It was shortly after leaving his hotel that Gaara came to the conclusion that maybe this wasn't the best of ideas. It showed when Neji laced their hands together in an unmistakable sign of "together" and how Naruto kept prattling on about everything and nothing instead of becoming jealous, like he was supposed to.

This was going to blow up in his face, he just knew it. But yet, it was too late to turn back now, especially when he still had a plan forming at the back of his mind. It was simple really, flirt with Neji to the extent that Naruto got jealous, either out of mutual romantic interest or the simple fact that they were just not paying attention to him, the other more important member of their three-man party.

Neji seemed a little disgruntled that Naruto was tagging along but didn't say anything, possibly out of respect. Most likely it was his pride that was hanging on the line. Gaara shivered a little when said man's hip bumped into him as they walked, though the milky-eyed man probably made no connection to the fact that it was out of unwanted contact.

"Are you cold?" the man asked him, pulling him impossibly closer to his side. Gaara sighed impatiently; this was ridiculous. They were going to trip if they walked any closer.

"So where are we going?" Naruto inquired happily, practically dancing ahead of them.

Neji frowned at the word 'we' and tapped a finger against Gaara's shoulder. "There's a small festival-type party taking place in the next town over, I thought about going there."

Gaara watched as Naruto's eyes lit up with joy and his face curved into a wide grin; the boy was really oblivious to how beautiful he was. A strong breeze swept down the trail they were walking on and Gaara's slight frame was nearly blown over by the rug that was Neji's hair. But unlike most rugs, this one was incredibly soft and smelled unbelievably well. Cautiously, he ran his finger through the ends of it, making sure Naruto was watching, taking notice at the confused frown playing on the blond's lips.

"Beautiful," he murmured, smiling softly when Neji turned his attention on him. The Hyuuga seemed to blush but it could have just been his eyes playing tricks on him. Without some sort of warning beforehand, Gaara found lips covering his own and he had to forcibly stop himself from pushing the man away. He had to think of his plan.

Neji moved his mouth carefully over the other's, not really caring that they still had an audience in the form of one bewildered, quite uncomfortable kitsune. The kiss was awkward, try as he might to seem like he was responding. It didn't feel right; it didn't feel like Naruto, for one.

Neji pulled back slowly, their lips making a soft popping noise. "Thank you for the compliment," he murmured, brushing a finger over Gaara's cheek. The redhead looked away as if to hide a blush but in reality he was trying not to projectile vomit in the other's face.

Naruto seemed out of place about a yard away, his feet shifting nervously against the forest floor. Clearly, he was uncomfortable watching them show any signs of affection. Perfect.

Lacing his hand back with Neji's, Gaara smiled brightly at the blond, causing Naruto's mouth to quirk up a little at the side. It didn't take them long to reach the village they were heading to and as soon as Naruto caught sight of the small festival up ahead, his anxiousness was immediately replaced with utter joy. He was so predictable sometimes it was scary.

It wasn't long until the hyperactive ninja dragged them along to nearly every station, much like the festival they attended days prior. Except this time, instead of flashing them a cheeky grin, Naruto's face would contort every once in a while into a frown upon catching sight of the still-intertwined fingers of Gaara and Neji.

Gaara couldn't believe how well this was playing out for him. Pretty soon, Naruto would be his and finally the blond would be able to understand the amount of love Gaara held for the boy. Especially since he had to resort to such drastic measures to make it known…

Naruto huffed quietly beneath his breath, frowning at the sight before him. He shouldn't be letting this get to him, after all, it was nice for Gaara to seem so happy and he knew better than anyone that the redhead deserved all the happiness he could get.

But still, every time his eyes landed on the two laughing and whispering animatedly to each other, a sharp clench made itself known in his chest, no matter how hard he fought to keep it down. Some sick, twisted part of him felt like he owned Gaara, had laid claim to him long ago when he was the first to defeat him in battle. It was an unmistakable sign of possession and it made him feel sick to his stomach that he could think such things. Gaara was a person and you couldn't own a person like they was an inanimate object.

Nevertheless, it was picking at his thoughts, festering in the back of his brain like a rotting peach, bitterly sweet. The pangs in his stomach grew stronger as Gaara grudgingly accepted with a smile, a small stuffed toy that Neji won for him. The small otter glared up at him with its permanent smirk from beneath Gaara's arm, taunting him as if to say, "You're not jealous, are you?"

The sharp feeling in his chest grew even worse when the two shared chaste little kisses in front of him, and God, and everybody. Yet, there was one thought that plagued him at this point and that was why Gaara didn't tell him that he and Neji were dating and so far along that they were openly showing affection like they were. He considered Gaara his closest friend, so why wouldn't the boy tell him personal things, just for the sake of 'just because'?

Maybe he wasn't as forgiven as he thought he was.

It was sometime during lunch, amidst the quiet laughter of Gaara as Neji said something that was obviously funny, when Naruto slammed his chopsticks down on the table with such force that their glasses of tea sloshed onto the table, soaking into the wood.

"Gaara, can I speak to you? Alone," Naruto gritted out between clenched teeth, his knuckles turning white under the pressure of his balled-up fists.

Gaara looked slightly startled and nodded, standing from his seat and maneuvering around Neji. Naruto grabbed his wrist before he was completely out of the booth and drug him to the back of the small shop they were eating at. He stopped in a dimly-lit hallway just outside the bathrooms, turning on the redhead with such brutal force that the smaller ninja actually squeaked when slammed up against the wall.

"What the hell do you think you're doing back there?" the blond whispered fiercely, trying to reign in his moment of uncharacteristic anger.

Gaara's mint eyes narrowed dangerously and he ripped his wrist away from the kitsune's grip. Naruto stepped back a bit, ashamed that he yelled at the Suna nin. "I'm sorry," he murmured, casting his eyes to the floor, "but why didn't you tell me?"

He heard Gaara exhale loudly between his teeth and he glanced back up just in time to see his curious green orbs roll heavenward. "Can you really not see what I'm trying to do?"

Naruto arched a blond brow in confusion but before Gaara could continue his thought, Neji suddenly appeared around the corner, wearing a worried frown. Naruto cursed mentally, this Hyuuga sure had an annoying habit of popping up at the most unwanted times.

"Sorry to interrupt but I'm afraid I have some bad news, we seem to be caught in a storm and won't be able to get back to Konoha, I highly doubt we'll even be able to leave the shop."

Naruto groaned aloud in anguish, what he thought was going to be a great day was slowly turning into a wreck straight from the fiery depths of hell. Slowly, he plodded back into the eating area of the shop and confirmed with dismay, that there was in fact a storm blowing outside, the wind whipping the heavy cloth tapestries that hung outside the shops like dry, brittle leaves.

He pressed his forehead up against the glass and glared forlornly at the rain till he felt a soft pressure on his shoulder. Turning around, he was met with the concerned face of Gaara. Shaking his head, he gave the boy a reassuring smile and put on the brightest, fakest grin he could muster.

Around two hours later, after many attempts of conversation and even a failed game of "I Spy", Naruto slumped down into one of the booths, too bored to even care when Gaara stood from his position against the counter and announced that he was going to the restroom. If Naruto had been more observant and less moody, he would have noticed Neji stand quietly a few moments later and follow the redhead toward the back.

But if Naruto did a lot of things he should have, they wouldn't be in this position in the first place…

His little whispers

Love me. Love me.

That's all I ask for

Love me. Love me.

He battered his tiny fists to feel something

Wondered what it's like to touch and feel something.

Authors Note: Short, blunt and to the point, I think. So Gaara's plan seems to be working on one side but just to give you a little incentive to stay tuned to the next chapter, his grand plan is about to backfire horribly in his face. But of course, I would have to write that. I obviously don't own the words in italics, Meg and Dia do.

Manga Spoiler: You have got to be shitting me, Kishimoto! How can you kill him off like that? I loved the old perverted coot. Now what will me and Kakashi read? So utterly depressed.

Mask of Mirage