A/N: I'm so sorry it took me longer than usual to post this, but school has me in an absolute panic! I'll try and update as often as possible. At any rate, I've had the scene in this chapter planned in my head for what must be...since the third chapter. It feels good to finally get it down. I hope you enjoy it!

Disclaimer: You know the drill by now.

Warnings: questionable male friendship (I love that phrase), probable OOC-ness, and fluff.

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Chapter Eleven

Bittersweet thoughts and forgotten memories plagued Naruto's subconscious. It wasn't a nightmare, not by his standards – just some strange compilation of everything that had happened to him in the past few weeks. As the blonde rose out of his deep slumber he tried to remember what had happened the night before.

The sighed, digging his nails into his worn sheets and—no, these sheets weren't worn. Not in the slightest. Naruto's eyes widened as he felt the sheets between his index finger and thumb. He realized where he was and snapped upright, praying simply that no one found out about his mistake.

He looked quickly around the room, listening intently. No one came to immediate view. He sighed in relief, slowly throwing his legs over the side of the bed and running his hands through his hair. When it dawned on him what had happened just before he'd passed out in his master's bed.

Gaara... Naruto thought, standing so abruptly that the blood rushed from his head, causing him to trip a few times and lean on the bed posts for support while he rushed madly to the window to see if Gaara's body was lying dead beneath him the entire night.

He sighed gratefully when he saw nothing. He rested his head down on the windowsill, tucked into his arms. Naruto was so wrapped up in his deep breathing; he didn't hear the light footsteps coming up behind him. Gaara paused a few feet behind Naruto, and then cleared his throat. Naruto jumped nearly a foot in the air as he spun around. "Tono!" Naruto sighed, resisting his urge to hug the smaller boy. "I thought you'd gone suicidal for a minute but your body wasn't down there and I'm really, really sorry that I fell asleep in your bed. It will never happen again." Naruto said quickly, feeling his cheeks heat up.

"I don't sleep, I can't." Gaara said stoically.

Naruto blinked for a moment, "Oh, well...I'm still very sorry, it was disrespectful and—"

"Since when have you been respectful?" Gaara's question wasn't sarcastic, it was an honest question. One to which Naruto had no answer. After a few moments of silence and Naruto's intelligent 'uhhhh', Gaara continued, "You have some chores today."

Naruto snapped upright, remembering the chain of command. "Hai, tono." Naruto nodded, bowing to his master.

:..: :..: :..:

Nearly a week had passed since their discovery about each other. Naruto had been smiling more genuinely every time he made Gaara crack a smile, even if it was so faint it barely even registered. He liked making Gaara happy. He didn't care anymore that he had been taken to Suna against his will.

He liked it there.

Naruto entered Gaara's room one broiling morning and bowed before his master. "Do I have any chores today?" Naruto asked smartly, knowing the routine now.

"You must speak to Haruno-chan. She will instruct you. Then, I wish to speak with you." Gaara said coolly, as if it meant nothing.

"Haruno-chan...? You mean Sakura-chan? Why does she need me?"

"She asked for you. Now go, before you keep her waiting too long." Gaara said simply, sitting down at his desk, actually hating that he had to send Naruto out. He'd wanted to discuss things with him. He had no choice, however.

Naruto nodded and bowed, "As you wish, tono." With that, he turned and left Gaara's part of the Suna mansion.

:..: :..: :..:

In all honesty, Naruto had no clue how to navigate the palace. He simply pretended that he knew, so as not to embarrass himself. He'd been wandering for a good half hour now. "Stupid big-ass mansion thing, who needs thirty bathrooms anyways!? A person could go crazy in a place like this!" Naruto muttered angrily as he stalked through the hallways.

"Naruto-kun!" A loud voice bellowed from behind him. Naruto jumped and turned quickly, bowing instinctively. A few footsteps then a small laugh, "You don't need to bow to me, Naruto-kun. We're all slaves here."

Naruto looked up to see Haruno Sakura's familiar smile. Naruto sighed; relieved it had only been her. "Sakura-chan, I'm so sorry I was late but I got lost." Naruto explained.

Sakura smiled, waving her hand dismissively. "Never mind that, we have to get going!" Sakura said in a hushed voice. Naruto furrowed his brow as Sakura grabbed his hand and began pulling him through the hallways.

"Wait! Sakura, what do you need me for? Where are we going!?" Naruto asked quickly, but quietly. For some reason he felt like what they were doing was a secret. Sakura turned back to Naruto and a serious expression replaced her cute girlish smile.

"Neji-kun told me about your fears of an execution yesterday, and that was the last straw! We're organizing a break-out Naruto; we're all leaving for Konoha tomorrow night!"

"N-nani!?"

:..: :..: :..:

After talking with everyone over the course of the afternoon, Naruto came to a very sad realization. He couldn't get out of it without getting all of them killed, and he really didn't want to leave his lord. What could he do!? Naruto walked back to Gaara's room completely defeated (and with directions from Sakura). When he entered the redheaded prince's library room, he found Gaara sitting in his gigantic chair reading a book. Like he always did this time of day.

Gaara looked up from his book, "Ah, you're back. What was her chore for you?" Gaara asked only because he had to fill out the paperwork. It was his job in the house.

"Uh...er...ironing," Naruto stammered out.

Gaara cocked an eyebrow, "I wasn't aware that Kankurou had put her to work in the laundry room...no matter. We have things to discuss." Gaara said as he stood and placed his book aside.

Naruto nodded nervously. If he told, they'd die. If he didn't, he knew Gaara would. What was he to do!?

Gaara walked back into his bedroom, Naruto following closely behind him. Gaara sat down at his desk, and Naruto sat quietly on Gaara's plush bed. He noticed that the sheets hadn't been changed. Had Gaara shooed the girls away when they tried to enter, just to protect Naruto? Guilt welled up inside him.

"Naruto," Gaara started, "Last night when I confided my secret in you, I expected you to run away. But, since you did not—have not. I have decided to promote you from being a slave to being my bodyguard. I will trust that you 

haven't told anyone about me, because that would entail telling about yourself. Please understand that I am not sure of what to do about this situation, but I feel that I owe you a debt of gratitude."

Naruto felt like crying and vomiting and fainting all at once, instead of doing any of those mentioned, he shook his head, "No tono, you don't owe me anything..." he said quietly.

Gaara nodded once, solemnly. "I have never had a friend..." Gaara started, "So, thank you Naruto. For befriending me." Gaara stood and walked over to the blonde, whom was sweating bullets. Gaara held out his hand for Naruto to shake. Naruto's hand shook as he reached up, and grabbed Gaara's hand.

"You don't have to thank me Gaara..." Naruto muttered. "You really don't..."

:..: :..: :..:

This being Naruto's probable last night in Suna, he couldn't sleep. He was so nervous and jumpy he was sure that Gaara would notice. But the redhead said nothing, all through dinner he simply ate and listened to Naruto's ramblings, as always.

He wished Gaara would notice. God, he wished he did.

The truth was, Gaara did notice. But he had guessed that Naruto's nervous behaviour was stemmed from Gaara befriending him in such an open way. He'd never done so before so he had hoped this was the usual response to friendship.

In fact, Naruto had continued to jabber on like a parrot for the entire evening. Gaara somehow found his newly appointed bodyguards ramblings comforting. He had no clue what was going on behind Naruto's sweaty face and trembling hands.

Total turmoil was masked with Naruto's nervous laugh as he replayed his promise to Gaara over and over. I promise I won't run. I won't run, tono.

I promise.

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A/N: The plot thickens! What will happen!? Will Naruto tell Gaara? Or will he run, for fear of hurting his other friends? Well, you'll just have to wait and see. Won't you? Please review? –shaking empty review jar—