Chapter 13 - The One
Meanwhile at the recording studio…
Gaara was rushing around like a headless chicken going back and forth from the recording studio to the hallway and back to the recording studio, "Honestly Gaara slow down, you'll give yourself a heart attack from all that rushing around," Kiba said literally getting dizzy from watching Gaara
"I can't Kiba; I'm finally taking everyone's advice and asking Naruto out," Gaara said not stopping for breath
Kiba cheered, "Well done mate!"
"It's about time Gaara," Neji patted him on the back
"No time for praise I'm so stressed, I need to get Naruto to the ramen shop without him realising something's up," Gaara was still rushing around
"Well I think stop jittering is a good start," Kiba laughed "Where is Naruto anyway?"
"Meeting with that private detective person that Tsunade was organising," Neji said trying to calm Gaara down, "So Gaara what's your plan?"
"When Naruto gets here I'm gonna take him to lunch then I'll tell him my feelings, hopefully he won't reject me," Gaara said slightly panicking
"Yeah because if he does that's the end of the band," Kiba laughed only to be glared at by Neji
"Tell me Kiba! Have you got any further with my cousin?!" He asked sternly. Kiba blushed and looked down, indicating as a no, "Yeah that's what I thought."
Just at that moment the guys heard the humming of one Naruto Uzumaki, he casually walked into the recording studio not noticing the drama he's walked into, "Hey guys."
The rest of the band readjusted themselves so that they didn't give away any problems they were previously having.
"So Naruto…" Neji started, "How was the investigator? Was he suitable?"
"Granny said he was the best in the business, I have to be honest though, he was a bit odd," Naruto replied rummaging around to get his guitar set up.
The rest of the band began to do so also, they silently set up their instruments so they could get ready to play; surprisingly Gaara was done pretty quickly, this was a mixture of his skills with a drum kit and the fact that Kiba and Neji were sabotaging each other's instruments so they took longer to set up.
Gaara walked up to Naruto who was sitting on his stool scribbling down on some paper, "Still working on that song?"
"Yeah I still can't seem to get it right," Naruto replied not looking up
"So when we're done here, dya wanna get some lunch? My treat," Gaara said
Naruto looked up beaming, "Ramen?"
Gaara smiled, "Is there anything else with you?" He ruffled Naruto's hair
Little did they know that the two other band members were watching them from the other side of the room smiling.
Later that day…
"RAMEN!" Naruto screamed as the band walked out of the studio
"That was a good session wasn't it guys?" Neji asked everyone to which everyone nodded in response
"Hey Kiba, Neji dya guys want some ramen with me and Gaara, he's paying!" Naruto asked excitedly
"Well I am a bit-" Kiba started but was nudged by Neji, "Oh no thanks I'm meeting with Hinata."
"Yes and I don't really fancy ramen, you know me I'd rather have a herring soba, than ramen. So no thank you, have a nice time though," Neji winked at Gaara giving him a 'fighting' look.
Naruto slumped at the thought of eating ramen without all his friends and Gaara noticed this, "Just think Naruto that means more for you."
Naruto lit up once again and the two proceeded onto the closest ramen shop, "Ya know I really miss Konoha's ramen, but this one's amazing too don't get me wrong."
"Tell ya what when we get back to Konoha I will buy you a whole load of ramen from Ichiraku's, sound good?" Gaara asked
Naruto nodded slightly and the two continued to walk into the ramen shop, "Hey Gaara do you miss Suna?" he asked
"Sometimes, it's a lot easier because I have my family with me, besides that I didn't really have that much of a connection to it, after all my father hated me," Gaara shrugged
"I see…" Naruto replied frowning as he sat down.
Gaara frowned, "I think you feel so homesick because you left a long time ago, before you married Sasuke."
"What do you mean Gaara?" he asked with a confused look on your face
"The way I see it, Konoha was your home, even though you didn't really have a family you quickly adopted everyone you met as your family and they adopted you, they loved you like their own just as you did. But then when you started dating Sasuke he showed you a different side to Konoha, the richer and more sophisticated side but also the cold and lonely side too. He made you forget about the Konoha you love and that's why you feel so homesick because you not only did you not get to say goodbye but you didn't the choice to either," Gaara stated sitting next to him
Naruto eyes widened 'he was right' he thought
"Look at myself here I am trying to impress you properly and show my feeling for you but here I am talking about your ex. I am such an idiot," Gaara blurted out
Naruto stared in complete shock, "Wait…what?"
"I'm just gonna say it, Naruto," he held Naruto's hands in his own, "I have liked you for the longest time but I kept my feelings to myself because I knew that you didn't feel the same way about me." Naruto stared as Gaara spoke, "But I couldn't keep going on, pretending I only cared about you as a friend, especially knowing that there are still people out after you," Naruto blushed slightly out of embarrassment, he knew he was talking about Sasuke, "I had to tell you before someone inevitably took you away." Gaara bowed his head; he didn't want to show Naruto his tears.
Naruto sniffed but smiled, "Gaara," he lifted Gaara's chin, "Being with Sasuke made me realise that I don't want to be an object that can be taken away. You have been a great friend to me and even as you confessed I started to realise that all of those times, all of those times you helped me, took care of me, you literally took me in when I had no one and you kept me safe," he chuckled slightly, "It's funny I feel quite foolish for not realising your feelings myself. And I'm sorry for that," he took a breath, "I like you too; I'm just not sure what type of feeling that is."
Gaara nodded feeling his heart breaking
"But I am willing to find out,"
That's when it happened, that is the moment when Naruto kissed Gaara for the first time.
OMG It Finally Happened!
A/N - Hi guys, hoped you liked the update! I just wanted to let you guys know that I have some exams coming up in the following weeks, so i might not be uploading for a while. I will try to upload when I can but it won't be regular until after this set of exams. So sorry! But please accept this chapter as my apology.
Thanks guys!
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