"Dear Kyuubi,

I met someone a few months ago and we quickly became friends...the more we talked, the more I realized that I've fallen for this person but the problem is that I don't think they are over their first love who died in a car accident two years ago.

I've been thinking about confessing my feelings to this person...but I don't want to ruin our friendship and I don't want to be second best.

What should I do?

-Secondbest-

Dear Secondbest,

I think we don't ever truly get over our first love, it's the first time we learned what it means to truly be attracted to someone and care about them.

First loves can be beautiful...but they can also be extremely painful, especially if that person is taken away from us so suddenly. No matter how much time has passed, it's difficult to forget someone that was taken from us.

If you like this person, you should let them know your true feelings for we never know which day will be our last. Tell them that you value your friendship above all but that you like them and that the rest is up to them.

Don't compare yourself with their deceased first love...you are who you are, believe it!

Good luck and thanks for reaching out to me!

XoXoXo Kyuubi XoXoXo"

Naruto drank some of his coffee and sighed softly, remembering piercing dark eyes staring at his brighter ones. He could clearly remember the screeching sound and the honking of horns.

The blonde quickly shook his head and turned to look at his phone. He's been talking to Gaara almost daily though they haven't met up yet...even though it's been almost three month since that day when the blonde had lost his temper and had seen those glass looking pupiless eyes.

The more that they talked, the more that Naruto likes Gaara. The redhead might not be much of a talker but he was extremely smart and nice. The blonde really enjoyed hearing the redhead talk even if it wasn't a lot. For the most part Naruto would be the one doing the talking and Gaara would either snort, give short responses or humm.

They had done a few video chats for the blog, with Naruto having to end the last one quite early when the couple started almost having sex. The blonde had felt his cheeks reddened and he had stuttered an apology to the redhead.

"...So that's human lust…" Was all the redhead had said matter of factly.

Naruto snapped out of his thoughts when he heard a familiar ringtone and picked up "Hello, Sakura-chan!" He brightly greeted, trying to ignore the guilt he still felt.

"Morning Naru...have you eaten? Have you been going to your sessions?" She softly asked him.

"Yes I have...and yes I have! I am fine...promise!" He brightly said, nodding.

"You do sound happier...I am glad. Remember, if you need anything at all...anything, no matter how small, you let me know...alright? Also...something should be arriving soon, Sarada wanted to send you a drawing she made. You really don't have to keep sending us money every month...it's not your responsibility, Naru."The pinkette softly said, her voice starting to sound a bit choked up.

"But it is my responsibility, Sakura. We've had this talk and nothing has changed." He replied firmly "I'll let you know as soon as I get the drawing, please thank Sarada-chan for me and tell her that I still have the masterpiece she wrote me on my fridge!"

"...It wasn't your fault, Naruto...when will you stop punishing yourself?" Sakura sighed then shouting was heard from her side, as if someone was calling for her. "I need to go...and he's doing the same as always. Please take care of yourself Naruto...and remember to call me!" With that she hung up.

Naruto listened to the sound of the line going dead for a minute or two, staring up at the ceiling, remembering the way that Sakura had cried, the way she had been unable to look at him for such a long time.

He hung up as well, grateful when he heard Gaara's ringtone 'Mr Sandman, bring me a drea-' The blonde picked up, forcing a smile on his face and for his voice to sound cheerful "Hello Gaara-kun! How are you?"

"...Is something wrong, Naruto-kun?" The redhead asked, voice sounding aloof as usual.

"Huh? Why?" Naruto asked confused.

"...Forget it…" Then the redhead added "Would you be free this Saturday at 6pm?"

"Oh Gaara-kun, could it be you are asking me out on a date?" The blonde teased.

"Yes, I am." The redhead replied matter of factly.

Naruto felt his cheek redden but told himself that the redhead was joking, he let out a nervous laugh "Good one, Gaara-kun!" He said "I am free Saturday, see you then!" Then he hung up and held on to his chest, trying to tell his heart to slow down.

'Someone like you isn't allowed to like someone...not after what you did, you monster.' A dark voice inside of Naruto's head coldly said. Cerulean blue eyes blankly staring at his prosthetic hand, a reminder of his sin.

He could feel a familiar coldness washing through his body, an emptiness that he hated with a passion. The blonde tried to ignore the feeling, trying to get lost in responding to questions in his blogs.

There was no way that Gaara was actually asking him out on a date...they've only met twice face to face...and sure they've been constantly talking to each other but there was no way that the redhead was interested in him.

Naruto went to shower and got changed into his orange sweatpants, orange matching hoodie and underneath a black shirt, then put on his black running shoes and decided to go for a run to clean up his thoughts.

He thought about the auburn locks, about the snort and the deep voice then ran faster. No, he had no interest whatsoever in the redhead, it was simply friendship!

Friendship...that was all he could ever offer someone else.

"You are such an idiot, Naruto...tch!" Dark eyes glared at him but all that the blonde could see was amusement.

"Hey bastard, you should be glad to be able to date someone as amazing as me...not my fault they thought we were a couple." The blonde teased, cheeks flushed. Truth was both of them were probably a bit...or a lot...drunk. Turns out Naruto wasn't the only lightweight one.

"Why would I date an idiot like you...and why the hell would you be the 'top' whatever that means!" Sasuke snapped, hitting Naruto upside the head as they stumbled to Sasuke's apartment.

Naruto burst out laughing, remembering the conversation again, how a random group of girls had come up to them and said that they made a cute couple...and that Naruto was probably a great top before giggling and walking away, also clearly drunk.

"It means you take it from me, Sasu-dear~" Naruto jokes, making kissy sounds and laughing louder, almost curling up and bringing Sasuke down with him.

"Oi idiot, watch what you are doing! You are already heavy!" Sasuke snapped, cheeks bright red, he could see the glass apartment. "And I wouldn't let you do that!"

Naruto kept giggling, standing right back up as they finished stumbling to Sasuke's apartment. They made it to the elevator with Naruto still snickering and Sasuke elbowing him rather roughly.

"Sorrry, Sasu-dear~" Naruto teased only to be hit again, the raven growling.

"Oi, I told you to shut up, idiot!" The raven snapped, leading his best friend inside the rather luxurious apartment.

"Or what, Sasu-dear?" Naruto teased, laughing so hard that tears were streaming down his reddening cheeks and he gasped for air.

"Or I'll make you!" Sasuke growled out.

"Oh yeah...how?" Naruto wiggled his eyebrows and laughed only to stop when he felt warm lips against his own.

He kissed back happily, wrapping his arms around the raven's neck. A small part of him was telling him that they should stop since they were clearly drunk but he didn't care.

They kissed for a little longer, Sasuke arching into him, Naruto biting down on the paler male's bottom lip while squeezing Sasuke's rear before they pulled away, both panting.

"I really like you, Sasuke."The blonde warmly said, pulling the raven into a hug, feeling a warmth spreading throughout his body "I like you so much."

Naruto woke up with a gasp, he had gone for his run, came back and had thought about closing his eyes only for a second but ended up falling asleep. That memory felt like a ton of brick now, leaving only a bitter taste in his mouth.

A.N:/ We get to see a bit behind the mask that Naruto has. Next chapter will be Naruto and Gaara's first date, more importantly, you guys get to find out the real meaning of Cactus which still cracks me up.