Two months passed in the blink of an eye for the blonde. His relationship with the redhead only grew stronger. His partner often needed to travel due to work and would be gone for days, always giving him an apologetic look but the blonde did not mind, he still felt at peace. There were some nights when it wasn't easy, when he would see those dark, lifeless eyes staring at him, accusing him of moving on.
Sakura had demanded to meet Gaara which led to Naruto asking his partner if he'd like to accompany him to Hidden Leaf, Konohagakure the small island where Sakura lived and where they had been born. Naruto had been surprised when Gaara agreed to it. The pinkette had been happy hearing the news, eager to meet the person that had made the depressed blonde become so happy once more.
She had seen pictures of Naruto and Gaara together, one of them was the blonde's screen saver which was the blonde grinning and making a peace sign, his cheeks pressed against his partner while Gaara stared ahead, cheeks bright red. The other one was of Naruto kissing Gaara's cheek sweetly while the redhead blushed. For his phone's lock screen Naruto had a picture he had secretly taken of Gaara giving him one of those gentle looks with a small smile on the redhead's face, he hadn't shared that one with anyone.
The tanned male's house had been filled with pictures of them, even though they've only known each other for 5 months it felt like much longer. He's learned not to ask about the redhead's siblings or family life, it was complicated and something that Gaara didn't seem to like talking about. After that drunken night he's not tried to take things further in their relationship, perfectly content with the cuddles and sweet kisses that they would share sometimes.
Packing had been a task in itself, Naruto had tried to practically pack his house while Gaara had a small luggage, dark sunglasses on. The redhead had gotten them spacious seats but Naruto had put his foot down when he saw the price for first class, saying that economy was perfectly fine. The 5 hours plane right to Hidden Leaf island was spent with Naruto doing some work and happily talking to Gaara.
"Wait until you taste Sakura's amazing cooking...just remember that you are my partner, you can't fall for her, got it?" The blonde joke, kissing a pale cheek sweetly and laughing.
"I have no interest in anyone other than Naruto-kun." Gaara replied matter of factly.
Naruto grinned, hugging the redhead "Good, I'll hold you to those words, Gaara-kun!" He happily said.
They talked about other things like Naruto's favorite ramen shop growing up which they needed to visit, they just needed to!
"I have been to Konohagakure a few times." Gaara said, thinking about his teenage years.
"Seriously? How come? Most people don't know a thing about my country!" Naruto admitted with a laugh.
"...Business…" And that was all the redhead said on the matter, Naruto dropped the subject quickly.
Even now he had no idea what type of business or job the redhead had, just that it seemed to be very important and took his partner away often.
Somewhere along the ride the blonde had fallen asleep, curled up against his lover and snoring softly. When they arrived they had to grab all of Naruto's extra luggage and were met by a beautiful young woman with short pink hair that was neck length, bright green eyes and a mark on her forehead. She was dressed in a red kimono shirt with long, white pants and high heels.
"Sakura-chan!" Naruto happily greeted, the pinkette's eyes widening before running toward the taller male.
They hugged tightly, Naruto spinning her around and laughing until she ordered him to set her down. She cupped his cheeks with a warm smile on her face "Let me see...you really are looking better...your eyes are bright again." She warmly said "What about your arm? How is it? Does anything hurt, Naru-kun?"
Naruto laughed and shook his head "Nothing hurts, I promise." He brightly said.
Sakura gave him another look then turned to see Gaara who had remained quiet, she moved to hug him but remembered what Naruto had told her about the redhead not liking physical touches. She gave a polite bow instead "Hello, you must be Gaara-san my name is Haruno Sakura, Naruto has told me a great deal about you...I know that he's a knucklehead...and clumsy...and a complete idiot but thank you for taking care of him and making him happy, I'll be leaving him in your care throughout the future." She politely said "Ah...but if you dare hurt a single hair on my idiot's face...I'll kill you, cha!" Her inner Sakura coming out at the end.
Naruto laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his head "She's not dangerous, I swear...unless you piss her off then good luck. I still have childhood scars."
Gaara let out a snort, giving a polite bow back "I promise to watch over him...if I do something to harm Naruto-kun...I will accept all punishment given to me."
Sakura clapped her hands, smiling sweetly "Oh Naru-kun, this one is a keeper, hurry up and marry him before he realizes what an idiot you are and finds someone else." She joked, moving to grab two of Naruto's heavy bags like they weighed nothing. The redhead looked slightly surprised for a moment but quickly recovered. "Let's go, boys!" She happily said.
Once in her van, she let Naruto sit in the back with Gaara. The blonde and pinkette exchange a look "He knows about it, Sakura-chan...you don't have to worry." Naruto softly said.
"Ah...okay. You still can't sit in the passenger seat without panicking, can you?" She gently asked. It was something that happened after the accident. Naruto was perfectly fine driving a car but if he was in the passenger seat he would start getting flashbacks and panicking.
"...I am sorry, Sakura-chan." Naruto softly said, looking down in shame. He felt a pale hand squeeze his larger one, turning to smile softly at Gaara "Thank you, Gaara-kun."
"I told you not to apologize, there is nothing for you to apologize to me about. Take your time...maybe one day you will be able to." Sakura replied firmly, driving rather quickly through the warm island. "Right, so first I'll drop you off at the house. I need to run back to work, they called me while I was on my way here, there's been an accident and I am needed since Tsunade-sensei has disappeared once more...probably gambling away her money and trying to seduce a guy or two...you know how it is." She said with a roll of her eyes.
There was a picture of Naruto pouting and glaring, Sasuke was scowling and glaring ahead as well while Sakura stayed in the middle trying to look happy, an arm around each young boy. There was a man with silver hair who seemed to be smiling as well. The three of them seemed to be in their early teens, the picture was hanging from the middle of the car. "I am not sure if this idiot has told you or not...but we've known each other since we were 3, I used to think that Naruto was really annoying since he was always chasing after me, playing stupid pranks on our village elder and got the absolute worst grades...but then we ended up in the same course and well...I guess it was meant to be. He's like my obnoxious brother...do you remember the time that Kakashi-sensei tested us on teamwork and we almost failed because of your stupidity?"
Naruto laughed, resting his head on the smaller shoulder "You said that you were on a diet and offered me your food after Sasuke tried to feed me because Kakashi-sensei got furious at our terrible teamwork." Naruto recollected.
"Yeah...I still remember what he taught us that day." Sakura softly said,
"Those that cannot complete a task due to trying to take care of their teammate are scums in our line of work...but those that leave their teammates behind in order to complete a task are worse than scum!" They both seriously quoted then grinned at each other.
"...Worse than scum for choosing a task over teammates?" Gaara asked, looking at Naruto.
"Hai, a human life is worth much more than any tasks that need to be completed...but that's all in the past for me. I left the detective life behind, I am just an ordinary civilian now." Naruto shrugged, bending to rub their nose against each other, cheeks bright red. A look of affection on the cerulean blue eyes.
"Ugh, Naru-kun get a room, you look like you want to jump Gaara-san." Sakura jokes, faking to be grossed out, in return Naruto stuck out his tongue playfully at her and they laughed.
"Where is Sarada-chan?" Naruto asked curiously, going back to curling up against the redhead.
"Right now she's in class then after that she has martial arts practice today. She'll be arriving home at 18:30, I've left some food ready but I am afraid I won't be home until much later, the hospital has been packed lately. I have to do 5 surgeries today plus the administrative stuff I don't know if I'll be home tonight...sorry." Sakura gave Naruto an apologetic look, making a quick turn and riding up a small hill.
"It's okay, I know you are really busy. You are one of the best doctors in the world." He gave her a gentle smile.
"So, Gaara-kun, what is it that you do?" The pinkette curiously asked.
"Nothing of importance." Was all the redhead said, ending the subject there.
The atmosphere turned a bit awkward after that. Naruto was glad when they arrived at Sakura's apartment. They went up to the complex, Sakura showing them the spare room with the ensuite bathroom, they would have to share the bed "Try not to be loud if you get laid, Naru-kun or I'll rip off your balls, cha!" Sakura showed her fist and glared at her best friend before they laughed.
The blonde felt his cheeks redden, squirming "We are not...we haven't….it's not like that Sakura-chan!" The flustered blonde replied, giving Gaara a pleading look, asking for help secretly.
"We will not have sexual intercourse." The redhead bluntly said which made Sakura choke and then started laughing hard while Naruto groaned out and covered his face.
"You sound like our sex ed teacher!" Sakura choked out between laughter.
"Yeah...that's what I said." Naruto grumbled.
The pinkette shook her head in amusement, moving to kiss her best friend's cheek sweetly "Right, so I have to go now, they just rang again begging for help. My home is your home...I left some food ready in case you are hungry, there are fresh towels. Idiot, you know where everything is so treat Gaara-san well!" With that the pinkette ran off, closing the front door behind her.
Naruto shook his head in amusement and yawned, heading toward the kitchen "Sakura-chan can be intense sometimes but she's a good person. She's considered to be one of the top doctors in the world but chose to stay living here in Konohamuru instead of moving somewhere else." The blonde knew why the pinkette was staying, this was where Sasuke was...where their memories were.
The blonde opened up the cabinet, taking out the kettle "Would you like some coffee, Gaara-kun?" He politely asked, adding the cool water and turning on the stove then waited.
"Hai, thank you." The redhead replied, following Naruto to the kitchen. "Sakura-san seems kind."
Naruto beamed, nodding "Yeah, she's super nice...for one of our tasks at the academy we had to do a survival test. Sasuke-kun and I ended up getting poisoned, Sakura-chan stayed up for two nights, when a group from a criminal organization tried to attack us she defended us….even cutting off her precious hair."His mind went back to those days...things had been so complicated yet so simple. He shook his head, taking out the powdered coffee "She was our team's medic which was a good thing since I was always getting injured."
"Hm." The redhead was giving the blonde his full attention, it was always interesting to hear about Naruto's past yet he wished that he could have shared those memories.
"We can go tomorrow to my favorite ramen shop...and I have to show you the hot springs that Pervy-sage and I used to train at!" Naruto was eager to show Gaara his world. He let the water boil, moving to hug the redhead and nuzzle his neck affectionately "Thank you for coming with me...I know you are really busy with work. Is it really okay for you to take two week off?"
"It is. I finished work early." Gaara replied, letting the tan arm wrap around his waist. It was still odd for the redhead to be showered with so much affection but he did not mind it, not as long as it was from Naruto.
"I should be done with my sessions in a few days, I think Sakura-chan just wants to be cautious." Naruto assured his partner, kissing his cheek sweetly, lips moving down to the pale neck, feeling the smaller male shivering.
"Due to the nerves that were attached to your prosthetics?" Gaara asked, cheeks reddening.
The blonde nodded, hearing the whistle of the kettle and pulling away. He moved to make their coffee, for the redhead it was black with a sugar and a half while the taller male got a very creamy and sugary coffee. He set them both down on the table and sat down, letting out another yawn. "I think Sarada-chan and you will get along really well, she's very mature for her age and also super smart like Sakura and Sasuke."
"She sounds like an interesting person." Gaara replied, not willing to admit that he was still a bit nervous about the meeting.
"She doesn't talk too much, completely different from me. I've always been a talker...I remember when I was 12 I decided it would be hilarious to paint the elders hill and make them all look like clowns! Iruka-sensei caught me and made me clean the whole thing up and don't even get me started on my sexy girl disguise!" Naruto burst out laughing, remembering the way that guys used to go crazy over it but that had been when his body had still been petite and he could sneak in some push up bras.
"Uncle Yashamaru used to teach me about herbs and medicine." Gaara murmured, waiting for his coffee to cool down.
"Sakura knows a lot about herbs! Sadly I am a complete idiot when it comes to it...I know ginger is good for inflammation and berries are good for antioxidants...oh right, you told me that Aloe gel is good for injuries, right?" The blonde grinned, seeming proud of his limited knowledge.
"Hai." Gaara replied, watching his partner try to take a sip of the creamy coffee only for his tongue to get burned.
They chatted some more about herbs while drinking their coffee then went to the bedroom. While Gaara went to their bathroom to shower and change, Naruto took off his clothes and put on some sweatpants and a bright orange shirt that had a frog face drawn on it.
Naruto got on his side of the bed, trying to stay awake, the last thing that he remembered was pale skin and jaded eyes before falling asleep with a smile on his face.
A.N:/ Hey guys, so here's the 3rd chapter of the day. I can't stop cracking up at the fact that Gaara uses "Sexual intercourse" instead of "Sex" when someone talks about it.
Next chapter has some moments with Gaara, Sarada and Naruto. Sakura is also gonna be teasing Naruto about when he'll get laid which makes him lose his cool a bit.
Until next Thursday.
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