"Monster"
by the Carpet Shampoo
Disclaimer: Not Japanese, not a guy, obviously not owning Naruto
Author's Commentary: A little later than I thought on this chapter, only because I picked up writing "The Courting of Uzumaki Naruto" again. As for good Gaara x Naruto fics, I recommend "Chi" by Shirohane. Check it out…after you read and review my story of course. ^^
Chapter 2: My Precious Little Secret
"C-Checkmate!"
"Good game…"
"Good game?! Shikamaru, I just beat you! How can you say 'good game' after that?!"
"Winning isn't everything Chouji…"
"Shikamaru, are you sick? I never beat you, even when you try and let me win!" Shikamaru sighed and stood up, pushing himself back from the chessboard.
"You know what Chouji? I think I may be coming down with something…" Chouji looked up at his friend, his eyes laced with concern for the dark-haired ninja.
"You should go lie down Shikamaru…you really don't look well. Have you been eating?"
"Yeah, I know. I got a lot on my mind…I think I'll go take a rest or something. Sorry about the game Chouji…I'll see you around, ok?"
"See you Shikamaru…"
The lazy ninja walked the streets of Konoha, his sandaled feet pattering across the dusty road. His hands had been clumsily jammed in his pockets and he walked hunched over like, the setting sun casting out his shadow far ahead of him.
Its not my problem, its Naruto's. So why should I even bother dealing with this? I shouldn't get involved; I have no right to get involved.
But despite this, Shikamaru found himself outside of Naruto's apartment. He sighed and knocked on the door. From inside he heard a crash, some muffled swearwords, then finally, the sound of someone messing with a lock from the inside.
"Just a sec…oh hey, Shikamaru! Come on in…" Naruto looked around nervously, as if he was almost expecting to see someone else walking in. Shikamaru strolled in casually, flopping down in a chair, his eyes looking around nervously. Naruto grabbed another chair and spun it around, sitting on the chair backwards; his legs swung over either side, straddling the chair.
"Naruto, I know this isn't my business, but what are you doing with Gaara of the Sand? Do you even like him?" Naruto shifted uneasily in his chair, exactly like a child with his hand caught in the cookie jar.
"I guess so…he just sort of came to me one night and he…well…um…kissed me…and then he left for a while, and then he came back to see me…" Naruto mumbled slightly, his face growing pinker with each passing syllable.
Shikamaru sighed…Naruto was such a troublesome friend. "You do realize this will hurt your chances at being hokage, don't you? Last time I checked, Gaara of the Sand was a crazy guy who killed people for the fun of it. Its going to be frowned upon if you're caught with him…"
"I know Shikamaru but…its just…I don't know."
"Holy shit Naruto…you're in love with him, aren't you?" The dark-haired ninjas eyes grew wide for a moment, before his shook his head, shaking away the look, and began to laugh.
"You're in love with a psycho killer! Tell me Naruto, what exactly is so great about him?"
"Shut up Shikamaru! You don't know anything about him or me! Gaara and I…we understand each other! He's the only one who will ever understand me. Don't talk to me like you know me Shikamaru! You don't know anything." Naruto stood, pushing down his chair in the process. Shikamaru watched as it clattered to the ground, his expression blank.
"Its because of the demon fox, right? It's inside you and you don't think anyone except Gaara, who holds the spirit of the tanuki can understand the pain and loneliness associated with being shunned because of a demon." Naruto's face paled as he sank down to the floor, his vibrant blue eyes wide with surprise.
"How did you…"
"Don't look so surprised Naruto. I figured it out during the chuunin exams. I've read about the demon fox that destroyed our village; everyone knows the legend, of how it was sealed up in a baby. But the name of the baby was never mentioned to us. I figured the hokage didn't want anyone to shun the baby, who ever it was. But everyone always shunned you Naruto. I was amazed it took me so long to figure it out myself. Then you said some weird stuff during the chuunin exam when Gaara mentioned a monster inside of him. It just sort of…clicked."
Naruto thought this over a minute. Of course Shikamaru had figured it out. Shikamaru always figured everything out. He was dead-on in everything he did and analyzed.
"But you…"
"No, I never cared. Why bother? We were already becoming friends at the time, it was too troublesome to shun you then." Naruto blinked for a minute, then a small semblance of a grin began to creep across his face. Typical Shikamaru.
"Naruto…what I'm trying to say is, I understand why you think Gaara is the only one for you. I know you've grown up alone, and it's easy to be drawn to someone similar to you. It is possible Naruto, to be alone, even if you're with someone. Please think it over." '
"Thanks Shikamaru…But I think I've made my decision."
"You're going to stay with Gaara then?"
"Understand each other is an important part of a relationship. When Gaara or I is in pain, the other will understand why and what to do. You never knew what it was like to be lonely Shikamaru, you've always had Chouji as your friend and your parents there. I never had any friends, and I never had any parents. Its different Shikamaru, and even if I were to start dating…say Sakura-chan, she'd never understand me fully. Even if I told her about the demon fox and the way the people shunned me, she'd never understand. She'd never know what it was like being scared and alone as a child, or walking down the street by yourself and everyone sneering at you."
"Just because someone doesn't understand you, doesn't mean they won't know how to deal with you."
"I know Shikamaru…but please trust me when I say that this way…with Gaara…its easier for me. I've been searching my whole life for that place of acceptance, that one special place where I can finally be appreciated just for being me. Its not that I've fallen in love with Gaara, its that he's accepted me for being me."
"I see…" Shikamaru cleared his throat and stood up. "That's all I wanted to say Naruto. I came here to find out something and I think I found it." Naruto stood up from his spot on the floor and took a step towards Shikamaru, walking towards the door to get it for his guest.
"What did you find out Shikamaru?" The dark-eyed ninja looked for a moment at Naruto, studying that face that was the epitome of innocence. Then, quite suddenly, Shikamaru leaned forward and brushed his lips against Naruto's, a short and chaste kiss, one so swift, it would seem an accident.
"Just remember Naruto…I accepted you too, when I found out you were the demon fox. If you need me, if Gaara hurts you in anyway, I'm going to be here, as your friend."
Naruto nodded dumbly. Shikamaru's kiss felt strange…when Gaara had kissed him, his whole body had tingled, but this was like an empty kiss, as innocent as if Naruto had kissed an animal. Perhaps Shikamaru was right…after all, he was very rarely wrong. Perhaps Naruto was falling in love with Gaara after all.
Author's Commentary: Ok, this chapter is a bit on the short side, because it's the transition chapter. Its between the opening and the ending, and is just tying up a few loose ends. Yes this is a very short story, there's one or two chapters left at most. Just for a moment, I'd like to address you guys a little more seriously.
For one, I never said this was Naruto x Gaara fluff. I did not guarantee this story's ending would be happy. I'm trying to keep this real. The truth is, people are attracted to people if both the people are lonely. Shikamaru has been added to the story as the voice of reason. Naruto is obviously the protagonist and Gaara, in my opinion, is the antagonist. The antagonist, I remind you, is not always the bad guy of the story. He is merely the person that is stopping the protagonist from reaching his goal. Do not cast off Gaara, nor Shikamaru as the "bad guys" of this story, neither of them was meant to be so. This is one of the more mature pieces I've written, and I would definitely appreciate it being treated as so; please don't write reviews about how evil Shikamaru is, or how dumb Naruto is being. I have faith in you guy's maturity. ^^