Pairings: GaaIno. ShikaTem, NaruHina, SasuSaku, NejiTen.
Warnings: Shonen-ai! Oh no!
Author's Notes: Heeheehee...There are certain hints in this chapter...but, if you look up at the pairings, that's what will really be going down...I wouldn't lie to you...
Would I?
OMG! HURRY AND READ!
Chapter Six: Ramen
What a boring day at work.
Besides Kakashi coming in earlier and giving me a lot of money to buy Gaara a "manly apron"(isn't that an oxymoron?) and Hinata barging in like she was trying to save me, the poor damsel in distress, from Gaara, the big damsel-devouring bad guy - nothing eventful happened afterwards. That's the worst kind of day. When all the excitement happens early in the day, the rest of the day just seems to roll by way...too...slow. Either that, or you are exhausted from earlier events and want to sleep the rest of the day. Today, I feel a little bit of both. I'm bored and tired, but mostly bored. New things always fill me with energy.
Right now I'm watching Gaara - again.
Look away, Ino!
God, it's so freaky how I keep ending up staring at him. I'm looking at my magazine one moment and I don't even realize when my eyes move to his figure down at the front the store. It could only get worse if I actually started drooling. Since when did I start to feel this way? Since when did I start thinking he looks a lot like a dark prince? My heart nearly jumps out of my chest when he suddenly turns and catches my eyes.
Opal eyes laced with heavy black met my shy blue ones.
He's very good at glaring. If I was anyone else I might be scared. I just smile and look back down at my magazine. I'm not thinking about what to buy, or which model is really not pretty enough to be in the magazine like usual, which really bothers me. How can I think straight when Gaara's right there? He's in the same room as me...alone with me. I blush and go off into a little daydream.
Gaara's supposed to be one of those scary bad-guy types, isn't he? I can totally picture him in a long black cape, glaring coldly at me and seducing me with that icy look. He would tower over me and say only a few words in a deep, sinister voice. His pale hands would cover my trembling white ones and he would bring me into his shadowy embrace. Then he would take me to his gothic, sensual lair to suck my blood.
That is so hot...
He makes the perfect dark prince! Just like Sasuke does. There's one big difference. I feel like Gaara has a heart.
"Ino..." he says in that all too cool voice. I can't believe he's speaking my name so casually. I don't know why I would care, he's been calling me by my name for days...but now it has an affect on me. It's like a magic word that rolls elegantly off his tongue. I look up and he's walking towards me. He might not have a big black cape, but his movements have the same affect on me.
"Yes, Gaara...?" I ask wistfully.
He puts his hand on the counter and starts tapping his fingers. I'm so absorbed by his vampiric, pale hands. They're so soft...I want to touch them. The long slender fingers continue to drum on the table.
"What time are going to the ramen stand?" He asks quietly.
Ramen...
What? Oh. We're going to the Ichiraku tonight. I almost forgot.
It's like a double date!
I tune out my annoying inner voice and answer him.
"Uhh...it's at seven."
"Ok."
He goes back to the front of the store and looks wistfully out the window. Another hour passes before we both have to leave. He takes off the cute red apron and picks up his gourd - which I make him take off everyday and set to the corner - and puts on. As I walk out the door, I turn the sign to 'closed'. Gaara waits for me a while before I lock the door. I don't know why, but he never leaves until I lock it.
"Do you know where the Ichiraku is?"
"No."
"Do you need me to help you find it?" I ask, hoping he'll say yes...
"It's ok. I think I can find it on my own."
"Ok!" I beam up at him. I can't let him know how much I'm dying to spend more time with him. "See you at seven, then!"
I lock the door and he turns and walks away, waving lazily to me as he goes to wherever it is he goes everyday after work...
"Bye..."
It's kind of funny, but as I stand here in my room getting reading to leave, I feel like I'm not dressed up enough to meet Gaara tonight. It's a stupid girl thing. It shouldn't bother me, but I really feel like putting on a tight, sexy red dress with matching heels...
That's the old Ino talking.
I thought seduction and force was the fastest way to a man's heart. Who else would spend so much time on her hair, spend so much time observing fashion, and spend so much energy trying to get noticed?
That's not the real way to a man's heart. It's the fastest way to a man's bed. I've been getting catcalls since I was eleven - by all sorts of men. What kind of man gawks at an eleven-year-old? I was stupid back then and I was actually proud of that. Yes, I'm beautiful, come stare at me...
All the while, the only boy I wanted that kind of attention from, never looked my way. I can't say I blame him completely.
I stay in my usual clothes and fetch some different earrings. I touch up some of my makeup and try a shy pink lip gloss. It's not that big of a difference. He would know something's up if I suddenly showed up in a 'screw me' outfit and turned on the matching charm. So I'm going soft on that stuff and I promise I will be myself.
I run downstairs and yell to my dad that I'll be gone. I walk out the street and head for the Ichiraku.
Such perfect timing! It's almost like in a movie. We round opposite corners at the same time. He looks normal and so do I - but I don't feel normal.
"Hi, Gaara!" I smile at him. He actually smiles back.
There it is.
That's the difference with him and Sasuke. Sasuke doesn't spare a smile to anyone.
We walk together to the Ichiraku. His little ghostly smile already warmed me up. I don't mind being like this. We have a nice relationship even if it's not romantic. I can't help but feel happy. As we reach the entrance he pauses.
"After you..." he motions with his hands and I laugh.
"Ahhh, Gaara...you're such a gentleman. I like that," I say with a wink and walk in. His cheeks color ever so slightly.
"It's nothing," he says, putting a hand on my shoulder.
He's touching me!
Whooooooooooaaaaaaa!
I need to stop freaking out. He's touched me before, he's even groped me...when he was high. But a grope is still a grope! I lean into his touch and he puts his arm around my shoulder. I really am going to die. I shyly put my hand on his back and clutch the material of his shirt. Damn gourd! It's in the way!
"We should...find Naruto," I try to say calmly, but it comes out in a gasp like I should be saying something else.
He points to the back of the restaurant. I look up, and my eyes immediately zone in on Naruto's orange figure sitting in a booth chatting cheerfully with Hinata. Gaara and I walk over to them. As soon as Naruto and Gaara meet each other's eyes, everything changes.
One, I am nearly tossed away from Gaara's warm touch - by Gaara himself.
Two, Naruto squeals like a girl. My ears burn from the sound.
Three, Gaara is wearing one of the goofiest smiles I have ever seen on his face.
"Gaaaaaaaaaaraaaaaa!" Naruto shouts and leaps into Gaara's arms. Leaps. He stands on the seat in the booth and leaps!
LEAPS!
It one of those leaps that could be considered magical and touching. Special effects should be making them both glow right now. It's a leap that should be played in slow motion for dramatic affect. Honestly, I have never seen anything like it.
"Gaara! I missed you SO much!" he nuzzles Gaara with his head.
"Naruto!"
"GaaaAAAaaaaRRraaa!"
The leap-hug has turned briefly into a spin. I can almost see the happy sparkles! What the Hell is this?
WHAT THE HELL?
Naturally, I'm standing dumbfounded just observing the scene. I guess they are friends. Very GOOD friends. I don't think I'll be able to speak for a while. They're almost like...a couple. Or something...
I sit down a little shakily across from Hinata. Gaara's finally put Naruto down and Naruto has his hands placed on Gaara's shoulders. Gaara has one of his arms wrapped around the small of Naruto's back. It's so tender...and they're looking into each other's eyes! It's more than a little unnerving. At this time, I take a moment to notice their height difference. Gaara's nearly six-feet tall(dreamy dark prince height) and Naruto is about six inches shorter. My eyes briefly turn away from them, because I suddenly have an irrational fear that they'll start reciting poetry to each other. I turn to Hinata...
"Hinata!" I yell when I see the state she's in. She's staring at them with a glazed look in her eyes, like she's seeing the most beautiful scene in the world. She has a handkerchief up to her slightly watery eyes.
"I-It's so cute..." she squeaks out from behind her handkerchief. Cute? Yeah...I guess. I mean, well...She's right, Ino! They're just friends! It's nice that they have such an obviously close relationship that's...uniquefor boys. It's not like I have to get jealous -
"J-Just like in a Shonen-Ai..." she sighs and blushes.
"S-Shonen - Shonen-Ai?" I blurt out. She turns to me with a teary eye and nods. I turn to them again and Naruto is giggling. Gaara's smiling like a love-struck fool. Shonen-Ai?
Boy's Love?
I'm screaming so loud in my head right now, I'm surprised none of them can hear it. Gaara and Naruto.
Gaara plus Naruto equals Shonen-Ai?
I have an urge to cry. I want to cry and pound my head on the table until I pass out. Instead, I pinch the bridge of my nose and let out a shaky breath.
"Are you ok, Ino?" Hinata asks after she's gotten out of another of her manga-induced daydreams. Apparently she's into that stuff as well. I lean into the table and she leans too. I whisper to her, like I'm telling a very deep secret.
"Doesn't that bother you?"
"N-No...Naruto is always like that."
"With other guys?" I ask in horror.
"N-No, s-silly! Just with G-Gaara-san!" She laughs.
Somehow that doesn't make me feel any better. Gaara and Naruto finally sit down. Gaara has to take off his gourd first. I really hate that thing.
"Hi, Ino-chan!" Naruto beams. Well, if he isn't a little ball of energy.
"Hi, Naruto," I wave weakly and smile like I wasn't just now incredibly jealous of his closeness to Gaara.
"Hi...G-Gaara," Hinata says in a soft voice. Gaara nods with a little rude smirk on his face.
"Gaara! You're such a mean guy! Say 'hi' back to Hinata-chan!" Naruto pouts and puts his arms around Hinata protectively. Gaara cracks into a grin.
"Hi."
Hinata looks about like she's going to faint. Gaara's not that scary. That creepy grin is a little sexy - in an evil way. A cute waitress comes by not too long after we're all seated. Hinata, Gaara, and I order one bowl of ramen and Naruto orders five. How does he know he's going to eat all of that? Naruto grins a really foxy grin at Gaara and I feel something moving under the table. Hinata looks over to me and smiles cutely. What's going on under this table?
"Ouch!" I yell. Someone just kicked me!
"Oh...Sorry, Ino. So sorry. I was trying to get Gaara," Naruto looks over to me apologetically and then he turns quickly over to Gaara in anger,"Stop being so mean! You moved on purpose! How can you let me kick your girlfriend?"
"G-Girlfriend?" I squeak out and dropthe spoon I was absent-mindedly fiddling with. It makes a metal 'clank' sound and I turn to Gaara...but he's still looking a Naruto.
"She's not my girlfriend...and you know that. You're just saying that so you can get a kick on me," he grits through his teeth. The movement under the table stopped.
"Huh?" Naruto tilts his head and squints slightly.
"Y-You're not...?" Hinata breaks in.
"Why'd you bring her then?" Naruto asks.
"I...uh..." Gaara turns in my direction and stares at my hands on the table. Why did he bring me? He continues to fumble with an answer and I finally save the moment.
"Gaara and I work together, stupid!" I say in good-nature and pound the table with my fist. I grab onto Gaara's arm,"I got tired of only seeing him at work. You know, the flowers get in the way of our being together...l-like friends! Friends! We're only friends...I mean, how can a person not like to be around Gaara?"
"Uh-huh..." Naruto and Hinata both say at the same time. They're both looking at the grip I have on Gaara's arm. It's a little tight. Just a little. I let go before I cut the circulation off his arm and Gaara looks at me oddly.
"I mean, I've told him before! He's so adorable and nice to be around...you wouldn't believe how handy he is around the shop! I don't know how many shelves he's fixed!" I smile triumphantly and Hinata giggles. Naruto stops squinting like a kid trying to solve the answer to '2 + 2' and his face lights up.
"Oh, yeah! Gaara's really good at fixin' stuff! One time I accidently made a huuuuge crack in my couch when I was practicing a jutsu, it's been like that forever! People would always roll into the crack like this!" he says as he leans slowly into Hinata, causing her to giggle again,"So then Gaara came over that one time and fixed it right back to normal! It was AMAZING! Gaara is really smart and handy with stuff like that! Where'd you learn how to fix so much stuff, Gaara?"
Gaara looks away a little shyly and blushes.
"I don't know...it's just easy for me..."
"Kya! So modest!" Naruto taps his nose and grins,"Gaara!"
"Hmm...?"
"Why didn't you visit me earlier?" Naruto whines and wilts like a sad flower.
"I did. One time. And you weren't there."
"One time? What kind of best friend are you?" Naruto yells and swings a fake-punch at Gaara, that Gaara dodges.
"I thought you were busy. You have other friends anyway, Naru."
'Naru'? Is that like a nickname?
"Gaa-chaaaaaan!" Naruto whines louder. He's so loud! And what's up with these nicknames? 'Gaa-chan'? 'Naru'? "B-But you're my favorite friend! If it was me looking for you, I would camped outside of your house until you came back..."
He looks at Gaara dreamily and grabs his hands in his own. Actually, it's pretty funny to see them like this. They really have an interesting relationship. It's kind of cute, in a freaky demented sort of way. Who knew Naruto could care so much about Gaara?
"And I would have waited outside, even in the raaaaain! Even in the snow! Or, actually, I would have just broken in your house and stayed there until you came back...AND THEN I WOULD HAVE JUMPED OUT AND SCARED YOU! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Naruto cackles.
"That's freaky..." Gaara grins at Naruto in amusement.
"It's not freaky! It's LOVE! And you can break into my house anytime, Gaa-chan! You know...like today...or tomorrow...I have a room waiting for you anytime..." he says the last part in a little seductive voice and winks. He strokes Gaara's hand and Gaara looks away, trying to seem completely apathetic. I can't help but burst out laughing. Hinata laughs too and Gaara blushes like a madman.
"I can't stand it when you leave me, Gaara!" he tries to reach over the table to pull him into a hug, but Gaara pushes him away and blushes even harder.
"Naruto! Think of ramen! They're bringing your ramen!" Gaara says and points behind Naruto.
"Yaaaaaaaay! W-Wait...I d-don't see anyone..." Naruto turns back around with an angry pout,"GAARA!"
"Naruto...I told you to stop be so mushy in public..." Gaara sighs. Public?
It makes me wonder what they do in private...
"But, Gaara! You're like my twin soul!"
"I really don't want to have to kill you..." Gaara cracks his knuckles.
"Gaara! Like I was SAYING before I was rudely interrupted! It's like we were - " a bowl is set in front of him, "RAMEN!"
Well, that's the end of that thought, and all thought period. Naruto sucks up his noodles like a vacuum cleaner. Now I see why he needed the five bowls. Steaming ramen bowls are set in front of the rest of us as well. Hinata and I pick at our noodles shyly and Gaara eats slowly.
I start chatting with Hinata and Gaara joins in a little too. I don't feel quite so uneasy anymore. Naruto doesn't talk much since he's stuffing his face like crazy. Gaara tells everyone about his 'incident' with the pig and Naruto nearly keels over from laughter. Hinata is giggling uncontrollably. I'm smiling and wishing I could have been one of the nurses that got to be around when they gave him those other pills...not that I didn't get a grope too. My face goes beat red when I imagine myself in a nurse's uniform, stuck in a room with a 'friendly' Gaara. It's almost as good as my 'Gaara the Vampire' fantasy.
Me fantasize over Gaara? Never.
Gaara and Naruto have finished all their food. I left a few noodles and at the bottom of my bowl and Hinata has about half her bowl left. Naruto still looks hungry. Don't ask me how that's even possible.
"N-Naruto...d-do you want the rest of m-mine?" Hinata asks and Naruto turns to give her a huge smile.
"Thanks Hinata-chan!" he takes her bowl and finishes it off. I set my chopsticks down and put my hand on the seat. I immediately notice it's touching Gaara's hand, but I pretend not to. My fingers brush over the top of his hand gently as I lean onto the table with my other arm and pretend to be smiling and chatting with Hinata. It's awfully difficult to talk normally when I feel like pure electricity is running through my body from caressing Gaara's hand simultaneous. I wonder how he feels. I feel his hand move a little and I look down at our hands. Then I look at his face. He's blushing a little...but he's always blushing.
"Oh! I'm sorry! I didn't know your hand was there!" I laugh and take my hand away quickly.
I think it's almost time for this 'double-date' to end. I'm kind of sad. I want to spend more time with Gaara...and I like being around them too. When the waitress comes back to leave the check, Naruto whips out a giant frog wallet. He pulls out a huge wad of money and leaves it on the table, paying for us all.
"Naruto! What are you doing? You don't have to pay for us! I have money!" I say.
"Naruto..." Gaara agrees in his own way.
"Hey! What are you guys talking about? You're my friends! Besides...I'm a big bad jounin now! I'm rolling in dough!" he says with an evil laugh at the end.
Gaara sighs in exasperation and gets up.
"T-Thanks...Naruto," I say to him as he gets up and stretches.
"HMM!" he smiles back at me. His smile is really warming to the heart. He helps Hinata out of the booth carefully.
She's lucky.
Naruto's a great guy. I can't believe it took everyone so long to figure it out. I guess Hinata knew that a long time ago. While everyone was drooling over Sasuke, she only cared about him. I guess that's why they're so good together. They really are like opposites...but it's really cute. Just look at Naruto now. He has enough love and cheerfulness to make up for all the Sasuke's in the world. He's not bad looking either...and now he's rich!
He's also Gaara's best friend.
All my previous jealously returned full force, against my will. I like Naruto, but I can't help but feel this way. It's not a don't-touch-my-property type of jealously, it's a deep, sad jealously. Like I would give my right arm just to be in Naruto's shoes. He can so freely show affection towards Gaara, and I can't. I have to pretend I don't notice our hands touching...
The four of us walk out together. It's a little chilly out. Naruto takes Gaara's hand and pulls him towards him, away from us two girls.
"Gaara! Why do you have to live in the Sand?" he whines as he toys with Gaara's long white scarf.
"Why do you have to live here?" he retorts bitterly. He brushes a stray hair out of Naruto's eyes. His action contradicts his harsh sounding words. I shift uncomfortably on my feet and turn to Hinata. We chat softly, but I'm listening to every word those two boys say. My ears perk up and I tilt my head slightly in their direction like a giant dog.
"Gaara...visit me more often..."
"I want to...but I have work and...the...you know..."
"The treatment?" Naruto asks in a low whisper, so that I barely hear him.
"Yeah." Gaara mumbles back.
"Good luck with that," Naruto says in a small sweet voice. It's a really caring voice, like he's seeing Gaara off to war.
I'm really getting worried here. What are they talking about? Treatment? Is Gaara really ill? I remember him talking about that, but it's not really serious...is it? They way they talk about it, it sounds bad.
Hinata and I have stopped trying to pretend like we're talking to each other and we're now focusing on our boys. Naruto leans up and whispers something to Gaara. It's so soft I can't even hear it. Not a word. It looks kind of serious. I'm getting even more nervous. The looks on their faces are deep and so sincere. Whatever he said, Gaara is now hugging him tightly. Very tightly.
Naruto wraps his arms around Gaara's neck and Gaara's hold on him doesn't slacken in the slightest bit. In this silvery moonlight, Gaara's soft, messy hair looks dark blood red. It contrasts heavily with his porcelain skin. Naruto's hair shines a pale dusty gold and his tan skin seems to glow with so much health even in this dark. They really do look good together. They're both so handsome...
I can't believe I'm feeling jealous over another guy!
Hinata and I move closer together.
"They have something together that I could never give Naruto..." Hinata whispers softly to just me.
"Huh?" I ask, but she doesn't answer me. I feel like yelling and asking just what is going on here. Why are Gaara and Naruto so close? Why does Gaara need treatment? Why does Naruto know about Gaara's treatment? And WHAT do they have that apparently Hinata and I can't give them?
There are so many questions I want to ask.
The two friends part and we all say our goodbyes.
I walk a little bit with Gaara. The night is sending cool blue shadows across his pale face. He looks so nice, but I've never felt so distanced from him before. I feel almost like he's mentally pushing me away as we walk silently side by side. He has some kind of secret - a big secret - that he can't tell me. I really want to know. I want to ask him.
"Gaara..."
He stops and turns to me. My breath is momentarily taken away. I really don't know what to say.
"What is it, Ino?" his voice is soft. It's gentle. It makes me feel like I should be able to trust him, but at the same time, I don't want to pry into something that might not be any of my business. I wish it was my business. I wish Gaara was...
He starts to turn back around when I don't answer.
"W-Wait!" I call out to him and he stops again. I run around him and look up into his eyes. I don't know what to say, so maybe my actions can speak for me?
I hug him.
It's not a possessive hug. It's more of a hold. It's a hug that I just want him to have so he knows I care. He doesn't need to hug back with this kind of hug. He's sick and probably suffering too...
"Thank you," I say into his chest. He's so warm, and yet I know there's something inside that is hurting him. I wish I knew what it was,"T-Thank you for inviting me..."
"No problem," he says with a pat on my back. I'm a little sad that he gave Naruto such a tight hug and I only got a pat, but then again, they have something special...
I release him and smile up to him.
"Heehee... I really don't get out that much. I had fun!"
"Me too..."
"'Kay...I'll see you at work tomorrow!"
"Sure," he smiles faintly. I love every one of his smiles, no matter how small.
"And get some sleep, Gaara. I really worry about you sometimes..." I say. I can't help it. If I could, I would go to his house and lay with him until he feel asleep. I'd read him a freaking bedtime story if it would help! Why is he always so tired?
He flinches a little and nods.
Did I say something wrong?
We go our separate ways. As soon as I get home, I toss myself on my bed and think about everything that happened today. I mostly think about Gaara. I know something's wrong with him...but I don't know what!
Well. That's about as far as I can go on that subject.
There's another subject that needs attention. Gaara and Naruto? Just what is the nature of their relationship?
You could say it's just a quirky friendship, but I think there's something else to that. Why else would two people that seem so different be so close? It seems so unnatural. It's almost like if Naruto and Sasuke started acting that way. Naruto jumping and hugging Sasuke like he really loved him? I don't think so. I said I thought Gaara had more of a heart than Sasuke, but I still don't see him as the type to accept such affection from another guy. Could it be? What Hinata said?
Shonen-Ai?
I shudder. Could it be that Gaara is ga - I can't even think the word in my head... What I mean is, Gaara could love Naruto.
Like that.
My brain literally stops at the thought.
After I pound my head into my bed a few times it sputters and starts to work again.
I'm not going there! If I go there, it means all my chances with Gaara are totally ruined. Ruined! Naruto and Gaara just have a very close friendship. Naruto has a girlfriend for crying out loud! Nothing beyond friendship. That's all, and I'm fine with that!
I'm fine with that.
So fine, that I didn't get a wink of sleep that night. So fine, that I spent the whole night pacing my room, thinking of plans to prove that what I already know as a fact, is really true.
Tomorrow.
There's no better day than tomorrow to test these plans of mine.
OMG! GaaraXNaruto? Nooooo! Never!
What are Ino's plans to prove that Gaara does not swing that way?
Poor, Ino. I'm sure there's a totally good explaination for everything.
THAT'S WHY YOU HAVE TO READ THE NEXT CHAPTER! FIND OUT!
I AM EXCITED! XD