Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its plot or characters. I own any OC, my plot, and anything else you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.
A/N: I thought I posted this forever ago. I'm really sorry. Thank you everyone who reviews, I'm so glad to know people enjoy this story ^_^
I can't help but love you
Even though I try not to
I can't help but want you
I know that I'd die without you
War of Hearts – Ruelle
Gaara and Lee sat against two trees. Rin was healing Lee, her hands glowing green over his injuries.
"I dropped my med kit when we first came in." she said as she stood. "I'll be right back; don't move, either of you." The two nodded and Rin ran off.
"It was sheer luck," Gaara said once she was gone. "I should've been killed."
"No, it was not meant to be." Lee said. "My sensei has often said to me. 'A good ninja always makes his own luck'."
"The meddlesome mother hen." Gaara said as he remembered Gai.
"Gai sensei is nothing of the sort!" Lee said. "Yes he stepped in, but only that once, and only because I was not yet strong enough. I am very grateful to you for having saved my life, but I warn you I will not abide anyone speaking ill of my sensei!"
"So you're another one, eh?"
"Hm?"
"You love someone in your life whom you honor and revere so much that every hurt inflicted on them is inflicted on you as well. And the closer they are to you, the greater the pain. To feel so strongly for someone you would fight for them… and die for them. You and Naruto Uzumaki have that in common." Lee blinked.
"What about you?" Lee asked. Gaara looked at him. "Surely… you would fight for Rin." He said.
"I would die for her." Gaara said without missing a beat."...Hypothetically, what if this person you honor and would even die for is not a virtuous person?" he asked as he thought about the man they'd fought.
"Impossible! Such a person would be unworthy of honor or respect." Lee said.
"No, perhaps the companionship of even an evil person is preferable to loneliness." Gaara said as he looked out into the multitude of bones ahead of them.
"I'm back." Rin said as she ran over with a small medic bag. She blinked when she saw the two just looking at her. "Why are you guys looking at me like that?" she asked as she tilted her head. Gaara looked forward but Lee smiled.
…
Medical teams soon arrived to the scenes and medical attention was administered where needed before they brought everyone back to the village hospital. Rin and Gaara stayed with Lee, Kyo stayed with Kiba and Akamaru, and Temari and Riku went with Shikamaru to wait outside of Chouji's room. After a few minutes Kyo and Riku met up with Rin and Gaara where Rin introduced them to Lee.
"Who else is hurt?" Rin asked the nurse that came in to check on Lee.
"Chouji Akimichi and Neji Hyuga were both in critical condition." The nurse said with a frown. "But Lady Tsunade has done a lot for them."
"Naruto's been admitted too, hasn't he?" Rin asked.
"Kakashi brought him in about an hour ago." The nurse said with a nod. "He's resting though, so only a short visit."
"Okay, are you coming Gaara?" Rin asked as she turned to him. He hesitated.
"You go on ahead." Gaara said.
"I wanna meet him." Kyo said and Riku nodded.
"Okay, we'll see you back at the Inn, Gaara." Rin said before the three left.
…
As the three were walking to Naruto's room they saw Lady Tsunade, Sakura and Shikamaru walking their way.
"Oh, Rin." Sakura said with a smile when she saw her. "I heard that the Sand village had sent someone, I didn't know it was your team."
"Well my team and Gaara's." Rin said with a smile. "Oh, Sakura, Shikamaru these are my teammates Kyo and Riku." Sakura smiled at the two.
"We've met." Shikamaru said while looking at Riku. The three turned to Lady Tsunade and bowed respectfully.
"Lady Hokage." They said.
"You're Rin Hayashi." Lady Tsunade said with a nod.
"Yes, ma'am." Rin said.
"Are you here to see Naruto?" Sakura asked.
"Naruto needs his rest." Lady Tsunade said. Rin frowned slightly.
"W-we won't visit long. I just want to check in on him." She said.
"Very well." Lady Tsunade said with a smile before she walked past them.
"I thought you didn't have a team." Sakura said.
"She didn't," Kyo said. "Our other teammate had to move so Rin joined us." He put his arm around her shoulders. "It's a special case since we weren't even in the same class."
"How old are you then?" Sakura asked.
"I'm gunna be 15 and Riku's already 15."
"Wow." Sakura said.
"Yep, we gotta watch out for the squirt." Kyo ruffled Rin's hair.
"Hey." Rin whined as she fixed it. "I'm not the clumsy one." She pointed out. Riku smirked.
"I'm sure Naruto will be happy to meet your team." Shikamaru said. "See ya later, Rin." Shikamaru said as he walked past them.
"Bye, Shikamaru." Rin called.
"His hair reminds me of a pineapple." Kyo said with a chuckle. "Yours reminds me of a flower." He said to Sakura. "A very pretty one." Rin elbowed him in the side. "Ah-!"
"No flirting." She said as she crossed her arms. Kyo rolled his eyes as Sakura blushed.
"W-Well, I have to be going." She said. "It was nice seeing you again Rin, and it was nice meeting you two." She said before she ran off.
"Rin." Kyo whined. Rin ignored him and went to Naruto's room. She knocked before opening it.
"Naruto?" she asked quietly.
"Rin!" Naruto's face lit up when he saw her. "I didn't know you were here too." Rin smiled.
"Uh-huh. They sent two teams to help and ours was one of them." Kyo popped into the room.
"Hi!" he said. Naruto blinked.
"Huh?"
"Naruto, I'd like you to meet my team, Kyo Akiyama and Riku Kuroki." Rin said as the two walked in. "This is Naruto Uzumaki."
"Huh, I thought you'd be bigger." Kyo said bluntly.
"What?!"
"Kyo." Rin scolded.
"What, you went on and on about this guy I expected him to be taller." Kyo said with a shrug. Naruto blinked and blushed slightly.
"Anyway…" Rin said as she walked over to sit on the bed. "How are you feeling? You look pretty banged up."
"I'll be better in no time!" Naruto said with a grin. "Hey, where's Ai?"
"Oh, he stayed home this time." Rin said. "He's not exactly a fighting cat." The two chuckled.
"Hey, you wanna get some Ramen?" Naruto asked. Rin laughed.
"Naruto, you're supposed to be resting you can't just leave to get ramen." She said. Naruto chuckled and pushed two fingers together.
"Heh, yeah, I know but I'm starving." He said with a laugh.
"Maybe another time."
"How long are you staying?"
"Two days." Kyo said holding up two fingers. "Or three if you count today."
"You'll probably need more time than that to be able to get out of bed." Rin said with a frown. "Next time I come and visit we can go out, okay?" Rin asked. with a close-eyed smile. Naruto's eyes widened slightly and his face flushed.
"O-Okay." He said.
"Great. Well, we'll let you rest-"
"You're gunna come back to visit me before you leave right?" Naruto blurted out.
"Of course." Rin said with a smile. "Feel better soon, Naruto."
"See ya, pipsqueak." Kyo said.
"Hey! Who you calling Pipsqueak?!"
"Kyo." Rin scolded and lightly smacked his arm.
"Oh, wait, Rin!" Naruto called. Run turned around.
"Yes?"
"Uh… say hi to Gaara for me!"
"Okay, I will."
"So we're staying for two days right?" Kyo asked Temari as their two teams walked to the Inn.
"Yep."
"Three rooms or two?"
"Three, two for you boys and one for me." Temari said.
"Don't you mean you and Rin?" Kyo asked. Temari shook her head.
"I always share with Gaara." Rin said with a smile as she swung her and Gaara's intertwined hands between them.
"Share?" Kyo blinked as he looked at her. "Like you two share the bed?"
"Mhm." Rin said with a nod.
"They always share, always have; ever since they were kids." Kankurō said.
"Uh-huh." Rin said as she hugged Gaara's arm which made his face flush.
"That's adorable." Kyo teased. "I do believe you're blushing." He whispered to Gaara who immediately glared at him. Kyo only snickered.
…
"We have the room next to yours, Rin!" Kyo said as he popped his head in through the door that connected the two rooms.
"Great." Kankurō said in monotone. Kyo stuck his tongue out at him as he came into the room. Gaara was sitting criss cross on one bed while Kankurō sat on the other. Rin was laying on Gaara' bed with her head resting on his legs but she sat up when Kyo came in.
"I just had a great idea!" she said.
"Uh oh." Kankurō muttered. Rin stuck her tongue out at him.
"What's your idea?" Gaara asked.
"Why don't we all go out for ramen and then bring Naruto some. That's sure to cheer him up from having to stay in bed."
"That sounds like a great idea." Kyo said. "Come on puppet boy!" he said to Kankurō. "I'll get Temari." He said before slipping from the room. Kankurō jumped up.
"What did you call me!?" he shouted before going after him. Rin giggled making Gaara smile. They heard a scoff and looked to see Riku leaning in the doorway shaking his head with a small smirk.
"Will you come with us, Riku?" Rin asked. Riku nodded with a small smile. "I'm gunna make sure Kankurō doesn't kill Kyo." Rin said with a laugh before she left.
"I'm curious…" Gaara said. Riku looked over at him, seeing as he was the only other person in the room. "forgive me if… this seems rude but… why don't you ever speak?" Gaara asked before looking at Riku. Riku looked to be thinking of a response. After a moment he did speak, in a deeper voice than one would imagine him having.
"Speak only if it improves upon the silence." He said. Gaara smirked and nodded.
…
Naruto looked up as someone knocked on the door to his room.
"Naruto?"
"Rin? C-Come in!" he called. Rin opened the door and smiled at him. She noticed Jiraiya sitting in the window and blinked.
"O-Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt." She said. "I could come back-"
"Nonsense!" Jiraiya said with a big smile. "Come in, come in." he motioned her to come in. "Naruto, you never told me you had a girlfriend." He teased quietly as he leaned closer to the blond. Naruto's face flushed and he was thankful for all the bandages on his face.
"Uh, this is Pervvy-Sage." Naruto said. Jiraiya looked annoyed.
"One of the Legendary Sannin." Rin said with a nod. "It's an honor to meet you, sir." Jiraiya looked smug while Naruto rolled his eyes. "Oh, Naruto, I brought you something." Rin said as she walked over to the bed. Naruto blinked in surprise.
"Huh? What'd you bring me?" he asked. Rin reached into her bag then held out a thermos. "What's in it?" Naruto asked with wide eyes as he took it. He opened it as Rin held out chopsticks for him. "Ichiraku Ramen!" Naruto's face lit up.
"I figured it would cheer you up." Rin said with a laugh as the blond proceeded to slurp noodles with a happy face. Jiraiya cleared his throat and Naruto stopped mid-slurp. He swallowed and smiled sheepishly. "Oh right, Thanks Rin."
"You're welcome." She said with a close eyed smile . Naruto's cheeks went pink. Jiraiya chuckled and winked at the boy. Naruto's eyes widened and he waved his arm, trying to tell the man to leave. Rin opened her eyes and he quickly stopped. He chuckled sheepishly.
"So, do you know when you'll next be in Konoha?"
"You should come to Suna." Rin said.
"Huh?"
"I-If you want." Rin added quickly. "I mean, you've never been right? You could stay with me; I'm sure my brother wouldn't mind giving up his room."
"Sure! I-I mean, yeah," he rubbed the back of his neck. Jiraiya chuckled.
"Well, I'd better go." Rin said as she walked over to his bedside. She leaned over to kiss him on the forehead. "Feel better soon, Naru-kun."
"Y-yeah." He had a goofy smile on his face as she walked to the door. "Thanks again, Rin." She gave him a smile before leaving.
A/N: Quote Riku said was by Gandhi. I just wanted to say again sorry it was so long since I updated this. Thank you to everyone who reviews