The sun shone brightly over the hot, yellow sand outside the gates of The Hidden Sand Village. The Kazekage, however, would be none the wiser. Currently, he was cramped in an office full of tomes and scrolls scattered casually across every surface. I've forgotten what it was like to be able to see my desk, he thought. He looked around the mess desperately. He knew he put it in his office somewhere and now, he couldn't find it.

The sunshine came in through the window and glinted off of something shiny and green. Gaara reached towards the shiny object. Could this be it? He picked up a scroll with a little green seal that resembled a leaf. His face immediately brightened. He opened the scroll and eagerly read the contents. His eyes widened and he looked at his calendar. He turned his head back to the scroll to confirm that today was the day.

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN HE CAN'T SEE ME RIGHT NOW! DO YOU KNOW HOW FAR I CAME JUST TO SEE HIM?!" A loud and very familiar voice broke his concentration. He quickly collected his thoughts and dispersed his sand to materialize directly behind the boisterous young nin standing outside of his building.

"Who can't see you right now?," came the gruff voice behind Naruto. He paused mid-protest, arms raised with fists of righteous fury.

"Gaara!" Naruto jumped into the air and attempted a 180 turn mid air. As soon as he turned, his eyes locked into a never ending mint green directly in front of him. Those eyes.. He felt his heart beat in his chest. Has my heart always been this loud?, he wondered. ~thump~He gasped, the floor rushed to meet him sooner than he expected. He lurched forward, toppling Gaara beneath him.

His eyes slammed shut and in that moment, he was lost. The pain of falling, but then landing... on something so... soft. He marveled at how soft the form beneath him was. "Naruto." Lost in his thoughts he didn't hear the voice calling him. So soft.. he nuzzled his face, except for this rock under my cheek, what the... "Naruto!," came the same voice as before, only now, more demanding.

He wrenched his eyes open and looked above him. He was caught in that gaze again. Those eyes that screamed out desperately, reaching out, yearning. It was so easy to lose yourself in them. He looked away for a moment and noticed the gathering crowd. He looked up, then down around him. He quickly realized that he had fallen face down on the Kazekage's lap. He shot up like an arrow. "ehehe," he chuckled nervously and threw his hand behind his head to scratch the back of his neck. "Sorry about that Gaara, I can be so clumsy. ehehehe," he extended a hand to the Kage.

Gaara looked up and took Naruto's hand. He looked around and saw a small gathering of of people around them. The crowd quickly dispersed and turned away as if they had other things to do as soon as he turned to them. He realized he was still holding on to Naruto's hand and let go. "It's alright Naruto.," he smiled at the nin and dusted his robes off. "Come, I will show you to your room so you can get settled. We have an early morning tomorrow."

Naruto followed closely behind him as they entered the building. He quickly became lost in thought while gazing at the sea of red that was Gaara's hair directly in front of him. I wonder if his hair is soft.. he reached out as if to touch and dropped his hand just as quickly. Wait what.. Naruto shook his head as if to try to shake something loose. What am I thinking?! Like when I fell... I... I, his eyes grew wide, I NUZZLED HIS LAP! He felt his body melt into a puddle. He was jelly walking. Then he paused and remembered and closed his eyes. His hand went to his cheek.

"Naruto!" His eyes shot open. Gaara had stopped walking and was pointing to a giant door directly in front of him, easily twice his size. "I said your room is here. " Naruto's eye's widened in astonishment and Gaara chuckled. "You will be sleeping directly beside my own quarters. You will have a connecting door with access to my room at all times. As you are to serve as my personal guard, this is necessary. " He watched Naruto's expression seemingly brighten as he spoke. "Now get some rest. We have an early day tomorrow. I expect you in my room, ready and dressed at 0400."

" Yes sir, Kazekage sir," Naruto mock saluted. Gaara couldn't help but smile. He should have been insulted. Had it been any other shinobi, his blood might have easily joined the rest of the blood that tinged his sand. Naruto, however, was different.

"I look forward to what tomorrow may bring Uzumaki." With that last word, he turned to his room, walked in and closed the door silently behind him. Naruto watched and began to rub his cheek.

"I look forward to what tomorrow will bring too, Gaara," he mumbled to himself. He took one last look at Gaara's door then turned to his own and walked in.