Also, someone requested a smut-fest for Gaara and Naruto... Uh... No. Not in this fic, no. I haven't written smut in about 2 years. If, and only if, I decide to write one for this story, I will NOT post it here, but instead as a private entry on my LiveJournal.
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Ch. 15 Chibi Dreams
While one Uchiha searched, and another brooded, the two teens slept in their respective beds. Quiet whimpers filled the room, as well as the sound of rustling sheets. But it was the moans that finally caused a pair of eyes to snap open, and Gaara peered over the edge of the bed to look at his host. While his body would no doubt have liked to hear more moans, these didn't sound right. They sounded more painful and frightened than they should.
Slipping from the bed, Gaara kneeled beside his friend and reached out to grasp his shoulder gently, shaking him slightly. Red chakra licked at his fingers, and the former demon holder stared in fear as he realized that something was seriously wrong if the Kyuubi's chakra was visible. He shook his friend's shoulder more, calling out his name in an attempt to wake him. He was finally rewarded by a sharp gasp as red eyes snapped open, and the fox-boy sat up straight in bed, grabbing onto Gaara's shoulder for something solid to hold on to.
"Naruto. Calm down." The red-head really didn't know how to act, so he merely did what he had seen Yashamaru do for Temari once. "Naruto, you're in your own bed. You're fine. It was a dream." Apparently it worked, seeing as how red faded to blue, and claws shortened and dulled into regular nails. When the blond slumped into his arms, though, the Sand nin had no idea what to do. Naruto was too close for comfort. It wasn't that he wasn't enjoying it, just... his friend was upset. The last thing he needed right now was for the Kazekage to confess his love for him.
"G-gaara?" Large blue eyes turned slowly to look up at him, and he found himself nodding slowly and rubbing his friend's back gently until his breathing evened out. After a few minutes, Naruto sighed and pulled away.
"Sorry about that, Panda-man... Just a bad dream... Sorry for waking you up." Turquoise eyes focused on the embarrassed look the blond sent him, and shook his head.
"I don't sleep much." Naruto frowned.
"Exactly! And I just ruined some of your sleep! So I'm sorry!" With a pout, he tried to push the red-head back up into his bed, but to no avail.
"What was it about?" Naruto blinked.
"Eh? Nothing, really. No need to worry!" The younger of the two still refused to move. "C'mon! It's not that important, really!" Still no movement. "Okay, okay... It was just one of those dreams where I remembered the crap from when I was a kid. See? Nothing important!" Gaara's frown deepened. He knew how bad those memories could be. And even though the blond would never admit it, Gaara could still sense the fear and pain rolling off his crush's body. With a sigh, he stood and helped the other up before getting back in the bed, pulling Naruto down to lay down next to him. Sure, the bed wasn't that big, but it was big enough to barely fit them.
"What the hell?" Naruto looked to refuse at first, until those eyes were completely focused on him.
"If the dreams come back, I'll be able to wake you faster this way. And I know you'll wake me if something happens to me." They debated it for a while longer, until finally Naruto merely gave up and closed his eyes, quickly falling back to sleep while the younger one of the two watched over him. That odd scent still had a slight effect on him, but he wasn't about to lose this warmth over something like that. So he contented himself to merely falling asleep with Naruto by his side.
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"Awwww! You're so CUTE!" Two pairs of eyes snapped open to glare at the intruder, murder in their gaze. Both for waking them so early, and for that 'cute' comment. Not to mention...
"Sakura-chan, how the hell did you get in here?" The pink-haired kunoichi merely smiled innocently and held up a key.
"Tsunade-sama said she wanted to send someone who wouldn't piss you off, so Kazekage-sama would be in a better mood, and so Iruka gave me his spare key. Sasuke-kun would have come, but for some reason, he locked himself inside his house... As soon as I get Gaara-sama to Tsunade, I have to take the key back to Iruka, and then I'm going to go check on Sasuke-kun. So hurry up!" She stomper her foot impatiently, determined not to mention how adorable the two looked, all cuddled together like that. When she had walked in, she hadn't expected to find them in bed together, still fully clothed of course, Naruto's head snuggled against Gaara's neck and his arms wrapped around the Sand nin's waist while his own shoulders wereheld inhis secret love's arms.
She had squealed when Naruto had whimpered in his sleep and squirmed closer to the red-head, who tightened his grip protectively on the leaf shinobi.
While they dragged themselves out of bed, obviously embarrassed at being caught in such a position, Sakura helped herself to Naruto's kitchen. There was no point in starting the day hungry, right? At least, that's what her mother always said. And she wasn't about to trust Naruto to cook something other than ramen...
Gaara had the bathroom first while Naruto made the bed and put the futon back in its proper place.
"Hey Sakura-chan, can I come with you to check on Sasuke-teme? I mean, it'd suck if he killed himself or anything, 'cause then I wouldn't have a rival anymore! He can't die 'til I've kicked his ass!" Yeah, right. She knew better than to believe that. She wasn't their teammate for nothing. Those two were closer friends than she and Ino. And they fought like the best of friends, too. Sometimes she could swear they were able to read each other's minds.
"Sure, but if you try to cheer him up with ramen, then I'm telling Ichiraku-san to ban you for a month!" Naruto's face was nothing short of horrified, and she knew her point was clear. No harrassing Sasuke.
When Gaara left the bathroom, full dressed and ready except for his gourd, it was to find Naruto sitting at the table and pouting while Sakura cooked something she no doubt found in the Kazekage's groceries. He moved to stand next to his friend and nudged him gently, so that the blond knew it was his turn to use the bathroom, and smiled as the elder boy trudged off, muttering about evil kunoichi and their teachers.
"Here, Gaara-sama. I doubted you wanted ramen, since I'm sure Naruto will be forcing you to eat it for lunch.. and probably dinner, knowing him." She set a plate of food in front of him, then set another nearby, probably for Naruto. "So... um..." Ah, yes. The awkward silent tension. How he had missed this from his own country. No. Really. This and the multitude of lakes. "Have you kissed him yet?"
Moments later she was trying to fend off a wave of sand as she tried to calm down the annoyed Sand ninja.
Luckily, Naruto returned after Gaara's sand had returned to its gourd, and Sakura had taken refuge near the sink, scrubbing at dishes and humming loudlyin an attempt to block out that intense silence.
"Alright! I get some of Sakura-chan's cooking!" The blond immediately began to shovel his food in, giving the Kazekage enough time to finish his meal and strap his gourd in place.
The walk to the Hokage's tower was mostly quiet, seeing as how Naruto was the only one among the three of them actually talking. Sakura would correct him here and there, and Gaara would add a quiet 'hn' occassionally to show he was listening. It seemed like living with the blond didn't mean his habits rubbed off on you. The pink-haired girl was secretely grateful. When she imagined a hyper, bouncy Gaara running through town...
Shudder.
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I know, it's short... I just wanted to make people laugh after that whole dark and depressing last chapter. And in case someone didn't catch it, Gaara mentioned the lakes to show he was being sarcastic. I plan on updating soon! I'm glad I'm back in the mood to write!