The convention was fun. We saw a really good Gaara! I thought of trying to find a Naruto and see if I could get them to at least stand together, though I really wanted to see them kiss! But I got a pic of Sephiroth and Cloud kissing, so I'm happy.
Also, some people complained about the lack of Naru/Gaa action. Well, neither seem the type to suddenly have a sparkly background and say "Oh, I love you!" or anything... Besides, you don't always spend time with one person, right? It'd be weird if they never left each other's side. They'd wanna kill each other eventually.
Special thanks to Kakashi Fangirl of the Jumping Neko Bean... Long name! And here's hoping C.E.G gets her damn computer back!
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Chapter 17 Ramen Full of Chibis!
Naruto knew what was coming the moment he saw the sand on his clothes starting to vibrate. As far as he knew, the sand would only respond to one person's emotions, and if that person was this upset... Wait, wasn't everyone gone when he and Sasuke left? Including Sakura?
"Uh oh," the blond muttered. Nothing could tear Sakura away from Sasuke unless it was really important. When black eyes rose from the bowls in front of him to focus on him, he groaned. "I think Sakura-chan got scared and went to tell baa-chan what was going on." He got a raised eyebrow in response, and turned to look for the red-head he knew was coming. "Gaara was there. He's coming this way, and I don't think he's happy. They probably thought we were trying to kill each other again." He grinned when Sasuke scoffed at the idea. One of the promises Sasuke had made him when they were finally able to bring him back, was that he wouldn't try to kill Naruto again. No one else knew this, of course, because no way in hell was Sasuke going to say something like that in front of anyone else.
Once the familiar red hair and turquoise eyes were visible, the blond raised a hand in greeting, calling out happily before wincing and grasping at his ribs. He didn't like it when he broke bones, they always took a while to heal. A few days, really, but a broken rib or two was nothing. He'd seen the way Sasuke was refusing to move his left hand. At least one bone in there was broken. No doubt after this they'd both be at Tsunade's office again.
Gaara only glanced at Naruto in time to see him wincing and holding his side, like he was injured, and that was enough for the Kazekage. A hand of sand rose from the ground and wrapped itself around the Uchiha, pinning him to his seat. The bastard didn't even turn to look at him. This only served to anger the sand shinobi more. Didn't he care he was about to be crushed in a coffin of sand?
Then Naruto was there, standing between them and smiling in that way only he can, his eyes mere upturned slits as he laughed.
"C'mon, Gaara! Me and Sasuke didn't tear up that much did we? I mean, I didn't mean it, you don't need to worry about helping us fix it, it's just-"
"Naruto." Blue eyes blinked and focused on his angry crush. "How badly did he hurt you?" The shinobi in question laughed.
"That teme? Hurt me? C'mon, he could never-" He was cut off by a naruto connecting with his cheek. He turned to see pale fingers still posed, sand trailing over his arm as though preparing to snap it or pull it into the coffin of sand being created around him. "Hey, what're you doing? Call the sand off!" Gaara merely frowned, and while the grains didn't move away, they didn't try to cover him.
"Why? He hurt you. He tried to kill you before." Naruto looked down at his sandals.
"So did you, remember? But I know you wouldn't kill me now, and neither would Sasuke-teme. We were fighting 'cause he needed to get his anger out. So I got a broken rib or two, it'll heal! We'll go straight to baa-chan's after this if you want!" The young leader was still glaring, but had released the sand in shock when he had been reminded of his attempts to kill Naruto. He hadn't forgotten, he had just... not thought about it. Naruto never brought it up. No one did, really.
"You're fine?" A delighted grin and nod was his reply, and only Sasuke muttering that the ramen was getting cold was enough to make the teenreturn to his seat, slurping up his soup happily. With a resigned sigh and a glare in the brunet's direction, he settled himself down on the other side and ordered a miso ramen, listening to the two bicker about the eating habits of the future Hokage. Then he remembered something that had been said before.
"What was that you said... About me helping to fix the Uchiha's house?" Naruto had the decency to look sheepish.
"Well, we kinda tore apart Sasuke-teme's house... And I offered to help fix it, and I said I'd ask you to help, too. But really, you don't have to! It's okay! Me and him can get it done!" Now there was something to think about. Gaara would be leaving in three days. Well, on the fourth morning, really. He did have a country to run, after all. Naruto and his friends would escort him back to his country, and then they'd be separated again. And on the night before, there was to be a celebration for him. He had decided that, by the time the celebration was over, he'd let Naruto know what he felt. That way, in case the blond didn't feel the same, all he had to do was take him home, and it would be the end of it. They'd use the time apart to regain their distance, and try to become just friends again.
"I'll help," he said quietly, cutting off Naruto's explanation of how he would no doubt do most of the work while the Uchiha sat back and watched. While the shock wore off, the red-head calmly ate his own food, liking the taste as much as he had when he was a child. The Sharingan user had already finished his food, and was watching his teammate eat happily, declaring "another please!" every few minutes.
"Dobe, I'm not paying for all of that." Shocked blue eyes turned to his friend.
"Wha! But you said you'd pay for my lunch!"
"No, I said I'd pay for some ramen, not that much. I'll pay for the first two bowls. You can pay for the rest yourself." A pout took over fox-like features.
"But, but! C'mon! That's not fair!" After all, he was on his fifth bowl already. Sulking, he prepared not to eat anymore, no matter that he was hungry. He hadn't been paid for the mission yet, and what little money he did have went to buying groceries. He had to pay Iruka each month for his groceries. Anytime he went, he got already-spoiled milk, rotten fruit, crushed ramen... At least the ramen he could still eat. And he had ended up eating little else for a long time.
"I'll pay for it." Naruto turned to the young kage, smiling brightly.
"Really!" At his nod, the blond immediately lifted up his now-empty bowl. "Another, please!"
Sure enough, three bowls later, he was getting full, and finally called it quits. As Gaara paid, Ichiraku decided to bring up the upcoming festival, making Naruto grow excited over the idea, before he realized the meaning behind it. It was only reinforced when the man smiled and returned the change, requesting that they stop by one more time before returning to his own village.
It was with a subdued blond that the trio returned to the Hokage tower to have their wounds treated, and then headed home. Luckily, they hadn't destroyed all the rooms in the Uchiha compound, so Sasuke was able to go home and rest, before having to go buy building supplies, and Naruto and Gaara returned back to the apartment, where Naruto seemed to be acting less like himself and more like an empty shell. Even slight nudges from sand couldn't get his attention. Finally, the gourd was closed and set aside, and Gaara himself went to stand before his friend and crush.
"Naruto, you're as lively as the Hyuuga genius. Even the Uchiha was more talkative than you. What is bothering you?" Honestly, Gaara was pretty worried. He had never seen Naruto this quiet and subdued. It just.. wasn't him.
"Nothing, just... It's gonna be boring without you here, Panda-man!" The blond sat on his couch, sulking. "I mean, sure, the others are fun, but they're always so busy! Plus this place is quieter without you here to talk to!" He felt it prudent not to point out that, as quiet as he was, it wasn't likely it was much noisier with him around.
"Besides, who's gonna pay for all my ramen!"
With a sigh, Gaara used the sand on Naruto's clothes to smack the back of his head gently.
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Eep! I had some people saying they didn't want them to separate. Well, all good things come to an end, right? And my stories have rarely gone past 20 chapters. This might be one of them. But yes, in 3 days, Gaara will leave. Don't worry, lots of upcoming fluff. And a reminder, I have no plans as of yet, to write smut for this fic. Anyway, bye for now!