SasuNaru

Locked up with you

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or the hospital.

--

For once, when he woke up, everything was completely silent. It was rather eerie actually, to wake up to such a quiet deserted room. That's when he noticed; he'd never actually been in there on his own, there was always someone else in the room. And now he had this paranoia about being watched.

I agree. It's too quiet.

Frowning, the blond boy sat up. "Who are you?"

Kyuubi, why?

"Because you're bugging me!"

Ha, don't make me laugh. If anyone's bugging anyone you're bugging me. You're much too loud.

"Naruto-kun?" came a voice from the door. Naruto's mouth snapped closed, biting back a retort to the 'Kyuubi' as Sakura entered the room a bit hesitantly. She had the same pretty warm look on her face, thought it seemed to be serious compared to normal.

"Ah, Sakura-chan!" Naruto exclaimed. "How are you?"

Her serious expression lightened a bit as she stepped into the room, wearing a thick coat compared to her normal smart uniform. "I just arrived really, it's getting colder outside, what with autumn here and all. I might need a scarf soon!"

Naruto chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm sure you'd look very pretty in winter clothing!"

The girl giggled. "You've missed breakfast I'm afraid. You might be able to get an early lunch if you try. Gaara's currently pacing the living room, as Shikamaru and Kiba have gone to get him another book."

The male got out of the bed, yawning a little as his nurse left the room. Going through his daily routine of pulling on his shorts, he trotted out the room and down the hall.

Sasuke was the one reading something this time. Though he was reading a news paper, while Gaara was pacing back and forth. Haku was watching him with mild interest from the comfy chair in front of the TV, and Neji was no where to be seen.

Naruto linked his arm with Gaara's as he passed and pulled the boy over to the corner, sitting down with him.

"How was your…breakfast?" Naruto asked.

"Mine was fine. Though I think Kiba ate yours for you."

The blond laughed, blue eyes sparkling with mirth. "Not really surprised!"

There were a few moments of silence before Naruto spoke up again. "Where's Kiba?"

"Leave," Gaara informed a hint of jealousy in his voice. Haku plopped down next to Naruto and stroke his hand across his chest. Naruto giggled and nodded, while Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow, but didn't comment.

"He says you're jealous," Naruto said. "And I totally agree with him."

Neji was soon in front of them, looking down at the redhead. "Gaara would only go out and spend mountains of money on books and CDs, there's really nothing else he'd do, right?"

The redhead nodded.

Shrugging, the Hyuuga turned away. "See; leave would be completely worthless for Gaara, nothing constructive would come out of it, he'd just loose money."

Haku stood, hands on his hips and glaring at Neji.

"What's wrong, Haku? What would you spend the money on? Makeup?" he shot. Haku faltered a little, and Neji took this chance to slip in. "Or maybe another dress, I think Gaara would use leave better than you would."

"What about Naruto?" Gaara asked, eyes closed as if in thought. Neji growled a little.

Naruto blinked a few times, trying to think at such an ungodly hour of the morning. Even if eleven was later than normal, it was ungodly at this moment in time. "I guess…I'd buy presents. And Ramen."

"Presents are worthless, easily broken and you don't even know if what you're getting the person is right," Neji stated, arms across his chest.

"Ino's coming, Neji," Gaara noted, opening his eyes.

"I don't care! Do I look like I care?! No, I bloody well don't!"

The blonde was already there, hands on Neji's shoulders and trying to calm him down. Naruto blinked as the Hyuuga threatened to punch her and she threatened to cancel a visit.

He stormed off.

Naruto looked from Gaara, to Haku to Ino. "What was that?"

"Nothing Naruto…" Gaara muttered before Ino could say anything. "Nothing at all…"

--

He did manage to get an early lunch. When Kiba got back her was almost finished while everyone else was starting, and the silent redhead finally got his 'damn book'.

When they had finished lunch, Naruto found himself sitting next to Sasuke, who was watching the news. Naruto was more interested in watching Sasuke. He noticed the way the Uchiha would sit, thin frame melting into the chair, yet still erect. The way the pale face never ever seemed to change, even when the news about some Tsunami came on. The way his hand would hold to the remote as if the black object would fall out his grip at any moment.

"What are you staring at?"

Blushing darkly, Naruto turned his head in the opposite direction. "N-nothing! What would I be staring at?!"

Sasuke grunted before he turned to Naruto somewhat. "Do you want to do another jigsaw?"

Nodding furiously, the fair haired boy grinned as the other rolled his eyes and stood, wandering off to the bedrooms. He came back not long after, holding a large box in his hands. On it was a painting, though Naruto didn't recognise it.

"Who's that, on the picture?"

Sasuke gave him a half amused, half mocking look. "Ophelia from Hamlet."

Naruto frowned some more. "Never heard of her."

This was when Gaara piped up in the corner. "Hamlet is a famous play by Shakespeare, possibly even more popular than Romeo and Juliet."

"Ah," the blond said. "I've heard of that."

"Like I said: possibly. And excellent read."

Sasuke nodded. "It was a wonderful play. I saw it in the Theatre when we were in France once."

Gaara was no longer nose deep in his book. "Really? I never actually watched the play, I've only read it."

"Yeah, it was wonderfully performed. Worth what we paid."

Naruto's face scrunched up. "You read plays?"

Gaara glared somewhat. "Yes, I do."

Sasuke dropped the box on the floor before any tension could mount. Naruto's head snapped up, looking at the dark haired male.

"Come on then, this thing isn't going to make itself."

It had taken the five of them a little less than a week to complete the He Is My Master jigsaw, and the things had gone back to normal. Naruto preferred it when they were all together…

"Neji, I mean it. If you don't stop acting up-"

"Then ban the damn visit! Who said I wanted to see her?!"

The three looked up, seeing Neji storm in the room from the offices. No doubt he just went to see the nurse. Haku and Kiba even tore themselves away from the game of heart attack they were playing

Ino was right behind him, Shikamaru there for support. "Because it's your-"

"Hey guys, what's up?" Naruto asked, grinning classically. He hated tense moments. They reminded him of home…

"Nothing Naruto…" Shikamaru muttered, looking back and forth between Ino and Neji.

The Hyuuga had forgotten about the others however, and was making his way to his bedroom. "It doesn't matter what day it is, it's all the same. One day out of the calendar is no more special than any other!"

Ino was on his tail, not giving him any leeway. "It is Neji, if this day wasn't here, you wouldn't be!"

"Then it should be obliviated!"

There was five people left in the lounge when the two had disappeared, sound going with them.

Gaara was, surprisingly, the first to speak. "It's already the 27th?" he asked, creases on his forehead.

Shikamaru nodded, sighing. "Troublesome…Hinata wants to visit with Hanabi, now that Hanabi's sixteen."

"Wow!" Kiba exclaimed with a grin. "I remember her! She used to come and visit a lot when children were aloud onto the ward!"

"Yeah," Sasuke agreed. "She was annoying."

"That's why I loved her!" the dog boy teased.

Gaara smirked. "I do recall her almost being thrown out at one point."

"Oh yeah, when she was basically wrecking out bed room to try find something…" Kiba said a small smile on his face.

"And Lee was more than happy to help her," Sasuke muttered angrily. "What was it anyway?"

Kiba thought for a moment, and Naruto noticed Gaara had fallen quiet again, clutching his book. "It was a ribbon right? A hair ribbon!"

Shikamaru watched Gaara calculatingly, eyes narrowing somewhat. The redhead's knuckles had turned white at the mention of the ribbon and he was glaring fiercely at the book as if willing it to burst into flames.

Naruto was looking at Gaara as well, Shikamaru noted, slightly surprised.

"I remember when he almost had her head when she found it," Kiba said, laughing. Sasuke nodded with a smirk. Gaara was still.

--

When Naruto finally managed to find Neji, the Hyuuga was eating in the dinner hall on his own. The others were watching some movie on the TV, and so there were very few people in the room. Sai was in the far corner, Naruto noted, and there was someone on the table with him wearing a hooded jacket.

"You're wearing the hair tie," Naruto noted, catching sight of the ribbon holding the dark locks together. It was higher and somewhat tighter than it normally was.

Neji looked at him cautiously. "What have the others told you about my ribbon?"

Naruto shrugged. "Nothing, but they were talking about your little sister…"

"Cousin," Neji corrected, going back to his meal. "Distant cousin."

Sitting opposite the Hyuuga, Naruto watched him eat slowly, not looking up but developing a slight tic in his eye.

Then he snapped. "What is it?!"

"I was wondering why it's so special," he inquired.

Neji fingered a stray strand of hair. "It was a present…"

Naruto nodded, resting his head on his arms and looking up with innocent blue eyes. Neji couldn't help but smile.

"Gaara's eyes used to look like yours…"

The blue eyes blinked. "What, they changed colour?"

"No, moron. That innocent kicked puppy look," Neji said. "I remember, ages ago really when we were still teens, and Gaara came into my ward and he looked like a child who was lost in a crowd. He didn't know what he did, and he didn't know why he was there, all he knew was that there was a voice inside his voice that kept threatening people.

"It threatened you once," the redhead stated, lying on his back. Neji looked over curiously, also on his back. The two were pretending to be able to see through the ceiling and into space where all the stars were. Cosmos; it was a song by some band called Tatu the Gaara had forced him into listening to.

"What did I do?" Neji asked.

Gaara looked over, eyes changing dramatically. He held up a piece of white ribbon. "I don't know why you need ribbon as laces, but by the time the stupid nurse figures out she doesn't have it any more, she'll not be able to get it back."

"What's this for?" the Hyuuga asked, taking the ribbon none the less.

Gaara looked back up at the skies. "Happy White day…"

"It's not white day, Gaara."

"Yeah, but it's your birthday. And one way or another, the sentiment's the same.

--

"Is this such a good idea?" Gaara asked, cringing somewhat. The others nodded firmly and Shikamaru sighed from next to the redhead, muttering a troublesome.

"Shut up, Shikamaru!" Kiba snapped. "You need to do the shopping, ok? And Gaara, you need to help preferably, you know Neji best."

"Whatever…"

Naruto grinned knowingly. "I'm sure he does."

Haku giggled, making some hand movements which Shikamaru translated. "Haku says: 'I don't know what it was you talked to Neji about earlier, but I have to know'."

Gaara glare a little at the blond. "What did you talk about?"

Naruto sniggered. "His ribbon."

With the brightness of Gaara's face in contrast to his hair, chatter ensued.

"Oh, Gaara, what are you hiding?!"

"What about the ribbon?"

"You mean the white one?"

Haku was squealing silently, tugging on Gaara's arm. The redhead shook his head and looked to the list in front of them.

"Everyone write down a present then," he said.

Sasuke cringed. "I don't even like Neji."

Naruto growled. "Teme, you're going to be friends with Neji!"

Shikamaru smirked at the Uchiha, who glared in return.

Gaara sighed, shaking his head. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.

--

Kitty: Pairings so far –

SasuNaru

NejiGaara

KibaHaku/ShikamaruKiba

Tell me if there's anything else you want to see, and vote on whom I should pair Kiba with, or I'll just play around with him for a bit XDD

Ja ne

Kivea

Preview –

"What's this for?"

"It's a photo frame."

"I don't have any photos, dumb ass."

"Then I guess you'll have to get one, numb nuts."