Sand in Your Shorts
Chapter 2
.x.x.x.
Gaara hated the night. Granted, the daytime wasn't really the most appealing of alternatives. But nighttime was worse. It was one of those universal truths that Gaara considered absolute, unquestionable.
And it wasn't just because he couldn't sleep. Well, mostly it was, but there were other factors besides that. Night was a time for sleep. When the sun went down, everybody ended up crawling into bed at one point or another to sleep. All the world was silent. Of course, night was also a time for shinobi missions, but they weren't making all that much noise either. Unless that shinobi happened to be Naruto Uzumaki, but he was a case unto himself and therefore didn't count. But on the general scale, everyone else was sleeping while Gaara could not, and he hated them for it.
Night was also the time Gaara was most aware that he was not alone in his own head.
Shukaku was the reason Gaara couldn't sleep. Not that Gaara hadn't occasionally considered just finally going to sleep and letting the rest of the world take care of whatever came unleashed during that time of weakness. It was sort of a damned if you do, damned if you don't situations. Gaara chose to keep the beast trapped inside, and that unquestionably meant a strict vigilance at all times.
And Shukaku didn't much approve of its current living conditions. Growing up, Shukaku hadn't so much spoken to Gaara as snarled at him, viciously and continuously. Gaara could tune that out now, like so much white noise. After all, it wasn't like he really cared about the demon's displeasure, considering all the other hell Gaara had to put up with on a daily basis.
But over the years, Shukaku had gotten… bored. As it didn't seem to be getting out anytime soon, it had taken an interest in Gaara's life in order to pass the time. During the night, when it was certain of Gaara's complete and undivided attention, Shukaku talked. Incessantly.
Gaara much preferred it when all Shukaku did was growl.
"I rather like this plan of your sister's," Shukaku mused to him that night, as Gaara lay staring at the unfamiliar ceiling of the hotel room in Konoha. "You never do anything interesting anymore. When was the last time you had good old fashioned rampage?"
"You know," Gaara said aloud, "most people consider it a sign of insanity to talk to the voices in your head."
"Oh yeah? Well, shows what they know. I've been trying to drive you insane for years, and the best I ever got was half way. Are you sure you wouldn't prefer to go outside and kill a few people? You know, for old time's sake."
"No. Now would you shut up? I'm trying to-"
"To 'what'?" Shukaku interrupted. "Sleep? You and I both know that's not happening anytime soon. You're just lying there doing nothing, so you can damned well listen to me while you're waiting for morning."
"I almost prefer it when you're homicidally enraged than bored," said Gaara.
Shukaku made what sounded like an indignant sniff. "I'm a demon. We do not get bored."
"I bet Kyuubi gets bored," Gaara said. "I wonder if that's why Naruto is always pulling those silly pranks and inventing those ridiculous jutsus?"
"Who cares about Naruto?" Shukaku growled. He always got touchy when the fox demon was mentioned. "What about Neji?"
"What about him?"
"You like him, don't you?"
Gaara shrugged, going back to his detailed study of the cracks in the ceiling. "He's the target, that's all."
Shukaku paused. "You know, it's really going to defeat the purpose of Temari's plan if you don't like him at least a little."
"I don't like people," Gaara stated. "If you like people, they hurt you." This was another one of those universal truths in Gaara's life.
"So you're not even going to try to like him? Not even a little? What about the plan?" Shukaku said.
"I'll go along with Temari's plan. It seems harmless enough. But no, I don't plan on liking anyone, Neji or otherwise."
"Hmm," Shukaku said. "So, you're just in it for the sex, then."
"What?" Gaara blinked. "No!"
"No? Pity. I was looking forward to that part of the plan," said Shukaku. "And the Hyuuga was an excellent choice of a target, if I do say so myself. With all that lovely, dark hair to unbind and run your fingers through. Like spun silk."
"Shut up."
"His skin is so fine and pale, too. He'll probably blush beautifully when you touch him, running you palms over the smooth planes of his chest. Feeling his heartbeat flutter like a trapped thing beneath your hands. So apparently vulnerable, yet as much a weapon as you are. He wouldn't, of course, let you do all the touching."
"Shut. Up."
"After so long of not being touched, your skin must be terribly sensitive. He'll want to touch every inch of it, delighting at the way you writhe under his every caress. I'd bet you'll even whimper. Yes, you'll make some slight sound of pleasure, and he'll think it's cute, and kiss you. And you, you won't be able to get enough."
"Shut up, Shukaku."
"I'm thinking he'll be the dominant sort, which is good because you'd make a much better uke. By this point you'd be running off pure instinct. It could go on for hours, the both of you using hands and mouths and bodies to memorize and pay homage to one another, and he'd be on you and around you and in you and-" Shukaku paused, savoring. "Yes, it's definitely going to be fun."
Gaara shifted in the bed, which seemed to be a lot hotter and more uncomfortable than it was a minute ago. "I hate you."
"I hate you, too," Shukaku said cheerfully. "It wasn't my idea to be locked up inside of you any more than it was your idea to have me. But we're stuck together, so deal with it. Unless you wanted to let me out…"
"No."
"I thought not. Well then, I'll just have to amuse myself some other way."
Gaara didn't answer, deciding he'd had more than enough conversation with the demon for one lifetime. It was bad enough that Shukaku had formed a detailed scenario of what it thought Gaara's sex life ought to be like. What was worse was the images the demon had conjured in Gaara's mind, flashes of detail that Gaara was going to have a hell of a time forgetting whenever he tried talking with Neji Hyuuga in the future.
Like Neji arching off the bed when Gaara touched him in a particularly sensitive place. Neji whispering Gaara's name like a mantra, like a prayer. Neji's eyes, glowing with some inner fire, tracking Gaara's every move with blazing intensity. Neji's hands on Gaara's body, so surprisingly gentle…
It was against Gaara's upbringing to waste water, but surely Konoha had enough to spare for one really cold shower…