Authors note: Here's chappie 5. Me and Kat are so happy that you are still reading this!
This story contains YAOI!! If you don't like YAOI then don't read!!
Kk just wanted to get that outta the way.
Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto or any of the other Naruto charries.
Chapter 5
The great Kazekage had been severely humanized when he was shown in bed the next morning. Gaara awoke to a throbbing head and a slumbering blonde beside him. He got up and groaned, clutching his forehead in agony from all the pain that he so rarely felt. Then, stumbling out of the room he clutched the wall for support and slowly shuffled his way into the still-surprisingly clean bathroom. Gaara crackled his knuckles by sheer habit; running his hand from his forehead and through his hair, as his hand passed over the scar-mark near his temple he sighed. A demon who only loves himself? Then what of Naruto?
'No Gaara scolded himself gently. 'I don't feel anything but affection for him.' Shaking his head to clear away the now-buzzing thoughts he ran the tap and splashed his face with chilling water that dribbled down his marble white skin. He flicked the water off of his hands and finished up with his business before heading back into the hall. He stared down at his bare chest for a moment, remembering with a smile the night before; holding Naruto had been amazing, it made it seem as though the leftover charges of electricity from the storm were charging through the redhead at the mere memory of it. He stood still; enjoying the reminiscence for a while until giant sobs could be heard echoing through the entire house. Recognizing the teary noise immediately he ran into the bedroom to find Naruto red-faced, sitting up and bawling his eyes out.
"G-G-G-Gaara!!" he choked out, making the Kage rush to his side and grab his hands for comfort, which he'd found himself doing entirely often. Naruto's hands were shaking roughly as Gaara searched through his eyes for a reason to cry. In any case, Naruto sobbed out the answer a moment later.
"I-I've been raped!" he cried in anguish. Gaara almost scoffed, holding back laughter that threatened to erupt from his system but that would only offend Naruto. The blonde boy seemed to have forgotten everything that happened last night.
As usual Gaara thought to himself.
"What makes you think that?" he asked carefully, softening and evening his voice. Naruto breathed in deeply, taking massive gulps of air into his lungs until finally he could speak.
"W-Well…" he started only to falter and looked at Gaara his eyes still a little swollen from the tears, and Gaara wrapped his arms around the boy again who calmed immediately at the easily-becoming-familiar gesture. The way Gaara looked at him made him feel more secure and he continued answering the question.
"For one thing… I have a bad headache, I'm topless, my body feels soar everywhere, and my pants are a little damp! I…I don't really remember what happened last night…"
Gaara sighed deeply. He didn't understand why Naruto thought he'd been raped just for those reasons but he went along with it.
"Just sit here for a while until you feel comfortable again." Gaara insisted as he stood up, walking towards Naruto's drawers. He went through the drawers until He finally came upon some shirts and pants. He threw a pair of jeans and a light blue top to Naruto, while Gaara walked away with a large, black top and a pair of dark blue shorts that went up to his knees. Gaara walked out of the room closing the door behind him so Naruto can have his privacy.
Naruto watched as Gaara left and reached for the clothes that he was given. He quickly slipped on his soft blue shirt and his baggy jeans. Naruto looked around; confused.
Hey wait, some thing seems different… he thought to himself as he continued to sweep his eyes over the whole room.
It took Naruto a couple of minutes but he finally spotted the silver music box decorated with bears. Naruto picked it up, and he suddenly remembered the events that took place that night. He remembered Gaara giving him the gift, then a thunder storm came out of no where…. Naruto cringed at the thought of lighting and thunder. It was then Naruto remembered running towards his room and scrambling under the blankets to escape the bolts and flashes of electricity, but he couldn't escape the roar of the thunder even when he covered his ears. That's when arms wrapped around him, warm and welcoming. They were Gaara's arms.
Naruto gently lifted the top of the music box, letting the sweet melody wash over him. Naruto recalled this music being played at that time. When he heard the soothing sounds then, he forgot all about the thunder. And it was all thanks to Gaara…
Gaara sat on the couch, his hands clasped together and his thumbs twirled around each other in a circular motion. He was starting to get impatient. He wanted to see Naruto, even if he had to break the door down he wanted Naruto to be right next to him. After last night's incident, Gaara only wanted to be closer to Naruto.
Gaara bolted upright as soon as he heard small footsteps coming towards the living room. Naruto came skipping out, his face was its dazzling and happy self, and a huge grin reached from ear to ear. Naruto came running up to Gaara and before he could say anything, he was tackled into a hug and fell to the ground landing flat on his back.
"Sorry Gaara. I forgot to say thank you for the music box… and for last night." Naruto whispered to Gaara. And He held back a blush that was trying to form when he saw that Naruto's face was so close to his.
"W-why are you whispering, moron?" Gaara asked, his voice faltered a little.
"I don't know…" Naruto answered, sitting up straight. Gaara lifted himself slightly, and turned to look at Naruto who had that grin on his face once again.
"I guess I'm just really happy, that's all." he yawned and stood up, stretching his arms far above his head to have his shirt lift up slightly, showing off his abdomen. Gaara quickly looked away, now blushing he stood up and turned from Naruto, coughing in his hand to hide his face.
"Ahh" Naruto cooed, settling down his arms and clucking his tongue before he started for the kitchen. Gaara followed the blonde smoothly as he went on to himself.
"This is gonna be a great day!" Naruto kept grinning to himself cheerily throwing open a cabinet and pulling out a cereal box. He paused, looking at the dark red cardboard with wide eyes before letting out a small squeak and hugging it tightly. Gaara raised an eyebrow at him and for what seemed like the millionth time since he came here; resisted the urge to smile.
"Want some?" Naruto asked in a childish voice, holding out the box to the still-standing Gaara after he had made himself a bowl of cereal. Gaara shook his head, folding his arms and leaning against the wall; he was simply enjoying watching Naruto who was acting adorable this morning.
"You suuurrrreee?" Naruto pressed after taking two spoonfuls of the disgusting-looking cereal. Gaara nodded but reluctantly sat down across from Naruto anyway, pouring himself a glass of milk. They ate in silence for a little while, Naruto's munching echoing across the dim space between them until finally the blonde became restless and stood up, throwing his bowl in the sink. Gaara stood, too, and placed his cup in the sink as well.
"Today we're going to—" Naruto began.
"We're going to the river today," Gaara interrupted, knowing he just cut off what was probably going to be a long and detailed speech about ramen or something of the sort.
"But whyyyyy?" Naruto whined, his face immediately dropping at his lost plan. Gaara rolled his eyes and leaned back against the counter, scrutinizing Naruto with his eyes who, after about five seconds, sighed.
"Okay fine. But we are catching fish! And I better get one as a pet!" he growled before stomping out of the house. Gaara finally smiled, letting it seep into a grin behind Naruto's back just before he grabbed an extra coat on the way out the door into the bright sunlight. Naruto would need it.
"Ugh…. Try again Naruto!" Gaara commanded as he walked over to the bank of the river and looked down to see Naruto in the water, with his arms crossed irritated and his lips jut out in a pout. They were by the river deep in Konoha forest.
Gaara and Naruto came to the river within minutes and once they were in view of the river, Gaara had instructed Naruto to find a certain fish in the water. It was a fish called Zako. Gaara knew that this river was full of them. These fish were very stubborn and wouldn't be easy to catch. So Naruto was having trouble…
"What does this have to do with being Hokage?" Naruto asked stubbornly.
"It doesn't have anything to do with being Hokage. This is merely a test on your ninja skills. You have to be a good ninja in order to be a good Hokage. If you didn't have to, then a little kid could become Hokage." Gaara stated.
"But what does being a good ninja have to do with catching fish?!" Naruto yelled and his face started turning red with anger. He fisted his hands and pounded them onto of the water, causing big splashes. Gaara sighed heavily,
"It tests how sharp your eyesight is and how swiftly and easily you can catch things. It's just a test Naruto. If you're such a great ninja like you say you are, then this should be a breeze." Gaara provoked, attempting to make Naruto even angrier. But he had his reasons. Naruto let out a puff of a breath and slowly his hands unclenched, surprising the Kage. What was he doing?
"You're right." Naruto murmured through gritted teeth. Gaara's eyes widened, this was completely out-of-character for Naruto, it was…unbelievable!
"What?" He whispered out almost inaudibly. Naruto slowly slouched out of the water and walked so close that he was merely an inch or two away from Gaara, looking up at the redhead Naruto nodded and whispered.
"You're right; I need to become a better Ninja." Gaara breathed in, in shock; catching a whiff of Naruto's scent in the breath his eyelids battered half-closed from the intoxicant. Naruto's lips slowly curled into a gleaming smile, and Gaara knew that something was about to happen that he wouldn't like, his instincts, mind…even nerves, screamed for him to get away but everything about Naruto was luring him in like a snake and a mouse; he was caught.
"But Gaa-Kun, I need you…" Naruto trailed off reaching up and brushing strands of hair away from Gaara's forehead, Gaara reached across and curled his fingers against Naruto's wrist which Naruto didn't seem to like, frowning and almost pulling away but deciding against it, instead his mischievous smile came back onto his face and he almost purred, stroking his fingers against Gaara's cheek,
"To show me how to catch the damn fish!" his voice changed quickly, going from seductive to irritate just before Naruto threw Gaara into the water. But, with Gaara's clasp on Naruto's wrist tugged the ninja in after him, sending them both hurtling into the current.
Gaara twisted, holding Naruto who had opened his mouth in shock and was now choking, through the clear blue water; his hair wafting in front of his eyes to block his line of vision as he attempted to break through the surface of water. Though in the two's spot just beneath the current and rip tides they were stuck, if they went up they would be dragged down stream, in any other direction the rip tide would tumble them and Naruto's clumsiness, in Gaara's eyes, would surely kill them.
Taking the chance the Kage pushed off of the riverbed and into the current, immediately being thrown to the right his fingers dug into Naruto's back, shoving him up for air, the blonde struggled like a drowning fish and kicked Gaara who was getting nauseas from the lack of oxygen. The kick set his mouth open and he gulped down water, using all the strength he had to shove Naruto completely out of the water before he was thrown to the river bottom and his head collided with rocks. Sharp pain echoed through his skull seemingly reflected by the water rushing down his throat painfully. After a moment his vision began to dim at the edges; Gaara closed his stinging eyes, waiting for his instincts to come and save him. When nothing happened all the rushing water around his ears seemed to dim into white sound. It could only have been a minute, at most, but each second ticked by like an eternity before the Kage could feel pulses in the water around him.
A swift tug to the back of his collar stopped the water flow down his throat as Gaara was heaved into grass and dirt that swiftly became mud; clinging to his skin while he attempted to clear his lungs. Naruto pushed him over onto his back, he was screaming something at Gaara, who stared up at his miraculous angel with half-open eyes. Naruto's own eyes filled to the brim with tears, falling onto Gaara's face as he closed his eyes. The blonde was pounding on his chest and Gaara cursed him for it, knowing it wouldn't help.
'Will you flip me back over? Damn it! I could get water out if I was leaning the right way—' His thoughts were cut off by dampness against his lips, it was soft and tickled like feathers. It didn't take Gaara long to realize the smooth feeling against his lips were Naruto's own. It would've felt nice if Naruto wasn't pushing down so hard, making Gaara wince.
'Thank you, Naruto… for my last moment you bruise my mouth.' his thoughts were sarcastic, almost spitefully. However the sealed together lips suddenly pushed warm air into Gaara's mouth that pressed down his open throat and pressured the water into his stomach, three more bursts of air and Gaara's stomach heaved, causing him to push Naruto away and roll onto his stomach, puking onto the ground. Forget those antsy stories where drowning is nothing. This burned Gaara's throat and his entire body ached, muscles sore from lack of oxygen Gaara bent his head down to the river; still gasping for his own air before he rinsed his mouth out with the liquid. Slowly, after his mouth was clean he turned to Naruto who was blushing and smiling bashfully; though fear was still evident in his puffy eyes.
"D-Do I pass?" he managed. Gaara stared at the blonde, mouth agape in surprise. Pass? Pass what? In sudden reality he remembered the test and he squinted in disbelief.
"I-I-I mean…" Naruto mumbled, putting a hand behind his head and stared toward the ground with his face getting redder by the second.
"I know…it's not a fish, but doesn't saving, er, catching your Sensei count as a ninja skill?" at this Gaara couldn't help but let out a small, low chuckle. Naruto's head jerked up; staring at the red head in surprise. Suddenly all the past events in the last few days sent Gaara laughing hysterically, his eyes watering as he clutched his stomach. It took him a long time to regain his composure while Naruto stared at him in complete and utter shock.
"W-What…can I say Naruto?" Gaara mused, still letting out little bubbles of laughter as he crawled over to Naruto, slowly wrapping his arms around the blonde's shoulders and pushing him into the grass. Naruto blinked repeatedly in surprise at the sudden change Gaara was showing, but Gaara was never one to keep the same attitude for a long amount of time.
"You saved my life. Yes, you passed."