To Share The Same Traits
Chapter Two: A Needle In A Haystack
x-x-x
"Actually, it's more like we're looking for a needle in a pile of needles. A needle would stand out in a haystack."
"Okay, then we're not looking for someone who stands out."
"No, we're looking for a particular needle in a pile of needles."
-Reid and Morgan (Criminal Minds)
x-x-x
Naruto was released two days after meeting the mysterious redhead in the hospital and couldn't have been more anxious to write the boy a letter until reality suddenly sunk in deeply as he was talking to Iruka while walking downtown. Iruka gave a concerned look and tapped Naruto on the shoulder. "Hey, you okay? Is something wrong?"
"I told Gaara I'd write him a letter."
"Yeah, so…?" Naruto looked up at his guardian with both seriousness and distress.
"I never asked for his address." Iruka blinked and sweat-dropped.
"That's just sad, Naruto."
"Grr, I know! Stupid, stupid, stupid!" He smacked himself in the forehead before an idea popped into his mind. "I know! I'll just go to Suna and ask if anyone knows who he is!"
"You sure though? I mean, Suna is pretty big. It's got a population of three million, and not to mention that for all you know, he could live in Suna or in one of the many small villages surrounding it. Chances are, you're probably not gonna be able to find him with that strategy." Naruto seemed saddened by the news. "But you could always call the schools and see if he's registered in any of them."
"Of course! Thanks for the idea, Iruka! I'll meet you back at home, okay? See ya!" And before Iruka even had a chance to respond, the blond had taken off in the direction of his home. "I'm gonna find him no matter what it takes, dattebayo!" He ran through his front door out of breath but wasted no time in catching it. Instead, he ran straight for the phone and dialed Suna's Directory Number and waited for someone to answer.
"Hello, this is the Directory Number for Suna, which numbers would you like?"
"Could I please have the numbers to all the high schools in Suna?"
"Sigh, please hold on for a second."
"Okay. Sheesh, she sure doesn't sound happy." Once the unhappy operator gave him all four numbers, the blond quickly dialed the number to Suna High; the main high school for the land of Suna. "Um, hi, I was wondering if a Gaara attends this school?"
"Yes, one."
"Um, could I please have his number or address?"
"I'm sorry sir, but we don't give out information of students freely to strangers."
"Oh, I'm not a stranger. I'm his second cousin, Naruto."
"I'm sorry sir, but unless you came to the office, we're not allowed to give out this personal of information. Have a nice day." Naruto hung up the phone with a huff.
"Well, that didn't go as good as I thought it would. I guess I have no choice but to head to Suna. But first, ramen time!"
Naruto yawned as he got off the bus, stretching his arms into the air as they popped and cracked. He couldn't believe he was actually in Suna! 'Actually, i can't believe Iruka actually let me come here alone after what I did two days ago…' Naruto didn't know whether he should be grateful or worried, but soon put that thought aside. Right now, he had a bigger problem to deal with: Where the hell was Suna High? "I just had to come without a map. Stupid, stupid, stupid." He looked around at the surrounding buildings trying to get at least a small idea of where he was. "Aw, who am I kidding! I've never been here before, I have no idea where I am! Excuse me, ma'am? Do you know where the high school is?" The woman he asked was around 19 or so, with her blond hair pulled back into four short and spiky ponytails.
"Yeah, about a mile that way." She pointed north and Naruto grinned.
"Thanks!"
"No problem, squirt." Naruto started off north and found himself at the office of the high school. He walked over to the door and turned the handle… only to find it locked. He blinked and tried the door again, but it was still locked. He looked down at the watch he put on and found the time was five-thirty. 'Thirty minutes late… fail.'
"Well that's okay, right, Naruto? We'll just take the bus back and come back tomorrow! Dattebayo! But what time does the next bus leave for Konoha? Gah!" He ran back to the bus stop where he found a bus schedule posted agains the wall. "Okay, let's see, um… Seven-thirty? Aw man, this sucks! I won't get home until almost eleven! This is such a fail!" Passing pedestrians stared at the blond as he talked to himself loudly, some quickening their pace to get a safe distance between themselves and the hyper blond.
Iruka heard the front door open and got up from the couch to see who it was. Much to his relief, it was Naruto; although the blond was looking rather strange at the moment. "Naruto?" Said blond just stood at the door panting. It wasn't until Iruka walked up to him and touched his shoulder did the blond move. He grabbed Iruka by the shoulders and looked him dead in the eyes.
"Must… eat… ramen!" Iruka just chuckled and ruffled the teen's hair.
"Alright, sit down. I'll make it for you. You can tell me how Suna went after." So over a bowl of ramen, Naruto told his guardian all the events that had taken place in Suna. "Naruto, you knucklehead. This is why I always tell you to think before you leap."
"I know, I know, but I just couldn't help but be excited at the thought of writing Gaara!" Iruka chuckled again.
"Well, when you do get his address, you're not gonna just randomly show up at his door, right?"
"Nah, I think I should write him first. Just showing up at his door might make him think I'm a stalker."
"And writing him out of nowhere when he clearly didn't give you an address? That's not stalker-ish?" Naruto thought about this, and just shrugged.
"It's better than going up to him and petting his shoulder while saying 'There you are, my precious…' in a creepy voice." Iruka laughed.
"I guess you got a point…" Iruka's expression softened as he watched the blond eat his ramen. 'To think… we almost lost him a few days ago…' Iruka's heart seemed to throb in pain at the idea of Naruto dying. Apparently Naruto noticed something wrong because he picked his head up from his bowl with a look of concern.
"Iruka? You okay?"
"Yeah, just thinking… You know, it's getting pretty late. You got a bus to catch so you should get some rest." Naruto grinned and then saluted.
"Yes, sir!" He put his bowl in the sink and started to head upstairs when he stopped and turned to look at his guardian. "Oh and Iruka? You don't have to worry about me. I'm sorry, and it won't happen again." Then he headed back up the stairs, leaving Iruka surprised. No matter what, it seems Naruto always knows what Iruka is thinking.
"You never cease to surprise me, Naruto Uzumaki…"
The next day at one, Naruto found himself at the front door to the office of Suna High. He mentally laughed at the door as he walked passed it. 'Yeah, try and keep me out now, stupid door!' The door moved slightly in the wind and Naruto quickly stepped into the office, afraid the door would stop him from entering the building. After receiving a strange look from the receptionist, he asked for Gaara's address. "You mean Sabaku, Gaara's address?" She asked, surprised, and Naruto gave a nod. She wrote it down and hesitantly gave it to him. He bowed and said his thanks before turning back and walking towards the bus stop. The look she gave him when he mention Gaara's name, what was that all about?
"Eh, who cares. All that matters is that I have Gaara's address now! Dattebayo!" He grinned widely, happy to finally accomplish his side mission. He checked his watch. 1:30. "Thirty more minutes and I'll be on my way back home!"
~3 1/2 Hours Later~
"Iruka! Ramen! Now! Starving! Ramen!" Naruto shouted before he even opened the door. He was relieved to see a steaming hot bowl of ramen already made for him and Iruka reading at the table.
"Well, I see our loudmouth has returned." Iruka said, turning the page of the newspaper. "Please, come in. The ramen's getting cold." Naruto zoomed to the table and chowed down. "So, I'm guessing everything went smoothly then?" Naruto nodded, his mouth filled with noodles. "That's good. Well, I gotta be heading to town soon. You gonna be alright?" He set the paper aside and took his glasses off.
"I'll be fine, Iruka! Don't worry! I'm just gonna write Gaara a letter then probably hit the bed, I've been tired all day."
"Well I don't blame you, you were up until 1:15 this morning." Iruka stretched his arms and legs before heading to the front door with his keys in hand. "Now, are you sure you'll be okay? If not, I can get Kakashi or Jiraiya over here." Naruto grinned.
"I'll be fine, just go! I'll probably be asleep though when you get back."
"Alright… See ya later, then."
"Goodbye!" As soon as Iruka shut the front door, Naruto let a huge grin out. He had Gaara's address! "Well, what am I waiting down here for? I gotta go and start and writing that letter!" He swiftly finished his ramen and headed upstairs to his bedroom, flying to his (for once) clean desk and turned his lamp on. Pulling out a clean piece of paper and a pencil, he scooted in his chair and began to write.
~Two Days Later~
Gaara entered his quiet house with some mail, closing the door quietly and sitting at the table to categorize it all. Four were for his father, two were spam and one… He narrowed his eyes slightly. "One for me…?" This surprised him, he never got mail. Hell, he didn't even know anyone who would send him a letter. Unless…
He opened up the letter, noting that the address from Konoha. He opened it up and read it:
Dear Gaara,
Heh, I finally got you address! Took me long enough, I had to take the bus twice to Suna and go to the high school. So, how are you? I hope your wounds are feeling better. And I wanted to thank you for the bottle of sand, it's great! It's sitting on my nightstand next to my bed. I didn't really get to talk to you in the hospital, so I'm hoping maybe we could write to each other daily? It'd be great if we could, I'm always up to the idea of making new friends. Especially because I don't really have many. So, I guess if you're up to it, send my a reply! Take care!
-Naruto
Gaara stared at the later before giving a sigh. Of course, he should have known. He could tell by just looking into his eyes that Naruto would be a determined one. Gaara folded the piece of paper up and slipped it into his pocket for now. He left his dad's mail on the table and threw the spam away, heading upstairs to his bedroom. He walked over to his bed before falling onto it, making himself comfortable and staring at the ceiling with his music on. A day passed and Gaara still hadn't done anything with the letter yet. In fact, he was half tempted to throw it away. Friends weren't really his thing, anyway. But something in the back of his mind seemed to scream something overtime he had that thought. Another day passed and Gaara just didn't understand it. Nothing ever really bothered his mind, so why was this letter occupying his mind every hour of consciousness? After a long day, he found himself sitting on his bed staring at the letter. He sighed. 'What the hell… It's only one letter, what harm could come from it?'
XxXx
Ah, famous last words, Gaara! Famous last words... Wow, I can't believe I already got seven reviews! I was expecting, like, two. Three at THE very most. So thank you all! :D
Okay and I now this is OOC, I should have warned you guys. ^^' Sorry bout that. But once again, thanks for reviewing! And once again, tell me what you guys think! It'll help me with the third chapter. :]
The darkness I liveth, the darkness I love
~roo the ice vampire