Chapter 03

"Shikamaru-chan!!" screeched Yoshino Nara, "unless you're dead, mister, you still have chores to do! You can't run away for too long!!"

That day Shikamaru hid quietly on the neighbors' roof top. The warm sun and soft breeze on his face felt so serene that he didn't want to move at all. He grumbled at the sound of his mother's voice, "what a troublesome woman," he muttered as he turned over for more shade.

"You shouldn't say that about your mother, Nara-chan!" a voice came from behind the lad.

"How did you know I was here, Loti-san?" The boy sat up lazily.

"I saw you coming," Loti chuckled, and then added, "your mother is calling you, you should go to her."

"Alright, alright.." he sighed as he lazily got up.

"Ja mata ne, Nara-chan!" Loti stood up as well, smiling gently.

"Ano.." Shikamaru began, "What is it like when 2 men live together as a couple?"

"SHIKAMARU NARA!!" Yoshino was still searching, "I know you're still here!! You never leave without getting something out of the fridge!!"

Loti was surprised, "Ah! Well.. It's no different I suppose.."

"Oh.. Ok.. Sayonara!" and the young shinobi was gone.

Loti scratched his head and smiled, 'it is odd for Nara-chan to care about such things as relationships..'

"Wonder what my Loti is thinking and smiling about," His lover hugged him from behind.

"Okairii, Jun-kun.. I didn't notice you coming!"

"For the gazillionth time, call me Jun!" he kissed Loti hard on the cheek and tickled him playfully forcing Loki to laugh uncontrollably.

"Ok, ok!!" Loti turned around and wrapped his arms around Jun's neck and the tickling stopped. ".. Jun," he stood on his toes and kissed the brunette gently on the lips. They stared at each other for a while.

"Well?"

"Well what?"

"Aren't you going to tell me what you were smiling about?"

"Oh, I was thinking how fast Nara-chan is growing up?"

"And how is that?"

"He asked me a about relationships," Loti stepped out of the embrace, "I'll water my little flower garden and cook lunch while you go and take a bath.. You stink.." Jun pouted but did what he was told.

"Shikamaru!! Where are you??"

Kankuro looked up from repairing his Karasu (Gaara broke it again), irritated. The lady across the street was looking for some Shikamaru for what seemed like hours.. Later on he saw her dragging him from his ear in to the house.

"That's an interesting neighborhood.." Temari commented as she sat beside him on the bench.

"Hmhm.." Her brother was intently focused on repairing his poor puppet.

Temari rolled her eyes and looked around to see two men snogging on a roof top of the building adjacent to the one across the street. One of them was a pale skinned brunette, while the other was a tanned pale-blond. She blushed and turned her head away to see a distant outline of Sasuke entering a huge doorway of some fortified area. 'Ah, so he lives nearby..'

"Where's Baki?" Gaara appeared out of nowhere. Kankuro practically hugged Karasu, breaking its arm, while Temari snapped her head back. Gaara looked around and was clearly not happy about the place.

"He went to get us the sign-up sheets for the Chuunin Exam," Temari responded after quickly restoring her composure.

"Tch," grunted Gaara and turned to walk away.

"Where to?" Temari asked innocently.

"None of your business," Gaara growled without looking back. 'Guess I'll have to give it to him later.'

"You think it safe to let him roam around like this?" Temari crossed her arms and legs.

"Yeah, Karasu will be fixed in no time by the time he comes back and in a better mood!" Kankuro hoped.

"Oh, come on! You broke it this time!" she chided.

Gaara walked aimlessly avoiding the crowd's curious gaze. 'I guess I should head for the library or something..'

"Hey!" A smooth familiar voice called at him. Gaara felt his heart skip a beat. It was Sasuke. "They're going to open the Chuunin registration in 2 days, which makes you free until then. Am I right?"

Gaara felt his cheeks get hot, but he was determined not to give in thoughtlessly. "What's in it for you?"

"A chance to hang out with you," Sasuke relaxed a hand on his hip; he couldn't help but think, 'why does it feels like I'm asking him out?'

"Where to?" Gaara responded after a long awkward pause.

Sasuke's face lit up, 'behave!' he scolded himself. "How about my place? It's been a while since anyone had paid me a visit.. We can talk, train, and play some games."

"Fine," Gaara's indifferent gaze face started to show a little delight. 'I need to keep myself amused to keep that Shukaku at bay.'

Sasuke sauntered off and Gaara followed suite. Neither of them talked much, but both secretly enjoyed the company. They had cleared their heads and left what they had strongly believed in just to be together.

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A/N:

I apologize profusely about the long Loti and Jun scene.

They are minor characters with a huge, crucial role in the development of this random storyline.. (Yes, I'm actually thinking of a storyline..)

And I am truly really sorry that the SasuGaa plot is developing very slowly.. But they are getting there; don't expect them to hop on each other and do it like bunnies.. XD I wouldn't mind that, though..