WARNING: Possible slashy connotations

DISCLAIMER: In the beginning there was fiction, and the creators of fiction saw their fans and knew that their creation was good, to ensure that their fans were eternally loyal the creators demanded that no fan-inspired stories were created, but the fans could not help themselves and thus was born: FANFICTION!

A/N: Short and a teeny bit slashy, but not enough to offend - could be interpreted as friendship or yaoi, whatever floats your boat .

Uzumaki Naruto – October 10th

The sun was sitting low on the horizon as another day drew to a close in Sunagakure. Uzumaki Naruto sat on a sun-baked roof, watching as the sun lowered itself gingerly over the edge of the world. He cradled his arms in his knees and smiled a small smile as he watched this breathtaking sight.

A swish of air alerted him to Gaara's presence and he felt the redhead alighting next to him, but all the while he kept his gaze fixed upon the molten orb infront of him, its disappearance dragging after it the cool night air.

"Naruto" Gaara acknowledged his friend. The blonde turned and unleashed a beaming smile upon the unsuspecting Gaara. "What are you doing here Naruto?"

"What do you mean? I'm enjoying a well-earned holiday of course!"

"Hmm" Gaara replied, fixing his emerald gaze on the blonde.

"What? I'm enjoying myself!" Naruto insisted, Gaara said nothing. "I am" Gaara continued to stare straight at Naruto "Stop looking at me like that!" Gaara's eyes continued to bore into Naruto's soul, and the blonde squirmed uncomfortably.

"The truth?"

There was a silence longer than those that had followed

"Come on Gaara . . . you know what it's like" Naruto muttered at last. "If I were in Konoha . . . I'd be alone." He paused to bite back the burning in his throat and behind his eyes "I'd be attacked, and I couldn't fight back – they'd only hate me more. You know what it's like" he repeated

"Yes. I know what it's like" Gaara agreed and took hold of Naruto's hand, squeezing it gently.

"And after all" Naruto added, perking up a little "If I were in Konoha, I wouldn't have you now would I Gaara-chan?"

Gaara's eyes widened slightly in surprise at Naruto;s private nick-name for him, but his face creased in a smile and he tugged the blonde closer to him, slipping an arm around Naruto's slim waist.

"And I wouldn't have you Naru-chan"

Smiling widely, Naruto rested his head on Gaara's shoulder.

The two of them stood, content in each other's presence, happy to throw away their caution as shinobi and simply be together, watching the sun in all it shining brilliance.

"I'm glad I'm here Gaara" Naruto said seriously, as the final few rays of light disappeared from the sky.

"So am I" Gaara murmured, closing his eyes and breathing in the hot, dusty scent of the desert, and feeling the cool night air descend upon his skin "So am I"

OWARI!

Reviews loved as always . Lemme know if I've improved at all since starting!