Hey guys! Wasn't going to upload this til next week but thought I'd upload it anyway! I go back to Uni in September so I'm going to try get as much written as possible before I go back in case I get snowed under with work cause it's my final year. Anyhoo's! On with the next chapter!

Gaara - 20

Chapter 19. Naru POV

"Come on, I'm hungry." I grab hold of his hand trying to ignore the pounding in my chest and the blush on my cheeks. I can't help but smile at what he said. Beautiful. No one's ever said that to me before. Dragging him along, I stop before we get to the stairs as my smile disappears. I know that voice...

"You can't stop me seeing her." Sasuke bumps into me but I don't turn around; I just 'shh' him in case he says anything. His voice is deeper than I remember but it's definitely him.

"I will not repeat myself. Leave. Now." Shit, I never explained to Itachi who he was. I don't think I even mentioned his name...

"Not until you get her. Uchiha." My body shakes slightly; I pull my hand away from Sasuke, hoping he didn't notice. I make my way down the stairs before they can kill each other.

"It's okay, Itachi." Itachi may be a genius but sometimes he just doesn't use his head. I stop half way down to look at them; Itachi fisting the red head's shirt. "Let him go." He narrows his eyes at me but doesn't budge. I make my way to the bottom of the stairs before pulling Itachi's hand away from the shorter man. "I said, it's okay."

"Naru..." I sigh slightly; the two people I love more than anything have finally met and they're fighting already.

"He's a friend. You're the one who told me to ring him." Gaara continues to glare at Itachi and behind me, probably because Sasuke looks so much like his brother. Jeez, it was Itachi's idea to phone him but I never expected him to turn up looking for me.

"Is everything okay?" Mikoto pops her head round, still in her apron. I just smile at her, wondering why she hadn't came in earlier when Itachi was about to punch the guy.

"Sure it is, Mrs U. He's a friend from Suna." She smiles and heads back to whatever she was doing but not before saying,

"Dinner won't be long. Your friend can stay if you want." Trust her to be so inviting to someone she doesn't even know. Itachi stares at Gaara as if trying to analyze him.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Itachi tells Sasuke, Kiba and Deidara to go help in the kitchen; what are those two doing here anyway? "You're supposed to be in Suna, making sure..." I can't help but worry in case him being here means they are after me. Turning to look at him, I feel my heart flutter slightly as his eyes soften and his mouth lifts ever so slightly in the smile that he would only ever show me... I can't believe he still has this much of an effect on me. "Gaara..."

"I missed you." Even though it was me that left him I can't help but think how much I actually miss him. When I moved back to Konoha I tried not to think about him because it hurt to leave him back in Suna. Before I realise it, his lips are pressed against my own and I can't help but sigh into it as my eyes close. My hands reach fisting the front of his shirt as I fight back the tears. Gaara...

Pulling away, I smile noticing the t-shirt underneath his dress shirt. Unbuttoning a few of the buttons I laugh at the cartoon racoon on the front giving me the finger. I bought it for his eighteenth birthday...

"You kept it?" He nods before buttoning the dress shirt back up, pushing his shoulder bag further around his back.

"Of course. My girlfriend gave me it for my eighteenth. I wasn't exactly gonna throw it away, was I?" I stop smiling and so does he and I'm sure we're both thinking of the day I left. When I broke up with my boyfriend so I could get away...

"You going to introduce us or what?" Sasuke's looking straight at me, I hadn't even realised he was still here until he asked the question. Looking up at his older brother, I have to stop myself from cringing. He looks so pissed off... but I can't blame him really; I never even mentioned Gaara's name once to him.

"Oh yeah. This is Gaara Subaku. This is Itachi and his little brother, Sasuke. Gaara's a friend from Suna."

"You said that already." I frown as Itachi looks at me without really looking at me. As if he's staring straight through me...

"He's the one, you know, making sure he isn't after me." His eyes turn to glare at Gaara.

"So he's a junkie too? I think you should leave."

"Itachi!" He says it as if I still am...

"I've never taken drugs in my life, if you must know." Gaara looks me up and down before smiling slightly again. "You look nice." I smile back but can't help feel a bit disappointed. I shouldn't have expected anything else really; even when we were together he would only say I was 'pretty' or 'nice', never beautiful, not like Sasuke... I sneak a glance at the younger boy to find him looking straight at me, a frown on his face. Why? I can't help but feel a bit sad looking at him.

"I wanted to give you this." Gaara pulls an envelope out of his bag handing it to me. "It's everything I could get on him and the others. Temari's still looking in case we've missed anything." Gaara's sister, Temari, and brother, Kankoru, are both in the police force making it easier to find anything on them. And Gaara knows a lot of people underground; he may have never taken drugs but he has been in a dark place so he's associated with some creepy people. The only good thing about it is they're good sources of information. "I'm staying here for a week or so, just to make sure none of his lackey's are hanging about."

"Thank you." His hand goes back into his bag, pulling out a stuffed fox toy.

"I know you don't like presents, but it reminded me of you." I accept it from him as Itachi walks away silently, dragging Sasuke along with him. "Happy birthday, Kit." He presses his lips against my own again, but pulls away straight away.

"Gaara..." He opens the door but turns back briefly.

"I know. But I just missed the feeling. Can I see you tomorrow?" I've only got a short lecture after meeting Tsunade, then at Kyuubi at eight.

"Sure. I'm free at half four." He nods before leaving, closing the door behind him. I stand there for a few moments, still in shock that he turned up here.

"Naruko." I look up at Sasuke standing in the doorway. "Food's ready." I place the fox at the bottom of the stairs, on the last step, so that I remember to take it up later. "Are you..." I nod at him and smile.

"I'm fine. Itachi..."

"He's pretty pissed." I sigh, I'll have to talk to him later.

"I don't blame him. Come on." I grab his hand for the second time that day, pulling him into the dining room. Best face the music.

Sasu POV

The meal went surprisingly well, considering what happened just before it was set out. No one mentioned it; everyone pretty much acted like it never happened. Even Itachi was laughing along with the rest of us, as if it was nothing...

Father came back just before mother decided to cut the cake so he sat with us to eat it. I think there's been some problems with his business lately so he's been working even more than usual; he looked exhausted. After the cake he went to his office, probably to work more. Though I did catch him sleeping in there once; it's probably just his quiet room more than an office.

Every now and again I caught Itachi looking at Naruko, but I couldn't figure out what he was thinking. His eyes seemed to go cold whenever he did that but Deidara would notice and distract him for a while. Earlier I dropped something and when I bent down to pick it up I noticed they had a hand on the others' leg. I couldn't help feel angry that he was practically flaunting it in front of Naruko. So when I sat back up I kicked him. He glared at me but it was worth it.

Mother refused to let us help with the dishes, which is great because I hate doing them, saying the maids would help her and that Itachi should take Kiba and Deidara home. Though I doubt Itachi would come back tonight. My phone buzzed, speak of the devil; confirmation that I was right. I drag myself up the stairs; Naruko had already gone up ages ago and I noticed the stuffed fox had disappeared from the bottom step. As I enter my room I notice her door's closed. I can't help but sigh; I really want to tell her about Itachi but I know it's not my place even if I think he's being a complete idiot about it. Heading over to my desk, I unlock the bottom drawer and pull out the framed drawing. I'd only finished it early this morning. It's not the best, seeing as I'm out of practice, but it still looks good. I back up to my bed, still examining the drawing and wondering whether to give her it or not. Itachi, and even that Gaara guy, said she doesn't like presents so what's the point in giving her it? I look up as my door opens to reveal Naruko.

"Don't you know how to knock? I could've been changing." She shrugs before closing the door behind her.

"Nothing I haven't seen before." I feel the blood rush to my cheeks. "What you got there?" I pull the framed picture closer to my chest.

"Nothing." I stare down at my feet, unable to look her in the eyes for some reason.

"Why are there gay porn mag's on your desk?" My head shoots up.

"Wha..." She grabs the frame away from me as I realise she's just tricked me. "Naru..."

"Woah this is really good, kiddo." Again with the 'kiddo'... "Hey, is this for me?" I look at her finally to see her holding it in one hand and pointing at herself like a kid. Seriously, who's the kid here? I can't help the smile that tugs at my lips, sometimes I wonder if she's really older than me. I keep quiet as I watch her trace her name on the frame.

"Happy birthday." I watch as she places it down carefully on my desk before kneeling down in front of me. "What..." She wraps her arms around me, pulling me towards her so that I end up kneeling on the floor too.

"Thank you, Sasuke." I stiffen slightly as I feel her breath against my neck. After a few moments I let my own arms wrap around her waist, pulling her closer. My face is pressed against her hair and, like earlier, I can smell oranges. I can't help the sigh that escapes my lips. If only we could stay like this... "Urm, Sasuke? You can let go now." My cheeks flush again as I let her go; I hadn't realised how tight I was holding on to her.

"Did you, er... did you want anything?" We both sit on the edge of my bed; Naruko leaning back on her elbows.

"Oh yeah. Are you busy this Saturday? I thought we could work on your English essay some more."

"I can't." She turns to me and raises an eyebrow. "I'm er... meeting with Lee." I hold her gaze as she searches my face as if trying to see past my lie. After a few minutes she stands up, picking up the drawing, and I let out a silent sigh that she didn't question me further.

"Okay." She picks the framed drawing up, holding it carefully. "Let me know when you're free then and we'll work at it again." She doesn't look back as she walks out, closing the door behind her. I fall back onto my bed and mentally kick myself. I can't tell whether she knew I was lying or whether she was upset that I'd said no. I quickly send a text telling Lee that if anyone asks could he say I was with him on Saturday. A few minutes later, I get a really long reply back; the summary of which was yes. I can't help but smile at his strange antics before changing into my pyjama bottoms and climb into bed. I can't help but feel bad about lying to her but I still haven't told anyone about working at the cafe yet and I don't think I will be anytime soon. Not that I'm embarrassed or anything; but I don't really want to tell anybody, well except Tsunade, yet.

Well there you are! Hope you liked it. I'm up to writing chapter 34 so I might start uploading more chapter a month depending on what happens with Uni. Let me know what you think ^.^