Normal

"Speech"

Thought

Kyuubi

Warnings: I do not own Naruto (Makes me cry when I think about it). Rated "M" for language and adult situations.

Chapter 43: It wasn't my idea.

The phone was becoming a consistent annoyance, and the knocking on the door was becoming more of a pounding.

"We have to go out sometime ya'know." Myra put her hand on Naruto's cheek.

"Why is it that when we actually have some alone time, it gets interrupted?" The blonde whined.

"Such is life of important people. We will have time again. It isn't like we won't be together."

"I know." He sighed. The phone started to ring again. "Who the hell is that anyway?"

"The first few were my dad… That annoying ring is Sephie… She is probably calling to see if it's safe to come back. Dad was calling to make sure I was packing. And it's Konohamaru at the door with Moegi and Udon."

"How do you do that?" Naruto lifted himself up and moved off of her.

"It isn't that difficult." Myra giggled.

Naruto flopped back on top of Myra. "Don't giggle like that… It will get us into trouble."

Myra looked over to the clock; then looked back at Naruto with a mischievous grin. "We don't have to be at the gate to meet dad, Sakura and Teem Konohamaru until four o'clock. It's only two thirty."

Naruto gave her a foxy grin and rolled them over, nearly falling off the bed in the process.

Myra was laughing heartily. "But we also have to pack. I have to make sure we have everything we need. Remember, dad did say we were going to be doing a little training while we are out for the next two days."

"Myra, is Sephie going to be okay alone for two days?"

"She'll be all right. Besides, I don't think she's going to be all that alone." Myra smiled. There was more banging at the door. Naruto blinked at her in confusion. "I'm sure you'll figure it out eventually." Myra bent down and kissed him. She broke the kiss and got up. Naruto whimpered at the loss of her skin next to his. Myra was smart enough to not look back. She was pouting, and that WOULD have gotten them into trouble.

She walked to the end of the bed, pulled out a white "v" neck tank top and some blue jean shorts. Myra tossed Naruto his green boxers. "Stay here a minute and I will stall the kids." There was pounding that seemed more urgent. Naruto shook his head. Myra smiled as she closed the bedroom door behind her.

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Konohamaru had been banging on the door for ten minutes now. "Where is he?!"

"He obviously isn't here. Maybe he's off training. He has to do that too ya'know." Moegi dropped her back pack in the hallway.

"I think this is a bad idea. You remember the last time he took us on a survival training exercise? We almost DIED. Have I ever mentioned that I'm allergic to…"

"YES! Udon, you're allergic to EVERYTHING. WE know… GET OVER IT!" Konohamaru snapped at Udon.

Udon just sniffled. "Well, I'm just making sure you know."

Moegi shook her head. Though she liked her team mates very much, they were a bunch of idiots. "Would you two cut it out already?"

Konohamaru banged on the door again. "Where could he be? It's not like he has a life or anything."

Moegi walked over to Konohamaru and smacked him upside the head and glared at him with her fists balled on her hips.

"OW! What the hell was that for?" Konohamaru rubbed at the side of his head.

"You are such a BAKA sometimes. Did you NOT see the way he and Myra act around each other?" Moegi chided.

"Well, yeah, but she's just his friend, right?" Konohamaru looked confused.

Moegi crossed her arms. "Oh I think there's a bit more going on than "just" friends."

"Naruto did call her his pet." Udon nodded.

"And I'm not very found of being called a pet either." Myra opened the door.

The three teens jumped. Konohamaru puffed out his chest and walked over to her. "Where is Naruto?"

"He's busy Konohamaru-kun. How can I help you?" Myra smiled.

"Can I talk to him?"

"What part of "busy" did you not understand?" Myra raised an eyebrow.

Konohamaru started to open his mouth in protest, but Moegi understanding exactly what Myra meant, clapped her hand over Konohamaru's mouth. "Excuse him for being a BAKA. I am sure what ever it is that Konohamanru-kun wants to talk to Naruto-niisan about can wait. I'm sorry we bothered you."

Konohamaru struggled and finally got out of Moegi's grasp. "DAMN IT woman are you trying to KILL me?" He turned back to Myra. "I want to talk to Naruto NOW!"

Myra smiled. She didn't want to resort to these tactics, but the kids would just be in the way while they packed. Myra bent over so Konohamaru would get a nice look at cleavage as she bent over. She looked at him and pouted ever so slightly. Myra didn't want to hurt the poor boy.

In the sweetest voice she could muster. "Konohamaru-kun, I know you are very excited about the trip. But Naruto and I have to get a lot of stuff ready to go. We also have to plan the training. Now it wouldn't be fair if you knew what to expect now would it?"

Konohamaru nodded as if he was in a trance. Moegi snickered. Udon shook his head.

Myra stood up, bouncing a little as she did. "Right then. I expect all three of you at the gates at four sharp. If you're already packed, I would go over what you have packed and check it again. Now go… We will see you later, okay?"

The three teens nodded. Myra kissed Konohamaru on the forehead. "Don't worry about it so much. He isn't going to skip out." She winked. "I won't let him." Then closed the door to her apartment.

Konohamaru stood there like a dazed idiot for a few moments. There was a goofy grin on his face and a small trickle of blood seeping from his nose. Moegi shook her head, grabbed Konohamaru's ear, and started to drag him away. "Man, I got to get her to teach me how to do that."

"I'm glad I'm immune to girls." Udon laughed.

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Myra held in her laughter as she shut the door. She looked up to see a glaring Naruto. She blinked up at him. "What?"

"Did you have to bend over? Or kiss him?" He grumbled.

"Would you rather I have yelled and screamed and kicked him?" She walked into the kitchen to make more coffee.

Naruto thought about that. "It's what I would have done."

"I was just being a little more polite about it."

Naruto walked up behind her and snaked his arms around her waist. "MY RABBIT." He growled in her ear.

"Yes, your rabbit." She said a little more sarcastically than she intended. But that possessive streak of his was beginning to annoy her. Myra was filling the coffee pot with water.

"You say that like its nothing to you." Naruto sounded hurt. That overwhelming urge to mark her and let every one know she was his was welling up again. He nuzzled into her back.

Myra could feel his hurt and the anger building in him at the same time. She needed to be careful how she approached the subject with him. She finished making coffee before she turned around to face him. She looked into his eyes so he would know she was sincere. "I love you. I love you more than I can explain and more than even I understand. All I did was tease a fourteen year old kid to get him to go away. I guarantee you he hasn't got a chance of stealing me away. You have to trust me."

Naruto looked up at her with a very sad look. "I do trust you. I don't trust them."

"Good, and I trust you. Know that this," She kissed his forehead, "this," she kissed his nose and then smiled, "and this," she kissed his lips sweetly, "is very much yours. I wouldn't give them willingly to anyone else with out a purpose or reason." Myra's phone started to ring again. "Please go open the door for Sephie and Gaara. I will finish making a light snack for all of us." She kissed him on the nose again. She had successfully dodged the subject for the time being.

"No, seriously… I really want to know how you do that." He let her go and started to walk to the front door.

"I will see if I can teach you." She smiled at him. He ran back to her for one last kiss before they had company. It was a deep kiss that warmed the room.

Myra raised an eyebrow. "GO answer the door." She pushed him out of the kitchen.

"Yeah, yeah…" Naruto walked to the door and opened it.

Sephie looked up at him surprised. "Oh… Naruto… I thought… We thought…"

Gaara had a dead pan expression, but he looked like he was more contemplative than normal. Naruto gestured with his hand. Sephie and Gaara entered the apartment. Sephie bounded into the kitchen to talk to Myra. Gaara just stood next to the door for a moment. Naruto looked back and forth between Gaara and Sephie.

"So was it good?" He whispered to Gaara.

Gaara took a deep breath. "It was lunch. It was different."

"Different is good." Naruto gave Gaara that foxy grin.

"I would like to speak to Myra privately for a moment, if I may." Gaara looked at Naruto.

"Ummm… Sure…Myra?" Naruto look slightly confused.

Myra came out of the kitchen. "Yes… Oh… Good after noon, Gaara-sama. I hope your day has gone well."

"It has been interesting. Might I have a word with you privately for a moment?" Gaara looked pensive. Myra tilted her head. She could feel something had changed in him, but there was something else that was bothering the normally stoic man. Something that had him on edge and though very fait, it scared him.

"Sure," she smiled at him. "Give me a second. Sephie, would you finish the sandwiches?"

Sephie was heard from the kitchen. "Sure…"

Myra walked past Naruto, putting her hand on his chest briefly, and smiled at him. She gestured to go out in the hall way to talk for a moment. Gaara followed her. Naruto closed the door, and Myra turned to the troubled Kazekage.

"How may I be of assistance?" Myra smiled.

"I am not sure how to ask this." Gaara turned his gaze to his sandals.

Myra looked over Gaara with a medical eye. "You are having problems sleeping. My guess is you went to Tsunade who told you something like "what coincidence, we have sleep experts in our midst… Go ask a Ravenheart…" Am I right?" She said with a laugh to lighten the mood.

Gaara didn't look up, but he did jump a little in shock that she could be so right. Myra picked up on Gaara's apprehension. "I know more than you think I do. I don't know all the details, but I know enough to start the process. I have one question, what is keeping you from sleeping?"

"Nightmares of… the past… Mostly… Old habits that do not want to go away." Gaara looked up at her.

Myra sighed. "The habits have to be broken, but until we can talk more and I can get a clearer picture of what the nightmares are about, I suggest an outside focus."

Gaara blinked at her. "An outside focus?"

"Basically, it is something like a tether to reality. It needs to be something you hold on to as you try to sleep. Something you can grasp as a reminder that you are dreaming. This is a step in learning to control your own dreams. It will have to do for now. I don't know where I am going to fit you in my very busy schedule, my father and I may have to tag team, if you are amenable to that."

Gaara nodded in agreement.

"I also suggest talking with Sephie." Myra waited for the reaction.

Gaara perked up a little. Myra felt his mood change from very dark and cold, to a little warmer and brighter, but then it went back to being cold. "I do not know what to say."

Myra put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "She can talk… Let me tell you, she can talk. But believe it or not, she's one of the best listeners I have ever met."

"She is not scared of me." Gaara admitted.

Myra had to giggle. "Of course she isn't. Did you expect her to be scared? Why should she be scared?"

Gaara looked up at Myra, seriously confused. "You know I am much like Naruto-san."

"Yes, Sandy the Homicidal Maniac, I know." She giggled.

"You have answered your own questions as to why she should be scared." He still looked perplexed.

"Oh… That…" Myra smiled. "Gaara, I will let you in on a little secret. The only person worried about that is you. I can tell you because of that admission, that it is part of the reason you aren't sleeping. It is a fear of a relapse into those old habits, but we will talk more when there is more time. Right now I have to pack for a camping trip. In the meantime, I believe you have some other things to deal with."

Gaara was taking in everything Myra had told him. He looked up and nodded.

"Oh, and Gaara, I know you're not a babysitter, but do you think you can keep an eye on Sephie while we are out training?"

Gaara blushed slightly. "I would be honored." Myra felt his mood change again for the better.