Chapter 19: Sweet

Naruto knew Neji was still in the other room, but he didn't want to send him home in case he needed him. He was starting to have second thoughts. Maybe he should send him home. Gaara would wake up soon and he really wanted to spend some time with him.

Naruto went into the other room where Neji was sitting on the couch. He looked up when Naruto approached. "Neji, I want you to go home and act normally until I call you."

Neji stood up and left the apartment. Now Naruto was free to do as he pleased.

He went back into the bedroom to discover Gaara still fast sleep. Naruto sat on the floor and waited. Only a few more minutes.

As Naruto flicked cards into an empty bowl, Gaara started to shift. Naruto stopped what he was doing and watched as Gaara sat up, stretching and yawning. He looked like he had just woken up from a restful sleep.

"Good morning, Gaara. Have a nice nap?"

Gaara was still stretching. He arched his back with a groan. Then he slumped forward and ruffled his hair. "I can't remember a time I slept so well. That felt great."

"How do you feel now?"

"I still feel great." Gaara swung his legs over the side of the bed, ready to get up. "I haven't felt this good in ages. I feel so refreshed."

"Great! Glad to hear it. Hey, we still have time to do stuff if you want to hang out more."

"I'd love to. Hm… Maybe I should get back to Kankuro…"

"Ah, forget about him. Hey, you hungry?"

At the mention of food, Gaara put Kankuro out of his mind and got up. "Yes, actually."

"I'll show you what I have. Come into the kitchen."

Naruto showed Gaara into the kitchen and started opening cupboards. Most of it was ramen and more instant meals. He also had some jars of peanut butter and crackers. Gaara stood behind him as he rummaged through what he had on hand. Naruto insisted on doting on Gaara, telling him that he was a guest and therefore didn't need to trouble himself, so he took a seat.

"Ah!" Naruto grasped something and pulled it out. "I almost forgot about this."

Gaara looked up and saw Naruto holding a bag of candy.

"There was a sale going on so I grabbed a bunch of chocolate. I can't finish it all by myself. I had it stashed away for when friends come over. We can split the bag."

Naruto was eager to share his candy stash, but Gaara wasn't as enthusiastic. He seemed rather disappointed by the offer.

"I don't really care for sweets," he confessed.

"You don't? Why? Do you get sick or something?"

"Anyone who eats too much of something would get sick, but that's not the issue. I just don't like sweet things."

"Oh." Naruto looked at the bag. He couldn't possibly eat it all himself. He was really looking forward to sharing it with Gaara since people rarely came over to visit him.

"Sorry. I'd help you eat it if I liked sweet things."

That was easily fixed. If it was just a matter of personal taste and not an actual health issue, then there was no problem trying to change things.

"Sleep." Naruto snapped his fingers and Gaara's head fell forward. "When you wake up from this trance, you will have a sweet tooth. You will crave chocolate and other sweets. You like eating candy." He snapped his fingers again. "Awake."

Gaara lifted his head.

"Well, if you don't want any…" Naruto started to put the bag away, but Gaara's eyes followed it hungrily.

"Actually…" Gaara had a strong desire suddenly come over him. The bag was far too tempting to pass up. "Um, actually, I might just take you up on that offer."

"You changed your mind?"

Gaara nodded his head. The look he was giving Naruto reminded him of a dog staring at a treat.

"Ok, then." Naruto handed him the bag.

Gaara opened it and took out one of the chocolate bars. He eagerly unwrapped it and took a big bite. "Mmm!" Gaara took another bite. "So good."

"You like it?"

"Mm-hmm." Gaara devoured the chocolate and licked the wrapper clean. "I can't believe I almost turned it down. I'm glad I didn't. I really like this."

"There's more here if you want it."

Gaara snatched up another chocolate bar and started eating. "This one's tasty, too." He had no idea chocolate could taste so good. Why did he say he didn't like it? It made no sense. This was delicious.

Naruto unwrapped his own bar and took a bite. This was nice. Eating candy together. It was something he always wanted to do. He imagined this is what it would have been like if he had a friend to share his stash with. Like after a festival or counting their loot after a holiday like Halloween. He pictured himself sitting on the floor counting his candy and trading it with his friends, then eating until they couldn't anymore. Such a thing seemed so pleasant.

He was older now, but at least he can say he had the experience. This was nice. Looking at Gaara across the table as he devoured one bar after another and talked. This was fun. He hoped Gaara felt the same way.

"Gaara?"

"Hm?" he asked with his mouth full.

"Do you ever celebrate things like Halloween?"

"Not really. I've heard of it, though. Kids go out asking for candy, dressed in costumes and have fun."

"We celebrate it in the village. Not everyone, but some do. And it's fun to dress up and go to parties."

Gaara stopped chewing. "No one's ever invited me."

"No one did for me, either." Naruto sighed. "I often wondered what it would be like. I pictured something like this. Coming home and sharing my candy with a friend."

Gaara looked at the bag between them on the table. "This is fun." He started to smile. "I would have liked to do this."

"Well, you're doing it now."

"Yes. And I'm enjoying it."

Naruto beamed at him. "Me, too."

Gaara nibbled on his fourth candy bar. Even under hypnosis, he knew when to stop before he ate himself sick. "There are a lot of things I wanted to do growing up. I tried to get kids to include me, but they all ran away screaming. I didn't want them to leave so I dragged them back with my sand. That only made it worse."

Naruto saw the sad look in his eyes and tried to cheer him up. "You're not that same person anymore. And I never considered you a monster."

Gaara didn't look at him.

"Look at me, Gaara. If you're a monster, then I am, too. Got it? And you're not. People just never gave you a chance. And now people love you. They got to know you and look what happened. You've got people who can't get enough of you. So cheer up and don't dwell on things like that. It's all in the past."

He nodded. "I know. I try not to dwell on it, but it's hard not to remember. And it's good that I do. Because then I can think about the person I would rather be. How to do better. Better for myself and the people around me."

Naruto was tempted to hypnotize Gaara into forgetting the pain of the past, but now he reconsidered. Gaara wasn't letting it consume him. He used it to better himself and help others. He needed to remember the past. Doing so got him this far. If Naruto messed with that, who knew what would happen to the Gaara he was sitting with now? He decided it was best to leave it alone.

"I'm just disappointed I couldn't do these things growing up."

"Me, too," said Naruto. "But I'm glad I get to do it now. Better late than never, right?"

"I suppose you're right." Gaara finished off the rest of his candy bar. "I am enjoying myself."

"Great. So am I."

Gaara licked his lips. "Do you have anything to drink?"

"I have some milk. That goes great with chocolate. Let me get it." Naruto came back with a carton of milk and got ready to pour it when Gaara caught sight of the numbers.

"It's expired."

"Again?" Naruto looked at the carton. "Crap. Well, I have some tea. Better than nothing, right?"

"I do like tea."

Naruto boiled the water and made a cup of tea for Gaara. He didn't mind the wait. Once it was finished and he had his cup, he took small sips and told Naruto it was good. He had better tea, of course, but he didn't want to be rude.

He and Naruto chatted for a while, catching up. They talked about all sorts of things. Missions, friends, things that happened in their villages, jutsu they were working on. Gaara even talked about what it was like being the Kazekage. It sounded like a busy job. Gaara didn't talk too much about it, remembering that he had a meeting tonight.

Once again, Gaara became restless, thinking he needed to get going. "I know it doesn't start for hours, but Kankuro might get agitated. I better let him know where I am."

"Then what?"

"Then I'll probably sit around until the meeting actually starts. I have everything in order. I took care of it in advance. Kankuro is supposed to handle the rest. All I have to do now is show up."

"So you're going to sit around for hours and wait for the meeting to start? Seems like a waste of time to me."

"I want to make sure I make a good impression and show up on time. I know it doesn't take that long to get there. I know where the building is. But even so…" Gaara sighed. "I don't want this to end."

Naruto paused. Gaara looked happy and sad all at the same time, like a child having the leave the park after a great day of play.

"I'm having so much fun spending time with you, Naruto. I never get to be social. But with this meeting looming over my head, it's just about all I can think about and can't seem to shake it. It's putting a damper on things, I know." He leaned back in his chair. "If only I didn't have to think about all these responsibilities. It would be nice to have a carefree afternoon. Like being a kid again. It would also be nice if we could be children and play together. That would be something."

The gears in Naruto's head were turning. "Yeah. Yeah, it would."

"Children don't have to worry about much. But this was very nice. Thank you, Naruto. I should get going."

A smile creeped onto Naruto's face. "The fun doesn't have to be over yet. Like you said, childhood is pretty carefree. Especially compared to adulthood. And for the Kazekage, no less."

Gaara gave him a puzzled look. "What are you talking about?"

He snapped his fingers. "Sleep."

Gaara slumped onto the table, his body completely limp.

The Kazekage had so many responsibilities, but as a child Gaara didn't have to do that much. He was free.

There was nothing like getting back to childhood.

Convinced he was doing Gaara yet another favor, Naruto gave him a new command. "Gaara, when you wake up from your trance, you will be five years old." This should ease Gaara's stress and add to their playtime. "Awake." He snapped his fingers.

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