It had been a couple days since the incident at camp and they were currently coming up on Sunagakure. Naruto was exited to see Gaara and wouldn't stop talking about it. Kia had figured that Kyo would be just as excited to see the Kazekage in person, but it seemed he had other things on his mind. Like staring at their captains ass for the umpteenth time that day. He currently had a rather nice view being directly behind Neji in their formation. Kia rolled her eyes as her brothers mind went on a tangent. If you don't stop gawking at him I swear to God I'm going to out you! Her brother tensed and looked back at her with pleading eyes. Please don't. She smirked. It didn't take long for them to reach the main gate. When they got there Gaara was waiting for them. Naruto ran up ahead of them. "Gaara!" He threw his arms around his red haired friend. Gaara's smile was so small that only Naruto could see it. "Welcome Naruto." Naruto beamed at him. "It's good to see you buddy!" Gaara nodded at him slightly. "Come in. We have quarters set up for you and your team. You can gather your supplies and stay as long as you need." Naruto immediately frowned.
"We should leave soon. Staying won't be necessary." Gaara turned to Neji. "I was told you are the captain of this mission." Neji nodded. "Yes." Naruto stomped his foot. "Oi! Gaara don't ignore me!" Gaara turned back to Naruto. "There is a sand storm coming." He glanced at Neji. "You're lucky you made it here before it hit. You will have to stay until it passes." Neji nodded at him and followed him through the gate. He introduced the team as they walked. Naruto complained the whole time. "Aw come on. We can make this! A little storm won't stop us! Oi Neji! Are you listening to me! We have to get back out there!" This time it was Gaara who got the blond to stop. Using his sand he swirled it around Naruto as his own personal sand storm. When he finally dropped it, Naruto was facing the other direction. He turned to face his friend. "In a sand storm you can't see and you can hardly hear. Your sense of direction is completely cut off. You could lose your comrades with one false step. I know you want to find Sasuke, but are you really willing to risk your comrades in order to fulfill that selfish desire just a little faster?" Naruto opened his mouth to retort. Then looking at his current team he shut it. He turned his gaze to the ground. Would he really risk the people who were helping him? Who called him their comrade? Their friend? "No."
Gaara straightened up. "Good. Follow me to your quarters." As they walked Sai caught up to Gaara. "Thank you Kazekage-sama. I've never seen someone reason with him so effectively." Gaara glanced at the shinobi beside him. "I want him safe as well. Though evidently not for the same reasons as you." Sai stumbled a little at his words. When he caught his balance he looked at Gaara with confusion. "I don't know what you mean." Gaara looked ahead. "I have experience burying emotions as deep as the ocean, therefor I read them in others well. You seem to have no practice in hiding the emotions you feel. It is clear to see what you feel." Sai rubbed his cheek with his finger. "I still don't quite follow you Kazekage-sama." Gaara's pace and features did not change. "You are in love with him." He stated plainly. "I can understand why. Though I don't understand why you wish to hide it." Sai looked at the ground. It took him a long time to answer. "I do not wish for him to hate me. And I'm well aware of his feelings for Sasuke. I am no replacement. Though I do look like him."
Gaara glanced at the raven boy walking beside him. "True you do look like him." Sai visibly flinched. "However the two of you are very different. Personally I like you better." Sai looked up in surprise, but the red head had already started to move ahead towards a large building. He looked back towards the ground as he followed to the door. Gaara looked back over his shoulder. "Sai-kun." The raven head immediately snapped up. "You do not have to address me by my title. 'Gaara' is just fine." Sai nodded as Gaara opened the door to the building and let them all in. He lead them to a hallway and motioned to three open doors.
"These are your rooms. I'm sorry but we're in the middle of an important village gathering right now. There are two beds and two dressers in each room. Decide who is rooming with who. Should you need anything extra feel free to ask one of the employees. My room is right down the hall in case any of you need me." He didn't miss Kiyami nudge her brother and wink at his last words. He turned to Neji. "Let me know once you're settled and we can discuss what supplies you'll need." Neji nodded. Gaara turned and walked towards his room. He noticed Sai staring after him. It seemed that this would be an interesting few days.
Neji turned to his team. "Alright. Let's decide lodging." Kyo opened his mouth to request a roommate, but before he could Kia grabbed his arm and dragged him into the closest room. "We'll be in here Neji-san!" She called over her shoulder. He faintly heard Kyo whispering fiercely. "Oi, Aniki!* Are you trying to sabotage my chances with him?" Neji turned back to Naruto and Sai. Naruto turned to choose a room and Sai grabbed his arm. He put on that fake smile and dragged Naruto towards a room. "Seeing as you are captain Neji-san it seems only fitting that you get a room to yourself. You deserve the privacy." Neji nodded and Naruto started complaining. "Oi Sai! Why does that bastard get a room to himself! Why do I have to room with you, you bastard!" The door shut behind them and Naruto's shouts were muffled. Neji sighed and rubbed his temples. He turned to the last empty room and smirked slightly. At least I can get some quiet finally. He walked into the room and put his stuff away.
Later that night the storm had hit. Gaara was counting on the high walls and his protective sand around the village to keep the storm at bay. Of course if it did manage to penetrate village boundaries he would be notified immediately. Everyone sat quietly around the Kazekage's personal table. Well as quietly as you could with Naruto around. "Hey Gaara are there any good Ramen stands around here?" The red head shook his head. "Not that I'm aware of."Naruto frowned. "Maa that's no good. How can I enjoy myself if there's no Ramen?" Gaara couldn't help but smirk at his friends antics. As his friend ranted on about the necessity of Ramen in one's diet Gaara noticed a pair of eyes on him. He looked up to see obsidian eyes fully trained on him. The culprit blushed and looked down at his plate. Evidently embarrassed at being caught. Gaara noticed a warm glow creep up on his cheeks as Sai's eyes chanced as second glance in his direction. Their eyes locked and stayed for a few seconds. "Oi Gaara! Are you listening?" Both boys broke eye contact. "Hmm?" "I knew it. You weren't listening! Gaaaaaraaaaa!" Naruto whined. Gaara mentally shook himself. Why had Sai been blushing? More importantly why had he been blushing? He didn't show emotion. He put it at the back of his mind for now. And the next time he felt those eyes on him, he dared not look up.
Down the table Neji noticed Kyo kept looking at him. The main reason being Kiyami-chan was making it obvious by glancing between the two and chuckling each time the boy looked away to blush. It wasn't until she snorted that Neji chanced a glance up, only to lock with the electric blue orbs peeking through glimpses of black hair. The boy blushed furiously and looked down. This caused his sister to laugh out loud and nearly fall out of her chair. Naruto, who had been ranting on about how much of a pervert Kakashi sensei is, thought she had laughed because of him. He turned to her. "Nah, nah, see? Kia-chan thinks so too. He's probably reading porn in his hospital bed as we speak!" Kyo and Neji turned to stare at him blankly. Kia laughed even harder and fell over. "Haha Naruto-kun I don't think you get it!" Naruto tilted his head in confusion. "Get what?" Kia opened her mouth to speak. "Well-" "Nothing! We're finished eating! Thank you for the meal!" Kyo shouted over his shoulder as he dragged Kia out of the room. Kia struggled. "But I haven't had dessert yet!" Her cries faded out and soon everything was silent. Neji wiped his mouth with a napkin and stood gracefully. "Yes thank you for the meal Kazekage-sama. Naruto, Sai we should rest while we can. Have a good night everyone." He bowed and left the table.
Naruto, Sai and Gaara were the only one's left. Sai slowly rose. "Thank you for the meal Gaara-san." He blushed slightly saying the name. As he turned toward the other door Naruto stopped him. "Where are you going Sai? The rooms are the other way." Sai smiled at him. That fake smile that always graced his features was still unsettling to Naruto. "I'm going to find somewhere to sketch. I'll be back to the room later." In a flash he was out the door. The rooms silence was broken by the scraping of a chair. "Oi Gaara, don't tell me you're leaving too?" The red head glanced at his blond friend. "I have work that I need to finish." The blond pouted. Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow. "We can speak later Naruto. You know where to find me if you need me." With that the red head left the room. Naruto sat and pouted for awhile. He wondered why everyone had been acting so weird. He thought on it awhile, then decided he wanted to sleep. With that the blond left the room in search of a comfortable bed.
Sai was currently sitting in what appeared to be a garden. It had been about an hour since dinner and for some reason he still couldn't get the Kazekage out of his mind. He was trying to sketch a small bird on a rose bush. But every time he looked up that beautiful flower's deep colour reminded him of brilliant red locks and deep teal eyes. Why? Why couldn't he get that face out of his mind? He was confused. He'd never encountered this emotion before and he didn't have any of his reference books with him. He tried once more to concentrate on his drawing. He looked up and that face flashed in his mind once more. He sighed deeply, startling the bird into flight. With this he gave up on drawing. He stood to search for an answer. Perhaps I can find a library?
He ran into to a servant in the hallway and she gave him directions. As he walked he thought about things. His reference books never seemed to work, especially where Naruto was concerned. Maybe I should ask Kia instead? She might have an idea. He decided to try to figure it out himself first. He let himself into the library and set to work. He settled down at a table with a stack of books. About a half hour later he had plowed through at least two books and neither of them had been very helpful. He had just opened the third one when he heard the door behind him open. He didn't look up until he caught a flash of red in his peripheral. There standing in front of the village histories section was the source of his confusion. He felt a strange rushing feeling in his stomach and stood up quickly, drawing attention to himself in the process. "Kazekage-sama."
Gaara had finished his paperwork and was searching for something to distract him from thoughts of the raven haired boy. How he hadn't noticed him in the room proved just how occupied his mind was. These thoughts had been confusing and he'd decided to just bury them like all the other emotions he'd buried so long ago. And yet here he was, face to face with the boy who'd been plaguing his mind. He tried to keep his emotions down as he answered the boy. "Sai there is no need to so formal. I told you 'Gaara' is just fine." Sai looked down and blushed slightly. "Gaara-kun then. Or just... Gaara?" At the sound of his name the red head felt his stomach drop and heat rise through his body. The new feeling was unexpected and the Kazekage did something he hadn't done since he was a child. He started to panic. He clenched his hands and his eyes darted around.
Sai noticed the difference in his friend. He seems troubled. The book last time said that if a friend seems frightened or troubled, show them some tenderness. But last time didn't work. Maybe Naruto was different? Or maybe I wasn't tender enough? Sai walked forward to help his friend the only way he knew how. Gaara was so lost in his own thoughts that he didn't notice Sai until he was right in front of him. "Sai what-" His sentence was cut off as Sai wrapped his arms around him in an embrace. Gaara felt a more intense heat hit him and he stopped panicking. He relaxed in the embrace, welcoming the feeling of Sai's body against his own. Sai felt Gaara relax and hugged him tighter before pulling back to face his friend. Gaara took in the face that had been in his mind since dinner.
He looked in those seemingly emotionless black eyes, traveled down to his nose and then jawline. He started back up and stopped at the boys mouth. Those thin lips drew him in. Kankuro had always told him that when in doubt with new emotions, always follow your instincts. So he did just that. Gaara wrapped his arms around Sai and, closing the distance between them, place his lips gently on the ravens own. He felt the boy in his grasp stiffen and tightened his grip, applying more pressure. Finally, after what seemed like ages, Sai started to respond. He took the opportunity to press their lips together just a bit more forcefully. He turned them and pressed Sai up against the bookshelf. Feeling Sai gasp he slid a tongue in-between the parted lips. He swirled his tongue around the warm cavern, tasting all he could. In the back of his mind he registered that reading Temari's romance novels instead of declining her gift of them had turned out to be a good idea. Sai panted against him and gripped his shoulders tightly. He reveled in the feeling he had no name for. But all too suddenly it was ripped away.
Sai shoved him away hard and he stumbled back surprised. He looked up to see Sai panting and wide eyed, a deep blush spread across his face. Gaara composed himself, opening his mouth to explain what little he could, when suddenly Sai fled the room. He stood there, arm outstretched, staring at the door Sai had run through. He shook himself. What was this? Why had he tried to stop him? Why had he kissed him? It was time to seek help. He needed Temari.
Sai ran down the hall as fast as he could, reference books forgotten. His mind was racing with all too many questions and no answers. He ran and ran until he reached his destination. Flinging open the door he rushed into the room. "KIA-CHAN! I require your assistance desperately!" He screamed the sentence so loudly that the Konoichi fell of her bed, startled, and quickly jumped to a defensive crouch. Her eyes flashed, angry, as she registered the intruder to be her comrade. "Sai what the hell?!" He walked forward as she stood and grabbed her arm. "I require you expertise! As quickly as possible! The situation is dire and I need your help badly. Please!" He shook her and she brushed him off, shocked. "Sai what is wrong with you?" Sai looked at her with desperation in his eyes. She stared at him with worry. "Fine I'll help, just tell me what happened!" Sai's featured softened, though the confusion and desperation remained in his eyes.
"I need help figuring out what I'm feeling." Kia froze. "That's what this is about?! You tear in hear like a bat out of hell looking like you saw Danzo-sama's ghost or something, scare the shit out of me and all you want is help figuring out a feeling?! I need more than that! What the fuck happened?!" She screamed. Fuck! I've been dealing with Kyo bitching all night about how I cock-blocked him, and Don't think I didn't notice you sneak off to go find Neji you baka, and now I have to deal with this?! She knew Kyo couldn't heard her. He'd blocked her just before he left the room in search of their captain. She focused her attention back on Sai. He was looking at the ground, blushing and fidgeting. She raised her eyebrow at him. "Well?" "Gaara-san kissed me." he stated plainly, though his blush deepened. She stared at him blankly. "What?" He looked up at her. "Gaara-san kissed me."
She thought for a moment. "So what did you do?" "I kissed him back." She remained as calm as possible. "Did you enjoy it?" "Yes." The answers were clear and plain. "How did this happen?" He hesitated before telling her. "He came into the library after me. He looked troubled so I did what my book said and hugged him. When I let go he kissed me. I kissed back and then he pushed me against the book shelf. It was kind of uncomfortable but I think I liked it. My body was hot and I couldn't control my breathing. I was confused so I pushed him away but the weird feeling in my stomach didn't go away. Kia-chan I don't know what this is, help me." He looked at her with pleading eyes. She resisted the urge to giggle at the situation. She sighed. "Do you want him to do it again?" He thought for a moment. "Yes." She shook her head at him and sat on her bed.
"Baka. You said you loved Naruto before yet you seriously don't know what's going on here?" He tilted his head in confusion. "Idiot! You're in love with Gaara-kun!" Sai blinked at her as her words registered. "I'm... in love with Gaara-san? But what about Naruto-kun?" She sighed again. "I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that the feelings you had or have for Naruto are nothing more than simple admiration mistaken for love. Geez you really are a handful." Sai looked at her, suddenly serious. "Kia-chan, if what you're saying is true and I am indeed in love with Gaara-san, then what do I do?"
Aniki- formal way of saying 'Sister'
I know I'm late with this update and I'm very sorry. I'm also very sorry for the cliffhanger. To make up for it on my regular update this week(three days from now) I will have a lemon scene for everyone. Promise so please don't hate me. Thank you all for reading. Please review! Arigato!
-Kioshino-chan