Last updated April of 09... Wow. If anyone still remembers what this story is about without having to reread this, your memory is better than mine. -not that i had to reread this- Haha. I got inspired to write and this is the story I really wanted to work on for some reason. Sorry for the two frickin year wait. Life is busy.

What if we could
Put our lives on
Hold and meet some
Where inside of the world
I would meet you
Would you meet me?

Chapter Five
So We Meet Again

-Naruto-

Never before had I been faced with such an impossible task. The ungrateful Sasuke had called me last night, much to my lonely delight, and asked me to meet for coffee. I agreed without hesitation, forgetting that I was forbidden to leave the compound. I cursed and began pacing. I told him I would met him at City Brew in less than an hour and still there was no clear way for me to leave my room.

I pressed my ear to the door and heard soft voices. Yup. Two guards still stationed out there. I really hate it when dad gets serious. I flopped on to the bed and laughed. Though when dad gets serious, I get creative.

Okay, okay, so maybe it is cliché to sneak through the vents, but whatever gets the mouse free right? I pulled my heavy dresser to the edge of the bed and climbed up with my pocket knife. Being as quiet as I could I carefully unscrewed the vent and pulled it free. Standing there with a vent cover in hand and freedom inches away I was faced with another conundrum. There was no way to climb in and replace everything. This would be a one time escape route…

One hour of freedom then back in the doghouse or a lifetime of captivity on dad's good side?

Needless to say the decision was made as soon as I thought of it. I threw the vent cover onto the bed and gathered my things. Wallet with all my back up cash -since Iruka confiscated all my money-, coat, hat, scarf, cellphone and lastly, more for the argument that was sure to take place when I returned than for my safety, I tucked the Welther P99 DOA into my pants, then shimmied into the vents.

Less than a minute in I decided this looks a lot easier on tv. First the people in the movies move quickly and know the route to take. Second they seem to have a lot more room to move. Moving quickly in this vent was impossible. It made too much noise and I was on my stomach wiggling forward at a snails pace. And the damn thing was a maze! I made several turns that led to a dead end and had to wiggle backwards to try a different route. It was maddening.

Finally, sweaty, exhausted, dirty and foul-tempered I found the empty room I was looking for. The one I used just yesterday to get to the dumb-waiter. Then came the next struggle with the vent. After a long struggle I wiggled forward and blindly kicked it. The sound of metal giving out and a dull thud was my reward. I dropped to the floor and ran to the garbage shoot, climbing in before all my noise attracted a crowd. I shimmied my way down, feeling my knees and hands go numb while my back started to protest as I moved slowly.

Five feet from the end I dropped down into the foulest smelling dumpster and hopped out. Not pausing to give my protesting body a break I sprinted to the street and jumped into the nearest available cab. "Oh man…" groaned the cabby.

I looked up and smiled at the same man from yesterdays cab. "Um, step on it please."

We just pulled away from the curb when shouting started from my prison. "Just drive again today?"

"City Brew." I announced happily pushing a fifty through the slot.

"You got it."

.:.

We pulled up in front of the small café just three minutes late. "Thanks." I waved moving to get out of the bright yellow vehicle.

"Always on the run?" The nervous looking man asked, looking at me through his rear view mirror.

"Always." I handed him another twenty. "You never seen me right?"

"Right."

The frigid air blew into the warm cab as I got out and walked through the beautiful wooden door. The café had almost no windows and was dimly lit. Just a year ago it had been an old bar, but the owner went bankrupt and sold it to an old hippie and his hipster kids. The décor almost changed the look of the once time bar. Antique looking signs promoted old coffee at cheap prices, couches and coffee tables replacing bar stools and cheesy booths. But the place still had this feel of depression and all the tres chic lamps could not lighten the place up. I spotted the pale onyx haired youth at a couch at the back, glaring intently into his cup. "Do you ever give that face of yours a break or is that all natural?" I asked as I took a seat in a comfortable armchair across from him.

The glare intensified. "You're late."

"It was a bit harder leaving than I expected." I smiled sheepishly after giving my order to the waitress who hurried over after I'd sat down.

"Forgot how to turn a door knob?" He smirked. I blinked in shock. "What?"

"Didn't know you came with other expressions." I chuckled softly. He rolled his eyes. "You never said why you asked me here. Apologizing for yesterday?"

He scoffed. "Hardly. I'm curious about you. I heard you as you and your bodyguards pulled away yesterday. You knew who we were, who I was, the entire time, but made it appear as though you were in the dark. Why?" He took a sip then set his cup down. "Why did you save an enemy?

I took a deep breath and sunk further into my chair -which was probably the most comfortable chair in the world by the way- and thought it over for a second. "Enemy? What do I have against you? What have you done to me that would make me hate you? I mean, other than you holier-than-thou attitude, which is possibly the most annoying thing in the entire world, just so you know. And at the time all I seen was a person about to be hit by a car. I couldn't just stand there and watch somebody get smeared. You needed help and I was ready to help."

His perfectly sculpted eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. "But you're the son of the leader of the South. I'm East. That alone makes us enemies."

"Does it?" I asked, somewhat upset one of the few people I knew from the outside considered me an enemy.

"That is the way it has always been with the South, East and North. You should despise even being seen with someone of the opposing side, especially since you are the son of the leader." He stated like a fact.

I mulled this over as the waitress set my steaming cup of coffee in front of me. "If that's true why did you ask me here today?" His eyes slid closed and he took in a deep breath.

"My brother rules the family. I am second born. Even being alive is a disgrace." A violent shudder snapped through me and I wondered how someone who looked so poised and fragile could be so pessimistic. "Besides, you're an interesting person. I was curious about you. Albeit you are the most annoying person I've ever laid eyes on."

"Jerk."

"Together again?" A rough gravelly voice almost whispered from behind me. I looked over my shoulder to see the tall red head clutching a tall to go cup. I shivered in excitement. The red head had an air of violence that set my body tingling. A sensation I couldn't explain. The word dangerous echoed through my mind and sent a pleasant shudder through my body.

I smiled broadly and waved him over to the large leather seat to my left. Gaara moved his pale, lithe body across the noisy old wooden floor soundlessly and sat down, glancing first at me then Sasuke. The three of us were silent, glancing briefly between the companions that we, I'm sure, least expected to ever be with us. Despite the silence, there wasn't the hostility of rivalry in the air, but something odd floated between us. I broke the silence between the three of us first. "Fancy running into you here." I remarked with a lame smile.

"Just stopping by for a day starter." Pale pink lips pulled into a smile.

Confusion pulled at me. "Day starter? It's three thirty."

"Some of us keep odd hours."

I raised an eyebrow at him and shrugged. "Whatever rocks your cradle I guess."

The raven haired teen shook his head and glared at me. "Who cares. You never answered my first question and that is the answer I am the most interested in."

Gaara

Of course I hadn't just shown up randomly. I had seen the blond on the street handing money to a cabby that looked scared shitless. But the real surprise was who the innocent boy was meeting at the oddest looking café in the city. Both looked completely at ease with each other despite the bickering words. The bronzed boy looked into his drink which looked more like cream, sugar and something flavor full rather than coffee. And seemed to mull the question over.

The Uchiha looked as if he were losing his patience while Uzumaki looked as if he were struggling for words. It was comical and made me relax, though, not enough to keep my eyes off the door. "And what question was that?" I asked, though I already knew, delighting in the nervous way Naruto's tongue flicked out to swipe across his lips. That one smooth moment played over again in my mind as Sasuke repeated his question.

"You knew who we were, yet pretended you didn't. Why?" The pale boy asked again.

The blond fidgeted in his seat and took a deep breath. "Because I thought if I didn't know you, I could know you. I spend my days under lock and key and it seems you get to go anywhere you please. You both share a freedom I envy so much. To be honest, though, it took me a minute to place your faces. I nothing about you other than your names, but you both have something I want desperately. That and… well, Gaara, seems so dangerous my body goes on edge. It's kinda like when you go on a roller coaster ride and get that second of freak-out-I'm-gonna-die thrill." I smiled into my cup. Oh dear. I could show him a feeling so much better. "And Sasuke, you seem so arrogant that I just want to knock you down a few pegs."

The nonchalant, almost innocent, way he said his last sentence made me inhale my mouthful of burning hot coffee. Letting out a little cough I forced my panicking body to calm and keep myself from laughing. I looked up to see Sasuke's glare narrow and something flash at the door. "As if an idiot like you could."

The blond started his reply with a truly happy grin, but I silenced him with a hand, pulling him down. His eyes flashed with something then gave me a quizzical look. "I assume you are not supposed to be here." I whispered. Naruto nodded. "The two men from yesterday are here. The brunet looks furious." The blue eyes widened in fear. "Unless you want to leave with them, you should do as I say." He nodded again, still looking as if his life was in danger. "Uchiha?" I asked, ignoring how much I was enjoying this position of power over the blue eyed innocent.

"Fine." He grimaced despite the joy in his eyes.

I pulled the blond from his chair, grateful he had chosen one with it's back to the door, and swung him around the side of the couch Sasuke was on. "Alright. I need you to walk outside, Sasuke. To the left there is an alley, there is a window in the ladies room, it'll be the seventh one down. Wait there." The onyx eyed youth stood, threw some money on the table and walked past the two inept bodyguards on their way towards us with the waitress that had served the blond. I cursed and pulled the, thankfully, silent Naruto into the shadows of the dark hallway. Pushing the door open without second thought, I flung the blond into the restroom and dashed to the window. "Go." I hissed. He scrambled up to the narrow window and heaved himself through it, landing with a thud and several curses. I nimbly repeated the clumsy blonds exit, twisting and landing on my feet.

"Wow." mumbled the blond, still rubbing his head. Voices sounded from the other side of the wall, telling me our escape was not done.

"Run to the end of the alley, but walk out.." I pulled out a black knit cap and shed my coat, handing them to the blond. "Put these on." He did as I said without hesitation, replacing his neon orange parka with my beige trench coat.

"What do I do with this?" He asked quietly.

I grabbed it and rolled it into a ball. "Go." The two took off as I jammed it under a pile of trash. I sprinted after them and caught up easily. "Be casual. Blend." I commanded and they did. That feeling of power came back, making my toes curl, wondering if they were always so compliant. The two bodyguards ran out of the alley, scanning the crowd frantically, the silver haired one pulling out a cell phone. I grinned. A few more yards and we could turn the corner and disappear easily.

Suddenly the sound of a nuclear alarm erupted from the blonds pocket. "Shit." I hissed as the two turned towards the three of us. Naruto was frantically trying to look casual while slapping his pocket to silence his phone. "Forget it. Run!" I snapped. The three of us took off, rounding the corner as we came to it. From the shouts behind us I knew they were getting closer. "Look for a cab without slowing."

"Here." Sasuke announced, jumping into one as the last occupants climbed out. The blond scrambled in after him, followed by me.

"Downtown." I snapped at the driver.

"Where to. I need an address." The guy behind the wheel snarled before glancing back at me. The two were almost to the door.

"Go." I commanded quietly. The guy just nodded and took off. After fifteen minutes I pulled the ecstatic blond from the backseat and waited for Sasuke to climb out. I paid the driver then led the two into the mall.

"That was amazing!" Naruto shouted, throwing his hands in the air. "Seriously! The coolest fucking thing ever. I thought I'd ruined it all with the whole cell phone disaster. You are amazing!" His smile was so wide the only amazing thing I could see was that his face was still together. "You should plan all of my escapes."

"You are the biggest spaz I have ever met." Sasuke muttered.

Sasuke

The blonds excitement was catchy. Even I was excited to have run away from the two, though they were not even after me. "This is the greatest day ever." He announced as we wandered around. "Why are we here anyway?" He asked, looking very uncomfortable. "Didn't figure you for a mall person, Red."

"Your mood swings are confusing." Gaara muttered. "And I only picked this place for its amount of people."

I sighed and ran my hand through my hair. "I think crowded places make the Prince uncomfortable."

"Whoa Princess. We've got to talk about you calling me that." Gaara snorted in what I assumed was laughter. My anger soared.

"Princess?" I spat the word, unable to say anything to the insult.

"Princess Sasuke." The assassin mumbled quietly, snorting again.

"I'm glad it's making you laugh!" I snarled, whipping around and stomping away. It wasn't the insult that made me angry so much as my inability to think of a comeback.

"Oh, come back!" Naruto shouted after me. I heard him run to catch up and, though I couldn't hear him, I'm sure Gaara was with him. "I'm sorry, but being called that is the worst for me. I've vowed to kill the person that came up with it." A warm hand landed on my shoulder. I shook it off and faced the two most puzzling features in my life. "Look I just want to be your friend. Both of you. You guys are the weirdest, most interesting people I have ever met. So I'm sorry. For reals." Silence greeted this statement.

Friends? Friends with the son of the leader of the South? Me? That would be impossible. It could never work out. Someone would die on one side and we would fall apart. Something could happen between us and the three of us would start a war. I would probably destroy the blond. He got under my skin so easily. But still, the words warmed me. Friends with the beautiful, but annoying blond. Friends with the mysterious, alluring red head.

"I hate that expression." The blond gave a puzzled look at Gaara over his shoulder.

"What?"

"For reals. I hate that. I have no idea why." What the fuck? I stared at the tall, pale red head with a confused look. "What?"

"That was the weirdest thing I've heard you say." The blond announced, a smile taking over his golden face. A smirk replaced my confusion. I didn't know if it was intended or not but Gaara had erased the tension between Naruto and I. "I need a new coat now."

He shed the beige one the redhead had given him to escape and handed it back. "I suggest something a little less…"

"Bright?"

"Ridiculous." I offered. "Especially if you're going to continue to sneak out. Something darker." I yawned. The blond thought for a minute as we walked into a store. When he wasn't speaking, he was quite… beautiful. Almost angelic with that golden hair and dark skin that looked as if it would be warm to the touch. I admired the way he so freely showed his emotions. He did not care what a bystander thought of him. Naruto, it seemed, could care less if he offended or enlightened. As long as he could just be himself.

"What about this?" He asked, holding up a black men's pea coat. Gaara and I nodded in approval. "Awesome. And check this out." The blond grinned pulling it open to reveal a neon orange lining. "Isn't this awesome. They come with all kinds of neon linings."

"What's with you and orange?"

"Donno."

I rolled my eyes as Gaara gave another snort of laughter.

.:.

"Give me your phone." the red head stated taking the blonds phone without waiting for permission. "Do they always think you leave the grounds when you cannot be found?"

"Yeah. I'm either in my room or running around town. I've heard they've stopped looking around inside." Naruto yawned. "Why?"

"He wants you to sneak back in, not to your rooms but somewhere else."

"Right." Gaara handed the blond his cell phone. "Different ring tone. My number is under black."

"Black? Oh right… Why do I need your number?" Gaara rolled his eyes. "Um… You guys busy tomorrow?" My heart thudded. See them again? Tomorrow? That would be… I mean. Did they really want me there? Wouldn't I be a bother? "Sasuke?"

"I don't know." I responded, ignoring the giddy feeling in my chest. "Call me then." I waved over my shoulder, walking to a cab as Gaara started fading into the crowed.

"Wait! Where the heck do I sneak into?" The blond called after us.

"The laundry room." Gaara stated, full hidden in a sea of people.

"Make a fort." I called as the cab pulled away.

Naruto had said he wanted to be friends with me. Gaara had given me his number. Did it always feel like this? Making friends. Was your heart supposed to race at the thought of them calling you? No feeling in the world could compared to the way I was feeling. Deidara could be rolling all over my bed when I got home and I could care less. Itachi could publicly make a fool of me, but those numbers in my phone would lift me up instantly.

Aware of how much I was smiling I snapped out of it. This didn't change my world. This was not something to be so excited over. Two numbers to two people I should have nothing to do with. In fact if the blond called the next day I should ignore it. I was disposable and once those two realized it, I would be gone.

That thought sobered me up quickly. But that little voice in the back of my head whispered that I now mattered to someone.

God I would
God I would
I would meet you
Would you meet me?
-Blue October

Sasuke's is shorter than the others, but making it longer would drag the next chapter into this one. ...ugh.

Chapter song: Caress By Drive Like Jehu

Thanks for reading this poorly updated fic. Tell me what you think. La la la.