Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto. I only own this awkward little conversation. Enjoy!

A/N: Take it as what you will, but this is NOT yaoi. Just Gaara confused about these things called "emotions".

Gaara was attempting to go through his paperwork as his blond friend chattered endlessly, going on about something that had happened between him and Sakura a few days ago. Gaara made a grunt of acknowledgement, but then froze. "Naruto..."

"...Sakura-chan still says tha-huh?" The blonde stopped talking, realizing that the red head's aqua eyes were staring at him intensely. "Yeah, what is it, Gaara?"

"Could I...? Never mind. Continue with your story. I'm listening." The Kazekage went back to signing papers.

"Gaara, what's up?" Naruto said as he moved closer to the desk that was covered in a hurricane of paperwork.

"I told you it was nothing," the red head replied. "Now, either continue with your anecdote or leave; I'm very busy."

But Naruto wouldn't be put off so easily. He got his point across by knocking the papers to the floor and taking the pen from his friend's hand. He leaned over the desk. "Now, tell me," he said, grinning.

Gaara frowned, but when he noticed that Naruto was serious, he couldn't look at his friend. "It's nothing," he mumbled.

"Gaara, it's not 'nothing'," the blond said. "Now, please, tell me."

"I was wondering, what is...love?"

The question caught Naruto off-guard. "Um, well, what exactly do you mean?"

"I don't really know," Gaara said. "I mean...I know a little from Temari, but..."

Naruto rubbed the back of his neck in embarrassment. "Well, why don't we start there?" he said awkwardly, earning himself a look that meant that would clearly cross the boundaries the red head found as comfortable. Dang it all, though, if this whole conversation hadn't already crossed those boundaries for the blond. "We've already delved into this," he said, "we may as well tough it out."

Gaara sighed. Things were now extremely awkward between his best friend and himself, and he was the cause of it. He rubbed his temples, trying to lessen the impending migraine. "She told me that love...is what you feel for that precious person that you'd be willing to protect with your life."

Naruto stayed silent, trying to fathom how to go on. He wanted to get back to their normal relations terribly, where he did all the talking and Gaara merely added a comment here or there.

When Naruto didn't answer, Gaara went on. "Then, Naruto, does that mean...that I love you?"

"Uh, uh," Naruto stuttered. "You do know that there are different types of love, right?"

"Different...types?" The red head was clearly confused now.

Naruto put his face in his hands and shook his head. He was going to need therapy after this, although Gaara probably would need it more. "Yes," he said patiently. "There's love you feel for family, love you feel for friends and then there's-"

"Then there's what?" Gaara said curiously.

"Well, then there's when you're in love." Before the red head could question again, Naruto said, "While with every type, you're willing to give your life for that precious person, be it family member, friend, or...yeah, that. The only difference is how you express it." The look he received told him that he hadn't explained anything and had only created more confusion. Naruto sighed. Yes, he was definitely going to need therapy. "Well, if it's-you know how Temari will try to hug you sometimes?"

"Yes, and she always gets a face full of sand," the red head said bluntly.

"Well, yeah, but that's how family members show they care. And the same with close friends but-"

"How do you know if you just love somebody or if you're in love?" Gaara said.

Naruto gulped. Oh, how he wanted to run all the way back to Konoha right now. Or curl up in a ball and cry. Probably the second.

"Well?" Gaara was starting to become impatient.

Naruto poked his fingers together in a gesture so similar to Hinata's that, had he been in his right mind, he would have laughed. "Um, I don't think I can answer that Gaara...You've seen my love life."

Then the question the blond had dreaded hearing since this whole danged conversation started.

"Then how will I know if I just love you, or if I'm in love with you?"

Naruto could have died then and there and it wouldn't have erased his humiliation.