well hello there :D believe it or not i've been slowly working on this for 8 mounths, yeah its also the longest chapter i've ever written, sorry for the wait the other chapters will be up soon. enjoy, remember to review

"open your eyes as wide as you can for me" The nurse cooed, sliding a torch from Gaara's right eye to his left. His eyes flicked left to right, obedient but wary.

"hmm, have you always had such a tiny pupil?" She asked leaning quickly over Gaara. Sand rushed up from the floor, as it gripped her arm she glanced down bewildered.

She was not alone, Gaara also stared. It shouldn't have moved. Unless he'd done it unconsciously somehow. He used some of his limited Chakra feeling it burn as it rushed to his hands, and pushed it away, the sand sliding quickly of the bed with dull pinging noises, all except for a few grains which had caught between the hair of her arm.

"okay well that was the final test" she murmured quickly, stepped back and fiddling with one of the machines he knew wasn't related to his treatment.

Sighing, he hoped she wouldn't run off before she finished her job "I believe you should be free to go, in about an hour or so, when we've sorted your paperwork"

he was surprised by the quick discharge, he'd gotten the idea in his head that he'd be in hospital for a while.

She removed the wires from his body, he winced as he felt the burning pain of the tube as it got dragged out of his arm, He looked to the machines as they beeped a final time. One wire he noted was particularly strange, It was attached to just a button.

Tilting his head slightly, he risked his new freedom "so I am fine?"

"well apart from severe exhaustion, yes. Your chakra channels have all slimmed to adjust to the smaller chakra capacity. Your brain has recovered nicely. You are a completely healthy boy again Mr Subaku" she summarized, "but your insomnia will have to be cured. Without the-ugh.. extra energy, your body won't sustain that lack of sleep for that long" she chided. Gaara didn't react hearing the same thing the night before. And yet he still hadn't slept his first peaceful sleep without the demon. He hadn't even thought of sleeping. How could he? when assassins could just walk in at any second. The last thing he was going to do was shut his eyes and fall into unconsciousness. He glared reflectively. No.

"right that appears to be all, if you experience nausea, fainting, severe confusion, memory loss or any other symptom you deem unusual then please come back immediately" she concluded, giving Gaara a last once over before walking out the room, Gaara could hear her call out to someone as she left. He leaned back pushing into the hard pillows behind him.

He commended the lady for her job; it was rare somebody helped him of their own violation.

Feeling anxious as silence settled, his hand moved to his eye instinctively activating the third eye justu; Watching as the sand took up the form of a brown eye. pain ripped at his head. He sustained it for five seconds, just able to see light threw it before the eye split and turned back to sand. 'Healthy boy' my ass he cursed, squinting threw the sudden migraine. Well there goes his chance at a little peace of mind, he wasn't usually so weak. He crossed his arms feeling sulky.

His ears pricked up as he heard a familiar voice. He waited as the noise drew closer, his migrane being ignored.

His door smashed open.

He sat up straighter as his hands started to make seals, although surprised by the lack of more movement he calmed himself, realising he was only looking at his sister. he put his hands down, although he did rethink his attack when he registered her expression. Something had pissed her of.

"Gaara. Please tell me why I've had to hear about an assignation attempt on you from a nurse," she spat the word nurse like a curse, while still striding into the room, only stopping when she could physically walk no closer; her legs pressed against his cold metal bed.

He noted several other shinobi mainly leaf nins piling into the room, putting him on edge. He couldn't spy blonde hair.

"it was not your business" He answered, folding his arms as tight as he could with his weak muscles.

"God, I hate when you do this!" she hissed, Sakura stepped forward placing a hand on her arm which was quickly shrugged off.

"look, Gaara's drugged and your tired, you guys can catch up later right" Sakura said a fake shit eating smile firmly on her face. Temari stared at her for a long second. Gaara knew if Kakuro was here, this is where he'd make a joke.

"Fine, but we will talk later Gaara" she hissed, before taking a deep breath, moving her hip to take up a more relaxed pose "anyway the doctor told us you're okay to leave soon"

He nodded

"we'll be here till then," Kakashi said speaking for the Leaf Ninja

"Look, you are not going to move a muscle without me knowing about it okay?" Temari ordered, her hands reaching and gripping the metal of his bed

"I will not be followed" Gaara hissed turning his head slightly, his green eyes looked like poison in the bright sterile environment.

"you have no choice, you have shown you cannot look after yourself twice now" Temari spat, motioning to Gaara's blackened neck, Gaara's face turned expressionless, the suna nins that had known Gaara from before tensed

"I am not weak" he stated, meeting Temaris gaze firmly.

Everyone's muscles were locked, anticipating some kind of fight, half expecting Gaara to completely lose it or Temari to start screaming.

Sakara looked to Kakashi trying to determine the plan of action, sure Gaara no longer had a demon inside him, but she remembered what Gaara had done to Lee, Sasuke and her. Her hand trembled as she steadied herself, trying to stop remembering how close her team had come to death, from the boy in front of them. But looking at Temari it seemed like she'd lost her energy. letting out a huge sigh and slumping slightly.

"what was that" someone whispered,

"The council members want to see you, I've made them wait for two hours but you know what there like" Temari said tapping her nail on the side of the bed, Gaara remained motionless for a few seconds before knodding. He swung a pale leg out from the thin hospital blankets.

"no, stay there Gaara, Sakura go request a wheel chair from the front desk please" Kakashi ordered, Sakura snapped out of her conversation quickly moving out of the room. There was silence. Every breath echoed around the room.

Thankfully Sakura returned quite quickly with the wheelchair, and was able to break the uncomfortable silence.

Naruto gazed at the mahogany desk next to the bed he was in. It had two fat drawers and was polished so thoroughly he could make out a blue eye staring back.

The desk refused to get more interesting, but maybe that was what Naruto wanted. It continued the way it was, no changes, troubles, emotional breakdowns and no lethal injury's. It would continue to be.

He flicked his eyes to the clock automatically before drawing them quickly back. It was 11AM. A submerged part of him was thrilled he could lie in bed this long, as he hadn't had a proper day off for around a year now. He felt like some sort of rouge ninja. Badass. He smiled at his thoughts, until his reality came rushing in.

Rolling onto his back he stretched his aching limbs. peering to the side he saw Neji was long gone from the room. The other side of the bed warm but he could tell the heat was from the desert rather than past body warmth.

As the sun moved the shadows around his room, He decided it was time he moved. Particularly because he'd spied a suspicious dinner cart standing ominously near the window.

A warm breeze swam threw the room. But for the first time since entering Suna the weather wasn't completely crippling.

Crawling over the mattress he pulled on the tray, it revealed itself as some sort of soup substance. Dipping the tip of his finger into it, he found it was cold. Although if that was from the time it had sat there, or whether that was how the soup was served was anybody's guess. Bringing his finger carefully to his lips, he darted a tongue out quickly. Salty, kind of tangy as well, after a few minutes contemplating the strange taste, he decided it wasn't bad at all. He grabbed the spoon.

After eating, he quickly got dressed, the beginnings of anxiety stirring in his gut.

Pushing the heavy door open, he walked down the right corridor, hoping that if the other ninjas were anywhere in the house they would be in the other bedrooms.

He walked all the way round the giant balcony overlooking the downstairs entrance before going up a winding staircase onto the next floor.

A door was propped open, the only door in this corridor. He walked forward while absentmindedly noticing the door weight appeared to be a pile of sand.

He looked up and met green eyes.

"Gaara?" Naruto questioned, almost choking on air.

Gaara snapped his head up, although nothing but a small widening of teal eyes indicated any surprise, He was leaning against the headboard of a grand four poster bed. Naruto sighed, his chest hurt.

"you're in my house?" Gaara asked, Naruto absorbed the sound almost humming to the deep timber, but couldn't help recognising the hesitation.

"yeah, woooh, I didn't think about how this was your house, must have been amazing to play in when you were younger" Naruto asked scratching his elbow, Gaara tilted his head slightly.

"sure" he said sounding uncertain, Naruto realised he had lost Gaara's trust while he'd been away

"well whatever, look Gaara-"

"Naruto they want me to be the fourth Kazekage" Gaara interrupted raising his head again, Naruto's jaw dropped. His thoughts stuttering to a holt. Kazekage, like a Hokage. Gaara!

"WHAT?" he screeched, his voice cracking embarrassingly

"They informed me this morning" Gaara replied, trailing of as if to say more but not able to.

"b-but, Gaara, don't you need the village's respect to be elected?" Naruto asked, realising as he finished his sentence how offensive he sounded.

"no, its rather different in suna-" Gaara paused his hands pushing roughly threw his red hair, Naruto watched the movement, his fingers twitched by his side "- In Suna the strongest ninja is the KazeKage. and I've been elected, so I w-" He paused again, but this time he didn't look like he would continue, his head falling forward slightly, hair brushing over the Kanji carved into his skin. Silence again.

Naruto moved forward, reaching his hand out to push Gaara's arms back, consequently forcing him to lift his head. Gaara eyes locked on excited blue again, Naruto stretched his arm out around Gaara's waist. He gave his biggest smile, enthusiasm flowing threw him as he gathered his words; ready to empower Gaara. But then he properly saw Gaara. Black insomnia circles, years of distrust present in his Teal eyes, the tattoo he had inflicted on himself as his family and village betrayed him. Gaara was as broken as they come, and to have to lead a village that fucked him over. Well.

He stuttered trying to arrange his thoughts, he wasn't good at subtle or sensitive words, and this was a mine field

"Gaara, do you want to be Kazekage?" He finally asked, Gaara's eyes shut, taking an audible breath.

"I'm not sure" his voice lacked the conviction it usually held, he looked young, his actual age for once. Naruto had to think again, he was suddenly terrified of saying anything that could make Gaara's expression worsen

"mm you know, you could do it. I mean, you would be awesome, you are the most badass ninja I've ever seen, you'd be the best kage ever, well bar me" Naruto said smiling, Gaara raised his chin a little, the words soothing his wounded pride from the humiliation of needing saving.

"I don't know if I could, the people-" He murmured stopping

"Go on" Naruto urged wanting to understand, Gaara gave him a deliberate glare, before turning away a little and avoiding Naruto's eyes

"The people hate me, they fear me, they- don't trust me, they will never accept me. I could not lead people who only followed because they fear me," Gaara said, pushing at Naruto's arms to move from his waist although his nails dug into the bare skin stopping Naruto from fully moving away.

"no, Gaara, you're wrong, look they may not accept you now, but they will" Gaaras scoffed "Hey your talking to the champion here, I'm in your boat, and I got to shore in the end ya know" Naruto tilted Gaara's chin forcing the redhead to meet his eyes "my village are accepting me, I mean it took a while and a lot of patience. but you're Gaara man I love you so why wouldn't everybody else-" Naruto finished laughing with joy although his laugh cut of as he thought back threw his speech. Oh no. Please let this be another thing Gaara is ignorent of

"You love me?" Gaara's low voice replied, oh god. Naruto forced a long laugh

"Ahh ya know Gaara, ahhaha, I love you, I love..ramen, I love, Sakura- as friends, yeah, obviously, I love women, ahhha, what would the wild women do without me? probably cry" Naruto carried on, urging the floor to open up at any time, a random exploding tag just about now would be brilliant, akatsuki; where you at?

" Naruto?" Gaara said his voice deepening further, tension building. He felt anger rise at Naruto's reluctance to meet his eyes, his hand started moving almost unconsciously, mirroring Naruto's earlier move gripping his chin and pulling him forwards.

Gaara's teal burned into Naruto's startled bright blue.

Reflexively Naruto felt a blush working its way over his whole body. He took back what he'd thought earlier about the weather here; no, it was not comfortable at all! It was burning.

He couldn't maintain this eye contact, his heart pounding. Gaara opened his mouth to start speaking, a rush of almost relief ran threw him, whatever Gaara was going to say at least he would get it over with.

"what do you feel, when you talk of love" Gaara finally asked, Naruto blinked, his eyebrows furrowing as he tried to do some complex philosophy. love; come on, did anybody really know what love was? there was love portrayed in magazines and novels, but it was such an odd concept.

"I'm not sure" Naruto eventually concluded, his thoughts too complex to evaluate.

Gaara nodded slightly, before looking to the left threw the high windows at the sky.

Without the pressure of the teal gaze, Naruto was free to stare all he wanted. Although his thoughts were stuttering to a lust induced halt, following the sharp cheekbones down to the red plump lips, lips he suddenly remembered pressing his against, oh god he remembered the high of kissing Gaara, how Gaara would moan if he bit him, Heat flared in his abdomen, but it was not the time. His muscles tensed as he fought down the urge to reach forward.

He wanted to drop the whole conversation, but he couldn't just push it out of his mind, it didn't work like that! would he ever stop thinking about Gaara? No, it didn't feel like he would. Hell, the entirety of the two years they had been apart, he had barely thought about anything else, wrinkles formed on his forehead at the strength of his own gaze, if they didn't discuss it now he would be cursed by those thoughts for the rest of his life.

"can we just talk" he started taking a deep breath, Gaara inclined his head to show compliance, but looked too content to show that he understood what Naruto wanted to talk about.

"like about us, like the whole thing" Naruto finished barely blinking, Gaara seemed to have paused "well say something" Naruto shouted without thinking, anticipation was killing him

" yes talk" Gaara said visibly startled, Naruto took a deep breathe realizing he was coming of as a crazy person.

"but. So, like, if-, god Gaara, what do you think about it?" Naruto cried his arms flailing

"what do I think?" Gaara repeated

"yep"

Silence.

Naruto looked away nervously scanning the room, he forced himself to slow down and read the titles of the books on the many bookshelf, of course Gaara would have a lot of books. he noticed there was a whole shelf dedicated to cactus

"I liked it" Gaara finished simply, Naruto looked back, breathing deeply to slow down a panic attack

"so, do you, ugh like me?" He asked hyperventilating,

"I've done some thinking about this over the past few years" Gaara said surprising Naruto, "what happened then was strange, I have never been interested in relationships before that, even ones with my own siblings, It was a shock, I did some research on my own you know," Gaara paused, Naruto was staring into the floor "I like you, but I'm not gay, I believe the term is pansexual"

"Pansex-what? You like me, like, like like me? wait research?" Naruto said brain visibly combusting, Gaara smiled surprising Naruto

"yes pansexual, it means I don't look at Gender, I fall in love with people because of their personality" Gaara was aware Naruto had never been much of a scholar so tried to keep it simple, although suspected Naruto wasn't taking anything in what so ever.

His personality? this baffeled Naruto, personality was not something he ever thought he could win someone over with.

"so I'm not gay?" Naruto asked hesitantly, certain his face was redder then Gaaras hair, although Gaara was busy staring at Naruto's eyelids frustrated he wasn't looking up

"Not necessarily I remember there being all kinds of sexualitys," Gaara mentioned , Naruto used his eyes to convey he wanted Gaara to continue but Gaara was never the most observant of social cues.

Naruto sighed trying to get his head around what Gaara had said, starting with the first; liking Naruto, like had a crush. Like would like to spend time with him and kiss him, his cheeks flushed with his thoughts. Was this *relationship* actually an option now? His cheeks flamed harder, ducking his head into his shoulder. There was silence.

A door opened somewhere in the house, Naruto looked towards the noise, wondering why Gaara wasn't as startled as him, as if reading his mind Gaara answered

"my sand is spread over the house, I know where everyone is" Gaara replied,

"what happened with the Akatsuke Gaara?" Naruto asked, surely Gaara should have been able to fight or at least should have known somebody was coming. He'd just demonstrated a way of knowing who came in. Gaaras face furrowed, appearing to almost scoff as he visibly remembered the day.

"I was sent home that day, something about my presence was disturbing some of the elders in charge of my father's investigation, I was frustrated, and in a rage I had left my sand across town. I don't remember arriving home, but quickly after I came upstairs. well there he was. It was my sand defence that prevented instant death, although I was knocked out quickly" Gaara took a deep breath sighing

"hey, come on, everyone has shit days, we could fit in some training if it would make you feel better" Naruto said forcing a huge smile slapping Gaara hard on the back, Gaara glared but felt his lips pulling up unsure why he was finding enjoyment from such a sore topic, seeing the small smile shot energy threw Naruto as he leant forward

"I mean, how could we leave Gaara alone with his sand castles?" Naruto joked, Gaara spluttered letting out shocked laughter

"fuck off" he mumbled but was unable to hold back another burst of laughter. he pulled himself together leaning back onto his hands while watching Naruto's own laughter fade into hiccups.

He could see Naruto staring at him, he expected Naruto to look away once he'd been caught, but he maintained his intense stare "you know you look beautiful when you laugh"

Gaara blinked, no. He didn't know that, in fact he was unaware he could even be considered attractive.

He looked away as his brain seemed to constrict, his tear ducts working without his consent. Calming himself he looked back, Naruto was still staring although looked a lot more uncertain. Gaara swallowed realising how much Naruto had exposed of himself for him. It was only fair to share something back.

"I don't want you to be with anybody else" Gaara admitted watching every new expression on Naruto's face anxiously, Naruto blinked quickly, panic rising, his heart clenched his fight or flight reaction triggering. He felt like he was having a heart attack for a few seconds there. It reminded him of previous memorys. His face fell.

"Gaara, I can't do this to you" Naruto signed, his hands just brushing Gaara's folded knee before returning "If we were in a relationship, i just-" Naruto sighed looking away for a long few seconds "I couldn't do that to you"

"what are you planning on doing?" Gaara asked quietly, Naruto tilted his head slightly not understanding what Gaara was asking

"what?"

"Your acting like a relationship would kill me, I can't do much with what I am unfortunately"

"No Gaara I want you-" Naruto cut himself of, stuttering out a deep breath, yup they were really exposing their hearts "I want you so badly as mine Gaara, you don't understand. This is soo strange to me, I just- Gaara it could be hell, I mean There's hardly been worldwide acceptance of gay relationships and- I just think we've both had enough problems" he finished looking down at his own folded knees. Gaara snorted

"You think being in a relationship would be hell?" Gaara asked, confused

"yes it could be" Naruto said fighting with himself to not sugar coat it "people don't like men being with men, the same people who spat at us now have more amunition-"

"I don't care" Gaara interrupted his voice becoming harsher "come on, if we were truly effected by what others think, we would have killed ourselves a long time ago" Naruto tried to interrupt but was cut off "You are stronger then you think, and I've already reached rock bottom, there's nothing any one can do or say, that would hurt me now. And I would never let anyone lay a fucking finger on you" Gaara finished his teal eyes flashing, his sand slightly visible in the air as it shimmered. Naruto gulped aware he may have a slight fetish for angry Gaara. he swallowed again, trying to get his thoughts back on track.

"I don't want to see you upset by something I did" Naruto explained, running a hand threw his already messy hair, images of the way Gaara had been were clear " I-No-We could meet secretly, but being in a relationship No"

"No?" Gaara echoed, he wasn't used to not getting his way, he wanted Naruto, and like a spoiled child he would get him, but he had barely talked more than 100 words his whole life, how was he supposed to know how to convince someone to be with him. And what if Naruto didn't want to be with him anyway. This must just be an excuse. Of course, why would anyone want to be with him, maybe this was the plan from the start, to prevent him from being a threat to the leaf.

Naruto watched Gaara, noticing how he began to close himself of, his features hardening, his signature glare becoming visible. His heart hurt, he had wanted to protect Gaara and he had ended up hurting him anyway. He opened his mouth although wasn't sure what he could say, he was sure they wouldn't work together, it was a mistake, his thoughts stuttered. No they were not a mistake, Gaara was the greatest thing to ever happen to him.

"your really gonna lose him" he blinked, aware the voice had come from inside him, kyuubi? he questioned back inside his head, "yes idiot, look I still don't like you but I'd rather not have to hear you longing for him for another two years, don't be such a pussy" he blinked, shocked, remembering that the kyuibi had helped him yesterday as well when Gaara had been on the verge of death. What was the fox up to? and should he listen to him? wait was the fox spying on him, ew had the fox been- he cut himself of when he noticed Gaara again.

"wooh Gaara are you okay?" Naruto asked tying to brake Gaara out of his state

" 'mm" Gaara replied, Naruto sat up surprised, Gaara was like a different person, his heart clenched

"I'm sorry Gaara, I just-"Naruto started aware this was all on him, he tried to remember why it was such a bad idea, every cell in his body was yearning for Gaara, his prior reasoning just felt stupid

"leave" Gaara demanded turning away.

"no! stop shutting me out, just talk to me" Naruto replied clutching onto the thin blanket making up Gaara's bed, he could feel himself start sweating as the sun bared down hotter threw the big windows. Gaara tilted his head slightly but didn't seem to react, after a few seconds of intense staring he stood and made his way to the window, Naruto watched confused but stood quickly when he realised Gaara was about to use that sand transport technique thing he had witnissed Gaara use before, he ran forward but sand was suddenly hard around his throat, he tried to gasp in air but it was impossible.

"shit-" Gaara spat his hands reaching forward as he automatically made the hand motion to drop the sand. Naruto gasped air again.

Staring at his hands Gaara couldn't work out where that had come from, it had felt like when he still had the demon inside him, it was completely without his control, he stared at Naruto, pleading to God that he hadn't done any damage, his eyes caught on the bright red bruising lining Naruto's throat, well at least they matched now, he huffed returning his hands to his side what the fuck was wrong with him.

Despite the new injury Naruto didn't seem fazed, seeing it as an excuse for Gaara to stay longer.

"Gaara, stop look, I ugh want to be with you okay, I do like you, maybe not love yet, although I am pretty obsessive so who knows-" He said his cheeks turning as red as his throat, Gaara stepped back but remained in the room. "I know that we shouldn't be together but, I just don't want to- not see you for another two years, like, I think we could be kind of cool- and-" His speech drifted of stopping his mumbling, there was silence as Gaara's mind worked.

"you asking me out Uzumacki?" he asked, making Naruto burst out laughing, the tension in the room dissipating.

"yes Gaara, I think I am" Naruto said still laughing

"what about all that shit before" Gaara asked not convinced, Naruto's hands dropped by his side

"I'm not sure Gaara, I'm really fucking confused and scared alright, but I can't just watch you leave, I think I wanna' try alright" He finished, aware his emotions were changing faster than Sakura's.

Gaara started before ducking is head, he was confused why his face felt like it was burning, he had long ago adapted to the desert heat "have you been to Suna before?"

"No" Naruto replied. His smile firmly in place, as he attempted to put aside his embarrassment to witness and enjoy Gaaras rare bashfulness, while fidgeting with the brass button on his right pocket

Gaara moved of the tall bed, he instantly dropped, Naruto lunged trying to catch him but the sand was there supporting him under his arms

"Jesus Gaara, don't scare the shit out of me like that, what happened? are you okay?" Naruto asked hovering around Gaara's side unsure if he should be doing anything, the sand rose up putting Gaara back to his full height. Naruto watched anxiously as Gaara put weight on his feet.

"Yes, I've just lost a lot of strength in my muscles, its fine" Gaara answered the sand dropping as he stood on his own

"well come on" Gaara said stepping in front of Naruto, he was suddenly filled with the urge to touch the blond, it wasn't even an inappropriate urge he would be satisfied just brushing his hair back or tracing the marks on his cheeks.

Naruto smiled admiring his boyfriends face with the sun behind him

Gaara unaware and impatient pulled Naruto to his feet and dragged him up and out of the room, Naruto managed to right himself, before having to walk quickly to reach Gaara's side again.

Stepping threw the main doors Naruto immediately scowled fighting to not pull back into the shade of the house. Sure he liked hot weather but this was ridiculous, no wonder there was no water here, he could feel his spit drying in his mouth.

"Jeeze Gaara, how do you get anything done in this" Naruto cried wanting to pull off his jacket because of the heat, but didn't want the sun to touch his skin, Gaara smiled at his response long used to the strong sun, in fact it kind of felt comforting to him somehow, like an old friend.

"we usually go out at noon when its cooler but-" Gaara's voice cut of as he stepped back into the mansion reappearing with a bundle of something "take of your jacket and wear this" Naruto was about to make a 'wanting to get him naked' joke, but even the thought of saying it in front of Gaara made his cheeks burn, so he slid his jacket of revealing his black mesh top, the poncho looking thing Gaara handed him was brown and Naruto doubted it would be any better than his jacket, but pulling it on he found he could feel a slight wind.

Gaara couldn't take his eyes of Naruto as they walked to the centre, seeing him in desert apparel was surreal, it was as if Naruto had grown up in his city, he could almost imagine Naruto being with him since they were kids. He shut down these thoughts aware that he could easily get caught in them, But Naruto really did look good, even if it was just Kankuro's old poncho.

When they got out into the main streets Gaara realised he himself had never particularly enjoyed Suna, so just decided on taking Naruto to the biggest tourist destinations. Entering one of the bigger streets he steered them right into the market place.

"wooh I didn't know Suna had so many people" Naruto cried, gaining him a few stares, although they quickly fell away when they saw who was with him. The streets suddenly less busy

"yes, our population is over 2000" Gaara replied,

"I wonder why our villages never like met up or anything, like i would never have known anything about Suna if we hadn't met" Naruto replied, seeeing Gaara's expression Naruto corrected himself "like i don't mean your whole village meet my whole village duh, but like field trips or some shit?"

"hm thats not acturlly a bad idea" Gaara replied, a man almost walked into him not looking where he was going, but quickly stumbled out of the way with a shocked squeal

"ohh you have churros here! I have always wanted to try them!" Naruto shouted pointing at a small handwritten sign

"hm yeah they are good" Gaara lied, too nervous to go near that stall before, the man behind the stand had been particularly cruel to him as a child

"come on, I'll buy" Naruto said steering them over.

Gaara determined for this to be a good experience for Naruto caught the old mans eye and gave him his finest glare. The man blinked sturbonly back, oh great he was one of the crazy ones.

"two churros old man" Naruto called while reaching into his pocket, the old mans wrinkles consticted, Gaara connected the sand under the guys feet to his chakra preparing to deliver a warning but the man just huffed turning to grab two fresh from the grill wrapping them quickly and handing them over

"Here" Naruto said holding out a handfull of coins,

"wait let me get my glasses" the man crocked picking up a pair of surprisingly trendy black frames and slotting them on his cracked nose. Inspecting the money and determining it decent, he opened the cash register searching for the change.

When he finally looked up at Gaara, he physically recoiled his eyes narrowing, his leather face scrunching before looking at the churros as if to snatch them back. Before the old man could act Gaara grabbed Naruto's hand pulling him away from the stall, distracting him with a bit of sand in his eyes, as they turned the street into the next.

"Hey I didn't get my change Gaara" Naruto complained, although stopped thinking at the sight of their hands linked together. It was kinda hard to adjust to walking linked together, and it was way too hot, but it worked to distract him so Gaara left his hand in Naruto's grasp.

He stepped forward forcing Naruto to move as well, after a few steps Naruto noticed the churro's dripping oil onto his hands and handed one over to Gaara. Studying the pastry Gaara took a bite, moaning as it exploded into his mouth. He took another bite absolutely loving the taste, Naruto was staring at him, raising his eyebrow. Naruto tried his, and Gaara watched in glee as he shut his eyes in obvious ecstasy.

"god Gaara I am going to have to come visit you more" Naruto crooned,

"I can't say the same about the ramen" Gaara replied balling up and tossing his napkin into a bin as they past

"Gaara! no you break my heart!" Naruto cried, "I think I'm gonna have to rethink us" Sensing that joking about breaking up when they were barely together was not the smartest thing to do Naruto quickly added "so where you takin' me today?"

"Hmm uh the palladium is to the left of the town, there is also the town hall if you would like to see that" Gaara replied

"yeah why not Gaara" Naruto said smiling, they walked for a while threw the markets, Gaara was mostly silent but threw in a few remarks, Naruto didn't mind, he knew Gaara was listening to him and that was all that mattered.

Although Noticing Gaara's expression or lack of one Naruto felt insecurity

"uh Gaara if you wanted to do this another day that's fine, like if you're bored with me it's cool" Naruto mumbled taking his hand out of Gaara's grasp turning to face him, Gaara's hand clutched reflectively strangely missing the blondes touch.

"I'm not" Gaara replied confused "But if you are bored with me I agree"

"no not at all" Naruto quipped quickly giving his smile he was known for. Gaara raised his eyebrow unsure why this route of conversation had come up.

"you just looked a little uh bored," Naruto quipped trying to be direct, Gaara stared around the centre realising his contempt for the place must have been leaking into his expression. He looked back to Naruto unsure if he should acturlly say how he'd been giving him a tour of his most hated places, surrounded by the worst memories of his entire life.

"I guess I've just seen these places alot, they don't cause me the same excitement any longer"

"oh, well what is your favourite place then?" Naruto asked confused why they had been spending time in places witch Gaara hadn't enjoyed, Gaara blinked a few times confused, he thought about just chosing a random tourist destination and playing it of, but he had never been a particulary good actor and they had all day so he stood taller preparing himself for the journey.

"it'll take an hour to get there" Gaara said watching Naruto for signs of hesitation

"well we better get started" Naruto said bouncing slightly on the top of his feet. Though as they reached the large gate to exit Suna Naruto suddenly looked down

"Wait are you sure you can manage running?"

"Yes i should be fine, and anyway we won't be running" Gaara replied, Naruto's next sentence turned into a gasp as the sand moved under him into a platform "wooh Gaara" He shouted as the platform of sand started moving at quite an alarming pace, Gaara smiled at Naruto's enthusiasm, trying to not grimance at the soreness of using his chakra.

yeah no smut this chapter although next chapter prepare yourselfs :D i was also thinking about writing a sequal, like i would love to write about everyone finding out and Gaara becoming the kazekage, lots of love, oh please review babys