...Felt like some Naruto and Gaara stuff. First chapter's the worst in my opinion. Gaara is very OOC. Took too much time to make him in character and I had so many ideas in my head that I had to write down before I forgot. Time is after Sasuke's defection and before the time skip to Shippuden...

Uzumaki Naruto's whiskers.

The first time Subaka no Gaara had asked about them, Naruto had blinked and cocked his head as if he had no idea what Gaara was talking about. Gaara motioned to his own cheek and understanding lit Naruto's eyes.

"Oh, those."

Gaara hesitated at the tone. Naruto just shrugged and smiled. Were the markings a sore point for the blond? Perhaps they were just like his own unnatural features. When Gaara looked in a mirror, the circles around his eyes and the smooth brow always made him feel a small portion of that bitter loneliness that he had experienced as a child and even now sometimes. They were a physical reminder of the pain that had seemed as permanent as the dark skin framing his eyes.

Gaara knew their effect. It was very likely that those six thin lines were a source of turmoil even if the blond would never say so.

Gaara knew their origin. It was a result of the nine tailed fox that had been sealed inside the boy at birth.

Gaara didn't know what they felt like.

Naruto had found a falling leaf to occupy his attention and, in his mind at least, this excused him from commenting further. Gaara was not satisfied. The sand nin scooted closer and touched the blond's cheeks. He half expected them to feel like narrow bumps in the round planes of Naruto's face, but they were completely smooth, blending seamlessly with the skin. They did, however, give off a faint hum against Gaara's fingers. Chakra? Perhaps the fox's chakra was the cause for the discolorations just below the skin. Gaara wondered if the rings around his eyes gave off a similar vibe. "Interesting." He withdrew his fingertips and sat back.

Surprisingly, Naruto followed. Gaara blinked until he realized that Naruto's hands were clutching the white cloth woven around Gaara's deep red outfit.

Naruto realized it as well and quickly released his friend. He hadn't meant to cling, but people just didn't touch them. Well, Ino and Kiba had done it their first year at the academy but only because they had dared each other. And of course Iruka-senei. He used to stroke them to calm Naruto when he was a small child. But no one else touched them. Naruto wouldn't have let them even if they asked. He hated them, wished them away on countless shooting stars.

Naruto suddenly reached forward, anxious to touch the rings around Gaara's eyes. With a low growl, Gaara established a definite barrier of sand between the two. Naruto's hand was forced back by the shear force of the sand as it rushed up to protect the sand nin.

"Geez!" He shook his scraped palm. Gaara stood slowly.

"You could at least say you're sorry!" Naruto shouted as Gaara walked away.

...Very ubrupt, I realise. Like I said, this is the worst chapter.