Pranksters

Pranksters 10

The Truth Will Out


Sasuke leaned his chin against his hand. He stared sometimes at his own reflection in the tinted window of the glass, or at the busy pedestrians blurring past the blinking signs and neon lights of shops and restaurants luring in the Saturday night crowd. He watched them absently while his mind ran over figures, expected times of arrival and imagining what this city would look like once he plastered Naruto and Gaara's photos in every fashionable district and populated station in town.


His thoughts halted when fingers brushed against the hand splayed against the leather seat. Sasuke turned and stared over the tops of his sunglasses at Juugo's concerned look.


"We're almost there," he said softly. Sasuke nodded and returned his gaze to the tinted window. He caught Juugo's gray eyes in the reflection. Sasuke's fingers curled against the warm hand resting casually next to him. The drive wasn't far from the studio to Roppongi Hills.


The silver towers rose from the ground, reaching into the already darkening Tokyo sky. Somewhere behind these towers was a sun sinking into the ocean, but it had been a long time since Sasuke had watched a sunset in the city. His eyes traced a few orange rays reflecting off the tower walls of Sabaku’s penthouse.


Juugo rushed out of the car as soon as they pulled into the driveway. He opened the door and stood straight while Sasuke stepped out of the car slowly. He adjusted his shirt, pulling the edges straight and glanced around. If the doorman recognized him there was no reflection of it in his politely smiling face. Sasuke nodded and was allowed inside the automatic doors. Sasuke strolled up to the lobby desk and smiled at the pretty attendant.


“May I help you sir?” Her dazzling smile revealed every one of her pearly teeth.


“Yes, you can.” Sasuke smiled and pulled off his sunglasses. He leaned against the counter and noted the brief moment of recognition when her eyes widened slightly in surprise. “My name is Uchiha Sasuke and I’m here to see a Mr. Gaara Sabaku. He was supposed to meet me down here,” Sasuke glanced at his clock, “but I fear I’m terribly late for our meeting. Could I trouble you to let me up?”


She smiled and turned to look at the phone. “It’s very unusual to let guests go on up without a guest list. Let me call Mr. Sabaku and confirm…”


“Please,” Sasuke leaned forward a little more. “I don’t want to trouble him as much as that. He will feel compelled to come down and really, I just need to deliver him a package.” Sasuke held up an envelope holding up proofs from the day’s shoot. “I prefer to hand it to him myself. They are rather important business documents.”


Her rouge painted lips opened slightly then closed again. A smile spread slowly and she nodded in understanding. “Mr. Sabaku did look rather tired earlier. I suppose it’s okay… just this once,” she bit her lip. She pressed a button and the beige doors to the inner lobby slid open. “Go ahead,” she said, nodding towards the door.


Sasuke smiled at her conspiratorially. “You’re a doll,” he said, stepping quickly before the doors slid closed. “I owe you one,” he winked. The attendant smiled bashfully and looked away.


The smile quickly faded as he turned to face familiar elevator doors. Sasuke pressed the arrow pointing upwards and watched the floor count make it’s way down. He tapped the manila envelope against his leg impatiently. The first obstacle was down. Next came the hard one.


Garra dabbed his hair with the cream colored towel, careful to squeeze the ends of any excess water. He padded across the hardwood floor with bare feet, not willing to be bothered with the task of searching out his slippers at the moment. The afternoon light spilled through the large window, softened only by the thin, gauzy curtain.

Somewhere, for someone, it was probably a very nice day. Gaara, on the other hand, felt like sliding the heavy curtains shut and blocking out any reminders that this wretched day was not over yet.

He draped his towel over the dining room chair, a habit of Naruto’s, he reflected with grim amusement and dragged his feet into the kitchen. He ignored the chill of the tiles against his bare feet, opened the freezer and pulled out his special blend of coffee. He opened the package, inhaled deeply and willed the delicious fragrance to somehow calm him. He was calm, he told himself, taking another deep breath. He was calm, he thought again.

Gaara closed the freezer and moved towards the coffeemaker on the counter.

Who was he kidding? He thought and pulled out the measuring cup. If he had his way he would bash in Uchiha’s face. And then he would tape that smarmy bastard’s eyes open and make him watch every second of Naruto’s enraptured face as Gaara sucked him off.

Gaara clenched his jaw. He could feel the rage building beneath his skin. He tightened his fingers into a fist, flexed and repeated. He took a deep breath and reminded himself to stay cool, calm, and unaffected. Gaara had started the fight and it was only a matter of time before Uchiha struck back. Now that he had, Gaara could either turn the other cheek or deal the next blow.

Gaara set up the coffeemaker and watched it brew. Each drop of dark liquid reminded him of the black eyes that scrutinized him all morning.

Anger aside, it didn’t make it any less painful. That last blow still stung like a physical punch to the gut. Naruto's regret-filled eyes ate away at him with their hurt and concern. Had the regret been over being with Uchiha or being caught? Did he regret their actions last night having been reminded of Uchiha's prowess this morning?

Gaara’s legs felt weak. He held onto the counter and tried not to think it, tried not to even let it enter his mind.

Was Uchiha better in bed?

Gaara leaned over the counter on both elbows and held his head in both hands. Now was not the time to obsess over stupid details. Now was not the time to torture himself with what ifs. He tried to cling onto the secret exchange between them in the morning: Naruto's smile, the soft brush of their hands, the way their bodies responded to one another so easily in front of Uchiha's lense...

Or maybe it was because Uchiha was there, the sadist in him suggested.

But Naruto is attracted to me, his mind warred on. He thumped his head against the cupboard, hating the way his mind kept looping down the same circular argument. He needed to get a grip, to formulate his counter-attack. He needed to stop doubting himself and face his roommate. He needed to know where Naruto stood in all of this.

A slight thumping caught his attention. He raised his head and strained to hear over the coffee maker. He heard another thumping and stood up straight. He tried to tidy his still damp locks and made sure the tie at the waist of his black robe was secure.

The knocking was much more evident from the kitchen doorway. "I'll be right there," he shouted and wondered if Naruto had perhaps forgotten his key. His heart began to race at the thought of Naruto being on the other side of that door. As much as he knew he needed to talk to the blond in question, he wasn't sure he was actually ready for the confrontation.

Gaara kept his hands steady as he threw the lock. He took a quick look out the peep hole and paused. His nervousness instantly turned into ire. Gaara pushed open the door.

"Can I help you?" he looked down his nose at the hand posed to knock again. Uchiha lowered his hand and held out a A-4 sized manila envelope.

"You left before I could show these to you."

Gaara held the door open with his foot and crossed his arms. "I wasn't aware Uchiha Sasuke, famed model and photographer, is a delivery boy in his free time. You could have left it with my assistant." Gaara grabbed the offered envelope and removed his foot. "Have a nice day," his smile was more a strained curl of his lips.

Uchiha's hand shot out and caught the door from slamming shut. "And we need to talk." He pushed the heavy door open and stepped forward. "About Naruto."

Gaara paused and regarded Uchiha with suspicion. He took care not to crush the proofs in his hand. Gaara stood up a little straighter. His eyes narrowed in on the quiet intruder stepping into the entryway and closing the door behind him.

"I know you fucked him." The words came out smooth, calm, and his lips quirked up as if this idea was amusing. Gaara's ire bubbled beneath his skin. He could feel every fiber of his skin burning with a hatred for the smug, overconfident bastard looking down on him.

"If you want to be technical about it I was the one getting fucked. Though Naruto wasn't opposed to your version," Gaara feigned a confidence he wasn't feeling at the moment. He turned his attention to the envelope hoping to discourage Uchiha. He moved towards the living room, carefully lifting the prints from inside.

"I'm impressed Sabaku. I didn't think you had it in you."

Gaara turned and noted Uchiha's relaxed pose. He leaned against the entryway; body not at all strung tight the way Gaara's felt right now. Uchiha genuinely looked pleased by this turn of events.

"Shouldn't you be angry? Shouldn't you be trying to regain your dignity after that warning yesterday?" Gaara returned his attention to the prints. He held them up trying to concentrate on their contents, only to be reminded only too clearly of what happened in between the shoots. He lowered the prints and slipped them back into the envelope.

"You know what your problem is?" Gaara startled when Uchiha's hand was suddenly coming out of nowhere. The pale hand was taking the envelope from his fingers and placing it on the coffeetable. "You take everything too seriously," Uchiha's voice purred in his ear. Gaara jerked away from him, hating the way the other man's breath tickled his ear. He rubbed his ear hoping the memory of it would go away.

"You think it upsets me that Naruto finally gave into his little crush on you? Didn't I tell you before? You're always welcome in our bed." Uchiha's hands moved to reach for the black tie holding Gaara's robe secure. Gaara slapped his hands away.

"Touch me and I'll break your hand," Gaara said. He tried not to imagine those same pale hands touching Naruto; the same hands that reached for others so easily. Uchiha's lips curled up. He stepped away to give a little more space between them.

"I thought maybe Naruto didn't want to share you, but maybe it's you who doesn't like to share."

"What sort of game are you playing, Uchiha? First you don't want me touching him and now that I have you try to seduce me? Does Naruto mean so little to you?" Gaara's body was trembling with rage. He wondered how his roommate could join himself with someone who treated him with so little respect. How could Naruto fall in with such a depraved creature?

"You mean our little argument in the elevator?" Uchiha smiled. Uchiha stepped closer, invading Gaara's personal space. Gaara took a step back only to be followed. "I must be a better actor than I thought," Uchiha paused. He tilted his head and his dark eyes lowered and rose again, evaluating. "Naruto was so fixated on you I thought I'd give him a little present. Your jealousy was only too obvious. All you needed was a little push before your jealousy did the rest."

Gaara felt like the wind had been knocked out of him. He tried to breathe and force the air back into his lungs. His night with Naruto had been... planned? Uchiha had wanted them to sleep together? Gaara backed up a step only to knock his knees against the couch. He sat down slowly, sinking into the cushion.

"Liar," he said. How could something like that be planned?

"Oh?" Uchiha raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't sleep with him last night out of jealousy? Just a drunken mistake that didn't mean anything?"

Gaara glared at Uchiha. He clenched his jaw so tight his muscles began to ache.

"I suggest, Uchiha," he ground out between his teeth, "that you leave, right now. Before I am forced to throw you out."

"But we haven't gotten down to business yet." Uchiha paused. His eyes had stopped smiling.

Gaara relaxed his jaw.

"The photo shoot is over. My offices will fulfill their obligations and our contract will be complete. What business is there left to discuss?"

"Naruto," Uchiha said calmly. There was no teasing or mirth in his tone.

"I leave Japan in two weeks. I want all business concluded by then. I want all loose ends tied up." Sasuke glanced at the envelope sitting on the table. "The press will be very interested in my personal affairs upon my departure. I will tell them that my relationship with the model Naruto Uzumaki was ended by mutual agreement."

Gaara's sucked in his breath sharply. "Does Naruto...?"

"He should suspect it. He knows a long distance relationship won't work for either of us. And that's why..." Uchiha licked his lips; a careless gesture but one that made Gaara impatient. "I want you to take care of him."

Gaara furrowed his eyebrows. His mouth fell open trying to process Uchiha's words, trying to make sure he was hearing correctly.

"You want me to... take care of him?"

"He's a model contracted to your agency. The broken hearted model says good-bye to his famous lover, is taken under the wing of Sabaku groups CEO and the rest will be history." Uchiha leaned against the arm of the couch spinning off the rest of his story like a half assed advertisement pitch.

Gaara tried to process the words over his disbelief.

"Who the fuck do you think you are?" Gaara stood up. The anger minutes ago was back, but this time he wasn't angry for himself. Uchiha glanced up at him in surprise. "Who do you think has been taking care of him while you've been gone? Who do you think has been there for him while you've been out screwing the rest of the world?" Gaara stood in front of Uchiha who slowly got back onto his feet. He stood cautiously, careful not to move suddenly like one would with a wild and potentially dangerous animal.

"Naruto and I were fine before you walked into our lives and started manipulating us for whatever it is that you're after. You think you can screw up his life and then walk away guilt free for dumping your responsibilities on someone else? Do you think you're doing the honorable thing in trying to dump him onto me?" Gaara pushed Uchiha's chest with a pointed index finger. Uchiha staggered a little against the couch.

He picked himself up and smoothed out his shirt. "You get your contract and the guy you want and I fulfill all my obligations. How is this not a win-win?"

Gaara snarled before launching a fist at the taller man. The edge of his knuckles graded Uchiha's cheek. Uchiha's quick reflexes saved him from receiving the complete blow. Uchiha quickly sidestepped his trapped position between Gaara and the couch. Gaara took another swing, but Uchiha was fast and managed to dodge in time. The third swing was stopped by Uchiha's arm. One moment they were frozen, staring at one another, the next Gaara was pushed onto the couch with Uchiha's weight atop him, holding his thrashing limbs down.

"I didn't come here looking for a fight," Uchiha growled. "If you'd stop being so fucking stubborn we wouldn't..."

"Sasuke?" Both men stopped and glanced at the entryway where a very shocked and confused looking Naruto stared at them both. Gaara realized then that he was on the couch in a robe that was now riding up his thighs with another man on top of him. Naruto's face turned red, his faced pained as his eyes glanced from one face to another before he launched himself at them both.

Naruto grabbed Uchiha and yanked him off of Gaara. A sickening thud sounded as Naruto landed the punch that Gaara had failed to.

"God you people have the worst timing," Uchiha griped, stretching his jaw and touching his red cheek tenderly.

Naruto grabbed him by the front of the shirt and began shaking him. He looked ready to cry despite the anger. "Is this what you meant by fixing things? You said you'd tell him, that you'd make him understand. Is that your solution to everything? Fuck them and make them your pet? Is this your way of helping me?" A bright tear slid down Naruto's cheek.

Uchiha put a hand on Naruto's. "Calm down, dobe."

"Calm down!" He shook Uchiha harder. "Calm down? How do I calm the fuck down when you said you'd help me and I find you on top of him? I trusted you! I believed you! I did every stupid fucking thing you asked!"

Gaara sat up a little, trying to understand the conversation.

"All I wanted was one thing. One thing only. I didn't ask you to make me a model. I didn't want to be on tv or become famous! All I want is him!" Naruto shouted, pointing at the very quiet red head sitting on the couch. Naruto paused, seeming to realize everything he had just said. He turned to look at Gaara with a look of pure regret. Gaara looked away.

"I'm sorry Gaara. I was trying to tell you."

Gaara turned his head to glance out the window. There wasn't even a hint of dusk.

"Gaara please, let me explain. This whole thing, it just started as a prank and then..."

Gaara's head turned so sharply his neck hurt. "A prank?" he said. "Is that what this is to you? Another prank?" Gaara fought the burning in the back of his throat.

Naruto shook his head. "No, not all of it. Just at first. Just let me explain. I never meant for things to go this far."

Gaara rubbed his face with both hands. With the same thumbs, he reflected, that had been glued to his keyboard what seemed like forever ago.

"Get out," he said quietly. "Both of you."

He kept his face down while both of them stood there, frozen, watching him. Naruto moved to take a step forward, but Uchiha stopped him with a hand on his shoulder. He steered Naruto in the opposite direction and out the door.

Gaara sat on the couch and listened to the sounds of Naruto and Uchiha bickering in the hall. He waited for the sounds to fade, waited in minutes of silence later to make sure Naruto wouldn't try to return. When he was certain they were gone, certain he would finally be left alone in peace, he sank into the cushions of the couch and tilted his head back. The first tears slid down his cheek.


Two weeks later...


Gaara strolled along Shinjuku's streets with his hands in his pockets. He took his time, slowing along a particular passageway and glancing up cautiously at the posters plastered along the wall.

It was unusual to see oneself in a wholly different light. The beautiful woman on the poster wasn't him, he thought to himself. It was another creature constructed, created, manipulated into being by the man whose hand fisted the red sheet at his chest and the unseen camera man who took the shot.

Gaara took a quick breath and looked away. Still, he couldn't stop feeling a slight ache when he saw the image and the almost happy, pleased smile of the woman with the red tattoo. Somewhere inside him was the memory of making that expression. Not in the artificial camera light but in the mostly quiet darkened room of a man who touched him with honesty, or so he thought. And yet, somewhere in that image on the wall was more truth than artifice.

In this part of Shinjuku, blocks away from the overcrowded station, few people milled around. Gaara walked as slowly as he wanted to, not worried about bustling pedestrians pushing him out the way. He dragged his feet, not yet ready to reach the luxury hotel at the end of the street. He thought of his last business dinner two weeks ago, about Naruto sitting next to him and the disastrous events that immediately followed. He still couldn't bring himself to call.

Gaara's fingers brushed the smooth surface of his mobile phone. Naruto's unopened text messages were buried somewhere in its electronic memory. Coded in those simple lines would no doubt be the answer to the question of Naruto's sincerity. For two weeks Gaara had stared at the small closed envelope icon and paused over a button; Sabaku's biggest decision maker and most decisive employee warring over the decision to press a button. The temptation was sharp even now; open the message and put the matter to rest or delete it all and forget it entirely?

Gaara took his hand away from his phone.

It was odd living alone again after years of having Naruto as a roommate. Gaara thought he would enjoy the peace and quiet and the comfort of not having to suspect a prank around every corner. What he discovered in these two weeks that Naruto had been gone was that the place seemed empty without him.

So much for regrets, he thought, crossing the mostly empty street and into the hotel driveway.

Smiling faces in uniforms greeted him from every direction. He nodded politely, glancing at the gold rimmed clock hanging over the reception desk. Temari would chide him for being late, or rather, not being early enough. He crossed the large lobby to the escalator rising and swirling up to the second floor. He glanced at the tables lined along the side scanning for a head of blonde hair.

"Do you have a reservation sir?"

"Sabaku," he said, glancing around the bistro.

"Yes sir, right this way," the waiter said, ushering him to a private room set off to the side. Temari stood as soon as he entered and Kankuro wiped his mouth and threw his napkin on the table as he did the same.

"You're late," she said, holding her arms out to hug him. Gaara smirked and gave her a hug. He wished she hadn't worn her heels. She always looked like a giant next to him. Kankuro gave him a bro-hug as he liked to call them, hugging with one arm and patting him on the back with the other.

"Hey, I brought your car back finally. Thanks for uh... letting me borrow it," he said sheepishly. Gaara smiled and shook his head.

"It's okay. I have a spare," he said. He sat down and accepted the menu from the waiter. "Have you ordered already?" He glanced at the half-eaten sandwich on Kankuro's plate.

"Pig-head did. I've been waiting for you." Temari picked up her menu, ignoring the scowl from Kankuro's direction. Gaara tried not to chuckle and smiled into his menu. He nodded at the waiter who set down a third water glass.

"Give us a few minutes?" The waiter nodded and left them their privacy.

Gaara glanced over the menu items, not particularly hungry. He glanced at the soup and salad selections.

"So uh..." Kankuro paused, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Are we really gonna talk business or are you going to dish all the gossip on your roommate? Don't tell me you volunteered for those photo shoots." Gaara felt his cheeks grow warm. His siblings would recognize him of course. He had been meaning to tell them about the deal.

"Ugh, can we not talk about his roommate?" Temari dropped her menu onto the table and leaned back into her chair. "That's the last thing I need to hear about right now." Gaara glanced at his sister, surprised. Temari had never been one to dislike Naruto before.

"Come on," Kankuro said, "I want to hear all the dirt."

"Yeah? Well you're not the one whose been living with him the past two weeks!" Temari scowled. "You listen to him mope and moan for two weeks and see how much you like it. Thank goodness it will be over soon. Something about never being able to forget you, blah blah blah... better off leaving, etc. You know that self-sacrificing bullshit people who don't know how to have relationships try to pull."

Gaara frowned at the table. He had assumed when Shikamaru showed up on his doorstep that it had been like the first time, that Naruto had gone to live with Uchiha.

"What does he have to mope about?"

Temari turned a very pointed look at Gaara. "Ask him, he knows." Kankuro looked at his brother with curiosity. Gaara glanced at them both, furrowing his brow and shaking his head.

"Did you really have to get his hopes up? The guy went two years without so much as a bone and you had to go mess around with him."

"Two years?" Gaara shook his head.

"Come on," Temari glanced at Kankuro, "you don't live with a guy two years and not know he has the hots for you and ... oh god." Temari stopped. Gaara stared at the white tablecloth trying to figure out what his sister was implying. "Oh god... you really didn't know. All this time..."

Kankuro did a double take. "Wait, seriously? You didn't know your roommate had a thing for you? I just thought you didn't want to come out of the closet." Gaara glared at his brother.

"Oh Gaara, I'm so sorry. I thought Naruto was griping about being rejected. I didn't realize..."

Gaara looked at his lap and slipped one hand into his pocket. The question returned as he held the phone in his hand.

"But isn't Uzumaki dating Uchiha?" Kankuro asked.

"Yes," Gaara said.

"No," Temari said simultaneously. Their eyes met and Gaara lowered his gaze.

"No," he said. He realized he didn't need to read those emails anymore. He had been afraid before, but deep down, he knew the answer.

"Naruto didn't confess, did he?" Temari said. It hurt to see the concern in her eyes. She; who was usually the fiercest of the three of them. "Shika told me he was determined to confess that night, but then..."

"The TV show," Gaara supplied the answer. He knew what Naruto meant to tell him that night. It was his own insecurities that had stopped him from listening.

"I don't get it," Kankuro interrupted. "What's going on?"

"What did you mean?" Gaara hesitated. "What did you mean that it would be over soon?" Gaara's pulse hammered in his ears. Temari's face softened. She reached across the table and placed her hand over his.

"Naruto is leaving today, for Paris." He hand squeezed his slightly. "Shika went with them to the airport not an hour ago."

Gaara remained very, very still. The room was silent enough to hear the clock ticking on the mantel.

A life without Naruto...

Gaara tried to imagine it. He tried to imagine day after day of insufferable emptiness in his apartment, of the lonely feeling that overcame him every time he said "I'm home" to a quiet room; of days without the chairs scraping against the floor or towels not hung on the backs of chairs. He tried to imagine finding that smile only in magazines.

Gaara stood up abruptly. His chair screeched against the floor. "I gotta go," he said, feeling the panic well up in his chest. Kankuro glanced at him and fumbled in his pockets for something. He tossed a set of keys into the air. Gaara just managed to catch them.

"Better hurry. They have a good lead on you." Kankuro winked and smiled.

"Terminal one, North wing," Temari said rising from her chair to give him a quick hug. "Now hurry." Gaara nodded at her and turned. He breezed past a very surprised waiter, not stopping to apologize for the menus that spilled onto the floor.



After she helped the waiter pick up the menus, apologized again for her brother's quick departure and ensuring him that yes, it was an emergency, but no they didn't need any aid, Temari sat down and placed her napkin in her lap gracefully. She took a sip of her water and calmly looked at her brother who was raising an eyebrow at her.

"I thought Naruto was coming back from Paris in two weeks. Isn't this that school thing you and Shikamaru told me about? Wasn't he all stoked because Uchiha upped their ticket so they wouldn't have to fly coach?"

Temari smiled a little and took another sip. "It's not like I lied to him. Is it my fault if our brother doesn't keep up with his own roommate?"

Kankuro chuckled and shook his head. "Remind me never to underestimate you."

"I thought that was a given," she smiled back.


Naruto readjusted the strap of his messenger bag. He glanced around the busy airport terminal at the lines of travelers waiting to check in. He was giddy, and excited, and as much as he knew it was useless, he really wished Gaara was here.

"Shikamaru, can I please have my phone back? What if Gaara calls me when we're in Paris? What if there's an emergency and..." Shikamaru was shaking his head. He rubbed the bridge of his nose.

"He's having dinner with Temari. Don't you think she'd call us if an emergency popped up? You made a deal. You could stay at my apartment so long as you got down to work and stopped obsessing over your roommate. Work first. Roommate later."

"But..." Naruto started, halting under Shikamaru's annoyed look.

"Now is not the time to lose concentration. I did not bust my ass on that project to make a fool of myself in Paris. No phone until we complete this project." Naruto tried not to whine. He was too old for whining, or so Shikamaru and Temari told him, repeatedly. Naruto knew he was right. He really did. But that didn't make it any easier fighting distraction the past two weeks.

"Besides, he's not going to call," Shikamaru said. "I told him something when I went to pick up your stuff."

Naruto stopped glancing at the passing faces and looked at Shikamaru. "What did you tell him?" he asked, alarmed at Shikamaru's guilty tone.

"I told him this would be a good break for both of you. A good time to get priorities back in line and that your grades were slipping from all the missed classes and that your new celeb status was interfering with school." Naruto punched Shikamaru in the shoulder.

"Why'd you tell him that?"

Shikamaru rubbed his shoulder.

"Because it was true! And because I knew you'd make everything worse in your attempts to make things better. Might as well just delay a few weeks and get you to do some work instead of spacing out in lala-land. He said he would leave you alone until our big project was finished. I told him you'd call him first." Shikamaru held out the familiar orange phone. Naruto snatched it up and quickly glanced at the long string of missed calls and emails. None of them were from Gaara. "Go ahead, call him," Shikamaru said.

Naruto's heart beat quickened. He nodded and glanced down at his phone, bringing up the address book and typing in the first letter. He took a deep breath when Gaara's profile came up and hesitated a moment before pushing the send button. He listened as an operator's voice informed him the phone was on manner mode. Naruto cursed and hung up the phone.

"His phone is turned off," he said, switching to the email screen. I'll send him an email and explain what's going on. I can't let him think..."

A hand grabbed him by the shoulder and spun him sideways. Naruto was about to yell, nearly losing the bag on his arm, but he paused, barely catching the sliding bag in time. Gaara pulled away from him, leaning over and panting while his hands rested against his knees. Green eyes looked up at him, and he smiled despite the gasps for breath.

"I made it. I caught you in time," he said.

"I'm going to check out the bookstore," Shikamaru said, strolling away towards the kiosk on the far corner. Naruto nodded and watched him go. He turned to Gaara and suddenly felt bashful. He didn't know what to say.

"I don't know where to start," Naruto said, rubbing the hair at the back of his head. "I'm... surprised to see you."

"Is it true?" Gaara asked. A line formed between his thin eyebrows. "Are you really leaving for Paris?"

"Yeah!" Naruto smiled. "We're all checked in and everything! I've never been to Paris before," Naruto said excitedly. Gaara smiled bittersweetly.

He took Naruto's hand and squeezed it.

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Gaara looked into his eyes and Naruto noted a sadness there. Naruto tried to smile and squeezed Gaara's hand.

"Of course. It's what Shikamaru and I have been working towards all year." Gaara's brow wrinkled.

"Shikamaru?" He pulled his hand away and took a step back. "What happened to Uchiha?"

"Oh, Sasuke is flying with us too. The scholarship provided for coach airfare, but Sasuke nearly blew a gasket when I told him and upgraded our tickets to business class. Apparently modeling racks up a ton of mileage."

"Scholarship?" Gaara shook his head confused. Naruto bit his lip, worried.

"Are you okay? You look upset."

"I think I've misunderstood the situation. Temari said you were leaving, that you were flying to Paris today. I thought... " Gaara huffed and shook his head at himself. He could laugh at his own foolishness. Uchiha had told him himself. Naruto wasn't one to give up his dreams to follow someone else's.

"Didn't I tell you? Remember that project of mine you tried to sabotage? The one I was stressed out over? Well it won. We won the scholarship for the two week exchange in Paris. How did you not know about this?"

Gaara thought back to Temari's misleading phrasing, to the way she knew the exact terminal and gate of their departure. He realized Naruto wasn't the only one capable of pulling pranks. He shook his head and smiled.

"You can say I was... distracted."

Naruto's cheeks flushed. He looked away, focusing on the linoleum floor.

"I've been a fool," Gaara said. "But then... so have you." Naruto grimaced, but he didn't deny it. "And Uchiha..."

Naruto frowned. "Man, I still feel awful for punching him. He explained everything to me later. Stupid Sasuke always has to make himself the villain."

"Careful, dobe or you'll ruin my reputation," a voice interrupted. Both heads turned to note Sasuke crossing his arms over his chest, shouldering a worn travel bag. Naruto wondered if he stuffed it full of girly products to keep himself pretty on the plane.

"I misjudged you, Uchiha," Gaara said, holding out a hand.

"No you didn't," his hand shot out locked itself in Gaara's and pulled him close. "You're still welcome in my bed anytime," he winked. He let him go and was walking towards the security gates before Naruto could wedge himself between them. Naruto scowled at the retreating back. "Don't dawdle too long. We still need to clear security." He waved. Juugo showed up not far behind. He looked at Gaara suspiciously, stopping in surprise when Naruto waved and smiled at him.

"Juugo. He's still so jealous over Sasuke," Naruto chuckled. "Though I can understand how he feels," he looked at Gaara. "I wanted to talk to you so badly. I thought about showing up on your doorstep about a million times a day. But Shikamaru told me you threatened to get a restraining order if I set foot on the apartment grounds or even attempted to call you. He's been hiding my phone for the past two weeks..."

"Shikamaru told me you were busy. That you needed your time and space."

Naruto grimaced. "I think my moping annoyed him." Gaara covered his smile with his hand. "I guess we both needed some time." Naruto stepped closer, taking Gaara's hand back into his own. "If you only knew how many times I wanted to tell you how I feel. To be honest and come clean about this entire situation..."

Gaara stepped back. He glanced at the passersby and realized they were creating something of a scene. He turned away self consciously.

"I know," he said. "I realize that now. It's why I came. I couldn't let you leave without saying good-bye." Gaara's green eyes met Naruto's. Naruto pulled him into a hug, ignoring the people staring at them as they walked by. Gaara buried his face into Naruto's chest, trying to hide his blush and yet unwilling to let him go.

"It's not good-bye. I'll be home in two weeks. We'll talk then. I promise. Next time I see you, there'll be no tricks. No more games and definitely no pranks. Next time I see you, I'm not holding back."

Gaara squeezed Naruto a little tighter.


Naruto held onto him, tempted to tilt that pale face up and press their lips together; to seal his words with the proof that he meant every one of them. But when they pulled apart, he only smiled. He had already done things in the wrong order and with the wrong approach. He would wait until he came back. He would use his return as a fresh start. Next time, he would do things his way.

Shikamaru waved his arms to catch his attention. He pointed to his wristwatch impatiently.

"I've gotta go soon," Naruto said. "I have a flight to catch," he smiled. He pulled Gaara closer to him, pressing his lips to the covered tattoo. Maybe that would do for now. "Wait for me?" Gaara nodded. His cheeks were pink from the kiss. "Good. Because there's something I have to tell you when I get back," he grinned.

Gaara smiled and pushed him towards the security gates. "Itterasshai," Gaara said, the way he used to when Naruto left in the mornings.

Naruto adjusted his shoulder strap and smiled.

"Ittekimasu."