Broken Promises

Chapter 13 – Opening Move

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AN: This is probably going to be the last update until after Christmas. I have 33 people descending on my house for Christmas and I’ve been writing instead of wrapping presents. LOL

Ecdragon00: Yes, Naru/Shika LOL I’m glad you enjoyed it. It was very tempting to skip the sex and move on with plot. Then I realized the sex was not only yummy but important to help people understand the emotion behind the relationship.
Kanazerosakenaru: I really do appreciate your feedback. As I said it made me take a step back and reevaluate things. Which can be very important. Not letting him explain was part of the hurt and angry. Right now Naruto is not coming from an angry place. His relationships or the sex he’s having are not intended to hurt Sasuke. There will come a time when he will hurt Sasuke with the intent of hurting him and it will not turn out well for Naruto. I promise you that much. He doesn’t know Sasuke is remorseful at this point they haven’t really spoken to one another for three plus months. He hasn’t allowed Sasuke to even see him and he’s being willfully blind to any visible pain Sasuke might be showing. I have to agree, and it wouldn’t be the first time Sakura was being an opportunistic little bitch. The truth is Sasuke hurt him more, because he expects better from Sasuke. Hrmmm making Kyuu jealous, you know that is NOT an angle I had considered. I appreciate your feedback, it makes me think and defend my plot and characters to myself and gain perspective.
Sadie237: Man that guy is a pain in the ass and the blond Dobe is just no help. He’s taken a better you then me approach to the whole situation. *sighs* Naruto is the sort who feels everything and very deeply. I haven’t even scratched the surface of Naruto’s feeling for and with Sasuke. Let’s face it even when he’s not Sasuke’s Dobe, Naruto can still be a dobe. Yes things are about to get very messy.
LividusNight: I’m getting there… this story was original 5 chapters. :( It just keeps growing. I’m trying not to jump over too much. I have a tendancy to jump and confuse the hell out of the readers. So I’m taking this slow. We will get there.
Loveusender: I’m glad you’re back. Yeah he needed a little bit of a wakeup call. Shikamaru wearing Naruto’s mark hit him upside the head. He’s off the bench now… back in the game. Do you know you are the FIRST person to ask about Tsunade’s mystery man? Heehee… yes she has a man-friend… not ready to tell who yet. *enter evil laugh here*
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Naruto watched Shikamaru, closely they’d been lovers for two weeks. It was a pretty short amount of time and when Gaara had shown up in town he’d been ready to kick Naruto’s ass, for real this time. He liked Shikamaru and did not believe the other man deserved a shadow of relationship. “You’re not there Naruto. You’re not ready no matter what you think. He’s not just sex. He feels deeply and he cares. No matter the brave front he puts up he’s falling in love with you Naruto.” Gaara had been growling and even pinned Naruto against the guestroom wall in Shikamaru and Naruto’s home where he had opted to stay rather than the VIP quarters in Hokage tower.

“He’s not a child either Gaara. Is it so hard to believe I’m not a completely heartless stupid bastard? I know he’s feeling more, I know I’m not ready for more but right now we are what the other needs.” He pushed Gaara back. “Honestly I think I’m safe. Whoever this other guy is, and he’s a real fucking moron to have not moved in sooner… I can’t figure out if its Neji or Shino though… but I think I’m Shika’s way of getting his feet wet you know? He’d never been with a man before.” Naruto shook his head.

The red head stiffened at the mentioned of the two leaf nin. “Are you kidding me Uzumaki? You are with him and he is with you and it’s not about getting his feet wet.” Arms crossing across his chest he stepped up to Naruto. “You have the potential to hurt him, badly. You’re being reckless and while that is not unusual for you I have never known you to be reckless with other people.” The argument had escalated into a full on screaming match by the time Ino and Shikamaru got there. Ino’s eyes widened in shock, she had never heard Gaara of the Sand so vocal. She hadn’t even been sure he really talked. Growling Shikamaru headed down the hall. The door opened then slammed shut. “You two KNOCK IT OFF.” Rubbing his temples he sighed. “Man I am having to do a hell of a lot more than ever before because of you guys. You’d think being friends with the most stand offish stoic bastard in the history of the world I’d get to relax more, especially since I’m getting laid regularly.” He looked at his red headed friend. “We should compare notes some time.”

Gaara smirked as Naruto groaned. “I’m creating pervy little monsters.”

“What makes you think we didn’t come this way naturally?” Shikamaru crossed his arms slightly annoyed that Naruto didn’t think he was capable of being a perv all on his own. This time Gaara actually laughed. Naruto raised his brows at the both of them. First Gaara had laughed with someone other than Naruto and that was light years of progress in his opinion. Second, “You WANT to be a pervert?” Both of the other ninja’s were laughing at him now. Ino stood in the living room blinking and nose bleeding a little. Shaking her head she pulled her sandals back on and left the house. She just HAD to find someone to talk about that delicious picture with. Maybe she’d write a story for the yaoi magazine she liked and send it in.

While Shikamaru went out to get them some dinner Naruto retold the story of the trip home and the first night back. “I’m not sure who likes Shikamaru more; me, Neji or Shino.” Gaara looked up swallowing schooling his face to not give away the lump in his throat. Noting the question in Gaara’s eyes he explained about Shikamaru telling them all about the red head kissing him and that made Gaara groan. Smirking Naruto raised a brow. “So it is one of the guys here that night. Shino or Neji? Come on Gaara you can trust me… tell me.” Naruto had begged but it had done him no good. Later, after Naruto and Shikamaru had gone to bed Gaara slipped out of the house moving over roof tops of the village and out into the trees heading toward the training grounds. He was late because of Shikamaru making Naruto choke on his tongue when he invited Gaara to come sleep with them if he wanted and genuinely meaning it. That man was far less restrained then he remembered, much more carefree it was almost a little disturbing. He still slowly ambled along unless battling and his voice often had a lazy comforting draw but he smiled more and had a wicked mind. Staring at the moon as he contemplated the enigma that was Shikamaru Nara, Gaara hadn’t heard the other shinobi land next to him.

“Lost in thoughts?” The voice was low an edge to it that Gaara hadn’t heard before. He turned green eyes searching out to understand what was wrong. “Yes, Shikamaru is confusing. I find I don’t understand him and that is fascinating. I don’t think I’ve met a person like him before.” Turning his face back to look at the moon above them Gaara frowned. “You haven’t sat down; do you have to return to the compound?” Sometimes there was simply no time to sit and watch the moon with him, the other man had responsibilities and so he would at least come and tell Gaara he could not stay. “I’m debating on if I should stay.” If anything there was more steel in the tone. Gaara frowned, his voice was so expressive, he was hard to read but his voice often gave away signs hints of what he was feeling. “Are you angry?” Pulling Gaara up so he was face to face with the very irritated Leaf Ninja. “Am I angry? You have been fucking Naruto, again evidentially. Walking around marked and half naked for my friends to see like a little whore and making out with Nara. Am I angry? Yes. I am angry.” Gaara blinked it was all he could do. The other man spoke so little, he was often passive so much so that outside of battle the Kazekage had never seen him riled up. “Put me down. You are not angry. You are jealous and you have no right to be. You have never shown interest in me.” His mouth tightened irritably the gourd on his back shaking with his irritation. Setting Gaara on his feet there was a shift in stance that said the other ninja was not backing down. “Do not threaten me with your sand Gaara of the Desert I am not afraid of you. How many other men do you think I spend all night in the damn trees with no matter what level of exhaustion I reach, just to spend time with them? Let me assure you the answer is none.” Looking up Gaara in haled in surprise, he’d spent over a year now contemplating how to get the other man to consider him more than a companion and comrade. “This won’t work, you know that don’t you? I am Kazekage and your family will never let you go.” Lips quirked, it was all the confirmation he needed. “No more Naruto. No more FUCKING Shikamaru.” The words were growled as the straps of the gourd were released the gourd falling to the ground and Gaara felt himseif being pulled in. As the mother man’s mouth descended over his own the sand ninja couldn’t stop from saying. “I never fucked Shikamaru.” With a grunt of acknowledgement the soft lips of his partner landed over Gaara’s his tongue demanding entrance. Leaning into the kiss, Gaara pushed against his new lover and then the reveled in the broad shoulders and slim hips pressing against him that had been making his mouth water since he’d first seen him in just his t-shirt and jeans so long ago as teenagers.

Blinking Naruto entered the kitchen and cleared his throat. “Where’s Gaara, didn’t you go to get him?” Scratching the back of his head Naruto sat down and smiled. “He’s still asleep.” Shikamaru frowned at Naruto. “I thought he could only sleep with you?” Grinning Naruto shrugged. “Guess he can sleep with Shino curled around him too.” Eyes going wide Shikamaru shook his head. “Never thought of that, hrmm those two could work though… equally creepy and silent.” He nodded and grinned at the ding. The scent of coffee filled the room and he grinned. Naruto’s nose twitched, that scent was branded into his mind and senses. Looking over he saw the sleek blue and chrome coffee maker, it wasn’t a complicated looking contraption like Sasuke’s but that was definitely Sasuke’s private coffee. “Where did that come from?” Taking the coffee and sipping it Shikamaru grinned. “It was on the front door step when I went to get the paper from my dad’s place.” Standing up Naruto moved to the machine and noticed the instruction manual. “How’d you know how to work it without even taking the manual out?” Blinking at Naruto the Nara frowned. “Dad has one. You just stick the filter in this tiny cup, add a scoop of the coffee, open by this handle drop it in, close it then stick your coffee cup under here and press the button that matches your cup size. “It makes it easy to make one cup at a time. It can do hot chocolate too.” He smiled, “I think it was a birthday gift from my parents honestly. Speaking of we’re going out to dinner for your birthday so be ready by seven ok?” With that Shikamaru went to get ready for work. Swallowing Naruto looked at the coffee maker and frowned. He pulled the manual off the back and opened it up. Closing his eyes at what he found.

I’m surprised you haven’t gone through withdraws. I’ve been mixing coffee into your morning coca for over a year. That’s why it doesn’t taste right. Happy birthday, Dobe. I miss you. I’m sorry. ~ Teme

He found it hard to breath, his heart was pounding and he wanted to smile and cry all at the same time. This was not good. He didn’t want this and Sasuke couldn’t buy his love. Glaring at the machine he walked away but the note found its way into his pocket. He deserved to be happy, damn it. He deserved to feel good and Shikamaru made him happy, made him feel good and didn’t ask for more than Naruto was willing to give. He’d even gotten Shika to talk about this mystery guy who was too stupid to realize what a hot little uke Shika really was. This was not the sort of birthday he had hoped to have, he wanted to have fun, spend the day with Gaara and then the night with Shikamaru… maybe even see some other people in between. Instead the Bastard had invaded his space without even having to show his face.