The art of sand

A/N: Yes it did mess up again but I just can't seem to fix it this time so here is where chapter 17 would really be. I'd say more (I think) but I'll be late for work soon XD here's hoping this one works.


Chapter17

This man had to be kidding. There was no way in hell he would do that. He pinched the bridge of his nose and looked away.

"No," Gaara said firmly.

"Why not?" His father asked.

"I’ll not take part of this anymore. And I’m not hurting that kid for you."

His father slammed his fist onto the table. Gaara had stopped by for dinner as promised. It had been two days since he "rescued" his father from a mistake. And now they were to be presented with a replica of a famous painting, courtesy of Sai. At a large fee. Gaara threw his chopsticks down and made to stand up. Temari reached out to stop her youngest brother.

"If I wanted to bust the bad guys, I’d have went to school for law enforcement. I’m not you," Gaara snapped.

The members of the dinner table were terrified at the look on Gaara’s face. He left the dining room and headed for the coat closet. Kankuro motioned for the others to stay seated. Gaara had started warming up to him in the last few months.

"Dad doesn’t mean any harm," he said softly, as he watched Gaara struggle into his jacket.

"Do you have any idea what that man is actually asking me to do?"

Kankuro searched for his voice. Gaara sounded hurt. And it seemed his brother was about to open up for the first time. Kankuro forgot words and grabbed Gaara’s arm instead. He dragged the smaller man into his room just down the hall. He deposited a severely pissed off looking Gaara onto his bed.

"If you’re finally going to talk, we’re doing this right," Kankuro explained. "Now, to answer your question, no, I don’t know exactly what he’s asking you. Tell me, please."

Gaara glared at Kankuro. His brother had removed the trademark purple make-up upon arriving home that night. He actually looked like normal people would. And he looked genuinely concerned. Gaara had just assumed the fear would always remain with the family. He had almost gotten his father killed.

"I slept with him," Gaara stated emotionlessly.

"Wh… what?"

"I was curious, and the kid wanted me. So I slept with him. I don’t know, but I just can’t hurt him now."

"Gaara! What the fuck were you thinking?!" Kankuro exploded.

Now, he was not particularly homophobic, but thinking of his little brother sleeping with Sai was too much. Kankuro was shaking. He was not sure from what, but he could not stop. Kankuro stood up from the chair he had sat on and started pacing.

"That kid is dangerous. If you wanna sleep with guys, I don’t care, but not him! Danzo had him painting forgeries! Dad’s going to bust Danzo, and if that kid is with him he’ll be busted too. Don’t get involved like that."

"That’s exactly what our dad wants me to do. He wants me to get involved with the boy and make him fall for me."

Kankuro froze in his pacing. He slowly turned to face Gaara’s now blushing face. Kankuro sank to his knees.

"You like him?"

"What?"

Kankuro sat there, staring at Gaara, for what felt like eternity. Gaara’s blushing only grew deeper. He avoided Kankuro’s gaze. The boy figured things out too quickly for his own good. Gaara finally stood and left. He bid his family farewell and hopped on the last bus across town to his small apartment. He would walk into the empty place with only his confused mess of thoughts for company. He ignored the flashing light on his answering machine. No one ever called him, so there was no need to check it. It existed mostly for working purposes. Gaara tried lying in bed. Sleep was coming easier as of late, but another sleepless night was in store for him. Kankuro’s question plagued his thoughts. He’d never liked anyone before. He didn’t know what that felt like. His phone was ringing in no time at all. He ignored it. Probably Kankuro. The machine went off.

"Leave a message," was all it said.

"Sorry to keep bothering you," Sai’s voice echoed from the living room. "I just wanted to say I’m sorry if I upset you after that night. I guess I’ll see you around."

The other line was disconnected before Gaara managed to crash into the kitchen for the phone. He held the cordless phone in his hand and listened to the silence. He grew furious with himself for not answering sooner. He did not know the phone number to call back.


*******

Sai stared wistfully out the window of the café. Gaara had not come to work yet. He kept telling himself he was there for the coffee. But he was on his third one, and Lee seemed a little mad still. Sai attempted to apologize, but the bushy-eye browed boy had just blown it off. The bell on the door sounded and Sai looked over hopefully. Naruto and Neji entered, Naruto talking one hundred miles an hour and Neji nodding. Sai smiled and waved to them.

"Sai! Hey, I didn’t realize you started coming here on your own," Naruto said, slipping into the seat across from Sai.

"I seriously love this coffee," Sai announced.

His smile never wavered. He tightened his grip on the bag next to him and pulled it into his lap. Naruto did not seem to notice, as he was latching onto Neji and pouting.

"Neji-kun, just protect me from him okay?" Naruto whined.

"Of course," Neji grinned.

"Protect you from who?" Sai joined the conversation.

"Sasuke," Naruto pouted again. "He practically attacked me at that study session."

"It’s because he loves you," Sai told him.

Naruto turned crimson and refused to meet anyone’s gaze. He mumbled something neither man could understand. Neji looked concerned. He almost looked a little pissed. Sai decided to change the subject.

"Naruto, did you at least learn something?"

"Yeah! I finally got that equation down. Sasuke at least knew how to explain it in words I could understand. Only Neji-kun could have done better."

Their conversation picked up while Gaara entered the café. Sai did not even notice. Gaara felt a sharp pain in his chest seeing the other man and not getting a greeting. Gaara prepared for his shift and offered to finish Lee’s table and give him the tip later. Gaara brought out Naruto and Neji’s order. He smiled at Sai, and was rewarded with a real smile in return. On his second round to the table, he slipped Sai a note.

‘I didn’t have your phone number. Can I see you after work?’

Sai’s stomach was doing somersaults at the words on the paper. He found himself taking a risk when his friends were ready to leave. He left his bag on the empty seat beside him. He would have to go get it later.