The art of sand

A/N: My net is down right nowz ; ; So I'm updating from a friend's house =^^= Not edited, but that will come soon. And I'm working on more chapters for when I do get my net working. Aiming to have this completed within the next two weeks before I go on vacation. I can't just leave everyone waiting for almost two weeks for an ending now can I? =^^= Thanks so much to everyone supporting the story! You guys are my fuel to keep going a lot of times. And mass amounts of love in advance to Momma Cat for inspiring the next chapter. <3

Chapter20

Sai was very confused. Not that it was anything new, seeing as he was always rather confused around people and such. But for the first time he was confused about something he shouldn’t be confused about. He stared at the painting he was supposed to be finishing. The paintbrush was lying abandoned next to the paints. The picture was almost finished. It really wouldn’t take a genius to finish the work. Sai’s hand reached for the brush and the paints automatically. He knew that painting well. It was the first he had successfully copied. He mixed the paints with expert ease. The brush was touching canvas softy in no time. Sai frowned as he finished it. It went against who he was to leave it unfinished. His bags were half packed in his room. He knew he had to hurry. After he had handed his father another painting earlier in the week, Gaara had announced it was him or his father. And by choosing Gaara, he had agreed to moving in with the man.

“Its nothing weird. We’re friends now. And you are not going to jail,” Gaara had explained vigorously.

Sai was still frowning as he laid the brush down. It was finished and he was covered in paint. He would have loved a shower, but he had precious little time left. Danzo would be back any minute. Sai was halfway out the door when he stopped. He turned and walked back to the painting with determination and purpose. He picked up the paint brush and dipped it in the black paint. When he dropped it to the ground moments later, he was finally satisfied with a completed work.

“What the hell is all this Sai?”

Sai turned slowly. Danzo was fuming in front of him. Sai smiled.

“I’m moving in with a friend. But I finished this one before leaving,” he explained calmly.

“You aren’t going anywhere. You owe me your soul boy. I saved you.”

“No. You ruined me. I am grateful for your taking me in. I will always be grateful for the chances I was given. I just want to go live with my friend. Every kid has to move out right?”

Danzo crossed the room and slapped Sai hard across his face. His lip split against his teeth. Sai took the abuse quietly. Danzo was pulling his fist back when he look over to the painting. In bottom corner Sai’s name stood out in black paint. The paintbrush was still on the floor. Paint stained the floor where the brush hit the wood. Danzo let his fist fly. Sai crashed backwards into the painting. Sai spat the blood from his lip onto the shoe in front of him. Sai looked up with a smile.

“I’d stop if I were you,” he warned.

“I don’t like doing this to you. You just are not leaving.”

Danzo attempted to soften his features for the boy. Sai wasn’t buying it. He could hear the soft footsteps coming down the hallway from his room. Danzo could only hear the pounding and the blood rushing in his ears. When Sai put on a big, genuine smile, Danzo thought he’d won. He relaxed and step forward, offering his hand.

“What happened Sai?”

Danzo froze at the voice. He knew it, but from where? He turned around quickly. Sai took his chance to scramble to his feet and walk past his father. Gaara’s glare held a promise of death when he caught sight of the busted lip. Sai was holding his side and limping a little. Gaara wrapped a protective arm around the younger man’ shoulders.

“You? You’re the one taking my son?”

“I told you, father. I’m just moving in with a friend. He doesn’t live far. Its closer to school,” Sai sounded as if he were still pleading with the man.

Gaara didn’t wait for a response. He ushered Sai out of the studio and back down to the bedroom to finish packing. Sai really did have a lot of stuff, but he would leave most of it behind. What did he need three closets worth of clothes for? Its not like he changed two or three times a day like girls did. Gaara helped him pack. Danzo stood in the doorway watching them after awhile. Danzo was frowning, but it appeared as if he would let the boys go after all. With the added help, the boys were ready to leave within the hour. Danzo had elected to wait downstairs after the first ten minutes had passed. Gaara was fuming but would save the explosion for later. Sai was waving a farewell to his father and slipped out the door before the man could get another word in. Gaara had borrowed Lee’s car for the move. This would allow for a quick getaway. Neither of them had a desire to deal with Danzo more than necessary.

“Why did you let him do that?” Gaara demanded once they were off the property.

“I just wanted to sign one for once. I probably shouldn’t have,” Sai chuckled.

“Goddamnit Sai. I told you a month ago not to do that anymore.”

“I know. That’s why I signed it. He can’t sell it if its my name on it.”

Gaara started to retort, but let it go. Sai was too happy right that moment. Gaara was supposed to be happy too. He’d given in to the man’s charm weeks ago and told him he was leaving Danzo’s house. He’d been patience with Sai as long as he could. His father had warned him earlier that week of the bust going down that weekend. He had forced Sai to answer him the moment he’d found out. But in truth, Gaara was more than ready for this. He’d been sleeping with the man for over a month. He’d fallen for him sometime after. When exactly he wasn’t sure. Gaara drove with one hand, capturing Sai’s hand with the other. Gaara was still fuming, but he’d be damned if he was going to mess this up before he even got the boy home. Sai smiled and clung tightly to the hand.


******

Sai threw another shirt at Gaara. The red-head was less than pleased. They’d had enough time to get all Sai’s things into the apartment and the boy was already going through his clothes.

“Is that completely necessary?” Gaara growled.

“Yes. You can wear mine. You don’t need worn out clothes anymore.”

Another piece of clothing was thrown on Gaara’s head. The man snapped. He threw the clothing surrounding him on the ground and leaped onto Sai from across the room. The smaller man was slammed into the closet door.

“Stop! Just unpack and don’t touch my stuff!”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want you wearing old things. They don’t flatter you as well.”

“Like I care.”

Gaara pushed himself off Sai by pushing the other harder into the door. Gaara left the room. He was insane if he thought he could live with someone else. Sai followed cautiously. Gaara had gone to the kitchen for a soda. He was not happy. Gaara sighed and tossed a can to the emerging boy.

“I told you, I’m not used to this.”

“That was a month ago.”

Sai entered the kitchen and confronted Gaara. Gaara pulled Sai in for a kiss.

“You try too hard. And I suppose I don’t try hard enough,” he mumbled into the kiss.

Sai reached back for the counter to set the unopened can on. He then promptly threaded his fingers in hair to hold on tightly. Gaara walked him back into that same counter, his own hands holding Sai’s waist. Gaara’s phone ringing pulled them apart.

“I’ll kill whoever that is,” Gaara promised darkly, heading for the phone.

“We haven’t had interruptions in a long time,” Sai commented.