Black Sand

Author Note: Okay that took longer than I hoped it would. Doing a second job now so I had this wrote a week ago but couldn’t check it over until two days ago and then yesterday the power went out. Yep gotta love mountain weather. Anyway here it is the next chapter you were all looking forward to. ^^
Special Chapter Dedication: This goes out to Mustang89 and cynaga. Thanks guys! I love your reviews!!!

READ, LOVE, REVIEW and VOTE!!

“Chapter Four”


Kankurou had let the strange one into his household about an hour ago, and though the older siblings had gone about their own things the youngest still sat with Sai. As of right then Mairen was going through his pack of paint brushes and scrolls smashing the paintbrushes to her face and getting black marking all over her and Sai. The man’s brushes would have to be replaced but Sai didn’t seem to mind as he redirected her hand back to the parchment and helped her paint a half moon.

“Kitty, more.” She told him and he nodded and helped her create a sun.

“Why the nick name Kitty?” Kankurou asked.

“Ah, well I can’t really explain that.” Sai answered.

Kankurou was able to figure that out himself, so Sai was behind one of the feline animal masks of the Konoha ANBU. He chuckled at the thought of little Mairen realizing it was Sai and announcing it whenever one went by.

“You’ll have to change it.”

“I have, she still insists that all of them are me.” He sighed.

“Kitty, house.”

Sai helped her build a house out of ink and she clapped her hands splattering the ink on the two of them. The little red head really liked Sai as she hadn’t left his side since his arrival to the house. He looked out the window and realized it was getting late and sighed to himself.

“Well I’ll put the other two to bed. Would you mind getting this one to bed?”

Sai shook his head no.

“Cool later then.” Kankuro said as he left the room.

“Kitty story, want story.” Mairen demanded and Sai nodded walking over to a book case to grab a small story.

He was a little surprised that Kankuro still kept the house like his sister had had it before her death and the children had left. The building being a duplex that connected with a door way in the middle Kankuro had inherited the entire thing, and had just left his sister’s side the same for the children when they visited. At one point, Gaara had shared this place with them when they were younger and before he’d become the Kazekage. Somewhere in the house was Gaara’s old room more than likely on Kankuro’s side of the place but Sai couldn’t be to sure.

Walking back over to the child in her green tunic and little green shorts he picked her up and sat down on the day bed. Pieces of paper with her scribbles on it littered the floor with his destroyed paint brushes one of them still held firmly in her chubby little fist. He smiled at her and she smiled back as she got comfortable in his arms as he laid back on the plushy pillows of white and pink floral design. Resting her head on his shoulder while nestled in the crook of his arm placing the paint brush holding hand on his chest covered in black mesh, he opened up the book.

“Once upon a time…” He began.

*******

Gaara walked into the house Shikamaru trailing behind him with a stretch and yawn. Kankuro looked up and smiled. Gaara nodded and Shikamaru took a look around the place a small look of pain crossing over his face.

“The kids are in the room they had before.” Kankuro explained and Shikamaru stuck his hands in his pockets and went looking for them.

“Hey Nara they’re asleep and it was a bitch to get them that way, so don’t wake them up!”

“Why would I do a troublesome thing like that?” Shikamaru asked looking over his shoulder.

“Had to make sure.”

Li took that moment to walk in with the small child in her arms and smiled at her brother-in-law. Gaara smiled at her in return and took a moment to look over the small baby with dark brown hair and eyes that would be better suited for a bug. He’d never say it out loud, but then he realized that Sai might have and winced.

“He didn’t say anything to upset anyone.” Kankuro answered as if reading his thoughts.

“That’s good.”

“Yeah, he held back. He’s learning.”

Li blinked at them her long black hair falling down her back and blue eyes looking at the two curiously. “I do not understand Sai is a very nice man.”

“Yes, but he tends to put his foot in his mouth.” Kankuro answered and Gaara nodded.

“He hadn’t said anything to me.” Li stated.

“That means he either didn’t find the time, or he just held his tongue.” Gaara told her his eyes twinkling with amusement.

“He’s in sis’s old daybed room with the youngest. That girl sure can talk.”

“Yes, she certainly knows what she wants.”

“Sai spoilers her I think.” Kankuro added.

“It’s possible, but uncles are allowed to do those sorts of things.” Gaara answered.

“That little outfit she’s wearing is from grass country. I’d recognize that material anywhere.” Li commented, “it’s expensive to. I figured her father bought it.”

Kankuro and Gaara shook their head in the negative. Shikamaru loved his children, and had plenty of money but wouldn’t have gotten something like that for her. It just wouldn’t have crossed his mind to do so, but Sai would have.

“The kids like it when Sai returns from missions because he always brings them something. They raved about it for awhile as they tried to guilt me into getting them neat gifts too.” Kankuro groused.

“Hm.” Gaara replied.

Shikamaru came back and collapsed onto the sofa, “man I hate meetings.”

“Then you shouldn’t have become a foreign dignitary.” Kankuro replied turning a page in his book.

“Meh, it’s worth it. I got to see your sister because I did. Besides I only have one more year.”

“Then what?”

“I go back onto regular duty roster.”

“That’s dangerous.” Gaara stated.

Shikamaru shrugged, “yeah, but I don’t have much more choice. They need me out there what with this weird under ground organization popping up.”

Kankuro looked up at that and stared at the man, “another one?”

“The same one that Temari was tracking. It’s worse than we thought.”

“Well shit.” Kankuro huffed.

Li sat down next to her husband and when Shikamaru reached out his hands to see the little one she gently handed him over. The Nara smiled down at the child and wiggled his finger at him and the child tried to grab a hold of it. Gaara took that moment to make his leave. Kankuro noticed the younger brother leave knowing exactly where the man was headed.

“So I take it he likes Sai.” Shikamaru said after he’d left.

“Heh, can’t hide anything from you I see.”

“It’s actually not noticeable it took me until just now to figure it out.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yep.”

“I think it’s sweet.” Li announced scooting closer to her husband.

“Its just weird for me, but I felt like that when sis hooked up.”

“They are already together?” Shikamaru asked sounding surprised.

“Nope.”

“Didn’t think so.”

********

Gaara opened the door to the room to find Sai and Mairen passed out on the day bed. Carefully he navigated around the pictures, scrolls, parchment, and frayed paintbrushes to the bed. Knowing that Sai would be semi conscious he slowly reached his hand out to trace over the chubby cheek of his youngest niece. Looking up at Sai Gaara realized the man had a few black ink smudges on his face and shook his head, before reaching forward to touch him as well.

He was a little surprised when Sai didn’t wake completely, or even move when his fingers traced over the small spot on the man’s brow and then scaled down the side of his face with one finger. When a gloved hand surrounded his own his heart jumped into his throat. Gaara hadn’t realized how entranced he’d been until being snapped back to reality. Green eyes focused on dark obsidian that seemed to be considering something as they turned to his hand. Very slowly Sai’s fingers slid over his palm and then to his wrist before sliding back down again. For whatever reason that simple touch sent ripples of sensation over his body.

“You do not have your sand covering you.” Sai whispered making eye contact with him again.

“That’s corrected,“ he answered just as quietly.

Sai let go of Gaara’s hand reluctantly and slowly sat up, carefully lying the young girl down and covering her up. The redhead stood as Sai got up from the day bed and the two looked at one another. Gaara could tell that Sai was not sure what to do about this predicament, and when he broke eye contact he knew the man was uncomfortable.

“I meant what I said earlier.”

“ I know nothing of such things,” Sai confided.

“I don’t mind.”

“I would not want something that was short lived, at least I don’t think so.” Sai added.

“I’d rather have something more meaningful anyway.” Gaara told him.

“But such things are inappropriate I’m of lower rank, “ Sai explained.

“Sasuke and Sakura are with Naruto.”

“You are from a different nation and village. We are both men, and the council if they were to find out it would not be good. They made it hard for Shikamaru and Temari…”

Sai was rambling, which meant he was nervous, possibly even a little scared. Gaara understood that it was all very new to him, granted he himself was still a novice at such things, but he still remembered when he was totally new. It had to be ten times more nerve racking when you were coming from a place where you didn’t understand a simple feeling like happiness or sadness. Even he had had that basic understanding though he’d shoved it all away when Yashamaru had betrayed him all those years ago.

“Sai, stop talking.” Gaara interrupted the man who froze to the spot again.

It was kind of cute to see Sai at a loss and show emotions so easily. It was also a little humbling, he’d always thought he’d had it bad.

“I, I can’t do such a thing it would not be-”

“I don’t care, and neither should you.” Gaara told him cutting him off again.

Sai was starting to panic, the man might not have known what was going on, but Gaara could see it in his eyes. Maybe a kiss was to much to start with? It could be possible given who it was, though he’d never thought of that until just then. Taking a deep breath he rose his hand to the man’s face and traced down the cheek then his neck only to flatten his hand and slowly drag it down the mesh covered chest. Never once did his eyes leave Sai’s making sure that he wasn’t over doing it. When Sai’s hand reached up and carefully brushed back through his hair just above his ear he knew he’d done it right.

Gaara’s hair was soft, it was something he registered quickly, and his skin had felt soft trailing over his face too. With his heart pounding he allowed his hand to slid down Gaara’s face shoulder and then down his arm. He was slightly aware that normal lovers would be touching each other more intimately, but just the thought made his heart thud irregularly in his chest and made his throat dry. It caused another feeling to, but he didn’t know what it was. Picking up Gaara’s left hand he traced over the lines of his palm and inner wrist with one finger his eyes focused on his own hand going through the motions.

“What is this feeling?” He asked.

“Explain it to me.” Gaara said a bit breathlessly.

If Gaara knew that someone trailing the slightest of touches over his hand, wrist and inner arm could turn him on he would have laughed at them. Yet here was Sai doing just that and it was driving him slightly crazy. He’d never felt like this before, and the other man didn’t even know what he was doing. It was probably because of that reason alone that made everything, every touch, seem different more charged and had his eyes riveted on that one maddening finger tracing feather light touches over his skin.

“My throat is dry and my heart is beating unevenly in my chest, and when I think about kissing you something inside me shakes.” He answered Gaara in a whisper looking up into jade colored eyes in the semi dark room.

Gaara looked up at him, “That’s nervousness. You’re scared.”

“I’ve been in fear before, it didn’t feel like this.”

“It’s a different kind. An emotional kind.” Gaara replied trying to stay focused.

“So there are different kinds of fear then.” Sai said more to himself than anyone else.

Silenced reigned and Gaara found that his heart beat faster as Sai’s face came closer to his. He wasn’t sure what to expect at that point and stood completely still. All Sai did at first was to brush there cheeks together before nuzzling his neck and closing his arms around the redhead. Gaara could tell the man was feeling out what he felt like under the cloths not sure he was ready to do it without cloths. The redhead could live with that, it all felt very nice and he closed his eyes and hugged back sliding his hands slowly up and around the others body as well.

“You feel warm…” Sai breathed brushing his lips up Gaara’s neck.

Sai probably didn’t even realize he was doing it but it sent shock waves zinging through is body all the same and he shivered. Sai pulled back and rested his forehead against Gaara’s and took a deep breath in. Gaara smelt good to, it reminded him of a sunny day during spring with a cool breeze blowing through all the trees. That and some sort of exotic flower he’d smelt one time, if only he could remember what it was called. It was nice holding someone and being held, different than when he hugged the children.

“Does kissing feel good to?” He asked and the mere question had his gut twisting up in knots.

“I think so.” Gaara replied.

Sai went quiet as he thought it over in his head, questioned if he should ask or not. Did one ask for such things? Or did they just do it and fumble embarrassingly at it? The last thought wasn’t very appealing, but he still wanted to know what it felt like, but to just ask Gaara to show him how seemed to be strange.

“Would you like me to show you?” The redhead asked as if reading his thoughts.

Sai nodded and Gaara pulled back, tilted his head up just enough, and barely pressed his lips to Sai’s just brushing them together. The raven haired man shivered, and when Gaara pulled away he unconsciously followed him. The redhead smiled slightly, and when he pressed his lips against Sai’s again he did it more firmly but still kept it chaste. Slowly he moved his lips against Sai’s in a partially open mouthed kiss allowing the other man to get the hang of the motions.

Sai was sure that Gaara could hear his heart pounding in his chest as it was deafening to him, but the other man gave no indication that he did. If he could hear it then he was busy trying to get it to pound harder what with his hands dragging over his clothed body. When a sound escaped past his lips they both stopped and pulled away, again that embarrassed feeling washed over him. He watched as Gaara looked over at the girl on the bed before tugging him from the room. Sai wasn’t sure what was happening but allowed himself to be pulled along.

They entered another room and instantly Sai was assaulted by the strong sent of Gaara only with a dusty over lay to it. The only place that could smell like that could only be the man’s room, and they hadn’t even gone that far, down a hall at best. He glanced around the room and saw a simple queen sized bed complete with sparse covers. It made sense to him, he’d heard that Gaara had never slept that much while inhabited by the demon. A dresser to the side and on the wall were carvings similar to that of the walls at the kage building only darker. He couldn’t really make it out and when a hand trailed down his chest his eyes went back to Gaara.

“You shared your sister’s part of the house?”

“Kankuro was afraid of me.”

“Oh.”

“Just lay here with me tonight?” Gaara asked looking up at him.

Sai looked to the bed then back to green a nervousness washing over him. It was just sleeping, Gaara would have stated otherwise, but it still made his heart jump around strangely. He’d shared a sleeping area before in close quarters but he supposed the feeling had been different. It couldn’t be to off that experience could it?

With out saying anything else Gaara pulled him to the bed and those soft yet callused hands pulled up on the bottom of his shirt and everywhere they touched his skin burned. It wasn’t painful like a real burn, but he couldn’t think of any other way to describe it, then his shirt was gone. Then Gaara removed his small gloves and dropped them on top his discarded mesh shirt. As Gaara leaned forward with his eyes closed to press his face against his chest Sai felt pain wash over him, but not a bad kind which was a conundrum to him.

The red head pulled back and was a little surprised when hands reached out and undid the buckles to his grey vest then unbuttoned his burgundy colored coat both being pushed off and dropped to the floor. He watched as a black brow rose to a hair line at discovering he also wore a black mesh shirt under all the other clothing. Then that shirt was also gone and tossed to the floor.

“I can not think of any other word but beautiful to describe you.” Sai said suddenly seeming to be upset by this.

“I do not mind. You are too.” He replied placing a hand on the bare chest and dragging it downward.

His green eyes scaled down the well tone chest and abdomen to see the very faint hair line starting at just below the belly button trailing down into the pants. He wanted to see where that lead to but understood that was for another time. Looking back up he turned and sat down on the bed the other man following him down.

Once the two lay comfortable with their heads on the pillows lips met again shyly, Sai initiating the touch that time. Hands roamed freely over bare skin and the two started to breathe heavily slowly getting turned on. As quickly as they had gotten heated up, though quite slowly to normal standards, the two settled down Sai becoming uncertain in this new terrain.

“I am sorry.”

“For what?” Gaara asked.

“Not being able to do more.”

“It doesn’t matter to me Sai.” the red head answered his eyes staring at their clasped hands between them.

This was new to him too, at least this kind of thing. He had done things with people before but never like this. It had always been fast and over quickly, but something about Sai made him want to drag it on. So he was happy to take it one small step at a time, he’d been surprised that Sai had even kissed like he had.

“It doesn’t?”

“No, I like this.”

“Oh.”

“Is that odd to you?”

“I’ve just heard that one is to have sex when they find someone attractive.” Sai answered.

“Not everyone does it on the first night Sai.”

He felt Sai relax at that bit of information and he smiled into the dark. It was kind of funny to think that the man was worried about such thing.

“Do you even now how something like that works between men?” the redhead questioned.

There was a long silence and Gaara didn’t really need an answer, already figuring it out, “no. I suppose I should look into it.”

Gaara laughed for a short moment, “don’t worry about it. Whenever your ready.”

“Have you had sex before?”

“Yes.”

“Was it painful?”

“Uncomfortable. At least at first.”

“How many times?”

“Twice. Does that bother you?”

“Not really, I guess other people would be then or you wouldn’t have asked.” Sai answered.

“Some would.”

“You are really okay with waiting?”

Gaara reached his hand out and ran it over Sai’s face, “yes.”

“And that I do not understand how any of this works?”

“No I do not care.”

Sai breathed a sigh of relief and scooted closer to the other man tentatively sliding his left hand up under Gaara‘s neck, when Gaara did the same with his right arm to Sai, he felt much better about doing it. Resting his forehead against Gaara’s and intertwining their free hands together between them he closed his eyes and felt his heart slow down. He almost purred when Gaara’s hand wrapped under him bent to run long fingers through his blank hair. It all felt really nice to lie in the bed next to Gaara and smell his smell, to touch his skin. Listening to the redhead’s rhythmic breathing started to lull him to sleep and slowly he relaxed his body little by little.

Soon after Sai had fallen asleep Gaara followed suit his hand stopping and falling limp to the bed. The two sleeping soundly on top the covers wearing only their pants cuddled closely, their foreheads still touching and hands clasped together between them. For now they would just soak in the warmth and comfort of another human being next to them. They had other times to worry about what other people would think or say if they were caught. For tonight they could just pretend to be two people who were attracted to one another.

~TBC~

END NOTE:

msuzumaki: Thanks love, glad you think so. Gaara being direct is just Gaara being himself I think. (but it is sexy…) Hopefully you enjoyed this chapter too. ^^
cynaga: Thank you. ^^ Please keep reading and let me know what you think. Glad to hear though that you liked the carved walls by Gaara’s sand, I wasn’t sure how that would be received.
Mustang89: Tee hee hee… I’m pretty sure you loved this chapter as well. ^^ Yeah Sai blushing was to damn cute. I fan girled when the idea came to me. Woo go Gaara! That’s what I thought anyway. Glad to read you liked it and what you thought. Hope to hear from you again!
Crimson_Batwings: Glad that you finally caught up. ^^ Hope you liked this chapter, even though you’re pretty much privy to what going to happen already. Lol You know all about how annoying and frustrating it is to keep these two in character and get them together. *huggles* And yep that’s exactly why the little girl smacked Naruto. Later hope to continue to hear from you my soul mate!! Ps yes I did see what you did there. Dork.