The art of sand

A/N: Momma Cat, thank you for the idea and obviously I used it. She inspired Sai insulting Sakura. It was a little too humorous, I just had to use it.

Chapter8

Naruto grinned to himself. His night had been a success! Neji was walking beside him, their hands intertwined. Naruto had managed to get a much smaller group to catch a movie. He had had to force the two antisocial ones to join. The expression on Gaara’s and Sasuke’s faces showed their disdain for the blonde, as the two tried to lag behind the group. Sai had come along for more practice. He was watching Ino and Sakura argue over Sasuke some more. Neji bought tickets for everyone, while Naruto attempted to drag everyone together. Sakura latched onto Sasuke at the first opportunity she got.

"See, Ino pig! He likes me more!" She declared.

"Get off. You’re annoying," Sasuke snapped.

Sakura faltered, and let go at the harsh words. She felt the tears well in the corners of her eyes. Ino laughed.

"Why don’t you like her?" Naruto demanded.

"Maybe it’s because she has small boobs?" Sai offered.

He began wondering if maybe this was one of those moments not to tell the truth. The collective silence was beginning to scare him. Sai heard a few snickers as Sakura’s face paled. She pulled her fist back and slammed it into his jaw. Sai flew back into someone. She stormed off before Sai’s vision was cleared of the bright lights floating around. The snickers had become full out laughter. Sai pulled himself off the person behind him. He turned to see Gaara.

"Did I say something wrong?" Sai asked him.

"I don’t know. Her boobs are small."

Sai nodded his agreement. Naruto popped up between the boys and started pulling them into the theatre. He was shaking with silent laughter.

"S-Sai."

"Yes, Naruto?"

"We don’t tell girls things like that."

"Okay."

Sai looked to Gaara. The red-head was just as confused. Sai was planted between Naruto and Sasuke as they watched the movie. For some reason, they had decided it was best to keep Sai away from Lee for a while. Sakura had been retrieved, and was sitting with Ino. Naruto had managed to explain to her that Sai lacked social skills. She had made it clear, however, that he was to stay away from her.


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"What are your hobbies?" Sai asked.

Gaara frowned at the question. Did he even have hobbies? He debated the question as they walked. Sai had seemed to find comfort that Gaara had sided with him about his mistake. They walked together behind the group. Sasuke was in front of them, brooding over something no one understood. Ino had taken Sakura home, leaving only boys to roam the streets as the night set in.

"Okay, what are yours," Gaara turned it around.

"I paint. I believe that’s my hobby."

"Oh. Well, you enjoy it, then?"

"Oh yes. Well, when I do it for myself I enjoy it."

The smile on Sai’s face was genuine. Gaara thought harder about his own hobbies.

"I work. And then I sleep. I suppose I’m really enjoying this sleep thing."

Sai nodded. He would have to agree. Sleep was very nice. Especially when you dreamt of gorgeous men with red hair and green eyes. Sai steeled himself against fantasies. He had the real thing right now. Sai racked his brain for more conversation starters. Naruto had given him very little information on that subject. Gaara was content to walk silently with the younger man. There was something slightly unnerving about Sai’s ignorance, but Gaara dismissed it. Aside from the Uchiha boy and Naruto’s boyfriend, Sai was really the first person to share his views on being quiet. They were somehow led to a club, which should be counted as an amazing feat all in itself. The two were behind the group to start with, and neither were very fond of clubs. Sai more from a lack of being involved in club activities. Sai recognized the club immediately. A shared look with Sasuke, and the boys remained quiet. The boy Naruto had called Kiba had run into the club the moment they cleared the bouncer. Shikamaru mumbled something about troublesome clubs and went off in search of his dog-loving friend. Sai followed his new friends. He offered to get Gaara a drink.

"Something simple. I’ve never really done this sort of thing," Gaara replied.

"Drinking?" Sai asked, a little shocked.

"No, clubbing. So, yes, I suppose drinking, too. I wouldn’t normally drink without a reason."

Sai passed him a drink, and toasted with his own.

"Well, tonight we’ll both explore this clubbing thing."

The drinks were gone in seconds. Sai frowned at the burn in his throat. He was used to the drinks. He always had at least one when his father was making a deal. Gaara, however, had not been lying about rarely drinking. He coughed and grimaced at the burn. He dropped his glass, allowing it to shatter. He stared at the pieces, as if expecting them to reassemble and the drink to refill. Sai could not suppress the laugh.

"That stuff is horrible. People enjoy drinking it?" Gaara demanded.

"Maybe not so much for the taste. The affects can be rather fun," Sai offered.

Gaara shook his head, not understanding. Sai passed him another drink, encouraging him to take it. He promised it was fun to be drunk. Within the hour, the boys were out dancing with everyone else. Sai used it as an excuse to be close to Gaara. Gaara was drunk off his ass, and completely out of character. He danced clumsily with Sai until finding his other friends. He pulled Lee into a dance. Lee laughed at Gaara, but danced a little bit anyways. Lee had refused all alcohol. Naruto saw the rage on Sai’s face, and decided to step in quickly; he pushed Sai into Gaara and pulled Neji over with them. He made the dance more of a group thing, instead of a one-on-one event. They had lost Sasuke among the people, but the seven remaining boys who had entered the club danced, drank, and fucked around with the other people there well into the night. And somehow, at the end of it all, Sai’s house seemed to be the closest place for the boys to crash and attempt to sober up for work and school in the morning.