Like you

Disclaimer:
I do not own any of the characters in the story. *weeps* Gaa-kun!! *snivels*
Anyway, they are all Kishimoto-sensei’s.

Author’s notes:
I wrote this last year as a request from Heather after catching my kirban on dA. Working on a sequel to it now, which btw, will be a lot more graphic and smutty… *giggle*
Anyways…. NaruGaa (possibly GaaNaru, I don’t know). WAFF, Shonen-ai.
Enjoy!

Like you…

Gaara followed Kankuro and Temari; neither of them said anything at least no to him anyway. They’d been chatting away amongst themselves for a while. Gaara hadn’t bothered to join the conversation, so they didn’t talk to him either. They knew he wanted to be left alone, especially when he was in that mood.
They were walking through the woods at a steady pace, as they had no reason to rush back to the village; their mission was finished. They’d helped Konoha against Orochimaru’s minions, and so now they could relax. But Gaara couldn’t relax, there was too much on his mind; he couldn’t stop thinking about him… The boy who was so much alike him. That blonde short guy; Naruto. Although he was very annoying (at the chuunin-exam in particular), Gaara wanted to talk to him again. He wanted to know more about him. It seemed like they’d shared the same fate, and for some reason Gaara really wanted to know more about him. Talk to someone who knew how he felt.
“Gaara? Daijoubu?” it was Temari asking. Without noticing it himself, Gaara had stopped. He looked around, he was confused.
I’m fine…” he replied. “I was just thinking…”
“About what?” she asked.
“Oh…nothing…” He went back to thinking, as he continued following them. Actually he’d come to the conclusion a lot earlier, he just didn’t realize until now; He didn’t need to go back to the village. The mission was clear. He had to see Naruto. Again he stopped. His siblings turned around. Kankuro spoke up; “Gaara?”
“Gomen nasai…” he replied, and swiftly leaped to the top branches of a nearby tree.
“Just go on ahead! I’ll catch up to you later!” and with that he was gone.
“Geez…What’s gotten into him all of a sudden?” Temari wondered.
“I don’t know.” Kankuro replied. “He seemed to be in a hurry, but for what? Ah, never mind. He never tells us anything anyway, and he can take care of himself after all…”
“Yeah, you’re right… And besides; Gaara’s always a little weird…”
Kankuro nodded. “Yup, no need to worry.”
Sometimes the two of them would joke about the reason Gaara was so weir being his lack of sleep. Although they knew it wasn’t true and also how horrible and tragic his past was. Neither one of them spoke of it much, but they felt bad for Gaara; his life hadn’t been easy, they didn’t know all the details though…. Although they were siblings, there weren’t any strong bonds in particular between them, at least not from Gaara’s side anyway. But partially because they in a way feared Gaara and his darkness. And also because they had different upbringings, and hadn’t spent much of their childhood with him. It was like they had nothing in common.
Temari and Kankuro still loved Gaara though, and felt like they had to be protective of him somehow, look after him so to speak. But they never knew exactly how he felt about them.
It seemed like Gaara’s life has become easier lately though. Shukaku seemed to be under control, and Gaara wasn’t as angry as he usually seemed. Angry wasn’t the right word though, in the end frustrated or depressed were more suiting descriptions of their little brother. But dark was maybe closest of all; Gaara’s mood could hardly be described as anything if not dark. But lately he’d seemed fine, so they decided that for now there was no need to worry about him.
“Let’s just get home. “ Kankuro said. “He’ll be fine. “

Gaara moved swiftly through the branches; the warm rays of the setting sun played in between the foliage. They tickled is neck, warming his skin.
He smiled, something he very rarely did.
But today he was in an odd mood. Birds were chirping in the trees around him, and he could see the shadow of a rabbit on the ground under him. So peaceful.
“Well, that’s the life of a shinobi…” Gaara thought. “Battling for your life one day, enjoying a peaceful, sunny day in the forest the next.”
He thought back to his fight with Kimimaru a few days ago. This forest had been anything but peaceful then. It’d been a tough battle, but he’d been confident.
He always went into battle with confidence; coming off almost looking arrogant, but it helped him win. “If you go into battle doubting your own skills you’ll lose for sure.” He’d lived by this sentence since he first attended the ninja academy, although he didn’t really need it. In battle Gaara knew no fear; the sand had always protected him, so there was no need for him to doubt himself. He’d seen this in bothNaruto and Uchiha Sasuke too; they were never insecure in a fight, although with Naruto it might be more stupidity and inconsiderate actions than real skills. Sasuke was very different. But why was Naruto so inconsiderate? So foolish?
Even if he knew he didn’t have a chance, he’d keep fighting to protect his team.
They’d been treated the same way their whole life, so why was the outcome so different? Gaara lived for himself and took care of himself, anything else was incignificant. Why should he help anyone who’d never done anything for him? Naruto on the other hand; he’d go through fire and ice to protect anyone in danger. No matter how cruel they’d been to him in the past. Why was it like that?
The truth was that Gaara already knew the answer; Naruto had friends. And there’d always been at least one person there for him, who acknowledged him.
The only person who’d been there for Gaara had deceived him and tried to kill him… No wonder he didn’t trust anyone but himself.
He sighed. All this pain inside of him… Was it time to share it with someone? Share it with someone who knew how he felt? And was Naruto that person? Gaara was confused, he desperately wanted to speak to Naruto, to talk to someone who understood. But, he was nervous; what if Naruto didn’t want to talk? Or if he didn’t understand at all?
Besides, Gaara didn’t understand why he’d gotten this sudden urge to talk to Naruto, or anyone for that matter, all of a sudden.
However, there was no turning back now; He’d arrived. He was sitting in a tree outside of Konoha. He wondered if he should go in, or wait until morning came. He decided to see if he could find Naruto first, and if not, he’d wait until morning to look for him again.

As he walked through the streets, he wondered what exactly it was he was doing. He could run into Naruto anywhere on these streets. What would he say? What if Naruto was with the other two? He couldn’t just ask him to come with him. Or could he? For the second time in his life, Gaara felt insecure (the first time being during the fight with Lee at the Chuunin exams).
But instead of running into Naruto, he met Sakura;
“Gaara-san?” Sakura seemed confused.
“Sakura. “ Gaara replied.
“Didn’t you leave yesterday?” Sakura asked. Was she suspicious? After all: Gaara and his team hadn’t had the best reputation in Konoha after the incidents during the chuunin exams. But they’d proved to be trustworthy, she had no reason to be suspicious.
“Yes. “ Gaara answered. “But I returned just now. There’s someone I need to talk to. “
Sakura looked at him, her expression loosened. She could see he was worried. “Don’t worry! I trust you! You saved Lee-san!” she smiled. Gaara relaxed. “So who is it you’re here to talk to?”
Oh great, the last thing he needed was to be questioned by this annoying girl.
“Oh, no one…”he said calmly. “By the way; have you seen Naruto?”
Sakura’s eye twitched; “Oh, that idiot….He is probably over at Ichiraku’s, eating ramen again… As if he’d ever do anything else.. And if he’s not there he’s probably at home, sleeping.”
“Thank you:” Gaara said. And just like that he was gone.
Sakura was left on the street, confused. “That guy sure is eccentric…” she thought. “I wonder where he went? And why did he want to see that moron Naruto anyway?” she sighed. “Guys… They’re just so…”

Gaara came to Ichiraku’s, there was no one there except from the employees. “Good evening. Can I help you?” Gaara nodded. “I was wondering if you’ve seen Uzumaki Naruto?”
The man laughed: “Seen him?! HEEH! He practically lives here! He’s paying for my children’s education!” he laughed harder.
Gaara forced a smile; “Geez, get to the point!”
“Well, in fact he was just here, about half an hour ago…But he went home. I suppose he was turning in for the night. “But if you really need to see him I guess you can just go there.”
Gaara nodded. “I intend to… You can’t tell me where it is by any chance?”
He got the directions, and headed for Naruto’s house.
There were no lights on inside. Gaara figured he’d gone to sleep, so he decided not to go inside looking for him. Instead he got up in a tree outside the yard, where he stayed all night. Of course he didn’t sleep; he couldn’t. But throughout his life he’d gotten used to it. Not sleeping didn’t really affect him in any way. It’d used to bore him when he was all alone in the night, but not anymore. He spent his nights practicing jutsu’s or like now; watching the creatures of the night.

The sun rose. Konoha was coming to life, but there was no activity inside of Naruto’s house, at least it didn’t seem that way.
“Oh, wonderful….” Gaara said to himself. “He’s not a morning person…:”
A few hours passed before Naruto finally came out. Gaara watched as he came out and closed the door. He leaped down from the tree. He stood still and watched as Naruto approached, it didn’t seem like he’d seen him yet though. But; that didn’t last for long; Naruto noticed Gaara and started walking towards him.
“Gaara-san?”
“Naruto.” Gaara gazed at him, at his blue eyes. Naruto seemed to be confused. And he appeared to be sleepy as well.
“What are you doing here?” Naruto asked.
“There was something I… I… Need to talk with you…” Gaara could hear how nervous his voice sounded.
“Really? About what?”
“Uhm…Can we go someplace else to talk?”
“Why not? I was just on my way over to Ichiraku’s for breakfast anyway.” Naruto started walking and Gaara followed him. He wasn’t very hungry, neither was he very fond of ramen, but he tagged along…
At Ichiraku’s it wasn’t very crowded, but Gaara wasn’t comfortable with revealing his deepest thoughts in public. So, he just sat there, staring at Naruto as he ate.
Naruto turned to him; “Aren’t you gonna eat anything?”
“No.” Gaara replied. “I’m not hungry.”
“Ok, fine. But, what was it you wanted to see me about?”
Gaara shrugged. “It can wait…I’ll tell you later…I don’t think this is the right place to do so…”
Naruto looked at him for a brief second, and then he returned to the bowl of ramen. “Fine, but I’m supposed to be training with Ero-Sennin all day…”
“Ero-Sennin?” Gaara replied.
“Yeah. I’m already late, but it’s not a problem; that old geezer is probably busy hitting on some defenseless young girl anyway…:”
“He shows no respect whatsoever for his sensei…”
Naruto continued, completely unaffected by Gaara’s almost shocked look. “But we can meet aain tonight if you want. We can meet here or you can wait for me at my place…”
Gaara shrugged. “Don’t worry.” he said. “I can keep myself company. We can meet again here.”
“Alright.” Naruto said. “See you later then!” he emptied the bowl of ramen in one gulp, and ran off. Gaara was left at the counter, his cheeks were flushing. “Naruto…”

As the sun started to set behind the Konoha mountains, Gaara waited for Naruto at Ichiraku’s. He’d been waiting for about an hour when Naruto finally showed up.
“Hi! Have you been waiting long?”
“A while.” Gaara replied.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Ero-sennin might be old, but his training sure is tough…”
Gaara smiled. “It’s ok.”
Naruto returned his smile and said; “let’s go. You were gonna tell me something, right?”
“Yeah…” he looked around. “Where should we go?”
“Is the forest ok with you?” Naruto asked.
“Sure…”
They headed out of town, and didn’t really say much: until Gaara broke the ice: “Why do you call him Ero-sennin?”
Naruto chuckled: “Because that’s what he is! He’s always peeping at girls when they’re bathing and stuff….And if a good-looking girl talks to him he totally flips!”
Gaara smiled; “I see…” he said.
“He knows some good techniques though…”
“Well, if he’s one of the Sannins then he should…”
“Yeah.” Naruto nodded.
They were in the forest, trees and bushes surrounded them.
“This place is good enough right? We can talk here?”
Gaara nodded. “Yeah, this is nice.” He sat down, in the grass underneath a tree. Naruto sat down next to him.
For a while they only sat there without speaking. Then Naruto spoke up; “Gaara?”
“Hm?” Gaara was nervous.
“What did you want to talk to me about?”
“Etou….” He turned to Naruto. “Actually I wanted to see you to talk to you about your past….”
Naruto lokked at him, questioning.
“And mine…” he added.
“Why?” Naruto asked.
“Because we are the same…” Gaara said. “Both of us…the Kyuubi and the Shukaku….”
Naruto nodded. “I see…”
Gaara smiled; “I’ve never talked to anyone about this before…Because I knew that no one would understand…:”
“Me neither….” Naruto replied. “For the same cause…”
“We are the same, and still very different…we were both alone, but at least you had one person who acknowledged you…”
“Iruka-sensei…”Naruto thought.
“And you have friends…Sasuke…Sakura…”
Naruto blinked; “But you have a family…Those two on your team; Temari and Kankuro…They are your brother and sister, ne?”
Gaara nodded. “Yeah. But I have no real bonds with them…We were raised separately…Because of me... Because of the Shukaku… I know that they care about me, but I have no real attachment to either of them.”
Naruto nodded. “I know how you feel…Iruka-sensei acknowledged me, but before he did and even when he did; I felt alone. I was alienated; the Kyuubi basically controlled my life.”
“Like Shukaku does mine… Since the day they sealed it in my body I haven’t slept. Not once…If I do the Shukaku will destroy me and everything else…”
NAruto twitched; “You’ve never slept?”
“No.” Gaara calmly replied. “But it’s not really a big deal…I’m used to it. That thing has done far worse things to me…when it makes me snap… I get so powerful.. But so cruel…I…”
“…Scare people…” Naruto continued, he knew.
“Kill people….”
“You get so strong, almost invincible….”
“Yet you always feel….”
“Empty…” Naruto gazed into Gaara’s light blue eyes. The eyes that he’d before thought of as freaky, now only seemed sad. “Sad…” Naruto said.
“Lonely…” Gaara leaned in, towards NAruto.
“All alone…” Naruto leaned in as well.
”But I’m glad you…:”
“Understand?”
“Yes…” Gaara’s voice was now only a low whisper.
“It’s because we’re…” Naruto closed his eyes.
“The same…”
Their lips met. Carefully they kissed each other. It was a whole new sensation for both of them, but neither wanted to stop.
They kissed again, broke the kiss; and kissed once more.
Naruto wrapped his arms around Gaara, played with his hair. As he opened his eyes he gazed into Gaara’s. Gaara looked into Naruto’s deep blue eyes; it was like they reflected his soul. What Gaara saw inside them was honesty. He didn’t now how he could tell, he just could.
Before they’d both had pain in their eyes, and in their hearts; now that pain was gone.
“Thank you,” Gaara smiled. “For understanding…”
“You too…” Naruto took his hand, laying in the grass; and squeezed it. He’d suppressed his feelings of sadness and loneliness, to the point where he’d forgotten all about them. But Gaara’d made him remember, maybe even get over it.
“I’m glad…” Gaara said. “I’m glad we’re the same…”
Naruto smiled. “Sasuke is the same too…”
Gaara stirred, stared at him; “A-are you in love with Sasuke?”
Naruto twitched; “NO. But I’m worried about him… He’s a jerk… But he’s my closest friend after all… But, in love with him? No.”
“Good…” Gaara blushed.
“Why? Are you in love with….?”
“With you? Maybe…” Gaara blushed even harder. “I think I might be…”
Naruto blushed too. “That’s ok… “He kissed Gaara softly on the lips. “That’s completely ok…”
He smiled again. Gaara smiled back. He hadn’t put two and two together before…Until now… he didn’t just want to talk to Naruto; he’d been in love with him. He’d been in love with him without even knowing about it… “Love” like his tattoo said.
So, this was what it felt like… He liked it. It made him feel happy, safe…
“I’m just like you…” he thought “I guess that’s why I’m in love with you…”
Naruto looked at Gaara, carefully. A little embarrassed he asked: “Wanna come back to my place?”
Gaara didn’t know what to answer.
“No.” Naruto said quickly. “It’s nothing like that…Just asking you to spend the night…I was about to say sleeping, but…” he laughed.
Gaara smiled carefully. “It’s ok…I’ll come with you… I have to go home tomorrow, so I’d like to be with you as much as possible before I leave…” he was slightly embarrassed. Afraid he was rushing it, making it too serious too fast.
“Me too…” Naruto said. “So come on, let’s go.”
As they walked back to Konoha through the forest; their eyes met several times, their hands touched accidentally; and they both blushed. They’d kissed, but were still shy. Too shy to feel confident in their new relationship. They didn’t really know each other, and everything’d been so soon, but they were the same. Each like the other, and so they belonged with one another. They were both confident about that fact.

They came back at Naruto’s house and went in. Gaara looked around, it was nice. Not really clean, but cosy.
“I guess there’s not really anything to do but to go to sleep…” Naruto yawned, obviously he was tired from training all day. “Oh sorry…” again he remembered; Gaara didn’t sleep.
Gaara smiled; “Daijoubu.” He replied. “You sleep. I’ll be fine… I can take a rest even if I don’t sleep. Just go to bed.”
Naruto yawned again. “Well…If you’re ok with it…”
“I am.”
Naruto went into the bedroom, Gaara followed. “So, where do you want me?” he asked a little nervous. The fact that the sentence sounded completely wring didn’t really make things any better.
“Gomen…” Naruto said. “I only have this one bed, but if you don’t mind…We can share it…” his cheeks were flushing as he hoped Gaara didn’t misunderstand what he was trying to say.
Gaara looked at him, completely calm, his lips curved into a smile again. He himself had never thought he could smile like this. So sincerely and true; straight from his heart.
“I don’t mind.” He said. “As long as you don’t feel weird…”
“I don’t” Naruto said. He hesitated, but placed his hands around Gaara’s waist, hugging him. His body was so warm… Gaara returned the hug, and kissed his hair.
“I want to be like this tonight…” he said. “That is, unless you feel uncomfortable…?”
“I don’t mind.” Naruto replied. “Let’s just go to bed already…I’m tired.” They went to bed, and held each other. Naruto was fast asleep, but Gaara was awake all night, looking at him… It was strange being like this, with Naruto, but it was nice.
“He’s so peaceful…” he thought as he regarded him. “ I wanna be like this tomorrow too… And forever…”

Night turned into day, and Naruto drowsily opened his eyes and rubbed them sleepily, then he turned around, facing Gaara, who still had his arm around him. “Ohayio.” He said.
“Morning.” Gaara replied, and immediately cut to the chase, his voice nervous; “You feel weird?”
Naruto stroke his red hair. “No.” he said. “I feel good.”
“Good. Me too:”
Naruto touched Gaara’s tattoo. “Love…” he said.
Gaara smiled. “Yeah…It finally has a meaning now…” his eyes met Naruto’s, he leaned forward, carefully kissing him on the lips.
“Let’s go eat.”
Naruto nodded.

After breakfast they walked around the village together. “Are you going to train today too?” Gaara asked.
“Yeah…You can come along if you’d like, or stay at my place while I’m gone?”
Gaara shook his head. “Thanks…But I’ve got to get home… Kankuro and Temari are probably worried…”
“Yeah, I guess…” Naruto shrugged.

“Too bad you have to go….” They were standing outside the village.”
“Yeah, but I’ll come back.”
“So are we…like…” Naruto blushed. “A couple now..?”
Gaara shrugged, he was blushing as well. “Do you want us to be?”
“I…think so…” Naruto’s voice was shaky.
“Good…Me too…”
They both smiled. Gaara laid a hand on Naruto’s shoulder and pulled him close, he kissed him. The kiss was deep, soft. “Please don’t forget about me…” Gaara’s voice seemed sad all of a sudden. Sad and frightened.
Naruto held him tightly. “I won’t…I can’t…We need each other..:”
Gaara kissed his neck. “Yeah…Need each other…”
Naruto too felt sad all of a sudden. “When will I see you again?” he asked. “I don’t wanna say goodbye…”
Gaara smiled. “Soon. I want to be with you, so soon…” he kissed him again. “And…Don’t call it goodbye…Just say see ya…It sounds like a shorter amount of time..:”
Naruto smiled. “Yeah…It does…”
Gaara looked at him; “Say, can’t you come visit me next time?”
Naruto nodded. “Sure. I’d like that!”
Gaara pulled him close again, closed his eyes and kissed Naruto once more. Enjoyed it. In his mind, time had stopped. All that existed was Naruto and himself. But eventually it had to come to an end. He broke the kiss, touched Naruto’s cheek; “I must go…”
Naruto nodded. Wiped away a tear; he didn’t want Gaara to leave so soon…
“I’ll come to see you soon!” he shouted after Gaara who was already leaving.
“I’m looking forward to it!” Gaara shouted back. “I’ll miss you Naruto!”
“I’ll miss you too…” Gaara was gone, yet Naruto felt him in his heart. It was sad to say goodbye, but…. It wouldn’t be long before he’d see him again…

Gaara arrived in the hidden village of Sand at late afternoon and came to their house. Temari came out in the hall and met him in the doorway.
“Gaara? Where’ve you been?” she asked. She’d been worried, he could tell. She was his big sister after all. He decided not to trouble her any further. It couldn’t do any harm telling her where he’d been… “Konoha…” he replied.
“Konoha? What have you been doing in Konoha for two days?”
“I was with Naruto…”
“That’s that Kyuubi-kid, ne?” Temari was astonished. He was so open! Usually he wasn’t like that; he wouldn’t even be answering her.
“Yeah…” he replied, smiling. Smiling! She didn’t know when she’d seen Gaara smile last. At least not like this.
Kakuro came in and looked at them; he too was surprised by seeing the smile on Gaara’s face. “What are you so happy about?” he asked.
“Happy. That’s right!” Gaara thought “I’m happy…I actually am happy! For once…”
He didn’t answer Kankuro’s question, he just shrugged and apologized for worrying them. Then he went up to his room.
Kankuro and Temari were left in the hall, very confused.
“Wow…He was so…”
“Changed…I know…”
“I wonder what happened to him in Konoha that could have made him smile like that?”
Kankuro shrugged. “I don’t know…But who cares, what’s important is that he’s well, and happy…Right?”
She smiled. “Yeah…He deserves to be happy..:”

Gaara sat in the window in his room, and watched the pink evening sky. He sat like this until the sun sat, and the moon raised. He felt how he was truly happy and calm.
His heart didn’t feel heavy anymore, but light.
He’d discovered love, and how it can change a person.
Gaara was happy, and he could feel it throughout his entire body, he felt complete.
Naruto understood him and needed him, and vice versa. The two of them were two of a kind.
And perhaps it was only with each other they could find true happiness and serenity?

Gaara looked to the sky. “I wonder if Naruto is watching the moon too?”
He rested his cheeks on his elbows and blew at the window. His breath fogged a small part of the glass, and with his finger the draw the kanji for “ai”.
“Good night Naruto-kun….”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

End notes:
To answer the question in the reviews: It is a one-shot fic, yes, but I'm currently trying to work out a sequel. It'll be more of a lime/lemon fic, but I'm not all that sure yet. Thanks for reviewing!