Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Year of Change ❯ Chapter 3, Part 5 ( Chapter 14 )

Disclaimer: Naruto does not belong to me. The story on the other hand, does. If you take it claim it as your own work, I will find you and tickle you to death. You've been warned.

Extra warning: Slightly lemon. If you don't think you should read it, then don't.

Chapter 3, Part 5: End of Winter

“That was a great practice.” Kiba said as he placed his bass gatar against the wall. He grinned broadly and rubbed his hands together. The band seem to practice in the garage that his family didn't use. It was a very different experience from going from his warm and specially made chorus room to this cold shack that had a heavy smell of dogs.

Gaara picked up the sheet music with clumsy written notes and crudely written words. He'd had to go over it the night before, trying to understand some of the cryptic words and writing down what he thought they were over it. Kiba's handwriting was just as bad, if not worse, then Naruto's.That wasn't say the music and lyrics were bad, it was just different from the choirs the classic he use to play.

“Man, I'm hungry.” Choji said, standing up from behind the drum set, rubbing his stomach.

“You're always hungry, Choji. I'm surprise you didn't bring any snacks with you.”

“I did, but I ate them on the way here.” Choji said, with a good natured smile.

“Then perhaps we should go and get something to eat.” Shino commented, placing his own gaitar in his case with bug stickers on it. He'd been the last person he'd expect to be here, although Gaara himself had received a few eyebrow raises when he'd show up.

“That's an awesome idea. You wanna come with us, Gaara?” Kiba chimed.

“I would, but I have a study date I need to make. Maybe next time.” Gaara leaned down to pick up his heavy coat and scarf. It was the last of the winter chill. Trees everywhere were threatening to erupt with new growth and blossoms. Something he was looking forward to, having enough of this winter nonsense. It was once step closer to summer, and the heat that he was dreadfully missing.

“Hopefully Hinata can make it next time too. It sounds better when she's here.” Kiba jerked his thumb over to the electir piano sitting in one corner of the garage. “Awesome practice again.”

Jacket buttoned and scarf secure around his neck, Gaara gave them a small smile before nodding his farewell and making his way down the large drive way.

Kiba's family had a large property and had managed to fill almost all of it. They seemed to be extremely found of dogs. Kiba himself had a large white dog that had sat inside the garage with him during the entire practice. His, from what Gaara understood, sister was a vet and his mother seemed to be some spokeswoman for a people against animal abuse. The property itself was very large, parts off it fenced off with certain types of dogs inside. It seemed people dropped off their unwanted dogs here and left the Inuzuka's to care for them. The place was, in every since of the word, a dog farm.

When Gaara had sang, he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad thing when some of the other dogs in the area had started to bark and howl.

As he made his way to the end of the drive, he spotted one dog that was alone in his pin. It was laying there with its head resting on his paws. It's fur pattern and shape reminded him of some of the wild coyote dogs that use to scamper about the desert mountains. Gaara watched the dogs eyes follow him with an almost human interest.

Curious, he walked closer to the fence to look at the animal. As soon as he rested his hand on the fence, the dog's head perked up. They stared at each other for a moment before Gaara placed his hand inside and made the `tut tut' noise his sister did when she use to try and attract cats. The animal stood and pattered over to investigate him.

Once the dog was done sniffing him, Gaara carefully moved to pet the top of the dog's head. Whit the animal closer, Gaara noticed how part of the animal's ear was ripped and the tail looked like it had been broken in more then one place. Feeling sympathy for it, Gaara scratched the animal behind the ear, cause it to both whine and thump its tail on the ground.

“In the market for a pet?”

Gaara jumped a little at the voice. Turning, he saw Kiba's mother pushing a wheel barrel of dog food toward him. She was a rough looking woman with wild black hair, a rough looking wolf-dog trotting at her side.

“My apartment complex doesn't allow pets…” Gaara said slowly.

“That's a shame. You're the first person he's been friendly too since we rescued him.” She said, scooping some dog food into the bowl inside the fenced area. The dog inside didn't move, enjoying his ear rub too much to want to move. “He's picky, that one.”

Gaara couldn't help but smile as he looked back down the dog. The animal looked back up at him and he felt a small connection. Both of them were a little worse for wear, but still alive. “If he's still here when I get out of school, I'll come and get him.”

“He'll be here.” Kiba's mother smiled as she watched them. “Good pets always pick the owners, not the other way around. You have a friend for life there.” She pointed as the dog was now licking his hand. Gaara gave the animal one last pat on the head before pulling his hand back and watched as it when over to inspect the new food in his bowl.

Gaara said goodbye to Kiba's mother before making his way down the rest of the driveway and down to the bus stop.

0o0o0o0o0o0

The simple truth of the matter was that for the first time in his life, he didn't feel like studying. He'd made the effort to study with Sakura. They had gone over history and knocked out math. Currently they were working on their English assignment; translating a poem written by Longfellow. Normally he would enjoy this… but Sakura was providing to be more of a distraction then he though, and she wasn't even aware of it.

She'd come up dressed in a long red sweater that went down pack her hips and black pants. The necklace he'd given her for Valentines day peaking out from the collar of her sweater. He was not normally enticed by clothing… but today seemed to be an exception.

Every now and then when she moved, the a glint from the necklace would catch his eye. This would lead to him looking at her neck, followed be the desire to bury his neck in it. The thoughts following this became more and more graphic the more times he looked at it.

He had to face facts… he was simply too horny to really keep his mind on anything.

Sighing, Gaara made another effort to try and focus on the subject at hand. He almost succeed till Sakura yawned and stretched her hand over her head, unknowingly pushing her chest forward. His resolve was smashed away and watched as she leaned back over the book she was reading for her part of the poem.

“I just don't get it.” She muttered while rereading the poem.

Gaara stood and moved behind her, looking over her shoulder so he could read it with her. “Which part?” Her hair smelled nice from whatever fruity shampoo she used.

“Well… I mean… I understand what it's about, I'm just not sure how to translate it.” She said sheepishly.

“Try reading it out loud. I find it helps.”

Sakura snorted, put pulled the text book closer and started to read in a semi monotone voice. “There is a love that cannot die! And some their doom have me. Heart-broken and gone as stars go by, That rise, and burn, and set. Their days were in Spring's fallen leaf. Tender and young and bright and—“ She suddenly broke off with a gasp as he lightly bit the junction between her neck and shoulder.

“Don't stop.” He said as he nibbled his way up her neck. He felt goose bumps rise on her skin and grinned. Sakura started to read again, her words interrupted by gasps and small moans as he continued to assault her neck with his mouth. Her voice went up and pitch or two when he slide his arms around her to tease her stomach through the sweater.

The middle part of the poem was cut off altogether when he slide his hands under her sweater and used his finger tips to tease the area right under her bra, causing her to wiggle and moan in her seat. Gaara noticed how she was gripping the book tightly enough make her knuckles turn white.

“You should finished the poem…” he murmured into her neck. “I'll do something nice to you if you do.”

“You've been hanging out with Naruto too long.” She said shakily.

“Perhaps.” His hands moved up, sliding under the bra and gave her chest a soft squeeze. “I'll stop if you really want me to.”

She didn't say anything for a moment and Gaara had a disappointed feeling that she was going to tell him that she did want him to stop. He was about to disentangle himself from her when pulled the book closer and quickly started reading the rest of the poem and then promptly tossed it to the other side of the room when she was done.

Almost as if they had rehearsed it, Sakura stood to face him and he pushed the chair out of the way. He placed his hands under her rear to lift her and place her on the desk. When he kissed her, it wasn't his normal soft ones but a hungry one. Sakura moaned into his mouth and pressed her legs on either side of his hips and let herself be pressed down onto the desk.

Their hands were fumbling under each other clothes when there was the sudden sound of the front door to the apartment being opened. Both frozen for a moment, it wasn't until Karuase voice doing his normal “Honey, I'm hoommmee” call that they both detached from each other and hurriedly tried to fix their clothes. By the time Karuse had walked down the hall to his room, they were both sitting at the desk, looking at a random text book.

“Since I'm home early, you guys want to go catch a movie or dinner?”

“Dinner sounds good.” Gaara said over his shoulder.

“Is it too hot in here for you Sakura? You're face is all flushed.” Karasu asked, looking a little concernted.

Sakura gave a little laugh and fanned herself with a bit of paper. “It is always a little warm up here.”

“You can blame Gaara. He always wants it to be as hot as it is back home. I'll turn it down for you. It wouldn't be a good thing if you passed out from over heating.” He said, walked away.

“Thank you!” She called after him be looking back at Gaara. They shared a small looked before she burst into silent giggles. She leaned over to kiss him on the cheek and said softly. “My parents are going out to another business party tonight… we'll get our alone time after dinner.”

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Gaara laid back on the bed, Sakura curled up against him already fast asleep Her arm was draped over his chest and holding him close like a child would with a teddy bear. His hand was idly moving up and down his shoulder. His mind was empty of all thoughts, simply enjoying the current moment and the afterglow.

He wouldn't be able to stay much longer. The flimsy excuse of needing to do more studying wouldn't work if he was gone too long with his brother. Gaara just simply didn't want to leave. He wanted to stay here for as long as possible.

For the first time, in a long time, he felt himself fully relaxed. Muscles in his body that he never thought of had relaxed and were giving him an overall euphoric feeling. Here in Sakura's bedroom with her stuff animal collection, pink patterned wall paper and frilly bed, he really couldn't remember being this content with his life. So… happy…

His eyes had closed on his own, and he turned to smell Sakura's hair again.. Before he knew what happened, he'd fallen fast asleep.

They'd placed him in the room again with the one way observation mirror. He wondered how many people were sitting on the other side, watching him and exchanging notes about his behavior. One of the nurses had come in to try and place the little electrodes on him but had given up when he'd gotten up and tossed his chair at her.

He hated those things. A small alien object on his body. He'd grown to hate those like he'd done with the needles and the shots that they felt he should be taking, since he refused to take the pills. Normally when they brought him here, a doctor would come in with cards or some object to show it to him and watch his reaction. He was unresponsive as always, but he was mildly curious what they would do with him today… and how long it would take.

When the door opened, a tall busty blond walked in and closed the door behind her. She took a seat in front of him and thumped a large folder, thick with many sheets of paper inside, on top of the metal desk between them.

“My name is Dr. Tsunade.” She said. Her voice not the careful calm that many of the other doctors and nurses like to talk with. Rather, it was load, blunt and too the point. It made him blink. “I'm here because the doctors think that you condition is getting worse and could effect your body. Now, from what I see from your record,” her hand opened his record and flipped through the pages “ you are as healthy as a new born baby, but I would like to run some test.” She leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms over her massive chest. “I can't do that with you refusing to let the nurses touch you. If you don't corporate, then I was have you sedated.”

Gaara jerked back in his chair at the mention of sedation.

“I see you don't like that option, but the choice is up to you. You can either let me do my job or I will take matters into my own hands.” The last bit of the statement was said threateningly. “Please don't make us be rough with you.”

Gaara was trembling in his seat, unable to keep everything he was feeling in check. He and the doctor glared at each other for a few moments before raised one of her hands towards the one way mirror and made a beckoning motion with her fingers. A few moments later an average sized woman with short brown hair opened the door and walked inside.

“This is my assistant. She'll be working with me. Between her and I, we'll be the only ones to touch you unless you don't refuse to work with us.”

There was a silence before the other woman walked forward and kneeled next to Gaara. “I'm just going to take a blood sample. It'll only sting a little.” She said softly. When Gaara didn't acknowledge her, she raised two of her hands up tentatively and rolled up the sleeve to his shirt. It only took her a moment to get the sample before leaving the room.

Tsunade smiled at him. “See? That wasn't so bad…”

Gaara's eye fluttered open and he felt disorientated. His mind took a few moments to realize that he wasn't still in his ward room back home, or even in his own room. The warm breath moving over his chest was what jogged his memory back present. Groggery he rub his eyes and looked over to spy the time on the clock on the bed stand. His eyes widened as and he blinked hard to make sure he read the time right.

Had he really slept that long?

Wondering if he could sneak back up to his apartment, Gaara tried to disentangle himself from Sakura. Even in her deep sleep state, she had other ideas. The arm around him was suddenly holding him tightly and she murmured almost worryingly into his chest.

“Sakura…” He said, giving a soft shake, but she didn't wake. Instead she brought one of her legs up to curl around one his before becoming still again.

Sighing, Gaara made himself comfortable on her bed and laid his head back. He couldn't really argue with that.

0o0o0o0o0o0

Gaara stood with Hinata on the side walk and waved good-bye to grey hound bus as it pulled out of the parking lot. Some of the students inside the bus had their upper bodies poked out the top windows and were waving at some of the other standing on the sidewalk with them. It was easy to spot Naruto and Sakura who were waving furiously at them.

“Good luck Naruto!” Hinata called out to him. “Kick some ass!” She blushed as she noticed some of the others to turn back to look at her. Naruto only grinned widen and blew kisses at her.

It was the time of the year for sports. So far the only ones going out of state where the Soccer and Karate teams. If they sent out anymore then, then the school population would drop dramatically and they might as well close the school down for two weeks. Gaara was a little envious that he wasn't in sports, since everyone seemed like they were really happy to be going.

“So it looks like we're both alone for two weeks.” Hinata said once the bus was out of sight. “What are you going to do?”

“I was going to stay home, but Naruto wants me to keep an eye on you and chase your fan club off.”

Her eyes lit up in good humor. “How are you going to do that?”

Gaara reached into his pocket and pulled out his taser.

0o0o0o0o0o0

The truth was that while Gaara did hang out with Hinata and some of the others, he did it because it was lonely without Naruto and Sakura. He had been halfway temped to go back up to the roof and spend his lunch periods up there, but the want of human company had grown on him.

For the most part, he spent time with Kiba who was trying to work on new songs and lyrics with Hinata. Choji turned out to be an extremely nice person, when he wasn't stuffing his mouth with food. Shino turned out to rarely talk at all, and when he did it was in an almost cryptic manner that Gaara had to get use to.

He didn't really realize how glued at the hip he'd been with Sakura and Naruto until she started spending more with their-- his friends. Another one of Naruto's friends, Neji, was a surprise that they even close. They seemed to be on opposite ends on the personality scale. He was even more surprised when Hinata said she and Neji were cousins.

“I always found Naruto's determination and willingness to not be what people label him to be moving” Neji said when Gaara asked why they hanged out. “I use to think he was just a loser, but he kind of beat some sense into me.” He chuckled and Gaara imagined that he meant that literally.

0o0o0o0o0o0

He's expected, no Gaara knew, that this run in was going to happen. He suspected that Sasuke would pick this time when he wouldn't have emotional support. Gaara just counted his blessings that Sasuke was alone.

It was after the choirs' practice, which wasn't much a practice with a party of one. The teacher only worked on some vocal techniques. With some time to spare before the after activities bus would arrive, Gaara decided that it was a good time to go and rearrange the contents of his locker. If Gaara hadn't noticed the soft foot steps, a paranoid trait he kept from when he use to get by day to day in the juvenile ward, if Sasuke would have moved close enough to touch the hairs on his neck.

As it was, he noticed him when he was walking down the small set of stairs leading to a small section of lockers where Gaara's was. He was wearing his normal cloths, but judging from the slightly tousled hair and a faint sheen of sweat on Sasuke's neck, Gaara knew that he had just finished with his kendo practice.

They stared at each other for a silent moment. Sasuke looked at him with his hands in his pockets while Gaara's eyes looked around, confirming that he was really alone. Gaara closed his locker and turned to face him.

“No fan club today?”

“They can be annoying.” Sasuke said simply.

“Is it worth it?” Gaara asked suddenly.

“What?”

“Ruining people's lives just because you want to be the best? Or is there some kind of twisted personal satisfaction you get from it?”

Sasuke chuckled. “I don't ruin anyone's life. It's just high school anyway, it's not like anything here matters once you leave.”

“Not to you.”

“Not to anyone. What does it matter to you anyway?”

“I was just wonder why you decided to be the way you are. I see I was right with my first theory though.”

“Oh?” Sasuke smiled. “Entertain me… What was your theory?”

“That you'll never be as good as your brother.” The words had an unexpected impact. Gaara had thought that Sasuke would simply brush the statement off as if it didn't mean anything, but instead… he looked like he had just been slapped. “You're brother was naturally good at everything he did, with little effort. With high expectations from you family and anyone else that knew him, you just couldn't be as good as him… but you do pretend…

“Shut up!” Sasuke snapped, cutting off whatever else Gaara had been about to say. “You don't know anything!”

“You're right.” Gaara said coolly, bending over to pick up his bag and slid the strap over his arm. “I don't… like I said: It's just a theory. It was nice talking to you.” Gaara made his way out of the locker room, thought the one exit that Sasuke wasn't blocking.

“Why won't you just give up?”

Gaara paused. He thought for a moment before saying slowly. “I have my pride.” He left then, not waiting for a response to whatever Saskue would have to say.

Author Note: I'm sorry I haven't written anything in a long time. In truth… I just wasn't sure what to write. I have the timeline of events in my head, just going about it has been difficult. For the last few weeks when I tried to write something, Gaara would refuse to play along.

Anyhow, I would like to thank you for your patients in waiting for this chapter. I hope the next one won't take as long, but I won't make any promises. The only thing I can say is that I won't let this be a fic with no ending. There are about five more "chapters" left to be done, and I will write them.

Hope you enjoyed your read. Reviews are welcomed by me with great bundles of love, just like suggestions.