Naru: Misty Eyes (A Naruto Fanfic) [Complete]

Chapter Six: Two Becomes Three

Naru sat outside the Kazekage's office, legs swinging, as she leaned her head backwards in boredom. Kohaku had been in there for over an hour already. She wondered what they were talking about.

"Who're you?"

She slowly sat up straighter in her chair, head angling towards the speaker. The voice had been quiet, child-like, but definitely a boy. Naru wrapped her hand loosely around her staff, which was sitting across her lap, and stood up. "I'm Naru Uzumaki, from Konoha. Who're you?"

"Gaara," came the short reply. "How can you see with that thing on your face?"

"I can't see either way, so it really makes no difference," Naru answered, surprised at how bluntly the question was asked. Surprisingly, she didn't mind.

"Then why wear it? If it makes no difference, I mean." Gaara sounded like he had moved closer.

Naru shrugged. "It's more comfortable this way. It's less of a reminder."

"Reminder?" He was standing directly in front of her now. Naru reached out a hand, feeling sand wrap lightly around her fingers before they met his cheek. So he was about her height then. Gaara froze as soon as her hand made contact with him. She withdrew it quickly.

"Sorry, I was curious."

Before she could answer his question or he could respond to her statement, the door to the Kazekage's office opened. "Are you bothering our guest, Gaara?" It wasn't Kohaku speaking, so it must've been the Kazekage.

"We were just talking," Naru said. "Gaara is my friend."

"Oh?" The Kazekage's tone sounded almost disinterested. "Is that so?"

"Yeah. Well, if he wants to be..."

"Gaara?"

"Y-Yes. We're friends." Underneath the hesitancy and the stutter, Naru heard genuine happiness, and it made her smile.

"Well I'm glad you're settling into Suna, Naru. Gaara, I'll see you at home later."

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama," Naru said.

At the same time, Gaara said, "Yes, Father." The door to the office closed again, so Naru assumed he had returned to his work. She felt someone hug her, but it wasn't Kohaku. Gaara's voice spoke in her ear, "I'm glad we're friends, Naru."

Naru leaned her head against his where it rested on her shoulder. "Me too, Gaara."

"Well," Kohaku finally spoke up, making Naru jump. She hadn't noticed how close the Suna nin had been standing. "We need to get going, Naru. I told my old teammates I'd be back today, and they wanted to meet you. Gaara, you're welcome to come as well."

"R-Really? You don't mind?"

"Of course not. If you're friends with Naru, I see no problem." Kohaku's tone implied a warning though. 'Be mean to Naru, and pay the price.'

"Thanks, Kohaku-san!" Naru beamed in the direction of the shinobi's voice.

"Of course, kid. Oh, that reminds me. The reason I was in there so long was... because I was transferring your guardianship from the Kazekage to me."

"You mean I get to live with you?!"

Kohaku laughed, and Naru felt her ruffle her hair. "Yes, Naru. You get to live with me."

Naru wasn't even upset as she fixed her hair. She was too busy grinning. She felt Gaara's hand slip into hers and give a gentle squeeze. "Can Gaara stay over tonight? Pleeeeease? We won't be super loud. You won't even notice. Promise. Pleeeeeeeeaaaaase?"

Kohaku sighed, but it didn't sound like she was actually annoyed. "Alright, Naru. If he wants to."

"Yes, please, Kohaku-san," Gaara said from beside Naru.

"Then I guess we're having a sleepover. Now let's go eat!"

"Yay!" Naru and Gaara cheered. Naru smiled towards Kohaku again. "Hey, Kohaku-san, is Ryuu-san gonna be there?"

"And now we're walking faster..."

Naru laughed. "That's a yes, Kohaku-san. You're not very good at hiding things."

"Oh, hush, Naru."

"Ryuu-san?" Gaara asked as they walked out of the building and into the village.

"Oh, didn't you know?" Naru giggled mischievously. "Kohaku-san has a crush on Ryuu-san."

"If we walk any faster, we'll be running, so I suggest you stop talking about that before we all have to run," Kohaku said, only confirming the statement further as Naru and Gaara laughed.