Naruto One-Shot (Yaoi)

Wishing on

By Sakata Ri Houjun

"That was shallow, cheap, and based solely on hormones. Works for me!" - Freakazoid

It wasn't surprising that when one blonde shinobi found himself in the chilling cold grip of one of Wind Country's infamous nights while on a routine mission, he sought out the company of the Kazekage. Or rather, he would have if Gaara hadn't found him first en route to his office, ambushing him halfway up the stairs.

Naruto wasn't so much startled by the silent presence of his long-time friend as he was by the simple box that was unceremoniously shoved under his nose. The confusion on his face was blatant even by the usual expressive standard that Naruto displayed, yet he accepted the box, never one to turn down a gift. After all, he had never received many presents as a child while Gaara probably had been given even less, so this sudden exchange was not wholly unwelcome on either's part.

"So what's the occasion?" he asked, turning over the parcel. It was nothing more than a plain box, the present inside sliding around as he flipped it over. It could have very well been a non-descript delivery that needed to be made on behalf of some mission or another, but Naruto knew better. Gaara wouldn't show up without preamble and simply hand it over.

"Tanabata," was the level reply, the seriousness of his voice downplayed by the faint blush that only Naruto, standing as close as he was, could make out in the dim lighting.

For a moment, silence reined between them while Naruto remembered before leaving Konoha that the village was undergoing preparations for the holiday, girls flocking to the branches displayed to offer their hastily written down wishes in hopes that the reunited star-crossed lovers would grant them. Was that festival tonight? Not that he could tell from the dark and empty streets he'd traveled to get here. In a way, Naruto supposed that Wind country wasn't much for such celebrations but he understood the implications of Gaara's gesture. Certainly he wasn't dense enough to misinterpret the symbolism as well. Suddenly the box in his hands, as insubstantial as it was, felt a great deal heavier and an answering blush lifted brightly onto whiskered cheeks. "You didn't have to..."

There was an air of expectancy around Gaara as he tilted his head, gaze still retaining just a sliver of innocence that death and betrayal could not extinguish. Needing no further encouragement, Naruto pulled off the top to the box, eager to see what his red-haired ally could have picked out for him, thoughts swimming with the possibilities of anything from edible treats to something useful on the battlefield like a scroll containing a complex jutsu or a weapon.

His face all but fell once he saw what the box contained before he lifted the slim leather collar from within, holding it up to get a better look. At first, Naruto attempted to smile, thinking surely this wasn't what it appeared to be, yet there came the unmistakable jingle of a gleaming tag, freshly engraved, that proclaimed Naruto as Gaara's property.

As expressive as always, Naruto stared at Gaara as though he'd grown a second head. "You can't be serious."

There was the faintest of movement around Gaara's mouth, almost like he was suppressing the urge to smirk at Naruto's reaction, but it was gone under his mask of indifference, chin lifting slightly. "You don't like it?"

"A dog collar? You expect me to jump for joy? I'm still trying to figure out if this is a fetish thing or a jab at the fact I have a fox inside me."

"Perhaps I was better off to just ignore you tonight, then," Gaara returned stiffly, crossing his arms. "Seeing as how unappreciative you are, I think I should just take my leave." His threat was punctuated with a flare of dark fabric, coat flaring out as he spun on his heel.

In an instant, Naruto was on him, grabbing one arm in a firm grip that spoke volumes. No matter how disappointed or angry he might become, it never altered the strong connection that bound him to Gaara. "Hey, no. The gift is cool. I just didn't understand what you meant by it."