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Hot Sand	By : promise2003 Category: Naruto > Yaoi - Male/Male > Gaara/Naruto Views: 3051 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 1
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
Chapter 10: More to
the Story

A/N�s: Well the last chapter was a bit sucky, so I give you a chapter that I am actually pleased
with, especially since it un-demonizes Kakashi from
his man-whorish ways. You�ll understand
what I�m talking about if you read on. I
hope you like this, it is setting up the plot to get a
whole bunch more interesting. Hee-hee�wait�I can do better with
the laughing thing, because this calls for evil chuckling at the very
least�BWAH-HA-HA!

Disclaimer:
(apparently added by AFF now, so I shall not bother anymore)

Warning: This
chapter alludes to a character death that I had happen in the past�sorry if you
don�t like that kind of stuff, but it was essential to the plot.

+++++++++++++++

BEGIN CHAPTER

+++++++++++++++

Heartache never suited Hatake
Kakashi well, that is why when Sakura decided not to see him anymore there was
no regret or apology that he felt he owed her.
The fact that she hadn�t spoken to him any more than to accomplish a
mission or to acknowledge his presence was a bit disheartening, but Kakashi
knew that she would get over him eventually.
He had truly hoped that Sakura would cure him of the perpetual love
slump that he had been in for many years.
Kakashi had desired for her to be the one to make him feel more than the
empty loneliness that seemed to consume his heart�but she hadn�t. Not even Sakura could give him back what he
had lost so many years ago, but he wasn�t too worried because he had heard the
rumors from Naruto about Kankuro of the Sand.
Yes�Kankuro would be a good match for the kunoichi, much better than he
was.

Though the day was bitterly cold and the wind seemed to nip
at every bit of exposed flesh, Kakashi found himself wandering the area around
Konoha without much direction or purpose.
He was just going, letting his feet take him wherever they so
chose. Kakashi had been surprised when
he saw where he had ended up, and froze in place only about ten yards from the
memorial stone.

Looking up at the sky he grumbled, �Trying to tell me
something?� he asked the clouds. Almost
in response Kakashi felt a few slick pellets of sleet fall on his head, one
that landed in his uncovered eye and made him rub it with irritation.

With an extended sigh Kakashi kept walking toward the stone,
wishing that he had stayed in bed instead of allowing his thoughts to bring him
here. Pulling the glove off of his hand
Kakashi brushed the engraved marble with his fingers, paying particular
attention to the name of his closest boyhood friend. �I blame you for today, because I think you
had something to do with this,� Kakashi murmured to the engraving of Obito�s name.

The wind picked up and a gush of fallen leaves zipped by
Kakashi in a playful manner.

�Now I know you do,� he said with a half smile that was
covered by his mask. �I�m sorry that I
haven�t visited you in awhile, I�ve been busy�so very busy.�

Though this was only a memorial, and there were no bodies of
the friends of Kakashi�s that were engraved on it beneath or anywhere around
him, there was something about this spot that made him feel closer to his
fallen comrades than any other in Konoha.
It had been about four years since Kakashi had visited this place and
even longer since he had taken the time to talk to Obito. Kakashi watched as a red leaf flew toward the
marble remembrance and smacked into it, sticking with a wet smack making
Kakashi laugh a bit as he noted where it had glued itself to on the memorial.

�Yes, yes�I haven�t forgotten you either, but I guess that I
have been avoiding you,� Kakashi told the leaf as he pealed it off the name it
covered. The lump in Kakashi�s throat
became more solidified and words were no longer an option as he carefully
studied the person that he hadn�t visited in many years. The sleet began coming down in heavier
sheets, though Kakashi was almost grateful to the cold pre-winter drizzle,
because it hid the fact that the sleet wasn�t the only wetness on his
face.

�I wonder if you are mad at me? I mean, since you died I became a recluse and
then�well�like I said I was busy.�
Another batch of wet leaves swept around him in the wind and one landed
on his face with a moist thwack. �I
guess I deserve that, don�t I?�

There was no answer, but the brief downfall and wind died
down into a calmer manner, one that made Kakashi wish that he wasn�t forgiven
by the elements that he�d deemed his dead friends and lover. �I miss you,� he whispered, once again
staring at the name that had been covered by the leaf. �Some days I think that it�s impossible to go
on without you��

Over the hill Kakashi could sense someone�s chakra and was
instantly silenced. It was one thing to
talk to your friends� memorial, but it was another thing entirely to be caught
doing so. Kakashi turned his feelings
inward and held them as he saw one of his teammates coming over the hill to the
training area where the memorial was placed.

�I�ve been looking for you everywhere,� came
a frustrated growl from the dark-haired young man that approached Kakashi.

�Hmm, me?� Kakashi feigned, trying
not to laugh at the Uchiha�s impatience.

�You knew we were supposed to train and spar today, I
reminded you three times yesterday,� Sasuke hissed at Kakashi.

�I�m only a few hours late,� Kakashi told Sasuke in a matter
of fact fashion.

�No, you are about six hours late. I have a test in three days for captain,
Kakashi. This was important...you never
forget the important stuff.�

Kakashi winced, he had completely overlooked that Sasuke was
testing for ANBU captain rank this week.
�I�m sorry, I guess that I was just a little
distracted.�

�What was so important that you forgot about my test?�
Sasuke demanded of Kakashi. The Uchiha
was so obviously pissed that there was no hiding the anger that seethed from
him. How was Kakashi supposed to let him
know that he was feeling a bit depressed and had been aimlessly wandering the
countryside in search of himself for most of the day?

Kakashi decided that it would be better to pretend to be an
ass and whipped out a familiar series book from his pocket. �New book�came out today,� he told Sasuke
while motioning at the porn in his hands.
�I couldn�t put it down, you know me.�

Sasuke, not one for making any extra emotional outbursts
like Naruto or Sakura only squinted his eyes at the
man and actually growled at Kakashi�s act of idiocy. Sasuke calmed down when he noticed that it
was obvious that the book hadn�t even been opened. Kakashi never went easy on his books and
there were none of the normal signs of use, no creased spine or dog-eared
pages. Even on the first read Kakashi
would always mark the good parts by bending the corners of the pages, saving certain
spots for further review in private.
This book that Kakashi was holding was completely untouched. �Well, are you ready now?� Sasuke asked his
former sensei.

�I suppose, just let me say goodbye,� Kakashi told the
younger man while tucking the book back into his vest pocket.

�Goodbye?�

�Yes.� Kakashi didn�t
explain further, only averted his eyes from Sasuke to the stone below him,
touching the two most important names once more and allowing a sad sigh to
cross his lips. To the stone he added,
�I�ll visit again soon, this time I will keep that promise.�

Sasuke followed Kakashi�s arm and fingers down to the two
people that he was speaking to. One was Obito, Kakashi�s former teammate, and the other�

�Are you ready to go?� Kakashi asked Sasuke, removing his
fingers from the stone and breaking the Uchiha of his trance.

�It has been so many years�even Naruto has stopped talking
about it,� Sasuke muttered as he watched Kakashi start moving down the hill to
their normal training area.

�Many years�� Kakashi whispered, ��but still not enough.�

Sasuke didn�t have to ask what Kakashi meant by that, he
knew what the other person had meant to Kakashi and how it had nearly destroyed
his sensei when that person died.
Kakashi had become very quiet in the first year or two after his lover�s
death and then pulled a complete one-eighty and seemed to bed as many people as
he could find. Kakashi hadn�t completely
gotten over the death of Iruka, and he probably never
would. This was something that Sasuke
and the rest of Team 7 understood fully.
Sasuke had hoped, just like everyone else, that Sakura would be able to
help heal Kakashi�s heart. Their
coupling was the first relationship he had been in since Iruka�s
death, but it wasn�t meant to be.
Kakashi seemed unfazed by their breakup and Sakura got her heart
broken.

Sasuke sighed, love�it was something for only the foolhardy
and weak. Love was meant for those that
were dependant on others, and there would be no woman that he would ever allow
himself to get that close to�never.

�So why didn�t you go find Naruto or Sakura to help you?�
Kakashi asked, secretly hoping to pawn Sasuke onto someone else, because training
didn�t sound like fun today at all. The
only thing the copy-nin wanted to do was go crawl back into bed or return to
the memorial.

�They are in Suna. Another meeting with Gaara.�

Kakashi noted the bitterness which was woven into Sasuke�s
voice when he mentioned the Kazekage.
Before Naruto and Gaara had become involved Sasuke had no problems with
the Suna leader, but now�

�Jealous?� Kakashi asked nonchalantly, trying not to tempt
Sasuke into too much anger. The Uchiha
and Naruto were too much for him to handle, and the only reason why Sasuke
hadn�t made it as an ANBU captain yet was because of his betrayal of Konoha
during his youth. Upon his homecoming to
Leaf Sasuke had been an entirely different person, one that still seethed with
rage and hatred, even after the death of Itachi. It took many years and much patience for the
only Uchiha survivor to even remotely return to the person that he had been
before running away to train with Ochimaru.
Naruto could take credit for most of reverting Sasuke back to his former
self, but the two always seemed to have a rift between them. One that Kakashi was sure that Sasuke had
placed there himself.

Naruto ate, breathed, and slept with Sasuke on his mind
during his adolescence. There was
nothing than he wanted more than his �brother� back. This made Kakashi chuckle inwardly, because
Sasuke and Naruto were about the furthest thing from brothers as two men could
be. They were family all right, but not
the kind that were related by blood. Kakashi even knew about their drunken
adventure that had almost allowed Sasuke to reveal his true feelings, but the
Uchiha was stubborn to a fault. None of
the great Uchiha clan would bed another man, especially when that said clan
needed to be rebuilt. Sasuke�s desire to
always fulfill his duty first and his desires never would be the death of him.

Kakashi realized that Sasuke hadn�t answered his question,
�I asked if you were jealous��

�Why would I be jealous of that red-headed psychopath?�
Sasuke growled.

�I don�t know, your voice just hinted that you were,� Kakashi
teased.

�I�m angry because my favorite training partner is too busy
screwing some guy in Sand to realize that he has obligations at home.�

�Obligations to who�to you?�
Kakashi tested.

�Yes, as his teammate he has a duty to me, and as the Hokage
he has a duty to Konoha. Not to Suna!�

�Really? Because I hear that Naruto has received
nothing but praise for his diplomatic efforts that are held in Suna. They claim that he is one of the most
important peacekeepers of our time, a very high piece of praise if you ask
me.�

Kakashi finished his statement and watched as Sasuke bit his
lip to keep the angry words at bay. A
smile crept onto Kakashi�s lips and he knew that the next words that would
leave Sasuke�s mouth would have been completely irrational and wholly emotional, therefore the raven-haired young man would do
everything in his power to keep them inside and away from admittance. Sasuke was definitely stubborn to a fault, but Kakashi supposed that it was
only the Uchiha�s happiness that had been destroyed, so who was he to
judge. Everyone could be
self-destructive from time to time, even himself.

Kakashi mused and thought about the disparaging pattern of taking
too many lovers that he�d fallen victim to over the past couple of years. It had started as a way to forget about Iruka, but in the long run it only made him feel guilty and
empty. Perhaps it was time to stop this
foolhardy behavior. If there was one
thing that Kakashi could tell Sasuke with full confidence, it would be to stop
being an moron and just let his heart lead him�perhaps Kakashi should take that
advice himself.

�We two are just a couple of idiots,� Kakashi told Sasuke
with one of his famous smiling eye-creases.

Sasuke lifted an eyebrow in complete confusion, even
forgetting about how mad he was at Naruto.
�What do you mean by that?�

�I mean that we are two peas in a pod�so much alike in our
stupidity that it�s almost laughable,� Kakashi told Sasuke with certainty.

�Seriously, I don�t understand. What are you talking about, Kakashi?�

�You love Naruto, but you won�t let yourself love him. That makes you an idiot.�

Sasuke turned bright red and started cursing and spitting
profanities at Kakashi, who took the verbal beating in stride.

�Wait, wait�I�m not finished,� Kakashi told Sasuke when the
younger man quieted down enough to interrupt.
�I�m an idiot too, because I�m too stupid to realize that I can fall in
love again. See�a pair of morons that
don�t let themselves be loved.�

Kakashi continued walking, but Sasuke was absolutely
appalled by Kakashi�s theory. Though the
part about Kakashi was probably true, Sasuke did not love Naruto. The
thought of being in love with his moronic blond teammate made Sasuke�s stomach
queasy and turn. He voiced this to
Kakashi, �That seriously makes me want to puke, Kakashi. I think you�ve lost your mind.�

�Hmmm�perhaps it�s because you know that you�ve lost
him. I know that�s exactly how I felt
when Iruka died.
In fact, I think I threw up for days.�

Sasuke watched as Kakashi�s seemingly happy attitude
vanished and his sensei now seemed so deflated and small. When did Kakashi go from being the man that
had taught him everything to being so�broken?
�I�m disgusted by that thought.�

�With him or yourself?� Kakashi
asked quietly.

�With the thought of being with him,� Sasuke quickly snapped
back.

�Hmm�actually think about it and then answer that
question. You are letting your anger
tell you how you feel, and aren�t letting your heart speak.� Kakashi focused on Sasuke with a fierce look,
one that said that Sasuke really should heed his advice. �I�ll meet you in the training field when you
are ready, but if you don�t come I�ll understand.�

A flurry of leaves enveloped Kakashi�s body and with a poof
of smoke the copy-nin was gone. Sasuke
was left alone with his thoughts and his anger.
�Fine,� Sasuke hissed to himself.
Sitting on a damp, fallen tree Sasuke decided to actually think about
it. So what if Naruto and he had almost�

Sasuke sighed, unable to squelch the uneasy feeling in his
stomach.

What if you really
have lost him? a voice in Sasuke�s mind seemed to
ask, one that sounded far too much like himself for the Uchiha�s liking.

Naruto doesn�t love
you, he loves Gaara.

The voice didn�t seem to want to leave Sasuke alone, and it
was telling him things that were preposterous and stupid. Sasuke didn�t mind if Naruto was with Gaara,
it simply didn�t matter and Sasuke didn�t care.

You care.

�I do not!� Sasuke muttered into the empty woods around him,
causing his inner voice to chuckle a bit.

See�you definitely care.

This was insane, Sasuke was sitting
alone in a secluded training area while arguing with a voice in his head. He didn�t care a bit about who Naruto loved
or fucked, so long as it wasn�t him.
There was nothing in the world that Sasuke desired less than to be with
that loser.

That loser is a
Hokage�even surpassed you, so who is
the loser?

Actually, Sasuke couldn�t argue with that point, especially
since he was fighting with himself.
Naruto wasn�t a loser anymore, he was the
leader of Konoha and doing quite the fine job in his new post. Sasuke swallowed the lump that had settled in
the back of his throat, trying to will away the thoughts that were plaguing
him. The barrage of everything that was
Naruto seemed to flood his mind all at once.
The way the idiot had saved him�helped him kill Itachi�welcomed him
home�the way Naruto kissed�

Sasuke shook his head furiously, he hadn�t just thought
about kissing Naruto. That was something
that he�d locked away in a corner of his brain, swearing that it had only been
some drunken, horny error on Sasuke�s part that had been egged on by
Naruto. The thing that had happened
between them was just a mistake. A stupid, foolish mistake.

Not a mistake. Never a mistake.

The voice whispered the thing that Sasuke had feared the
most. Kakashi had been right�he was an
idiot. He and Kakashi were two of a kind, and he was too much
of a fool to not see it until it was too late.
Sasuke had feelings for Naruto and had waited too long, because now the
moron was shacking up with Gaara. Sasuke
sat stunned with his fingers clutching tufts of raven hair and propped his
spinning head up, because the world had become far too dizzy and hazy in the
last few minutes. Naruto�s face flashed
into Sasuke�s mind, almost tempting Sasuke into a fiery tantrum with himself
for being so stupid. Sasuke did have
feelings for Naruto�

�yes, you love him.

++++++++++++++++

END OF CHAPTER

++++++++++++++++

A/N�s: Another shorter chapter,
and I promised you a longer one on the 5^th�sorry, I�ve been REALLY
busy, but it is an extra chapter. Two
medium-short chapters equals a long one, right?

I do think that this is one of the better chapters in the story
and it starts the drama. Hee-hee�I have such great things planned for this story
(and even know mostly how it ends). I
hope that you have liked it as well.
Whether you liked or hated it, you really should drop me a line and tell
me what you liked or what you think I should improve. I don�t mind my story being ripped to shreds,
so if there is something that you think I can improve please tell me so. I love critiques, they help me grow (just
note that flames and critiques are NOT the same).

(spoiler) and yes, I do think that Tobi
is Obito, but it was much more fun to write him as
actually dead for this piece since I don�t go into anything with the Atkatsuki.
- 7
- 8
- 9
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