A/N: i dunno if this should be the last chapter or not, and if it's not, what to do afterward... hmm. real puzzler there. unless i make the 'next step' to be Gaara's siblings finding out that Naruto and Gaara are, to put it lightly, "an item". and another step would be to have Naruto return to Konoha and tell his friends the same news. yes, i suppose i could do that...

so i was wrong, and this isn't five chapters long. but i'd be lying if i said i could stretch it all the way to ten.

Gaara's POV

I feel like I'm drowning.

I'm used to drowning in sand and dry heat because of the atmosphere around me, but this is new. This is… compact. A tight drowning, a suffocating drowning. And unusually mind blowing.

That unspoken bond between me and Naruto becomes physical; it becomes a real, solid thing. It's presently a connection with substance, and it got to be like that when I had brought us together. It feels impossibly fulfilling, as if I've been missing it all my life. As if I've been missing having Naruto this close to me all my life. In fact… I'd venture that this is the greatest experience of my life.

Funny how I was so resistant before. I must've been out of my mind.

Everything around the sensitive lower half of me is sending waves of weak-in-the-knee-worthy bliss. Naruto caresses me by the waist, and his mouth is right in front of mine. Without thinking, I kiss his lips. Then, slowly, I start to move experimentally. I pull out half of the way and return to the cramped, heated space, tingling lurches pooling under my stomach. It feeds my actions, and I follow without question.

As soon as the painful winces fade on Naruto's face, I gain speed. I feel so in control, which is the way I like this position, and yet I almost feel like I'm losing control. It's like I can lose myself inside Naruto. I know for a fact that I already dropped a piece of my reserved self, but it's not a piece I'll miss.

This is much better.

The blonde seems to really appreciate my new speed. He moans and tilts his head back. What surprises me is when he releases my waist to grip the sheets as he uses his legs to hold onto my lower back, driving me further. I swear my eyes roll to the back of my head as I keep thrusting. I don't even care to question why this feels the way it does. I'm simply enjoying it, because it's unlike anything I've ever had or will have.

Because I feel so alive when I'm joined with Naruto like this; a thousand times more alive than when I was killing others, and a hundred times more alive than when I returned from death.

I also can accept my feelings towards Naruto while I'm like this. And who knows? Maybe that acceptance will remain when this is through. I don't think I'll mind that; Naruto is trustworthy; I don't know why I didn't think so when this began. I was being foolish. The kitsune won't leave me… he does love me. And for now, I can say it: I'm in love with him as well.

"G-Gaara," Naruto calls to me. It's hard to hear him through the blood rushing in my ears and the ecstasy clouding my head. I'm so close to the edge like I had been minutes – or what feels like hours – ago.

"Hn?" I half-moan in reply. His erection grazes my stomach, and I suddenly understand why he called out to me: he can sense that I'm going to explode again, but he's been neglected this entire time. "Oh…" I murmur to myself. I slide out enough to take his member into my hand. I hear Naruto sputter something, and even though we're still connected he tries to lean into the touch. Now, I'm not entirely sure in what to do, but if I move my hand with the same rhythm of my pelvis's movements, that should be enough. I do so, and Naruto gets more verbal by chanting all sorts of random things I can't understand.

It's not easy to focus the closer I get to my climax, and I can feel Naruto wriggling around. I think he's struggling to contain himself, as well as getting close to his climax like I am. It won't be long now… I won't be surprised if we come at the same time.

With one final jerk forward, Naruto bursts and warm liquid flows down my hand and between us. Something breaks inside me, and a river rushes out. Naruto moans my name softly in a tone I've never heard him exploit in the past.

I collapse, my weight suddenly much greater than I remember, and I force myself to be removed from that comfortable place in Naruto. In my Naruto; because, now that we've made love, he's mine.

Breathing hard, I wipe my hand somewhere and draw myself next to Naruto. I lay on my side and prop myself up on one elbow in order to see his face. He's still lying on his back, his eyes closed and his chest rising and falling at a steadily decreasing pace. "Gaara…" he says again with the same tone as when I burst within him.

"What is it, Naruto?" I whisper.

His eyes flutter open and a small smile makes it's way onto his lips as he turns his sweating face toward me. His cheeks are perfectly flushed. The golden hairs clinging to his forehead appear to be begging me to brush them away. "I love you," he states. He rolls onto his side, a teeny wince in his brows – no doubt from the post-sex feeling he would have right about now.

"I…" I blink. I'm deciding between saying 'I know' and 'I also love you' in response. Would the latter seem too sappy? Ah, the hell with it. I'll say it, just this once, for him. "…I also love you."

He seems overjoyed from what I admitted, and he leans in to kiss the scar above my left eye. It's such a simple and yet meaningful gesture. It somehow feels overdone, like he's been kissing me there ever since I was born. At present, I can almost believe that as the truth. Inane, isn't it?

His eyes drift closed, and I reach for his face. I don't want him to fall asleep yet; I know he must be tired, and I am, too, but… can't he stay awake a while longer? I like how he looks when he sleeps, but I like even more how he looks when his eyes are open, looking into mine. Naruto has such angelic eyes… sweetly shaped, lovely colored, kind hearted, and determined.

Sensing my need to see him awake, Naruto's eyes flutter open and they smile at me. "What's the matter?" he asks tiredly.

I don't utter a word. I inch closer and bring him near me. I want to feel his heart beating again; I find myself addicted to the rush of life in his veins as proof that he's alive and real beside me. Because, honestly, this whole experience – although it's technically done with – feels unreal and all too heavenly. If I couldn't feel his heart beating as he faces me and brings us chest-to-chest, I'd almost think this as a dream.

The blonde cuddles me to him as our bodies settle. The sweat cools and the desire fades, and soon it's just us, like we've always been; the only difference is that we're naked both inside and out. I'm exposed, he's exposed, and I know a new side of both him and myself.

"Naruto," I mutter against his collar bone, one of my hands pressed between us while the other clings to his shoulder. The embrace is oddly consoling and I bask in it, if only for this short while.

"Hmm?" he hums sleepily.

"What will happen now?" I want to know.

At first, he doesn't answer. I think he's asleep, so I'm about to shake him when he answers my question. "We'll do what we were going to do: we'll keep taking steps, one at a time, only in a different order," he says drowsily. His grip on me tightens. "And when I have to leave Suna, we can write every week as many times as possible, or we can wait until we can get an excuse to see each other again." A smile trickles into his voice. "Who knows, 'ttebayo? Maybe the next time you stay in Konohagakure for some meeting with Tsunade-baachan or another, you can stay with me at my house."

I like the sound of that, namely the words: 'stay with me'. "Alright," I agree and close my eyes. "You can sleep now."

He chuckles slightly, his entire frame shaking. "Don't need to tell me twice."

xXxXx

Naruto's POV

Even after he tells me to sleep, I can't. I mean, my lungs breathe in and out at a constant rate as if I'm sleeping, but I'm totally not. My brain is buzzing with thoughts, which is a first (nah, I'm just kidding; I'm not that dumb, haha).

In case you're wondering, my thoughts are centered on what just happened. It's all pretty overwhelming. In a good means, though.

I inwardly smile as I think about the sensation of my prostrate being hit repeatedly and shooting warmth at the end. It had been so wonderful… I know I'll be throbbing a bit in the morning, but right now I don't give a damn. I have Gaara's naked body in my arms, his hair in one of my hands and his lower back in the other. I dunno how long he'll let me hold him, or how long this expressive side of Gaara will last, but at least I can soak it in for now.

Hmm, I don't remember what time it is. The last thing I remember is eating, getting in a small fight with Gaara, and then making out. So how long has it been since then? I need a clock. I know I went looking for Gaara with Temari at about noon, so…

I crack open an eye and focus my sight on the numbers on the clock beside Gaara's bed.

Whoa! It's almost five o' clock?! No way! That means we've been, um, active for… one, two, three… three and a half hours (give or take a few minutes)?! It didn't feel that long! But I guess if you count all the kissing and touching and shedding of clothes and hesitancy, I guess it would be about that long.

I close my eye again and bury my face into Gaara's hair more. he smells a bit sweatier, but still nice. I love his smell.

I don't regret any of this. I'm so happy right now I can hardly stand it. Should someone be this happy? I'm a demon carrier, too, so I'm not sure if someone like me should ever be this happy, but than again, I'm with someone who understands what's it's like, so I'm sure he feels the same. Maybe it's fate: only we can make each other this happy.

Huh. I keep using the word 'happy'. What ever happened to using 'gay'? it means the same thing. And in mine and Gaara's case, even the new meaning for 'gay' can apply. Ha, I never thought I'd see the day that I'd be attracted – or even in love! – with another guy. It's funny. But, hey… it's not like I feel this way for any other guys. Only Gaara. This little redhead is my lone exception. And he only ever will be. Kami, I love him, so much.

He's good to me, too; it's just dawning on me now, but he gave a lot to me today. He gave me his heart, his body, his virginity. He already gave me his respect, but it feels like that increased. Of 'course, let's not forget that he gave me the remaining puzzle piece of his person: his vulnerability. I don't think anyone he's met has gotten that. Yeah, he died once already, but that's not vulnerability. It's something else. No, Gaara gave me the tender side of him, the weakness in him. And that's real special, considering who Gaara is. I'm kinda flattered.

Slowly, my dream comes off it's high and I find myself falling into the charcoal black of pre-dreams. But prior to my slumber, I hear Gaara murmuring my name in his sleep. And I have one final thought: ha, the insomniac is sleeping for once.

xXxXx

I wake up late in the night. It's a little past midnight, right before one o'clock. I feel cold, and I realize that Gaara's no longer in my arms. I sit up in shock, wondering where he went. Panic rises in my chest, my heart beginning to race as a cold sense of fear washes over my brain. "Gaara?!" I whisper in a high voice.

I hear a toilet flush. I'm reminded of two things at once: one, that Gaara has a personal bathroom a couple meters away, and two, that even thought you fall asleep right after making love, you obviously can't pee so you really have to go when you get the chance. I feel a bit embarrassed by that second fact, because now my own bladder is nagging at me. Gross… not to mention unromantic.

"Hn?" Gaara asks in reply to his name. He's rubbing his eyes and standing in the bathroom doorway, the silvery-blue moonlight coming in from the window and making him look stunning. I stare as he returns to the bed and sits beside me. He takes no notice.

"Nothing," I say with relief and a smile in my tone.

But it doesn't fool him. Gaara blinks at me. "I highly doubt that. You had stress in your voice when you called my name."

I shift slightly with a bit of embarrassment. "Um, well, I woke up without you there… I thought you left."

"I only went to the bathroom."

"I know that now! But… uh… I dunno. Never mind." I lean back against the wall and scratch my cheek. "I feel wide awake. Are you going to go back to sleep?"

"No."

"Hmm. Then we should do something. Maybe shower, or wash these sheets… We can't leave things like this or your siblings might find out; and I got a bad feeling that Temari will beat the shit out of me."

"Point taken," Gaara sighs. He stands and starts tugging the sheets off. I scrambled out of the bed and start to help, but it's a bit awkward since we're both not clothed and know where the mess in the middle came from. Luckily the coverlet is untouched, so we toss that in the corner and ball up the sheets. Gaara throws on a robe and takes the pile form my arms. "I know where the laundry room is. You shower. I'll be right back after is start these," he says.

"Just another step to take as a couple," I mutter to myself as I obey and head for his private bathroom. "'S not all romance and good times, dattebayo." Lots of people forget about the clean-up part. Or the fact that making love is supposed to be a secret.

The shower is warm, exactly the right temperature. I relax and grab a bar of soap. I grimace at the water going into the drain; it doesn't look very nice. I don't even want to describe it, because it shows just how much my body went through.

I decide to do an entire shower instead of the rinse I was going to. I soap up everything and wash it away, shampoo my hair, and pick up a barely used conditioner bottle. I take a whiff. It smells like Gaara, but less manly. Makes me wonder if this conditioner is for women, or if he somehow makes the scent his own. Either way, I add that too, and when it's mostly rinsed out I turn off the knob. I pull back the curtain and find Gaara in the doorway again. He's leaning against it with his arms crossed. I flush, even if he's already seen – and held – my naked body.

"Is it my turn now?" he asks as he takes a step into the bathroom.

I quickly yank the towel on the hook near me and wrap it around my waist. "Y-yeah, go ahead…"

He comes in and brushes passed me. I'm tempted to hop back in the shower with him, but I force myself to leave and find my discarded clothing to wear. It's scattered all over the place on the wooden floor, and my jacket of all things is under the bed. I don't put it on, but I do wear just about everything else, minus the mesh. I hear the shower raining down onto the ceramic in the other room, and I wonder vaguely what wouldn't happened if I had joined Gaara in the shower. Part of me thinks it would've lead to more sex. Only it would be much more slippery sex… Hmm. I gotta remember that. Because, I hate to admit it, but Gaara is suddenly my new drug: I had a taste, and now I crave more. That's not healthy…

After a little while, the noise of running water stops. I look to the open bathroom door and see Gaara stepping out. Wit a blank face he dries himself off and applies lotion, something I forgot to do. It's also something I have to look away from, because seeing him rub his hands all over his body might make me hard again if I'm not careful. I stand and walk off the desire, choosing the window as the best distraction. It's after one o' clock, and the moon is high and nearly full.

The young Kazekage hugs me from behind; I jump slightly, startled. I hadn't heard him approach. "Hey," I say softly, laying a hand over his. I chuckle lightly. "You sure are affectionate."

"Things change when you bear yourself to someone," he replies calmly. I glance over my shoulder him. His head is lying on my left shoulder blade, the water lingering on his hair seeping into my shirt.

"They do," I agree as I return my gaze to the moon outside.

I like this. It's so easy to be with Gaara now; the silence between us is comfortable, and the contact is even better. Damn, if I knew things were going to be like this, I would've made love with him a long time ago!

I sigh to myself and loosen Gaara's arms so I can face him. I cup his chin in my hand. The fingers smooth over the peach fuzz on his cheek. He looks at me with this sweet expression, and I swear for a second I see him as the innocent, hurt-but-wanting-to-heal child that he probably was before I knew him. I place a kiss on his lips, a slow one, a kiss in which I let go with a small suckle to his lower lip.

With that, we decide to try and go back to sleep.

While lying beside the redhead, I decide something else: as hard as it'll be to keep in touch, I'll find a way no matter what. I can't let Gaara slip away from me; not if every future night I spend with him could be as perfect as this.