Chapter 4
**************************
Naruto's Apartment, Azure district in Konoha City
"Uzumaki?" Gaara called as he finished putting away his things in the second bedroom, and trading his red trench coat in for a regular black T-shirt. The bedroom had appeared to have been used as a guest room but the redhead figured it would be fine. The redhead found the blonde in the kitchen still working on his lunch.
"What's up?" Naruto asked pausing to glance up.
"Would you mind if I have a glass of water?" The redhead asked and Naruto nodded.
"Yeah sure. Feel free to eat or drink anything in fridge."
"Thank you."
"Yeah sure." The blonde mumbled not really paying any more attention. Gaara opened the fridge to see that it was just as clean as the rest of the house. 'Interesting.' Gaara thought, taking a glance at the blonde as he took a sip of the bottle water. 'If Shikamaru told everyone I was coming, would this mean he cleaned everything for when I got here?' Gaara shook away the thought. 'Of course not. There is no guarantee that he knew I would chose to help him.' The redhead stood next to fridge, watching Naruto skillfully prepare various side dishes for lunch tomorrow.
"You are very good in the kitchen." Gaara remarked as he observed. "Is that all for lunch tomorrow?"
"Yeah, there aren't any good ramen shops or restaurants near the school so I make all the food myself."
"And you learned all of this simply from living alone?" Gaara questioned, and Naruto paused for a moment going silent.
"My godfather raised me." Naruto admitted. "So growing up, I did all of the housework. Laundry, cooking and cleaning. That how I got good at this sort of stuff." The blonde mumbled and Gaara listened quietly as Naruto continued cooking and talking. "And Jiraiya.... well he died two years ago."
"I- I see." Gaara murmured. "Do you have any siblings?"
"No. Its just me." Naruto replied keeping his face turned towards the food and away from Gaara. "Besides, once ya get used to it, being alone is far more liberating." The blonde turning to give him a soft smile.
"I am sorry." Gaara murmured, feeling a phantom heart ache in his chest at those words.
"About what?"
"I feel as though I should not have asked." Gaara admitted.
"No reason to apologize, I mean it would be weird if my husband didn't know these things so don't hesitate to ask." Naruto explained. "And besides, I'm not alone now. I have you. And fake family is still Family right?" Naruto gave an excited laugh. "I haven't lived with anyone in while!"
"You have not?" Gaara asked, astonished. Perhaps it was from the way Gaara immediately reacted with surprise that Naruto blushed a very bright red.
"Ah stop staring at me like that!" The blonde complained, still a bright red. "Im just saying that your better than no one." The blonde mumbled, yet desire his words he reached over and gave Gaara a pat on the head. "Anyway my lunch is finished so I'm gunna go jump in the bath." The blonde blurred out as he left for the bathroom. "Oh wait, Sandman, did you want to bathe first?" He asked turning back to look at the redhead.
"No thank you. You may go first." Gaara responded still trying to process the entire conversation.
"Okay, I'll go first." Naruto said, before he gave a laugh. "This makes us sound married right?" The blonde shook his head as he wandered out of the kitchen and down towards the bathroom, leaving Gaara to think about the his words.
'He was raised by his godfather- what about his mother and father?' The redhead considered this for a moment, 'Perhaps he came from a tricky family situation. Perhaps that is why he seems so.... lonely.' Gaara thought as he eyed the remarkably clean apartment. It seemed to lack any real trace of being lived in. 'Perhaps he's simply lonely and cleaning fills his time.' Gaara couldn't be sure though. 'Regardless," He thought. "It is far too early to decide. After all, this is my first day even knowing the man.'
The doorbell interrupted Gaara's train of thought however and he quickly glanced in the direction of the bathroom. The faint sound of a shower could be heard and look towards the clock told him it was already well past eleven. 'Who would be visiting at this time of night?' He thought as he stood to go check.
Like many of the other high rise apartments in the area this one had a security camera and intercom feature.
"Yes?" Gaara said, pressing down the button for the intercom and activating the camera. The redhead was stunned to see the vice principal from earlier, Kabuto, standing there.
Kabuto spoke into the receiver and a crackly "Good evening." emerged from wall speaker next to Gaara.
"Good evening." Gaara replied.
"Ah, i am speaking to Gaara, Mr.Uzumaki's husband correct? Is your husband home?" He asked.
"He is bathing at the moment, however if you have a message I would be glad to relay it to him."
"Oh no no, I don't have a message." He replied with a laugh and Gaara clenched his fist at the nasally sound. The vice principal then lifted something into the view of the camera, it was blurry for a moment before it came into a view- it was a jar of pickles. "I simply came by to give this to you. My wife is from the Mizu region and her family sent quite a few jars. They are quite exceptional I assure you, so I wanted to share some." He explained.
"I see." Gaara stated, not sure of how else to respond. The redhead had never had someone ring his doorbell to drop off pickles before. 'Perhaps it is not just Naruto who is strange, it is everyone from Konoha City.' Gaara wondered.
"May I come in?" Kabuto asked and Gaara considered going to fetch Naruto for a moment before realizing he was playing the part of his husband. 'It May look odd to seek his permission just to let someone in, after all this is supposedly my home as well.' Gaara reasoned. 'It would be rude to leave him outside, and not offer him anything to drink.'
"Please, come in." Gaara said reluctantly as he pressed to unlock button and watch the man disappear from the camera's view. Nerves started to build as Gaara prepared himself to mentally ambushed. 'He will likely ask questions.' Gaara thought unhappily.
"Thank you." Mr.Kabuto said as he walked through the door and entryway into the living room. Gaara could feel the man run his gaze across every inch of the room. 'What is he looking for?' Gaara wondered, feeling nervous.
"If you will excuse me a moment, I will prepare us some tea." Gaara murmured, falling back on what he would do for guests. 'Do newlyweds have some sort of sign that is supposed to be up or something?' Gaara wondered, disliking the feeling of not knowing something.
"No you don't need to bother." Kabuto said holding out the jar of pickles. "This isn't much but my wife's family sent us these. I hope you and your husband enjoy them."
"Thank you." Gaara replied, as he accepted the jar of pickles from Kabuto. A moment of awkward silence bloomed. 'I sincerely hope whatever job I get will not be heavily involved with people.' The redhead thought.
"Um..." Kabuto said hesitantly.
"Yes?"
"I don't mean to be rude but are you a housewife?"
"I suppose so." Gaara responded.
"You suppose so?" The man repeated raising both his eyebrows.
"I am in the process of looking for a job, however yes I would be labeled a househusband." Gaara explained.
"A housewife, I see." Kabuto murmured and Gaara had felt slightly disturbed at being called a housewife. 'I am not a woman.' Gaara thought as his dislike for Narutos boss grew. 'I made it a point to emphasize the husband part.' The vice principal glanced down at the floor and said, "do you use this as a housewife?"
"Pardon?" Gaara said, mildly confused before he realized he was looking directly at the roomba.
"Not that you shouldn't use it of course," Kabuto said quickly. "It's only I thought these were used more often by single people or those who don't have the time for housework."
"Is that so?" Gaara replied, "quite a few of my friends have these however." The redhead continued. 'Is that true?' He wondered, 'would hiding this make us seem more married?' Gaara questioned. 'Somehow that does not make a lot of sense.'
"Oh I'm quiet sorry. It wasn't place to say." Kabuto said, looking as though he lost some sort of battle. "Are you younger than Mr.Uzumaki?" Kabuto questioned after eyeing the living room again.
"Yes, by a year and a half." Gaara responded, vaguely recalling the topic of birthdays coming up at Shikamaru's sports bar when everyone was distracted by laughter an alcohol. 'I hadn't even known what favor I would be doing at that moment.' Gaara thought idly.
"You have rather mature tastes." Kabuto said and Gaara blinked.
"I- Pardon?"
"This room. It seems rather simple for a newlywed. I thought there would be more reds and pinks." He said and Gaara blinked again. 'Is there some sort of code that newlyweds are meant to live by?' He thought, all at once glad that he had always been good at keeping his face controlled.
"We have similar tastes. Simple monochrome yet chic colors." Gaara stated.
"You were wearing a red trench today." Kabuto said watching. An unreadable mask, is what his father had said once about Gaara. 'I hope he was telling the truth. Perhaps it's good I changed while I was unpacking into my black t-shirt.' He decided. "I know I may not be an expert in fashion but your clothing earlier seemed- bright and lively." Gaara stayed silent, not knowing how else to respond without furthering messing things up. 'I did wear one of my more brighter pieces today.' Gaara thought to himself, 'but it was always so good at keeping me cool in the desert heat despite it being a trench coat style.' The redhead fought not to glance towards to bathroom where Naruto was still showering, despite hoping the blonde would quickly finish. 'Every word I say makes me more suspicious.' Gaara thought, mildly frustrated. Just then the bathroom door clicked open and Naruto seemed to appear in the living.
"Whew I feel so much better, Sandman you should go ahead and shower too." The blonde said with a grin before he stopped to see Kabuto and Gaara. Naruto was wearing nothing but a towel slung haphazardly over his hips. "Vice principal!" Naruto said surpised, his eyes going wide and Gaara quickly took the opportunity for what it was.
"Naruto, come this way." Gaara states firmly, grabbing the blonde by the hand and taking him straight back to the bathroom, ignoring Kabutos confused sputtering.
"Ok what is going on?!" Naruto said loudly after Gaara nearly slammed the bathroom door shut. The redhead tried not to focus on the fact that a rather handsome man wearing nothing but a towel around his hips was moving towards him. 'Now is not the time to be thinking about this.' Gaara thought with a subtle shake of his head. "Why is the vice principal here?!" Naruto asked.
"Quiet. You are too loud, he will hear." Gaara replied quickly glancing at the door.
"Crap, you right." Naruto muttered, lowering his voice to a near whisper.
"He stopped by to give us pickles from the Mizu region." Gaara explained. "I couldn't simply ask him to leave without being rude or drawing attention."
"Wait- pickles? What for?"
"He claimed his wife's family sent some but that there were too many so he opted to share. I had little choice but to let him in." Gaara explained. 'Society has to many irritating social norms.' The redhead thought tiredly.
"His wife's family isn't from the Mizu region." Naruto said slowly.
"What?"
"She's from the Onpa area. I remember because he brought me a few crabs before." The blonde explained as he expression grew a bit darker. "He likely only came to snoop around."
"I see. Then that must be why..." Gaara trailed off and the blonde raised a brow.
"What?"
"He said that the apartment did not appear like it belonged to a newlywed couple."
"What do you mean?" Naruto asked with a frown.
"He said it looked to simple, that it seemed to lack things I might like." Gaara explained. The two stared at each other for a moment before Naruto frowned in thought.
"Man I don't really want to do this but...." the blonde huffed a sigh as he cracked the door open slightly, and then proceed to talk loudly towards the living room. "What?! Your not getting in the bath with me?! But I already heated up so you could get in right away!" Gaara felt his ears burn red. 'What in the world is this man doing?'
"Naruto, if speak so loudly he will hear us." Gaara whispered, and the blonde rolled his eyes.
"I know, Sandman. I want him to hear us so he'll get uncomfortable and go away." Naruto explained and Gaara felt like fool for not realizing that earlier. "Even if it's the vice principal he won't stick around lovey-Dovey newlyweds." Naruto added before yelling, "aw come! Take a bath with me!" Naruto glanced at him before whispering, "come on say something."
"I cant we have a visitor right now!" Gaara said loudly trying to play along. Naruto gave him a thumbs up, and flashed him a quick grin.
"Then let's take a bath when he leaves. I'll wash your body Gaara!" He exclaimed cheerfully!
"That would be too embarrassing!" Gaara responded before he could catch himself.
"There's no reason to be embarrassed I see your body every day." Naruto replied.
"What?"
"Hey, Sandman your supposed to be playing along." Naruto whispered and the redhead nodded silently.
"But it's too bright in here." Gaara said loudly.
"But we left the light on last night. You said it turned you on."
"Who-" Gaara stuttered out and Naruto glared.
"Hey, stop getting embarrassed for real. Its your turn." The blonde whispered but Gaara was too embarrassed by the entire situation to continue. 'Naruto is essentially naked and are hiding in the bathroom, yelling down the hallway towards the living room.' Gaara thought as his voice decided to take a vacation. 'This is not what I thought married life was like.'
"Excuse me?" Kabutos voice called loudly from the living room.
"Yes?" Gaara responded.
"I think I'll be heading out now."
"Oh I see, you are in a hurry." Gaara responded and Naruto kicked his shin and glared. The redhead winced and mouthed, sorry at him.
"I think I have overstayed my welcome." Kabuto said. "I will be heading home now."
"I see, allow me to walk you out." Gaara replied
"No no- that's not necessary." Kabuto said quickly. "Have a pleasant time." Naruto and Gaara listened carefully to his footsteps head towards the door and then the door slam shut.
"Finally!" Naruto with a sigh. "He's gone."
"Did he believe us?" Gaara questioned and the blonde frowned.
"I don't know. He last words sounded a little suspicious." Naruto replied looking doubtful. "If this keeps up though he'll figure it out. We are going to have to do something."
"Agreed." Gaara remarked before he remembered that Naruto was still only dressed in a towel. Meaning, the blonde was basically naked in front of him. The blush that he fought to keep control of now spread from his ears to his cheeks.
"Hey, why did you go bright red all of a sudden? Are you getting a fever?" Naruto asked.
"How long to you intend on staying naked? Put clothes on." Gaara stated turning his gaze towards the wall.
"Why do you care, we're married after all~" Naruto laughed. "You see me naked everyday!"
"That is only acting." Gaara responded, not looking over at Naruto.
"'No need to sulk like that, It makes you less attractive." Naruto mumbled. "And fine, I'll go cover this magnificent body." Naruto opened the door, then paused to point towards the cabinet. "Towels are in there, feel free to use them." Gaara blinked and glanced at him. "You've been traveling all day, go take a bath and relax." Naruto grinned. "I already have it warmed up for ya."
"Thank you." Gaara murmured.
"No problem, let me know if ya need anything." Naruto said before leaving the bathroom (hopefully) in search of clothes. Gaara started pulling off his shirt but caught his expression in the mirror. His cheeks were not longer as red, but he was still flushed- but most importantly he was smiling. It could be said that as a rule Gaara didn't smile often, at least not genuinely. However Gaara thought about what they had just done, pulling that stunt on the vice principal and saw the smile grow just a bit.
"That was rather enjoyable." Gaara admitted quietly to himself. "Yelling absurd but yet sweet things to each other." The redhead tossed his shirt to the floor and quickly pulled his pants off as well. 'When I agreed to play that part of his husband I didn't think I would be yelling silly things with a naked Naruto.' Gaara thought as he climbed into the bath, not expecting to have enjoyed it as much as he did.