Naruto stood on the kitchen. Three years ago his father had hired Iruka Umino to take care of the house and cook the meals. But Iruka was much more than a servant. He was also the closest thing Naruto had to a best friend, which was the reason Naruto had decided to let Iruka know about his little plan to reform Gaara. Gaara spoke so little that trying to determine what had motivated him to become an outlaw was going to be impossible when Naruto had to sneak around to talk with him. Naruto needed several hours of uninterrupted time.

"I'm thinking that you're playing with fire," Iruka said. His accent reflected his homeland of Ireland, He was practically a man of the world, having traveled here by herself on a large ship.

Often Naruto felt like a child when he compared his freedom against that which Iruka's family had granted him. He certainly couldn't see his father letting Naruto travel across a river by himself-much less across an ocean.

Naruto watched Iruka bustle around the kitchen putting away the dishes he'd washed after breakfast. With his hair pulled into a high ponytail, Iruka looked older than his twenty-one years.

"But you'll help me, if I manage to pull it off?" Naruto asked.

Iruka came to an abrupt halt and planted his hands on his hips. "Manage to pull it off? When have you not managed to get your way, I want to know?"

"Where the outlaw is concerned. Honestly, Iruka, talking with him is like pulling teeth. It takes a lot of effort but you don't get much for it."

"I didn't think you were supposed to talk to him at all. If your father finds out about last night--"

"He's not going to find out," Naruto assured him. He knew Gaara wouldn't tell. And Naruto had deliberately run into Zabuza that morning on his way to the cookhouse. Zabuza promised not to say anything, although he confessed that he'd been watching them with an eagle eye. He'd also warned Naruto not to approach Gaara again.

"I know I was a little bad," he conceded to Iruka. "I wanted to visit with Duchess, and when I saw Gaara standing there I should have come right back to the house, but no harm came out of my talking to him. Except I want to talk with him some more, but I need you to help me with my plan."

"All right I'll help you, but make a note in that dairy you keep that I've got strong reservations about this crazy scheme of yours," he insisted.

With a delighted smile, Naruto threw his arms around Iruka. "Thanks, Iruka. I promise we'll have fun."

"I'm not so sure about that," Iruka said, wiggling out of Naruto's embrace.

"You'll see. Meanwhile, why don't you start to prepare a picnic basket for later this afternoon?"

He winked at Iruka as he headed out the door. "In case I manage to pull off my plan for today, I'll come back and help you finish after I talk to papa."

Naruto strolled down the hallway toward his father's library. Each morning before he headed out to the country courthouse, he met with Zabuza and Naruto's brothers to discuss the day's work schedule. If he was to succeed with his idea, he needed to catch them before his father adjourned the meeting.

Last night he'd been unable to sleep after returning from his midnight excursion to the corral. He simply couldn't get the outlaw out of his mind.

From his father, he knew criminals emphatically stated they were innocent even when they were obviously guilty. What sort of man was Gaara Sabaku not to deny his guilt?

He hoped to have a clearer idea by the end of the day. He thought it imperative to understand the criminal mind if he wanted to practice law someday.

He stepped onto his father's library, He stood beside his desk with his satchel in his hand, which signaled he was ready to wrap up the meeting and be on his way. Naruto's timing was perfect.

"Papa?"

All the men turned and looked at him. He smiled sweetly.

"Papa, Iruka has offered to sew me a new suit for the birthday party you're going to give me. I was wondering if someone could take us to into town today to purchase some material and a pattern."

His father pursed his lips. He knew that habit meant he was contemplating his request.

"The men have a full schedule," he said

"But if we don't start on the clothes soon, Iruka might not be able to finish it in time," Naruto said.

Kakashi shrugged. "I could spare some time today to take Naruto and Iruka into town."

Inwardly Naruto smiled. He'd suspected for some time that Kakashi might be interested in Iruka. He'd thought he's be more willing to take him if he invited Iruka to accompany him.

His father nodded. "All right then."

Lifting up his satchel, he prepared to depart.

"I thought we'd take Gaara with us," Naruto said quickly.

His father froze in midstride, a surprise look on his face, as though he couldn't quite believe he's heard him correctly.

"I beg your pardon?" he said gruffly.

Naruto took a step toward him, clasped his hands in front of him, and tried not to fidget. Father had quite an intimidating stare when he set his mind to it--as he had now.

"I noticed he had no bag. And his clothes are atrocious," he explained. "I though perhaps we should purchase him something a bit tidier."

"He's an outlaw, Naruto," Gai said.

"I realize that, but I don't understand why we have to make him feel as though he's something to be wiped off our boots. You wanted to give him a chance to prove himself. It seems to me that improving his self-worth might be in order," he explained.

Kakashi laughed. "You think new clothes are the answer? Change the shirt and you'll change the man?"

"Not completely. But I know I always feel better when I wear new clothes," Naruto told him, refusing to give up on his idea.

"He's close to Kakashi's height," Zabuza said. "Maybe your brother has some clothes he wouldn't mind giving up."

Naruto stepped closer to his father and met his gaze. "Do you think Gaara has ever owned a new pair of clothes?"

His father tightened his grip o his satchel before giving a curt nod. "All right. I'll have one ok the boys take him to town—"

"That's silly," Naruto interrupted. "To have someone else take him when we're already going. If Gaara causes any trouble, I'm certain Kakashi can put him in his place." Looking at his brother, he widened his eyes with false innocence. "Couldn't you, Kakashi?"

"Sure, I could handle him if I needed to," he said with authority.

Men and their pride. He'd learned long ago how to use it to his advantage. Just like last night. He'd known if he told Gaara he could leave if he was scared that he would stay. Men and their pride, he thought again.

He has a point, Judge," Zabuza said. "I've got work that needs to be done. Kakashi going is one thing. Taking a second man away from his duties is another."

His father reached out and touched Naruto's cheek. "You have a good heart, Naruto. I'll approve this trip—but only this trip—because you're right. He could use a little sprucing up. But you're to obey Kakashi on all matters."

"I will," he promised. "Thank you, Papa."

"I'll see you this evening." He strode from the room.

Naruto turned to Kakashi. "I thought we could take the buggy, since we won't be loading up on supplies."

Kakashi shook his head. "I don't want Iruka sitting in the backseat of the buggy with the outlaw. The wagon might be better. It'll sit three of us on the bench. Gaara can ride in the back."

"Iruka can sit in the front with you. I'll sit beside Gaara," he offered. "The buggy would make for a much more pleasant journey."

Kakashi narrowed his eyes. "Naruto, why do I feel like I'm being manipulated?"

Naruto smiled brightly and sashayed toward the door, throwing over his shoulder, "Because you are, Kakashi!"

OutlawxOutlawxOutlawxOutlawxOutlaw

Gaara focused his attention n the passing countryside—even though it wasn't nearly as pleasant to look at as the young man sitting beside him.

He could hardly fathom that he was actually sitting beside him, close enough that the slight breeze constantly brought Naruto's honeysuckle scent to tease his nostrils.

Kakshi guided the buggy over the same dirt road they'd traveled yesterday. Iruka sat beside him.

Gaara wouldn't have realized Iruka was a servant if Naruto hadn't told him. No one seemed to treat him as one. They acted like he was more of a friend than someone hired to work for them.

It didn't make any sense to him. Just like he couldn't figure out why they were taking him back to town to purchase clothes. He didn't much like beholden to people. He'd have to keep a tally of the expenses today and figure out how many days to add on to his time so he could pay the judge. He didn't want to stay longer than his sentence dictated, but he didn't see any other way to pay the judge back.

"Did you know that the town is called the Queen City of the Prairie?" Naruto asked.

Gaara turned his attention to him. He sure was pretty. And talkative.

"No, sir."

The railroad had arrived in town about the time Gaara was heading to prison. He'd noticed yesterday that the town had changed considerably since he'd last seen it.

"I think it's exciting that it's become so important to cattle industry," Naruto said.

"Naruto, you couldn't care less about cattle," his brother threw over his shoulder. "You find all the young cattle owners who come to town exciting."

He narrowed his light blue eyes and pursed his lips. "Kakashi, I don't recall inviting you into this conversation."

"I don't recall hearing a conversation going on. Mostly I just heard you prattling," he said.

Gaara thought he could actually see the fine hairs on the back of Naruto's neck bristling.

"I do not prattle," he said sternly. "Besides, if you'd mind your own business, maybe Mr. Sabaku and I could have a conversation."

Kakashi chuckled. "I take lessons on minding my own business from you, Naruto."

"Oh, you!" he leaned across the back of the buggy and whapped his brother on the shoulder.

Gaara expected Kakashi to get angry. Instead he simply grinned.

Rolling his eyes, Naruto settled back into his seat. "Brothers can be so irritating," he muttered. "Do you have any brothers or sisters, Mr. Sabaku?"

"I'd rather you didn't call me that," Gaara said. He wasn't comfortable with the formality or the respect that title of mister indicated.

Naruto peered at him through his lashes. "All right...Gaara."

His gut clenched at the way his name rolled off Naruto's tongue—like warm honey fresh from a beehive on a hot afternoon.

"You didn't answer my question," Naruto reminded him.

"No brothers or sisters—at least none that I know of," he told him.

"Are you an orphan then?" he asked

"I've got no family."

He seemed to mull his answer over, and finding it inadequate, asked, "Did you ever know your parents?"

"Nope."

"I'm sorry."

He stared at Naruto. "It's not your fault."

"I didn't mean I thought it was my fault. I was simply expressing my sorrow because I think it's sad—to be an orphan, I mean."

"I got by." He didn't want Naruto's sorrow or pity.

"Not very well if you ended up in prison," Kakashi said.

Gaara threw the man's back a scathing glare before turning his attention to the passing scenery.

"That wasn't a very nice thing to say, Kakashi," Iruka said.

"It's the truth. I don't see why I should have to skip around the truth."

"You could be a bit more polite. We're trying to make this a pleasant day for Gaara," Naruto said.

That comment took him by surprise. He snapped his head around trying to look at him.

No one seemed to know what else to say. Silence wound its way between them. Gaara studied the trees and land that spread out before them. A short while later they joined a throng of buggies, wagons, and horses making their way into town.

"Kakashi, I thought we'd go to Hanson's Dry Goods," Naruto suddenly announced. "It'll save us time, since we'll be able to purchase Gaara's clothes there, and they usually have a nice selection of fabrics."

"I'm all for saving time," Kakashi said. "And no hat shopping. I don't want to be here until sunset."

Naruto cast a shy glance at Gaara. "He doesn't mean it. If I really wanted to shop for a new hat, he'd let me."

"Don't count on it, Naruto," Kakashi muttered.

He wrinkled his nose and whispered, "He would."

Gaara figured Naruto's brother would let him do just about anything he wanted, since he didn't seem to mind Naruto whapping him on the shoulder.

"I imagined the town has changed considerably since you were last here," Naruto said quietly.

He almost retorted that he'd been here yesterday, but he figured yesterday didn't count. He'd been too self-conscious about his situation to notice much of anything. Now he seemed to notice it all.

He glanced over at Naruto and nodded. "Yes sir."

"We have two railroads now. And the third should be finished by the end of the year."

Maybe he'd use one of those railroads to leave town once he's finished serving his sentence.

Naruto smiled brightly. "A few of the businesses the newspaper office and a couple of the hotels—have telephones."

He stared blankly at him.

"Bein' in prison, he might not know what a telephone is," Iruka offered, accurately interpreting his silence.

Still, did they have to keep bringing up the fact that he'd been in prison—even if he was right? Even if he'd never heard of a telephone?

"I hadn't thought about you not knowing what one is," Naruto said. "It's a machine that allows you to talk to someone you can't even see. Someone who's in another room or another building."

Gaara couldn't begin to imagine how that would work. Or why anyone would want to talk to someone they couldn't see. He wouldn't be able to look into the person's eyes and know what they were thinking. He thought it would make him more uncomfortable than talking to someone he could see.

"You might not have noticed it yesterday, but the town has a mule-drawn streetcar that travels a mile of track from the depot to the courthouse," Naruto said.

He shook his head. He hadn't noticed it. He hadn't noticed much of anything except Naruto.

"The car has benches for people to sit on and windows to stop all the dust from the street getting inside. It makes for a pleasant journey," Naruto told him.

"Unless the car jumps the tracks," Kakashi said over his shoulder. "When it does the passengers have to lift it up and put it back on the tracks. I'd rather walk."

"I'm agreeing with Kakashi," Iruka said. "I'd rather spend my nickel on something else and use my legs to get me where I need to go."

"But the streetcar and the telephone and the gas streetlights are symbols that the town is becoming a city." Naruto looked at Gaara. "Don't you think it's all exciting and important?"

Naruto was looking at him as though he truly wanted to know what he thought.

"I reckon," he said, not wanting to disappoint him.

"Don't you ever say more than two words?"

He shifted in his seat. "I've said more than two words to you."

"But that was miles ago," he told him. "To keep a conversation going you have to add to it. "I've been telling you things that you don't know. Tell me something that I don't know. Tell me how the town is different now than it was when you first saw it."

That was easy enough to do. He held her hopeful gaze and said, "It's bigger."

He laughed, actually laughed, a delightful tinkling sound that reminded him of bells.

"Can you expand on that?" Naruto asked.

"Lot more stores." Clothing stores, leather-goods stores, banks, coffin builders, bakeries, grocers, lawyers, land agents. All Naruto had to do was look around to see the dealers in lumber, silver, fence wire, and tailored clothing.

"I was hoping for a bit more," Naruto said, still smiling.

But he had no more to give him. He looked away from him to the buildings they passed. He didn't want to see Naruto with the twinkle I his eyes and the bright smile.

Pretty Naruto.

Sweet Naruto.

Keep-away-from-him Naruto.