A/N: Hey Everyone, I'm FINALLY BACK. After a very long school and lack-of-computer related hiatus, I'm back with a brand new story. Unfortunately for my other stories I had lost all the files related to them and I decided I couldn't really continue them with out my original plan files. So I sadly had to '86 them. Anyway, onto new and better, I'm writing my whole new GaaraXOC fic in the hopes of getting back into the community as well as keeping my new skills sharp. So without further ado, here's Chapter One of The Charade in the Sand

Chapter One: To Be Pestered

"Headache again? It seems like that's happening more frequently." Kankuro remarked from the doorframe. The setting sun dramatically lit his leaning form as he beamed down on his younger brother. Gaara sighed in agreeance but spared him no glance. He continued to massage his temple as he signed off on a few minor contracts.

"Seriously, you're up to your nose in papers." Kankuro shifted his arms to a fold and straightened up.

"That's the usual." Gaara looked over to the next group, reports.

"When's the last time you've gone out?" Kankuro grimaced as he sniffed the stagnant air of the office.

"Out as in—?"

"Out as in left this office to do something fun?" Kankuro slid the window behind Gaara ajar.

Gaara glanced right, over to his tiny garden of cacti atop a short file cabinet. "I don't...remember—but, I go out. So there is no need for concern, Kankuro."

"Really?"

"Yes." he grumbled, stamping rejection on an appeal for a privatizing ownership of the village's public pools.

With the finesse of a five year old, Kankuro waltzed over to the cabinet and began to toy with the smoothest of the succulents in the collection. Fully aware of his brother's attempts at a ploy, Gaara continued to work while protectively monitoring his plants in his peripheries.

"You know," Kankuro began, flicking a fleshy leaf up and down, "…there is this pretty neat performance a couple of the other Jonin have been chatting about. I think we should go check it out?"

"Really?"

"Uhuh—" Kankuro lifted the plant in the soup can to further inspect it. "It's sounds kinda like your sorta thing…"

"And what thing of a sort would that be?"

"Cultural music and dance. Apparently, it's preformed by some exotic band of people from the archipelagos far south west of Suna. Heh—I didn't even know there were lands that far down." The star shaped, periwinkle plant shuttered as Kankuro jiggled it.

"South west?" Gaara turned to face him now. "I don't remember signing off any foreigner clearances…."

"You don't seem to remember a lot of things."

"I do remember that last time you damaged one of my plants shaking it like that…."

"I'll put it back if you promise to come see the show?" Kankuro gently rolled another leaf in between his thumb and index finger.

"No. Now please put it down." Gaara returned to his paperwork.

Kankuro exhaled and placed the plant in its home again. He watched Gaara sift through several new file folders and stamp off approvals and rejections faster than they were read. Kankuro shoulders tensed." Gaara…Temari and I are…concerned about you."

"That's appreciated, but Temari needs to be concerned with her family, not me."

"You are her family." Kankuro contested

"And you have your own wedding you need to help plan."

"Amaya's got this. She's a wedding planner anyway. She insists she only needs me to help pick out some flowers and taste food. But—that's kinda close to what Temari and I are concerned about!"

Gaara closed a folder full of disordered documents. "I'm not following you."

"…You need to put yourself out there."

"What?"

"Dating."

Gaara blinked several times as though his sand particles had strayed into his eyes. "I'm not entertaining this notion."

"Gaara." Kankuro pulled a chair next to him. "C'mon."

Gaara continued to assemble a few packets.

"Hey…."

"Gaara...?"

"This is serious. Temari and I think you should try to get out there more. You're going to have to settle down sooner or later."

Gaara finally looked over at Kankuro with heavily pursed lips and narrowed eyes. "I'm practically married to this village."

"Yeah, but––you can't make love to a village!" Kankuro pointed out.

The back of his chair caught the surprised Kazekage. Kankuro chuckled. "I mean, theoretically, you could…but you probably shouldn't.

Gaara near snorted and shook his head. "I'm happy being single, Kankuro."

"Right, but it's simple math: you add two happy single people together and that sums up to double the happiness."

"Kankuro..."

"Gaara."

"I don't believe it's a necessity to be with someone else simply to feel happy and fulfilled. You should be able to feel that on your own already. And I don't need someone to validate my happy existence if that is what you're thinking."

"I agree with you. But that's not what I was getting at. When you're with someone, it's not about having that other person there simply to validate you. The other person is there to compliment you—strength and weakness wise—and there is this whole other sense of fulfillment you get from that. And it's like…you already feel whole and then there is this new protective kind of shield that comes and wraps itself around you. Yeah—a castle with a strong, new wall!"

Gaara shook his head. "…I swear you twitter pated types are all the same."

"I mean it! You'll see. I can't explain it properly, but it's an experience."

"I'm fine on my own."

"For now."

"I have plenty of other friendships that give me fulfillment in similar fashions."

"For now."

"I also don't want the stresses of a relationship on top of all this." He gestured to his desk.

"For now."

"And for now, I would really like for you to go."

"And I'd really like for you to go out with me tonight."

Gaara studied his brother's face, looking for some place where his faults would show through and he would be able to get out of this. But seeing no crack to slip though in the unpainted, stonewalled face, Gaara finally gave in. "…What time?"

Kankuro nearly jumped out of his seat. "Wait, really?

"What time before I reconsider?"

"The last show tonight is on at ten. So have some of your morning tea blend or something and meet me at the at Kei's " Kankuro rushed to the door. "Temari is going to be so happy to hear this…"

Kankuro trailed off as he left the quarters. Gaara nestled in amongst his papers and shut his eyes for a quick nap. "Just wonderful."