Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters, or the storyline of Naruto!

Claimer: I own Kawamura Kana and Kanji, as well as this fanfic-based story!

Summary: When Gaara finds out Matsuri is cheating on him, how does he react? Like any other normal human being: moving on.

Pairings: GaaraMatsuri GaaraOC MatsuriOC ShikamaruTemari

Notes:

-Talking-

-Thinking/Flashbacks-

Warnings: It's hard to keep everyone in character when I'm not that great of a writer, so OOCness will occur - but it's hard to keep characters in character for the story to work; just wanted to point that out. Also, there is a lemon featured in this story. Anti-GaaraMatsuri. Matsuri bashing, I guess? Fluff.

This story was inspired by the following songs: Your Love is a Lie by Simple Plan, Irreplaceable by Beyonce, Before He Cheats by Carrie Underwood, and Unfaithful by Rihanna.

When listening to the above songs, and considering my current obsession with our cute redheaded panda ninja, I've been inspired to write a story where Gaara has been cheated on, but he is able to find someone to confide in. There aren't that many great stories on Gaara being cheated on, so hopefully, mine can live up to the expectations of some looking for a great Gaara romance. Also, this whole story takes place in one day - there's just many flashbacks to explain how Gaara met his precious person.

The flashbacks are merely the fangirl fantasies that I would want to happen for the redhead with my OC; I had wanted to make a Gaara story, but I really don't have the time. I also wanted to make this story a simple short story, but it turned into a 73 page document - I got too into the story. So, I apologize in advance for the lengthy-ness.

Also! I do not hate Matsuri! I actually think she's a cute character. But I prefer my Gaara with an OC, not anyone else cause they're all taken! :D So, don't think I hate Matsuri or anything cause I don't, but she was the only other character I could think of to cheat on poor Gaara. And she was the easiest for me because she's rarely seen in the anime/manga, so I could manipulate her character slightly.

"Gaara, I was able to retrieve the books from Konoha that would aid in your research. Tsunade-sama was kind enough to lend us some documents as well."

The young redheaded Kazekage at the age of nineteen looked up from the documents he had been studying, finding one of his stationary kunoichi from Konoha entering the room balancing books and documents in one hand while the other had a tight grip around several scrolls. Her waist length violet hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail so her leaf headband was tied under it and under her long bangs that scattered about her head. Piercing blue eyes that always reminded him of his good friend, Uzumaki Naruto, gazed at him with accomplishment as she approached him.

"I also have some documents that need to be looked over for future renovations on the new Sand Shinobi training center," she informed, glancing toward the scrolls under her arm.

Gaara nodded as the large stack of books, documents, and pile of scrolls accumulated on his wooden desk. "Thank you, Kana. Your effort is much appreciated."

Kana chuckled at her friend's formality, waving her hand dismissively. "This was a simple mission; I'm surprised you gave it to me." She paused, thinking, "Actually, no, I'm not," she corrected herself, grinning at Gaara's slightly amused expression. "I guess I should thank you for giving me the chance to see my friends again back in Konoha."

Kawamura Kana is a ninja belonging to Konohagakure. After reaching the Jounin-level at the age of sixteen and receiving much instruction on Medical techniques under the Fifth Hokage herself, Kana was given the ability to travel between Konoha and their good ally, Suna, to increase the promise of Medical-nins throughout both villages. Because Sakura and Ino have taken over the educational program in Konohagakure, Tsunade has entrusted Kana to Suna, which was Gaara's greatest benefit to the village.

"Oh!" Kana alerted the young kage, a finger in the air to represent an epiphany, "I found something interesting on the way here, as I passed by Matsuri's place. It's in the blue book."

Gaara's eyes revealed curiosity as he eyed the third book from the bottom of the stack in front of him. It was blue. He would have to study it later, he reminded himself as his gaze returned to his friend.

Kana – currently the same age as the Kazekage – resided in Suna for the last three years, occasionally going back to Konoha to check on how things are progressing and to discuss with Sakura about the Medic-program, in a home fully financed by the Kazekage. Because she's not an official citizen of Sunagakure, she's only received missions from Gaara related to Konoha and that pertain to the Medical Education program.

Even before she moved to Suna though, Kana had met Gaara during her Chunin Exams, when he still had the Shukaku sealed within him. She was loyal friends with Gai's team and had impulsively protected Lee when Gaara aimed to kill him in the Second Exam's preliminary rounds. It had caught him completely off-guard, finding some strange-colored haired girl glaring at him with menacing eyes – not ones filled with fear or hate, but with strength and determination, a purpose to protect. He had not understood, but when she came out of nowhere to aid Naruto (a person she shared the memories of loneliness), his outlook on life had changed due to her and Naruto's words.

Naruto grunted against the dirt but continued to worm his warm toward the fallen Gaara, his eyes full of determination. "I won't let you hurt my important people. If you do… I'll stop you," he continued, his blue eyes narrowing into slits, "even if I have to kill you!"

Teal eyes widened in shock, disbelief radiating off him, "Why…? Why would you do this for complete strangers? Someone other than yourself?"

"They saved me from it, and they acknowledged my existence. That's why… they're important to me."

Panting heavily beside the crawling Naruto, Kana stopped the blonde from continuing with a hand. He looked at her questioningly, but her gaze was already toward the redhead who stared at her with incredulity. "Gaara… Friends are willing to sacrifice for their precious people. Sometimes, there's no real tangible reason – but who says there has to be?" Slowly standing up, her purple hair swayed to the side as Kana stared at him with longing and understanding, "When you've learned about the meaning of having someone to protect, the ability to destroy the enemy will become prominent." The confusion never left Gaara's eyes as he stared above, realizing that Naruto and Kana were done with their fight, as was he. She smiled – he wasn't so bad. "Gaara," she called, though he didn't turn to her, "we've already formed a bond."

When Sasuke and the Sand siblings were finally a trio together again, Gaara had completely silenced the two parties from continuing an unwanted battle. And as they carried the redhead off, Kana followed them with her cerulean eyes, smiling to herself.

'You just have to take the next step if you want a friend…'

As the three Sand siblings jumped from tree to tree, fleeing from the village, Gaara pondered deeply over true strength…

'Maybe someday… I will…'

Kana saw a twitch of a smile appear on Gaara's lips, and she looked at him inquisitively, "What are you smiling about?"

Gaara's amused expression never left his face as he formed a bridge with his hands in front of him, "Nothing much."

"We've been friends for how long? And you don't want to tell me?" The young woman whined, putting her hands on her waist.

Their friendship had indeed strengthened over the years. After their encounter in the Chunin Exams, he had come to aid her during her fight against one of Orochimaru's henchmen in the process of pursuing Uchiha Sasuke, the bastard missing-nin from Konoha that she had once called a friend. Kimimaro had put her into critical condition until Gaara arrived. They would never forget the events that had happened that day.

Kana stood from behind Gaara, admiring him from afar at his techniques and strategic plays that rivaled a Hokage's abilities… Upon entering the scene, Gaara had ordered her to stay behind – she was sporting a large gash across her side, cracked ribs, and a broken arm. At first, she protested, insisting that she could fight, but the redhead had grabbed her firmly on her uninjured arm, pulling her behind him. So, she stayed put, unable to resist. She was in complete awe – his abilities had overall strengthened since their last encounter, and she could only stand back and not get in the way.

At one point, Kimimaro had pulled out his spinal column and attempted to wrap it around Gaara, but she had instinctively guarded him. But instead of guarding him, the redhead cleverly wrapped the two in heavily compacted sand to protect them from the hard-rock spinal column. The spinal column wrapped around the protective sand, but it did no harm except to tighten the sand, causing Kana to be pushed into Gaara slightly, her back against his chest. She blushed at the close contact, but could not see Gaara's expression. She had assumed he only thought of the next move and brought his hands around her in order to perform another hand seal, creating an absolute defensive Shukaku figure of sand on the spinal column before Kimimaro plunged the thickest bone in his body in their direction.

Gaara's technique had withstood the attack and quickly gathered the sand that was protecting him and Kana to sink Kimimaro six feet under the ground.

The purple-haired Chunin (the third Hokage had regarded her at the same skill-level as Shikamaru during the Chunin Exams) stood in awe, taking a step forward in disbelief. "You… you did it, Gaara. How much chakra did you use?"

Gaara didn't answer as he stared at the sunken sand in front of him.

"Mai…"

Kana and Gaara's eyes tripled in size.

"Sawarabi no Mai!"

She thought they had been done for once thousands of bone spikes shot from the ground underneath them. Yet, she was still alive.

"I can't believe you were still able to do this," Kana stared at the floating sand platform under her with incredulity.

"He was stubborn," Gaara started, gazing around his surroundings, "but this is the end." Meeting Kana's gaze, he spoke with reassurance, "He won't be coming out again."

Sighing in relief, Kana smiled, "That's good. I'm glad you came."

Teal eyes stared into blue ones, almost questioning her but nothing was said. Gaara lurched forward, holding himself on one hand as a bead of sweat rolled at the side of his head, "This is my limit."

Kana's eyes widened in surprise, flailing her arms around frantically, "Whoa! At least take us to that clearing over there!"

But before the floating platforms could move a whiff, a raspy enraged voice was heard behind them. "It's not brainwashing!"

Both pairs of eyes filled with shock as they turned to the owner of the voice.

Kimimaro had moved his body along the length of the bone spike behind them, his flower bone ready to attack, blood oozing out of the side of his mouth. He expressed an unbelievable level of anger as he struggled to speak with the same enraged tone as before, "That person…! Orochimaru-sama… It's all my own reasoning!" Readying his attack, he cried out, "What the hell would you know about that!"

"Gaara!"

Impulsively, Kana had jumped from her platform to Gaara's, shielding him from the blow by wrapping her arms around his head, pressing him firmly against her as she felt the bone stab into the right side of her back. The blow was aimed for Gaara's heart.

Gaara widened his eyes at his new protection.

Kana felt the blow cease, only piercing halfway into her body, but the pain was still there. She groaned in pain, leaning forward to remove herself from the weapon after a few moments, her arms still wrapped around Gaara protectively.

"He's dead…" Kana announced when she released Gaara from her hold to turn to their enemy. His eyes were shot open, but they held a lifeless feel, adding to the tragic effects of the blood flowing from his mouth. She turned her gaze back to her savior, noticing his eyes still wide in shock. She chuckled lightly, knowing he was questioning her actions. "Hey Gaara… think you can lead this platform to the clearing over there?"

Slowly, he complied, leading the platform under them to a clearing away from their bony surroundings.

After a few silent moments of letting relief fill their bodies, Gaara turned his eyes to Kana, who was resting against the tree behind her, leaning against it despite the bloody wound on her back.

Her breathing had returned to normal, as did his. He could still feel the warmth that he was once enveloped in, the warmth that had protected him from Kimimaro's attack.

"Why?"

Kana opened her eyes, blinking once as she turned to Gaara. He still had an emotionless façade. "Hm?"

"Back there… you protected me… Why?"

"You protected me. Isn't that a fair enough reason?" She countered with a smile.

He said nothing, except to gaze at her. Was that the only reason?

She sighed under his gaze. "I told you before there's a bond between us. Whether you see me as one or not, I see you as a friend."

He raised a non-existent eyebrow, "Why?"

Kana smiled as she looked to the sky, the cloud slowly blowing in the wind. "'The best way to destroy an enemy is to make a friend.'"

Gaara could never forget her words. It was what brought the two's relationship to where they were now.

Now, they were at the age of nineteen and their friendship growing strong. Thanks to Kana's Medic-nin Program, Suna's and Konoha's medical abilities have increased tenfold and are equals in the field, and Gaara had appreciated it greatly, rewarding her a honarary Sand headband under Suna's approval, which she donned around her left leg.

At that moment, Gaara's oldest sibling walked into his office. "Gaara," she called. After Kankuro had followed in after her and closed the door, the two noticed the other person in the office. "Kana-chan! Finally back from Konoha?"

"Hey Temari, Kankuro. Mission was a success. Shikamaru sends his regards, by the way," Kana added, winking at her blonde best friend.

The girl could only smirk at her in return, a blush forming on her cheeks, "Did you send him my message?"

"Of course. You can imagine what his regards are."

Temari from Suna and Shikamaru from Konoha had a somewhat intimate relationship, but because of their positions, it was hard to keep a lasting foundation. Unlike a close-ranged bond like Gaara's and Kana's, a long-distance friendship was much easier to maintain than a long-distance love.

Kankuro laughed next to his sibling, "I'll be sure to question you, dear sister. Hey Kana, we need to have a word with the Kazekage for a minute. You mind leaving us?"

The purple haired girl grinned, shaking her head, "Go ahead. I was just about to leave. See you later, Gaara."

There was no need for honorifics between the two – Gaara had made that clear one day when he needed her most. And as the two made eye-contact, they shared an intense non-verbal conversation before Gaara spoke up, "Matsuri is supposed to have dinner with me tonight."

A hidden message danced in her eyes as Kana's lips twitched into a subtle smirk, "I'll be sure to remind her."

Temari raised an eyebrow, "You still dating her, Gaara?" Kankuro frowned but stayed quiet nonetheless. Gaara's eyes concealed the secret well as he nodded at his elder sibling. "I haven't seen you two together in awhile."

"She's been busy," Gaara replied nonchalantly as he retrieved one of the scrolls that Kana had placed in front of him.

"Well anyway," Kana declared, gaining the attention of the Sand sibling reunion, "I'll take my leave. Bye Temari, Kankuro." Slowly, she gazed at Gaara with mirth in her eyes, "See you later, Gaara."

All three nodded at her before she disappeared in a puff of smoke.