This is my first fanfic! iv read so many of everyones wonderful stories i decided to begin my own. its about Gaara and matsuri of course...

i am starting during the timeskip because i wanted to write about Matsuri's chunnin exam experience because i have yet to have someone who has. Gaara is 13 years old and Matsuri is 12. they are just friends at this time but if you guys like it then ill contiue and they will become closer. youve got to learn to crawl before you can walk right? i promise it will get romancey in the future because thats what we all want right? heh heh... oh and that also means more action and violence which is also a plus :)

I also randomly throw in japanese words for my own enjoyment. send me a review if you dont know what they mean or if you want me to stop cause im using them wrong or it just annoys you.

I DO NOT own Naruto or any of the other characters. psh im not that creative

Enjoy!

Desolate devotion

Gaara POV

The dry air swirled across the vast plains of the desert finally brushing my crimson hair out of my eyes. It's no longer necessary to squint against the blaring sun because it has retreated behind the horizon. The first stars push their way through the endless darkness. The biggest and brightest light in the sky is reflected back in the intelligent recesses of my turquoise eyes. My starring contest with the moon is interrupted by the faint sound of footsteps hurriedly dragging through the sand. With my sharpened senses I could also hear the air rushing in and out of her tired lungs.

"I'm… pant pant… finally done, Gaara- sensei." She said trying to regain her breath.

"That took a while." I said flatly without turning to face her. Matsuri had started her many laps around the village of Sunagakure hours ago.

"Uh, forgive me sensei. I tried my best." Her eyes fell to face the sand beneath her feet.

I gave her silence.

"Well… should we spar now?" she said, eyes lightening ere so slightly at the chance to prove herself.

"Yada. You are not strong enough now to fight me now." I stated simply. I did not mean it as an insult. She had been training all day and was exhausted. It was just a statement of fact, but Matsuri's hurt expression displayed that she had interoperated it otherwise. Her eyes fell to meet the ground again and the corners of her mouth followed in tow.

"What is wrong?" I did not want her upset.

"Nothing." She said quickly and gazed up to meet my suspicious glare. I could she right through her. My years of watching and listening have granted me the gift of seeing past the surface and reading people's true emotions when ironically I was barely able to express or understand my own.

"Um well… actually you seem disappointed in me sensei…" she said staring her onyx eyes up through her eyelashes.

"I just meant that you have had enough for today. You worked hard." That tiny expression of my internal feeling of pride for my one and only student's accomplishments sent a smile across her lips.

"Arigatou, Gaara-sensei! Tomorrow I'll be back at full strength and some! You'll see!" she promised triumphantly. "Goodnight, sensei." I gave her a slight nod that sent her skipping back towards the center of town.

"Be carful." I said in a monotone voice after her.

"Hai, shishou." She called over her shoulder. The last thing I wanted was her to get into trouble. Being orphaned, Matsuri had no one to look after her. Her impending loneliness touched me on a very personal level creating a strong obligation to keep her safe and content. Being still somewhat socially alien, my first ambition was about all I could manage for now.

Matsuri POV

I said goodbye to my sensei before strolling, well limping rather, towards my downtown home. Man, my muscles were on fire! Fifty laps around the entire village was a lot for my achy legs. This discomfort was not enough to kill the bubbly attitude I had today however. Training under Gaara- san was tough but he definitely knew what he was doing. I had improved enormously in the past year from a timorous child to a full fledged ninja on my way to becoming an outstanding Kunoichi. I no longer had a fear of weapons and I now had the drive inside me to fight for others. I will fight for those precious to me! That was my philosophy and I wasn't ready to abandon it anytime soon.

"Oi… Matsuri- chan!" Kankuro's voice snapped me from my self empowerment daydream.

"Oh uh hey." I stammered through my scratchy throat. It was really sore from the heavy breathing of my earlier training.

"You should really be getting inside ya know. You never know who's roaming the village these days. Ever since we lost the Kazekage, this place has really gone down the tubes." He said in disgust.

"Yeah… um sorry again about your dad." I said awkwardly.

"Oh yeah well thanks, It's been awhile since that happened. It's sad, but you know, he wasn't that great of a dad. He could sure be nasty at times and he wasn't too pleasant to be around." He said thoughtfully. "You of all people should know the type. I think my little bro inherited some of our dad's assholeishness."

"Gaara- sensei is NOT nasty or unpleasant! He's just a bit sullen, that's all!" I practically screamed at him. He started to laugh.

"Whoa, easy there! You know I love that little brat. I was just kidding around. Jeez…"

"Oh, errrr gomen..." I felt really embarrassed now.

"Um no prob. Well, see you later." He said leisurely walking in the other direction giving me a strange look as he passed. I walked the rest of the way home with a hint of pink in my cheeks. I hope Kankuro forgave me. It just made me so mad when people trashed Gaara- san. It got under my skin like nothing else could. I always heard a lot of crap from my fellow Genin at the Suna academy. I can't wait to become strong enough for me to take them on. I know it's only a matter of time because after all, I was learning from the best.

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