All characters belong to Kishimoto - except for Azazel. A special Thank you to Pure Red Crane for helping me beta this!
Chapter 1
The hot sun glared from above the endless dunes of Sunagakure. Gaara glared back at it, his striking crimson hair reaching up towards the sky and challenging its strength.
It had only been a few months since he had changed; sometimes he still thought about Naruto, his old friend. He wanted to change, not grudgingly or out of self-pity; Gaara had always wanted to be loved by others, he just didn't know how. Now, he had a new path, a new attitude and new responsibilities…
"Gaara-sensei!"
Gaara looked down to see his student racing towards him, out of breath. It appeared that she had finished her training early today.
"Matsuri," He nodded.
She peered up at him with a wide grin across her face, dirty hair, scarred face and tattered clothes; she would make a fine shinobi.
The day was over and the sun had almost completed its journey across the sky, leaving a trail of darkness in the wake of the sandy sea. Gaara looked towards his student, "Enough."
Matsuri understood. Gaara appreciated the fact that he had complete dominion over her. Of course, he was not an abusive teacher, he could never hurt Matsuri. Although, Gaara always made it clear that he was the one in charge and not her. Unlike her usual happy-go-lucky-self outside of class, while he was teaching her, she listened carefully to his every word, how he moved and spoke; Matsuri looked at each action carefully and seriously without taking it for granted. This could possibly be how Gaara became benevolent towards her.
"Matsuri."
Her head jerked upwards, "Yes, sensei?"
Gaara rarely spoke so casually around her, especially during training. But class was over and Gaara had something very important to tell Matsuri.
There was a long moment of silence. Gaara stared at the ground; the shadows hiding his face.
"What if someday…we weren't together? If I were…somewhere else."
Matsuri's joyful expression turned into sadness and despair.
"Are you leaving, Gaara-sensei?"
Gaara couldn't remember a time when he had felt so nervous. Recently the village council had been discussing the unique arrangements involving Gaara's siblings and their students. It was…expected…that Gaara wouldn't have any students; in fact, it was almost pre-planned. Matsuri's last-minute decision surprised a lot of people, and it certainly caused the council quite a shock.
"Gaara could never properly teach someone," they said judgmentally.
"He would sooner kill the poor damsel," they said.
"We should immediately transfer her to a safer location where she will never have any more contact with Gaara of the Sand," they said.
Gaara was shocked. They were taking Matsuri away from him because everybody still thought he was a monster.
"Starting tomorrow…you are going to have a new teacher."
There was another moment of silence, except this one was longer than the last.
Tears began to well up in Matsuri's eyes; although, she refused to show them. She peered up at her sensei. He was staring down at her with the same posture and expression as usual. When she looked closely, she could see that his fists were clenched so hard they were white. This was difficult, but not impossible for her to see due to the residue that had built up in her eyes. She didn't know why she started crying. The idea of angering Gaara and causing trouble certainly made Matsuri sick. She and Gaara were very different people. Gaara wanted a student who was strong and brave, like him; not a silly weakling who twitched at the sight of a sword.
"It was…fun. I don't regret choosing you, Gaara-sensei. I'll never forget you."
Gaara's fists were still clenched tightly, and if it weren't for his protective sand then surely he would have broken through his own skin with his nails.
'Matsuri…you've enjoyed our time together…' Gaara felt needed. He felt needed and loved by his own student, and now the sand council was tearing that precious relationship away from him.
'You knew, Gaara…You knew you could never have this…not permanently at least.' a voice in Gaara's head whispered.
Gaara still had his friendship with Naruto and the bond with his siblings. But with Matsuri, somehow he had begun to look at her differently from his other newfound friends.
But it didn't matter.
She was gone. Gaara could no longer teach her and that…the council wouldn't even allow him to socialize with her.
Their friendship was over.
And he could never get it back.
