Just Like It Never Happened

Disclaimer: This is fan fiction. Most places & characters are borrowed from Masashi Kishimoto's Naruto manga.

Summary: Before Gaara & co. take off to Konohagakure, the insomniac boy was going through odd changes. At the same time, Sasuke was torn between 2 dilemmas: his promise to kill his brother and.. His sexuality? (SasuGaa yaoi) And what was developing between Temari and Shikamaru?

Pairing: Sasuke X Gaara, Shikamaru X Temari

Warning: This story will contain slash, and probably death(s). I'm not really following a specific storyline, and I'll do my best to avoid spoilers. Please note that there will be OOC themes.. (Duh.. it's going to be a yaoi pairing..) But, hopefully, not too obvious.
(Really.. It's funny how I can contradict myself sometimes! LoL!)

This is my first fan fiction.. So I will be delighted to hear/read your benevolent advice and reviews.. Domo..

Chapter 01

Gaara yawned; he was getting tired again.. He had spent half of his day completing his A level mission, and the other half reading and studying to keep himself occupied. It was not his fault that he had insomnia.. He sighed and looked up, "we're moving to Konohagakure in 3 days.. Damn.." he got up from his seat and headed to his library's balcony.. It was dark and quiet and the only people, who were awake outside, were the guards who were trying their best not to meet his gaze..

More often than not, Gaara would keep a cool and controlled face and always had apathetic actions- unless they were too personal to avoid. And when that happens - it ends with blood shed.. Never his though.. The only scar he ever had was the one he carved on his forehead, it wasn't easy.. He stared off far ahead to see the sand dunes under the silver moonlight as the hot desert breeze brushed by. A warm energy swept down his spine, which he found quite eerie.. He waited for a while for it to go, but it wouldn't.. "What's happening to me?" he whispered and dreadfully added, "I think I need help.. Hmm.. Who's awake and not scared enough to avoid me?" he started breathing heavily and his feet were shaking, ".. Baki!! He should be leaving father's office by now," he hurried off towards the library exit.

As he reached the destined corridor he saw Baki just leaving the office. Baki looked at him and frowned, "Gaara?" the boy was panting and sweating and somehow red in the face.. He then whispered quietly, "we need to talk.. But not here.."

Baki raised an eyebrow but silently followed Gaara to the boy's untouched room.

Baki walked in, keeping a wary eye on Gaara as he closed the door.. There was a moment of silence. Baki guessed that his Kazekage's son was trying to find the right words.. He was amused.. Gaara straightened up and regained his composure.. "It feels weird." He finally spoke, nodding his head down. The man looked at him and blinked with his only visible eye, "what?"

Gaara cocked his head to the side.. He's not much of a social person, "It feels funny from my waist and below," he answered in his usual tired voice as he folded his arms across his shoulder.. He was getting rather impatient and rather flat with his word-choice.. He didn't like repeating himself.

Baki looked rather taken back, but eventually look down.

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"You are 12 years old?"

"Yes."

"Congrats."

"What?"

"You're coming of age."

Gaara was quiet for a while, but then voluntarily broke the silence "Oh."

"Exactly."

"You can leave now."

As Gaara headed towards the restroom, Baki rubbed his neck and left with a sigh of relief. "I'm alive.. Good.." he breathed out.

Gaara sat on the toilet seat staring at the floor.

"Time for me to conclude my biology classes.."

After he was done with the bathroom, he picked up his calabash gourd and headed out of the room.

Temari was in her room closing up her bag when she heard a knock on the door. "It's really late.. Who could it be?"

"What?!" she hollered impatiently.

"It's just me," came Baki's voice.

"Can it wait? It's late! I'm planning on sleeping peacefully tonight!" she sighed, "we had to work with Gaara for more that half of the day and an A class operation too.."

"Ah speaking of Gaara- good thing you brought it up!" Temari twitched "something interesting happened "

"Hai hai! I'm coming!" She reluctantly got up and took her time opening the door just to irk him up, and the results were quite pleasing in her favor.

"About time," he grumbled. Baki noticed the packed bag, "ah, you packed?"

"Yep! All done," she said hurriedly putting her hands on her hips, "now tell me!"

"Gaara had reached that stage."

"Oh," Temari responded, "how much did you tell him?"

"I.. told him that he was coming of age.."

"That's it?" Temari eyed him wearily, "I guess you want me to tell him."

"Yes, I believe that it is not my place to do so."

"You are afraid he'd kill you," she teased.

"And that too," he wasn't joking.

"Alright, I will," She said as if she had given it enough thought. "Tomorrow."

"But-!" she cut him off by slamming the door.

"I need to sleep! I'm sure he'll be in that old library reading some stupid biology book!"

"Procrastinator!"

"Human!"

'So much for a good night of peaceful sleep'.. Temari threw herself on her bed and dozed off exasperatedly.. 'Tomorrow's going to be a long day..'