It's been a long time since I've written, and after rediscovering my Fanfiction came to the horrifying realisation that my old writing, years on, sounds so young with oh so many mistakes! So with that, I've decided to rewrite all my Fanfiction, which is obviously going to take a long time.

For those of you who read the old version of this story, this version is going to be much better. I'm going to expand on the story much more, add more realism, and write how I think this story was supposed to go. I've always thought it ended too soon, so I'm going to fix that. It will, in essence, be completely new.

For newcomers: please read, please critique, and if you want to see the difference with the first chapter please read the original 'The White Line'. Or read all of it! Hell, go to town and read the entire thing! XD

And lastly, it's an honour to write, and if you shall read this I hope you enjoy it. I do not own Naruto, BUT I WISH I BLOODY DID.

Chapter 1: Grasping at Air

It's cold, I think to myself, the thought falling like a raindrop into water, rippling into my consciousness, It's so cold.

The desert is eerily silent save for the gentle hiss of the wind caressing the sand, and my feet are numb from the long unending walk. Squinting in the light of the moon, I stop, my mind churning with newfound confusion. Casting my eyes to the vast lands of dunes and shadows, I wrap my arms around myself in dread, suddenly feeling like I've come awake from nothingness.

Where am I?

Blinking down at my feet and feeling the dull ache needling through them, I realise I've being walking for a very long time, but I don't remember. I don't remember a thing. My memory feels distant, something I can't grasp, and as I try to remember it seems the void in my memory widens into an endless abyss.

Kneeling with agonising slowness, my knees groaning in protest, I feel exposed and insignificant; a pinprick in the middle of the desert. I wonder briefly if anyone would be looking for me, and if I should wait here until they found me, but something told me no one would be. Somehow, I am aware of this.

Turning my gaze upward, to the scatter of stars, I sigh. It's so cold.

Time passes. I don't know how long I stay there, slumped in the sand like I was ready to die. I'm exhausted. My limbs feel like limp noodles.

My ears catch sound on the breeze, almost inaudible. I feel my shoulders hunch and lower into my body when a quiet thud comes from behind. Something has landed, softly, and I daren't move to see what or who is there. Heart thumping in my temples I squeeze my eyes shut, hoping that if I was going to die, that it would be quick at least. I'm too exhausted to fight.

Everything in me feels like ice crawling through my veins.

The wind slithers over the sand again in another hiss, and I feel a shadow fall over me. I hug my sides, bowing my head lower. A hand lands on my shoulder, and it shakes me gently, almost as if I were asleep and they were trying to coax me awake.

"Hey, you can't stay here. It's dangerous," a female voice tells me firmly, though her voice is laced with worry.

Stirring from my stupor, I lift my gaze, expecting to see something frightening, but instead it's quite the opposite. Making out the blonde bunches of hair gathered into four ponytails, and the steady teal eyes in the glow of the moon, I realise this person is currently not a threat. We stare at each other, both assessing one another in silence. Upon seeing my blank expression, she nudges me, lightly, before seeming to get impatient.

"Kankurō," she snaps hard, eyes still on mine, "Come here a moment."

A black form comes from behind her, Kankurō I realise, and he regards me deliberately, dark eyes sceptical and disbelieving. His lip twitches as he looks over me, studying me in a way that makes me question my appearance. I look down at myself, aware of the itch of sand in my hair, and the tattered scraps of clothing against my skin.

The girl looks at me again whilst I'm observing the state I'm in, sympathy pooling in her gaze.

"Well, she's not ninja…" she muses, reaching up slowly to brush my hair away from my face, "If anything I'd say she's lost."

Kankurō nods, his black form topped off with cat ears. I blink, staring at the cat ear shapes as the moonlight ghosts over them. I'm aware I haven't said a word to them, and that I don't recognise them. Nothing about them seems familiar despite desperately wanting to feel a connection, but they don't feel unsafe either.

I relax at this, closing my eyes. I'm okay now.

Someone speaks abruptly, not the girl or Kankurō, but someone else entirely. Their voice is deep and grave, like the sound of a gong bowls sounding, and I throw my gaze hurriedly to the side, my heart jumping. I hadn't heard this one approach at all. The shadows were draped against his silhouette, and I couldn't make out his features with his back turned to us. I tried to concentrate on him, observing the broad shoulders.

"If we leave her, she will die," said the voice, the sound of it in some way crystal clear, "Temari, help her stand."

The girl, Temari, lifts my left arm over her shoulder and then wraps her right arm around my waist. She lifts me up easily, as if I weigh no more than a child. My legs feel weak, and as soon as I manage to stand, I slump heavily against her, my noodle legs having no strength in them.

"She must have been walking for days," comes a voice that I suspect belongs to Kankurō.

Temari grunts, giving a dark smile, "Yeah…she practically weighs nothing."

My eyes droop, and I let my head fall forward. My head is beginning to spin, and I feel sick. My breathing rattles in my chest unnervingly, and my skin prickles with goose bumps as the wind picks up. Brain fumbling to understand what's happening, my body feels like it's about to drop.

"Maybe she ran away or something? Or was attacked…?"

Kankurō is standing in front of me, lifting my chin to look at me with rough, strong hands. Panic flares in me, causing me to flinch away, but he peers closer, looming tall and broad. My stomach curdles in dread.

"Hey, what's your name? Who are you?" he demands, eyes burning into mine with intent.

I consider my options in how to run away as he studies me, none of which would work unless I had a tremendous amount of luck.

"Stop it Kankurō," the deep voice said, "She's obviously not fit to answer your questions."

Kankurō grunts and turns towards the one who had spoken. I follow his gaze to the figure facing away from us. He has something on his back, something big and heavy looking and he's wearing a long-sleeved crimson coat and dark trousers. The thing I notice with much fascination, though, is his shock of red hair. It glints mysteriously in the moonlight like blood, and I swallow nervously as our eyes meet. Pale green eyes observe me from a pale face with sharp cheekbones. Plump lips sit straight and firm, indicating a man with little to say unless needing to, and I stare, feeling a sense of gravity that emanates from him. It's like he has the whole world on his shoulders. My chest feels tight, and I wonder how a man can look like that.

"We will take her to Sunagakure and have her see a medical-nin. We will question her when she's well enough."

Kankurō sighs and silently begins moving again, mumbling something, and Temari just nods slightly. The other guy, the one with the red hair…he looks at me out the corner of his black-lined eyes, his pale green-blue iris studying me. Still fascinated by him, I hold his eyes, wanting to ask questions. My mouth tries to move to ask them, but my energy gives out, and I hang heavily onto Temari.

Within minutes, I fall asleep.

Gaara's P.O.V

Glancing over several documents until I find the one I'm after, I then sit and brace myself for what I'm about to read. It sits there a moment, and I drum my fingers on my desk with reluctance before succumbing and reaching for it. Exhaustion makes my eyes unable to focus for a moment, but I rub them tiredly and glare at the paper, finally seeing the words across the page.

My stomach sinks as I read, realising my worst fears.

The stranger we found a few nights ago is suffering from amnesia, and medical-nin have found several worrying signs of medical experimentation. Reports from my team of ANBU have found nothing, and the Suna Interrogation Force have also found nothing.

She's a ghost, apparently.

I set the papers down firmly, and a knock sounds at the door to my office. Identifying the knock to belong to a horrible man known as Jun, I hesitate in calling him in. When he enters, I try to ignore his sense of over-confidence and superiority, and only briefly acknowledge him as I order my papers. He stands impatiently, not liking how I haven't welcomed him in joyfully, and my lip twitches as I see his eyes fixate on my papers.

"I heard word that the medical-nin and Suna Interrogation Force have completed their tasks of assessing the subject," he states grimly, throwing a subtle nod at my papers, "It's quite concerning."

Closing my eyes, I lean back in my chair with folded arms.

"You don't have permission to know about those results," I reply patiently, and then open my eyes to look at him sharply, "Nor are you supposed to know about this investigation, Jun."

He gives a dark smile, his own delight in knowing things gleaming in his eyes.

"Ah, but I have my ways. I just do my job to make sure things in Suna go smoothly," he grins.

I sigh.

"But you don't have a job, Jun. You're retired. If anything, this is nothing more than an intrusive hobby of yours that goes too far."

His eyes fill with malevolence at my words, with silence booming between us with unspoken feelings of distrust. Taking a step towards my desk I smoothly lock the papers in my desk drawer, reminding myself this was not a man to anger. The old fool is from a rich political family and has the over self-importance to show it.

Before he can speak, I talk over him swiftly, silently letting him know whatever he may want to say means absolutely nothing to me.

"I trust my people and have no reason to believe the 'subject'," I say with some difficulty, "is of risk to Suna. Now I suggest you attend the public council meeting, as I think that may take your fancy. If you'll excuse me, I have some matters to attend to."

Jun pulls a face at that, about to argue to help soothe his ego, but Temari comes through the door like a force of nature, and coolly regards Jun with the same amount of appreciation as you would have for standing in dog shit. He shuts his mouth solidly, understanding he isn't welcome and takes his leave.

Temari gives a sickly-sweet grin as he goes, glad to see the back of him.

"I hate that wretched old shit," she huffs after the door closes, "Gives me the creeps."

I nod tiredly in agreement, my mind churning over what I had read earlier, and the girls face comes to mind crystal clear. Remembering how she looked that night, and the blank but hopeful look in her eyes made something hurt inside me. I grimace in the knowledge that she had been ruthlessly investigated like some criminal, but I know anyone with that kind of background would have the same treatment.

Temari coughs to gain my attention, and I blink at her slowly.

"Sorry," I sigh, rubbing my temples, "It's been a long…shift."

Her eyes narrow at my words, and I swear at my slip up as I see the realisation in her eyes.

"You haven't slept?" she fumes, pointing at me, "That's it! I'm going to get you a doctor's appointment, we need to do something about your insomnia. This isn't healthy Gaara!"

I don't say anything, my mind hazing back towards work, and then back towards the girl. Temari lectures me as I sit and think, and I make a note to apologise later as I focus on the investigation.

Jun is rightfully suspicious, though I hate to admit it. I don't like to think he has a worthy thing to say at all, but I'm aware that this amnesia and sudden appearance looks far from innocent. Standing suddenly, Temari goes silent.

"Do you have any news on the investigation?" I ask, my eyes beginning to sting, "I'd like to know every single thing."

She laughs out of surprise, regarding me carefully.

"I have no news at all. Apart from the request for a DNA test put forward from the council, on behalf of Tadashi."

I groan, knowing that Jun must be pulling strings. I guess I'll be expecting that piece of paperwork tomorrow.

"I'm going to have to do something about that man," I hiss, hearing Temari come closer, "He's got too much influence, and I don't trust his heart is in the right place."

Temari nods thoughtfully, her eyes looking out the window.

"I heard he's trying to become one of the council members," she tells me reluctantly, watching my reaction cautiously.

Trying to keep my expression neutral, I hear some commotion from outside the office. Remembering the meeting with Naruto I stand swiftly, commanding myself to dismiss that horrific piece of information Temari had just told me.

Forcing a smile, I shout him in, hoping I had enough energy for this meeting. Despite loving Naruto's visits, I was wishing I had slept to be able to concentrate. The door opens, and Naruto, the ray of sunshine that he is, strides in with his signature grin. I feel myself relent, an easy smile coming to my face as we greet each other.

It shames me to admit, but I feel envy at times when I look at Naruto. He's fun, easy-going, and able to talk freely to people. Guilt tightens in my gut as this thought plagues me, and as the meeting goes on, I realise that the two female ninjas attending with him were…eyeing him up. Peeved, I tried to ignore them the best I could, but that was the other thing that I was envious of.

Naruto is, and always has been, attractive.

Not only that, but women love him.

Feeling my inner insecurities emerge, it takes me a moment or two to realise he's asked me a question. Embarrassed, I blush.

"I'm sorry?"

Naruto grins his usual grin, not fazed in the least.

"I said, Lady Tsunade has an interesting proposition coming up soon. Just giving you the heads up. She told me to mention it. Something about an amazing opportunity."

I nod, intrigued, but sensing there was nothing more for Naruto to add, I don't question any further.

"Well, I thank you for coming today Naruto," I say sincerely, giving a firm shake of his hand, "I trust I'll see you soon."

He nods joyously, and I ask Temari to see them off to save my nerves over him being ambushed. Skilled as he is, I wouldn't forgive myself if he came to any harm.

We part on good terms, and I see them off from my window in my office. I sigh and consider what I can do to stop Jun from doing as he pleases. An idea strikes me, a way to give her time if he pushes too far to gather evidence, and I go to my filing cabinet for the documents.

I sign the appropriate lines, read it twice over thoroughly, and attach the appropriate paperwork. If she were to officially become a citizen of Suna, she would have more protection, and therefore it should be harder for Jun to do as he pleases. Before I sign the final sheet, I reflect on what I'm doing, reconsidering her as a threat, before dismissing it and signing.

She can't be a threat. Not with those eyes.

So here it is, the beginning of the remake of 'The White Line'. I'm introducing Gaara having a P.O.V, which the old story didn't have, and I'm hoping this gives more depth throughout the story.

But, I hope this was enjoyed, and I will have more published soon! Please leave a comment or constructive criticism. Nothing mean for the sake of being mean XD