"…Gaara-kun?"

For a moment, I forget to breathe… I know that voice, quite well.

Surrounded by people who are gossiping about my bloody deeds, terrified of what I am; they don't bother to know who I am. They stand close to their sensei's and hold onto them as if they are children trying to hide from the big bad monster.

I should have known they would react like this; even my brother and sister do, this shouldn't surprise me…

And it doesn't…

Until that voice came out from the crowd.

"Gaara-Kun!" Turning around, I come nearly face to face with a green-clad boy with a familiar bowl cut and expressive eyebrows; his black eyes are dancing with what would seem to be joy, and an easy smile covered his face.

He darted towards me, only coming within a few feet before I was unable to stop my barrier from stopping his advance; he stops at the boundaries set out, and smiles knowingly.

"Yosh! I had forgotten about your ultimate defense!… This makes it very difficult for me to embrace you as I had wished!" He struck a pose, winking one eye as he thrust one leg behind himself, one arm in front of him, stuck a thumb up, and smiled largely. It is so oddly familiar, I feel at ease.

He hasn't changed at all, not in all of they years since he had first came to Suna and played one child's game with me…

"It is no matter! I shall enjoy your company from a distance! May we carry on a conversation as we watch our fellow genin fight for their privilege to become chuunin?"

Mutely, I nod, turning my eyes back to the stadium as I waited for the first announcement. I heard him as he moved as close to my side as possible before the unmistakable hiss of sand began anew. He leaned over the rail, watching on with excitement and impatience for the first match to be announced.

Moments of silence pass; around me, I hear so many voices… all of them are wondering what is wrong with the boy next to me, if I forced him to be there…

If this is another assassination attempt.

It's a good question… I don't know if he's been coerced or not into deceiving me by using the… acquaintance… we had made upon our first meeting.

"How has your life been, Gaara-kun?" I turn my head slightly, eyeing him. He doesn't look any different, and he hardly looked as if he would stab me in the back if he had the chance.

Then again, I thought the same about my uncle before he attempted to do so. Love was a funny thing, with how it was cruel and mocking.

Mutely, I nod again. I know it wasn't a correct answer to his question, but there is no reason for me to waste words on a boy I hardly remember.

Either way, he giggles as if I had gone into a explicit, detailed tale of my life up until this point.

Wordlessly, a small, warm smile on his face, he turns back to the fight going on, the first match having been called and begun. We don't speak again until a victor is named and the injured person who lost is taken away.

In my mind, Shukaku whispers so sweetly about what we should do to people who were so weak… And I entertained myself by listening to him.

"Gaara-kun…"

He reaches for me, as if he thinks that he could touch me now, as if there was a difference from when he had tried earlier.

Surprisingly, there is; his hand lands softly on my shoulder. Shukaku begins screaming bloody murder, but I can ignore him when I wish. I merely stare down at the hand, and no more is needed to drive the voice very far away.

"Are you alright?" As if touching me is something common and happens often, no startled or shocked look upon his face he continues to look into my eyes.

I hear gasps and the whispers increase. Temari begins hyperventilating to my left, and Kankuro curses to my far right. The second match ends as if nothing strange was occurring, and the third begins.

I look from his worried gaze, to his bandaged fingers.

What could be different now from only minutes ago?

Minutes ago, he had surprised me, then all I could think of was how my uncle had betrayed me. Now, I had been focused inward, not focusing on the past. That would mean…

My sand does not view him as a threat?

How strange…

Regardless, I reach up, slowly, cautiously, and grab his hand in my own… It's warm, even through my sand armor, I can feel that. He blinks, tilting his head curiously as he watches me fold our hands together.

I feel more calm, suddenly. So I ignore my sister's harsh whispers, Kankuro's continuing curses, every thread of gossip, and even Shukaku. I look back to the stadium, a fourth fight coming out, whatever horror the people around us felt was not conveying to those in the ring.

"… Yes…"

His eyes light up as if I just gave him something priceless, and a red tint erupts from his cheeks as he smiles again, rubbing at the back of his head.

"Wonderful!"

For a few more matches, he talks animatedly, whispering near my ear so as not to disturb the matches; which I do not understand.

I could let Shukaku out on them right now, and I doubt the two in the ring would even notice. They seem determined to rip each other apart.

He only parts from me once, and that was to grab the flying body of his comrade from my sister's jutsu. I do not remember her being to weak; but that could hardly be considered a fight.

That was child's play… though not the one we had taken part in.

Once he knows that his teammate is going to be taken to the hospital, he is back at my side, lying his hand on the rail; an invitation if his smile is anything to go by. I grab his hand again.

It's a connection I've never had before.

It is sometime towards the end that our names show up on the board… against each other.

I don't like it. Because I know I'm going to kill him. By my side, Temari smirks and Kankuro scowls; they know it too. Everyone seems to know it if their looks of sadness, pain, and horror are anything to go by.

The only one who doesn't seem to know… is Lee himself.

He smiles cheekily, giving me a thumbs up.

"Well, Gaara-kun! We shall finally have that fight I had once spoke of! Are you prepared?" He teases, releasing my hands so he can leap, once again, over the rail into the ring. He slides to the opposite end, leaving me on the side of my siblings as he takes the side of his sensei and friends.

I don't want to hurt him. But I know, as I leave the stands and land in the ring in a swirl of hated sand, that I won't be able to stop myself.

Damn it, someone stop me for myself.

This is a request granted by youdon'tneedtoknow, who I have no idea how to contact to inform her/him that I went along with her suggestion. She wanted a sequel, so I made one; and yes, there shall be a second chapter. Tell me how I'm doing so far, please!