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Chapter: Revised.

It had only been ten days since Gaara left for his mission and everything already seemed empty and bleak. Naruto stared around his apartment and scowled. It's too quiet in here, he thought as he left. Without Gaara, time seemed to go by at a snail's pace for him. The slightest things caused him to remember his partner and silence was suddenly too loud; something Naruto found funny as Gaara wasn't much of a chatter box. Walking into the village quickly became a chore as he stared around and noticed that people were staring at him and whispering. He sighed, wondering if he would ever be able to escape the images people of Konoha viewed him as. He then wondered if Iruka was free…

Sabaku no Gaara was a very fearsome person. He could make a man soil himself with just a glare. He could make ice melt just by glancing at it. He could make a proud man of royal decent give him a piggy back ride by telling him he was tired. But he could not, for the life of him, figure out why he was throwing up at seven in the morning. Nor could he figure out why Shukaku decided to start laughing at him and picking at him either.

Look at you; Silly boy! This is what you get for not including me in your activities! Shukaku roared in his head.

What are you talking about? Gaara questioned back, only making Shukaku laugh harder.

Let's just say… You're sick, but don't worry! I'll make sure no one destroys your sickness! I'll make sure you'll see it through full term! So that way, you can experience all the joys and, most importantly, pains of… Sickness… Ah ha ha ha ha ha!

What? Gaara questioned, but Shukaku was already out of his head. He didn't have time to question him again for another wave of nausea hit him like a ton of bricks. He silently cursed the demon, wondering why it was acting crazier than usual. The thought left his head as his stomach clenched and he focused on the toilet. The sounds of sickness echoed through the house, rousing Temari and Kankuro who groggily followed the noise to the bathroom. The two noticed each other half way there, their eyes widening as they realized that it wasn't who they thought it was in the restroom, and they quickly hurried to find their little brother leaned over the toilet, puking his guts up. A shocked moment of silence was shared between them, before Temari squatted down next to the now dry heaving teen and hesitantly moved his hair.

"Gaara?" She questioned softly. Gaara looked up at her and her heart clenched. He didn't notice that his face was so expressive, for she knew he would have never turned to her. His eyes were wide and his face confused, his lips open as he panted for breath. For a moment, he looked like a lost child looking for his mother. He looked like a boy, the boy, that she had lost so long ago. She almost expected him to call her 'Tema' again, just like he use to. "Gaara?" She spoke again. "Are you alright?" He nodded after a moment, then flushed the toilet as he slowly got up and went to the sink. Temari looked over towards Kankuro to see that his head was turned. He saw Gaara's face, too, and the rush of emotions and memories that washed over him was the same as Temari's.

Sick? The red head thought, oblivious to the others in the room. What does he mean, I'm sick? Damn it, why'd did it have to be today? He stared at his reflection, taking in the henge before him. The man staring back looked like any other healthy teen with brown eyes and black hair. The sight was quite disgusting, really. Although, with the henged Temari and Kankuro behind him, they truly did look like a family. It was…rather sweet.

He gagged.

The sound made the others jump as he leaned over the sink to clear the taste of bile from his mouth. He stood back up when he was sure the blush was off of his cheeks. Seriously, what was wrong with him? First, vomiting, then thoughts of the past? It was like he was being cursed by something. Discreetly, he sent a glare down at his stomach, deciding to blame the thoughts on Shukaku as he forced them from his mind. His family was not a family any longer.

"Kankuro, Temari," he cleared his throat as the words came out raw, watching as the two winced in the mirror. "You two go out and get started on the mission. I'll join you in a bit." Temari opened her mouth, before closing it and nodding her head. She left the room quickly after, leaving Kankuro alone with him.

"Listen, Gaara," the older boy scratched his cheek. "If you ever want to…or you're, you know…having problems and…you need someone…" Gaara stared at the boy, trying to show nothing more than annoyance, though his eyes betrayed how touched his was by the words. Blushing, Kankuro bowed out of the bathroom, quite pleased with himself. The redhead sighed upon his exit, snatching up a yellow toothbrush that he'd gotten just to remind him of who he'd always missed the most.

"Sorry, Naruto," he gave a rueful smile to his named toothbrush. "I know you've been wanting to get into my mouth for a while, but I doubt you'll enjoy this." He chuckled, wondering what Naruto would say if he heard him, then cut off as he wondered if he really chuckled at all. "I'm going insane without you," he muttered, staring at his toothbrush again.

"Itsu, Rin, I'm leaving!" Kankuro's voice trailed through the hotel, their codenames on his lips.

"Bye, Hanshin!" Temari stated, giggling as she got into character. Gaara let the sounds wash over him as he mentally prepared to be bored for three months, lethargically brushing his teeth all the while.

"Goodbye, Hanshin." With a blink of his eyes, Gaara gave one last thought to his partner before he immersed himself into his role of Itsu Megami. I hope he found something to do.

In Konoha, a once wooded area was being demolished by the blonde haired boy known as Naruto. The Jinchuuriki heaved in a big breath of air as he thought about Gaara, moping at the temporary lost of a lover and a friend. Trying to force himself to create a new jutsu wasn't as exciting as he thought it would be. Bored, bored. Ain't this great? No one with me to appreciate. Oh great. Now he was rhyming internally. With a sigh, he decided to go get some ramen.