Right, just to clarify, this was meant to be a page-a-day thing, but circumstances including lack of internet at my dads, my sisters birthday and the login not working yesterday have delayed that. In order to appease you I will be adding not one, not two, but THREE chapters today! These include Shukaku squealing and one of the hottest kisses I've ever written.

Time for a rant. I have had a fairly shit day so far. It begun nicely enough. A certain crush giving a guy standing too close to me the evils for a full hour, and then getting into a debate with said crush(this basically consisted of both of us dragging the converstation out as much as we could to spend more time together), but then it took a swift down hill turn. Not only did I get set THREE essays to do for one lesson, to hand in on Friday, but it was raining when I was waiting for the bus and the stupid bus driver decided to miss my stop out! I had to walk across two fucking fields and through a wood in the rain to get home! Then my brother decided to be a major jerkoff and snatch everything I reached for! I had a fat go at him though! :::End of rant:::

Peace out.

~x~

Gaara tapped his pen on the paper, unable to concentrate. Shukaku was being irritating again. He wouldn't stop going on about sensing a mate. 'I swear Shukaku, if you don't be quite I will be forced to turn myself over to the Akatsuki and have you removed.'

You can't do that, it'd kill you too. The demon sneered.

'At least it would shut you up.' Gaara snapped back.

This is serious brat!

'Is it as serious as organising the shinobi missions?'

…Close.

'Is it more so?'

No, but it isn't far off.

'If it isn't then it doesn't matter right now.'

But brat! Shukaku whined. This is the thing we've been waiting for.

'Correction, you have been waiting for. I couldn't care less.'

You just ain't seen him yet.

'Him?'

Yeah.

'How can you tell?'

I dunno. I just feel him.

'Whatever. Just shut up so I can work, then I'll let you rant all you want.'

Fine, fine. Just as the demon fell silent, the door of his office opened.

'Is there no reprieve?' Temari walked in, clearly wanting to ask him something that would end up embarrassing him to no end.

"Yes?" He asked. Time for the usual pre-embarrassment banter.

"Are you nearly done with the paperwork?" She asked, perching on his desk, rubix cube in hand. Shikamaru had promised to let her get a kitten if she completed the cube. Three years later she was still with cube and without kitten.

"No. Shukaku won't shut up."

"Again?"

What does she mean again?! I hardly ever talk!

'No, you hardly ever shut up.'

"Well, just a heads up, the ambassador and his ANBU team have been sighted. Looks like we have about five hours before they get here."

"Thank you." Gaara looked down, starting to fill in the sheet again.

"Hay Gaara." He looked up. She was looking down at him with concern filling her eyes.

"Yes?" He repeated, bracing himself for the question.

"You've been acting odd lately. Is anything the matter?"

"No." Gaara said in an instant. He was glad that hadn't been too bad. Besides, he was fine. He always was.

"Are you sure?" She leant forwards, pressing a hand to his forehead. Had he possessed the necessary body part, he would have raised his eyebrows. "You seem a little pale."

"I am always pale Temari. I spend most of my time in my office so the sun has no chance to grace my skin." Gaara smirked when Temari shot him a glare.

"Stop being an idiot." Temari snapped. "Something is wrong, I know it. If I have to beat it out of you I will."

"Quit harassing your brother woman." Shikamarus voice said. They looked to the door, spotting him leaning lazily against the frame. "He's a big boy now, he can handle himself." He pushed himself off the doorframe, walking over to pull his wife into his arms. Gaara gave him a look that clearly said 'thank you' before turning back to his work. "Come on you troublesome woman, you need to get ready." He sighed, pulling her form the room. Gaara listened to the door shut, feeling that awful tightness in his heart again.

xoxoxox

Neji walked through the gates, and was instantly knocked to the floor by a large white dog. Akamaru stood on his chest, looking down at him excitedly. "Not quite the dignified entrance I was hoping for." Neji sighed, pushing the dog off.

"Sorry about that." A voice he recognised laughed. Kankuro reached a hand down to help him up. "The Mutt refuses to get him a lead." Neji glanced round to where Hinata was cooing over the dog as he was pulled to his feet.

"Don't worry." Neji assured him. "I grew used to it when Hinata was put on a team with Kiba." Kankuro patted him on the back with a laugh.

"Come on, time for you to meet your doom, oh I mean, the Kazakage." Kankuro grinned. Neji laughed, following him. "Uh, shouldn't we call those two?"

"No need, they'll catch up soon enough." Neji said, not even bothering to look back at the no doubt kissing ANBU. The two walked in silence, heading through the sandy streets of Suna. May people, especially the women, smiled flirtatiously at Kankuro. "Does Kiba know they do that?" Neji asked, frowning.

"Yeah, he sees it as a badge of honour though."

"What?"

"He landed the second most popular bachelor in Suna, and he isn't even from here. He absolutely loves it." Kankuro rolled his eyes. Neji could see Kiba reacting like that. He loved any claim to fame he could pull off.

"So what precisely is so terrifying about your brother?" Neji asked after a moment. He didn't want to be surprised.

"He's just really creepy." Kankuro shrugged as they stopped beside the kage building. "He scares the shit out of all the ambassadors cause he just has this weird ass stare thing he does."

"Thank you Kankuro." A calm voice said behind them, making both men jump. "But I think the new ambassador has heard enough of your evaluations." Neji turned, but instantly found himself gob smacked. He hadn't seen Gaara since Shikamaru and Temari got married two years ago. He had changed a lot. The ruby colour hair was just as wild as always, but it looked carefuly ordered wildness rather than a red mess. His skin looked like porcelain of the most delicate kind, and he was taller, if just by a fraction. The 19 year old looked up at him, studying him closely. Neji could hardly understand how he had never noticed those eyes before. The sea foam green eyes finally made contact with his, and Neji felt the feeling he hadn't felt in a long while. The undeniable feeling of being inexplicably drawn to the person he was facing.

"Jeeze, you really need to quit creeping up on me Gaara." Kankuro complained, folding his arms. "You're going to give me a goddamn heart attack soon."

"One can but hope." Gaara smirked at his brother before turning to Neji. "I hope my brother hasn't been telling you stories of me."

"Of course not Kazakage. I heard them all from the last ambassador." He was surprised when Gaara actually chuckled. He liked that sound. He wanted to hear it more.

"I can assure you they are all greatly exaggerated."

"Well there goes the fun of this job." Things seemed to flash between them both, connecting them for a brief moment. The pull was growing stronger. Neji repressed a frown. It had never felt like this before. It always took time to develop to the stage of wanting to touch the other. As Gaara began leading him into the large Kage building, Neji took a moment to consider. He would have to find out more about this.

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