A/N:
So, time for the second chapter. I know it's been a while, but I've been working on several stories at the time. Next time will be the third and last chapter.

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Disclaimer:
«I do not own any of the following pictures, music, characters or the original universe. I only own the story itself the main character and to the idea.»
Thanks a lot to Lightening Bee for betaing on this story.

In Between the lines - Part 2/3

A gentle smile played on the girl's lips as she walked inside and took off her shoes before she put down her equipment bag. Grabbing a pair of fluffy, baby pink slippers she made her way through the room and let herself fall down on the bed. Her eyes automatically looked through the window searching for a hint of Gaara's familiar red hair. She couldn't find any. Letting out a sigh, Masuri admitted to herself that she really missed the old times. Back then she had been able to just walk up to him and share what was on her mind. She couldn't do those things anymore.

"Gaara..." her lips trembled just by the soft whisper of his name. Gaara. He was her mentor, her teacher, her ally - and even though many of the locals found it hard to swallow: her friend. Matsuri felt her hand clench and her lips tighten as her thoughts brought her back to the crowning ceremony...

The village of Sunagakure had been filled with people that was not only from Suna itself but also from other villages from far and near. The Daimyō, the Feudal Lord of the Sand, was of course present with a great number of both servants and guards. Matsuri could not ignore the fact that it seemed like the leader was far better protected than he'd been on any other, and maybe even more exposing, events. Doubtlessly this was a precaution taken to prevent him from harm if the monster that dwelt inside the soon-to-be Kazekage.

The ceremony had been a long and tiresome one. Matsuri had, at the result of Gaara's request, been given a seat in the front. After being told this, his student had been given quite an honor, and Matsuri had been more than happy to accept. That was until she been seated there for an hour, still waiting for the introduction part to come to an end. An eternity later – or so it felt, the old council had finally called up Gaara and presented him with his Kazekage robes and crown. Matsuri had felt her heart swell up and almost burst with pride as the crowd had given him a standing applause, welcoming their new Kazekage to the position. She hadn't know it back then; she hadn't expected that everything would change between them as soon as he accepted the official wear.

After the ceremony a selection of exclusive guests were invited to a special dinner in the headquarters to dine and to continue the celebration of the Kazekage. Matsuri had rushed up towards Gaara as soon as the ceremony was over, ready to almost throw herself at him to congratulate him before he left for the dinner. She'd never reached him. As she charged in, a pair of strong arms had gripped her, not violently but firmly.

"You cannot enter the building." The owner of the arm was a tall and strong man that Matsuri remembered seeing keeping the headquarters guarded. "Restrictions have been taken to secure the safety of the Daimyō. I'm afraid you won't be able to see the Kazekage until later." His voice was determent but a gentle layer was added to it, telling that Matsuri that he was sorry but that there was nothing he could do about it. The young kunoichi had nodded understanding to the guard as she'd left, making her way home to her bed to sleep.

The next day Matsuri had jumped out of bed eager to arrive early at the headquarters to meet her teacher, no, her friend. She jumped into her regular day off clothes and grabbed a piece of bread on her way out. Down at the office there had been a lot of people gathering despite the early hours. Matsuri sighed. This meant that there wouldn't be much time for them to talk, but she would at least be able to drop by with a smile and a congratulations. Assured by this, Matsuri had stepped into the line, patiently waiting for her turn. As she reached the inner part of the hallway leading to the Kazekage's office a hawk attracted her attention. Beside the door a young woman dressed in formal wear looked at her.

"Your errand?" the woman asked, her voice flat and without trace of emotion.

"I'm here to see Gaara," Matsuri replied nervously, a bright pink shade showing in her cheeks. The woman's eyes narrowed, a probing gaze looking her up and down before repeating the question.

"I was thinking of visiting him," The young girl's voice shook slightly, unsure of what more to say. "Congratulating him on his new position and all..."Matsuri looked up at the unfamiliar lady, unsure what to expect.

"That is noted, miss..." She glanced down at Matsuri, her pen resting on a sheet of paper.

"Matsuri. His student." Matsuri replied, a smile growing on her face. The woman raced an eyebrow, scribbling down her name.

"You're his former student?"

"What? Former? No, I'm his present student." The woman cut her off with a flick of her hand.

"The Kazekage has no students. You might have been a student of 'Gaara', but you are not one of the Kazekage." A horrified expression filled Matsuri's face. She was dismissed as a student?

"But, ehm I-" The woman let out a sigh.

"You're worried about your teaching I understand..." She browsed through some papers on her clipboard. "You're okay with Temari, right?" Her pen moved in a quick motion, "There, you are now assigned to her."

"But, Gaara-" Matsuri opened her mouth, once again trying to get the woman to let her see her friend but was she once again cut off by the flick of her hand.

"The Kazekage," she interrupted, a clear emphasis on his rank, "Is quite busy. He is not for the likes of you. Whatever 'arrangements' the two of you had are over now. He's the Kazekage" Her eyes narrowed as she glared sent Matsuri a strict glance "And you are, along with all others, obligated to refer to him by his title." The corners of her mouth twitched in the beginnings of a smile. "I'll make sure to leave him a note."

Matsuri had left the building with a heavy heart. It was as if he was gone. The position had not only taken away most of her time with him, but also their bond and his name... 'Why would he do that?' she wondered. Why would he have left it all behind? Last time she'd talked to him about it he'd seemed so hostile to the whole idea. 'And I have to thank you for helping me reach the decision' he'd said. Did that mean that she'd pushed him? That this wouldn't have happened if she'd just let the issue go? Had he accepted so that he could finally get rid of her – for good? All these thoughts had been unbearable and Matsuri had beaten herself up thinking it through over and over. At last Temari had stepped in, telling Matsuri that is was not her fault or Gaara's intentions that this had happened, and after a month Matsuri had started to believe it. Since then she'd been called into his office more than once, but it had always been on official business and the strict woman had always been present in the room. Once in a while there were arranged events and closed parties, but when attending these Gaara was always surrounded by high profile guests, and Matsuri had not felt like it was within her rights to intrude on them.

Rapid knocking on the front forced Matsuri back into the present and she opened her eyes. Once again there was someone knocking and the girl gathered momentum and jumped out of the bed onto her feet before rushing over to the door. She opened it and on the outside she found her neighbor, a short and stocky woman, standing there. Her hand was held high in the air, ready to bring down on the door once again.

"Yes?" The woman halted as she noticed that the door was open and its resident was greeting her.

"Oh, Matsuri." She reaching her hand into her pocked and pulled out a scroll. "Here, this came for you earlier." Matsuri took the scroll and looked down at it. It was marked with the Kazekage's seal.

"Oh, thanks." The woman nodded good bye and then waddled downhill in direction of the village. Matsuri watched for a moment before returning to the inside. Once inside she walked over to the small kitchen table and drew out a chair before sitting herself down on it. With shaking fingers she turned the scroll in her hands, anxious of what its content could be. It wasn't often that such a scroll was given. Most of the times it was to promote a ninja after a splendid almost imaginary good job or service – something Matsuri knew for a fact wasn't the case, which meant that it had to be the other purpose of such a letter. When the scroll wasn't to praise it was almost always to contemn. Matsuri gulped as some of the stories she'd heard in town came to mind: A blacksmith that been working under the previous Kazekage for more then a decade had one day received such a letter. The blacksmith had been filled with joy as he was sure it had to be a raise or another lucrative present to thank him for his long and fateful service. However, as he opened it in front of his whole family, all he got was a short and hostile message telling him his work had been outdated and that he and his services no longer was welcome in Sunagakure.

Matsuri shook her head to clear it of such thoughts. It wasn't for sure that it was something bad – just very, very likely, but there was only one way of knowing for sure... With a quick motion she ripped off the seal and drew in a deep breath.

' Matsuri

The nature of our earlier relations has come to the attention of the council.
You are to meet with me on the hillside at nine to discuss the matters of your future.

- Gaara '

She put the scroll down, her hands trembeing even more. The Kazekage wanted to talk to her on request of the council – and when those old folks got involved it never brought any good. Matsuri took a deep breath and gathered herself before getting up and walking into her bedroom to prepare herself.

Half an our later she walked back into the main area of her home, her hair still wet from the shower. As she passed kitchen table on her way to the refrigerator she could feel her eyes drawn towards the scroll and she felt her body tense up once more. Still, she had to get something to eat before heading out. Who knew how long she would be gone? With a flabby movement she got out a bottle of water and then headed over to the bench to make herself some sandwiches before sitting down at the table to consume her food.

As she finished her meal, Matsuri had a look at the time. Barely an hour until they were supposed to meet... She sighed and hurried to clean the dishes before sliding into her bedroom to get changed. Matsuri knew that her attire wouldn't save her from condemnation but, a faint smile tingled her lips, if she was going down, she could at least look good.

A couple of minutes later she was standing in front of the body sized mirror examining her clothing with a critical gaze. She'd replaced her the usual plain pullover with a sleek silk shirt in a soft tone of green tea. The shirt was one she has bought herself as a gift in the event of Gaara's crowning but she had never gotten to wear it. She had waited for an opportunity to wear it while being with her mentor. Matsuri clenched her fist on top of her heart, concealing the head of a dark purple dragon, it's body drenched over her left shoulder and ending in a tail on her lower back. To compliment the shirt the rest of her clothes were simple yet tasteful – a pair of light gray tights covered by a short and cox-gray miniskirt. Matsuri let out a satisfied grunt. Not too bad, she thought to herself before she headed out, scroll in hand. It was time to find out exactly where she stood with the Kazekage.

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