A/this story doesn't seem to have much popularity..how unfortunate. =[)

A very flustered Emi Hitachi sat up in an unfamiliar bed. She looked up and examined her surroundings. She couldn't remember what had happened the night before….

She tried to stand up when a wave of sudden nausea hit her; she clutched her throbbing forehead. Her purple eyes were foggy as she looked around for something to stabilize her. She looked up when she heard a click, the door opened.

Her breath caught in her chest.

A half-naked-Gaara dressed in a pair of low-rise khaki pants was rubbing at his wet hair with a small towel. When he noticed she was awake, he smirked.

"Hn."

Her heart pounded in her chest, her amethyst eyes raked over his pale, opalescent chest. His skin was smooth, like marble; his muscles rippled sublimely as he continued to ruffle his crimson hair. Small tuffs of blood red hair stuck out behind his head as he continued to walk over and sat down in an empty chair.

She immediately flushed, her lips set into a small pout as she demanded,

"Where am I?"

He looked up at her and smirked.

"My apartment."

She looked shocked and a scowl formed on her pretty face.

"Why the hell am I here?"

He smirked again and casually stood up as he opened the nearby drawer and pulled a tight, black shirt over his head.

"Good question. You got drunk on sake in the middle of a ramen hut and I had to drag you back here." She blushed, a delicious poppy pink colored her cheekbones. His heart thudded.

She looked down and realized she was still wearing her sweater but her boots, gloves, and socks were missing.

"Where is the rest of my stuff?"

Gaara looked up as he hoisted his gourd over his shoulder and strapped on his boots. He motioned toward the door and stood up to leave when the memory suddenly flashed as she remembered her nightmare…and Gaara comforting her late at night. The tears, the pain, the unmistakable understanding she had felt when he looked into her eyes. Make it…groggy eyes. Another ache crept up and settled between her brows. She crumpled them, and found that it worsened the pain and sighed.

"Are we going to talk?" The scowling was gone and her voice was bland and reproachful. His eyes softened and then hardened into something that made her heart ache slightly. She knew what was coming. He did not want to remember. That, she could tell by the look on his face. Had it just been a dream within a nightmare?

"Hitachi san, are we not conversing now? I have some errands to run. I'll be back in an hour or two for school."

Rejection shot through her veins, making the blood pool high on her cheeks. She bit her full lip and nodded looking down at her bare feet as he turned around and she blurted,

"I didn't do anything…stupid…Did I?"

At the moment, his back was facing her and his pale face burned as he remembered the kiss from the night before.

No, it doesn't mean anything. She was drunk. And I was taken advantage of. Hn.

He shook his head slowly and continued on his way out of the apartment and slammed the door behind her. She glowered at the door and decided to take advantage of the fact she had a huge suite all to herself until school, which was in about two hours. She giggled in delight and decided to take a shower.

She opened the door and switched on the light, turned on the hot shower and closed the door. She carefully removed her clothing as she stepped into the hot water. She closed her eyes, and rested her forehead against the glass door.

What happened…?

Naruto understood me, my past. I thought Gaara did too… The steamy room suddenly turned cold.

She shook her head and stepped out as she turned the water off. She grabbed one of the towels and started to rub her long, brown hair.

She remembered how she had killed the men so mercilessly…as a child. Also, how the man severed off her hair. She subconsciously touched her hair as she looked into the mirror…

I'm safe here… Kakashi-sensei said so.

She took a deep breath.

Emi examined herself in the mirror, summing up that she was average.

Of course, she was wrong.

Her tan skin glowed from the hot shower she took, her hips curved out and in; the one thing she took pride in was her hips. Now hips she had.

She glanced at the clock on the wall, and realized there was time to make breakfast. She redressed and left the bathroom, trying to ignore the sense of unease she had felt a few moments before.

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A frustrated Gaara fumbled for his keys and dropped them suddenly when the door flew open. He dropped his bag of groceries.

"Shit…" He looked up and stopped.

A lithe brunette looked at him with slight amusement; she was dressed in an over-sized white shirt that stopped above her thighs and a pair of very short shorts. His face burned as he realized he was staring at her legs; her tan skin seemed to glow under the lights and her eyes were just as unreal as he had remembered.

He grabbed his keys and stood up. He grunted.

"Good morning." She looked at him, scoffing slightly.

"It was until now."

He rolled his eyes in annoyance and stepped into the apartment.

"Did you eat?" She nodded and smirked slightly as he looked down at his now-destroyed-kitchen.

Food was everywhere, all over the walls and even on the stove. He wondered how it didn't get on her clothes or her hair.

Her hair…

Subconsciously, he reached out and stroked her hair and let his fingers run though it, before realizing what he had done and quickly snapped his hand back. She looked up at him, surprised.

Why wasn't she furious?

She frowned slightly and spoke.

"If that's all… mata-ne!"

With that, she pulled on her gloves and her boots and left the apartment…

Gaara was still frozen, he stared at his hand. Hesitantly, he grabbed his bag and slung it effortlessly over his broad shoulders.

He grumbled as he left his destroyed apartment, and pondered on what he had just done.

A glowing Emi Hitachi bounced down the street of Konoha; and of course, brought every male's attention toward her. It was hardly their fault, they are human.

But who couldn't stare at her in awe? She radiated a glow within her and her lilac eyes sparkled every time she caught someone looking at her; she smiled effortlessly.

Of course…leaving the person red-faced and embarrassed.

Suddenly the beaming happiness stopped.

She grabbed her stomach as she felt the contents of her breakfast come back up and she sprinted for the closet alley. She had barely made it in time before she threw it all up, and grimaced as she wiped at her mouth. She tucked her glossy hair behind her ear and wondered; why am I throwing up? Was it the food? She shook her head; she had checked the expiration dates. My hangover?! She cursed slightly under her breath for her consumption of alcohol and decided to grab something to soothe it- maybe some tea. Emi wiped her mouth on the back of her hand and rubbed it on her shorts she wore under her sweater dress the day before. She scrunched up her brows as she remembered the look in his eyes as he ran his fingers through her hair that awkward morning. She recalled the incident, the dream within the nightmare. He held her, he comforted her.

Almost running into someone, she quickly apologized and tucked her loose locks behind her ear and was stunned that it was that blond girl from her homeroom. She smiled brightly and said,

"Hi! Aren't you in Kakashi-sensei's class with me? What's your name? I'm new so, I don't really know." Her tone was sincere, her eyes sparkling and her words exuded friendliness. That was why she could not understand the cold, ice eyes that penetrated her warm, lilac ones. Immediately she was slightly taken back but stood her ground when the girl replied icily,

"You, you're Emi Hitachi. I've been looking for you." Her words were bland, but she detected the underlying menace in her tone. She knew right away that whoever she was, this was not going to go down well.

"And, what is it that you need?" Her voice immediately took on a regal tone and the blonde grit her teeth.

"Well, I'm Ino Yamanaka, and I'm here to personally challenge you. You," her voice rose as she jabbed one of her fingers at Emi. "Went to Gaara-san's house last night. You got drunk on sake last night. You, Emi Hitachi of the great Hitachi plan, failed to uphold her family name. You are my first official rival." The haughty blonde grew red in the cheeks as she glared at Emi Hitachi. Emi only felt amusement; however her blood boiled about the comments Ino made on her family and last night.

"My family," She spat the words at Ino, "Is none of your business. My family name, I assure you is much more powerful then yours. Last night? An honest mistake. Gaara was simply being polite. And you, what business do you have with me?" Her violet eyes were fueled with anger and disgust as she looked Ino up and down.

"I have no desire to have such a lowly enemy. An enemy that comes up to a stranger, proclaims that she is their rival just because she is just a tad bit to nosy….I don't think so." Ino was slightly taken back, the words stung like a fresh wound that one would receive in battle. Emi turned and started to walk away when Ino yelled in her direction,

"Then may I ask, what business do you have with Gaara-san? Are you his whore?" The people passing by stopped and immediately recognized the tension. A small clearing appeared, and only Ino and Emi were standing in it. Emi's back was facing to her, but her fists were tightening, the muscles in her arms started to flex. She wants a fight? I'll give you a fight! Emi briskly turned and sprinted so quickly that Ino had no time to react as she felt an immense amount of force knock her into her gut. Crumpled on the floor, Ino coughed and spat the blood on the dirt ground and looked up.

Emi was furious, her violet eyes darkened considerably and an enormous amount of chakra flared up around her arms. Ino eyes widened at the amount, as she felt her sides heave from the damage that was caused to her abdomen. Ino struggled to get up but never took her eyes off of Emi. It was horrifying, the immense amount of power that seemed to seep out of her lithe figure. Her glossy brown hair was being whipped around her face, and Ino could feel that this would not be easily solved. They had sent her to complete a mission. She was here to do it. She widened her stance.

All Emi could feel was anger and it reddened her vision; her eyes immediately detected the slight flexing in Ino's legs and swerved to the side. Ino had charged at her with full speed, but missed completely. Now, Ino ran at her, her fists up and ready to pound Emi's body when she suddenly flew up into the air and was held up with….sand?

"Put me down! Agh! PUT ME DOWN!" She screamed and flailed uselessly. It was Gaara. She immediately blushed; Ino looked down and could not believe what she saw. Gaara was talking to Emi. She strained to hear their conversation.

"….Emi, you've turned the middle of a street into a battle zone. Give it up; she's not worth the waste of chakra." The sand floated around him though, he and it could sense the chakra that was flowing out of Emi's quivering body. She still stared at him, her eyes even Ino could tell from here, were almost…murderous. She shivered coldly and squealed when the sand tightened around her. He reached out with the sand to touch her but the immediate sound of sand meeting chakra sizzled and bounced off the walls of the nearby buildings and huts. His gorgeous face, Ino noted, grew impassive but she could sense of pleading.

Gaara-san pleading…? No way. This can NOT be happening….Ino muttered to herself and Gaara spoke sharply,

"Shut up, Ino."

She rolled her eyes and pretended that the harsh words had no effect on her. But they stung. The sand stung her eyes and the smell of blood that came off the sand filled her nose…

"Hitachi-san, please…" His voice trailed off. Suddenly the blazing chakra diminished and her usual lilac eyes were once again bright…but slightly glassy. She flushed when she made eye contact with Gaara. He was on his way to school, that she could tell. He looked up at Ino and withdrew the sand and looked away; a loud thump indicated she had landed on her rump on the ground. Emi glared at her slightly, the previous glassy look on her eyes diminished as she grabbed her discarded bag and turned swiftly on the ball of her foot. Gaara drew the surrounding sand back in the giant gourd and closed it. He propped it up on his shoulder and followed her steps. The crowd started to diminish and Ino was left on the ground by herself, moaning and complaining about the pain. But the smell of the blood tainting the sand that held her suspended in the air haunted her…where did the smell come from? Suddenly, the guy she dreamt and doodled about took on a much more serious edge.

She swore that she would have her revenge….

Emi Hitachi rubbed her arms as she walked briskly down the dirt path that headed toward the academy. She sensed Gaara following quickly behind, his breathing even and not one drop of sweat rolled down his perfect face. Emi stopped abruptly, and he slowed and stopped slightly ahead of her.

"Why do you pretend?" Her eyes were blazing, and she bit out the words that she had been dying to ask him from the day they had met. He looked at her, flustered and slightly frustrated. Her words pierced through his usual cool reserve and he turned to face her.

"I know…Gaara-san, I know how it feels. I know your loneliness…." He shook his head, his crimson hair glinted in the sun, turning it a brilliant ruby.

"No. Hitachi-san, do not act like you understand. Let it go." Her eyes widened at his bitter reply and she shook her head, her eyes pleaded him as she said,

"Don't…" He laughed coldly,

"Don't what?" She opened her mouth to say something but could not find the right words.

"Leave me be." He turned and walked away from Emi, and her lilac eyes stared at the back of his porcelain neck. Tears formed in her eyes; however she would not let them spill. No. Never…

Emi stormed into class and as usual, caught the attention of everyone. Including Kakashi; he cocked a silver brow at her and she just stared blankly at the wall. As if right on cue, Gaara walked in but his once flawless face was distorted with anger. Kakashi now was really intrigued…what had this duo so fired up? He looked up to see the secretary hand him a note, he quickly thanked her and read:

Ino Yamanaka is being hospitalized and will return to school the next week. She is suffering from a few bruised ribs and muscle trauma in her abdomen. She is not telling us what happened…but sources say there was some sort of altercation early this morning outside on the street.

He folded the note and sighed. His suspicions were confirmed- Emi had finally found a fight. He looked at the two teenagers who sat at the same desk, but did not even do much as glance at each other. Girls whispered and passed notes to Emi- to the fact that they piled up and spilled over her desk. Oops?

As soon as the bell rung, she zipped out of class and sat at the bench outside in the nearby park. She had been so foolish to trust him. But yet, she still yearned to stroke his face and to look into his sea-green eyes….but what the hell was she saying anyway?!

"Emi-chan! How about shopping?" She looked up to see Sakura, a friendly pink-headed girl with large green eyes. She smiled and held out her hand. Emi smiled back, she felt so down- a little shopping couldn't help…right?

"Sure…Sakura, right? Thanks for the offer." Sakura nodded as they both started to walk to the exit when she noticed Gaara leaning against a pole…with at least half a dozen of girls surrounding him. Some were cooing and others were down right flirting. Half of them weren't decently dressed. Anger pooled in her stomach, the pit deepened when he laughed coolly and all the girls sighed as they admired him. He looked straight at her, his intense eyes challenged her. She stared coldly back, not waiting for him to make a move; she glanced away quickly and didn't look back.

They chatted for a bit before they headed toward the crowded district was filled with tons of people. Emi grinned; she hadn't been shopping in a while. Sakura spoke,

"Did you know? The mid-autumn festival is coming up and it's going to be huge! Pretty dresses, good looking boys, traditions, and really great food; everybody is going including ninjas who don't go to the Academy. Fun right?" She squealed in excitement. Emi smiled and suddenly smirked as an idea started to form in her head….

Enjoy! Review!

Xooxoxo

Ashleyy