I can't help but abuse Gaara. It's too easy given his obviously weak mental stability. I've dragged this temple visit on long enough though. It's time to send the sand kids home so they can prepare for their journey to Konoha. Just a heads up for you guys, it does get a bit dirty at the end, but I've tried to put a funny twist on it because… well… it isn't time to get serious yet.

Chapter Seven



From around the corner, a couple of sneaky Apprentices had slipped away from their room and were silently observing the discussion. From where they stood, the only person they could actually see was Gaara. His face had just turned a rather unattractive – not to mention unmanly – shade of pink that clashed with his hair.

Aiko leaned close to her partner in crime and nudged her gently, pointing and giggling at the embarrassed boy's face. "Let's get closer," she whispered.

"We shouldn't be down here. Guardian Miu told us to stay in our room. We'll be in really big trouble if we get caught," Yumi warned her friend as she grasped at the older girl's sleeve.

"We'll be in really big trouble if you don't stop talking because that's the only way we'll get caught," came the witty retort of her companion.

Yumi nodded, but frowned before scurrying along behind her friend to yet another corner. This one was slightly closer and had a better view.

"The thing is…" said the woman from the village, "Gaara's social skills actually do suck. He doesn't dislike you and he wasn't acting out of forced pity…"

"Guardian Miu looks sad," Yumi muttered in a worried voice.

"Yeah."

Miu stood, looking thoughtful for a moment, still not meeting the eyes of anyone she stood with, except Temari. A long and uncomfortable silence settled in. Gaara appeared only a little relieved, ne made an effort to look as though he agreed. It looked somewhat ridiculous.

"He doesn't agree," Aiko said quietly.

"Yeah, he looks like he's holding back," Yumi added. She leaned past Aiko, trying to catch a better look, but ended up slipping. Her small figure making contact with the stone floor in the agonizing silence seemed to echo throughout the room.

"Yumi!" Miu exclaimed, "What are you doing out of your room?" She marched over to the fallen child and scooped her up. Her eyes easily found the other girl. "I see. Aiko. Explain. Why are you out of your room and in the corridor unsupervised?"

"I wanted to say goodbye to my boyfriend," she explained innocently.

"Why were you hiding? Why not just come right out and say goodbye?"

"You looked upset and I knew you'd get mad with us. Don't be mad with Yumi! I made her do it! Punish me! It's all my fault! I'm sorry!" She pled desperately.

Miu regarded her with an emotionless face for what felt like an eternity, than examined Yumi for any injuries. "Kankuro, may Aiko say her goodbyes?" Her voice was soft, barely audible.

"I… Yeah. I guess so," he answered, wincing under Temari's angry glare.

"I knew you'd want to see me again! Every moment away from you was like six thousand years of unbearable torture!" Aiko cried out as she rushed to Kankuro, wrapping her arms around his waist and holding on as tightly as she could. "Please say you'll take me with you! I will be the best wife ever!"

It was Kankuro's turn to blush. Well, it was assumed that he was blushing. It was hard to say beneath the face paint.

Everyone looked at him expectantly. As though he might actually explode and kill everyone within a twenty mile radius.

The actions he took instead were a pleasant surprise.

Kneeling down, to be eye level with his young admirer he said, "Aiko, I am flattered by your affection, but I am much too old for you. You deserve someone to grow old with, not someone who is already old." There was a weird look on his face and Gaara could see he was faking some kind of appreciation for the girl.

"I don't care how old you are! I love you! Age is just a number," she argued.

"Please, understand. I won't even be here for long…"

"Don't talk that way! If I take good care of you, you'll live forever and ever!"

"I didn't mean I was going to die," Kankuro sighed, his frustration starting to show, "I meant that we're leaving the temple now and then we're going to Konoha. I don't know if I'll ever see you again."

"I'd come visit you!"

"I," Kankuro stopped right away. He looked at his brother, grinning. "You'd need to find a Guardian to escort you back and forth all the time. I have duties in the village, so I couldn't do it."

"Guardian Miu would do it! I know she would, wouldn't you?"

With the eager child's eyes upon her, she could not say no. Whatever had brought on Kankuro's change of heart, she was unsure, but she could not deny Aiko.

"If and when the Kazekage and the Priestesses allow such a visit, I will bring you," she confirmed.

"See," Kankuro said to the gleefully smiling little girl, "All you have to do is make sure it's okay with a Priestess and you can come, because you are allowed to visit anytime."

Aiko squealed with delight and threw her arms around the neck of her crush. Shockingly, he awkwardly returned the gesture, hugging her with one arm very lightly about her small shoulders.

Temari tried not to laugh, while Gaara openly smirked. Miu seemed impressed and Yumi was smiling widely at the romantic success of her best friend. Suddenly, she realized the implications of Miu escorting Aiko to see her boyfriend.

"Then Guardian Miu could see Gaara whenever she takes Aiko!" she cheered, blissfully unaware of the discomfort she had just induced.

Miu looked faint and she quickly attempted to cover the girl's words with anything to distract from what had been more obvious than she could have wanted. "I'd also get to see Temari, she lives with Gaara and Kankuro."

"Well, let's go with them now!" Aiko exclaimed.

Kankuro pulled from her gently and stood, towering over her. Placing a hand on her head he looked to his siblings for help.

"You can't come right now. We have to go to Konoha and that's too far away to bring you, but we'll send a message when we get back and you can visit than," Temari told her.

Aiko did not look amused. She stared up at the sand-nin with a hint of contempt in her brown eyes. Reaching over her head, she took Kankuro's hand into her own and played with his pinky while she considered all that had been said.

"I guess that's okay…" Her voice hinted at oncoming tears.

"We promise. I promise," the war paint wearing ninja looked around, trying to find something to distract her before she cried. "Uhhh… Ummm… How about this?" He fished a container of his purple paint from his pocket. "Here, you can keep it."

"What is it?" Yumi asked as she slid out of Miu's arms to run over for a better look.

"Make-up!" Aiko declared proudly, sad thoughts having vanished at the sudden gift.

"Its war paint!" argued the man wearing it.

"Looks like make-up to me…" Yumi muttered. She looked up at the man and quirked a curious little brow.

"No. It's not make-up. Not if my Koibito says it isn't!" (Just a quick note, Koibito is a beloved person and the term is often used to refer to a boyfriend or girlfriend.)

Gaara muffled his chuckling with his hand, but beside him Temari was openly laughing. Their brother looked like he may have been wishing for death.

"Well, now that is done," Miu interrupted, "I'll take you all to the main gate. I wouldn't want you to travel at night, it's not safe."

"Yes, I wouldn't want you to be hurt," Aiko said, backing from Kankuro. She stood with Yumi and looked up at him with overly dramatic and pained eyes. "Though it kills me that we must part, I know it is for the best. I'll see you again soon my Koibito. I swear it!" She then cast her face into the younger girl's shoulder and sobbed.

"I'll send for you as soon as we get back," Kankuro promised. He actually looked quite concerned.

"Alright, now back to your room, please," Miu said, "I'll be up to check on you once our guests have left."

The girls both went without complaint or protest. Aiko gave one final longing glance before rushing up the stairs, Yumi's hand in hers.

"Glad that's over with," muttered the painted sand man.

"You handled that very well." Miu looked at him with a glimmer of respect. A moment passed and it vanished. "I suppose you didn't mean it though."

"I did. I'll send for her when we get back. She'll get over this once she gets to know me," he explained, batting his hand dismissively.

"Maybe. Come this way," Miu mumbled. She trudged onward to a familiar looking door and pulled it open. The two Guardians outside checked to see who was leaving.

"Thank you," Temari said, bowing low.

Gaara and Kankuro nodded, imitating their sister's gesture.

"It was my honour," said their escort and she too bowed. This perspective of her smooth flesh was tempting, too tempting.

Gaara groaned loudly.

They all took to staring at him.

"The sun is setting," he muttered.

"Then journey safe. May your business in Konoha go well. I pray you'll keep your promise, Kankuro." She looked at him again, concern on her face.

"I said I would and I will."

"I'm sorry. Thank you."

It was at this time, the sand siblings turned and walked away from the temple. If they had thought to look back, they would have caught Miu looking at them, Gaara in particular.

Gaara however was too busy being pestered by his brother to look back.

"I am the greatest brother in the world. I'm actually going to spend time with that kid just to get Miu to come see you," he boasted, "Plus, that face paint is expensive and that was a new jar. You better buy me a new one."

"I'm not buying you any make up," Gaara hissed. He was easily annoyed and Kankuro knew just which buttons to push.

"It's not make up!"

"Yeah Gaara, gee… Didn't you hear what his girlfriend said back there?" Temari snickered.

"She's not my girlfriend," grumbled the cranky hooded ninja.

"That's right. You were just flattered by her affection and felt you were too old," Temari continued.

"Of course, and she deserves someone to grow old with," Gaara joined.

Kankuro crossed his arms and mumbled to himself. Though the words were not audible to his siblings, they knew he was cursing and babbling about his hate for them and children.

Neither attempted to cheer him up, which made for a fairly quiet journey home.

After excusing himself to the bath, Gaara rested in a grand bathtub. The water was warm and soothed his tender skin of all its harsh exposure to the sun.

Mentally, he recounted the speech he had prepared and nearly memorized. They'd leave tomorrow for Konoha. He grinned as he thought of Kankuro contacting Aiko upon their return. Temari would be sure to force him to go through with it.

And with Aiko would come Miu.

His eyes closed, he imagined her walking into his room as he gave her a tour of the building. He could smell her perfume. His mind's eye envisioned her sitting upon his bed…

Half an hour later, he was out of the bath and in his room, sitting on his bed alone. Smiling despite the emptiness, he kicked off his slippers and pulled back the covers.

Once beneath the sheets he listened to the sounds of the never ending activity of the building. Outside his room a couple of maids shuffled by, talking rather loudly about the job they had just finished.

"I could hear what he was doing when I passed by the bath door in the hall," said the first voice.

Gaara blushed crimson.

"He's that loud?" a second voice.

"Yeah, I just sent for some help before stepping out of sight. Wouldn't want him to feel embarrassed if he seen me standing there, but I wanted to get a head start. That gunk can get really sticky if it isn't washed out right away," answered the first voice.

They continued talking, but he could no longer make out what was being said. He rolled over angrily. He was sure he'd rinsed the tub well enough for there to be no mess. Besides, was he really that loud?

"Stupid maids," he muttered.


Oh, that was fun and for the record, yes, he was doing exactly what your dirty mind thinks he was.

DLH