Wow, sorry this took so long guys, i had a really hard time writing this. Idk what happened but it went from being, nice, fun in the sun and sand, something not as pleasant.

Anywho, read, enjoy, have feelings and for god's sake let me know what you guys think.


Chapter Eight

Temari was concerned. It had been over three months since the chunnin exams, thing in the village were starting to calm down . After Konoha accepted another alliance team Baki had been deployed to help retrieve Uchiha Sasuke. Despite her anxiety about Gaara being back in the field, he had handled things remarkably well. He had been calm and collected the entire trip, and even when fighting he hadn't lost his head. It was almost scary how calm her little brother was. But scary in a good way, if that was even possible.

Even though the mission, and surprisingly all their other missions, had gone so well; the new development seemed like way too much.

Gaara had decided to join a normal gennin team.

Those idiots on the other team would probably die before they knew what hit them. Even Kunkuro and her had gotten used to sleeping with one eye open around Gaara on missions. It had been a miracle that Gaara had even agreed to work with them. Even with his new attitude improvement, the ninja on the other team may not feel the same way.

When the fan user had expressed her concerns to Kunkuro however he had simply waved her off saying it would be fine, and that Gaara could handle it. Apparently they had some kind of deep 'manly' conversation that she wouldn't understand. Temari had promptly shown the puppeteer how much she didn't understand, after which he began calling her a girly man-beast. Things had gotten out of control from there.

Temari sighed and continued to make breakfast. Since they no longer had any servants it fell to the oldest, and only girl, out of the sibling to prepare meals. She was rubbish at cooking, and Kunkuro always complained but food was food. Gaara was eating with them more often these days, but most mornings he didn't show. She figured his sense of breakfast was different from other people since he didn't sleep. She wasn't particularly expecting him to show that morning.

Which was why she was so surprised when he did. She was just finishing up when he walked through the door and casually took a seat at the table. It still creeped her out when he showed up so silently. It also gave her the wiggins to be alone in a room with him, less so than before, but it was still a nagging feeling.

"Good morning Gaara" She said plaintively, setting a plate of food before him.

He made a "hn" sound as if to say "whats so great about it?" before beginning to eat.

She sighed again, before getting another plate ready for Kunkuro. He showed up a minute later and all but shoveled the food into his mouth, all the while complaining about her cooking skills. That was, before she slammed her fist into the top of his head.

It was unusually quite for a few minutes, mostly due to the presence of Gaara.

"So Gaara, are you seeing Isakso-chan today?" Teamri tried to ask casually.

Kunkuro almost choked on his food, while Gaara stared blankly for a few moments.

"It is a possibility." He said after a moment.

Kunkuro who had finally managed to clear his airway chimed in, "You mean that weird chick who gave Gaara tea?"

"Yeah, that's the one."

"Why the hell would Gaara and her be hanging out?" He questioned with incredulous raise of his eyebrows.

Both sibling turned towards the red head expectantly. If he was more accustomed to facial expression he would look alarmed at the sudden attention. The only thing he managed was slight confusion.

His forehead furrowed in thought and his eye narrowed momentarily. The sand sibling thought her wasn't going to answer their questioning looks when the silence stretched on for a long while.

Finally he spoke, "She say's that... we are friends."

It took physical effort for Temari's jaw not to drop to the floor. Kunkuro didn't even attempt to control his facial expression. Before she could inwardly compose herself Kunkuro whistled lowly.

"Girls got some guts. OW!" Temari had hit him over the head.

Before his siblings could start bickering agai,n or ask him anymore questions, Gaara decided it was time to leave. He didn't have anything particularly important to do until later in the day, but he was unaccustomed to staying in the house any longer than was necessary. He rose from the table and only stopped to strap on his gourd before heading out into the bright beating sun.

"Baka! you scared him off!" was he last thing he heard before closing the front door. He tentatively understood Temari and Kunkuro's relationship, it was a bit brutal but he could tell they loved each other. They had even seemed more comfortable around him, staying in the room longer, engaging in conversation. All the things he had taken for granted and pushed away before. He stopped outside his doorway for a moment letting the sun warm his face and the wind ruffle his hair for a moment, simply enjoying the sensation, before moving towards the old training field.

Despite how irritating his siblings were, they were right, Isakso had guts for hanging out with him. And not only because he was dangerous. He had begun to notice some of the villagers giving her the same cold, hateful stares usually reserved for him. It was unnerving, and made him oddly protective. He had even taken to following her home from the rooftops to make sure she was safe.

He would probably do the same tonight if he got done with whatever he had to do. Maybe stop by the shop if he had time. He finally made his way to the field and as always it was deserted. He stopped low for a moment and picked up a handful of sand, letting it fall through his fingers before straightening up.

He had spent a lot of time here when he was training over the years. Even when he had been put on a team with his siblings and Baki, he had preferred to train alone. If he ever spared with his siblings he tried killing them frequently. The only reason they survived spares most of the time was because of Baki's interference. He hadn't cared if they died, he only saw them as useless lumps of flesh connected by hatred. He had been wrong, he could see that now, and was even begging to think of them as precious people.

Now, he trained alone for a different purpose. He needed to become strong to protect his precious people, Temari, Kunkuro. . .Isakso. He needed to gain acceptance from the village, to protect them. He needed to become Kazekage. It wasn't a decision he had come to easily, but after long deliberation he had decided that it was the best course of action for acceptance and change. Gaara wasn't the only one who needed to change, the village was rotten, corrupted by the council, his father, and Orochimaru. He couldn't change himself and leave Suna to rot. Even though he had hated this place, it was where he was from, what had caused his hatred, as much a part of him as Shukaku was.

Gaara took a deep calming breath and stretched his arms out before him, palms towards the sand. As the air left his lungs the sand around his feet rippled outward in circular pattens. This continued in time with his breathing. As his breath began to even out the sand around his feet spread out farther and began to from constantly shifting patterns. It was like art, beautiful to anyone who didn't know what that sand could do. If any civilian or shinobi from Suna saw this they would either be utterly confused, or running for the hills.

After his breathing as steady and heart rate slow, Gaara released the pent up energy in the sand. He brought it up with hs hands and launched it at the various stone pillars in a move that would have buried any foe alive. The exercise continued with volleys of attacks ranging from clones, to sand bullets, to sand coffins. The training field landscape was constantly being reshaped to his will over the course of the next two hours.

Gaara sensed the presence of ANBU at one point but refused to acknowledge them. They were most likely there to check on why he was expelling so much chakra. There was only one this time; when he had first gotten back from Konoha he had begun training seriously, and swarms of ANBU had come in alarm. This was a normal occurrence by now but the lone ANBU was still on alert in case Gaara should decide to attack. The amount of chakra expelled was nothing to the young junchuriki, Shukaku was constantly feeding him a stream of energy and he could have gone on longer if his smaller body could keep up.

He collapsed on the ground, using his arms behind him to keep propped up. The ANBU was long gone, having seen that Gaara was just training and not viciously murdering anyone. There was a new presence and she was making her way towards him leisurely.

Her small frame lowered into the sand next to him and was quite for a moment before a water bottle was placed under his nose.

"Water?" Even though he wasn't looking at her, Gaara could practically hear the smile in her voice.

He took the bottle gratefully and just held it in his hand for a moment before taking a drink. No one had ever offered him water after training, it was a small act of friendship that seemed so to big to him.

After she watched him take large gulp she spoke again, " That was pretty amazing you know! I was only there for a few minutes but i have never seen anything like it." She flashed Gaara a smile again.

"What are you doing here?" He questioned, choosing to ignore the nagging pride that seemed to swell at her praise.

"Oh!, I was just taking a walk. I have a little while before work and I didn't really have anything to do, so i figured might as well get out of the house. Then i saw you and figured you would like some water after training so hard. " Was her response. What she didn't tell him, was that she had been up for a long while, and had been having dreams that made her afraid to got to sleep, hard to stay asleep.

Her hand that was resting next to his moved so that their fingers were intertwined. It was a normal occurrence at this point. Ever since she had dragged him along out of the dango shop by the hand she had felt free to grab it in her whenever she felt like. Gaara didn't mind, even though he was unused to most physical contact, he couldn't deny that it was nice.

"Why?" He finally looked over at her, his eyes were narrowed and inquisitive.

"Why what?" She asked back, tilting her head in confusion.

"Why would you care if i wanted water after training?" He clarified once again.

"Oh, um well, that's what friends do isn't it? Take care of someone after they have worked so hard?" If Gaara had any less control over his facial movements his surprise would have been clear.

Iskaso couldn't possibly know that those were the exact words he had wanted to hear. That, that was a small essential piece of what he was working towards with the village. He swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded slightly showing he understood.

That seemed like enough for Isakso who smiled at him brightly before moving on to another topic. "So what are you doing today?"

His eyes narrowed again, not in confusion or surprise, but in concern and irritation.

"I am meeting with my new team today." he admitted finally. By joining a new genin team he would be closer to his goal of Kazkage. Staying with his siblings only hindered his progress of changing the villages views of him. If he could be accepted by his fellow shinobi it would be easier for them to eventually call him their leader.

"That's good isn't it?" She asked hesitantly, reading the irritation in his expression.

"Hn" It was necessary, but he knew what they would think. They would hate him, think he was still a monster. And it wasn't af if he had changed over night, he still felt like a monster sometimes. Still felt the incredible need to spill rivers of blood. Felt boiling hatred towards everyone who looked at him with contempt. The difference was that he was trying to change, to control himself, instead of just riding the wave of blood lust.

Hopefully with time they would see that.

"Hungry?" she asked suddenly, breaking him out of his thoughts.

Surprisingly he was, even though he had eaten just that morning. Training had really taken a lot out of him. He inclined his head in affirmation.

"Ok, i just got to go to the market, then we can go back to my place and i'll make us some food." She got up suddenly, bringing him with her by their connected hands. She released his hand as soon as they reached town, knowing that he was uncomfortable with the contact around other people. That was fine with her truthfully, it was like their own private secret and she liked the thought of that.

As they made their way through the market, Isakso made sure to ask what Gaara wanted to eat. This would be the first time she cooked for him privately and wanted to make sure it was good. Her culinary skills had improved drastically since Tama-san had let her start working in the kitchen. He had even talked about maybe expanding their menu. If that ever happened she would have some practice at least, she had taken to cooking for herself as a hobby and had been trying a lot of new recipes. But until this point it had only be for herself, Gaara would be the only other person she cooked for outside of work.

Gaara's taste in food was odd, she learned. She had all but grimaced when he said he had wanted to eat liver. As they walked around she picked up the ingredients for his meal while grabbing a couple of things for herself because she sure wasn't eating liver.

Most of the while Isakso was oblivious to the harsh stares, and coarse words they were receiving from the shop keepers and pedestrians. Gaara on the other hand, was not. He noticed every glare, every tensing of the muscles, and every harsh word. When they were aimed at him, he ignored it for the most part. He was used to it, even used to the urges that came with the stares. He was trying to ignore those too.

What he didn't expect was how much harder it was to ignore the urges when the glares were aimed at the girl by his side. He purposefully hung back while she did her shopping, feeling uncomfortable around the crowded market. She however did not notice, and continued to ask for his opinion on what types of food he preferred. She didn't notice his distance or the reason why.

Or if she did, she was hiding it very well. Wearing her normal smile, continuing being overly enthusiastic and optimistic, as if nothing bothered her. There was something wrong with that. There had to be. How could none of this bother her? The fact that it was men glaring at her should have some impact. He was well aware of how she felt about men, but at the moment it seemed as if she had no problem at all.

The feelings the welled up at the revelation made him want to intimidate her, corner her until she spilled her secrets. Until she dropped the fake face, and was honest. It reminded him of the day in the alley, after she had drug him off. He hadn't meant to get so close to her, but he had enjoyed watching her squirm at first, then something else had compelled him to get closer still. Something he couldn't identify.

The tattooed redhead was snapped out of his narrow eyed contemplation by a happy voice, "Gaara, do you prefer leeks of cucumbers?"

It was an odd question and threw him off to say the least. Why was he picking between the two? They were nothing alike. But the girl was holding them up at him expectantly, as if his opinion made all the difference.

"Hn" was his verbal reply, he gaze wandered over the leeks and Isakso picked up on the nonverbal message with ease.

"Leeks it is!. Just let me go pay for this." She wandered over to the owner of the cart and instantly Gaara could tell something was wrong. He shadowed the girl more closely, closing the distance he had been keeping from the shop. The owner had tensed upon Isakso's approach, and was about to do something Gaara was very familiar with.

AS Isakso set her purchases on the counter, she began digging in her loose fitting pant pockets for the appropriate change. The older man's nostrils flared, and he uttered one syllable.

"No"

"Pardon?"Isakso looked up from her rummaging in confusion.

" You're with him," he jerked his chin towards Gaara. Isakso's back went rigid. "Get out of my store, take your demon with you."

"But we haven't done anything wrong." Her voice was surprisingly steady.

"That thing was wrong from the moment it was born." He bravely turned his gaze towards the boy in question. Gaara's sand writhed at the look, at the words. This is why he had killed so many people. Trash like him. He wanted to kill him, Shukaku wanted to kill him. It was hard not to. To many past experiences, to many reflexes, to many emotions; all centered around killing, rage, and being rejected.

He took a deep breath, and tried his damnedest to rein in the bubbling blood lust.

But the man wasn't done.

"You're wrong. Do you know what he's done? I bet you wouldn't care. Too busy being the demons little whore." Isakso's back stiffened more, if at all possible. And her hands clenched reflexively.

"Get out of my shop!" He raised his hand as if to hit her. His hand didn't even get to it's downward stroke when his wrist was caught in a vice grip.

It wasn't sand that had the bone crushing hold, it was the hand of Sabaku no Gaara. A very angry Gaara. He was going to show this man why he was called a monster, give him a taste of exactly what he had done to all those other people. Except this would be worse he wouldn't kill this man with his sand.

No.

He would kill this man with his bare hands. He felt the bones of the mans wrist break, heard them. It as beautiful. Gaara wondered what his neck would sound like when it snapped under his hands.

He dragged the terrified man closer to him by the broken appendage and slowly lifted his other hand to the mans neck. So small, just flesh and bone, nothing human or worthwhile about this one. He was getting lost in the blood lust, but he was also lost in his own anger. How dare this man touch what was his.

He was startled out of his angry thought by a touch. It was soft, gentle, comforting. Gaara paused and looked down at the small hand that was touching his own, pleading that he release the man's wrist.

"Gaara, it's ok, really. You don't have to kill anyone for me. Not again." Gaara looked down at Isakso and saw that despite her steady words, tears were making tracks down her smooth cheeks.

He suddenly realized what he was doing. He was doing exactly what he hadn't wanted to do, hurting villagers, reverting back to his old ways, even scaring Isakso. He unceremoniously dropped the mans wrist and transferred his grip to Isakso's. The man promptly fell to the ground and a few village rushed to his aid. After all it wasn't every day that someone lived through an encounter with Gaara.

He swiftly turned, dragging Isakso with him. He ignored the crowed of villagers who had stood around to watch with looks ranging from contempt and hatred to outright fear. He moved past them, face blank, not letting anyone see how much he cared about the situation. He didn't even necessarily care about the man, he cared that he had almost destroyed himself by letting go. That Isakso almost saw it.

The girl in question was quiet, letting herself be led along, not protesting. She was probably afraid of him. Why wouldn't she be? He didn't know where he was taking her, somewhere away from the scene maybe. He didn't know he was confused. His pace began to slow and his grip slacken.

Suddenly he wasn't holding her hand anymore, she was holding his. Suddenly she was leading him, the direction they were going changed, and their path had certainty. She wasn't looking back at him but continued along with her head down. Eventually he recognized the route, he had followed her on it almost every night. They were going to her house.

She opened the door and held it open after her, waiting for him to enter after her. He paused at the threshold, unsure whether or not he should enter. Seeing his indecision she grabbed his hand and pulled him gently inside. She then closed the door and went to the kitchen, still quiet. Gaara stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, not sure what to do with himself.

"Are you still hungry?" Came the question from the other room.

Isakso listened for an answer that never came. She sighed and leaned her head briefly against the fridge. She wasn't sure what had happened. Gaara had suddenly gotten so angry, not that the guy at the shop didn't deserved it, but still. It scared her.

Gaara didn't scare her, it was the thought of violence. When he had killed the man in the hospital, she had been relieved, grateful even. She had been so happy that the man was dead, that he couldn't hurt her anymore. But what she had felt today had been different. She had wanted that man dead. And it scared her.

She had told Gaara to stop, but only because she knew that he was trying to be a better person, and she didn't want to spoil it. He was trying to be a better person while she was becoming worse. She knew that man would be in her dreams tonight, the dreams that she told no one about. Where she became worse, and worse.

She set about making food from the supplies she had managed to get before the incident. It wasn't much but with what she had at home it would do. She had to act normal, smile. If not for herself, for Gaara, so everything would seem normal.

He came into the kitchen a short while later and just stood at the doorway watching her. She didn't respond immediately, but eventually struck up a one way conversation that sounded light hearted and happy on the surface. When she did turn to look at him it was with a smile and food.

He ate quietly, it was robotic and without expression. He probably thought she hated him, was scared of him. She knew she had to make it better.

"It's ok you know." He actually looked up and made eye contact with her at that statement. She gulped and continued with a smile. "I'm not afraid of you, i was just...startled...but the man. The violence."

Gaara nodded in understanding, not commenting, he knew what she meant. He seemed to relax a bit, taking comfort in her words. He was looking at her hard, trying to decipher her expression, to see if she was lying to him. The only thing he noticed what that her smile got wider and if possible, her eyes grew more downcast.

The lunch was quiet after that, both parties caught up in their own thought, not willing to broach the subject further.


Ugh, i know what you guys are thinking "Why can't they just be happy for like one chapter?" Trust me i asked myself the same thing. I apparently just like to make my characters suffer. This was originally supposed to be a fluff chapter, some lovely lunch time with Gaara and Isakso, meeting Gaara's new teammates. But nope.

Sorry that's what i wrote folks. Hope you liked it anyway.

Leave me a little something to let me know what you thought. Improvements, comments, criticisms.