Chapter 10

Rachaeru…

After all this time…

GG44: Well this is the chapter where we meet two extra characters that just so happen to be two of my best friends! So… I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Gaara: yes, this one should be good.

GG44: umm…yes it should…

Rachaeru: I can be inn this one right!

GG44: sigh…yes, you can….

Rachaeru: yayz!

Sam: am I in it too?

GG44: yeah and Kaituren and Kiba.

Kiba: yeah come on Aka!

Aka: arf!

GG44 & Rachaeru: let's get started! ^^

Temari and Kankuro had decided to go ahead and go back to the rooms, while Gaara and I went on ahead. I enjoyed the Leaf Village… its architecture was amazing.

Gaara continued his silent treatment as he walked alongside me.

"So, it's nice here isn't it?" "…" "You aren't going to talk to me then?" he remained silent.

It didn't bother me much since; I had other things to listen to.

"Well, what do you want to do now?" "Won't you just shut up already?" "Oh, come on. All you do is complain and scowl at me. Give me a break. I am trying my best." "Your best is apparently not good enough." "Like I am to you?" "!…"He became silent and lowered his head. I regretted the words that slipped so suddenly.

I smiled, though it was a fake, it was surely better than nothing.

"Gaara?" "…" "Why do you insist on acting the way you do? It isn't going to attract friends if that's what you are trying to do…" "I am alone. No one has ever cared about me. How should you be any different? All you have done is lie and deceive me. I am unloved. Who are you to say otherwise? You have no idea of the pain. Pain…it is a confusing word. Love…is just as worse…" "…"

What could I say to that? I was silenced instantly. Though, I understood the pain and loneliness of having no parents, I did not understand what it is to be hated so violently that your own father tried to kill you.

G-Gaara…I am sorry… and I am also sorry…that I have no nerve to say it to your face. I just can't work it up.

I continued to walk beside him as silent as he was, deep in thought. I felt horrible for him but, deep inside the hate, pity and depression, I had nothing but ultimate respect for him.

"*!* Gaara! Your right!"

He looked up just in time to face his sand, which, inches away through the sand was, a red headed girl's foot. "*!* What the fuck!" she jumped from the sand, did a back flip and landed in the tree limb. "You… who are you two and what are you doing here? Most ninja… they travel in squads, where's the rest of yours?"

I scowled at her and defensively stood at the ready. "We are shinobi of the Hidden Sand. We are here for the chunin exam. We don't want any trouble."

She loosened up and jumped from the tree.

Her hair was parted to the left from my view and was a beautiful dark red. Her bangs also included dark streaks. Her eyes were blue like the Uchiha's eyes and they were dark like mine. She wore a black, strapless shirt and had on black cargo jeans that buttoned up near the ankle, so they wouldn't drag. She also wore her head band around her neck like Temari and she had on black fingerless gloves that came up to her elbows.

"Ok then. If you say so. You look familiar though. What's your name?" "Biritani Uchiha. I am a shinobi of the Sand." "Yes I can see that… Biritani…I remember playing with a girl that had your name…"

"Can I at least get yours?" "Oh, yeah…Rachaeru Uchiha… of the Uchiha clan, Bitch." "Ha ha… ha ha… very funny. Now…I know who you are. Nice to see you. Kiba said that you were on a mission. Why are you here?" "I got back early and plus… um well, he's kind of a little clingy. He also gets all worked up about me going out and talking to other guys because he thinks they are going to try to take me away…" "Ugh, too clingy." she turned her curious gaze to Gaara. "So, who is this red headed wonder?"

I swear, after she said that, I heard a tea kettle. "Um…heh heh, this is Gaara. Gaara, this is Rachaeru. By the way, let bygones be bygones and lets NOT! Kill each other today…" "…" he only glared.

"Sheesh, touchy, touchy." "Rachaeru! Quit pissing him off!"

"Aww, I think someone needs to teach The Love Doctor a lesson." she swung her fist and it went strait into sand.

"You idiot. Don't you learn from the first time?" "Hey! I just forgot! Give me a break!" "You don't get breaks when you act like an idiot!"

She smiled brightly and looked back at Gaara. "Hey. Um… can you let me go now?" "!" he dropped her and fell to his knees, clutching the scar on his forehead.

"Hey, is something wrong with him?" "I don't know!" I instantly felt a painful flash of worry.

Gaara…

I tried to run toward him but, my attempt was thwarted when the sand skidded in front of him.

He grunted and groaned at the pain under his scar. Sand flew every where, mercilessly. "Gaara! Stop! Please!" I then used my flash step to appear in front of him.

I grabbed his strap and sash and desperately clung to him. The sand stung my cheeks and made clean, thin cuts along my neck and chest.

"You have to… you have to stop…" my voice turned to a whisper and I dropped my arms to my sides. Yet, something inside of me screamed to hold him in my arms. To stroke his red locks that made the term 'messy' look perfect. He sat staring at me for a while before lowering his head and standing up. "Go." "Gaara…" I asked in a pleading sort of way, that didn't have to sound like a question to be one.

"I am fine. Now leave me alone. Don't talk to me."

I nodded. Obeying his harsh words like a desperate puppy.

I followed Rachaeru but, achingly wanted to go back to Gaara and not just leave him there like that. I knew he was stronger than that. So I knew that he would not succumb to anything or anyone. I at least didn't need to worry about him being murdered but, it was his medical condition and personal health that concerned me the most. He wasn't doing well and I could see that the pain in his eyes only got even more intense.

"…Biritani? Hello, Biritani Uchiha? Are you in there?" I instantly snapped back into reality. I was apparently at Rachaeru's apartment. She invited me in and offered me a seat.

"So, it has been a long time…" "Indeed it has old friend." "Hey!" "Sam! I told you to stay!" "No! I wanted to see too!" Rachaeru sighed dramatically with her palm to her forehead. "Biritani. Do ya recognize her?" "Um….nope. I kind of do but, not really." "Ok." she let her red hair swing back behind her as she cocked an eyebrow at me. "This is Sam. It's only a code name though." "Why can't we know her real name?" "It must be hidden. She has to keep it in code. Even though you are you are her friend, you cannot know her name yet." "Oh, um…ok. Sam, right?" she smiled sincerely and cocked her head to the side innocently. "Yes. That's it." her expression became serious again as she took a seat at the table.

"Nice to meet you. Or meet you again. Whichever works?" "Hm. Yes. Whichever works." she nodded as she turned her attention to the window. She seemed troubled. Almost dead at that moment. Like an ANBU Black Ops agent. An old friend of mine and my father were ANBU. That was how I got to this village in the first place.

"Hey you guys." said the girl I recognized as Kaituren. She had long blond hair opposite from Sam's black hair. Her eyes glowed neon green and she had one fang lazily penetrated her lips. "Hm? Who is she?" she cocked her head to the side as she examined me. "You are a Sand shinobi. Biritani Uchiha right?" "Yeah, how'd you know?" "You smell like dog." "You're a cat! You shouldn't have an adequate sense like that!" "You don't need sharp smell to sniff out wet dog on you." she smirked.

Humph, always leave it to her to break up the awesomeness of my appearance by saying that I stink.

She noticed my irritation and snickered. I put up my fist. "I will throw water on you so help me-" then I felt to arms wrap around me. "Long time no see!" "Kiba! Kiba Inuzuka!" "Yup that's me!" I smiled wickedly. "I knew you would get together…" "*0/0* Hey I-it's not like that!" "Oh, sure. At least you like her." he growled angrily at me.

Ah it feels great to piss him off.

"Well, as much as I loved this friendly re union. I have to get going." "Yeah ok." said Rachaeru, acing as if she didn't care and went back to cleaning her knives. "Seeya!" said Sam gently almost as if she didn't want to break the eager silence. "Yeah, good luck with that Gaara kid. From what I have heard, he's a lot of work." said Kaituren. Kiba only waved and I walked out the door and into the slightly lit night.

As I walked back to the apartment, I walked by the place I had left Gaara and sure enough, he was there. But he didn't look good. I ran up to him. "Gaara! Gaara? You alright?" he ignored me and stared at the ground.

I rested a hand on his shoulder. Gaara? Is he ok? I cant tell if he's breathing by the position he's in.

I attempted to move him but the sand caught my wrist. I didn't know whether to think, Oh shit or Oh thank god he's ok. I dunno. I was leaning more towards…Oh shit.

Instead of flinching back, I only clutched his shoulder tighter and gave him and easy offer that he could not refuse. "You let go of me and I let go of you. That simple and the best part is, no one gets hurt." I smiled mockingly and before you knew it the sand was back inside the gourd. As I promised, I removed my hand but, the awkward presence of his body heat still lingered on my palm. I felt my insides scream touch him. Feel him. Wrap your arms around him…call him yours.

I couldn't listen to that voice now. As much as I wanted to listen, I ignored it.

We walked home, peacefully. Without a sound. Without a word. Only the sound of our breathing and the tak of our zori against the ground.

FAST FORWARD

The moon. Its beautiful rays shine down onto my face unforgiving. Filling my mind with the type of peace I did not desire. Thought of him. It sounds like a child's crush. I thought about him nonstop. Everything was about him. I loved him. Again.

He hurt me and I still love him? How is it possible? I don't understand…he's rude hateful and has no thought about me. But everything about me was given to him and thrown away.

My soul lurched, twisting my stomach with all the vile thoughts of what we were going to have to do on this mission. Women and children included? That wasn't right to me and it never will be.

"We always fought for our own. Protected our own. Care about our own, yet, we must push everyone else away and hate them. I did not understand and I never will." with that I drifted into a dream about Gaara. Him. The one I can never stop thinking about.

GG44: awwww. That was sweet."

Gaara: yeah of you… I don't hate you and im not that rude and inconsiderate.

GG44: you were back then Gaara. Don't argue with me.

Gaara: ok fine. Any way, next chapter is of the first test of the chunin exam. Deal with it.

GG44: silence! I keel u!

Gaara:… on to the next chapter…..when it comes out if it isn't out already.