im gonna get down to the nitty-gritty. so, this is it. chapter 11.

Chapter 11: The Genin, Kashimicha Hasame

Hasame was incredibly smart when it came to remembering dates and which Kazekage was what, what year did something or something happen, and pretty much anything that came to history. She was always there on time and was practically the top student, but she had a downfall. She could not at all control her chakra. It was hopeless. The girl struggled when it came to making a clone, transforming, or molding her chakra.

"Why can't I do it?" she asked frustratedly, practicing outside the Academy one day. She was to transform into a family member, which she thought she could change into Temari easily, but would end up looking quite horrendous.

She tried over and over again until she was worn out completely. Lying flat on her back, panting, she wiped her face with the back of her hand.

'I hate this.' she grumbled silently. The girl slowly rose to her feet and made her way to the place she called home now.

Opening the door, she walked over to the living room, intending to have a nap on the couch, but saw Gaara sitting there already.

She groaned and Gaara looked at her.

"Er...Hi. Sorry, was wondering if I could just lie there..." she said exhaustedly. Gaara shifted to the end of the couch silently. Hasame nodded a thanks, flopped down and was fast asleep.

Gaara watched her sleep, and didn't make a move for what seemed like hours. Slowly though, he ran his fingers through her long hair that had fallen across his knees. It was almost like what it was at her house, when she knew nothing of shinobi and chakra and different villages. Before she knew she was not from her family that she had spent almost her whole life with.

She shifted in her sleep, rolled over on her side and placed a hand on his knee, then fell back asleep. Gaara couldn't help but soften his expression. The girl was so ignorant to her surroundings sometimes.

And the two stayed like that untill Kankurou walked in. He froze when he saw what was happening.

"Uh...care to explain?" he whispered, with a small grin on his painted face. Gaara shot him a glare.

"There's nothing to explain." His younger brother replied simply, but with such force that Kankurou backed out of the room silently, nodding his apologies.

Gaara smirked and returned to stroking her red tresses.

Hasame's eyes flickered and she opened her eyelids. She was facing the wall opposite her and realised she was alone. Sighing sadly, she sat up, but didn't get up from the couch.

'Why did he leave? Did I do something wrong?' She wondered, disapointed. The girl curled up on the end of the couch, bringing her knees to her chest.

'I don't understand him...He's been so cold ever since...Ever since he kissed me...' Thinking of that, she touched her bottom lip with her forefinger, remembering what it felt like. The feel of his lips on hers. It wasn't anyhing like she had dreamed of, it was strong and forceful. But she enjoyed it, nonetheless.

'Great kisser, that one.' she thought, grinning, dispite her small amount of sadness.

'I still don't know why he's acting this way...' Suddenly, she thought of something that made her almost choke. 'Maybe he regrets it! Maybe he wishes he'd never did that!'

Drowned in her own thoughts and worries, she never heard the slight creak of feet upon the wooden flooring.

"Hasame?" said a female voice, resting a hand on the girl's shoulder. Hasame jumped and looked to see who it was. Temari looked worried and sat down beside her.

"Is something the matter?" Hasame stared at her friend, then feeling the horrid burning behind her eyes, she willed herself not to cry. She looked away from the sand nin in an attempt to hide her now wet eyes and replied,

"No. I'm fine." But her voice broke when she said 'fine', giving her away.

"Come on, Hasame. Tell me what's wrong." Temari ushered her to talk, but Hasame worried if she did, she would cry all over the place. She shook her head forcefully and hiccuped.

"Fine. If you don't want to tell me.." Temari about to get up, knowing how to handle this girl. Hasame spun around in her seat and cried onto her shoulder. Smiling a bit, Temari knew she'd won.

"Now, what is it?" She asked for the third time.

"G-G-Gaara." Hasame managed to choke out, her shoulders trembling from her crying.

"What's wrong with him?"

"H-he k-keeps on ig-ignoring me. L-like I'm n-not even here!" The girl answered, not being able to keep her voice steady. Temari shushed her, trying to get her to calm down.

"He's b-been s-so cold to me. And I d-don't know why!" Hasame said again, then cried harder.

Temari just rubbed the girl's back. She did not know why either, especially after they had kissed, she and Kankurou had witnessed that.

Hasame's sobs turned to sniffles after some time.

"You going to be ok now?" Asked Temari, looking into the girls red and puffy eyes. She nodded and got up to get a tissue.

In the kitchen, Hasame leaned on the counter, tossing the dirty tissue in the garbage. She heaved a depressed sigh and hopped up on the counter. The girl sat there for quite some time. She was worried about a number of things now. Her knuckles cracked as she gripped the edge of the counter top. Hasame stared out the window for a while, ignored Temari when she walked in to go upstairs, oblivious to her surroundings. She sighed again and glanced at the clock. She was asleep for how many hours??

'God. I really should get to sleep. Heh...I just had a nap, yet I feel exhausted.' she said to herself, and lugged herself upstairs to her bedroom that was across from Gaara's. Staring at his door in pain, the girl turned and opened her own door.

Falling back on her bed, Hasame suddenly had the desire to take a shower. A bath sounded more inviting. Even though it was late, eleven pm more like, she really wanted to just relax for a while.

She walked into the bathroom to find that there was no bath tub.

"You have to go to the bath house a little ways into the village." said a voice behind her. Hasame jumped and spun around to see Gaara leaning against the door frame.

"Ah...um..." Hasame felt herself getting hot. "And...Where's this bath house?"

Gaara raised an eyebrow (metaphorically, you know). He turned away and was about to leave when he glanced over his shoulder. Realising she was supposed to follow, Hasame walked behind him, they stopped in her room so she could get what she needed.

xxxx

UP NEXT! The BATH HOUSE! duh duh duuuuh! lol. bye!