"Kayla, the Kazekage would like to see you in his room." Temari told me unwillingly. The relationship between Gaara and I had remained (for the time being) secret. Word of mouth is very easily spread. Kankuro might have talked to Gaara about the kiss. Someone may have overheard it. Who knows what will happen.

"I'll be right there."

"Now." She says.

"What's your problem?" I ask her. My eyes narrowing at her. Likely not my smartest move in the world. I want her on my side, not against me.

"It's you. Now just go already!" she rolled her eyes at me and left. We walked down the hallway, both going in separate directions. Which is lucky for me, I guess.

Not long after leaving Temari behind in the hall I arrive at Gaara's office. Not sure at why he wants to speak with me. I knock on the door. His low voice tells me to come in. So I do so. I close the wooden door behind me. Gaara's eyes look up at me. Emotionless.

"You have more meetings with the council." He says as he looks back to the papers on his desk. I nod. Acknowledging the reality of the reason I remain in the village. Gaara hands me a sheet that has times of the meetings. I scan through them. One on budget, one having to do with increasing the age for students to remain in the academy. Many other's line after line from top to bottom. However one stood out from the others. The very last meeting I was to have.

7:00 Meeting: Meet with Gaara for an outing

I look up from the paper. Knowing I had read the last meeting, he smiled at me. I smile back. He remained smiling as he looks back at the papers on his desk. Letting me attend the first meeting on the page. Which happens to be in five minutes. At the opposite side of the building. Thanks a lot Gaara.

"I'm not impressed!" I yell towards Gaara's office as I walk away.

"Didn't think you would be." He yells back. Slightly laughing.

"Welcome." A member fro the council welcomed the others. "Today, as most of you are aware, we will be discussing on if it would be beneficial for students in the academy to remain longer. For various reasons that will be discussed." The member sat down and the discussion began.

"Of all the things to be discussing at a moment like this." A member said as he leaned into the back of his chair.

"This is one of the most important times for this discussion." I say to the member.

"Meaning?" he brought himself back to a sitting position in the chair.

"Education is what helps a civilisation grow. Helps them learn and advance."

"Give me one reason why."

"I'll give you more than one. As many of you are well aware, I was not raised to fight for my country. I instead learnt about math, history, and the sciences. Nothing any of you would think is of value. However, it was of more value then ever thought possible. Education isn't something that ends. Just as learning never ends. There is, and always will be more to learn. Maybe skilled ninja learn about angles and such at an older age. When in fact the brain is either close, or has completed in maturity. When taught as a child the human brain remembers more. Just as they say, you can't teach old dogs new tricks. Meaning that they are unable to learn more as they age. It's just the same for humans. Why not keep children in school longer, learning more subjects? Such as math. History of the land and the other countries. Science and the reactions different substances make in when they come in contact with each other. Other languages. It also helps with the economy. The more educated citizens are the more money is made for both them and the country."

"We only have one language. All of the countries."

"Speech and languages change throughout time. Just as the earth does. The earth changes, the land. Making the same language turn, and form into something different over billions of years."

"You seem to know a lot about something that isn't even known by the villages."

"All due to the education I received."

"Although, it does seem a little far fetched that language changes that the earth changes."

"Yes, well it's a theory. A scientific theory."

"I still don't think that it's a good idea to extend the learning time."

"Why not? After hearing what Kayla has said. That it's due to education. Her knowledge is because she learnt more, while balancing learning how to fight. Why shouldn't we do it?" another member said.

"Well I'm not for it." The member from before said once more. I really wanted to call him a sour puss. But it's unprofessional. It sucks that I can't just say that without being judged. Sometimes I seriously hate this job.

"Gaara will also be keen about such a decision." Another said.

"Gaara is going to agree to it. And it's only because he's getting something out of her." The same member that had been testing my patience earlier said. Rendering the room silent, no one dared to speak. Every member sat frozen, they all slowly looked at me. Awaiting my reply to the member. I took a deep breath, getting ready for the other members to take his side. I rub the bridge of my nose. How unprofessional to be saying such a thing at a moment like this.

"In this profession such comments could render you without a job." I was sure to keep my clam. It's critical, with every eye of the council on me; I have to make sure I do this right. "There has been many times where I'm sure other members would wish to voice their thoughts on another member about how they are acting. However, they do not, knowing that such comments could prove to be unhelpful to them. I don't care what you think about me. But I don't go into your personal life. I don't go digging for reasons to hate you. I don't interfere with your personal life. It doesn't matter who I'm with, what I do or how I act. There is no valid reason for you to try and find personal information about my life, nor is it appropriate to be voicing such findings in a meeting that has to do with the country and the decisions made that may help it advance. From now on I'd prefer it if you stayed out of my personal life and do not voice such things at a time like this. If you wish to speak about it, speak to me privately. Not at a meeting when time is of importance. Such things as these do not need to be taking up the time provided." I leaned forward slightly on the desk. Glaring at the member. All eyes had turned to him, to hear what he has to say. He opened his mouth to speak, and then closed it. Thinking before he spoke.

"I don't need to find reasons to hate you. It's easy for me to hate you. Besides, you are dating Gaara, therefore his decisions will be clouded. He'll want to do what you want to keep you happy. Not decisions that is good for the nation."

"Where did you obtain such information?"

"Word of mouth."

"That is a very unreliable source." How could he have known? "Also, Gaara is his own person. He would make decisions that would be best for the nation. He wouldn't be one to make a decision due to the fact to keep someone happy. Everyone knows that it is impossible to make everyone happy. But from the decisions made, both good and bad outcomes become of it. No matter what the decision. Now, if you don't mind I have another meeting to attend. Thanks to you, we have used up all of our time. We will have to meet again for a time to vote." I stood up and walked out the door. As soon as I closed the door behind me I gave out a deep breath. That was much scarier than I had thought. Why of all the times must they always go about these subjects? Why is it every meeting I go to is similar to this one? Why?

"Can I come in?" a muffled voice asks from outside my door. I don't want to see anyone right now. Not even him.

"Can you come back later?" my voice muffled from the pillow. Was he able to hear what I said? The doorknob, it's moving, but I… he didn't hear me I guess.

"Are you okay Kayla?" I shake my head. Keeping my head deep in my pillow. The mattress drops slightly as weight is added on to the side. He's sitting on my bed. Why?

"Kayla?" his voice spoke. Why does his voice sound so good to my ear? Why? "Please, let me see your face." I shook my head. "Why?"

"Because I'm confused."

"Still?"

"Not about that. About this village…"

"What happened?"

"It's more of the question what hasn't happened."

"I can't hear you. Sit up please."

"Fine." I grumble as I make my way to a sitting positioning. Being sure to shield my face from his gaze.

"Look at me Kayla." His voice was calm, inviting, and sincere. "Kayla."

"Yeah?" I ask, only lifting my head slightly.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing."

"Now, I know that's a lie."

"It's just."

"Yes?"

"I don't feel like I belong here. At this village. Everyone is so against my presence here. So against any idea I give. They always bring up a topic relating to me and you. It seems as if I'm being judged because of my relations with you. Almost every meeting, more so than before. More and more council members are against me, thinking I am incapable of doing my job properly. I just feel like an outsider, as if I don't belong. Everyone hates me. You sister hates me; Kankuro barely talks to me anymore. I just feel so alone."

"Kayla, it's not like that. Not at all. Everyone in the village is wary when it comes to outsiders. They shun them, they even shun their own people. But they are good people. They will warm up to you, and they'll recognize the work you've done for this village. You spend a lot of your time working, working for them and what will benefit the village people, not just the elites and the nin. My sister, she doesn't trust you. She's not willing to let go of the past, she has experienced first hand what this village has done to me. What the outsiders have done. How they infiltrated this village. She's afraid of the village being torn, or me being hurt. She'll warm up. I'm sure of it. Kankuro's a whole other story."

"You're too smart." I look up at him, his beautiful emerald eyes, and his smile.

"I've had a lot of experiences in this sort amount of time I've lived. Do you want to stay here? Call off our meeting?"

"I want to stay here. But you don't have to leave."

"Okay. Then we'll stay in."

"You don't have to stay. I'm sure you're very busy and you ha-" the door opened.

"What is it?" Gaara asks the nin standing at my doorway. The nin looks at us, with worrying eyes.

"What is it?" I repeat Gaara's words with seriousness lacing my question. He just looked at me. Worry, very much so evident in his eyes. This is bad!

Side note!

Haha! Hello my pretties! How be-ith you? Yes, I am hyper. Yes, I have finished this chapter and yes, you will have to wait another one or two months before another one comes out. I'm actually very busy. Hope you like it! Knowing myself even though I've looked through this a billion times, there will be spelling mistakes. Or something just doesn't make sense to you but it does in my head. So I apologize on my horrible fate that is bad spelling. I hate it when I re-read it and I see a mistake. I cringe. It's short, I know, I'm sorry! Enough talking. Gotta go! Bye! Have fun!