Matsuri Pov

Gaara finally arrives to my apartment some time after 1am. I greeted him with a hug and kiss on the cheek. He remained silent as we sat together on the sofa. I stared absently at his handsome features. I was so thrilled to have finally gotten the relationship with him that I always craved. I only hoped deep down inside that he felt the same way. He said, it wasn't me...I wasn't the reason for his latest angst, yet it really began to weigh on me. I badly want for him to reach out and touch me...I wanted for him to turn to me and confide his deepest emotions but his body language was as rigid as ever. I thought we had gotten over this earlier...

"Gaara, are you feeling ok?" I asked opening up a dialog.

"Yes, Matsuri, I feel fine." He said looking at me then turning away again.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" I continued as if I didn't already know.

"The morning is filled with meetings but the afternoon I have planned to come to the court yard see the progression in the students." He answered briefly still not looking at me.

"Great, I'm sure they will be thrilled to see you." I said remembering how terrified I was when I went to class for the very first time so long ago after graduating the academy. That was the day I chose Gaara as my mentor. I smiled as I reminisced. "Hey Gaara, the strangest thing happened today. When Anare went with me to get food for lunch, she asked me 'what type of relationship' I had with you." At these words he turned his attention to me, I continued. "She's the strangest girl, sometimes nice and other times annoying. Tomorrow we are going to work on her showmanship; she's such a show off. I just-"

"What did you say to her?" He questioned right when I was in mid sentence.

"Huh?" I asked having moved on I wasn't sure what he was referring to.

"She asked about our relationship...What was your response?" He asked again sitting up straight and focused as if I were telling him a secret or something.

"Well...I, said...you were my teacher and special...special to me, as you were special to the entire village." I said trying to remember word for word.

He didn't say anything else. He had no expression besides blankness. I wondered what he was thinking. He stood and turned towards the door. Flabbergasted I just stared up at him wondering... What's going on? He begins to take steps towards the door. I stand sharply.

"Gaara? Where are you going?" I ask not understanding the situation. He continues to walk and doesn't say anything. Seconds later, I am frustrated and near tears. Why is he leaving? "Gaara--!?" I cry out. He pauses for a moment with his hand on the knob of the door. "Please talk to me..." I say lightly feeling a flood gate beginning to open up.

In return, I get no response. He opens the door and exits. Eyes wide open and streaming tears, I stand in disarray. Did I say something?


Anare pov

"So close..." was all I kept muttering on my way back home. It was 1am and 20 lovely minutes ago I was with Gaara. The man of my dreams. We were engulfed in a passion filled make out session, which had led all the way from the roof top to his bed at the Kazekage tower. "Baka..." I mumbled brushing my hair getting ready for bed now. Alas I was in my own room, in my own bed and hating every minute of it. How many times do have to attempt this? I thought inwardly as I reflected back on Gaara and I. His touch was amazing. I envied Matsuri to no end. I knew that she held his heart but I was planting seeds of my own.

As he lay on top of me, I felt the fantasies I had months earlier start to come true. Running his hands down the length of my body, I arched my back under his touch. I pulled down the top I wore and exposed my breast to which he cupped in his right hand.

"Ahhhh…" I moaned as he kissed down the side of my neck to my collar bone. "Make love to me Gaara…" I whispered into his ear licking it at the same time.

He stopped mid kiss, putting his hand on his forehead. He stood and backed away.

I leaned forward covering my chest with my shirt again. "What's wrong?" I asked desperately wanting more. He didn't answer. "Gaara, let me make you feel whole." I said walking over to him. I placed my hands on his rapidly rising and falling chest. He was shirtless and I loved it. He pushed me away. "What do you want me to do?" I asked trying to sound as genuine as possible.

"LEAVE..." He growled from under a half hidden face.

"But...I thought we..." I stated almost speechlessly.

"JUST GO..." He said again.

"She doesn't feel about you like I do." I retorted angrily. Truth was that my feelings were hurt. I spoke again trying to psych him out. "Let me show you how I love you..." I said lightly.

He looked at me stunted that I had said that word to him. Love... He walked by me and grabbed his shirt and vest and left the tower. I could safely assume he was going to Matsuri's. Need less to say, I let myself out.

Love? What I really felt for him was hot sinful Lust...


Gaara pov

Knock, knock, knock

"Brother, what are you doing?" Temari asked through a closed door. I didn't respond. "Gaara, it's 10am. Aren't you going to at least eat?" She asked. I still didn't say anything. I was sitting on the edge of my bed. Thinking. I could hear her whispering to someone. Who I assumed was Anare. She had been knocking before Temari for the better part of the morning. "Fine, I'm coming in." She said slowly opening the door. "Hey, are you feeling ill?" She asked walking up and placing her hand on my forehead. "Maybe we should visit the infirmary." She continued.

"I am fine." I finally said feeling exasperated.

"You scare me when you don't answer. What's going on with you? Anare came and got me saying that you refused to leave your room."

"I need to be alone." I stated firmly.

Temari sat down next to me on the bed. She was concerned for me, something like a mother, I could tell. I looked over at her. "Has Matsuri come in this morning?" I asked.

"No, as a matter of fact, she hasn't checked in at all now that you mention it. She was due with the morning security report about a 30 minutes ago...hhumm...it's not like her to be late..." she trailed off. "Wait, is that what's wrong? Did something happen?" She asked sounding alarmed.

"No, everything is fine." I said standing. Everything was not fine. I had been thinking about my encounter with Anare all night. How could I betray Matsuri so? How could I let Anare get in my head so? Was it true that she loved me more than Matsuri?

"Well, I'm going to send Anare to find Matsuri." Temari said standing along side me.

I didn't say anything for a while. "Temari, what is your take on the relationship Matsuri and I share?" I asked of curiosity beginning to fasten my vest and reach for my gourd.

She narrowed her eyes. "Well, honestly, I noticed that Matsuri was in love with you a long time ago. She seems to complete you...as odd as that might sound." She said smiling.

I looked away. It seemed true, but what if Matsuri herself didn't think that?

Later

Anare came with me to the court yard to take notes while I watched the Genin class. I acknowledged everyone upon arrival. Everyone except Matsuri. She stood only feet away yet we didn't speak a single word to one another.

I watched as she commanded the class. They followed her instructions and displayed a high level of skill in tai-jutsu, gen-jutsu and nin-jutsu. I was anxious to see who would pass the Chunin exams at Konoha. The three person teams had already been decided and preparations for the exam were commencing. The students seemed to know how important this was as well; to themselves and to the village.

"Moving on..." Matsuri called out to them and they changed rotation. I was glad to have appointed her the instructor. As much time as Matsuri and I spent training, I knew her teaching them was almost like me teaching them.

Jonins from the village appeared. They took there groups and I had Anare hand them mission statements. The teams dispersed one by one and were off to get in even more practice. Before the last team was off, I watched Matsuri, give advice to a young girl who reminded me of the old days. The girl made me remember Matsuri, her timidness and her shyness...I needed to talk to her badly.

"So just be sure to pack extra supplies and I'm sure everything will work out fine. Concentrate on your mission and work with your teammates. Rely on your own skills and talents. Use your weapon to protect people you care about, your comrades..."

Her words took me to the day I showed her how to use her Jouhyou.

"Matsuri," I began right as I notice her about to walk off. She turns to me. Her dark eyes catch a bit of the setting suns light and sparkle brightly.

"Hai, Kazekage?" She asked formally as if to show there was resentment.

I glance over her features. She looked at me neglectfully and uncaring, I hadn't seen her this way before. I lose train of thought and dismissed Anare so Matsuri and I can have a conversation. "Anare," I turn to the younger girl. "Please go back to the office and begin the follow up report."

"Hai." She says and makes hast through the court yard.

I turn back to Matsuri. I don't know where to start. "How do you feel about me Matsuri?" I ask her avoiding her eyes hoping her words didn't match her facial expression.

She didn't speak for a few seconds. Suddenly I feel hands clasp on to mine. "You are my most important person." She says stepping closer.

I look into her eyes again; they are radiating the warmth that I was used to seeing everyday. I felt foolish. I had doubted her wrongfully. I lean in an meet her lips, which I had missed seriously. My mind scattered to a million different places. Our tongues skillfully twisted and I notice a hurt filled tear roll down her cheek. I want to stay in this moment with her forever. Breaking the kiss I know what I must do.

"I love you." She says to me resting her head on my chest. I think back to Anare. Back to her and I on my bed. She made me believe Matsuri didn't care. Now I see, her words couldn't have been true. Was I a fool for falling for them? I knew Matsuri loved me. I knew because I shared her feelings. There was no way I was going to fall to Anare's intrusion.


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