A/N: Google Translate lied to me. Geliebte means something entirely different- something I don't like. It has been corrected in the last chapter. Geliebt (Ge-Leebt) means beloved. One "E" makes a big difference. ^_^'

Thank you, Irrwish, for the correction.

Apparently it was in the German-English dictionary but I completely overlooked it. The book wasn't very clear on the difference either.

My apologies.

+++Part 12+++

Lost

"They come outside the wall through here."

The second tracker added, "Then the trail ends at those sandstone boulders."

"Find anything?"

"Just a cactus, sir." The third adjusted his headband.

The man squinted into the distance. It didn't make any sense. He heaved a sigh.

"…Sir? Don't we want him gone?" The junior ninja fidgeted nervously. "I mean, they did confirm he's a danger to the village now."

"Perhaps we should count this as a blessing," chimed in the third tracker nin.

The squad leader glared. "These are our orders. We will not report back in failure again!"

The underlings flinched. The trail went cold at the boulders. What else were they supposed to do? They couldn't follow a trail that wasn't there.

The ninjas continued to search the area, completely overlooking the lone cactus that stood off to the side inconspicuously. It had grown more thorns since the spring season of Katy's realm, allowing only little fingers to touch it. The winds had blown away the small footprints of the children.

They would report their failure. Again.

"No, no, no! That's not what I meant!"

He was confused. She was frustrated.

She knew the answer to his question; she knew it well. She just couldn't find the words to explain it. The open book in front of them wasn't doing much to help either. Its words and sentences were long and complicated. In fact, Katy didn't know if there was anything in that book that wasn't complicated.

"What are you doing?" Denim appeared behind the pair.

"Trying to read the manual of LIFE! What does it look like?"

"...That's the Bible."

"That's what I said!" Katy smacked the table.

Gaara was busy looking between her and the book, uncertainty written all over his face. Katy was trying to answer his question but she was beginning to get too riled up over it.

"Now leave us," she said, swatting away at her brother. The cut on her left hand had healed, leaving behind a light scar. If one were to tilt their head and squint, it may seem to resemble a shooting star. She told her parents she had fallen and skidded across some rocks down by the creek bank. She didn't like to fib, but there was no way she was going to rat Gaara out. Besides she did not want her mother interfering with their friendship again.

Denim shrugged, leaving the room.

"Okay," Katy sighed, "Let's try this again. Love is..." She was about to slam her head down on the desk. The answer was right there in front of her! Her mother had shown her the page. But with the way it was written one would have to be a high level reader to comprehend it. Katy was only a beginner being home schooled by her mom, who wasn't the most patient person in the world.

Charlotte would quickly grow annoyed with her daughter. Katy would become distracted by her wondering thoughts or simply not understand. This was especially true for math. The little brunette just had no affinity for numbers. She could clearly recall the time she was left in tears when she could not solve the seemingly easy equation before her.

Her mother's voice got louder and louder. "It's not hard! Pay attention! Use your fingers to count if you must!" Katy's tears turned to anger shortly after. Mother and daughter butted heads often during those times.

Katy returned her attention back to Gaara. She wondered if he had any similar problems with his father during the "training sessions", as they were called. She forced herself to take a deep breath. She was being impatient, like her mother. Well she wasn't going to be that way with her best friend, no way!

"Geliebt," she murmured, "I'm sort'a an angry person. I mean, I'm sorry I'm... Uh, do you want a hug?" she finished awkwardly.

She was met with a gentle smile and open arms. One quick hug later, she continued her explanation.

"Okay, love is..." She lowered herself closer to the page in a vain attempt to understand it. She was only able to read one sentence. "It's...kind. All right, awesome. There you have it."

But the scarlet haired boy was not satisfied. He leaned over, pulling the book to him. Katy saw his eyes scan the words as he effortlessly read the entire passage. He was undeniably on a higher level than her. It made her feel somewhat ashamed. Was her friend really that smart, or was she really that stupid? She chose to believe the former and be happy for him. She should have let him read it from the start rather than fuss over it.

She turned her eyes from the book to Gaara. Did he understand it? He frowned and knotted his brow but then relaxed a little, like he was getting some of it but not all. Finally he leaned back, staring off in thought. Katy waited on the edge of her seat. Did he know the definition of it now? And more importantly, did he know from her words and actions that he was loved? Because no matter what they said, he was loved.

"If I do not have love," he spoke at last and Katy held her breath. "Then I am nothing."

What? That wasn't what she wanted him to get out of that!

"Well," she swallowed. "I...th-that's true for everyone. But...you- you don't have to worry because you are loved. 'Love an-and be loved,' that's what my Grandma always said. And you're...loved!" Katy stuttered on and off, she was never good at things like this. But it had to be said.

He looked at her for what seemed like forever. And she could only guess what his eyes were trying to communicate to her. The shock told her he was going to have to be reminded often. But that glimmer of happiness made her glad to be the one with that job.

Thank you.

Love suffers long. Love is kind. It does not envy and it is not arrogant. Love is not rude, does not seek its own, is not provoked, and thinks no evil.

Love rejoices in truth, not iniquity. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.

Love never fails.

Back to the desert and back to the cold, hateful stares of its people. Katy didn't like it but when Gaara came over that day he insisted she spend the night over at his "house" for a change. He pulled her along, eager to extend the hospitality she had given to him. "My home is your home," she had said to him and now he was going to return the favor. Katy tried not to drag her feet.

Just focus on your friend, forget about the others, you are here for your friend. She kept on telling herself this; she didn't want to pull down his high spirits.

As soon as they arrived at the mansion Gaara showed her where she'd be sleeping (if he let her sleep) in his room. Afterwards they played random games and when someone entered the scenario Katy would tense up and scoot closer to Gaara, all as usual. Things were getting too usual. So she said, "Let's go outside" in hopes that they could find something else to do.

People cleared off the streets and shut their doors while others retreated into shops or small groups. Occasionally hate or fear filled stares would be cast their way. Or his way...but Katy liked to think they were in this together.

The two played at the swings before playing variant versions of tag. Hide 'n' Seek wasn't working too well as there were no trees or bushes to hide in. Finally, when the sun neared the horizon, Katy got an idea.

"Let's go 'xplore the sand dunes!"

He frowned. "Those are outside the village."

"So? It'll be fun!" She tugged on his arm but he did not budge. "What's wrong?"

"It's too dangerous."

Now she really wanted to go.

"Oh, come on! We won't go far." Still he wouldn't move. "Ple-ease!"

"No."

"But..." She deflated, sulking. He wavered; he didn't want to disappoint her.

"I..." He sighed, "All right."

Her hazel brown eyes lit up instantly. "Yeah! Les go!"

"Kitty!" He ran after her. "Stay near me!"

The sun disappeared to let the stars shine. They glittered in their full glory, as they did not have to share the sky with the new moon. Katy leaped up the steepest sand dune she could find. The scarlet haired boy remained close; frequently checking behind him to make sure the village walls remained in sight. Straying too far into the desert spelt disaster.

"Look, Geliebt!" He joined her as she raised her hands to the dark blue above. "We can touch the sky!"

Together they reached for the brightest star. Katy would remember this moment, definitely. The two went falling back into the sand laughing before tranquil silence took over.

"Kitty, when we get back will you sing that song again?" He had asked her that question many times before and she always complied. Though she didn't know why he liked it so, whether it was her quiet voice he wanted to hear or if it was the words contained in it.

Perhaps it was both.

"When we get back," she replied.

That sentence woke him from his trance and he quickly sat up. "We should be going back."

Katy let out a small "aww" but followed his order nonetheless. As she pushed herself up she caught a glimpse of what appeared to be a huge dark could in the distance, covering the horizon.

"What's that?"

When she looked to Gaara for an answer she became frightened. Not of him but of what his expression told. He looked almost nervous: eyes widened and mouth held in a tight firm line. And when Gaara was nervous, everyone should be scared. Katy knew something big was happening.

"We have to go. Now."

"What's going on?"

"Now!"

He pushed her onward; she had no choice but to go with him. She ran just behind him, however curiosity overcame her and she slowed down considerably to look back at the giant cloud. When she returned her sights forward...the one she was following was no longer there.

The little brunette squeaked out his name before glancing back at the cloud. It was getting bigger, closer, and the growing roar of the wind was behind it. Her feet became rooted to the spot, shock consuming her. Breathing became harder and her heart hammered in her chest. When she finally found herself free of her body's frozen state, she took the chance to bolt in the direction she thought the village to be, all the while breathlessly trying to call for the redhead. It was like one of those dreams where you could not scream and no matter how fast you ran... it wasn't fast enough. She ran blindly and at one point she even stopped and turned in circles in her panic. She was unable to remain calm; her friend, her rock, her pillar, was gone.

Too late.

She curled over into a ball and she quickly found herself lost in the sand, the rampant storm of the small grains enveloped her. She screamed as loud as she could.

But her cries were lost in the wind...

He speeded to the walls. He knew she was just behind him, he had felt her hand graze his only a short time ago. Through the tunnel, into the village, and to the mansion, he didn't slow down until he was at the doors.

"We made it. We made it in time...Kitty?"

She was not there.

"Kitty?" She was not there at all. "Katherine?"

"Gaara!"

"Yashamaru!"

"Quickly, Gaara, get inside! There's a big sand storm coming!"

"But...Katherine!"

The medic nin pulled his nephew indoors. "I'm sure she found shelter in one of the shops, she'll be fi-"

"No! We went outside the village!"

He stopped. That little girl was outside the protection of the walls?

"Didn't she follow you back?"

"I...I don't know."

Yashamaru shut the door. If she was still out there...

"I'm sorry, you must remain inside," he said solemnly.

Horror splayed across the six-year-old's face.

"Kitty..."

A/N: I have found no better definition of love than where I have cited it. The dictionary does not go into it as nearly as much as the Bible does. I found it to be the best example. In case you are wondering, I believe it is in 1 Corinthians, 13:14.

I had to simplify it in here though; it would take up too much space otherwise.

If you are offended by my usage of it, please be kind and hit the back button on your browser. No one is going to be converted, but Katy's background demands this. I based her off Laura and Mary Ingalls, and even Nellie Oleson from Little House.

Don't shoot me! O_O

They have many negative and positive qualities that I incorporated into Katy. One of those qualities is that both girls (not counting Oleson right now) were taught to be kind and compassionate by their mother…who is a strong believer.

Well, if I haven't scared you off, I hope you are looking forward to the next chapter!

Sorry about the cliffhanger.

Reviews are always loved (I like reading what you have to say).

Thanks for reading!