(( This time, the first of 6 reviews came 12 minutes after I'd put up chapter 13! It didn't quite beat the record of 9 minutes but it's still really cool! Well, here's this batch of reviews:

Your Demon:

ooh. i wonder what's gonna happen... :grins: good story. update soon!

(the first reviewer of the chapter!!)

Kina Lupi:

good chapter it was way cool how u made gaaras reaction and all that and
9 minits? i think thats a new record for me...

NeferNeferi:

I like Chikage's drawing; I can just imagine it and it looks so nice. ) But
no! Don't let Gaara close himself up again; it will be a pain to make him open
up. Poor Temari. I wonder what will happen next? Please update soon!

Angel Fate of the Desert:

You sure update fast, lol. Anyway, on with the review.
I can't believe poor Gaara will begin to close up because of a
picture...don't let him, PLEASE. How will you make Chikage and Gaara tie up
with each other? This is a really interesting question. And what will happen
next? Please update soon!

9shadowcat9:

Lovin' it!

(McDonald's!! wants a McChicken all of a sudden)

xXTwilight-KunoichiXx:

e-ya i cant believe how embarrassed chikage must be hey i drew a pic of my
crush and me kissing and i NEVER showed him good thing cuz i dont like him
anymore lol but no a cliffie Thank you thank you i could totally relate to
chikages like for him just that my old crush wasnt a monster but a geek lol
anyways im over him and onto a new guy but plz dont think i didnt love him cuz
i kinda had a crush on my old crush for 3 years and finally excepted in the
beginning of my freshman year he never will but hey there many more fishes in
the sea lol idk why im telling ya this but this has been my favorite GaaraXOOC
Story ever!

(Much loves xXTwilight-KunoichiXx! I'll do my best to keep this as your favorite!)

((So there you have it! 6 reviews and only one message-- lovin' it! Yes, I got that stuck in my head... as well as that McDonald's jingle from the commercials!

As for the Gaara-closing-because-of-a-picture thing, it was actually what the picture represented... if anybody can tell me what it represented in their next review... I don't know... I'll HUGGLE you! ...okay, that was lame, yes. But I'm not good at giving online prizes... unless you want a cookie? I'll give you a cyber-cookie... that sounds so wrong but you know what I mean! lol Anyway, there is a reason that that picture is so important and I do have the answer so if you want, give it a shot! Onto the chapter and away from the lameness that is my procrastination!))

Chapter 14: Temari's Talk, Gaara's Refusal

Temari and Kankuro walked behind their younger brother. They had seen him like this all his life and now, just when he was beginning to lighten up, something happens and he becomes the anti-social, homicidal jerk that he'd been since Yashamaru died betraying him.

"Temari, we have to do something! We were just getting to where we could have a conversation with Gaara without him telling us to shut up--" Kankuro whined quietly, only to be interrupted by the blond girl replying, "You mean, I could have that kind of conversation with him. He'll always tell you to shut up because everything you say pisses him off or annoys the Hell out of him. But you are right this time. We need to get Chikage and Gaara back together."

"How can we do that when they were never really together in the first place? I mean, I think this started with that sketchbook..."

"That's it! Kankuro, get that book. We need to see what made him so upset... I'll try asking him but I doubt I'll get an answer." The plan was set, far from perfect, true, but it was a plan that they both agreed on. That had to count for something, right?

When they arrived at their rooms, Kankuro made some lame excuse about needing to get food. He promised to bring something back for them but Gaara saw a loophole that he could drive a raccoon through. When the puppeteer left, the redhead turned to Temari and asked suspiciously, "What kind of shops are open this late at night? And who would serve him anyway?"

Temari sighed. "Okay, you caught him. Kankuro told me that he has a date tonight... he didn't want to tell you so he decided to make up something that you would believe," she lied through her teeth.

"And I was supposed to believe that?"

"He never was very good at lying..." She shrugged.

"Pathetic," he agreed subtly.

Chancing a look at him, the blond asked, "Hey, Gaara?"

"What?" Even when they were in agreement, Gaara was still the lovable asshole that she'd come to tolerate.

"Earlier... I didn't mean to boss you around. It's just that... Chikage does like you... and you've been alone for so long that--"

"Shut up, Temari. You're learning that annoying habit of Kankuro's and if you don't curb it quickly, you'll soon find yourself in the same boat as that idiot."

"Gaara... she's good for you. She started making you feel things that you've never felt before. It's logical that if you have learned about her love for you, you'd withdraw from the world." She was trying to tell him that it was okay, expected even, though she wished that she wasn't so smart about the displays of affection that Gaara had up his sleeve.

"Temari--" he said weakly, trying to keep the strength in his tone.

But Temari gave him no chance. She butted in and kept going. "It's a smart thing. You're not a fool, rushing into things that you don't know anything about. But you don't have to be this way with us. We're your family... we love you."

"Stop saying that. No one loves me. I love me." His eyes were shut against the words, his ears trying to keep out the sound.

"Gaara!" Her usually confident tone had turned pleading and if you didn't look close enough, you wouldn't be able to see the single colorless tear in the very corner of her deep green eyes.

"You can take your pitiful love and shove it where the sun don't shine. Go to bed, Temari, or face my sand." The sand god struck his Sand Coffin Pose and she quickly backed off.

"Okay... I can see that it isn't our love that you need. I just hope that Chikage comes to you and helps you more than we can now." She exited Gaara's room and entered her own. Then she sighed, thinking, 'Kankuro, you'd better find her and fast. If this keeps up, Gaara's going to go insane and destroy the place. Good luck...'

((Temari couldn't talk any sense into Gaara. Well, Gaara is pretty stubborn and Naruto showed that it took a smackdown to the point of complete exhaustion to get anything out of him. But who's to say that Kankuro can get Chikage to face the now cold-hearted Gaara? And what will he say when he sees that picture? Will he understand why Gaara is so angry again? We'll just have to wait and see. Review me, baby!))