Note: The fact that she's in love with Gaara does NOT make her a pedophile! They were drawn to each other's loneliness and vulnerability. It's a very pure relationship.

That was Misa's first kiss. It was confusing, intoxicating, and angering at the same time. It was confusing because he'd just seen her face and had responded in love, not to mention the fact that he looked at least three years younger than her. How could someone so young be kissing her, let alone fallen in love with her?

She was intoxicated because, well, she returned his feelings. And what girl isn't intoxicated at least a little by her first kiss, especially when it's with someone you love deeply? It was her first experience with a romantic kind of love, which only increased the sensation.

She was angry because he'd waited until the day she had to return him to his village to show his feelings. Why hadn't he done this sooner? She wanted to slap him and hug him at the same time. She decided to hug him, pulling him in close and relaxing when she felt his arms around her middle.

They were so close that Gaara could whisper directly into her ear when he said "Don't make me go back to the village. Let me stay here with you." He'd heard the stories too. If he couldn't convince her to follow him into Sand, then he didn't think Sand was worth leaving her.

But Misa whispered to him, "You have to go back. There are people there worried about you. You have a home and a family waiting for you." She drew away from him. His eyes were so sad in that moment. She turned away and reached into her pack. "Here." She thrust a package at him. "Don't open it until you get back to the village. Come on." She grabbed his hand and started pulling him in the direction of the village. She didn't look at him.

When they could see the village, she stopped. "I can't go any further."

Gaara pleaded with her again. "Don't make me go back there. Please! I don't want to be alone again. It was bad enough the first time."

She turned around and looked him straight in the eyes. She almost broke and let him stay with her, but then she thought of the slip of paper she'd found in the shrine that morning, begging her to find Gaara and bring him home. "Don't say that. You won't be alone." She drew out the paper and let him read it. "See? They want you back."

"Then, this is goodbye?"

"No, just 'see you later'." She kissed him on his forehead and ran off in the direction of their camp.

Gaara's welcome into the village was a blur to him. He knew his siblings were there, that people were hugging him, and that 'Human Animal' was mentioned several times. But all he wanted to do was get back to his room so he could open her present to him. What had she given him?

He untied the strings and found a stack of paper and a book. On top was a letter that said only "Kiss the paper with strange markings." He found the paper underneath the letter and stared at it. It was covered in circles, spirals, and weird writing. Well, what harm could it do? He kissed it.

It erupted into sound. At first it was indistinguishable, but words began to come out of the noise. Misa's words. It was her voice, he was sure of it. "My dear Gaara, I know we cannot be together right now, But there will come a time when I can come home to be with you. Until then, use these recordings to stay in touch with me. If you make one following the instructions in the book I've given you, they will hold any spoken message or song you want me to hear. Leave it at the shrine outside the village. That's where I'll leave the ones I've made for you. I know it might be too late, but I love you." His knees gave way. Loved him? "You liked the song I wrote for Naruto, so here's one for you. I hope it helps." Guitar music began streaming from the parchment. (to the tune of I'll Come Back from Narnia.)

It started out as a feeling,

which then grew into a hope.

Which then turned into a quiet thought

Which then turned into a quiet word.

And then that word grew louder and louder

'Til it was a battle cry.

I'll come back when you call me.

No need to say goodbye.

Just because everything's changing

Doesn't mean it can't be like this again.

All you can do is try to wait the storm out

And know you're more than a friend.

Pick a star on the dark horizon

And know I share the light.

I'll come back when you call me.

No need to say goodbye.

I'll come back when you call me.

No need to say goodbye.

Now we're at the beginning

It's just a feeling and no one knows yet.

But just because they can't feel it too

Doesn't mean that you have to forget.

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger

'Til they're before your eyes.

I'll come back when you call me.

No need to say goodbye.

I'll come back when you call me.

No need to say goodbye.