Hey everybody! Sorry it took so long to get another chapter! I started it but got stuck about halfway through! XD I lost my streak of inspiration! It's seemed to have moved itself into the part of my brain that is storing my Novel! Darned it anyways! Hehe. Anyhow. I'll do my best to keep creating good chapters for you.

Hope you like the chapter! -waves-

Chapter Twenty Four

Ria squinted as her tongue unconsciously poked out the side of her mouth while she gently pulled her wrist to the side creating the smooth, curvy line she'd wanted. Tucking the pencil into her mouth she lifted the paper from the table and held it at a distance, tilting her head at the vortex-like design.

"That's an odd one."

Ria didn't bother glancing back, "It was a pretty popular design where I came from Kaho-chan." Ria remarked. Her design was basically abstract circles that she'd edged in brown and lightly colored with various shades of tan and beige. She could recall the design on skirts and purses and such back home. "I think people will like it here as well."

Kaho huffed lightly behind her and suddenly snatched the drawing from her fingers.

"Hey!" Ria yelled, spinning around on her stool to glare at the taller but younger girl. "Give it back!"

Kaho was scrutinizing the drawing carefully, so carefully that Ria couldn't help but hold her breath in anticipation of what the wonder girl would decide to do.

"Fine" Kaho replied abruptly, "I'll produce it, but not in brown." The younger girl leveled her gaze on Ria over the sheet of paper, "I'll do it in black with white and another in reds and see how it takes with the village."

Red? Ria blanched at the idea of having that many shades of red, which was actually popular at the moment in the village, but would look particularly horrible in that design.

"What?" Kaho asked, her eyes riveted on Ria's face, "Is there something wrong with that?"

"Uh… no… but I don't think red is really-"

"Red. Period."

Ria raised her hands in surrender and shrugged, "It's your business..." Ria drawled, being sure to make her tone as unencouraging as possible.

Kaho pouted at her before turning and leaving the office, her long, breezy kimono-like outfit floating out after her.

Ria sighed and slumped back against her desk, blowing at a loose strand of her hair that had settled onto her forehead. Geez... Red? Is she nuts?

"Fine!"

Ria jumped a bit and steadied herself on the desk as her stool wobbled dangerosuly when Kaho bounced back into the office.

"I'll do the browns," she pointed a finger at Ria nearly making her jump again, "if it flops it's your butt though missy."

Ria stared as Kaho breezed away from the doorway just as suddenly as she'd appeared in it, am I ever going to get used to that girl? Probably not, her inner fan girl sneered. Laughing lightly under her breath Ria ran a hand through her hand, resettling her unruly bangs.

Getting up from her stool she cleaned up her desk, which was piled with random drawings, and grabbed her things, ready to leave for the day. Leaving her office she turned away from the entrance/exit that went right past Kaho's office and instead walked into the small break room on the opposite side of the building.

Hopping in place Ria managed to get the high window open in three jumps instead of the usual five. Slipping her bag from her shoulder she quickly tossed it through the narrow opening, hearing with satisfaction the gentle thud on the other side of the wall. It took two tries before Ria hooked the edge of the window with her fingers, laboriously she pulled herself up and swung a leg through the opening, the things I do to avoid that odd girl…Ria thought to herself as she bent herself in two to get her torso outside. When I get older I'm going to have to figure out another way to sneak out…in a while I'll be too big to fit through the window! Dangling precariously to the edge of the building Ria slid her leg out before promptly dropping to the ground.

Clapping her hands together, small puffs of dust rising from them, Ria glanced up at the window again before hopping in place again. With six jumps she was able to sufficiently close the window. Grinning to herself she picked up her bag from the ground and swung it back onto her shoulder.

Spinning around to begin her walk home she froze as she realized she had an audience. Stuck in mid-stride she stared at the three in surprise as they stared back at her in equal shock. Gaara, Temari, and another official looking fellow were staring at her with their jaws slack, except Gaara who just seemed amused by her antics.

"Ah…hehe…" Ria started awkwardly, her hand inadvertently lifting to the back of her head in embarrassment. "Hi there."

"What are you doing?" Temari barked out quickly, her tone defensive as it always was when she was taken by surprise. Well, at least she's predictable now, Ria thought as Temari started a quick and forceful speech about the importance of using doors instead of climbing around like a trickster monkey.

Ria kept a half apologetic smile on her face as she endured Temari's lecture, the older girl closing in on her with her fists perched on the edges of her hips. Glancing over Temari's shoulder Ria looked to Gaara who was still holding the open scroll that they had apparently been going over before Ria's spectacle. When he met her gaze she felt a trill race up her spine as his eyes softened, his dark lashes dropping faintly to enhance his eyes. Damn… Ria thought as her inner fan girl spasmed in giddiness, I have it really, really bad.

"Are you off of work now?" Gaara asked softly, his hands lowering the documents.

Temari paused in her tirade as her brother spoke and glanced back over to him with a look of exasperation as she was interrupted.

"Uh… yeah. I just got out now." Ria stated awkwardly.

"Well that we could see perfectly clear!" Temari explained with fanfare, her hands darting up into the sky with exasperation.

"Did you get your design done?" Gaara asked politely, his hands slowly curling the scroll up, Ria felt her gaze tugged by his fingers, watching as they moved the document slowly and carefully back into place.

"Uhh…" Ria stammered, feeling her face heat, "Yeah. Finally. Kaho-chan seemed to like it."

Temari let out an exasperated huff and marched over to the official looking man, tugging him on the arm, "Let's go Rei-kun, we won't get anything else done now." As she tugged the surprised man back the way they'd come she took the scroll Gaara offered fluidly and in a matter of seconds Ria was alone with him.

"I'm glad I could help you get a trade Ria-chan." Gaara said softly as he took the few steps forward so they were closer together, she felt another bolt race through her body when he said her name.

"Yes. Thanks a lot. I really appreciated it." Ria said clumsily, her gaze shooting down to the ground as her embarrassment crept back into her ears.

"Can I walk you home?"

"Sure!" Ria exclaimed loudly, startling them both, "Uh… sorry. Um. Yeah, I'd like that."

They turned and walked slowly towards her apartment, neither eager to get there. "So how was your day Gaara-kun?"

"It was alright. We were going over some plans to fortify the village against attack in a way that would also help buffer against the sand storms. Rei-san is a very intelligent engineer. I hope to use his services to create more protection for the village." Gaara replied conversationally.

Ria felt her mouth quirk into a partial smile, he's always thinking about the people and protecting them, glancing up Ria caught sight of a mother quickly herding her children into an alley to avoid being in their path. She felt a faint hitch in her chest at the sight of the woman desperately trying to keep her kin from interacting with Gaara, I just wish they knew how much he wants to have them all safe now. How much he wants to protect his people.

Ria felt her mind flash back to the faint glimpses of the Shippuden episodes she'd viewed in amv's on the internet. Her memory latching onto the header of an amv that had been titled "Gaara dies". She couldn't watch it then, not wanting to see her favorite crushed in the anime.

Turning towards him Ria felt her throat close painfully as her eyes grazed over his face, I wish I had now…I wish I knew how to stop it. As if he felt her gaze he turned to look at her, his intense eyes questioning. Ria forced a smile onto her face as she saw his lips part to speak, "Why don't we go to the cliffs for awhile?" Ria asked suddenly, throwing him off track. She didn't give him a chance to answer, "I'll race you!" Turning Ria suddenly ran full out towards the cliffs in the distance, her bag thumping against her back.

After a few moments she could hear the hurried gait of him following her. They darted around the buildings at a breakneck pace, competitively racing each other towards the cliffs that were rapidly looming. When they reached the area they both paused and panted. Gaara leant forward, his hands braced on his knees as he tried to catch his breath and Ria simply dropped onto the ground and closed her eyes as she tried to catch her own.

After a few minutes Ria felt Gaara drop onto the ground next to her. She could feel his gaze on her face, hotter than the sun. Eager not the broach the subject of what she'd remembered she forced out a laugh, "I beat you! Haha!"

She heard Gaara's light chuckle and her body jerked upright in response, knocking their heads together.

"Ouch!"

"Ow!"

Ria peeked open an eye as her hand rubbed the sore spot in her forehead, she could see Gaara doing the same to the side of his head. They looked at each other for a moment before Ria burst out laughing and Gaara smiled. I really like it when he does that, Ria thought as she laughed her eyes lingering on his smile.

They sat there together talking of everyday things until the sun set and blazed fiercely on the edge of the town making the sky glow red.

"Ria-chan?" Gaara asked quietly.

"Hmm?"

"What were you thinking about earlier… in the alleyway?"

Ria closed her eyes, her heart sinking, I was hoping he'd forgotten about that.

"You looked so… sad." Gaara said quietly. He placed a hand on his chest, over his heart, "I… felt it."

Ria's heart skipped a beat as she stared at him in wonder. He turned and looked at her, a searching look in his eyes. He looks brilliant in the sunset. Once again her throat closed and she wasn't able to force out any words.

"Is it about the wall?" Gaara asked, his eyes searching her face, "There are dangers we should be prepared for. Its nothing to be afraid of though Ria-chan," he reached out and clasped one of her hands in both of his, half turning to look at her more forthrightly, "I will protect the village… I'll protect you Ria-chan. You don't have to be scared."

Ria pressed her hand over his and leant down pressing her forehead against their joined hands. She could feel a tear gathering at the corners of her eyes as the vicious title "Gaara's death" was summoned once again in her mind, permanently branding itself into her mind.

"I know you will Gaara…" Ria said softly, her breath puffing gently against their hands, "I know you will."

Oh yeah, I hope I didn't freak any of you out with the title of the chapter. :) I tend to title them as the most significant clue of the chapter and the amv was pretty much my best shot. XD Although I will admit I like teasing people. So maybe thats why I titled it the way I did.

Ria: -Smacks her upside the head-

Hehe. Hope you liked it!