Pieces of Colored Glass and Stone:

Epiphany

Word Count: 879

AN: Ugh . . . This one's too long. I'm ashamed to call these drabbles.

Naruto and all of its respective characters, including Gaara and Matsuri, belong to Masashi Kishimoto.

Reminiscing about the past wasn't something Matsuri enjoyed doing often. Sure, she loved recalling the happy memories involving her family and friends, but, when it came to herself, the brunette preferred thinking of it as ancient history. Matsuri just didn't like the person she use to be: a weak, shy, little fan-girl whose proudest accomplishment had been getting top grades at the ninja academy. While the last part was, by no means, shameful, Matsuri was well aware that the achievement was only due to her obsession with studying. It also helped that she was the only student of Suna's finest shinobi, allowing her to advance more quickly than her peers. But, Matsuri was no fool. She knew what true strength was - it was the first lesson Gaara had ever taught her - and graduating at the top of her class was not it.

As she grew older, the brunette was willing to give herself credit for being quick to realize the value of the redhead's wisdom. Becoming part of a real team after her graduation was one of the best things to ever happen to Matsuri. Not only did it give her two wonderful friends that she loved with all her heart, but she finally understood how much meaning there was to Gaara's definition of true strength. The young kunoichi had become a better shinobi, teammate, friend, and all round better person because of it.

Still, there was something about herself that Matsuri didn't like. She had grown a great deal since her days as an academy student, but something was still . . . wrong. It wasn't until one morning when she was fifteen did the brunette finally pinpoint what exactly that something was. Having completed an early training session, Matsuri returned to the women's locker room to change into some civilian clothing before returning home. There had been a small group of girls across the room, and though the lockers obstructed her view, the young chuunin had no problems overhearing their conversation. They were talking about Gaara - wait, no, talking wasn't the right word. They were fan-girling over the poor guy.

That was when it happened. It was like a sudden epiphany, a true moment of enlightenment. The mental clouds that once blocked her view had now cleared, leaving nothing but the bright sun of absolute clarity. The girls' words echoed in her mind. How easily Matsuri could picture herself speaking them, acting in a similarly obnoxious behavior. What the hell had she been doing? Gaara didn't deserve this . . .

I don't want to be like them, I won't be like them - not anymore.

No, Matsuri didn't like looking back to the past, but she did so nonetheless to remember the valuable lesson she learned that one morning.

- - - - -

"Was I really that bad?" Matsuri asked her oldest friend, Kanna, a few years later. Older, wiser, and more comfortable in her own skin, the newly promoted jounin could now laugh at the embarrassing antics of her younger days. The brunette had successfully liberated herself of her long standing crush on Gaara, and she was happy to say her friendship with the young Kazekage benefited from it. She had become both a better friend and ninja to the redhead, and the newfound freedom of just being herself allowed Matsuri to truly bond with the young man. Of course, her admiration and respect for him didn't change but her reasoning did. Without the blinding preconception that usually comes with a crush, Matsuri could finally appreciate Gaara for just being him. As flawed as he was, she wouldn't change a single thing about the redhead because there was nothing about him that Matsuri wouldn't miss. Gaara was just Gaara, and she loved that about him.

"Yeah, you were pretty pathetic, honey," Kanna grinned before commencing a sarcastic, if rather accurate, impression of a younger Matsuri. The kunoichi only laughed as she playfully hit her friend on the arm, secretly agreeing with her statement.

"But, you do know I'm over him, right?" Kanna's simple affirmation was all the reassurance she needed.

- - - - -

"When are you going to tell Ginger that you love him?" Kanna questioned casually a year later, only to receive a bemused expression from her companion. "I mean, you do love him?"

"Of course I do," Matsuri replied strongly. "He's one of my best friends. How could I not?"

"I don't mean as a friend, dum-dum."

"I thought you knew I didn't have a crush on Gaara anymore," the brunette stated accusingly, her dark eyes narrowing slightly at the auburn haired woman.

"Yes, I'm well aware of that, honey. I knew that you got over that ridiculous crush years ago, thus allowing room for the stronger, genuine feelings of love and all that other romantic crap to blossom. Oh, this just in: I am brilliant!"

Matsuri stared at her friend in amazement, who looked more pleased with herself than any human was entitled to. How could someone so self-centered have such impressive moments of insightfulness? Then, for the second time in her existence, Matsuri experienced one of those sudden, life-altering epiphanies.

"Holy crap! I'm in love with Gaara!"

"Humph . . . Took you long enough."