I kept my cool, even though I could feel my face warm up a bit. I must have been blushing, how often did that happen? I quickly wiped off the smirk that was forming on my face, grateful that Shiya had shut the door on her way out. If anyone saw me acting so strange, they'd defiantly tell me I was crazy. I know I shouldn't have been so excited by this notice, that it was just a coincidence and that he was coming to see me for business, and yet… He was coming to see me. I felt myself smiling but this time I didn't stop myself. I quickly and merrily signed the papers, agreeing to see him. I began humming and caught myself.
What was I doing? Why was I acting like this? When I had met him all I wanted to do was hurt him. I wanted to make him feel pain like no other. I had hated him. Him and his happiness, his friends, his life… I had even tried to kill him. I had wanted to end that happy lifestyle of his. I had wanted to end his life. And now just the sight of his name written on this document brought me happiness. What had puberty done to me?
I heard Shukaku laughing at me and frowned. "Stop laughing, pest." I accidentally said aloud. Luckily my door was already shut this time.
"Don't be so mean to me. You're way of thinking is just too funny, I couldn't help it."
What do you mean by that? And why are you continuing to laugh at me?
"I'm sorry I'll stop now."
Thank you. Now tell me why you were laughing in the first place.
"I was laughing at how you think about the boy. First you're getting excited about his name and then you're remembering how much you had wanted to kill him."
Yeah, so? I don't think that's funny at all. I think it's rather confusing.
"Ah, but don't you know Gaara? Love and hate are two sides of the same coin."
Whatever, what's your point?
"You and the boy are complete opposites, maybe that's what makes you want him so much."
What do you mean? We're not so different…
"Oh, but you are so different. He's very tall and you're practically a midget…"Don't insult my height. I'm still growing, you'll see, one day I'll be six feet tall.
"Yeah, right, whatever. You didn't let me finish. The biggest thing is that he's an optimist and you're very pessimistic. He's social with a lot of friends and you're one of the most anti-social teenagers I've ever met, even though you run a village."
Sounds like you're just trying to bad-mouth me now.
"What if I am?" Hesnickered. "So what I think is happening is that you're falling in love with him because he's everything you're not. He's everything you wish you could be. That's all, it's not like you really love him, is it?"
Leave me alone for a while, please?
"Fine, but only because you sound so pitiful right now."
I sighed again; I seem to be doing that a lot more as of late. I looked down at my desk, seeing the papers I had signed only moments ago. It was making me dizzy, how fast my emotions seemed to change. Did I love him? What is love? What was it like to love someone? I seemed to ask myself these questions and more like them a lot when I was thinking about him. Is what Shukaku said true? Do I love him only because I wish I were like him? Or is it something else? What is it I feel towards him? Jealousy? Hate? Resentment? Or maybe…love?
A loud knocking on my door woke me to reality and I got up to open the door for the person on the other side. Getting up cleared my thoughts, and focusing on finding out who was behind the door drove away my thoughts of Lee. I put on another fake small smile and was greeted with the cheery face of Shiya.
"Did you finish the paperwork for the Konoha Village? The ninja who delivered it insists he gets the paperwork back before he leaves. Must be really urgent." That's exactly what I was thinking, why is this so urgent? And I wonder who's out there waiting for it. Surely not Lee himself?
"I finished it. Let me put it back in its envelope and you may take it back to our guest." I shoved the papers into the envelope and curiosity got the better of me. "What does our guest…um, look like?" I said, wanting to know if it was Lee or not.
"Well, he's got really thick eyebrows, a green jumpsuit, and really dorky black hair…" She went on to say things about how he was creepy looking, but I wasn't listening. Was it Lee? Sure sounded like him.
"I'll go deliver this to our guest myself if you don't mind?" I said, motioning for her to move out of the doorway. She quickly replied that it was fine and moved out of the way. I nodded thanks to her and headed towards the front waiting area. Surely it wasn't Lee, but I had to be sure. I almost ran towards the waiting room but stopped myself and continued to walk calmly. As I came to the waiting room I recognized the man she was talking about. At first I only saw him from behind and from afar, so I mistook him for Lee for a moment. But as I came closer I saw he was much too tall to be Lee? I didn't remember Lee being that tall, or a jounin rank ninja.
As the man turned towards me, I finally recognized him as Gai, Lee's sensei. I'd almost forgotten how much they looked alike. Like father and son, yet I was told that there was no relation between them. As he turned he spotted me, instantly smiling, looking even more like an older version of Lee. As he came toward me, I almost panicked. He was so much taller than me and it looked as if he was going to come over here and pick me up. Which, unbelievably, he did. He walked right over to me and lifted me up off the ground, swinging me around in a circle before putting me back down. He smiled the whole time, and I believe I was almost quivering in fear. This man really freaked me out.
"Gaara! I mean, Kazekage-san, of course." He said, still smiling. I had finally gotten control of my rapidly beating heart and I felt myself breath again. He held out his hand for me to shake, and I timidly put my hand on his, my hand barely able to grasp his palm. I shook it lightly.
"Gai, a pleasure seeing you. What brings you here?" I said, even thought I knew he was here for the envelope in my other hand. I took back my hand and placed it carefully by my side. But why was he really here? Was he the one who suggested making the form to have Lee meet with me? And why would he do something like that?
"I'm here for that envelope in your left hand, but I'm sure you already knew that. You're asking why I brought that form to you in the first place, correct?" I was surprised at how fast he seemed to catch on, even though he looked as if he'd be on the dense side. I guess there was more to him that looks.
"Yes, you are correct. Are you going to answer that question?"
"Of course I will, but I can't tell you everything, that'd spoil the surprise." He said, his smile widening as he chuckled a bit. "Lee has been acting strangely recently, and I suspected it had something to do with you." Here, he winked at me, as if this was some kind of inside joke between the two of us. I wasn't laughing. My mind was reeling. "So anyway, I wrote this document up with Tsunade-chan. I haven't told Lee about it yet, but he'll surely be happy to see you. You did sign 'yes' didn't you?" He said, worry clouding his face. I nodded, not sure that I could speak at the moment. At this he smiled again. "So, Lee shall be coming to visit you three days from now. That's alright with you, right?" He paused looking at me with concern. I felt my knees becoming weak and saw the room spinning. I felt the blood drain from my face and closed my eyes. The last thing I heard was Gai's voice. "Gaara? Gaara! Are you alright?"