OMG it's Gaara!

Chapter Six: A purpose and a rejection

Riia awoke the next morning fairly early. She lay in bed a while, warm and safe. She was just about to go back to sleep when Gretchen bounded in, and poked her twice in the head. "Wake up, Riia!" Riia swatted her hand away, and slowly sat up.

"What is it?" she muttered. Gretchen grinned, and pulled an enormous gourd from behind her, almost as big as Gaara's. Riia's eyes widened. "For me?"

"Yup. We figured you couldn't go around lugging that bag everywhere. Gaara paid for it of course, but Sam, Amy, Cathryn and I picked it out."

"Thanks!" Riia took the gourd from her, and ran her fingers over it. There was even a sash so she could wear it. She got up, and walked over to the desolate-looking navy bag in the corner. Riia took it over to the gourd, and opened it.

Gaara walked in just as she was going to pour the sand in. He shook his head, and stopped her.

"Not with your hands. You need to practice manipulating the sand, this is a good time." Riia nodded, and set the bag back on the bed. She focused on it, pulling it into the gourd. The sand slid out of the bag like a snake, and up into the gourd.

"Cool..." Gretchen remarked. Soon the bag was empty, the gourd, full. Riia put it on, and grinned.

"Hah! I'm juss like Gaara now!" She put on a mock serious face, and mock glared at her friends.

Gaara shook his head. When Riia finished, she grabbed Gretchen's wrist.

"Gaara-sama?"

"Yes?"

"I'm gonna look around at the village some."

"Okay." Riia smiled, and walked out the door, a protesting friend in tow. Gaara watched the door, even after they had gone. He furrowed his brow. Riia... wasn't like the others. She didn't shun him. She didn't show the slightest sign of hating him. And neither did her friends, though they seemed more careful around him than she was. He felt comfortable around her. Gaara started. Suddenly... he had a purpose in life other than to simply protect his own existence. There was someone who actually cared if he died, who wanted him to live. He sighed, and vanished.

Riia's first destination had been the Ichiraku Ramen Shop. Mostly to see if Naruto was there, but also for breakfast.

"Ramen for breakfast?" asked Gretchen.

"Why not?"

"I dunno... It's just a weird thing to have."

"I bet Naruto does it."

"He's a ramen freak."

"... So?" Gretchen rolled her eyes, but said nothing more. Riia pulled up a seat for herself and her friend. A look of realization spread across her face. "Oh!"

"What is it?"

"We need money."

"That's okay! I found some on the dresser last night."

"Okay! You think it's gonna be enough?"

"Probably."

"Alright then! Shrimp ramen for me!"

"I'll take chicken." The man behind the counter nodded, and turned away to fill their orders. Suddenly Naruto bounded up and into the seat next to Riia. She flinched.

"Naruto-san?"

"Hm? Who're you? And how'd you know my name if you're from Suna?"

"I know a lot about you. And why are you here?"

"For breakfast. What's your name?"

"Riia. I thought you had lots of ramen at home." Naruto looked mildly frightened by now.

"I... ran out."

"Oh." Naruto turned away, to the shopkeeper, who'd already brought Riia and Gretchen's orders.

"I'll take oriental, please!" He waved his arm vigorously, grinning. Riia shook her head, and turned to her own ramen.

Gaara watched from the rooftop. It was true what he'd said last night; she was a very interesting person. Riia was a puzzle. She wasn't like the others. He sighed, and looked on as Riia and her friend finished their ramen, and paid.

"Where we gonna go next?" Gretchen asked.

"Hm... I wanna go see Naruto train." Naruto's ears perked, and he turned around.

"You?" The girls nodded. "Imma have to ask pervert-sennin first. But... um... I really need to know who you are." Riia spoke first.

"I'm Riia. Genin from Sand, here with Gaara, sand powers similar to his." She patted the gourd on her back, and Naruto started. Was Gaara going soft?

"I'm Gretchen, of the Kaguya clan. Here with Riia."

Naruto tilted his head. The Kaguya clan? Who the heck were they? "Yes, the Kaguya clan. Shame on you if you haven't heard of them." Naruto raised an eyebrow.

"So, you know who we are, go ask 'Pervert-sennin'!"

"Right, okay. Follow me, I guess." Naruto led them to the bridge where he would meet Jiraya. "Yo! Pervert-sennin! These two girls wanna watch me train! Can they?"

Jiraya appeared in front of them, head tilted. He raised an eyebrow.

"Of course. They have to keep their distance, though."

Gaara had followed them to the bridge, careful to keep his distance. Looking at Riia, she appeared to be poking her forehead above her left eye, and conversing with Gretchen.

"Gretchen, should I get a "Love" tattoo right here?"

"Would your parents let you?"

"I suppose not. But how do you know we're gonna get back?"

"Gaara got back, didn't he?" Riia was silent, contemplating this. Finally, she nodded, but said nothing. Suddenly Riia's eyes widened. She grabbed Gretchen's shoulders.

"What is it, Riia?"

"I just realized when we are!"

"Just now?"

"Yeah! In the month break before the third exams! That means we can't do anything to alter the timeline! Nothing! Don't touch, don't interrupt, don't try to change someone's mind..." She let go of Gretchen, and both of them shook with the immensity of it all. "Wow..."

Gaara was still watching. Riia had seemed to come to some sort of a realization, a discovery. He leaned closer. Too bad Daisan no Me didn't include hearing as well.

Riia watched as Naruto managed to summon only tadpoles, and, midway through, decided to get up and wander the village. Gretchen and Gaara followed.

"Hm." Riia sighed, and paused near Ichiraku Ramen. "Gretchen, I'm gonna go back to the apartments. You can go do whatever." She waved her friend off, and plodded back to Gaara's room. He stood, just outside, watching. Riia sighed again, long and sad. She slumped, and put her knees up to her chest, rested her arms on them, and buried her face in her arms. Only this far on... I know more about Gaara than he does... I could mess up the... for lack of a better word... plot. Gaara's still supposed to be cold and unfeeling. What if I mess that up? What if I already have? I should avoid him. But then he'd chase after me, he'd still... feel whatever he feels, if he feels anything. Gaara had slipped into the room, avoiding Riia's notice. I could mess up his fight with Naruto! He might win! It's supposed to end in a tie! He's supposed to take a wound from Sasuke, and run off... then fight Naruto, tie, and go off with his siblings! ... I don't know what happens right after that... And then he's supposed to come back and help Rock Lee... but, then it's sort of okay, because his fight with Naruto's changed him... But-

"Riia-san?" Gaara said softly. The girl jumped, inhaled sharply, and looked up hurriedly.

"Gaara-sama! What are you doing here?" Her voice was panicky, and she faltered. Gaara tilted his head slightly, and his eyes held a slightly worried expression. Riia saw this, and her panic grew. Ooh, no! He's already getting worried about me! That's not good! Ooh... I have to leave... somehow... She stood up hurriedly, and pushed past Gaara, bumping into his sand. Gaara's face changed from worried to confused.

"What are you doing, Riia-san?" Her head was averted; she would not let Gaara see the tears.

"I have to go. Don't follow me." She ran off, gourd on her back bouncing with her footsteps.

"What...?" Gaara's question trailed off, and he exhaled. Did I do something...?