A/N: Okay, it's time for another OC. Her name is Sierra Takara. She is a tall blonde girl with blue eyes, from the desert like Gaara. Yes, I know she's a Mary Sue, but that's all part of the plot, don't worry...

oOo

Keitorin walked sullenly into the Hyuga complex, brushing a strand of black hair from her face. Training had been hard, and Kyandii had spent nearly the entire time bickering with Ari. Neji nodded in greeting, but nothing more, when Keitorin walked by him. She was used to it: Neji and Keitorin didn't get along very well, and it was probably for the better. She paused as she noticed that Neji was sipping out of a mug. "You know coffee stunts your growth." She teased.

Neji glared. "It's not coffee, baka. Caffiene keeps me awake. It's a calming herbal tea."

Keitorin raised one eyebrown in apparent confusion. "M'kay then. You do know...that tea has caffiene too?"

Neji just grumbled under his breath. Finally, Keitorin sighed. "So, how's life?"

Neji shrugged. "It's been better. You?"

Keitorin smiled slyly. "Today sucked." She complained, shooting a pleading look at her brother.

Neji sighed. "You may hug me."

Keitorin squealed in delight, wrapping her arms around Neji's neck in a suffocating hug. After Neji shoved her away and referred to her as a "lower lifeform", Keitorin walked off to her room, where she could get some peace and quiet, and catch up on some reading.

Or so she thought.

The telephone innerupted her thoughts. She decided to let the machine answer it. "Keitorin! Pick up the phone!" A tiny voice squeaked. It was Kyandii. "Keitorin! I know you're there. I know things about you. PICK UP NOW OR I'LL NGET YOU IN YOUR SLEEP, DO YOU HEAR ME?"

Keitorin sighed, picking up the reciever. "Hello?"

Kyandii giggled. "I knew you were there."

"Kyandii and I noticed something at the ramen restaraunt." Ari's louder, less childish voice continued. Keitorin realized that they must have used three way. (A/N: I based Kyandii and Ari on me and Mew, originally. Although they've developed since. And we always do that to Glacier!) "Why were you staring at that Gaara of the Sand guy?"

"Was not!" Keitorin snapped back. "We're just friends." She said weakly.

"Mhm." Kyandii sounded unconvinced. "We also saw you kiss him, Keitorin! Fess up!"

"Come on," Ari laughed. "You totally love him!"

"No I don't..." Keitorin mumbled, but inside, thoughts churned violently. Did she love Gaara? She cared for him a great deal...

"Come on, then!" Ari urged. "We're going to set you two up!"

"SWEET!" Kyandii shouted. "We're gonna visit the Kazekage! ROADTRIP!"

oOo

It was a very long, sad walk to the Hidden Sand Village. Lee insisted that he come along for protection to his sisters. Or, that's what he said. Mostly, he came along to protect Ari.

"Lee! I nearly forgot to tell you!" Kyandii blurted out. "Remember back in the Forest of Death? Well, we were attacked by Asuma's team - Ino, Shikamaru, and Choji. Well, I finally got the chance to test out that cool jutsu you're always doing, where you wrap the person up in all the gauze and spin them around really fast, and Shikamaru threw up! It was AWSOME!"

Lee smiled. "It's great that you're finally gaining proper control of your taijutsu ability, Canbi! I'm so proud of you!"

Kyandii frowned. "It's Kyandii."

"That's what I said. Canbi."

"KYANDII. Say it with me. Can - dy! See, not that hard!"

But Lee never heard her, he already went back to talking with Ari about her genjutsu. "And then he just blew up!" Ari exclaimed, before getting wrapped in a bear hug by Lee. (A/N: Hehe, don't worry, eventually he and Kyandii will see eye to eye!)

"Finally! We're here!" Keitorin exclaimed, as the foreboding village came into sight.

As the four arrived at the Kazekage's house, Ari instructed Keitorin carefully. "Just ask him if he wants to...take a walk with you! That's like a date, I suppose. I really don't know much about restaraunts around here, so..." Ari shrugged. "Just do it."

Keitorin nodded, knocking firmly on the door. Temari answered, glaring defiantly down at the shorter girl. "What do you want, Keitorin?"

"Is Gaara here?"

"He's out." Temari said simply. At that moment, Keitorin almost collapsed due to shock.

"Gaara...goes out? The hell?" Keitorin shouted.

Temari shrugged. "He's got friends now. I don't want to know where they came from, so I don't ask."

oOo

Eventually, the four did find Gaara, sitting at a small diner. Keitorin rushed in, plopping down beside him and suprising him by wrapping her arms around his waist. "Hey Gaara!"

Gaara turned immediately, smiling a little as his green gaze met Keitorin's violet eyes. "Keitorin-chan." He introduced. "Let me introduce you to Sierra Takara."

Keitorin froze. She hadn't even noticed the tall, pretty blonde girl in the seat across from Gaara. Her golden hair fell in layers down to her shoulders, and her turquoise eyes were kind and full of laughter. Her bangs were held out of her eyes with her forehead protecter, clearly displaying the symbol for the Wind Country. "Sierra, this is Keitorin, one of my best friends from Konoha. And Keitorin, this is Sierra...my girlfriend."

Girlfriend.

The word echoed through Keitorin's ears as if he had shouted it. Keitorin struggled to stop tears from escaping her eyes. Wait! I don't like Gaara like that! I should be happy for him! Keitorin thought frantically. Or maybe...Ari and Kyandii were right?

"I need to use the bathroom, excuse me." Gaara said politely, standing and walking away. Keitorin's eyes met Sierra's. The happy laughter was gone, replaced with a cold glare.

"Gaara of the Desert is mine, Hyuga. Remember it." Her voice was soft, like a harp, but very cold.

"What are you talking about? Gaara and I are just friends." Keitorin returned with a glare of her own. "Just friends." She repeated quietly to assure herself that it was true.

"Oh, come on, Hyuga!" Sierra sneered. "I see how you look at that boy. It's obvious you want him."

Is it that obvious? Without saying another word, Keitorin walked quickly away, not looking back at the smirk on the girl's face. A few tears wet her cheeks. As Keitorin exited the restaraunt, she stopped in mid-step.

What happened to the temper I've become so famous for?

oOo

A/N: Read and review please!