After about a month Hakura was used to living on her on and not being able to talk to anyone. Gaara surprising said hello and goodbye and occcosioally a thank you. Hakura found herself training her self in her ninja ways once again. At first she found it rather difficult to once control the sand that she used to be able to but after about a week she could raise it around her without using hardly any charka at all. In the evening she spent her time humming to herself meditating on the couch.

Omg, if I keep this routine up, I'm gonna be as anti-social as Gaara.

"Gaara..."

"I wonder where he is..."

She reached out for his charka and found him in his usual spot on the roof.

What could he be doing up there? It's completely pouring out.

Maybe I should go up to him, ask him if he wants to come in.

Are you crazy! He would throw you off the roof.

So...at least he would aknowledge that I am still his guest,

Fine, but we haven't learned to use the sand to break our fall though.

When Hakura was done battling her conscience, she opened the window and peeked her head up on the roof. A few feet away Gaara was sitting down with his eyes closed and sand above him protecting him from the rain. As quietly as she could she slipped on the roof next to him and looked in front of her not aware of what to do next. She took the time to study his features closly. Over the years he had changed. His face was more outlined and his hair had grown longer. She noticed a smudge of wet sand on his cheek and resisted the urge to wipe it off.

Wipe it off.

No, not in a million years

Cmon it doesn't matter if you get throw off the roof at least you could have an excuse to-

Don't you dare say that! I don't want to touch him!

Liar

Whatever.

She looked straight ahead at the nothing again and the sand on his cheek was getting on her nerves. Her hand reached up timidly and touched his cheek. When he made no movement her thoughts totally forgot about the speck of sand and slowly caressed his cheek. Her thumb stopped at his tattoo and rubbed it slowly as if trying to figure out a secret meaning.

He's...he's not trying to stop me. I wonder why not.

She ran her fingers through his hair and brought them back down to his face. Last but not least she outlined the dark black color that circled his eyes. That's when he snatched her hand.

"Don't."

"I-I am sorry, I just couldn't...resist."

He glared at her and closed his eyes once again. Hakura noticed that his hand never let go of hers.

"Um..Gaara."

"Hn?"

"Can I have my hand back now?"

"That depends are you going to touch me again?"

"...No I guess not."

His grip loosened and he let go of her hand. A shivered racked through her small frame as she hugged her knees close to her. Even though Gaara was protected by his sand she was still getting soaked.

Maybe I can use the sand the same way Gaara is.

Slowly she concentrated her charka into the sand on the roof and a weak shield came up above her. This distruped Gaara deeply. He didn't know she could still control sand. How dare she use his sand to her own sad little purposes.

"What do you think your doing?"

"Trying to stay dry." Her tone was flat and he could tell she was mad at him.

"Here." He mentally took control of her sand with no problem at all. Her control was pitful. He expanded the sand from over them to over to her. The problem was that it didn't go very far from him since the rain was making the sand soggy and very heavy.

"You'll have to come closer, to stay dry."

"You don't mind?"

"No."

"Okay."

She creept closer and he tensed up.

" I'm not going to sit this close if you don't want me to."

" I do."

"Okay."

They were actually really close and Hakura closed her eyes.

Ugh...I didn't realize how tired I am.

It was like Gaara could read her thoughts. He opened his eyes and looked her straight into hers.

"You can lean on me if you want."

"O-okay."

I sooo don't get him. One minute he's telling me that if I touch him he'll basically kill me but another he's telling me I can lean on him.

After a few minutes she gave into her tireness and leaned her head on Gaara's shoulder. Breathing in she smelt the most wonderful aroma.

Go figure, who knew that killers would smell good.

As soon as she closed her eyes Gaara could tell she feel asleep. After about a half and hour Hakura head slipped into his lap. Gaara opened his eyes alarmed, but just saw it was her head. She stirred and sat up.

"Hakura?"

Her eyes were still closed when she sat up.

Great she still asleep.

Hakura yawned and found Gaara lap again and sat in it and cuddled to his chest.

What the hell is she doing!

When she shivered Gaara looked down at the girl and wondered what to do. He looked at her closely and noticed the faint line of freckles that were spread across the bridge of her nose. She had a mop of strawberry blonde hair and a perfect smile.

Why am I thinking about her this way?

I don't like her.

Why are you letting her lay on you then?

She asleep she doesn't know what she's doing.

Oh yes she does, if that doesn't convince you then how about earlier then? When she was touching you face.

Just shut-up.

Ha you know I'm right.

I SAID SHUT UP!

Gaara bolted up standing on the roof and the sand gathered back in his gourd exposing him to the rain. Hakura on the other hand still being asleep feel right down the roof to the ground.

"Hakura!" Gaara quickly did every thing in his power to make sure she didn't feel the impact. Of course though she woke up right when she was about to hit the ground. Not having the will or the sand Gaara used himself to break her fall. She landed on him right in his gut causing him a lot of pain.

"Hmmm..Gaara? Gaara! Gaara are you alright?"

He nodded and helped her up.

"Why did you save me?"

"It was my fault you fell off wasn't it?"

"Yes but you could of just let me fall."

"Well I didn't, did I?"

"No...thank you Gaara."

"No problem."

He took her hand and started to lead her back into the house.

"Gaara why was I completely thrown off when you moved? I mean I was just on your shoulder, right?"

"Well you sort of woke up and crawled into my lap because you were cold."

"Oh, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to."

"I don't mind."

"And I sure-...wait you don't mind?"

"No."

"Okay then."

When they reached the door back to the house Hakura went right to the couch and tried to get comfrontable. The couch was lumpy under her weight and it smelled very foul.

"Will you stop moving?" Gaara had enough distubances and didn't need this one.

"Sorry, you would be to if you had to sleep on here."

Gaara was meditating in front of her and contiened to glare at her for moving.

"Holy crap already just go sleep on my bed, I don't use it so you can!"

"...I don't feel like moving."

"Fine."

Gaara approched her and lifted her up bridal style.

"What are you doing Gaara?"

"Moving you."

A smirk came across her face when a plan hatched in her brain.

I wonder how much patience he has with me. Only one way to find out.

Right when he was about to drop her on to the bed she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Let go."

"No."

"I said let go, don't make me ask again."

She could see he was losing his temper and removed one of her arms.

"Happy?"

"No."

He went to stand up but her arms brought him down closer to her.

"Why can't I understand you? On minute your nice to me and the next you won't let me near you. Do I upset you?"

"No."

"Then what is it?"

He looked away from her and found an interesting spot on the wall to stare at. Her hand brushed his cheek and turned his head to face her.

"Gaara...you can tell me."

His face was less then an inch away from hers.

"I've been feeling...I've been feeling this new feeling and I don't know how to deal with it."

"What's the feeling?"

"I'm not sure, I can't understand it. That's what bothers me. I can always figure out something out. It's about...you."

"Me?"

"Yes...I always think about you and for once I care about another persons safety."

"Oh Gaara..."

She leaned forward and closed the gap between them. At first Gaara let her kiss him but after about 30 seconds he found himself kissing her back harder and more passionatly. He came on the bed and found that she was stradding at his hips.

Amazing, how did she get there without breaking their kiss?

Hakura's hands were in Gaara's hair the whole time while his were around her waist.

"Gaara..."

She pulled up and look at him.

"I can't tonight...I just too tired."

She kissed the tatto on his forehead and layed down next to him. Her head was on his chest and her arms over his stomach.

"I'll see you in the morning...Gaara-san."