Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, its plot or characters. I own any OC, my plot, and anything else you don't recognize unless otherwise stated.

SNicole25: Yeah I know Suna doesn't have an academy until later but I needed one for this whole thing to work so I'm changing it. Instead the Sand Sibs are going to be just teaching their own new class when that time comes. The academy won't be like Naruto's where they have to actually do things during classes like practice jutsus. It's more of just a learning about chakra, strategies, etc. then training on your own time kinda thing. ALSO (didn't put this in the PM but I found this) on the wikia it says "academy grad. Age 12" so maybe they do have one, idk.

Fujoshi . Empress: Of course ^_^ (The "." in your username is seen as a link by FF so I added a space between the words and the dot.)

KHandFF7fanforever: lol glad you like it.

ButterfliesInTheSkies: I stay up reading fics too.

Working on Chapter 9 and 10 now.

I cannot stop this sickness taking over
It takes control and drags me into nowhere
I need your help, I can't fight this forever

…

I need a savior to heal my pain
When I become my worst enemy
The enemy

-My Demons - Starset

Gaara and Rin sat at the kitchen table as Yashamaru took a tray of cookies out of the oven.

"Let these cool, okay?" Yashamaru looked at the two who nodded. "Okay. I'll be right back." He said before he left the room. Rin hopped off her chair and Gaara frowned.

"Yashamaru said to wait." he said.

"I'm not gunna take one." Rin said. "I just wanna look at them." Gaara continued to frown and hopped off his chair. Rin went on her toes and inhaled deeply. "I love cookies."

"Me too." Gaara said going on his toes so he could see them too. "Yashamaru makes the best."

"I'm gunna make you cookies one day." Gaara looked over at her as she smiled at him. "Well when I can use an oven." She moved her hand slightly but just enough for it to touch the still burning hot tray. Rin let out a small scream and Gaara gasped.

Yashamaru heard Rin's scream and dropped the basket of laundry he was carrying to run to the kitchen.

"What happened?" he gasped. Gaara looked over at him. The two were standing by the sink on a small stool, Gaara holding Rin's hand under the water while her other hand wiped away some tears. Yashamaru frowned. "I told you two to wait."

"We weren't trying to take one; we were just looking." Gaara said. Yashamaru sighed and opened a nearby cabinet to get a med-kit. Gaara turned off the water and let Yashamaru take care of Rin's hand. As Yashamaru put the med-kit away the two moved back to the table. Gaara was frowning as he stared at Rin's bandaged hand.

"Does it hurt?" Gaara asked as he lifted his head to look at her.

"A little." Rin said quietly. "I'll ask mom to kiss it better later." she said. Yashamaru turned to them and smiled as he saw Gaara take Rin's hand and kiss her bandage.

"Better?" Gaara asked. Rin's cheeks were pink as she smiled at him.

"Mhm. Thanks Gaara." Gaara smiled back.

Yashamaru walked into the kitchen the next morning to see Gaara at the table with a bunch of crumbled pieces of paper, that had been coloured with blue scribbles, all around him as he had his head down on the table.

"Gaara?" Yashamaru asked putting a hand on Gaara's back. Gaara lifted his head with a frown. "What's all this?" Yashamaru picked up a ball of paper.

"I saw a paper flower in the window of a shop. I wanted to make one for Rin." He lowered his head again and his voice was muffled against the table. "But I can't figure it out." Yashamaru smiled.

"Would you like me to help you?" Gaara lifted his head as his eyes lit up.

"Yes please!" Yashamaru chuckled and nodded.

"Alright." Yashamaru picked up a piece of not crumbled paper and Gaara grabbed the blue crayon that had only about an inch left. "I think I might have some blue paper somewhere." Gaara grinned.

"Can I borrow some?"

"I'll give you a few pieces." Yashamaru said with a nod.

"Thanks Yashamaru!"

...

"Gaara!" Rin shouted while waving as Gaara walked up to her on the swing. "What took you so long?" She asked with a playful pout. Gaara bit his lip and held out a blue origami flower. Rin blinked and smiled. "Did you make this?" she asked. Gaara nodded.

"Yashamaru helped me." he said quietly as she took it from his palm.

"It's so pretty!" Rin squeaked before kissing his cheek. Gaara smiled as his cheeks went pink.

"It matches your hair." he said. Rin giggled.

"Now I wanna make you one."

"Yashamaru has coloured paper he let me use. I'm sure he'd let you use some." Rin grinned and grabbed Gaara's hand before running back towards the village excitedly. "Whoa!"

…

Gaara watched Yashamaru show Rin how to make the flower before giving her a piece of blue paper. Rin shook her head and cupped her hand around her mouth to whisper to him. Yashamaru smiled and Gaara tilted his head curiously as Yashamaru sifted through the colours of paper before pulling out a piece of red paper. Rin smiled and started to make the flower. It took a few attempts but she finally finished it and held it out to Gaara.

"It matches your hair." She said with a smile. His cheeks went pink as he took it.

"Thanks." he said quietly. He glanced at Rin shyly as she giggled.

"Tag you're it!" Rin called before running away from the swings. Gaara hopped off his swing, leaving his bear and Rin's cat to swing while he chased after her with a smile. There were a few other kids playing their own game. Rin looked back to see how far away Gaara was and before she could look back she tripped over her own two feet and hit the sand with a yelp. Gaara gasped and froze. Rin cradled her bleeding knee as tears came to her eyes. The other kids stopped playing their game when they heard Rin's yelp.

"I think Gaara tripped her." One of the kids whispered to the group.

"He's so scary." A girl whimpered. Gaara's eyes widened and he shook his head.

"No! I-I didn't hurt her! I swear!" Gaara said. Rin frowned and stood up. The kids all looked at her. She gripped the bottom of her shirt and leaned on her good leg.

"Gaara would never hurt me! So… So shut up!" She shouted before sniffling and wiping her nose on her sleeve.

"Let's get outta here." The kids all ran away and Gaara watched them sadly before running to Rin.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly. Rin let herself fall back and held onto her leg as the tears started to flow freely. Gaara frowned. He helped her stand again and put one of her arms around his shoulders while he put one around hers.

…

When they found Yashamaru, in the kitchen, Rin had stopped crying and was walking better but the blood had trickled down her leg and started to dry making it look a lot worse than it was.

"What happened?" Yashamaru asked. He looked to Gaara who was frowning.

"We were playing and I tripped." Rin said. Yashamaru picked her up and sat her on the counter. Gaara stood next to her and took her hand. She smiled at him and he smile sadly back.

"You have to be more careful." Yashamaru said to Rin. "You always seem to be getting hurt." Rin frowned.

"I'm sorry." she said. He finished cleaning and wrapping her knee and put everything away. When he turned back Rin was giggling as Gaara kissed her knee. He smiled up at her.

"Does it still hurt?" he asked.

"Nu-uh." She hopped down off the counter and hugged him. "Thanks Gaara!" Gaara's face went pink and he smiled as he hugged her back.

…

About ten minutes after the two left Yashamaru was cleaning up in the kitchen when he heard two sets of feet and sniffling. He turned to see Gaara and Rin, holding hands, Rin crying silently. She lowered her other hand from her eye and revealed with a scrape on her chin. Yashamaru sighed and took out the med-kit.

Gaara stood in front of a photo of his mother, trying to stab his hand with a knife.

"It doesn't matter what I do. The sand just gets in the way." Gaara said looking at the sand.

"Gaara."

"Yashamaru!" Gaara gasped, turning to see his uncle in the doorway. Yashamaru walked over.

"As a member of the medical corps, our leader the lord Kazekage has asked that I see to your safety and well being personally. Please Gaara; it hurts me to see you do that." Gaara looked down. "Although I suppose that the sand would protect you anyway."

"Yashamaru?" Gaara asked.

"What's the matter?" Yashamaru asked.

"What does pain feel like?"

"Hm?"

"You see, I've never actually been injured before and I was wondering what it was like. Rin gets hurt all the time. I want to know what she feels."

"Hm. How can I put it? It's… very difficult or maybe upsetting's what I mean. It's like, when someone is struck or cut it's a feeling that's very hard to take. When you're hurt you don't feel normal. I'm not explaining it very well. Basically it's a situation you wanna avoid if at all possible."

"Yashamaru?" Gaara asked.

"Yes?"

"Do you… do you not like me Yashamaru, like the others?" Gaara asked looking down.

"Everyone goes through their lives hurting others and being hurt, but it's not so easy for us to hate one another." Gaara's face brightened and he smiled.

"Thanks a lot, Yashamaru." Gaara said. "That helped, I think I kinda understand what pain is now."

"I see."

"I think I might be hurting too, just like everyone else. I'm always in pain." He put a hand over his heart. "I know I'm not bleeding, but lately I've felt a lot of pain here." He gripped his shirt. Yashamaru took the knife from Gaara and slit his own finger. Gaara gasped and his eyes widened.

"Wound your body and the blood will flow fast following the heels of pain, but as time passes the pain eventually fades away. With the help of medicine it can heal even faster, but even more dangerous is a wound dealt to the heart." He put his other hand over his heart. "Cause there's nothing that has more trouble healing."

"A wound to the heart?" Gaara asked.

"Wounds to the heart are a little different from wounds of the flesh. Unlike an injury to the body there is no medicine for a wounded heart, and sometimes it never heals." Gaara looked down and put his hand over his heart and gripped his shirt again. "But don't worry, there is one thing that can mend a broken heart." Gaara looked up with a gasp. "But it's a very complicated remedy. It can only be administered to you by another person." Yashamaru said looking at the picture of his sister.

"So then, what am I supposed to do?" Gaara asked. He noticed Yashamaru looking at the picture and turned to look as well.

"There's one thing that can heal the heart. Only one." He looked back at Gaara. "It's love, Gaara."

"Love?"

"You've got it."

"But, but how am I supposed to get rid of it?" Gaara asked with wide eyes. "What is it I have to do to get rid of this pain?"

"Don't you know, Gaara? It has already been given to you."

"Huh?" Yashamaru looked at the picture again and Gaara turned his head as well.

"Love is the heart's desire to serve someone precious to you to watch over them, to care for them. Like my sister did for you. There's no question that my older sister always loved you. Sukaku the sand spirit is a living soul bent towards the purpose of war. The sand automatically rushes to protect you, just like the love of a mother. I believe your mother's will's carried in every grain of that sand. My sister, even after death, wants more than anything to protect you." Gaara looked at Yashamaru.

"Yashamaru?" he asked. Yashamaru turned his head to look back at Gaara.

"Huh? What is it Gaara?"

"Thank you for all of your help. You know, for stopping me before."

"You're very welcome. After all, you're special Gaara, I hold you very dear to me." Yashamaru said with his finger in his mouth. Gaara walked forward and took Yashamaru's hand. He held it for a moment before putting the bleeding finger in his mouth for a few second.

"It tastes like iron." Gaara said as he lowered Yashamaru's hand. Suddenly there was a knock at the door.

"That must be Rin for your sleep over." Yashamaru said with a smile as he stood. Gaara's face lit up.

"Yashamaru!" Yashamaru stopped and turned to Gaara. "W-Whenever I'm around Rin," He put a hand over his heart again but didn't grip his shirt. "The pain goes away. Is… Is that because of love too?" Yashamaru stared for a moment, his mouth open, then smiled.

"Let me ask you this: Whenever Rin's hurt," Gaara frowned.

"The pain comes back." Gaara said softly. "I don't like to see her hurting cause it makes me hurt." He gripped his shirt. He suddenly gasped with wide eyes and looked up at Yashamaru. "Is that because of love? You said it's the heart's desire to serve someone precious to you to watch over them and care for them. Rin is… Rin is precious to me." Gaara said with a small smile. Yashamaru watched him, his mouth slightly open. "I want to watch over her and protect her." Yashamaru smiled.

"That's love Gaara."

I originally was going to use this scene at the same point in the time line as it is in the show. (meaning this same night is when Gaara would be attacked after bringing the girl medicine then walking home and going to the roof. Remember the whole getting the ball and hurting that kid didn't happen though.) It's not exactly spoilers (well in a way it is) but I just don't want people to think the cute ends here. This chapter was just getting a bit long so I wanted it to end with that perfect line. Lol.