Sunday, May 5th, 2013.

Hey, peeps! New chapter today. I was originally going to show you what Matsuri and Sai and Shisui were up to and some ItaHana, but it ended up being all GaaMatsu. 3k+ words of GaaMatsu.

Well. This fic was supposed to have GaaMatsu anyway, so yay! Development!

I recall that I haven't done birthdays lately. So I'll name the big ones that have passed.

KHR: italicized.
Naruto: bold.
Real people: Normal.

Hidan: Apr. 2, Lussuria: Apr. 4, Giannini: Apr. 13, Leonardo da Vinci: Apr. 15, Timoteo (the IX): Apr. 17, Hana (KHR): Apr. 20, Yamamoto: Apr. 24, Chouji: May 1, Haru: Apr. 3.

Today (Just listing, forget format): Deidara (Naruto), Hibari (KHR), and Luffy: (OP).

At first I thought it was Xanxus from KHR and Luffy's birthday rather than Hibari and Luffy's. Xanxus' b-day turned out to be Oct. 10, same birthday with Naruto. So I was right as far as same-b-day-as-shounen-protagonist went. Just had the wrong protagonist. Today's also Children's Day and Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican (it's only Mexico right? I may be wrong) holiday. Last night, I heard celebrations for it, even. No, it's not Mexican Independence Day. It's a common misconception. Mexico's independence day is in September if I remember right.

Anyway, yeah, GaaMatsu.

Answer to last QotW: Probably "SIGN" by FLOW, the 6th one. I loved that one. I don't really have a favorite, but if I did, that'd probably be it. FLOW's epic.

Song I'm listening to at the moment: "Desperate Measures" - Mariana's Trench.

I decided to do something like this. Oh, and Mariana's Trench's "Beside You" made me cry in a FMAB AMV.

Fun fact about me or otherwise: I have a twin. Really. We're identical; both girls. She reviewed this once. She was a guest and used "Your Twin" as a username. She hasn't gotten an account yet, which I think is stupid b/c I've had mine for almost two years. So if "Your Twin" says something, don't get angry. She's my sis. She's the older one, btw, and, as I like to point out, I've been taller than her for most of our lives.

I decided to do something like this, too.

So.. READ ON!

Oh. And I wrote the next chapter, too. They were supposed to be one, but they ended up being too long so I split it up. I'm not sure what to do afterwards, though. Any suggestions for the story, guys?


Chapter 27: Letting Love In


Matsuri POV

Damnit! I can't believe I was delayed so long!

I ran between the trees on the ground, occasionally leaping unto tree branches.

When I had first headed out into the forest after Gaara, I was met by enemy Sound and Sand nin, but was able to get passed them quick enough.

The real trouble was Baki…

I'm nowhere near strong enough to put up much of a fight against him. Forget winning.

During our "skirmish" –that could not be called a fight; I was hardly a match– I watched the forest as it collapsed and filled with the sounds of a large battle; Naruto versus Gaara.

I did my best to try and get past Baki, or at least try harder to fight him, but all I managed to do was injure him enough to render one of his arms mostly useless. Not even completely. But my accomplishment would've been great if he wasn't still just mobile enough to still move his hands to make seals, not that he needed them.

I had targeted his right arm, since I believed he was right-handed.

He turned out to be ambidextrous. FML.(1)

More and more time passed until I was almost exhausted – I wanted to save my energy for Gaara and get us both out of the forest. I couldn't count on Temari and Kankuro doing it – I had a feeling they'd be too tired to even get here.

So, I had decided to ask Baki the question that prodded at me most, and guilt-trip him in the process. Which I kinda felt bad about doing. I'm such a goody-two-shoes…


FLASHBACK


"Why are you doing this, Baki-san?" I yelled at him. "Why?!"

"You are interfering with the Kazekage's plans. That is reason enough," he said, throwing kunai at me.

"The plans to destroy a village that wouldn't have invaded us when we were vulnerable? That's terrible!" I continued to dodge the weapons he threw at me, as well as the kicks and punches.

"You wouldn't understand. You're a child."

"The only thing to understand is that our 'beloved Kazekage' is starting a war with a village that could destroy ours! (2) Not to mention their allies! Not a smart move, to me!"

"With Orochimaru's assistance-"

"All Orochimaru wants is Sasuke's body and revenge on Konoha! He doesn't care about Sand or any of us! In fact, he killed our Kazekage!"

That stopped Baki cold. "…What…?"

I took that moment to take a breather. "You didn't know? Do you think the person that was up there with the Hokage was really our Kazekage? He had been killed by Orochimaru days ago! That was just the Kazekage's body!"

He didn't say anything at first. But then, he muttered, "That explains the chakra signature…"

I nodded. "That was just Orochimaru."

I gazed passed Baki. "I would love to stay and chat, but I really have to get going."

"Oh no you don't!" Baki grabbed my arm, stopping me from leaving.

"Why not? Gaara-kun's out there losing control, and I have to stop him! I can't let him suffer the way he is right now! The Kazekage's dead. You don't have to carry out his plan anymore! Why do you continue to stop me?" I tried to wriggle out of his grasp, but to no avail.

"Don't you care about what's happening to him? To Temari-chan? Kankuro?" I asked, unable to understand why the adult wasn't allowing me to help them.

"You've known them since they were children! You trained them for so long – you must care about them!" I continued. "I've seen it in your eyes, Baki-san."

He looked down, and his grip loosened. But I didn't take off. I had more to say. "Right now, Tema(3) and Kankuro are both out there, fighting strong enemies. They're bound to be hurt."

His grip tightened again, but for an entirely different reason than the first time he grabbed me.

"Right now, Gaara-kun's fighting a battle without any control of himself. I may not be able to find Kankuro and Tema in time to help them, but I can reach Gaara-kun. He's so close…"

Baki's grip loosened, but not enough for me to pull away. "Please… just let me go. Let me help the people I love, Baki-san. Just because you won't, doesn't mean I won't either."

He stood up, still holding my arm, but this time faced me. His expression held the pain of a hurt loved one, and I knew he was willing to help me now.

"… How… can I help?"

I smiled. I placed a piece of paper into his hand.

"Take this and look towards the skies. If you have extra time, do us a favor and get rid of some enemy nin, would 'ya?" I winked, and sped off, following the figures of the giant-toad-turned-fox(4) and Shukaku in the close distance.

In my peripheral vision, I saw him look at the paper, then at the sky, and speed off in some other direction.


END OF FLASHBACK


By the neared the area where Shukaku and whatever-the-name-of-that-toad-was (5), the two giant creatures were gone, and I had to resort on searching on foot, assuming Naruto and Gaara remained in that general area.

And here I am, still searching.

Wait a minute… what is that?

I saw a flash of red.

I ran toward and gasped. There he is!

Gaara was laying on his back, his forehead bloody. Across from him, in the clearing they were in, Naruto crawled, also covered in blood, toward Gaara, speaking to him.

I moved to hide behind a tree. I didn't want to interrupt them.

"… I know how it is to feel alone, Gaara. So much that it hurts…"

My hands flew to my mouth. Gaara mentioned this…

This was the speech Naruto had given Gaara(6). One of them, anyway.

Anyway, this was the speech that impacted Gaara the most. How he knew how Gaara felt, and would've ended up just like him.

But the difference was that he had friends, people who loved him. The ones that changed him and made him who he was.

But this part… this part is new. Gaara once told me the whole speech as Kazekage, and I committed it to memory.

But this wasn't part of it.

"You have friends, too, Gaara! They care about you, so much. Temari, Kankuro… they're your family. And Matsuri, she's your friend, isn't she? They care about you Gaara. They love you. But you have to let them in. You have to. I know you care about them, too, Gaara. Don't be afraid to let them know."

Tears came to my eyes at Naruto's words. Thank you Naruto, for this… I didn't show my gratitude well to you before, but now… thank you so much, for pushing him change for the better.

"But… I don't know how," Gaara spoke, the pain evident in his voice. He was distraught, and it made my heart twist.

"Don't worry, Gaara." Naruto said. I could hear the warm smile in his voice. "It'll come to you. Don't be hesitant to let your emotions guide you every once in a while."

"B-but… how can they forgive me? Temari, Kankuro, Matsuri… even Ittetsu and Sari… they're my family and friends but I tried killing them on multiple occasions, mistreated them all… how would they still care about me?"

Gaara's voice choked and I couldn't stand it any longer.

I ran into the clearing, to Gaara. I sat and raised his head unto my knees, caressing his face as tears streamed down my face.

I saw two Sakura clones (I assume) run to Naruto.(7) I bet they were listening in, too.

"Don't say that, Gaara-kun!" I said.

"Isn't how long they've stayed by you proof enough, Gaara?" One of the clones said.

"They love you dearly Gaara and nothing is going to change that." The other said.

"B-but what I did-" Gaara started, but I interrupted him.

"Forgiveness, Gaara! We'll forgive you over and over because we love you!" I exclaimed, dropping my head upside-down next to Gaara's, pressing my face against his owns as I sobbed and spoke.

"See? They love you… and I know you feel the same about them, too, at least somewhat. Isn't your remorse proof of that? You're a good person, Gaara." Naruto said again, as Sakura's clones lifted him up on their shoulders. "You're a boy afraid of love, because you're afraid to find that it doesn't exist. I know that feeling, Gaara… it's okay to be afraid of love… but give yourself a chance okay? Let it in. You'll be surprised and what you'll find."

And with that, the clones, with Naruto between them, leaped off into the trees, out of sight.

I remained here, crying into Gaara's shoulder, muttering "let us in, let love in", when I felt a hand on my open cheek.(8)

I stopped and sat upright again, to find Gaara's hand in the air where my head was.

I took hold of it, and turned to Gaara's face, upside-down in my perspective.

"Matsuri…" his eyes were glistening; it occurred to me that they were tears waiting to fall.

"Do-… do you really-… you, Temari, Kankuro… do you all really love me?" His eyes were full of hope- hope for love. And of fear – fear that it may not be true.

I smiled warmly, wiping my tears. "Of course we do, Gaara." I said, leaning down. "More than anything…"

I kissed his "love" tattoo.

The second after I placed my lips upon the self-inflicted mark, it was if a dam broke – Gaara broke into tears.

The first time I've seen him cry.

I pulled Gaara's body up against mine, cradling him in my arms, and laying my back unto the ground. I held him as he sobbed and released all the pain he felt and kept bottled up over the years. For the first time since the death of Yashamaru.(9)

Silently, tears of my own from seeing him in so much pain –but happy that he was changing and releasing it, letting us in– fell.

"We love you… we all love you… don't ever doubt that…" I whispered constantly but softly into his ears all the while. "I love you." I knew he wouldn't understand what kind of love I meant by that yet, but I was okay with that.

He knew I cared, and that his siblings cared, and even that Ittetsu and Sari cared! They may be a bit scared of him, but that was understandable. They still saw him as a friend they should watch over.

He knew he was loved, and that was all.

That's all that mattered right now.

Eventually, after what felt like hours, his sobs died down to whimpers and I saw that he was falling asleep.
My own exhaustion began to creep in again.

In the last few seconds of his consciousness, I readjusted him against my chest so he was comfortable.

I pulled out my yellow flare gun and fired into the air before I forgot.

"I love you…" I whispered one last time into his ear, and the two of us fell asleep, against one another on the ground.


Three nights later, about 9 o'clock, Konoha's Hospital


Matsuri's POV

"Is there anything you want before I return to my cot?" I asked Gaara, my hand softly stroking his face.

It was the day after the Invasion, and Baki had found us and taken us to the hospital, saying he used the key he gave me. Looks like the flare guns served their purposes well.

At first, I was placed in a different hospital room than Gaara, but with some negotiation and fear tactics on Temari and Kankuro's part, that was changed and we shared a room.

Over the course of these three days, all of us –the Konoha 12, us Sand Gang, Karin and Sai, etc– visited each other briefly in the hospital, making sure we were okay.

However, none of us were ready to bring up what happened in the woods so no one brought it up.

Especially after the Hokage's funeral, which was yesterday. Even Temari and I shed tears for him, and it was surprising we were even allowed to go, being so close to the village that invaded this one. It was a sad day, yesterday.

When no one visited, and at night, I took a seat next to Gaara's bed and we spoke about anything and everything – something we rarely and scarcely did back in Suna. Gaara was opening up, and I welcomed it.

It was about the end of the now-nightly-ritual, and once, Gaara wanted me to lay in his bed for a while until I fell asleep or until he did (he slept the first night for the first time since he was six, and slept again the night and day of the next day) . If I fell asleep first, he'd use his sand to put me back in my bed, or I would move back to my bed if he fell asleep first, like on the second night.

At least, those were the arrangements for the past 3 nights.

"Yes…" Gaara said.

"What is it?" I asked.

"Re-… remember when I asked you to kiss me, Matsuri?" Gaara asked, and it threw me off balance.

I blushed heavily and fidgeted. "Y-yeah… w-why?"

A year ago or so, Gaara was starting to get curious about physical affection, so he asked me to kiss him one day, all of a sudden.


FLASHBACK


"You said it feels good, right? I want to see what's so good about it," Gaara said.

"W-well-… uh… u-um… b-but-…" I stuttered. WHAT?!

"Do you not want to?" Gaara asked, his head tilted. There was a ghost of a pout on his lips, and I sighed.

"It's not that…"

"Then what is it? I think Temari said something about girls usually treasuring their first kiss… is this your first?" He asked. "Is that why?"

Well, I guess that's why I'm hesitant… then there's that irrational fear of him thinking I'm a bad kisser… he hasn't kissed anyone and neither have I! How's he supposed to know?"

"Sort of…" I also don't want to lose it in this sort of situation… that's what a small part of me is saying. But it's Gaara, so it's okay. Isn't it? It's not like I expected my first kiss with him to be romantic… okay, maybe I did. But I'm writing a romance! And I'm a hopeless romantic! Is it my fault, really? …Yeah, it is.

"So you don't want to? I could ask someone else." Gaara stated.

I shook my hands vigorously. "No! No!" I don't want you to kiss anyone else!

…Well. Looks like I just discovered and proved that I am possessive of Gaara… Temari and Sari were right…

"So what do you want to do then?"

"I-I'll do it!" I said with finality, and let out a breath of relief.

"Okay then."

I walked to his bed and sat next to him on it, against the bed frame. He down looked at me.

I was a little miffed to find that I was still shorter. How does that work? I'm older! And he is kind of short for his age from being born prematurely!(10) Curse my short genes!

"So…"

"Oh, right! I-I'll do it…" I took a deep breath and leaned closer to him. Here I go…

"Just mimic what I do…" I whispered softly, before my lips touched his surprisingly soft ones.

Instinct took over and my lips moved against his, and slowly after words, his own lips reciprocated. The kiss was clumsy and soft and short, but that was understandable.

All things said, Temari and Kankuro could've opened the door and peeked in and I wouldn't have noticed. (*)

The kiss basically turned my brain to mush, and all I knew that I was kissing Gaara, whom I love, and he's kissing me back! What else mattered?!

Soon afterward, we parted, and I panted slightly while gazing at him, my eyes still slightly dazed and my face the color of his hair.

I was pleased to see his face was flushed, and his eyes dazed slightly as well. Though the flushed face may just be the lack of oxygen while we were kissing.

"I… liked it." He said.

I smiled. Suddenly, I felt like we just made a new bond of some sort. I'm not sure what it was, but whatever it is, I think he's more comfortable with me, for whatever reason. I wasn't going to question it – I'm glad.

"So did I."

I pulled us both under the blankets and adjusted myself against him, and fell asleep, as he turned off the lights with his sand, stroking my hair to soothe me.


END OF FLASHBACK


"I-…" Gaara began. "I want to do it again. If you're okay with it."

I was shocked. He wants to kiss me again?

"Okay…" I said, leaning closer to his upright self in the bed.

"But this time," he said, stopping me momentarily. "I want you to put all your feelings for me into it if you can. I don't understand them yet; I just know you love me… romantically. But I still want to feel it."

I sat there, shocked. Then, I relaxed and smiled. "Of course."

His eyes widened. "Y-you don't care-… you don't care that you're kissing someone who doesn't love you? Didn't you mind the first time?"

I shook my head. "No, because it was you. I love you, and even though I know you don't reciprocate those feelings, I know you care and you know I care and you're safe; that's all that matters to me right now. My feelings won't change, whether or not you return them. Love isn't conditional, Gaara, just like I, Naruto, Sakura, Tema, and Kankuro have told you."

As he looked at me, with a mixture of confusion but gladness and relief, I took the opportunity to kiss him again, but with more force this time, pouring my feelings into it.

He kissed me back, soon gaining as much vigor.

I loved it.

When we pulled away, even Gaara was panting, though not as harshly as me. He has really good lungs, damn him…

I smiled and was about to stand up to go to my bed but Gaara stopped me with a hand on my wrist.

"Stay here with me." He whispered.

He pulled me to him and I climbed into bed with him, holding him against my chest.

"Thank you, Matsuri." He said.

I said nothing, but kissed his forehead gingerly.

Soon afterward, his breathing softened and he was asleep.

I followed suit.


(1): The "FML" part was inspired by SasuSasku Forever and Ever's y. She's one of my favorite authors. BTW, the story's rated M if you want to read it. Just warning you.
(2): Konoha's strong, guys. At the state Suna is in right now in the story, if Konoha really wanted to, I think it'd have the power to take on Suna. And think about what Konoha could do with their allies...
(3):
In my story, in the universe the girls and Sai landed in when the went back into the past, things were changed, right? So most of these flashbacks here, unless specified otherwise, will be of their lives in this world. In this past, Matsuri and Temari are close, so it'd only make sense for Matsuri to have a nickname for her, right? I'm saving "'Mari" for Shikamaru, btw.
(4):
Remember Naruto had Gamabunta transform into a fierce, giant, animal to fight Shukaku better? No? Well, he did. And the transformation ended up being Kurama.
(5):
Why would Matsuri know Gamabunta's name? That's why she says that.
(6):
The one where Naruto's crawling towards Gaara. I'm pretty sure there was a speech there. If not, whatever. In the original past I have Gaara and Matsuri closer than they are in canon. So, when Matsuri was completing her training, Gaara told her more about Naruto, and how he changed him. The speech was some of what he told her.
(7):
I didn't show you this, but a bit after the first chapter ended, Sakura made 2 clones to go and pick up Naruto for her, since she and Sasuke were busy in the city. So yes, Sakura sent them.
(8):
If you've seen the 8th OVA, it's basically Sakura and Naruto's position at the beginning and end of it. But, replacing Naruto and Sakura are Gaara and Matsuri respectively.
(9):
I don't think Gaara has cried since, so I'm pretty sure that's accurate.
(10):
Gaara was born 2 months prematurely, at 7 months. I think Naruto was, too. So as a result, both are short for their age. In fact, in Shippuden, they could wear each other's clothing - their the same size, height, and weight if I remember right. Only in Shippuden, though. And being born prematurely doesn't always have a birth defect - my sis and I were but we're fine. Sis has mild asthma, though, and I have even milder. It almsot doesn't exist. And we're kinda tall for our age. Though I'm sure that's just genes - my dad's side has pretty tall people.
(*):
Remember this~... take note of it~...

Great response for the last chapter, guys! 10 reviews!

The 100th reviewer was Hearts grow. Her one-shot will come over my summer break - unless I get bored, I'm not even attempting to start it. I want school to be over by then. My summer break starts June 1st.

Review!

QotW: What is your favorite song?

I don't think I've asked that yet, so good.

REVIEWWWWW!

Love,

Cherry.