Guys, I'm so sorry if I haven't updated in a while. It's just that it's been such a busy week last week, we even had this speech choir, but good news is that, we won GRAND SLAM. we were the champions. we even got best costume, best director and best group. wow. so, to make it up, I'll try my best to extend this 14th chapter. :P

BTW, I ALREADY HAVE REIYKA'S PIC. Anyone interested in viewing it, may do so at my look at my profile to view the link to it :)

Shoutouts time! jinxedpixie: thanks for the review, XiaBubbleQueen: thanks for the review!, and to Lela Rye: gosh, thanks for that review!!

"Thank you for dinner," said Reiyka, rubbing her stomach contentedly, still savouring the beef teriyaki that she and Van ate. They were just approaching the Kazekage Building. "I feel really, really full!"

Van laughed, trying not to remember how much it had cost him. "Yeah, well, it's really the least I could do." Van knew that deep inside Reiyka had really wanted to see Gaara already. Even though she was hungry, he could also feel her impatience. "Well, goodnight. You need to rest."

Reiyka was surprised when Van suddenly leaned towards her and kissed her on the cheek. She stopped. Van waited for her reply, even though he already had an idea of what it was. So he started to walk away. "Oh, Van." she said softly, embracing him. Her voice was grateful but serious. "I care for you… really! But only as… a brother of sorts… as my bestfriend. And I mean, you're a bit older than me!" she chuckled, blushing.

"Yeah, I know…" he shrugged, looking back at her. Then he smiled. "That Gaara of yours should make a move already, or I will…" Van waved and continued walking away. Reiyka laughed, feeling embarrassed, and looked at the night sky dotted with stars. The village was filled with chatter as the full moon illuminated Suna. She sighed, feeling a bit comforted by the stars.

Reiyka felt nervous as she stood before Gaara's office door. Reiyka wondered about what were they going to say to each other, as it was the first time they would see each other again in days.

Gaara… she thought to herself. I do have feelings for you, I just don't know how to admit it… But inside herself Reiyka felt doubts. Here goes… She knocked on the door.

No answer.

She waited, but she still heard nothing. So she pushed it open slowly. "G-Gaara?"

She saw him look up; he was seated behind his desk. She must have caught him off guard, clearly, he wasn't expecting her. Reiyka's breath wavered in disappointment. "Oh… y-you're here." he said, standing up awkwardly.

"Yeah, I, uh, finished training already…" Reiyka suddenly felt very self-conscious, and wondered how she looked. She also felt her chest tighten, she found it hard to breathe.

"I see," he replied, clearing his throat, clutching a pen. "That-that's good." It seemed obvious to Reiyka that he didn't know what to say. Gaara looked at the clock. It was exactly 9 in the evening. I've missed you, he wanted to say, but for some really annoying reason, he felt like something was lodged in his throat. He cleared his throat again.

Why doesn't he say anything? Reiyka thought miserably, seeing his eyes look down. She felt hers do the same, and she swallowed, sighing. "Well, that's all." said Reiyka, turning abruptly. "Goodnight." Before Gaara could say anything to stop her she had left.

Reiyka ran all the way upstairs, feeling really low. She wished her tears would come now but they wouldn't. Upon reaching the landing, she stopped, breathing hard. Standing before the living quarters, she dared not go inside just yet. Reiyka sat on the floor instead, leaning against the enormous door, and waited for Gaara but he never came.

The moonlight cast an eerie glow on the staircase. Reiyka remained staring into space, seemingly oblivious to the cramps she was starting to get in her legs. She lost track on how long she sat there. Out of the blue, or the dark rather, a figure ascended upon the stairs. However, it was only Baki.

"If I may," he greeted cordially, as if all along he knew she was there. He sat down beside her. Reiyka smiled at him tiredly. "What are you doing here? It's chilly."

"Actually, I don't know as well." she admitted, sighing, looking around, noticing how the world had turned gray and black.

"Gaara," he started, sighing. "Was a very misunderstood boy growing up. From a very young age, he was forced to fend for himself for he had no one who cared for him. Temari and Kankurou, his own siblings, had even shunned him before, blaming him for the death of their mother. They were only sticking with him for the fearsome power he had."

Reiyka was shocked, but continued to listen, staring at the floor.

"His father regarded him a weapon, training him since he could walk, hoping he could harness the Shukaku's power. Because of this, everyone in Suna had come to fear him so much, loathe him so much. This of course, made him only trust more in the monster to protect him, unconsciously submerging himself in its ferocity. There were countless threats to his life, merely adding more fuel to the fire in his heart. I regret, and I'm sure his siblings also, making him feel that way.

We all noticed a change with Gaara after we failed to invade Konoha -"

Reiyka gasped in surprise, but Baki paid no heed to her; he didn't notice her reaction. Konoha, the village my father was supposed to visit before! she thought, but continued to listen to Baki.

"- He only used to fight and kill for the sake of a mission, and for his own pleasure. I'm telling you, he was way different before, a ruthless and remorseless killer. But when we returned to Suna from Konoha, it was like he went through a transformation. He learned to think, value and protect others. That's why he became Kazekage, regardless of his past. Unknowingly, the people started to care about their leader, and they forgave him as well."

Reiyka now understood. She felt her eyes become warm and blurry.

"Just around three years ago, he was kidnapped and killed, yes killed, by the criminal organization Akatsuki, who obtained the Shukaku from him. The Shukaku… it was a monster that was sealed away inside him when he was born. The ones who did it were his father, and other village elders. You know the gourd he has? It was filled with sand that held some of the Shukaku's power, the sand defended him involuntarily. When he was resurrected from the dead by Chiyo, the very elder who did the sealing technique, the monster and the sand's power vanished for he no longer had the monster. Also, Chiyo sacrificed her life in return for his."

Baki heard a muffled sob and stopped to pat Reiyka on the back. The moon was shining brightly now, and her tears sparkled strikingly. Baki smiled proudly and looked up. "Gaara was probably amazed when he realized that he had become important enough for people to save him. He was literally given a second chance in life."

Reiyka smiled and wiped her tears. "I just don't know if I could rule my village already… I mean, I don't think I'm capable enough. I don't think I can go back, I don't even want to yet." She sighed. "But if I stay here, people in my village might get hurt, and think that their leader has deserted them. And I'm putting the ones that I care for the most in danger. That's why I must go."

Baki stood up. Exactly, he thought. "Wanting to protect others gives us unbeatable power over our fears, and strength and courage for our loved ones. I think that was one of those things that Gaara has also realized."

"Then I will go." Reiyka said. "Because… I want to protect my people, and protect Gaara, because… I love him…" She said softly at first, but then said it like it was a statement that came from her soul, the words strengthened by her racing heartbeat, approving of her decision.

He bowed to her as if he agreed. "Then, everything will be okay." Then Baki smiled before leaving.