I Promise
Chapter 10

About a year has passed by already. Gaara and Tetsumari were now 7 and inseparable. They've become closer and usually helped each other train to get better. Both of them are now able to do a couple of basic ninjutsu with sand. They would practice it together every day, but when they aren't, Tetsumari would be with Granny learning some more medical techniques or practicing with her bow and arrows making up some of her own ninjutsus with it now that she learned more about it in academy school.

"Boy am I tired!" Tetsumari exclaimed with a long sigh, she lay down and rest for awhile. Tetsumari was training with Gaara again that day.

"Me too," Gaara said lying next to her tiredly. Tetsumari was talking to Gaara while they were lying down, but he was dozing off about Yashamaru. It has always been bothering him since the past year that went by.

[Flashback]

The time after Gaara's sand attacked Yashamaru who was masked at the time. Gaara bent over and reached for the masked to reveal his face.

"Gaara…" Yashamaru said softly.

"Yashamaru why did you do this…" Gaara cried.

"It was an order. I was sent by the Kazekage to assassinate you…"

"So that means you just did it unwillingly because he ordered you to, right Yashamaru?"

"No, he gave me a choice…"

"Huh? What do you mean…?"

"Gaara… I've always hated you… hate you for taking my beloved sister away from me…"

[End Flashback]

Gaara?" Tetsumari called out, "Are you there?"

Tetsumari's giggles caused Gaara to stop thinking about the past and realize that he was still there with Tetsumari.

"Oh sorry…" he tried smiling a little.

"Its okay," Tetsumari replied and looked away, "You're so unpredictable sometimes Gaara…"

"What do you mean by that?"

"One minute you're happy, the next you're all serious," Tetsumari gave him a small smile back," It's okay though. Let's go inside and eat now."

"Oh okay," Gaara and Tetsumari walked to the kitchen where Granny was waiting. For the past year, Gaara has been staying with Granny and Tetsumari. He stayed to help Granny out and also be there to watch over Tetsumari.

"Hey Granny," Tetsumari greeted as Gaara and her walked into the kitchen.

"Hey you two had a good training?"

"Yes, sort of."

"You guys must be starving then." Granny handed them their bowls of rice," Eat up!"

"Thanks," they both thanked Granny and ate their food. Gaara finished his bowl first and asked to be excuse.

"Tetsumari, I'm going to be in your room to wash up okay?" Gaara stood up and placed his bowl and chopsticks in the sink.

"Okay, see you Gaara."

"Bye Granny, bye Tetsumari."

"Bye dear," Granny said as Gaara left to Tetsumari's room. He was still replaying those memories that were forever stuck in his head.

"Is this how it's going to be from now on…" Gaara wondered madly," Are people going to keep going after me to kill me!?"

Gaara sighed and walked into the bathroom to wash his face. There has been numerous of times that he has been attacked, but he just doesn't want to tell Tetsumari or she'll get worried. However, it's also beginning to make him worry that Tetsumari might get involved in it soon if his attackers find out how close she is to him.

"Is there something wrong?" Granny asked Tetsumari.

"With Gaara?"

"Yeah…"

"I don't know he's so different sometimes."

"Oh why don't you go talk to him right now? I'll do the dishes for you today."

"Okay thanks Granny," Tetsumari said and walked towards her room. Gaara had just walked out of the bathroom and haven't noticed Tetsumari yet.

"Gaara…" Tetsumari said. Gaara was startled, but turned around to see Tetsumari.

"Tetsumari?"

"Yeah, who else would it be," she smiled, but as she walked towards Gaara sadness took over, "What's going on with you? It's making me worried…"

"I've just been thinking a lot," he said looking away from her. Before Tetsumari could say anymore, Granny interrupted them.

"Sorry for bothering, but someone's at the door for you Gaara."

"Oh okay, I'm coming," Tetsumari and Gaara followed Granny to the door in silence. The person that came for Gaara turned out to be an ANBU.

"The Kazekage ordered me to come get you. He needs to talk to you." The ANBU stated.

"Okay," Gaara replied and looked at Tetsumari who looked worried, "I'll be okay, don't worry about me."

"Okay… bye…" Tetsumari whispered and gave him a hug and kiss on the forehead.

"I'll be back, I promise" he whispered back and left with the ANBU. Granny closed the door while Tetsumari ran back into her room crying and thinking about why the Kazekage had wanted him.

"Tetsumari…" It was Granny.

"Yes Granny…" Tetsumari said slowly.

"Don't worry too much dear," Granny walked over to Tetsumari and used her hands to brush Tetsumari's hair. Tetsumari calmed down a bit and wiped her tears away.

"I just have a bad feeling that something going to happen."

"Just try not to think about it and rest right now okay? He will come back to you no matter what and you know it, don't worry."

"Okay, thanks for the advice Granny."

"No problem, goodnight Tetsumari."

"Goodnight," Tetsumari gave Granny a warm hug and kiss on the cheek. Granny smiled at her and walked to her own room. When Granny was gone, Tetsumari went up to the roof to relax. She closed her eyes and thought about all the memories she had with Gaara.

Before she knew it, she accidentally fell asleep and had fallen into a dream about her older brother, Moukoshi.

[Dream]

"Run Tetsumari, Run!" Moukoshi yelled.

"I don't want to leave you!" Tetsumari yelled. It was the time when her brother had saved her from the guy that tried to kill her.

"Moukoshi!" she yelled once more as her brother began to seem farther and farther away, "Moukoshi! Don't go! Don't leave me! Moukoshi!"

"Tetsumari…"

[End Dream]

"Tetsumari! Wake up!" it was Gaara who was trying to wake her up and calm her down.

"Gaara?" Tetsumari said confused when she sat up.

"You shouldn't be sleeping out her, let's get inside," Gaara helped Tetsumari stand up.

"So what happened earlier? Are you okay?" Gaara asked.

"Oh I was just having a bad dream. What happened with the talk with the Kazekage?"

"It was nothing, he just asked me questions."

"Oh," they finally reached Tetsumari's room and went to sit down by each other on her futon.

"Why did he really want you to come Gaara?" Gaara was quiet for a minute.

"He wants me to go to war with him against another village."

"What! You can't! You're only 7 after all."

"I have to… I'm just a special trump card for this village." Gaara said coldly, Tetsumari was the one who was quiet now.

"When are you leaving?" she said softly.

"Right now."

"Why so soon…"

"I don't know," Tetsumari looked away so Gaara wouldn't see her cry. Just then, Gaara held out a rose made from sand, but slowly as the sand fell down, a beautiful bright red rose appeared. Tetsumari looked at Gaara.

"For you…" he said handing it to her.

"Gaara!" she cried on him, "Thanks, but will you be okay?"

"I promise I'll be back for you, take care Tetsumari, " He was now the one to kiss her on the forehead.

"Gaara…" Tetsumari wanted to try to persuade him to stay some more, but was knocked unconscious.

"I'm sorry… I didn't want you to slow me down… I love you…" Gaara made sure Tetsumari looked comfy on the bed and also left the rose he gave her next to the futon. When he was satisfy he looked at her one last time and walked away.