"Shadow and Sand"

(A/N): So? How's the story so far Nav? I hope you like it… I'm not that good but I tried you know .

Disclaimer: One time, I actually saw the cow jump over the moon…

Chapter 5

"Truth"

3 days later…

My sister and brother have come back. They have been back for a couple of days now. And they did not hesitate in talking to Nara as soon as they came back. I could see it clearly. Both of them liked the brown haired girl quite a lot.

I asked them what took them so long over in Konoha and they said that they had to stay a little longer since the Hokage over there needed some help in arranging the village. It sounded very suspicious but I don't care.

Either than that, nothing has happened much; unless you count that my emotions are starting to jumble up. Not that I understand them much… but I do know when that happens.

Every time I see HER I remember the shadow dancing, with MY sand's shadow revolving around it. I don't see it to be affectionate, but it annoys me. How I have to have flashbacks of the same thing just because I see her. It's confusing.

We talk to each other at times, actually… more like order each other to do things. We both never succeed, so it's really useless. But we still talk, unlike before. Unfortunately, my brother and sister realize this and won't stop asking me about what's going on. I do not say anything but the truth. I just thought that if it really was THAT annoying to have someone in your house who you dislike so much, it would be better if I could cool down a bit by talking to SUCH person. It actually helps. But being Temari and Kankouro, they do not believe me…

"Gaara, Temari says that you are needed by the elders today."

Her voice breaks the silence in my room with her opening my door without even knocking and telling me something I already know. But even though my anger reaches above the level of humanity, I simply shift in my seat, signaling the Nara that I understood what she had said and that she needs to leave.

It seemed like she was good at reading my actions since every time I did something which had another thing behind it, she would do exactly what I had in mind. In this case, closing my door and walking away.

That night, when I returned from the elder's place, I found a coffee on the kitchen bench with a small note beside it:

Gaara,

This coffee should still be hot by the time you get here.

I have gone out with Temari and Kankouro to train in the outskirts of Suna.

Just thought I'd tell you.

--

The Nara.

I smirked as I put the note down and sipped some coffee. She knew that I never called her by her name so she tried to be sarcastic with it. I have to admit, she's pretty good. She might surpass Kankouro one day… just maybe.

I have never seen her actually fight and by the way her shadow danced, she looked good for a Chuunin. But I did not care, I was just saying.

But as I took the last sip from the coffee 5 minutes after I had found it, it hit me. She was becoming too comfortable around here, and so was I… in HER presence. It was all very wrong.

I had to do something… fast.

The next day, I skipped breakfast, even though I do not eat as much. I know Shukaku is dead, but I don't really have a big appetite.

I was not in a good mood that day, but what really flared me was when Nara casually came up to me and asked me about the whereabouts of the mug I had used the night before.

"It's in the sink."

I answered coldly, my green eyes sending daggers into her body.

She changes the position of her eyes from the sink to my orbs and frowns.

"You in a bad mood?"

She asks, apparently not realizing that that was THE wrong thing to say to a person like me. I quickly bring my sand out, controlling it to strangle her neck. I was planning on choking her until she begs me to stop and says that she will not bother me again, but a millimeter before it could even touch her skin, I suddenly stop and glance down at the ground below us. My temper is terrible.

I return the sand into my gourd and quickly walk away from the confused and slightly frightened girl. She must be thinking what had gotten into me since I haven't looked that intensely at her for a week and a half now. She still has her crutches and she still has some scars from the mug pieces, so I don't know what I was thinking when I wanted to hurt her.

Now I remember! I said I would do something about the whole "comfortable" situation. I just didn't know that this would be my plan.

I don't believe myself. 4 days later, and I have already threatened to hurt her 2 more times than the first. The second was when she made my sister and brother laugh too hard that the sound came into MY room. I quickly got up from my chair and marched towards her, sending my sand to make a barrier around her. I stopped myself then too. I don't understand… why do I?

The third was when she was a bit sick and she accidentally dropped a plate on the kitchen floor. I also tried to hurt her then, still stopping at the last minute. I'm very confused by now… why is it that I hesitate at hurting a person? I NEVER hesitated in simply killing some one before, why now? And all I want to do is teach her a lesson. Not kill her.

It is that afternoon when my brother barges into my room and jumps onto my bed, saying words my ears couldn't really hear since I paid no attention to him. But when he started changing the subject, I got mad.

"What do you think of Natsume?"

He asks happily. Those cat eyes narrowing playfully at me.

"Go away."

I reply, not bothering to say it cold enough.

"She's pretty cute don't you think?"

He asks me, ignoring me like how Nara does when I push her away.

"Looks like a tree."

I just want him to leave me alone. I'm trying to read about how things go on when you're a Kazekage, and he's trying to talk about some one who I want to hurt so badly.

"Lies! You know she looks good! You're just embarrassed!"

A few of my nerves flash bright red as I try to keep my temper low. At this rate, Kankouro should be careful. His life may be on the line.

I ignore him though, letting a 3 minute silence session pass by.

But before I know it, he's standing up and pointing at me accusingly with a huge grin on his face saying,

"Man! You're so slow! You LOVE her bro! You love Natsume! I can see it so clearly!!!"

That's it. He went too far. Without even hesitating once, I control my sand and send him flying to the wall behind my bed, letting my sand constrict him and keeping him in place.

"Stay out of my life."

Those were the last words that escaped my mouth before I left the house, leaving Kankouro to fall down, panting for oxygen.

That was in the afternoon. In the evening, I returned to my room, able to avoid seeing Nara the whole day that day. I sat on my bed and looked at the crescent that decorated the night sky.

But just as I had expected, I was to be disturbed yet again, by my older sister… Joy again.

I ignored her, even when she started talking about Nara. She was different from Kankouro so I could stand her, at least a bit more than him.

"You know she's leaving after a week right?"

Her first words were, making me stiffen in my seated position.

She didn't leave any time for me to respond since she knew that I wouldn't anyway. She just kept on going on.

"She's a wanderer. I wonder where she'll be going next."

"Poor girl doesn't like being in one place for long."

I smirked inwardly. I agreed with that. I could see it in her eyes that one month was too long for her to stay in one village.

"Kankouro's going to miss her."

"So am I."

Yeah, they were good friends. Like I said, they were alike.

"She's been worried about stuff lately."

"Says that you've been stressing."

What does that shadow user know?

My sister kept on going for half an hour; saying things all connected to that one girl. I didn't get annoyed though. It was worth listening to. It's ironic isn't it? Here I am, listening to my sister about the one girl I thought I hated so much, and even agreeing with Temari.

After half an hour of talking, Temari said one sentence that really woke me up, that suddenly let my eyes widen in shock.

"She loved you once."

My sister left right after that, leaving me on my bed to actually ponder over her words…

She loved you once…

May: CHAPTER 6!!! GET READY!!!!

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