Authors note: This is the final instalment, I know its a little lame but, I had to do something with Gaara in a story, heh… (By the way the italics us writing in the book)

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto; if I did, I'd have make Sakura less useless.

Bitter Sweet Memories;

Chapter five: Memories written in little red books.

Standing from his corner, Gaara winced slightly at the feeling of his stiff muscles. Had he really been there that long? He sighed and walked over to the opposite side of the small wooden room. He stopped three floor-boards away from the wall he tapped his foot along them until the wood and his foot connected with a hollow thump. He smiled ever so slightly and knelt down, pulling up the floor-board. He peered inside and stuck his hand in the dark hole, his fingers brushed up against something and he gripped it tightly, in lips in a small, determined, grim line. He brushed dirt off the cover of the book; the good news was that it had not paled much, due to its lack of exposure to sunlight. Smiling sadly, Gaara read the name in the corner on the cover 'Ruuno Suki', carefully he untied the rope that bound the pen to the book and also, kept the book from being read.

He had only ever read this book once, and he didn't like it then, he wasn't sure he'd like it now…he turned to the first page…

Diary,

As always you are the first thing I turn to when I get home from school, father was so mean this morning and mother never does anything to stop him, I was late…again…I just wish my mother would stop trying to play happy families! We're not happy! I'm not happy! And I'm pretty sure mother isn't either. Father makes everyone sad…

You know, I just wish there was someone around when my father hit me…sometimes mother was there, she'd tried to stop him a couple of times up…father just hit her too and told her to be quiet but…that's the polite version. Father doesn't like me, he thinks I'm a freak because I'm too smart for my age. I'm six and I think and act like a ten year-old. I don't see anything wrong with that, he should be happy, my mother is.

My mother loves me. She's always telling me so, and I believe her but when she tried to tell me my father really does love me too, I turn my back and ignore her. She knows I don't like father. He knows it too.

He always seems to ask why, but I think he's just acting, my father isn't stupid. That's why he never hit's me in the face.

I'll see you later, Suki…

Frowning deeply, Gaara wished he could just go back and beat the living cr- stuffing, out of him. No-one deserved a cruel father, he should know, he had one too. Well…his father was way past cruel, but that's a different story. He turned to the next random page…

Diary,

I saw Gaara again today; he was walking alone on the street again. I can understand why he's alone…everyone thinks he's a freak. I don't, it saddens me that not even his own village think of him as a gift. I think he is, he's special. He's not a monster like people say, he just different…like me…

I have to admit, I watch him sometimes, not because I'm a stalker, but because I want to get to know him, but it's never been the right time. Plus…he's kinda' cute…DIARY! Don't get the wrong idea! He's cute but I'm not looking for a boyfriend, plus I'm only six. Geez…

At this point Gaara couldn't help the chuckle that passed his lips…who scolds their diary, seriously?

Anyway, tomorrow, I'm definitely going to talk to him.

See ya', Suki.

He turned the page again.

Yayy! Diary, I talked to him!

He was so nice! How can anyone be mean to him, he complimented my name…or…I think he did, I don't know yet. But, I'll tell you how I did it:

I was writing in you, as I do and then I see him running down the street with a bag in his hands, I followed him, because, well, I've never seen Gaara act like that, he seemed quite happy, which was a good change, he has a nice smile…

Anyway, it turns out the bag was full of medicine but the girl he was giving it to, the one in the park that got attacked…by Gaara…but he just got carried away, he seemed pretty desperate not to have anyone running away. I know how he feels. I don't like being alone either.

Speaking of being alone; I'm making a mental note to look for love in the right places when I'm older. I'd hate to be stuck to someone like father. He hit me again today. Anyway, I want to prove that the saying 'little girls marry their fathers' is not true! And I don't mean literally marry their fathers, it mean it like…um…is it…metoforically? It might have been 'ph' I can't remember…ah well, I'm six, and I'm amazed I can even spell 'literally'.

Anyway, I'm going for a walk before mother and father gets home, let's go Diary.

Gaara sighed, that was her last Diary entry…he paused for a moment 'look for love in the right places…' he thought to himself 'maybe…' Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Gaara was quick to tie the diary up and place it under the floor-boards again and rush to the door "Gaara, are yo-"

Gaara flung the door open, and Tamari gasped in surprise, not because of Gaara's haste, because he had wrapped his arms around her in a tight…hug…? "Tamari…" he nuzzled into her stomach.

"G-Gaara…"

"Tamari, where are the-" Kankuro round the corner and paused mid-step "whoa…" he blinked in confusion. Gaara looked up, his eyes were…sparkling…with…emotion. Kankuro didn't have time to determine which one as he had been the next to fall pray to Gaara's tight hug "Gaara, what's bought this one?" he said laughing.

"Yeah Gaara…is everything okay?"

Pulling away from Kankuro, Gaara latched himself onto Tamari once again and smiled a small, happy smile "just fine…Tamari?"

She nodded placing her hand on his shoulders "hai?"

"I-I…I love you…you know…" he said nervously, his grip loosening ever so slightly, he looked over to Kankuro and smirked playfully "and you too, you oaf" Tamari released a shaky breath and her arms slinked around Gaara in a loving embrace.

"I love you too, Gaara" she smiled and ran a hand through her bothers hair and placed a small kiss on his forehead, he let her lips rest there for a moment and a tear of happiness fell from her watery eyes 'I've waited so long…to hear you say that'.

"Me too, and I'm not an oaf" he laughed placing a hand on both his siblings shoulders, and squeezing them lightly.

Smiling Gaara nuzzled into his sister more 'Maybe…I just need to look for it in the right places…'

(A/N: Okay, corning ending, I know, I'm sorry. Well, when Gaara says I love you, he means in the unconditional family way, I have innocent intentions, M'kay?)

End.