The night was frosty and the air was cold. The streetlights guided her home as she listened to the music that was blaring through her earphones.

It was the middle of January. A new year, a new start. Although Matsuri new in her heart that nothing would be different or would change. There was nothing to change for. Nothing to be excited for. Well maybe the trip to New York which is coming along fine as far as money was concerned. Other than that she still had to deal with her fathers hazards, and Kurenai breathing down her neck about her exams and graduation. "You won't succeed in life if you don't at least put in the effort and try" she says. "You'll ruin your life" she says. "Your mother would want this for you" she says. Nothing on a piece of paper would ever come of any use in her life that's for sure. Even those who do exceptionally well won't be happy with their lives at the end of the day. Life is just full of disappointment.

Matsuri let out a sigh and pulled her scarf up higher to keep her warm. It was a nice night tonight. Not a cloud was left in the sky. Stars glistened in the black but the moon outshined them all. If only she could be a star she thought. Not a care in the world. It just sits there decorating the sky as if it were an ornament on a Christmas tree. It brings people hope and calms people down when they are particularly stressed or worried about something. There is nothing dark about a star. All its made up of is light.

It was only as she let her gaze linger away from the sky that she realised no music was playing. Crap, her phone must of died.

Taking off her earphones she let them rest on her neck as she dug her hands deeper into her pockets trying to keep them warm. More cautious then ever she picked up her pace and continued to walk down the path towards the local newsagent. The sound of her footsteps accompanied her, not just hers, but someone else's.

Slowing down her pace she casually looked over her shoulder to see who was behind her and saw a tall dark figure who's walking stopped as soon as she looked over. More curious than ever Matsuri came to a halt and turned around fully to face the figure. Swallowing, her throat surprisingly dry she asked;

"May I help you?"

It was as if time had stood still. The figure took a few steps forward before stopping underneath the lamp light above, that way she could see clearly. She was generally surprised to see who it was as her eyes widened and her breath hitched in anticipation. The red head stared at her for a few seconds before speaking.

"Not anything in particular" he replied voice croaked. Well, in all her dreams she never thought she would ever see him again. His name she reminded herself. 'I need to know his name'.Clearing her throat she asked;

"Who are you?"

"You don't remember me?" he asked.

"No I know who you are just, who are you?"

"Gaara." What a peculiar name. Peculiar, but in a good way.

"Gaara" she repeated with interest.

"Correct."

"Well Gaara, what exactly are you doing out here at night?"

"I could ask yourself the same question" he now stood in front of her green eyes staring back at her.

"I had work at the café but you probably already know that by now, what's your excuse?"

He looked off to the side as if he was questioning if he should answer her or not.

"I was protecting" she looked at him confused.

"Protecting? protecting what?" she asked

"You" he looked at her again with a unreadable emotion.

"Me?" she stood there in shock and tried to ignore the butterflies in her stomach, or the fact that she was now roasting in her coat and scarf. Clenching her fists she asked, "Why would you need to protect me?"

"Your bruises are gone" He gently grabbed her cheek as he expected her face. She cringed under his touch, hoping that the light didn't make her massive tomato face noticeable.

"Um y-yeah they're gone"

"He didn't do it again did he?" his voice sounded stern and angry. She took his hand of her face and took a step away from him avoiding his stare by looking at her shoes.

"No, not yet at least" she took a deep breath before looking up into his eyes.

"Were you following me?" she asked

"Yes" he replied.

"Do you do this often?"

"Yes"

"Since when?"

"Since I first met you in the coffee shop". Matsuri looked away from him, his stare was becoming too intense for her to handle.

"You want to protect me?" she asked

"Yes" He replied. She looked up at him and smiled.

"Walk me home then?" she received a ghost of a smile as they began to walk side by side. There was a silence between them. Not awkward but not comfortable either. It was a bit tense walking with him. "I want to protect you", those words repeating over and over in her head. It was strange to think that they barely even new each other and he was already looking out for her. It felt weird knowing that someone was protecting her. That someone was watching her every move on the look out in case she is in any source of danger. It felt weird knowing that all that time, those weeks those months, she was thinking about him when he was closer to her than she thought. She took at small glance at him, realising that he was looking at her.

"Whats wrong?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Your a lot shorter than I remembered" her eyebrow twitched with annoyance.

"Thanks for telling me the obvious" she muttered into her scarf.

"I like short girls" he said looking ahead of him not noticing that Matsuri had almost tripped over her own feet.

"That's nice to know" they both fell into silence again. She realised that they were coming nearer to her house. She didn't want to leave. Didn't want to deal with her dad who was most likely drunk or at least on the verge of becoming drunk. She didn't want to leave him. But sadly she knew that she had to. Stopping in front of her house porch she turned towards him.

"That thing you told me, about the world being a cruel place and it will only get worse in the long run, why did you tell me that" He looked at her for a long while before looking up at the sky and saying;

"Lets just say we have more in common than you think we do" he looked at her one last time before turning around and walking away from her out into the darkness.

As she entered her house, waiting until he was out of sight, she ran upstairs to her bedroom and crashed onto her bed. The last thing she thought of before darkness took over her was his last words "we have more in common than you think we do".