2 weeks later

(Mai POV)

I had been ready to leave the hospital that night after the Hokage had asked me what had happened, with Naruto's help. It turns out that after a few hours, I could remember almost everything that happened, including my lost memory of Gaara. I knew he was the one I loved, and I wasn't sure what I would do if I ever saw him again, since my head would probably explode in pain. Since that day, the team had been getting along pretty good. We all found out that our sensei was Kakashi Sensei. He had made us go through a teamwork exercise, where we had to work together to get a bell. Naruto listened to me right away, and, to my surprise, so did Sasuke. And after Sasuke joined in, Sakura wasn't far behind. We ended up passing pretty quickly and now we were stuck doing D-Rank missions. Safe to say, I was bored out of my mind. We had gotten one C-rank so far and that's it. I was dying to do something important for once.

When I got to where we were supposed to meet, I saw Kakashi was there early for once. "Hello, Mai. I was hoping you would be here before the others, so I could take you to the Hokage's office. Come on now, let's go." I looked at him, and replied. "You just want to be late again because I know my way to the Hokage's office by heart now." he just looked at me, smiled and, started walking. I sighed, wondering what The Third wanted from me now. We walked in silence until we got there. Then Kakashi gave a little wave and was off. I sighed, and started walking up the stairs to his office, and hoped I wasn't in trouble. When I got to the door, I barely had time to knock before being told enter. "Ah, Mai, good you're here. I'm sure you know that your skills are far above those of normal Genin." I nodded, knowing that for a while. "Good. Then that will make this easier for me to say. I want you train with a special sensei for a few weeks while your team is on another mission. This is so you can improve your special skills, such as sensing emotions, feeling Chakra, and reading people's minds."

I nodded, not even wondering how he knew about my abilities, but I guess I kind of gave it away when I said I knew what level I was at. "Good. Then you may train by yourself today but after that, your new sensei will train you." I nodded. "Is there anything else you need from me?" I asked, since I had noticed that he didn't dismiss me yet. "Yes. Mai, tell me if you think your team would be ready for the Chunin exams if I put them through a harder mission." I blinked in shock since it was strange that he would ask me and not Kakashi. "Well, there is a strong chance they would be more prepared than they are now, and it would help them get along better. Sasuke and Naruto aren't on the best of terms, so helping each other in more dangerous missions could help change that, but really, I think that's just a rivalry. Sakura would benefit from it too. She seems like she's holding back for some reason, and seeing the people she cares about in danger would make her fight harder." The Hokage nodded, and said I could go.

Instead of walking back down, I jumped out of the open window behind him, and ran from rooftop to rooftop, until I got to my favorite training grounds that no one else really seemed to use. I decided to work on some Ninjitsu. If the Hokage was asking me if my team was ready for the Chunin exams, or not, then he must be thinking about entering some of the rookie ten as we call ourselves. It would be so cool, that's for sure. But are all the teams really ready? Well we all have a chance to get better, because we all had a little over a month to train and get stronger, but since I didn't really know the other teams, I couldn't speak for them. But what I did know was that I was the only one on my team that all three of them worked the best with. I almost hoped they would get sent on a difficult mission without me so they could learn to work together.

I trained until the moon was high in the night, and felt like I could keep going, but I didn't want to risk not having any Chakra for whatever my new sensei had in mind for me. So I stopped training, so I could watch the night sky like I did almost every night. I started to get cold after a while. I sighed and got up walking back home in hopes that tomorrow would be more interesting then learning an easy new jitsu or two.

(Gaara POV)

I looked up at the night sky like I did every night, while I wondered where Mai was. It had been almost three weeks since she had left with Orochimaru. I missed her more than I thought possible. It felt like a hole had been punched in my chest and was painfully sucking me down into it. I had gotten more temperamental and colder to Temari and Kankuro since she left. They didn't say it, but whenever something reminded me of her, I felt the urge to kill, and the sadness inside of me got much worse. I kept her note and headband with me at all times, hoping that if she came back, or I saw her, that I could give them to her, and maybe take her back with me. I wanted to take her in my arms. I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss her again. I knew that she would come back someday. I hoped that day would come sooner rather than later, because I don't think I could live much longer without her. I decided that if I kept thinking like that, then I would have to kill someone soon. So I decided to think about an upcoming mission to the Leaf Village.

I can't believe I have to attack the Leaf Village...Mai always said she wanted to visit there when we became ninja...we would visit it, together…what if she's hiding there, because Orochimaru would look here first? I can't stand to think about it, so I won't. If destroying the village hidden in the leaves is the only way to restore the sand village-which I doubt it is-I will do it! If only to explore a little bit, and see if I can find the missing ninja that I love...

I sighed again, knowing that trying to take my mind off of Mai would be pointless, so I just tried to figure out where she could be for at least the millionth time in the past few weeks. My love never had left my mind. I couldn't even concentrate when I was training with my siblings. I knew I had to find her. I had to keep my promise, and to hope that she had kept hers. I will never give up on my best friend, and more importantly, my long lost love…

(Mai POV)

When I woke up I heard Naruto pounding on my door. Groaning, I got up and let him in. "Hey! What are you doing still sleeping? I thought you didn't have to sleep that much." he questioned me, as went and sat down at my table. Yawning, I replied to him. "Well you would be tired too if you were up almost all night sneezing, and then just have it randomly stop so you could sleep two hours and have a loud mouth blonde wake you up." he looked at me, and realized I was messing with him, so he started laughing. "Ok, you got me, but you might want to hurry up and get dressed if you want to come on our next mission!" it was my turn to look at him. Surely, Kakashi had told the others that I would be training on my own while they went on their next mission or two? "Naruto? You mean Kakashi didn't tell you? While you guys are on your next mission or two, I'm going to be getting some side training so I can do more advanced things..." I felt bad for saying it, and feeling Naruto become mad and sad with me at the same time. Had I known he would take it this bad I wouldn't have told him.

I left him sitting there speechless, and got ready for the day. When I was done, I walked out, and I saw Naruto sitting there, with the same look on his face. I sighed, grabbing his arm and pulling him out of my house. I started walking to the area I figured they would be meeting up at. As soon as I got close dragging Naruto behind me, I saw I was right. "Ok guys, here's the blonde! Now, Kakashi." I turned towards our sensei and felt him flinch. I could call him Kakashi because he knew I was just as strong as him. "Why the hell didn't you tell them what I was going to be doing while you guys were away?" I could tell he just inwardly cursed, hoping I would never have found out or at least till after the mission. "Uh...you see, I was going to after we left, and they asked where you were, you see." I glared at him, letting him know he needed to tell them now. "Ok. Guys, Mai here won't be coming with us. She's going to be getting special training and missions while we are gone." I could feel the shock from Sakura and Sasuke. Both recovered quickly in understanding. "So you're going to get more advanced training because you're at least at a Chunin level, while the rest of us are only Genin then?" I nodded to Sasuke, happy I didn't have to explain it again.

Except it isn't Chunin level I'm at...exactly…it's almost ANBU level. All I really need, is more experience, take the Chunin exams, and I could be promoted pretty fast...except I have to find Gaara after these guys can go on missions with other people...I'm sure the Hokage wouldn't mind, but if he did, then I would just leave my stuff behind and look for him without permission...

I looked back up at them, and waved my goodbye. I gave Naruto a quick hug to show him that I wasn't leaving him behind, and then left to go back home. I headed down, wondering what my new sensei would be like. I was about a block away from my house, when I heard a pounding on the door, and the screaming for me to get outside because 'I'm being lazy'. More than worried, I ran and snuck up behind the black haired lady that I assumed was my new sensei. I stopped and stared at her for a minute before coughing, to show I was right behind her. "Ah! Who are you and do you know this girl?" she asked me. She sounded like she belonged in a band with her sing-song voice. "Um…yeah that would be me. I left the door unlocked..." I told her, still hoping that she would become more...capable soon. "Really? I must have missed that! I'm your new sensei! Call me Ayame. None of that sensei crap, just Ayame!" I sighed, and could tell this would be a long couple of weeks. "Ok, then I would assume that you know what my name is. But I'll tell you anyway. I'm Mai, your new...student." I grimaced on the last word, hoping she would notice.

She didn't. She just started to drag me to some sort of training ground that was 'the best I would ever see'.

If she doesn't let go of me, I'm going to snap. I hate being touched. Especially by people I don't even know I can trust or not…I trust Naruto and I don't mind touching him with like hugs and stuff, but only with the one I love would I allow to touch me..Gaara...oh Gaara…Ugh! Ok, get him out of your head for now, and focus! Ok, this lady's going to make me go crazy by the time she's done! Hmm…look, I'm already twitching! She works fast...

I sighed again, not sure how I was going to handle this peculiar woman, just hoping that I would get out of it alive, with my sanity.

okay so the next chapter is a filler and has nothing to do with the story at all.. just wanted to warn you..it's kinda cruel and you don't even need to read it..i'm not very happy with is sooo yea again don't need to read it but i have lots more done if you guys want me to upload them anytime soon :3 oh and again thank you to Holly and HAPPY BIRTHDAY! haha but please review there are appreciated alot! till next chapter

the original thorfax out!