How to sway the innocent

Chapter 6

Author Note: My internet was down. I'm super sorry. I'm so glad you all enjoy these. They were a blast to write. Review if you have something to say, if not, just keep reading.

Gaara

"What in the world?!" exclaims a voice. I feel Lace jolt awake and I in turn open my eyes and unbury my face from her silver hair.

"Hmm?" is all I manage, sitting up and returning from my thoughtful state.

"Temari!" Lace shouts covering her chest with the comforter.

"You guys didn't!.." Her eyes widen as she puts everything together. "Oh, my god!" How did she get in? I examine the room to find my door ripped from it's hinges.

"You broke down my door," I accuse.

"Lace, your not even old enough too... you two couldn't possibly..."

"Temari," I address my words coming out much harsher than they need to be. "Leave so that Lace and I can find our clothes. Then feel free to lecture us to your satisfaction."

She makes a noise to express her offense. "I..." Temari begins, but I raise a hand to silence her.

"That was not a request, that was an order," I tell her, my eyes narrowing to show my seriousness. She seems shocked to hear me give her an order, but she complies.

Lace

"I can't believe you two!" Temari shouts throwing her hands up in outrage.

"Temari? What exactly did we do wrong?" I blink curious as to why she's even so mad.

"Don't act all innocent Lace. You know what you did!" She paces, odviously too mad to just yell at us.

"Temari. I don't understand either. How about you take it slowly?" Gaara helps. Temari glares at him.

"Don't you lie to me! I know you have a general knowledge of anatomy and you know how everything works."

Gaara and I look at the floor as we try not to laugh at how she's avoiding saying it out right.

"I can see why your mad. But why at Lace? I'll..."

"Don't you dare! You were not the only one participating!" Temari scolds. I giggle at that, I can't help it.

"Lace! This is not a laughing matter! Do you even realize how serious this is? My brother could lose his station!"

"You mean... not be a kage?"

"They're not going to do that," Gaara objects.

"You don't know how the elders will react. I don't care how you two feel. This is serious," Temari tells us again, this time calmly.

"But..." I can't think of anything to say. I love Gaara, but I've said all that I can right now.

"No, Lace. She's right, I was being thoughtless. My life is no longer my own, so I can't treat it as such." Gaara stands to lean against the wall.

"What? Gaara!" I feel betrayed. He's no longer fighting on my side.

"Temari is right," he tells me again a bit more harshly. The words sting.

"But... You're really going to give up that easily!" I yell at him. "Does this mean nothing to you?!"

Gaara looks at me in a way, a way I'd never wanted to see in his eyes, like I'm a child throwing a tantrum. "This isn't debatable," he monotones.

"I'll make sure I have a guard keeping an eye on her," Temari informs Gaara. So I don't try to see him?

Gaara nods, and thanks his sister like it's nothing. Am I that easy to give up on?! So, one snag comes our way and it's no longer worth it! I thought I meant more to him! But... I guess I was wrong!

"Temari, can I get a minute. I wouldn't want her leaving with a bad impression." Gaara seems so calm, it hurts. Bad impression?! The only bad impressions are going to be the nail marks I left on your back!

Temari heisitates, but when he gives her a look she seems to get that it's important. Temari leaves me with Gaara, my blood boiling over and my body tensed for a fight. "Lace, " he begins gently, like a parent about to apologize for not being good at their job.

"This isn't fair Gaara!" I interrupt. I don't want to listen to his sweet voice any more, not when I know that he isn't mine. "And you know it!" My temper seems to have picked up as the conversation went. I'm pissed, and not just do I want him to know it, but I want the guard outside to know it too.

"Lace, I'm really sorry," he tries.

"No your not!" I jolt from my seat pointing an accusing finger at him. "If your were then you wouldn't have just let your sister tell you what you can and can't do!"

"But Lace," again he tries, but I'm too angry to let him speak.

"No. I really thought we could make this work Gaara! But now I can't even believe I fell in love with you in the first place!" Was that too harsh? My voice echos along the walls, and I bet even the people in the lowest floors can hear me.

"I..." Gaara begins, but this time when I open my mouth to yell at him some more, he puts a hand over it. "Do you really think I'd give up that easy?" His voice sounds quiet compared to my screamming, so I have to think to make sure I heard what I thought I did.

"What?" is my muffled reply.

"Temari can think what she wants, but love is a hard thing to find. I of all people should know that. Giving it up is something I could never live with."

My heart contracts, I feel awful. I'd had no faith in him. None at all. And I had said such mean things, when he had only been trying to explain. I'm a horrible person. "Gaara... I'm so sorry."

"It's fine. You better hurry before Temari decides that there are things that we can do in a minute."

I laugh, tears forming in my eyes, and go to the door.