Gaara sat and stared up at the ceiling, wondering what kind of reaction his letters of apology would garner. He didn't have to wait long.

Temari's screech made him wince and shake his head. Damn, that was piercing!

The blonde virago came flying down the stairs clutching her letter and red in the face. Gaara was a bit surprised. He knew she had a temper, but she never displayed it to him at least. What with the fear of being killed of course.

He watched, more than a little bemused, as she got right up to him and opened her mouth to yell at him just as she had done with Kankuro all these years. And then she froze.

Gaara smiled. Yep, she'd just remembered she was afraid of him, and why.

Temari paled and backpedaled, nearly falling on her ass as she shook the letter at him. "You …you ….how …why ….and why are you not angry ... are you ... sm ...smil... smiling?!"

Gaara shrugged. "You forgot your fear of me all the way until you got down here. You never would have even considered getting this upset with me before, no matter what I'd done. So, the fact that you forgot, even for a short while, means my plan is working."

Temari sputtered, her mouth resembling that of a fish out of water. It was amusing to watch actually. He thought about apologizing for thinking she looked like a cod fish, but he'd already written his letter to her. All new apologies were moot points as far as he was concerned.

Kankuro came grumbling down the stairs, rubbing his eyes and clutching his letter too. He looked at Gaara and then to Temari. The sand puppeteer gauged the current moods and shrugged, at least their sister was still alive. It meant Gaara must really be changing.

"Yeh. A puppy would be good." Was all Kankuro said as he headed toward the refrigerator.

"Puppy?" Sputtered Temari, confused and still freaked out by everything going on.

"For amends." Gaara specified. "I have to make amends, and I offered to get Kankuro a new puppy."

Temari nodded, then narrowed her eyes. "You didn't offer me any amends! And you killed three of my boyfriends!"

Gaara snorted. "Don't exaggerate, it was only two. The third one was only maimed. And I keep telling you, that last one was not my fault!"

"Sudden sandstorm, freak accident, and you'd already killed or maimed three of my boyfriends, what was I supposed to think???" She yelled, then covered her mouth in shock. She'd yelled at Gaara.

"Damn woman, you scream like a banshee." Gaara rubbed his ears in irritation.

Slowly, the tension ebbed from Temari as she realized that she wasn't going to die. It took a moment for her breathing to settle, then she remembered something. "So, what are you offering me in amends?"

"A puppy?" Gaara asked hopefully, "you can share with Kankuro."

Temari's face hardened.

"No, didn't think that would work." Gaara said, "Wait a minute! I did too offer you amends!"

"Uh no, I'd kinda remember that!"

"Sure I did. I promised not to try and kill Nara Shikamaru, your new boyfriend."

"HE'S NOT MY BOYFRIEND!"

Kankuro snorted derisively. "Yah, yank the other leg there will ya Temari? I saw you cuddled up nice and cozy with him right before we left Konoha." The Sand puppeteer ducked just in time to miss being nailed by the iron skillet his sister had chucked at his head.

"Yep. I have offered my amends. Do you accept?" Gaara sneered.

Temari looked down her nose at her little brother, the monster. "No. You have to leave him alive in order to complete your precious 'change'. For amends …"

Gaara and Kankuro both stopped, waiting for her to finish, knowing it wasn't going to be good.

"You have to be NICE to him."

Gaara nearly threw up at the thought.

o.o.o.o.o

Dear Tsunade-sama,

I'm really in a FOUL mood after a certain conversation and promise that I did NOT want to give. So I apologize in advance if I sound angry in this letter. But that's kind of the point, really. I'm working on changing and getting rid of my anger issues. To do that I have to list all those I've wronged and make amends where possible.

So you might be wondering why I'm writing you since we've never actually met. Well. I actually need to apologize to the Third Hokage. But he's dead. So it's to you then.

1. I apologize that the Third Hokage was killed in that assault by us and the Sound ninja. Just remember, I didn't actually have any direct participation in his death.

2. I apologize for the destruction of several acres of arable land during above mentioned attack.

3. I apologize for any and all injuries on your shinobi during my matches, and during the time between matches, and during the time before matches, and ...well, I hope you get the picture since they did make you Hokage and all.

o.o.o.o.o

39. I apologize for murdering a few people in your village during the chuunin exams. I can't list them all, I've already tried. So I'm issuing this blanket apology to cover them all. Yep.

40. Uhm, well, I also got mad during the chuunin exams and had no one to take it out on, so I went to a neighboring village and slaughtered them all. It made me feel better at the time. Since there is no one left there to apologize to, I'm giving it to you. Sorry.

41. I apologize for laughing and feeling good after slaughtering a whole village. That really does sound bad doesn't it?

o.o.o.o.o

75. I apologize for using my 'sand eye' jutsu to watch the women's bath house. Actually, I really shouldn't have to apologize for this one, since the time I spent peeping helped keep me sane. That's no small feat I have to admit. So this one actually helped save several of you villagers lives. Let's just call this one even.

76. I apologize for being rude to several of your villages. Okay, okay, ALL of your villagers.

77. I apologize for going to sleep during my fight with Naruto. And no, I'm not explaining this one, it would take too damn long.

78. I apologize for being disappointed in not killing more of the Leaf shinobi. Let's just say I've changed my mind on most of them. And the one I might one day wish to kill, I've just promised NOT to kill. Stupid women.

79. I apologize for calling women stupid. Though, it's almost an oxymoron.

80. I want to apologize for the above remark about women, but I don't want to lie outright. So, we'll just say that I'm sorry that I feel that way right now. Okay?

o.o.o.o.o

114. I apologize for everything that I haven't listed, or don't remember, about my time in the Leaf Village.

115. Oh, and not to be crass or anything. But from what I've heard about you and your … attributes. I'm actually really sorry you weren't IN the bathhouse while I was there.

Thank you for taking the time to read this. As for amends. Well. I've already promised someone not to kill a certain one of your shinobi. Can we call it quits with that?

Most Sincerely, Gaara of the Sand

P.S. I need to write to Uchiha Sasuke as well. But I don't have his forwarding address. Do you know how to get a letter to him, I would be most appreciative.