Secret Eden Chapter 10: Beneath the Hoodand, a naruto fanfic

Blackeclipse: On a role now so can't say so much but—

Disclaimer: I do not own any creations by Masashi Kishimoto-sama….everything you do not recognize here as a part of the story belongs to the mind of Blackeclipse, such as her OCs :D, Naruto, the original created by him, 's storyline belongs to Kishimoto-sama….however this story line of this fanfic belongs to Blackeclipse, as well as the OC character designs and backgrounds. THAT IS ALL :D

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Chapter Ten: Beneath the hood and Beneath the Mask.

The room was huge and wide, mats where here and there, bowls had given impressions that they were used for food and water, pillows and blankets on empty beds here, it was like an evacuation area for the poor.

And at the middle of the round room, was a little boy, skin to the bones and skin was pale white laid there, he was wearing a black shirt and baggy shorts, his hair was a mess, but it was straight, covering the middle of his forehead and down to the bridge of his nose while some of his long bangs parted for his closed eyes to be seen, his mouth was slightly open for air, his breathing was showing them he was having difficulty.

Mieihi sat beside him at the boy's left, her feathers were around the boy as her wings turned smaller than before, a startled expression on her face at her comrade's arrival.

On the other hand, the hooded person to the opposite side suddenly came infront of them with his sword being brought out slowly.

Naruto was about to attack and so did everyone as the sand had quickly solidifies around them. And it a sudden swift movement the man slammed his sword to Naruto's kunai, noticing the kind of sword, his eyes widened. Sasuke? The sword incredibly looked like the exact copy of the Uchiha's own sword, the style was also dangerously similar, however the handle was black, something he didn't pay attention to. "Sas'-ke…!SASUKE!—I KNOW YOU'RE SASUKE!"

"Stop yelling that bullshit!" he heard his voice, full of venom as he turned to kick Naruto off, making the blonde shinobi screech his feet against the dirty cement floor beneath him. "I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH HIM!"

Naruto and everyone else paused to that. …Him?

"Yose!(Stop it!)" a voice called out, echoing around them, which had been from the silver haired Jonin from behind them. They turned their heads to him, "…From the looks of it, that boy is in a serious condition….we're not here to endanger you or that boy as long as you won't harm Mieihi-chan and us."

"Harm her?" the man asked, his voice was very close to Mieihi's own boyish voice. "…..Who said I will?—I'm asking her to heal my little brother and you expect me to harm her? Konoha Jonin?"

Naruto blinked, lowering his kunai, "Eh….how did…" and he shook his head, "Wait—little brother?"

Mieihi spoke up as the rest of them had entered the round building. "…I was brought here because he had asked me to heal is little brother…" she gestured her hand to point to the boy to make her point clear.

"Areh…Mieihi-chan, you heal?" Naruto blinked in disbelief, "I thought your body only h-"

"No, she can." Kankuro interrupted him as his eyes softened. "Back at Suna…when she had injured me and Temari, she healed it…"

"EH!" Naruto though found it hard to belief, and the older sand siblings wondered why was it hard to believe that she could heal as well?

Gaara on the other hand was still in alert as he glares at the hooded man. "Gaara." In his mind, urged him to crush him without mercy… it was as if the Shukaku didn't leave him without its influence. "Gaara."

"!" His eyes widened when he heard his name, he looked over behind the hooded man to see her looking straight at him, she saw her shook her head.

"…It's…alright." She reassured him as he found it hard to calm down and believe it was.

But from the look of things, and his friends looking at him, he lowered his arms and shoulders, sighing as he folded them into an arms crossed position against his chest. "…..Ok." he mumbled that was nearly a whisper.

The young hooded man, looked at all of them, and returned his sword at the same fashion as Sasuke, making Naruto flinch, "…You're Sasuke, aren't you?"

"!" all of their eyes widened as Naruto suddenly yelled out—

"What the hell are you doing here!"

"Wait—Naruto!" Temari yelled out, but it was too late, the blonde grabbed hold of the grim reaper like cape and pushed his hood off.

But his theory was wrong.

There, looking down at him, was a pale young man, with pale silver grey eyes looking down at him, his pupils were like dots, his hair was a bit wavy, and almost separated at the same way Mieihi's hair was, but his hair was violet black, although his bangs were longer and a bit more spiky than his little sibling that seems to have down straight hair that perhaps doesn't stand at its sides when he stands up, his hair was longer, reaching down at his neck,

Temari was shocked, SHIT-FUCK-He's….hot.

Naruto stared in disbelief about him, his expression though, was just like Sasuke's, but his looks wasn't, "Satisfied?—I don't know who this 'Sasuke' looks like…but I am sure, based on all of your reactions…that I am not him." he asked as Naruto let go of him.

Naruto's teeth clenched, inside of him, he was utterly disappointed yet relieved at the sametime.

"Uh….sorry." He mumbled while scratching his head, his hands clenched. "…Um."

"Save it." He muttered as he sighed, fixing the collar of his black cloak, almost revealing a glint of metal hidden from the frabric, Naruto noticed it and looked closely.

"Ah!—that symbol!-"

"A shinobi from the Lighting Country.…" Gaara had continued his friends words as the young man turned to his direction. "…datta na…? (is that right?)"

"It seems like the Kazekage is familiar with those of the country…" he muttered, lifting his head in some kind of looking down expression, indicating that this man had high pride on himself. "I'll save the questions for who I am and state it now…" he blinked as he looked to see everyone was listening, for he won't repeat it. "…My name is Karasu, Kaminari…." His eyes casted down for him to move to look back at his little brother, who was currently being surrounded by black feathers and a bluish glow emanated from the boys body. "…my ototou's (my brother's) name is Karasu, Sakkaku …."

There was silence in the air as everyone tried to take everything in, Kakashi gave a sigh, leaning onto the door frame as he held his head, "I'll…call everyone to come here…" he turned away to leave while Temari and Kankuro was still disbelief.

Naruto sighed, "Uh….well, I'm…" he scratched his head as silver eyes turned to meet his embarrassed blue ones. "…I'm Uzumaki, Naruto….uh, sorry for…y'know…"

"Hmph." He just replied to that while Naruto was just about ready to pounce on him before Kankuro's chakra strings grabbed hold of the feisty shinobi.

The four of them watched as Kaminari returned to his original post, and that's when they all calmed down, his face still had concern with his brother.

Naruto looked back at Gaara, the Kazekage, as usual, had nothing to say nor have anything to hint what was he thinking about, instead, his sand just re-entered his gourd, the cork solidifying into a close of the opening, behind him, his siblings looked at each other in worry.

Naruto looked back, and found himself already walking towards the center, first, though, he took a step, watching Kaminari just in case this was another kind of Genjutsu. But he didn't feel anything, and he needed to make sure. "KAI!" he yelled out, as everyone else sweat dropped.

"…You still distrust me, huh?" he muttered as he looked back at Naruto, "I even let you reveal my appearance by lowering my hood….I could have killed you on the spot…Jinchuuriki."

"Eh—H-how the hell-"

Kaminari pointed to Naruto's face, silencing him. "…Those markings on your cheeks is an obvious give away to what is inside of you-your last name is Uzumaki, which goes around a lot in this place…the Kazekage behind you, was the son of the last Kazekage who had rumored to use his own son as an container for the Shukaku, otherwise known as the One-tailed demon Bijuu….and proving that…his black rings around his eyes…" Gaara gave him a sharp look when he had mentioned his father.

Kaminari was indifferent to his glare. "…I am not stupid…" he muttered while the other party came inside the circular room. "Besides…our ancestors used to contain that very Jinchuuriki that's hidden within you."

Everyone then just froze at his words, Naruto choked, "W-what…?"

He sighed as his eye sharpened at Naruto's belly, and back to his face. So…he doesn't know yet. "…All I'm saying is, before you had that Kyuubi sealed within you—there was always a previous host…" he shrugged his shoulders. "…my ancestor is a relative of that previous host."

Sakura's jade eyes widened, ONE, because of the man before him sitting infront of the younger, almost look-a-like version of himself, was drop dead gorgeous. But also, that very information was something quite shocking to hear. "….A…"

"Relative…?" Naruto unknowingly continued Sakura's words as everyone else came in, Kakashi and Neji helped in pushing the door back to where it was before its demise by Naruto's high kick.

Kiba and Akamaru looked at each other, Shino was blank in his eyes despite his black goggles, Neji said nothing while Shizune looked at Sakura, who was currently holding onto Mizuumi, shutting her mouth before she broke the intense serious moment of saying 'OHMYGOSH—REALLY!' in the best of her ability.

Sai for the meantime, was already sitting down, still feeling a bit hazy from everything, but still cautious of the person before them all.

"Uhh…well, to break this very uncomfortable situation!" Kakashi raised his hand to it, "…I'm Hatake, Kakashi….here…." he looked to everyone else, urging them to do the same, when they weren't responding, he suddenly gave an out of character stare of do-it-now-or-I-will—

"U-Uh…I'm Haruno, Sakura desu…" she promptly let go of Mizuumi's mouth.

"I'm Hino, Mizuumi!"

"Call me Kiba….!—this here's Akamaru!"

"*BARRKK~~!~!*"

"Aburame, Shino…"

"Hn…" Neji looked away. "….Hyuuga, Neji." What's with the introductions?

"Shizune-san'…is just fine with me." The assistant grinned uneasily.

"…Uh, well." Temari looked at his brother.

He sighed, knowing he was to go first. "…Kankuro…and this here is…Temari." Knowing that she was also too flustered to say anything else.

"…I am Gaara…" Gaara had finally said as Kaminari looked at all of them and turned his eyes to the only one who didn't say anything.

Kakashi though knew why, but to his relief, Sai gave a (fake) smile to him, "…My name is Sai…" he finally said.

Kaminari looked at the girl before him, Gaara felt like pulling him away, but knew that would be incredibly rude.

….or maybe not.

Mieihi looked up at him, "…Mieihi." She muttered silently as she proceeded back to her process.

The silver eyed young man sighed to this, smirking slightly. "Well, wasn't that easy now?—Do whatever you like….but.." he sharpened his eyes to their movements, "…go anywhere near me or my Ototou and I will rip you all into pieces." Now that was evil alone. Then he suddenly sighed comically while looking away boredly. "Other than that….I do not care what you want to do here."

Everyone sweat dropped at this teen, however none of them didn't know what to make out of him.

Seeing to it that this was an idea shelter, Gaara and Kakashi knew that they can't waste their time here, feeling this, Sakura and Shizune along with Mizuumi looked at each other and walked towards the center.

Kaminari made them freeze in the spot by his glare.

"H-hold it sir!" Shizune halted him, predicting an unpleasant image before her. "We are all medics!—well, little Mizuumi-chan can heal as well!"

"This girl before him is enough." He replied coldly.

Mieihi looked back at him, "Let them."

"Fine." He sighed.

Their jaws just dropped, a word from Mieihi and that teen had let it be.

Cautiously though, Mizuumi went to sit beside Mieihi, who was now pointing the water kunoichi's face with her pointy feathers, indicating that she was violating her personal sitting space, and so she scooted closely to Sakura, who sat at the boy's feet, Shizune was seated before Sakkaku's head. Kaminari showed no interest to move from where he was, and so the kunoichis had transferred their chakra to their hands to help a-

"STOP." Mieihi glared at all of them, making them all jerk their hand away, canceling the chakra flow.

"What's wrong Mieihi?" Sakura almost got pissed off from her flare.

"…If you go against my flow it will corrupt him, thus, burning his own chakra reserves." She muttered, returning to her focus. "Look….do not just lay your hands filled with chakra without examining him…"

Sakura flushed, even Shizune and Mizuumi, Mieihi had a huge point there, "O-oh, sorry." Sakura calmed down as she analyzed what she was going.

What exactly is she doing anyway?

They looked at her, she was just sitting there, but her feathers were raining already all over the little bow, each feather having a bluish hue, indicating the visible chakra flow, but it wasn't coming from her, she wasn't glowing, it was as if she was just watching.

It was only coming from the boy, which makes sense, since the boy's body was glowing with the same light, however, both Shizune and Sakura couldn't figure out one thing.

It doesn't seem to be restoring the boy's appearance yet, it was as if he was just glowing there and nothing's happening.

"She's eliminating the bad cells that had stained the chakra reserves." There came a voice from behind Mieihi, the three kunoichis turned their heads to the Byakugan active Hyuuga, although Mieihi didn't move her head to his attention. Seeing the other's puzzled faces, he continued. "It is a form of teaching as well….when one his unconscious, the healer would guide the person's chakra to heal himself in his sleep…so when the time comes that the healer is unable to perform any healing, the person who was healed would be able to do the same….it's like sleeping with a therapy tape being played over and over again. She's guiding his chakra reserves to destroy the bad cells and blood cloth." He said, staring at the boy's corrupted system, which didn't look to good, but was getting better. "This boy's chakra reserves have been blocked by nerve ending attacks and as well as blood clots through his blood streams…along with something that seems to be an infection in his body, his immune system had weakened….."

"Eh~…" Mizuumi was amazed. "Neji-kun, you can be a doctor!"

He sighed, "This is nothing….in our Clan, we are taught how the body operates." He crossed his arms at the sight.

"IN other words…Mieihi-chan is healing him from the inside, restoring his cells and opening the clogged openings?" Sakura asked him as she looked back at the boy, feeling his nod, she was in disbelief. "…Mieihi-chan, you could become a medic ninja!"

Her eye softened, "…No…that is foolish."

"?" Sakura blinked, turning her head to her and saw a saddened expression on her. "Mieihi…?"

"LOOK!" Shizune exclaimed, making all of them turn to the boy, even the guys who were by the door rushed to see what was going on.

The boy was quickly returning into a fairer, but still white, color of his skin, the black rings disappearing from his eyes as the breathing slowly turned normal.

Mieihi winced slightly and sighed as she slumped slightly, making the feathers fall on him like a blanket, "MIEIHI-SAMA!" Mizuumi gasped as she turned to her, but Mieihi shook her head.

"I'm fine…I used too much energy than needed and slightly took of his feelings."

Kaminari quirked a brow as Gaara seemed to be now worried, Temari voiced his thoughts. "What do you mean?—Don't tell me!"

"NO." She shot gun response her as she held her head. "…It's alright…" she calmed down in a more relaxed tone, as the bloody tears came from her right eye, she glared at Mizuumi who was about to scream. "…My body filters weak infections….I'm fine now…just tired."

Kakashi sighed. "We have no choice but to rest here then.", turning to Gaara who looked back and nodded his head.

"But…we need to go to the Cursed Forest….!" Kiba said, still aware of the mission. "I know this is serious but…that fence there still has an opening…if we let others go through ther-"

Naruto snapped, "Are you saying the mission is more important?"

Kakashi though winced at this, Well, isn't this familiar?

Kaminari blinked as he looked back at them, "…Cursed Forest?—Why?—Aren't you in it already?"

*ANOTHER FREEZING MOMENT.*

He blinked once again, "Oy….I'm getting tired of that shocked faces and are-you-kidding-me faces….SAY SOMETHING!"

"Wai-what!" Naruto shook his head, "…We aren't in the Cursed Forest yet you idiot!—we're a few miles away from the borders of the Fire Country!"

He nodded, "I know….but this forest is an extension to it."

Gaara blinked at his words, "…Extension?" he asked, puzzled.

Kaminari looked at them to explain. "….Having that metal fence there only means that it's just the Border of the Country of Fire…not the Border of the Cursed Forest….have you ever wondered why it was just called 'Forest'?—because it's a territory that long ago, the Land of Wind and the Land of Fire had fought for…and so they split it, the remaining ends of the Forest which extends to the Desert like an Oasis is only a small portion of this Land of Fire's Forestry." He ran a hand through his bangs, "…Come on…don't tell me that the Elders were lazy to even go story telling?—My clan of politics had continuously provided this information, even though I was born from the Land of Lighting….I knew of this."

Some of them was taken aback as Kankuro asked. "So, what you mean to say is—We were actually…!"

"Yes." Kaminari turned his silver eyes to the purple face paint that caught his attention rather than Kankuro's eyes. "…You are already in the land of the Cursed Forest…..now do you understand how big it is?"

"EH!" Naruto perfectly had the picture in his head and did the proper panic surprise gesture to express what he was imagining.

"Although the portion of this forest, the portion which you call the Cursed Forest is more dangerous because of the ex-Hidden Tornado Village which is now eradicated by its own people…" he turned an eye to Mieihi, which Gaara noted with a glare that he didn't like him looking at her like that, Mieihi though was indifferent when she returned a similar cold look to him. He shrugged as he continued, "…Just the like the Forbidden Training grounds of that forest back in Konohagakure…take it like, that Cursed Forest is like the Land of Wind's on version of that Training Ground whatever-you-call it."

"You sound like you know an awful lot." Neji noticed as he turned of his Byagukan with a blink, is tone seems to be suspicious of him and at the same time skeptical, but that was just his usual tone. "….Why are you two here?"

There was a pause as Kaminari's presence darkened. "…My brother and I were falsely accused of murdering out own parents and was exiled here…Sakkaku was only 5 when they did, and I was just 8 then…nevertheless, I still kept the head protector of my brother… my own hitai ate, I had it destroyed…although my brother didn't want to wear it, he didn't want to destroy it either….and probably making a slash mark would make us suspects to Akatsuki members."

Ow.

"It must have been hard on you then." Shizune muttered sympathetically.

"But then…those people we-"

"They aren't out comrades….but realistic illusions Sakkaku creates when his body is in a bad state of unconsciousness." Kaminari further explains to all of them, "His Genjutsus are a Blood Limits from our other branch of our Clan….my younger brother's Blood Limit is to create realistic illusions that rivals the Sharingan….." he took a breath, and wondered if they were still breathing. "….It is too realistic that everything that had happened…actually did happen….so in reality…when my brother wakes up…all the injuries…all the blood splatters…weapons….and bodies everywhere here would disappear…"

"But…wasn't this a Prison Cell before?—Full of Prisoners?" Kiba asked him.

"I killed them all when they tried to kill us because we were children…" he answered to that, giving added points to their chills. "…Anyhow….take it as if I'm a watcher around this place….Sakkaku may not look like it…..but he scans every landscape like a radar…..and from that, if I am nearby, he telepathically sends me the map he had computed in his mind….like for instance." He looked back Mieihi. "…the mysterious yet dark energy source that is north west to out location, which is the direction beyond the border fences…..was this girl right here….and that she had once been located deep beneath the earth under the Cursed Ruins."

Mieihi along with the Sand siblings remained silent.

"DUDE….YOU'RE FREAKY…" Naruto though was the only guy here with the balls to say that.

"Look who's talking." He coldly responded, "It just so happens that other blood limits do exists…..we're not perfect…if you think we're acting all god like." He looked back down at his brother, who is now being currently healed for his scars by the 3 kunoichis when Mieihi had allowed them to during his explanations. "….For instance….Sakkaku cannot fight."

"He can't what?" Naruto blinked, "Wa-why?"

"It's because that's the blood limit." He simply said, "…either you get the all elemental offensive one….or the analyzing navigation radar defensive one…..no one has both….and I got the first one….that is why I do all the killing…" he sighed, hold scratching his head. "…If you're thinking he's a blood thirsty over protective brother, that maybe true…but I do not kill for fun."

There was still silence, uncomfortable silence as everyone didn't even know what to say, Sai on the other hand was just drawing this one out, but still listening anyway.

Kaminari leaned his arm on his knee, "…The Akatsuki like activity….is me because when the Investigation Teams head this way…they face me…and from Sakkaku's illusions…they make them see what they expect to see."

"I see…." Kakashi began to see the light, "…We were always thinking about the bandits that might come out earlier before and they did…..and this morning, when Naruto-kun and proba-" he suddenly felt Gaara's aura increase. "AnyhowNaruto-kun—wanted to punish those bandits…and us expect them to probably do the same actions….it had happened like what we had imagined it to be."

Kaminari smirked, "At least someone here picks up well…" that just sounded like a comment with a sarcasm tone, but Kakashi could care less to what people think of him.

Gaara blinked. "…So you mean to say…the sayings of Akatsuki activity were created by your younger brother's illusions because that was in the minds of those who came here?"

"Yes." Kaminari nodded to the Kazekage, "…Sakkaku had fallen ill a few months ago, and had turned worst every week, making his illusions constantly active as his defensive mode…..the human mind is very powerful." He pointed his hand to the side of his head like a gun. "….when you worry, and worry, and imagine terrible things…add my Ototou's abilities…and your nightmares become reality-Simply put…"

It somehow made the red head feel weird when he said the last part of his sentence.

"It makes you see what you want to see…."

Mieihi's eye widened at this, however thankful that her bangs had covered it. …Before, I had feared of what would happen to all of them….perhaps it was my imagination….and thinking about it when I came closer to this border…. She sighed mentally, I see….it was all my doing first…then it had supported everyone else's imagination….

Kakashi held his head, "So….at least now we have an answer to that….it looks like this Mission's now closed, solved, or cancelled if you can even say that."

Shizune turned her eyes to him and agreed. "Yes….having him and me as an eye witness would be good enough now…."

"Well, it saves us from going back there." Temari sighed, a hand on her hip from the headache she would soon feel, perhaps, a few hours from now. "If you think about it…it does make sense."

"Well…now you know." Kaminari muttered while he looked back to his brother, turning his eyes to Sakura. "…How is my little brother?"

She blushed, literally blushed at his face, making the blondie behind her jealous. "H-he's doing fine now….it seems like he'll be well…and even better if we bring him back to Konoha's Hospital."

Kaminari's eyes sharpened, nearly giving Sakura goosebumps at his sudden change of expression. "…You will all just throw us back here when you're done with us…"

"N-no that's not!-" Shizune panicked.

"…Although that is possible." Kakashi rolled his eyes, his voice being louder to catch his attention, which was given to him with a glare, he shrugged it off easily. "…it's either you let us bring your lil'brother to the Hospital, and have us talk to Tsunade, the Hokage, on letting you stay in our village without exposing who you are to the political world and letting you do whatever you want—or….let us leave you two here….forever…and wait again for your brother to get sick once again."

The dark violet raven haired teen cringed at his words, but he had a point as he sighed irritatedly. "Tch—Fine…but break that deal, and I'll break your neck."

"Ahahaha, well, you didn't harm out precious Mieihi-chan now didn't you?-why would I do that?" Kakashi grinned behind his mask.

Kankuro dead panned. "Oy…what's with the 'precious' thing going on—you old pervy Jonin!" Temari had agreed with him, Gaara did as well, although showed no interest to make his irritation known.

Naruto scratched his head, his head aching from all the complicated Genjutsu blood limit crap, well, that's what Naruto would describe it anyway. "…So….anyhow…the means, we're not going to pull through the mission after all?"

Neji crossed his arms, "It seems like it Naruto…since those two solves the case of the Akatsuki sightings….but shouldn't we still head forth?"

Kaminari raised his brow, "…You guys really want to go there?—It's a waste of time….all is there is a bunch of bastard animals…there are only two way exits and entrances, the one you all just sat—and perhaps the one that leads to the desert….go anywhere else and you'll be stuck."

"You sound like Tarzan….!" Kiba exclaimed, that was supposedly to sound like a comment, but everyone just stared at him, he raised his eyes brows. "WHAT?—He does!—he knows every bit!"

The young man gave an irritated puff, "Common sense will tell you why I know—For those who doesn't have….We have been here for the last 7 years of our life….if you're bored as hell during those years…or hungry or need of medicine and herbs and all that crap—you can't just sit here and do nothin'"

"Well that answers our question to you being a know-it-all!" Naruto said with his hands behind his head, Kaminari tried not to kill his sarcasm. On the other hand, the blondie was looking at Neji.

"WHAT?" he asked him almost irritatedly.

"And they call you the Genius. Can't solve this now can't ya!"

"As if you can as well!" Neji glared back at his, so-called-friend.

"And to think this all happens in just 2 days….barely half of the days of the real mission." Temari sighed a hand on her hip as she leaned on the blank wall behind her, she looked back at the Kazekage, who was now beside her, leaning on the wall not so far from her place. "What should we do now, Gaara?"

Gaara gave a blink to signify that he was still breathing and not a statue there. "…It is best to return to Konohagakure and report this…" he began to say as he looked at the two siblings at the center of the room. "…It seems like they are no longer a threat….it would take another 2 days to return to Konohagakure…could the little boy be alright then?" his question was directed to any of the kunoichi around the boy.

"Yup!—he'll make it through!" Mizuumi was the one who answered first with an enthusiasm similar to Naruto's child self, "We're able to restore everything, although he has a slightly fever inside of him, we should better still bring him to the Hospital!"

Sakura nodded to her as she looked back, but from her position, she was able to see the face on Kaminari's face, although half of his face was hidden by his hand, which was mostly covered by his cape jacket's long sleeve, but he seemed, to be more relieved when he heard those words that his brother would be alright, Sakura gave a small sigh. "…So…Karasu-san…aside from your brother's Ultimate Illusion Defense….or whatever you may call it…." Everyone turned to her except for Mieihi was still looking blankly at the boy. "….When you fought Sai and Mieihi-chan….you were actually trying to figure out which one of us could help your brother, that's why you threatened Mieihi with the poison that you sent in Sai's wound….is that right?"

Kaminari's eyes softened, but they were still cold silver. "….." she knew he was about to say something, but he didn't, there were no words coming out from the older sibling.

"Then it is settled…." Kakashi nodded in approval. "I'll send Pakkun, one of my Ninken." He added this since he was noting the look at Kaminari's eyes. "To report out return….and also to prepare a hospital room for your younger brother…" he also turned his head to Gaara, who gave a nod to him in agreement, also looking to see if Shizune approved of it, and she too nodded. Kakashi grinned contently behind his mask, "Well!—Now's that settled…we'll prepare to leave tomorrow, in the meantime…" he turned to Kiba, Shino and Akamaru. "I want you three to find some water and food."

"I CAN PROVIDE WATER!" Mizuumi was about to fling her hands energetically before Mieihi suddenly slammed her fist into her head. "OWW!"

Sakura had noticed, "T—that's…my move…before…!" she gaped, the usual reaction to what she does to Naruto at times, even Naruto saw it and gaped.

Mieihi looked back at Mizuumi with a blank expression. "…Your water is used in healing, defenses, and also in attacks…it is a chakra infused water—IF—We drink it…"

Shizune sweat dropped, seeing where this was going. "….When you control your water…the water will spike out of out bodies."

Naruto and Kiba both screamed. "EH!-!-!-!-!-!"

Mizuumi though was knocked out with swirly eyes, indicating that she had died out of dizziness and pain from Mieihi's own version of Sakura-Punch.

The Jinchuuriki sighed as he looked back at Sakura, who was paling, "…And you say me and Sai were bad influence."

Sakura's hand broke into a fist, and broke Naruto's skull. "SHUT UP!"

"GYAAH!" Naruto cried out as his head was now slammed to the hard, hard concrete.

Kakashi quirked an eye brow at this, and sighed, beckoning his hands to call Shino, Kiba and Akamaru to go with him outside to do what they were told, Sai simply watching from a distance, analyzing the situation. …That kind of behavior of denial-From the comics I've read…and mangas….that type would only mean… "Tsundere…!" he had unknowingly said it out loud, and sweat dropped when Sakura was being held back by Naruto, Shizune, Temari, Kankuro and even Neji, before came and knock the lights out of Sai, who was currently wrapped with bandages actually, and who also had his hands up in a gesture of hold it and sorry. But his face was a smile, behind that façade was an uneasy smile. And Sakura didn't care if he were even dead.

And thus came a very loud and noisy rubble that makes those involved busy of restraining Sakura while Naruto tried to help, that was until Sai had commented on Naruto's behavior, was when it got even noisier, Mizuumi was snoring while she slept beside Mieihi was rechecking the boy's condition, Gaara and Kankuro were watching the riot.

While Kankuro had his eyes closed in some kind of 'cool-boy' sitting positing with his elbow propped up at his knee, his hood was returned over his head, concealing his face excluding the lower half.

Seeing this Mieihi sighed, It seems like he's stable…for now. She told herself, slightly irritated by the snoring of Sleeping Beauty, she sighed again while standing up weakly.

Meanwhile, Kankuro held his head, "Well….I'm going to pull Temari out of this and go out."

Gaara turned his head. "…For what?"

Kankuro took a step and looked back over his shoulder, "For documenting this place….for further study and evidence—Y'know…the usual stuff we do…it's better than watching a blood bath infront of us." And with that, he had grabbed his sister's back collar of her black kimono, pulling her out before she brought out her formidable fan to slam the living souls out of the three 'teammates', leaving Shizune and Neji to try and even them out, although Neji was slowly losing interest, the sympathy for the Hokage's assistant was the only reason why he even bothered to help out.

Gaara watched his siblings as they exited the round building, out of the broken metallic door which was properly slammed back into place by Kankuro's chakra strings when they left.

He sighed, deciding to remove his Gourd from his back in order to lean it to the wall, making himself rest for a bit as he sees no harm anywhere, the harm Sakura were doing to his friend and, well, comrade was not even considered a harm, to him, though.

That was when he turned his head to see the center of the room, the eldest sibling was there, in his usual post beside his sleeping little brother, Mizuumi was nearby, knocked out by Mieihi's version of the Sakura-Punch-of-Doom.

Which reminds him, which is a que for him to blink, where was Mieihi?

I think I got dizzy when I was on Sai's ink bird. Was in her mind in the meantime, holding her head as she went to the far corner of the room, her sandals slipping onto the old blanket below her, making her lose her balance, in an instant, before she was able to recoil, a flash of red was before her and before she knew it.

The Kazekage had grabbed her with his arm around her waist from behind, pushing her up as she turned around to make sure it was him. "Gaara…!"

"Are you alright?" he asked her, "…you don't seem well." hinting the slight heavy head feeling of head bowing slightly like she was sleepy.

"I'm fine…" she muttered while a hand is on her head, "…Just…a bit tired…..healing is not my main ability….unlike Sakura-san and the others….I use my own energy and it takes time to recover it." She took a step forward to miss the dirty sheets she stepped on, and lean her back on the slightly cracked wall, making her sink down into a sit on the grey floor, well, everything else was dull grey anyway. "I'll….just rest for a bit."

Gaara nodded to this, stood there, unsure what to do next, and by the time he was thinking it had already felt uncomfortable.

Her eye moved to his legs that were still nearby, "…Why don't you sit?—from that battle, I'm sure you used a lot of chakra…"

The red head made no effort to refuse and nodded, perhaps that was the reason of his uneasiness?—But a part of him didn't want to sit, or being nearer.

It makes him remember back then, and it confuses him, his sand mask was already showing signs of his inner face, the scrunching and wrinkling of skin above his eyes where is brows would be, would be a sign of invisible brows in an expression of deep thought or worry.

"Are you alright, Gaara?"

Her voice made him blink from his stare, he didn't even realize he was staring at her, and she was looking back with the usual soft yet unreadable look she always gave to him, he shook his head. "…No…sorry." He muttered, sitting down beside her into a crouch first before letting his weight rest on his behind, his back leaning onto the back like hers. Should I ask her? He battled.

Mieihi was yawning slightly, although it was weird, since it was just somewhere in the afternoon, she was already this tired, not noticing the battle beside her, she looked to the riot of the 5 shinobis that were nearby the entrance door, the two siblings at the center of the room, looking like statues there, all quiet and all.

Until she noticed that they were short in numbers, "…Where are Kakashi-san, Shino-san, Kiba-san and Akamaru-san?—And Temari-nee-sama and Kankuro?" she asked, turning her head to the emotionless façade the Kazekage put on, unknowing to the girl, that there was a battle inside his head.

He blinked, registering what he had heard, "…Kakashi-san went with those 3 to scout for food and water….Temari and Kankuro went out to explore this very Prison Cell for documentation."

"I see…" Mieihi muttered, "Why didn't you go with them?"

"Should I?"

"I don't know."

"…"

"…."

This isn't working. Gaara had thought to himself, seeing that neither of them could flare up a conversation, he sighed mentally, it was now or never. "….From last night…" he finally mumbled, making her turn her head to him.

However, he wasn't, he was looking a way, and when she turned to him he was a side view, she couldn't even read through his sand armor.

"…What did you do….last night…?" He uneasily said, in a way, he didn't know how to describe her actions.

"…Last night…?" she blinked, a pause for her to scan pass her memories. "…I slept."

He blinked. "….Slept'?"

"…Yes…I slept." She nodded in assurance to her memory, "….I got hit by the poison from my wings remember?—then I was brought to the tent…and talked with Sakura-san and Shizune-san…then a few moments after closing my eyes…and I saw you there…and when you said to get some sleep I did…" she tilted her head slightly. "…What's wrong?"

He looked back at her, but without head movement, but his eye only. "….You didn't do anything else once I left?"

"…No…" she shook her head.

He was confused. "…Did you dream anything while you were asleep?"

She shook her head again. "…No….it was blank and it only felt like minutes before I woke up again to see the morning…"

He scrunched his invisible brows, looking away in confusion, then decided to let it drop as he blinked. "I see….." She doesn't…

"Why Gaara?—did something happen?"

He didn't look back at her. "…No…I just wanted to ask, since Kakashi-san's Ninken, Pakkun, had sensed something in the air….but it proves to be nothing….I was just making sure…." He lied, the sand armor showed the opposite of what he had inside, and that was confusion. …remember he continued his thoughts.

"Oh I see…" Mieihi muttered, looking back to the now 2 knocked out teammates nearby the exit, the tired yet still fumed up Sakura and the sweat dropping Shizune who wasn't to help, she wondered if Neji had left them to their demise when he was already tired, noting the way he was ignoring them when was at the other side of the door way.

Gaara closed his eyes, to make them rest a bit. Then…was it an Genjutsu effect that made me feel strange…?—Or even what she had done?...

"Sakkaku's illusions…."

He blinked when the words of Kaminari came in mind, skipping from some scenes, a phrase hit his head.

"It makes you see what you want to see…."

What I want to see? He inquired in his head in confusion. Thinking of the time when he could feel her breath dangerously against his lips, …It doesn't make sense…..I wanted to see Mieihi like that to me?—That was…my wanting?He felt a headache, and confusion, and the heat from before rising up all mixing up to one weird bowl in his stomach and mind, he didn't know, what the hell?—what was going on? THIS, is why he hates GENJUTSU. I wanted… his eyes softened to look down on the floor. …to see that?...

But he shook his head, unaware of Mieihi looking at him.

…Or perhaps…it was her own—But she doesn't remember it….but if that's the case then why did I see it? Why did I want her to do that when in fact…I never knew I did want that? He blinked, he, he wanted what? What exactly…am I wanting from her?

"Gaara…?"

"!" he felt a chill on his hear when he turned to see her dangerously close, the image from last night had flashed in his head, and from his mind he couldn't take it anymore, it was tearing his head, everything, the sudden anger that coiled up and fueled when she was with Sai at the air, and the very moment that she was smiling at him and not to him. A smile that only he would see, was always been given to others.

The sight of her being out of his sight for seconds.

The sight of her…. Being to close is…..is….is so-

"Gaara?—What's wrong?" She asked, seeing him grabbing his head, almost pulling his hair out. "Gaara!"

-hurting…

Gh..! he felt the pang right in his chest, his heart, it was hurting like it was getting pierced by a sharp double edged sword.

Pain…

"Gaara!—Gaara!" Mieihi called out worriedly as she reached out to him,

He was feeling…

Pain….?

"GAA-"

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" a growl was her response.

*S-H-H-H-H-H-H—A—A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-A-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!-!*

Sand had suddenly came between them like a rising wall, making Mieihi's eyes widened and almost falling to her back when she was pushed back by the sand between them. Everyone else in the room had froze in shock, well, the ones who were conscious, which was Shizune, Sakura, Neji and Kaminari who were all looking at him, the Kunoichis were mainly gaping at the sight.

It took him a moment to realize, the harsh and deadly low voice that yelled out to Mieihi, belonged to him

He yelled….

….almost angrily as if he were to kill her.

He yelled at Mieihi….

Aah…!

Gaara's eyes widened, and saw the hand before him, it was his own, his own hand. And he had, he had done that? He looked at his own hand, and to the sand wall that raised up to the ceiling, coming from his sand gourd. He was in shock at his own doing, that he wasn't even aware of. Mieihi…!

He quickly cancelled his sand with a flick of his hand, when it sunk down, he saw Mieihi's surprised expression at his actions. Both were still frozen.

Why?

Why had he just done that?

Did the Akatsuki really fail to extract the Shukaku within him?—bringing back the Sand Ultimate Defense that was beyond his own control?

"…Mi…eihi." He mumbled that was barely audible to ears. I'm…..a monster… he had suddenly told himself, feeling like his younger self before.

He looked back at her, her feathers were around her automatically because of her own automatic defense, but it didn't go unnoticed that his sand startled her than before.

"…I…" Gaara began to mutter, unsure what to say. "…I didn't mean….!" His expressionless face shattering.

"…." Although her eyes were hidden by her hair, her mouth was slightly parted, unsure to what to say. That was until it closed, "…No…" she shook her head, making everyone look at her as she made a small grin. "…I'm sorry….I didn't mean…to invade your air space…"

"?" he felt himself shiver at her expression, he saw those eyes that had only pain, he blinked to see the feathers were around him, indicating a defense that if he didn't pull his sand up it would have hit him, perhaps when he had raised his voice, it had startled her and her wings had reacted it as an attack. "…No…It was my fault….I didn't mean to raise my voice…"

She stood up, puffing the dirt out of her coat as the feathers dissolved. "…It's….fine."

She began to walk away. And he knew something was wrong, "…Mieihi…?" he turned his head and she was walking away.

Sakura blinked, "Hold it!—Mieihi-chan!" she gasped as the raven haired girl walked out of the door, kicking it out of the way as the pink haired kunoichi followed, by then she passed Kankuro who was about to enter.

Shizune was extremely worried but said nothing.

"…What a mess…" Neji sighed, making sure he muttered it in a low volume for not anyone but him to hear.

Gaara's fist clenched into a fist, his sand around him was roaring, he gritted his teeth due process.

Kankuro blinked as he rushed in, "W-what happened!"

"W-well…" Shizune muttered, unsure to say anything.

"Kankuro…"

Kankuro's spine chilled as he looked to his younger brother who was suddenly nearby walking towards him. "…I need to talk to you…"

Before Kankuro said anything, his brother shoulder him as he went out, going the opposite direction as Mieihi, half of him resisting to chase after her.

"Oy!—GAARA-WAIT!" Kankuro followed his younger sibling, leaving Shizune and Neji with 3 unconscious people alone.

Kaminari watching it with mysterious eyes beneath his hood, but not caring to comment about it.

+Mieihi+

Mieihi on the other hand was running without knowing which direction was she ever going, nor did she even care.

Sakura, on the other hand, was about to lose her breath for chasing this girl around the whole Prison Cell place thing. "DAMMIT—MIEIHI!—STOP RUNNING!" she yelled out to her.

Which was a terrible mistake.

Mieihi stomped on one foot and jumped up into the trees, Sakura froze at the sight of it and held her head, "GAAH!"

"I thought it was noisy here…." A voice came out as the pink kunoichi turned around to see Temari coming out from one of the abandoned prison cell's doors, which was in a rubble by rust. "Sakura…what's going on?"

"Temari!" Sakura exclaimed turning around, she walked towards her and began to explain everything to the older Sand Sibling.

The 19 year old lady was just frozen at her words. GAARA…YOU IDIOT…

+Gaara+

"HAH?-!-?-!-?-!" Kankuro's eyes widened from what he heard, "YOU LOST CONTROL AND SCARE HER OFF!"

Gaara cringed, "…I believe it is impossible to scare Mieihi, but losing control of my own sand does happen…."

Both of them weren't far from the circular building, they had gone the opposite way of where Mieihi ran to, and settled at some broken debris where another cell room used to stand, Kankuro was standing infront of Gaara, who was leaning against a tree bark, his hands into a fold against his chest.

Kankuro's hands were open, clawing from a weird gesture to signify his surprise of his words. "You lost control!"

The Kazekage sharpened his eyes to his brother, making that man step back slightly "…That's why I need to be sure…." He began to say. "…Are you absolutely sure the Shukaku has been extracted out of my body?"

Kankuro closed his mouth before flies go in as he turned serious, rechecking his memory before he nodded. "Gaara….from Naruto's own words and the eye witnesses…even Matsuri said….you died then….!" He continued, "…You died just when they rescued you because of that fuckin' method those bastard Akatsuki used to remove the Shukaku out of your body….when this happens your life will be taken and eventually DIE—And so you DID DIE…"

"I have no interest into hearing the word of my 'death' being accented into your words….Kankuro."

"A-ah, s-sorry…" he sweat dropped when he just got carried away. "A-anyhow, it's the proof that the Shukaku did separate with your body….if it weren't for Granny Chiyo, you'll still be d—Uh…anyhow….yeah." he paused mid way when he found his eyes turning into sharp bladed daggers that could be thrown anytime.

The red head shifted uncomfortably in his position, as if he didn't expect that to be true and thus, giving him more of a head ache than before.

"Gaara?" Kankuro blinked, noticing his little brother's discomfort. "….Did anything else happen before you did that?—you normally won't give a shit about this thing and let things settle down….!" Confused by Gaara's sudden change in character, he needed to know.

The Kazekage seemed to hesitate, his jaw twitching as he looked down, finally sighing. "…Last night…" and he began.

+Mieihi/+/Forest+

Mieihi had skipped a few branches before finally landing on one, leaning her back on the bark as she rests at the branch, panting as her hand with to her head, remembering the time before, why was Gaara angry?—Why did he suddenly snap at her?—And once he did, she almost attacked him, perhaps that's why the sand had emerged between then forcing her to move back, almost falling to her back, his eyes then he looked at her, was almost….

"…..Am I…bad?" she mumbled as she folded her legs close to her chest and hugged them close, her chin resting on her knees. "….I didn't mean to be that close….maybe I surprised him…" she tried to find answers in her mind. 'Book I: How to Get Along with Friends—Chapter One: Personal Space…. Friends do not like to have their personal space invaded, especially when they are in deep thought and do not expect it—emotions vary when done by the opposite sex.' Now that was her mistake, according to the book that Sai let her borrow as well, it had clearly stated it. I think he's angry at me now… she sunk more to her knees as she looked down, …But his face…was so close that I could see from his skin that it was red…like he got sunburned… describing his reaction when his eyes widened from her being too close. She was confused, Why was his face red?—Did I do something wrong?—Did I enrage him? she thought back. Well…sure….suddenly disappearing like that, and choosing to be with Sai-san on his ink bird despite Gaara's offer…I've read that when it comes to the situation….you have to do what you think is best—Since I was curious I rode with Sai-san….but….perhaps it had angered Gaara?—If that's so then why?—I don't get it…

She sighed inwardly, I didn't mean….to suddenly walk out of there…perhaps I made him even more angry when I heard them storm out….

"Areh…?-Just when I thought there was nothing around here…"

She blinked, seeing something before her land, a flash of black, silver and green was before and looked to see it was the Konohagakure Jonin, Hatake, Kakashi.

He looked down at her with his charcoal eye, "…What are you doing here alone?—Aren't you supposed to be them back inside?"

She looked down, hugging her knees more when he said that. "Something happened…and I think I made Gaara angry."

"Eh?" He quirked an eye brow, crouching infront of her, maintaining a balance of his weight, "What makes you say Gaara's angry at you?"

Her face was covered by her arms and knees, "…It's because….I disturbed his thoughts and invade personal space."

"…Eh?" He repeated again, those words… were somehow. "Uh…how…exactly…did you invade it?"

"I just moved closer to him and noticed his face was turning red so I looked closer when he was in deep thought—I think I startled him, and when I kept on calling out to him on and on, I tried to reach out but he yelled at me, I was so startled that my feathers were about to attack him but his sand bursts out at the space between us preventing me to do it….I think he's also angry that I almost attacked him….and even though I said sorry…and he said sorry….I just walked out almost rudely."

"But then…you did say sorry, both of you…so…"

"I heard him walk out angrily with Kankuro when I left and Sakura-san chasing me…." She muttered.

"Oh." Kakashi sighed as he quirked an eyebrow, I leave those kids with Shizune—and this happens….what on earth is Shizune doing? "…Well….I'm not the type to go into people's business but…I don't think he's angry."

She didn't reply as he sighed again, "…You see. Mieihi-chan….being a guy….and reading a lot of…well…my own books." He rolled an eye to his own genre of books he usually stashes. "…I bet, he's just angry at himself."

"…" he could see a small movement as she slowly lift her head, just enough for him to see her forehead. "…Why would he?"

"Well…" he rolled his eye in the opposite direction, "…Let's just say…he thinks that he was the one who was about to attack you…and when he realized this….he was angry at himself…." He looked back at her, "and I think….he's red because he's thinking about someone. And knowing that he almost attacked that someone made him shocked and angry at himself….get it?"

She peeked from where she was hiding, which was from her knees and arms, looking at the older man before her who was giving an eye to every expression she had, and to him, she looked like a sulking child, and he was a parent or someone giving advice. "….So…he's thinking…about me?"

Kakashi nodded at her words.

"Why?"

"Well….I do not know why he w-"

"No…it's…why did he turn red when he thought about me?" she asked him.

Oh boy… Kakashi scratched his head, looking around to see if Kiba and Akamaru, along with Shino and his bugs were anywhere nearby, and nodded to himself as he turned back to her. "...Alright….Mieihi-chan…it's like this…." And his words continue on.

+Sakura and Temari+

"I see." Temari was already feeling the headache she had predicted before, although it had came a bit too early, and was brought in a manner she did not expect it to be. "…Geez….that Gaara…."

"And now Mieihi-chan's on the run…" Sakura scrunched her brows, "…I'm worried for her—Let's go find her…!"

"No… let her be." Temari shook her head, "…The ones who are at this forest is Kakashi-san, Shino-san and that dog boy with his dog….if she goes anywhere else they'll be the one to catch her…and I doubt she's the type of girl to run away from everyone for that small drama."

Sakura paused for a moment to decide, and finally sighed. "I guess you have a point…"

"So?—Then Gaara and Kankuro went off to talk?"

"Yeah."

"I guess he's going to confide in him again…." She shrugged her shoulders, looking off to a distance. "They may not look like it, but Gaara has been confiding with that idiot for sometime now….it's a good thing, taking in how they were before….but for Gaara to actually be like that."

Sakura thought deeply about this, "…I was already watching when Mieihi had suddenly raised her voice to Gaara who was holding onto his head…" her eyes widened as she turned to her blonde comrade. "Could it be that he's sick?—That would explain the headaches and redness of his face!"

Temari paused and quirked a brow, turning back to meet the jade eyes, "…Wait….Gaara's face…was red…?"

She nodded, "Yes it was!"

Temari suddenly smirked, and chuckled slightly, "Ahaha…a-and then she went closer and closer?"

"Yes she di—What's so funny!" Sakura snapped, "This could be se-…ri….ous." and into her realization, her eyes widened, finally realizing it. "Oh…!"

Temari chuckled, shaking her head. "T-true…h-he's sick!" she closed an eye as she laughed, looking back at Sakura who was blushing and grinning at the sametime.

Both of them gave each other a grin and nodded as they knew the illness of the Kazekage. "…Lovesick!"

+Gaara & Kankuro+

"..and that's basically what happened…" Gaara finally finished his long story.

While Kankuro found himself gaping, he could have sworn he felt a nose bleed coming up when Gaara had gone into details, and even to his first DREAM(which I won't go into ANY details however…..I think you get what KIND of dream it was…), the young one not knowing what anything meant.

Gaara held his chin as he thought deeply. "…It's confusing….and because of the Genjutsu…I felt all weird…my heart rate changes and the my blood begins to boil once she goes into company with anyone else….I do not understand…..such Genjutsu gives off these effects?"

"Uhh…" he sighed, and that wasn't a 'yes', when his hand went up, pushing his black pointy cat hood off, revealing the brown hair as he ruffled it, "…No.. I don't think it's a Genjutsu Gaara….and even if it is one…the effects of it isn't a genjutsu either."

The Kazekage would quirk a brow if he had any, "…What are you impying?"

Kankuro opened one eye as he looked at his little brother, who doesn't seem to be getting anything at all. Oh boy…now this is the time when fathers give their sons a boy to boy talk—But at this case….FUCK—I ain't good at this…! "Ok….Uh…Gaara…tell me….what you saw that night…She didn't remember any of it?"

He gave a nod.

"…Ok…according to that hoody guy back there—his lil'bro's ability is to make illusions real—depending on the person right?—well everyone was asleep…and you were the only one awake…I don't think that mutt was even causing that but….Gaara…before that happened….what were you thinking?" He gave a suspicious eye to his brother who remained indifferent.

Although, the red headed Kage found it hard to easily talk about it, he opened his mouth slightly but first nothing came out, as if he was unsure to how to describe it in small sentences. He blinked as he looked down, "….I thought about….Mieihi…."

Kankuro opened both of his eyes as he looked back fully to his brother. …So it was that all the long…

"I don't understand….Kankuro." the Kage shook his head, scrunching. "…Everytime I see her interacting with anyone else…I feel a weird 'pang' of anger….and yet when I look back at her I think too many things, that's a bit unspeakable…such as t-"

As his little brother explains Kankuro flung his arms before him. "TIME UP!—TIME UP!—Ok I get it!—you were feeling weird no more details!" he wasn't sure if he would survive the repeated details….again. Gaara sure knows how to describe things for better understanding, huh?

The Kazekage quirked, tilting his head to a side, "…And so…?"

"AND SO!" Kankuro paused for a moment as he tried to calm down, "Uhh…Gaara….you do know things called hormones… do you?"

There was silence.

Till came a blink. "..I am aware."

"Ok—Good—good…and you do know why they occur…right?—and do not say it's something to do with the body and all that medic stuff!"

"…"

Kankuro slammed his hand to his face, not caring if it was a slap to himself. OH-KAMI-SAMA HELP ME LORD!

+Kakashi and Mieihi+

Mieihi blinked just at the end of his explanation. "….Do you get it now?" he grinned.

She blinked again, "…Yes."

Kakashi sighed, scratching his head, "I don't think you did."

"No…I did."

"Ok, what did you get?"

"I know that the red thing is called a blush…and that I've been experiencing it too…"

"…and?"

"….and it's by hormones and caused by an emotion of embarrassment and discomfort…"

"…and…?"

"….I didn't hear the rest."

Kakashi sighed, this was about the 20th time he had explained it and she still doesn't get it but she says she does. "I don't think you got anything."

"No…I did." She stubbornly said.

He shook his head, "No…Mieihi-chan….you think you get it but it's not the same as actually getting it, get it?"

"…"

He let his head bow as blue streaks came upon his temple. "…Um…Ok…how about a different approach?" he looked back at her with a finger up. "…Gaara considers you as a special person in his life…."

Now she blinked again, "…Special?"

"Yup…."

"I see!"

He smiled, "Now there!—See!"

"He considers me as one of his family and siblings—thus—being smaller than him, I am a little sister invading my big brother's privacy!"

"Eh…" his finger folded, not something he expected to hear.

She stood up, nodding in confidence. "…So it means—I must be more careful and always ask permission!—From books that Sai-san brought me, it is very politely to always ask permission if your going to do something that may affect people's emotions to the point of enragement or embarrassment!"

Books are beginning to be Man's own Enemy at this case scenario…."No..wait…I don't thin-"

"I understand…I shall always ask permission to go even near him! and call him 'Nii-sama!'"

"I think Kankuro-kun's more suited for that though."

"I see….AH! I'm starting to get it!" she nodded, her enthusiasm was very startling to begin with that everything was going too fast.

"He's like my FATHER!"

"….HEH?" that's…a bit…

"No?"

He instantly shook his head, "He is most definitely not like that! I don't see Gaara-kun s-"

"You always use suffixes….why?" she asked him, looking down at the man who still seated on the branch while she was already standing up. "At times you also use suffixes with people close to you."

"Well—When you first meet someone…you must always say the suffix first before—WAITTHATDOESN'TMEAN-"

"I see, so I shall always refer to Gaara, as Gaara '-kun'?"

"NO—that's not-"

"If I am worthy of being special—that I just address him as the Kazekage-sama or Gaara-sama!"

Kakashi was about to let anyone shoot him, how did it come to this? "I don't think you need to do anything special when someone calls you special…Mieihi-chan."

"Eh?" she blinked looking back down at him as she sat back down, "…Then, if Gaara does deem me important…what should I do?"

"Uhh." Kakashi scratched the itchy cloth of his mask slightly, wondering if what he says might endanger anything. "…You…just have to be yourself…or normally" According to the books I READ that is accurately correct in the paths of these kind of things. Kakashi had forgotten the detail that it was written by the O'-SO-GREAT-AND-LEGENDARY-ERO-SENNIN…. "…You ask if that's true….but mostly be yourself."

"…My…self?"

He nodded, "He deems you special because he loves you for the way you….and he onlylovesthe you who isn't someone else…" he was praying for her to get the hint in his words. "….Sametime….he would also want you to also deem him very special."

"…So…you're saying…I should just be myself and not do anything?"

"Well…." Kakashi was now getting slightly confused, "…If I were you…I'll have to wait till he says that 'he loves you'…or something like that."

Shit.

That somehow… "Wait—Scratch that-"

Mieihi grinned, "…But I don't mind him not saying he does!—Besides, Gaara is the one who found me and saved me…and giving me a new life and at the sametime he protects me, he's someone so close to me that's is family!" her expression brightened. "…SO he really is like my big brother!"

Back to THIS! Kakashi sighed in failure. "…More than that—ugh, forget it….you'll figure it out soon."

"So anyhow, he's embarrassed because I was being to close to him?—and he thought he hurt me?—even though he already said sorry he still feels the guilt?"

"Yeah w-"

She nodded, "I understand now….I didn't accept his apology!"

Why does it feel like she's not getting the ROOT of it all? He asked himself. She's as shallow headed as Naruto…

"I'll be off then!"

"Eh—WAIT—WHERE ARE YOU GOING?"

"Back and tell Gaara I accept his apology!"

"You're not-Are you going to tell him anything else?—Like….if he likes you or something?" he asked, fearing for that a bit.

"Nope~!—Because I already know that he likes me and that we're all family!"

Thank god…I think…"But you should at least say something!"

She paused, and nodded, "I understand-I will say that I know that he loves me as a family and that I am very sorry if I've done anything to have made him think so many things that you did not allow me to know!" without any further delay she disperses into feathers, leaving the Jonin in utter failure.

…Hah…?"G—wait-what?—THAT DOESN'T MAKE ANY SENSE-ANDNOWSHE'SGONE."

He sighed, paling. SHE DIDN'T GET ANYTHING AT ALL.

Despite everything that looks so obvious that Gaara seems to have fallen in love with her—she doesn't seem to get it—despite her mind being a rival of a super computer or even the all-knowing-Shikamaru….she doesn't seem to get it and thus. Diverting that 'love' to a 'family' love.

He looked up and sighed, "So much for make-out-tactics…." He shrugged his shoulders, "Perhaps I'm not cut out for love advice?"

"HEY KAKASHI! I GOT THIS HUGE BOAR THAT WE C-*SQUISH*…Huh?—I think I stepped on something…"

"*BARK!*"

"M-MY…INSECTS…" Shino gaped.

And the Jonin just sighed, THIS is why he tries not to even concern himself with others. He looked back at them, sighing, "Some mission this turned out to be….Tsunade…" he mumbled.

+Gaara and Kankuro+

"So...understand now?"

"Yes."

"YES!"

"In other words…it is just a reaction of the mind and the as well as the heart and blood circulation in the effect to ones own thoughts."

"&%$!" Kankuro failed, for Kami-sama-knows-how-many times. For that Kazekage, you sure are a dimwit in this…Gaara. He took a deep breath, and began to look straight at his brother.

Gaara though wondered what the hell was with the sudden freezing serious mode?

He saw him directly point at his left forehead, Gaara picked it up and realized he was referring to his own Kanji scar at his left forehead. "…What is wrong with my kanji then?"

"What does it say?"

"Ai'"

"Good, now, what does 'Ai' mean in English?"

Gaara paused for a moment, not knowing where this was going but continued anyway. "…Love."

"Good!—and that sma~ll *indicating the size with his two fingers of his hand* Kanji within that big Kanji which helps in making the kanji 'ai' is?"

"….Shinzo…"

"Which is?"

"Heart."

"Correct!"

Gaara got impatient, "What is with this petty Japanese Kanji lesson?"

Kankuro hold out his hand, "…Ok…I'll say it in a smooth manner for you to hear quite clearly and properly" he looked around, and looked back again. "SABAKU NO GAARA A.K.A.—KAZEKAGE GAARA-SAMA…." He said it loud enough for Gaara to hear. His hand making it clear, gesturing with every word. "YOU.LOVE..HI.PERIOD!"

Gaara blinked, "Of course I do…she is my friend is she not?"

"OHMYGOD!" Kankuro felt like hitting his head, even in this approach IT WAS NOT WORKING AT ALL. "Y-"

"GAARA!"

"HOLYSHITWHOISTHATJUSTNOW!" Kankuro felt his heart going out from his throat from all the stress he was taking in when Mieihi suddenly happens to land behind him with feathers encircling in some kind of dramatic manner.

Gaara cringed, hopefully she really did come at this time without hearing anything at all.

She began to step infront of Kankuro, making them having questioning expressions.

"It'salrightandI'!" she began to say in a fast manner, something that was entirely out of character making Kankuro freeze and Gaara's eyes wide open. "I have talked with Kakashi-san and it seems like you were red because you were blushing and that I was the reason because I had invaded your personal space unknowingly making you blush and cause that kind of reaction and confusion!—and that is because you love me as a family member of your family and I am truly grateful for that but for me to be suddenly invading your personal space since no one had done it before must be very startling for and for that I shall now always ask permission to do something or to invade your personal space to avoid that discomfort again!—and so I must go and find Sakura-san and tell her not to worry about me anymore and that everything is alright and this CONVERSATION AND WORDS WILL NEVER BE SPOKEN AGAIN!"

She took a bow. "I have read in books that Sai-san showed me." Her expression had suddenly turned to the usual expressionless face while Kankuro made a side note of really KILLING THAT KONOHA ARTIST. She continued anyway, "-that, if I feel uncomfortable on talking about things I am not used to I shall say it in a manner that I would be done and leave without having to hear anyone else…and so I shall find Sakura-san!" she nodded and ran off with black feathers as dust and evidence she was there.

The two men were frozen.

There was cold air and a wolf, which might be Akamaru, howling from afar.

Did that 'moment' really did just happen?

DAMN—WHEN I CALLED FOR KAMI-SAMA THEY SEND A FALLEN ANGEL-BUT I DID NOT EXPECT IT IN THAT WAY! Kankuro was gaping, eyes were round as he does not know how to make of it.

"…I…love her as family?"

He snapped out of it as he turns back to Gaara, "…G-Gaara…?"

Gaara looked down, troubled in his thoughts. "…Family'…" he muttered, "…as in…like you…and Temari….and everyone else in my village…" he cringed as he tried to take everything in. He was considering, that it was true, he was trying to put that answer into his system, but yet it doesn't give a satisfying end. He does not feel like this towards anyone else. It is ridiculous…if that is true…then I do not recall having such difficult breathing around my people…and my comrades…"…..But….it's still too different…..I do not do those act-" his eyes widened when he suddenly felt his big brother's hand on his shoulder. He looked up at the sighing middle sibling.

"Gaara….you're an idiot." He said as he looked back at his little brother. He really felt a huge headache, but he was trying so hard not to smack his face and yell it to him, partially, because, he knew, that would be UTTERLY impossible. "….What you feel is not family love…."

"…?" He blinked, a sign of his question that wasn't in words.

I need to make him realize it now, otherwise he'll end up killing everyone near him due to this…."Ok…try to say… 'I love you Mieihi.'" Showing his puppet to be a model for Mieihi.

Gaara was staring at it.

More of GLARING at it.

"Uh…" he sighed as he did a hand sign, making it look like, (even a bit) like Mieihi.

He was still staring at it. He looked back at his brother with a what-the-hell-are-you-doing-with-your-puppets-THIS-TIME? Look.

Kankuro heaved another great and heavy sigh. "…JUST….SAY….IT…"

He shrugged, turning to the almost look a like Mieihi puppet, if it weren't for the gray brown wood as the skin colour. This is useless… he opened his mouth. "I…"

…

He paused, What the…? He blinked, "…I…" he said it again, but again, he felt the heat rising from his ears and neck, and he felt like choking when he paused to say it, his voice suddenly felt dry from it and his mind was hesitating.

Why can't he say it?

He suddenly felt it again, the heat, the heat that was suddenly coming back to his face like before, he grit his teeth, "…I…!" Why? "L.." Why can't I say it! It was frustrating, he felt like his pride was falling apart, he can't even say 3 words of that sequence, why can't he?

Seeing this, Kankuro began to sigh, his hand on Gaara's shoulder tightening to get his attention.

"Gaara." He began to say, firmly and surely that he gets the meaning as he gripped onto the Kage's shoulder, letting go of his puppet as it puffs out into smoke, returning to his scroll.

The Kage didn't look at him, but he was listening.

"You love… her."

His eyes widened when more heat came to his face.

"The very fact that you can't even say those 3 little words, with or without her here…..and the fact of how you were behaving for the past few days…is a sign that you are in love with Mieihi. NOT as a sister, or just a friend…but something else…." He blushed a bit, "…l-like what your were suddenly imagining the moment before you came into her tent!"

Spindrift eyes widened as he placed a hand to his face, he, was for the first time, caught off guard with words that his entire façade was cracking right before his brother for the first time in history.

"…I….love her….?" He said in an almost-whisper. He looked down, "…I…see…"

Kankuro sighed of relief, "FINALLY!"

While his brother had yelled out his victory to the heavens.

The Kazekage covered his mouth with his hand, looking down in a weird expression of distress yet acceptance as he closed his eyes.

All this time-all those events and weird pangs….

His hand transferred to the left side of his head, clutching onto it, his fingers on the Kanji.

I love her…

He sighed, as he leaned on the bark some more, opening his eyes slightly.

…What am I going to do…?

So Gaara finally realizes it! :D :D :D while somewhere along the conversation of Kakashi and Mieihi, Mieihi thinks it's just family love!

What will become of them now :D ?

*SHOT* X-X

I'm not sure if I made the pace too fast…but then again….this is the 10th chapter 3 and it was killing me!

I got confused as well but in explanation, Mieihi inner self starts to bloom here in where she's actually a booky yet shy girl—as you can see, she sounds like she's trying to deny the fact that he loves her more than that, although Kakashi thinks she got it all wrong, which she did anyway. Mieihi is forcing herself to think he thinks of her as his little sister.

If you think it is weird, in my research, I've discovered that Gaara actually does confide with Kankuro a lot, hey, Gaara had changed after his death-birth day

Kakashi's not really the best person to talk about love XD LOL although I felt sorry for Kankuro.

Those two are just like two peas in a pod, sorry if the other chapters I spelled peas as pees LOL XD typo~ we ain't perfect~!

To those who doesn't know what Kami-sama means, Kami-sama means 'God' so it's like OH MY GOD. XD

The Kanji on Gaara's forehead is a Kanji read as 'Ai' or 'Love', if you see the middle part, which looks like an L, from my own time of drawing that Kanji, I've realized it was the Kanji that is read as 'Shinzo' which is Heart, which makes sense in the whole thing :D

SORRY IF IT WAS SO CHESSY AND CRAPPY DX But reviews are welcomed!

I know…

I SUCK!

THAT'S WHY YOU GUYS WONT' REVIEW HUH! DX

XD LOL, sorry, I'm being dramatic, anyhow, Please Review guys! I would reeeeaaallly appreciate it~!