Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Authors Note: this chapter is for Carlie. Hope you enjoy it hun.

Chapter 6

I don't know how long I sat there, my head resting on my knees. I must have fallen asleep because I awoke to someone shaking my shoulder.

"Kiba-san…"

I jerked. "Is he alright?" I asked hurriedly.

Temari's face was blank and she held a haunted aura to her. "He will recover."

I breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh thank Kami…can I see him?"

She gave me a strange look, and shook her head. "No, he needs his rest."

I bit my tongue and nodded.

"Why don't you go back to your suit, and get cleaned up?" she suggested.

I nodded, "ok." I stood and as if possessed walked back to my room, grabbed a change of clothes, and then headed for the shower.

I was done in record time. I quickly combed my hair before heading back to the hospital wing. I knocked on the door, and Kankuro answered it.

"Yes?"

"How is he?" I asked him worriedly.

Kankuro gave me a calculating look, before opening the door wider. "He's going to be fine. You only got his shoulder, no permanent damage. He…He is asking for you."

My eyes widened and I felt my hands begin to shake. I felt a small sense of relief knowing that he would be fine, but the guilt overrode everything else.

Kankuro took a step back to let me enter, and I did. The room was dimmed and I could see Gaara's brilliant hair against the white pillow like it was a fire in the snow.

I walked toward him slowly and peered down at his face. It was relaxed and worry-free. I stood there memorizing every detail from his closed eyelids to the curve of his lips. It wasn't long after I got into the room that his bright foam green eyes fluttered open and were gazing into my soul, like the first day we met.

"Kiba…"

His voice was rough and strained, but still radiated with a silent power.

"Hey…I'm so sorry for-"

I was cut off as my mouth filled with sand. I sputtered and spit until the grains were gone, glaring daggers at the Kazekage.

"You did very well."

My glare lost all its ferocity as my mouth hung open as if on a broken hinge.

"What?"

Gaara crinkled his nonexistent eyebrows at me. "I said you did very well. You fought right through the sand. You didn't relay on you sense of smell, you relied on your speed, and hearing."

I was still in shock, so he could have said he banged my mom over a table and I wouldn't have comprehended it.

"Uh…right." I said trying to pretend I understood.

Gaara frowned, but didn't speak again.

"I'm glad your ok." I finally said after a couple minutes of uncomfortable silence.

He 'hmmed' but didn't comment.

"Temari wouldn't let me in earlier, so I kind of assumed the worst…" I mumbled, not really expecting him to hear me.

"You thought I would die?"

His question was quiet and even with my extra sensitive hearing, I barely heard the words.

I nodded. "Yeah."

"And that saddened you?" he asked confused.

I snorted in disbelief. "Of course it did! I was angry and upset. I would never forgive myself…"

He was quiet a moment. "Why?" he asked in genuine curiosity.

"Because you are my friend and I…I care about you…and stuff..." I let my voice trail off in embarrassment.

I stared at my sandals, finding them very fascinating all of a sudden.

I could feel Gaara's eyes boring into me, but resisted the urge to look up and meet them.

I didn't want him to see the true feelings I had for him.

Gaara shifted slightly in the bed and then grunted in pain. I snapped my head up quickly, "Gaara are you ok? What do you need?" I knew I was rambling, but it pained me to see him hurting.

"For you to stop talking." He snapped.

I quickly shut my mouth, and stared at the ground again, a blush covering my cheeks.

"Kiba?"

I grunted.

"Look at me." he demanded.

When I didn't look up immediately Gaara growled, "Look at me."

I grudgingly brought my head up, and met his piercing gaze.

Gaara was sitting up, and I could see how much effort it took him to do so. I couldn't stop myself from getting caught in his stare, and I found myself leaning forward.

My lips touched his gently, and I could feel Gaara gasp beneath me.

I pressed a little harder, and slipped my tongue between his lips, stroking his gently, until I could feel him begin to kiss back. I couldn't stop from groaning as I tasted him.

'Kami, why hadn't I done this sooner?' I thought to myself.

We continued to kiss, until the need for oxygen became too great and I pulled away, panting.

We stayed in a comfortable silence after that. Gaara had to lay back down, and I just sat by his bed, gently petting his hair.

ok that's it for chapter 6. hope you liked it, Review please so I know how to continue it. tell me if you think Gaara and Kiba are moving to fast or too slow ect.

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aKu-senSei