((as promised, here is Chapter 3. And I do agree with the "..." comments so I'll try to back off of them... even though... I like them... this much... okay, that was just annoying, even for me. Sorry about that! I'm just surprised that my demands for four comments were met. anyway, same conditions as last time-- four comments/reviews will get you the next chapter. and I'll try to make this one, and the next, longer.))

Chapter 3: The Mysterious Sketchbook

Gaara opened the door to Kankuro's room with a bang. Kankuro had been oiling the joints of one of his puppets but now, he was just covered in the oil and his puppet had been flung away from him. "G-Gaara, wh-what a su-surprise?" he stammered, trying to smile.

But the look his younger brother gave him could have frozen a lake in the middle of the hottest desert. "This notebook belongs to a girl with red hair. You know almost every girl in Suna. Tell me who she is."

"Her name is Chikage. She's always drawing for one reason or another and everyone hates her because she argues stubbornly." Like Kankuro was really going to tell his brother what they argue about. All he knew was that she was teased for her ideas about Gaara. But whether they were good or bad, he could only guess good. And that wouldn't be good enough for Gaara's curiosity.

"I don't care about that. Where does she live? I need to give this to her."

"Wait, before that, let's see what she's been drawing."

Gaara, who didn't care about the breaching of privacy, handed over the book and let Kankuro open it. Deafening silence lasted several minutes as Kankuro gazed at some indescribable pictures of red and green. Many in the beginning were horribly drawn and a couple were smeared by what could only have been tears. But they gradually became better and then, the last page was turned and Kankuro gasped in wondering bewilderment. His usually narrowed eyes widened and a smile slowly made it's way onto his face. "Wow... who knew she could draw like this?" he said as he closed the book.

"Okay, she lives on the other side of town in that Desert Rose apartment complex. The door number is 23 and she lives alone, just so you know."

"Why would I care if she was alone or not? Stop spouting useless information to me." With that, he left Kankuro to chuckle to himself.

"I told you that because I knew you could relate to her. She knows that so maybe she can teach you... you idiot," he mumbled to himself, glad that Gaara didn't hear him.

With Gaara, he was walking down the streets. Since he wasn't accustomed to the Desert Rose's landscaping, he wasn't sure if he would be able to use his disappearing sands to teleport him there. So instead of making a mistake and looking stupid, he chose to walk.

'All of this trouble for a girl... I blame you for this, Naruto,' he thought in slight irritation.

Looking to the right, he saw a very familliar place-- the park where so many children would play, the swing that he would sit on as he watched them. Back then, he had hoped with all his heart that one of them would invite him to play. It wouldn't have mattered if all of those kids had run from him. Just so long as there was one who was willing to deal with his very presence, that would have been enough for him. To ask for more would have been selfish. So all he wanted was one person by his side. His siblings were afraid of him, everyone else hated him, and his uncle tried to kill him-- didn't he deserve someone?!

Then he looked down at the book. Kankuro had been interested in that last page. He even opened his eyes to get a better look at it. But what could have made his brother do something so strange? Gaara had to know. So he went to a bench and sat down, the sketchbook in his lap.

Opening it up, he began to flip through the pages, marveling at how incredibly bad the pictures in the beginning were. But as it went on, he was able to see exactly who the red-haired boy in the pictures were. They were him-- sometimes smiling, other times crying, and some of the times stoic. However, in her pictures, he was never angry, there was never any blood drenching his cold features.

When it came time for the final picture, Gaara looked up to find that girl, Chikage, staring at him. "Gaara-san... you have my sketchbook. I need it back, please."

Gaara studied her features. A large blush signaled either her discomfort or her embarrassment. Her fidgeting fingers made her look shy. If he was anyone else, he would have bet his life savings that she was in love with him. But who could love a monster? After all this time, no matter how hard he tried, he was still a monster in his eyes. And he would die a monster if any of them had a say in it.

"I'm on the last page. I want to see it," he said monotonely.

Chikage shivered visably from his tone. "I'm sorry. I can't let you. At least not yet. Please?" she said in a begging voice. Her eyes were slightly teary and her blush had gotten worse.

Gaara growled in annoyance. "Fine. But I expect to see that last picture soon, understand?"

Chikage nodded. 'As soon as you kiss me... and tell me you love me...' she thought to herself. But instead of saying that, she replied, "When you tell me that you've fallen in love with someone other than yourself, I'll let you see the picture. I'll even give it to you."

Gaara sighed in exasperation. "Fine... I guess I'll never see it then," he grumbled.