((it's been... forever and a day. I'm so poetic :3 anyway, shall I begin with the reviews for chapter 31?))
Rin-Tsukihime13
Aww. It's okay.
Woot for writing more words than usual XD.
Chikage is very cool in my eyes.
((yay! I made a cool character!!))
sprite21
Oh but of course Gaara is man enough. Then again... he'd have to be. ^^"
OH... good chapter. I absolutely love that spot where Gaara used to sit! So
glad you included it. I agree with Chikage. I love to cook especially bake but
it seems pointless to do it for others you don't care about. I'm going to stop
myself before I start rambling about the cookies I made last night. ^^" Hurry
and post the next chapter soon!! I want to know what happens next!
((and if you noticed, the desert fox nesting near the swing set was supposed to resemble Naruto's friendship with Gaara 3))
Me and Gaara 4ever
aw...GAARA IS SO CUTE WHEN HE'S LITTLE!
ZOMFG! CHIKAGE BETTER NOT FALL FOR...WHATEVER HIS NAME IS!
-squeals- CANT WAIT FOR GAARA TO COME BACK! HA!
AWESOME CHAPPIE! CANT WAIT FOR MORE!
((Genma is sweet... but now, Chi's kinda keepin' him at arm's distance. Actually, since this is a very important chappie and it will be revealed ANYWAY... I never intended Genma to get the girl. He was just added to put more pressure and comedy to the situation. Hm... does that mean that I used him? Like a hammer... with no nail! lol))
Under A Killing Moon
nyeh. im sorry. this is going to be short. im in a rush... speech was due two
days ago... okay. that was a good chapter. it was cute in a way, i guess. lol.
i tried doing that once. a guy was standing there, and i thought he would be
so fun to draw, so i drew him, and he came out looking angry... it sucked
monkey balls. anyways, cute chapter. update soon plz. now... OFF TO THE
SPEECH!! voices: CHARGE!!
((Even though I'm late, GOOD LUCK AT SPEECH! That was the best time of my life... well, speech team, anyway! but I'm glad that you tried to draw him... but did he look angry because his face was relaxed? Or was he smiling? If his face was relaxed, sometimes people look angry.))
VampireGaaraCheesepuffs
I love the swing set! XD
I can sit there, watch the other kids, doesn't matter if I'm lonely there XD
((agreed. when I was a kid, I was lonely but I didn't really mind it. but now I can't get used to the "loneliness" anymore... and it's kinda annoying. lol ))
Gaara-frenzy
im glad chi is still thinking of gaara even if he doesn't know what to do
about love. the thing about food is kinda cute. she should cook for gaara
maybe he can get some hints from example. great chapter! i hope you update
soon!! XD
((I've got a juicier idea... but hey, it can work later on... :P))
PocketWitchPenelope
I really like your story, I just stumbled upon it and read all 31 chapters in
one sitting.
Erm, I think Chi is a bit too emotional. She should learn to be more
assertive and, dammit, she should throw sharp pointy objects at Gaara for
treating her like a toy!
I know I wouldn't take that lying down, hell, I didn't even when I was head
over heels for someone. Trust me, a little bit of backbone goes a long way in
the line of getting respect.
I know what she means by only wanting to cook for loved ones though; we're
alike in that manner.
((so far... what she'd said to Genma in chapter 31 is probably the most backbone she'd asserted thus far... at least, to anyone but her family. but I agree... I think I made her too timid at first... but I'm workin' her way up on the backbone-ladder... sorry, I'm still a little shocked that you read all 31 chapters in one go! that means that I must have made good word choices and such and for that, I'm a very happy writer!))
mysticLegend11
"Nothing makes sense to a woman in love."
Never heard a truer word, buddy.
Your writing is improving, I have to admit. And occasionally, you catch me
off-guard with some delicious humor (Naruto's yaoi joke) and surprising depth
(bantering about nightmares). It wouldn't hurt to include some more of both.
Story is progressing nicely. The fact that Gaara has changed into a popular
and supportive Kazekage keeps being ignored by the general fangirl populace is
a bit annoying, since I think that's one of his most attractive traits. Other,
update soon.
((okay, for all aspiring writers and those writers who have questions, I suggest taking a look at mysticLegend11's profile page. There's really good Q/A data about writing-- it even has a space for those with writer's block! Think of it as... the semi-ultimate guide to writing... and it's only semi because I'm sure there are more questions out there than were on this profile page. *huggles mysticLegend11* thanks for reviewing!!))
xXTwily-KunoXx
Still lazy in signing in sorry for not reviewing the obstacle for me not
reading is...school...anyways great chappie...i feel myself giving up on
fanfiction... :( i dont want that
((don't give up! just read when you can and review if you can! want me to blow up your school? :P))
((I think that's all of them... let's now begin the actual chapter and thanks to everyone who has updated and stayed with this story despite this author's... occasional stretches of time between each chapter... yes, I stretched the truth... a lot. lol))
Chapter 32: Confrontation
Gaara had returned to Suna as fast as he could. He barely took food breaks and whenever he did, it was only for about 2 minutes. As for pee breaks... he took those after he ate and then ran like the wind. Nothing could stop him for even 10 minutes. Anything that tried was effectively ignored. And although there were many instances that he craved to kill some of the distracting people that asked for his help, he passed them by and let them live. He'd promised himself that he wouldn't return to the monster state that he'd once been so far in.
But he did return. And when he did, he didn't go to his house to rest. No, he had far too much to do. He had to find Chikage, he had to see if he'd already lost the bet. So he went to her house. He remembered it well and when he knocked on the door, Hito answered.
"Oh, it's you... what do you want?" the boy asked, not at all surprised or happy that the redhead was there.
Gaara didn't acknowledge the boy's behavior. He was used to it... same old, same old. "Chikage."
"My sister? Why do you want her?"
Gaara sighed and replied blandly, "Though it's really none of your business, I need to speak with her without the intruder."
"Intruder? You mean... Genma? Why'd you call him that?" Hito had his suspicions about how such a nice guy would be considered an "intruder" by the redhead. But who was he to judge.
The ex-raccoon-vessel had slipped up. But rather than answer the question, he demanded, "Bring Chikage to me." That was an order. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
"How is my sister none of my business?" The little boy was beginning to get upset.
"Chikage--" Gaara started to say something but he was interrupted by the little demon in children's clothing.
"Answer me!" Hito shouted, his eyes narrowed in anger. "My sister is important to me and ever since you've started talking to her, all that's happened is that her heart was broken! She's an idiot, chasing after someone like you who has done nothing but hurt her, time and time again! You weren't supposed to--"
"Stay out of this, boy. I've been patient so far but my tolerance is growing thin. Bring her here or I'll drag her out..." The threat was clear. A chill ran up and down the little boy's spine. But still he didn't give in.
"You weren't supposed to hurt her... you shouldn't have made her cry like that..." Gaara didn't reply as he started to remove the "obstacle" out of his way. Sand covered Hito's body and held him still as he headed towards the girl's room. "She's not here!"
He stopped and said, "Where is she, then?"
"I don't know... she's just not here. Maybe she's with Genma-- hey!" The sand that held Hito disappeared and dropped him, not-so-gently, onto the floor. And Gaara disappeared in a flash of sand. But despite himself, he smiled. "That idiot... they're two of a kind. She's head-over-heels for him and he can't stand losing to anybody. Maybe he'll grow up a bit more and forgive himself... and beg for Chi's forgiveness..." His smile turned into a frown. "... and maybe she'll actually forgive him. Though after what he did to her, Gaara deserves to rot in Hell..."
((I decided to stop here... at first, I'd thought that Gaara would meet up with her but I like this little fight between Hito and him. Mostly because we see just how grown-up Hito really is. . but it's shorter than usual... I'm sorry!!!))