Kankuro traveled fast from his room to Gaara's room and knocked on the door rapidly.

"Kazekage-sama, you're needed at a meeting immediately."

The door opened slowly with an eerie creak to reveal a recently awoken Gaara with messed up hair and droopy eyes. Ever since his demon was extracted, he decided to take up sleeping like a normal person so he started sleeping for minutes then an hour and as time went by he got to sleep easier and was having dreams. The first time he dreamed it scared him stiff for he never had one before.

"Already? Why so damn early? Ugh, whatever, just one minute and stop calling me Kazekage-sama, it's too damn formal, call me Gaara. After all, I'm still your brother."

Kankuro smiled before his brother closed the door and dressed rapidly in his everyday clothes, a fishnet shirt with a long sleeved brownish red shirt with a black sash and black pants.

"You're not going in your Kage robes?"

"I only wear that for formal meetings that I actually give two fucks for. They woke me before the sun rose so as of prior, I don't give two fucks."

Kankuro slightly chuckled. His brother had changed and was even funny now. Gaara and Kankuro went into the meeting which had a lot of important representatives of the Suna all sitting in chairs at a long table and at the head of the table was a big chair, obviously meant for Gaara. Gaara took his seat with Kankuro standing beside him, arms folded behind his back.

"What have I been summoned for so early in the morning?"

"Well Kazekage-sama, it may not seem very important at the moment but there is a festival happening in our sister village, Konoha, and as such you must attend," said one of the board members named Bankotsu.

Gaara rubbed his eyes. They had called him here to remind him of this? Was it that important? The name Konoha struck too many memories for Gaara to handle, memories of his beloved Hinata with her gentle laughter, sweet nature and beauty. Would he see her if he went? He couldn't pass up the delicious opportunity. He had changed, he had no more demon but still, he could be killed by her family.

"This is something I was already aware of, but thank you for reminding me. I will go, if Kankuro and Temari accompany me."

"Oh, but of course. You will have a representative from Konoha show you around, she is supposed to be very knowledgeable and powerful."

"Not to mention good looking."

"Bankotsu!"

"Hai, Genmaru?"

"Oh, never mind, you're hopeless. Yes, the lady Hyuga is supposedly very beautiful but that doesn't matter right now. She will be your guide."

Gaara's eyes popped open. Had he heard wrong? Did he just say Lady Hyuga?

"Pardon me, but what is this Hyuga lady's first name?"

"Hinata, sir, Hinata Hyuga."

Kankuro couldn't hold back his audible gasp. The fates were favoring them. Gaara and Hinata, back together again. Could it be the same Hinata? It had to be! Kankuro couldn't hide his smile as he saw his brothers' eyes sparkle.

"She sounds…like she would be more than acceptable as a guide. After all…Hyuga's are very intelligent…"

"Hai Kazekage! I'm glad you agreed. We all confirmed her as the best choice with the Hokage, Lady Tsunade. So you approve of this Hinata?"

"Of course, esteemed Bankotsu. Did you make the decision?"

"Well we all did, but I talked with the lady myself."

"Remind me to promote you."

Bankotsu grinned widely. He had been waiting patiently to be promoted ever since he got here, he was technically the new guy.

"Oh and don't worry, you'll all get a raise. You've made a most excellent choice gentlemen, oh and lady."

Matsuri, the young girl, had attended the meeting as well, considered of very high stature because she saved the Kazekage. Even though she was way younger than Gaara was she was still allowed to go. Gaara excused himself from the meeting and found himself glad to have attended. Matsuri ran after Gaara with a big bright smile and books, papers and scrolls in her hand.

"That was great my Kazekage-sama! You are truly amazing! Oh, I wish I could go to this festival."

"Maybe one day you will. Matsuri, you are my best friend, so don't call me Kazekage unless it's in a meeting, alright?"

"Hai, Gaara-sama!"

"Just Gaara."

"Alright, just Gaara."

She giggled a tiny, sweet giggle of a child that she was with her sandy colored skin lighting up pink. Gaara looked at her with a little smile but it faded when the features Matsuri faded away to something even more familiar to him. Her short brown hair turned into a peculiar bob of indigo hair, her almost black eyes turned into a lilac tinted opal, her beach sand skin melted into a pallid color, close to porcelain. She was Hinata now but Matsuri's voice was still present.

"Gaara-kun?"

She blinked opal eyes that belonged to a Hyuga. She called him Gaara-kun, like her. What did this mean? He knew he couldn't get Hinata out of his head but this had never happened before. Was Matsuri becoming Hinata? Was she replacing Hinata or at least, trying to? Did she love him? His worst fear pounded in his very core, surrounded by red swirling light that beamed through him. Was he falling in love with Matsuri in order to fill the void Hinata left? Was Matsuri Hinata's replacement? Gaara backed away, afraid of Matsuri and his deepest emotions that he had to assure himself weren't real.

"Gaara what are you doing?"

He wanted to call her Hinata, make her Hinata, and dress her up like Hinata. He wanted to replace Hinata with her! It made him sick. He doubted himself and ran away.

"Gaara wait! Wait!"

Gaara ran all the way to his room, breathing heavy. He swore never to replace Hinata but was Matsuri trying to get him to replace her? Was she daring to heal his wounds? How dare she! He would forget Hinata if Matsuri was around, for whatever reason. Gaara started crying against his door. Matsuri and Hinata became a blurred line. He couldn't love Matsuri, he simply couldn't. He swore…did he dare break a promise never to replace his true love? He needed to see her again and all would be right again. He locked himself in his room, afraid of Matsuri and afraid of himself. Matsuri was in love with Gaara, but she didn't know if he felt the same way. She knew he had a past with a woman and she intended to take the place of that woman. Her charm was working and soon he would forget all about her. Matsuri smiled.

'So you keep running Gaara, run away from me. I will be the woman you always dream of, I will be HER. Just you wait and see.'