Disclaimer;...*gets poked* Okay! I do not own Naruto! Jeez, hey where's my cookies you promised!*goes off to find cookies*

Warnings: None really, a weird, emotional Riku, but you know that already. Gaara is probably a smidgen Ooc.

A/N: Whoo! Last chapter! Oh by the way, I probably have got the name wrong but I think her name is Mizuki, not 100% sure though, so please tell me if I have. I've had fun writing this story and I'm really sorry it took so long to update DX.

Gaara; freedom at last!
ESB; Hey! I supplied you with cookies, stop complaining!
Gaara; *glares* Did I say you could leave the Emo corner?
ESB; Eeep nooooo, please don't sand burial meeeeeee...*runs off*
Gaara; * laughs evilly*

Chapter 4

- Riku-Age16-

Riku paced nervously, chewing his nails down to the skin. He was so worried, it had been four days since the attack by the Akatsuki, Gaara had been missing for that long and it was seriously stressing him out. Temari had tried to sooth him, saying that Naruto and his friends would rescue Gaara but it did little console him. He was just too worried, he had barely any sleep and ate little, waiting inside of Gaara's office for the red head to return.

After Gaara had found him the woods, Riku refused to leave his side, even going as far to face Temari's wrath, to which Gaara had to save him. Who knew sand could be so quick? And so he became Gaara's secretary and friend and mother and office cleaner and cookie buyer... And so many other things, not that Riku minded. No, not at all, in fact he enjoyed his job very much and Gaara was such a good Kazekage it was unbelievable, the Demon carrier loved Suna more then he did.

Nothing had really happened after the little kiss in the forest, except or the fact that Gaara had become slightly more protective of him and maybe just a little possessive but nothing bad or harmful. In fact Riku quite liked being protected and cared for, he had always had to look after himself, or his uncle, he never really had chance to depend on anyone else, never really thought about it either. So he was pleasantly surprised when Gaara forbade him from leaving the city without an escort-which often then not was Temari- and he had to tell the red head where he was going, even it was out to buy said Kage somemore double choc fruit and nut cookies.

Gaara also fretted whenever he was sick, not that he would admit it but Riku could tell, heck anyone could tell. The one time Riku had caught the flu and was bed bound by a medi-ninja, Gaara had been round instantly, making sure Riku had lots of soup in his cupboards and fresh water on his bed side table. Gaara had hovered round him for hours, checking everything more then once and actually asked the medi-ninja if he knew what he was doing. That had earned him a dirty look but Riku didn't mind, it had made him feel all warm inside knowing that someone cared for him, worried for him.

But in the end Temari had appeared, swapping Gaara for Kankuro because the Kage had a mountain of paperwork to do and it wasn't going to disappear in a poof of smoke.

So when Temari had suddenly burst into the office where Riku was wearing a path into the carpet, saying that Gaara was back, Riku had felt as if the world had been lifted off his shoulders and he felt infinitely happier, knowing that his Gaara was okay and safe and more importantly, home.

But his good mood had quickly disappeared when he had spotted Mizuki hugging Gaara tightly and the man hugging her back, his face pressed into her brown hair, his eyes closed in what looked like bliss. Riku felt as if his world had fallen from beneath his feet and his heart gave a painful lurch.

He suddenly felt as if he was going to be sick and quickly clamped a hand over his mouth in a attempt to keep whatever he had eaten that day in his stomach. He watched with a detached air as Gaara pulled back from the hug, his arm still tightly wrapped round Mizuki's petite shoulders as she rested her head against his chest. Everyone was cheering, all trying to get a word in to Gaara. They were all thanking him for saving their lives.

Riku turned away from the scene, angry tears welling up in his eyes. He pushed through the crowd, getting further and futher away from the heartbreaking view. How could he be so stupid to actually believe that Gaara had felt something other than friendship towards him? To believe that the red head liked him as much as he did.

If Riku was to think deeply on his feelings, he would even say that he loved him. Gaara meant everything to him; he was his friend, his family. And that was all he was ever going to be..

Gaara squirmed internally, trying with hold the urge to push Mizuki away while screaming 'ew, get away from me you leech!' She was all over him, hugging him, holding him, rubbing his back. It was highly uncomfortable and Gaara was beginning to miss Riku's soothing, just their presence. The brunette didn't have to hold him to sooth him, just him walking past his office was enough to save lives. Literally. A lot of Suna Shinobi owed their lives to his secretary and they didn't even know it.

He glanced around, trying to see if he could spot Riku anywhere in the hoard of people. It was strange that he no longer heard the taunting voice of Shukaku, or that he no longer had to worry about falling asleep. Gaara narrowed his eyes when he spotted a messy mop of hazel brown hair quickly leaving the crowd. He knew that hair anywhere, but the question was, why was Riku leaving? Gaara was not known for his infinite knowledge of emotions and how to spot them but he was sure that Riku was crying.

The only other time Rik had ever cried was when some rowdy Suna Anbu decided to hastle him and physically try to hurt him. They had been very lucky that Gaara had been more concerned about Riku then them or they wouldn't of survived the night.

Carefully detangling himself from Mizuki, he quickly followed, anger and worry tightening his chest. What had upset Riku? Gaara sighed when he noticed that sand had begun to float around him, he had been surprised when he found he could still use his sand, he had expected that he would have to learn all over again. He had a passing thought to use the sand to stop Riku from disappearing but thought better of it. The brunette still hadn't forgiven him for that time in the forest near Konoha.

Gaara lost sight of Riku three times before he finally decided to use his chakra filled sand to trap Riku in a wide bubble of sand. He heard Riku squeak in surprise. Gaara trudged up to the sand, unconsciously telling it move aside so he could enter. He raised a brow when he saw a wide-eyed Riku looking at him like a startled animal. Riku pointed and sputtered over his words.

"B-but...how?" Gaara frowned as Riku started shaking his head and muttered to himself, he was worried that the other boy had lost his mind. He blinked when Riku adopted a hostile and bitter tone to his voice. "I thought you would be with Mizuki."

"Why would I be with her?" Gaara was thoroughly confused, yes, Mizuki had been all over him but he had made it very clear he was not intrested in her that way. Of course it took Temari explaining to him why Mizuki was always bothering him. This however was not what Riku wanted to hear, he had forgotten about Gaara's inability to understand emotions, it seemed.

"Why? Why? You were all over each other!" Riku's voice raised it pitch before it broke and he turned away from the red head, refusing to cry in front of him. Gaara frowned even deeper, not really understanding why Riku was acting so strange. But even from where he stood he could tell that Riku was crying, the shaking shoulders and quiet sobs clarified that.

"She was upset that I had died, Sakura told me to comfort her." Riku winced, Gaara sounded like a confused child, unsure and baffled as to why that was bad. Riku huffed before something sank into his brain. Wait, did he just say he died? RIku spun round and charged for the perplexed red head, checking every little thing before poking him in the chest.

"What do you mean you 'died'?" Riku looked horrified at the news as he repeated it back to himself, his body went into shock of knowing that Gaara's heart had stopped beating. Gaara looked even more puzzled and his head was beginning hurt with how Riku was changing moods so fast.

"I died. The Akatsuki had taken Shukaku from my body...What?"

Riku stared at Gaara strangely, so much so, Gaara began to feel uncomfortable. There was a deathly silence before Riku raised his hand and slapped Gaara for lack of anything better to do.

"I...I was so worried, Temari had to stop me more then once from jumping out your office window and looking for you. I saw what you did with that giant sand shield. I-I thought you might've died in the blast!" Riku stopped for a moment to take shuddering breath. "and then I see you with Mizuki, hugging her and looking so happy..." Riku blushed a colour of red that would rival Gaara's hair and he dropped his head to his chest, feeling embarrassed for being so jealous when in reality he didn't know anything, he hoped Gaara wouldn't notice but he was never that lucky.

Gaara blinked before he let out a smirk. "Are you jealous?" When Riku sputtered, turning an even darker shade of red, Gaara knew he had hit the nail on the head.

"N-no I'm not!" Riku looked horrified at Gaara's growing smirk, the red head wasn't so confused anymore, his brain finally catching up as to why Riku was having one of his freaky mood swings. Riku had been jealous and hurt at the sight of Mizuki all over him, and though he had limited understanding of emotions, he couldn't help but feel his ego swell just a little.

Riku stepped away from Gaara, actually beginning to fear for his life. Never had Gaara looked so...well, so terrifying. Sure when Gaara was angry he looked a little scary but Riku had never taken any notice.

Though he was definitely taking notice now.

Gaara almost rolled his eyes as Riku squeaked and tried to run away, really, they were still inside the giant sand bubble. Riku wasn't going anywhere. He supposed now would be a good time to explain a few things.

Temari frowned when she spotted that Gaara wasn't at his desk, she was kind of concerned that Riku wasn't there either but shrugged. Him and Gaara were probably eating cookies together.

Rolling her eyes, she shut the office door behind her, almost bumping into an unlikely guest. Staring at Shikamaru, she lazily wondered why he was gazing at her like he did when he was watching the clouds. It was that thoughtful and yet puzzling expression, like he was trying to figure out the meaning of life which whether he denied it or not, she was sure that was his next big break-through.

"Troublesome." And with that Shikamaru walked off, leaving an equally perplexed Temari behind. She shook her head, deciding to just forget about the weird encounter and go home for some well earned rest, except she couldn't move a thing. Huffing out a breath of irritation, she glanced down, already knowing the outcome. She followed the whispery black shadow all the way back to its owner, glaring deathly at the sleepy brunette.

"Very troublesome." Temari glared as she 'walked' the same way as Shikamaru, planning a very painful death for the man.

"Let me go, and I promise to leave you alive." Temari threatened, cursing every living being that Shikamaru wasn't all that afriad of her. Her answer was just another 'troublesome'...

He was so dead once this was over..

A/N; So yeah, weird ending. I hope you can guess what Gaara is going to do with my poor little Oc, I am rubbish at writing lemons or even limes, so forgive me! I couldn't help but in a little ShikaxTem. So yeah, please R&R ^-^