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The third Chapter's done! I've been writing for a while now, like hours on the 2nd and 3rd chapters. If you've read up til here then thank you so much! I hope you like the story so far. Well with out further waiting, here's the third chapter, enjoy! :)

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or and of the characters in Naruto.

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A Story for Myself

A Naruto fanfic

Chapter 3

New Things

Meanwhile…

Sakura looked over at Gaara, who looked like he was in pain. No one else would be able to tell, but Sakura, knowing Gaara, could see the pain carved delicately behind his features. He hid it so well.

"The rest of today will be a study hall, since we only have 30 minutes left and the pottery supplies aren't here yet," Kurenai said emerging from the art closet with paper and pencils. " Feel free to do as you please, just not to loud and no destruction."

Gaara didn't flinch as people started to move around and talk all around them. Ino still hadn't come back from the nurse.

Maybe there's a bug going around. Sakura thought to herself. She was about to touch Gaara, to wake him from what ever he was thinking about. He often zoned out, so she knew he was probably just thinking really hard about something today.

But why is he in pain? Her hand was about two inches away from his arm when she suddenly pulled it back. Oh! What was that? Sakura rubbed her right hand with her left. It felt like sand had just been throw against it, really hard, and just a little bit, but it hurt.

Maybe he's remembering something. That would be wonderful. Sakura thought hopefully. She got the feeling that he was wrapped up in a memory, but there was nagging doubt that wouldn't go away in her mind that it was anything but wonderful.

He lost all of his memories of when he was a kid. He doesn't even remember his own parents. She sighed sadly. Sakura was one of the few to know the details of his memory loss.

When he was 6 he lost all of his memories about people he knew and himself in general. Though he didn't lose the memories like how to walk and how to breathe. He still knew numbers and letters, and how to read, he was an extremely bright child. But he didn't remember how he got to Konoha, any of his old friends, or the school he used to go to in Suna. He lived with his Aunt in Konoha when he woke up one morning, not remembering who he was. He didn't remember that his parents died or if he had had parents at all…

Gaara shook his head back and forth, faster and faster, harder and harder.

What is this? Where am I, how did I get here and how can I get out?

This is a memory. You are remembering my past, the one they tried to erase from your mind when you were young. I am showing you this because it's almost time, Gaara. You can become feared, Gaara, you have the power to do anything you want to. Of course it's my power, but I can lend it too you when you need it.

I still don't understand… is that why I lost my memories from when I was born to when I was six?

Yes, while trying to contain me in you, they didn't want you to ever know that I was within you, so they erased the sealing process from your memories and blocked me from your mind while still containing me within your body and soul.

Then do you have my memories? Along with yours?

I do. And I will show them to you gradually, as you learn that I am you, and you are me.

Suddenly Gaara felt something push out from him, a power, an energy.

You have people that care about you, Gaara. Especially this pink haired friend of yours. Keep them close; you don't know who they are. But another warning, you also have enemies, and you don't know who they are yet, either. Keep an eye open for me.

I must be dreaming. I must be officially thinking too hard. Maybe I'm going insane. Probably. That figures.

But in a sense Gaara knew he wasn't dreaming. It all felt too real. It had to be real. What if he really did start to get his memories back? That would be amazing. He had thought that he had lost his early childhood forever.

What if I remember my parents?

A flash of a family in their home around dinnertime came to mind.

Yeah, a family memory just like that… Then he realized that the little boy sitting on the couch in their open home was him. He could smell the smells of dinner cooking and he heard a man say, "Once again you've impressed us all with just the smells of your cooking, isn't that right, Gaara?" The little Gaara, who looked about 4 years old, stumbled into the kitchen and climbed up on a chair with the help of the man who had spoken. The man had the same features as Gaara had, with the exception of a few, like his nose and eyes, which matched the woman who was cooking.

Those… Are those my parents? Gaara asked as he watched the scene like a lost soul.

They are your parents, Gaara, but they were killed. Shukaku said from inside Gaara's head once again.

The little Gaara turned his head, looking for the sound of a voice, a voice that his parents seemed to not hear.

Did he… did I just hear you? Is that why he- why I'm looking around? Can they see me as in me right now, older?

He isn't hearing us talking right now, no, but you used to hear me a lot. Of course you were younger then, so they all thought of the voices only you heard were just your own " imaginary friend" or just your imagination. Or everyone who didn't know about me thought that.

No, they can't see you. This is just a memory, Gaara; it's your memory. They sealed it from you, because if you knew this memory then you would have known about me. Once I give you this memory to keep then you will be able to remember it as if you were that little child. But we don't have time for that now. Don't worry though, this memory will be yours soon enough.

Suddenly he blinked and he heard the noises of a classroom study hall around him. People were talking and walking around. He looked over at Sakura who was sitting beside him, frowning down at her fingers. She looked like she was in deep thought.

"Sakura," Gaara apologized as she looked up. " I'm sorry for zoning out on you like that,"

"Oh," She said surprised. " Oh, no, don't worry about it," her face softened.

"You looked like you… well, like you were remembering something…" Sakura started. She didn't exactly know how to tell him what she saw, him being in pain.

Gaara suddenly felt a wave of excitement, happiness, and relief flow through him stronger than he had ever felt before. The feeling was incredible.

Sakura's face brightened when she saw the look of that feeling in his eyes.

"Gaara!" She squealed, sincere happiness for her best friend bubbling up inside her.

He nodded while hardly able to keep the smile from hurting his face. He hadn't smiled this much in his life. Of course not that he could remember a certain portion of his life.

"I remembered something, about my parents." He said to her.

She was so glad that finally Gaara had remembered something that Sakura nearly jumped out of her chair and hugged him, full on.

He laughed, a laugh he hadn't ever heard himself laugh before and hugged Sakura back. He couldn't ever remember hugging someone either before. Today was a day for new things.

Of course he didn't forget all the people he had just witnessed dieing, there was no way he was ever going to forget that. But he wasn't about to let that memory over power the joy he had gotten from his second memory. The first memory he had was officially his, and even though the second one wasn't even fully his to keep yet, the second one was stronger.

We'll see which one's turn out stronger in the end… Shukaku's voice sounded in Gaara's head.

I won't forget either of the memories. Gaara told the voice.

"Gaara, I knew it!" Sakura exclaimed as she sat back down in her own chair. "And the first memory you get back was about your parents, oh that's just awesome!"

Their classmates around them couldn't have known less about what just happened, and it was one of the biggest events in Gaara's life.

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Aww, aren't you just so happy for Gaara? He got his first memory of his parents! But then, who is this "they" group of people that Shukaku keeps referencing too? What will happen when Gaara harbors more memories from Shukaku? Will he start to use his power? If so, for good or evil? Oh, and Who won that bet? ; ) Thanks for reading, everyone, and chapter 4 will be coming your way soon!

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