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Hello, everyone, again. :) The story's just beginning, as Suna plans to intervene with Gaara and Shukaku.

Thank you everyone for the lovely reviews, and good ideas. I shall explain more in the next chapter, about Naruto, Sakura, and whatnot. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the latest update!

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

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A Story for Myself

A Naruto Fanfic

Chapter 8

Confession and More Memories

"Sir, Shukaku has been awakened within the host, Gaara of the Desert." Sheen kneeled before a Sunagakure elder. These new elders were nothing like the old elders. They ruled harshly, precisely, and mercilessly. There were two of them, their real names unknown to even Sheena. They were just simply referred to as the 'elders' most of the time. The male elder was called Minoru and the female was called Naomi.

"Ah, so now is the time, we must scout out a new host immediately." Lady Elder Naomi said.

"Yes, and that will take about two weeks," Elder Minoru replied.

"My Elders, if I may, I have more news as well," Sheena said.

"Go on, then, child," The Lady Elder spoke.

"Lana, Gaara's guardian, has said that he has befriended the Nine-Tails of Konoha, as well as the Spirit Child of Madara. She says that he also has connections to the physical line of Madara." Sheena said, still bowing in their presence.

"So he may be a challenge to get," The Naomi concluded.

"Indeed," Minoru agreed.

Back in Konoha…

"Gaara! Sakura!" They heard Lana yell from the kitchen. "Dinner!"

"Aww, and it was just getting to the good part," Sakura complained. Then her stomach growled audibly. She giggled.

"I would guess that's okay with your stomach," Gaara laughed as he paused the movie that was playing on his Mac computer.

Sakura got up and turned on the lights in his room. "I guess so," She replied while smiling at Gaara.

"We can watch more after dinner," Gaara responded as they made there way down stairs.

When they both reached the kitchen Lana was pouring milk for them all. The dinner was a salad with chicken in it, one that Lana liked to make a lot. Not that Gaara minded, it was good.

Lana laughed. "Do you two realize how good a couple you would turn out to be?"

Sakura blushed a deep red and Gaara could hardly keep from smiling.

"Oops, sorry," Lana laughed again.

"Well actually," Gaara began. "We decided we would be too,"

Lana glanced at Gaara to see if he was joking or not. Then she looked at Sakura.

"Ah, I see," she said still smiling. "That's good."

"Really?" Sakura asked as they all sat down at the small table in the kitchen. It only sat four. "You don't mind?"

"No, of course not!" She smiled reassuringly at them both. "It was bound to happen anyway. Of course," Lana continued in a serious tone as she got a forkful of salad. "There will be no-"

"Sex, of course, Lana," Sakura and Gaara rolled their eyes at the same time that they said that simultaneously. Then they all laughed.

"Okay, well I do trust both of you, since, well, you've known each other for nine or ten years already," Lana replied.

"Thanks," Gaara said as he began eating.

"Yeah, thank you," Sakura sighed, relived.

For the rest of the dinner they talked about school and everything else that had been going on.

Someone's been here.

Yeah, I know, look at Lana's neck.

Gaara had noticed the band-aid on her neck as soon as he'd walked into the kitchen.

Looks like someone's been threatening her.

What? Who would do that? And why?

I'm sure Suna is keeping an eye on you, Gaara.

When Gaara got the chance he finally asked her.

"Lana, what happened to your neck?" Gaara said pointing to her band-aid.

"Oh, this?" She said feeling it. "I just slipped when I was chopping the chicken,"

"Whoa, you might want to be a bit more careful with a knife, then," Sakura said, truly concerned.

"Oh, I know, I can't believe it, I guess I was just leaning in too close and not focusing." She tried to wave the conversation away.

She looked to the left as soon as she said that, and she made a gesture with her hands, which she almost never does. She's lying; it's almost too obvious.

Wow, you really pick up on things.

"Yeah, just make sure to be more careful," Gaara told her before starting to eat again.

What the hell is going on now?

On Tuesday morning Gaara woke up in a cold sweat. He jolted upright in bed for the fifth time that night. It was only five a.m., and he usually got up at six. Still, he got up and stumbled into the bathroom to get ready for the day.

Those memories were all about the sealing process.

Gaara got flash backs of a dark room, scrolls and adults all around him. He had heard the voices talking.

"He's the only one at the time with enough Chakra to hold Shukaku,"

"Are you sure we can't just leave his memories though?"

"Some how Shukaku wasn't fully sealed when he was a newborn, so until now he's been hearing him constantly. We can't let that go on."

Those were all his memories now, so he had relived them all night long.

When he was a newborn they sealed the one-tailed beast of the sand in him. When he was six they found out that the demon hadn't been fully sealed and Gaara knew that he was there, so they erased all of his memories from when he was born until when he was six.

"Aunt Lana?" A six-year-old Gaara looked up at a younger version of Lana. "Why do I have to go to the doctor?"

"They have to treat you for something," She told him with a sad look in her eyes.

"But I feel fine," He said.

"Ah, but that's the thing, it's a tricky sicky," Lana said using their nickname for a disease. "You don't even know it's there,"

"Oh," Gaara looked ahead doubtfully.

So after that he was unconscious for a week. In that time Lana learned the truth, that Gaara hadn't just lost his memories of Shukaku, he had lost all of his memories of people and himself in general. And in that time she made a new life in Konoha, away from the country she now despised, Suna.

Gaara only knew what happened when he was unconscious because Shukaku was never unconscious, and he heard everything, even though he didn't see anything because the whole time Gaara's eyes were closed.

The Gaara now, the 16-year-old Gaara, played these memories over and over again in his head as he took a long, hot shower.

Our past is riddled with distrust, lies and fear. Your Aunt really isn't the bad person here, either, though she knows about me.

Gaara shook his head, splattering water everywhere.

Yeah, I know she's not bad, she was deceived, and now someone is threatening her. Just great. Hasn't she been through enough?

Makes you want to get revenge, doesn't it? Shukaku bribed him.

Yes, all those memories leave me with that feeling… Gaara trailed off.

Tell me who you want to kill.

"No!" Gaara clenched his jaw in frustration. He even spoke out loud.

You know I, we, can do it, Gaara.

SHUT UP, SHUKAKU!

He physically banged his head against a wall. Though, even with all the self-abuse and self-determination, Gaara couldn't stop the welling feeling of power and temptation to use it.

Finally Shukaku didn't speak and the feeling went away. Gaara rubbed his throbbing head.

Getting dressed, he put on a red t-shirt and a black vest. Then he wore a pair of dark-colored jeans, as well.

It's not supposed to be that hot today anyway. Gaara thought as he looked in his bathroom mirror at his lanky figure and his cherry-red hair. Some people called him emo, or whatnot, but he was in the Group, and the Group didn't have stereotypes. He didn't care anyway; the title might even fit him, with the dark rings around his eyes and such.

It was only five-thirty when he went downstairs to get breakfast, but Lana and Sakura were already there.

"Gaara!" Lana said surprised. She was dressed and ready to go into work. She worked as an editor.

"Good morning, Gaara," Sakura said from her place at the kitchen table. She was already ready to go to school, her pink hair was straightened and she was wearing dark blue mini jeans and a red tank top with a black tank top underneath. She looked at Gaara as he entered the kitchen.

"We match today," she said smiling.

Gaara's mood lightened at the sight of her. "Yeah, we do," he smiled back.

"Well, I'll see you two lovebirds later," Lana said as she waved and headed toward the door.

"Bye, Lana," Gaara said as he poured himself a bowl of cheerios. She always had to go to work early.

"Thanks for letting me stay over," Sakura said.

"No problem," Lana said then walked out the door.

"Did you already have breakfast?" Gaara asked her noting the extra bowl in the sink.

"Yeah," Sakura said as Gaara sat down at the table with her. "You're up early today," she observed.

"I couldn't sleep," Gaara replied while getting the milk. "Shukaku kept showing me memories all night,"

"Ah," Sakura nodded. "Good or bad?"

Gaara thought for a moment. "I don't really know. They were about when they erased all of my memories,"

The rest of the morning went on with Gaara explaining his bizarre memories to his best friend, Sakura.

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:) Well, you all know this, but let me say it again to anyone else who doesn't! I love reviews! I couldn't have written this far without my wonderful reviewers, so I thank you once again!

This chapter was a bit on the short side (I think? Maybe not), but the next one is brewing in my head as I type. ; )

Ah, and a notice: I'm very sorry my dear readers, but I will not be updating for 4 or 5 days. I have a camp that I will be at, with no internet. :P You might get chapter 9 before I leave (tomorrow) or I might have to write it when I get back. (I bet the number of viewers and/or reviews may change this fact for the faster:) But don't worry, I'm not quitting it, so check back in soon.

Thanks-

Gracie

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