He wasn't getting better. He was only getting better at hiding his irritation. Which lead to his feeling even more irritated, being unable to let off any steam. He'd go for walks at night through the desert, trying to relieve some of the tension building in his bones. He felt like there was a hole in his side, that just kept getting bigger and bigger. He needed something to fill it with, but he didn't know what. He felt sick.
Kankuro and Temari stared at him across the breakfast table.
"He is acting weird still, isn't he?" Kankuro asked Temari, still staring at Gaara. "It's not just me?"
Temari nodded. "Ever since he came back from Konoha. Do you think something happened to him there?"
"You think it was Konoha?" Kankuro asked. "What, did someone put an annoying jutsu on him there, you think?"
"Not like that. More like... He misses something or someone there."
Somehow, Kankuro's stare became more intense. "Misses someone? Temari, could it be...? Do you think our little brother has fallen in love?"
Temari snapped her fingers. "Of course! That must be it! How could I have missed it? God, I feel stupid, needing you to tell me that."
Gaara pushed his chair away from the table, scraping it loudly across the floor. He stood and looked down at his siblings. "If you'll excuse me, some of us have work to do."
Kankuro and Temari both grinned at him. He turned and walked away, but as he did he could still hear them talking.
"You know, he didn't deny it at all."
"Yes, I noticed that too. Suspicious..."