Emma: SO, it's been awhile eh kids? I didn't mean to take such a long hiatus but school kinda kicked my ass and I'm attempting to kick it back. For now, I'm working on what fics I've been getting ideas for. One being this intro fic of Mel, since Liv has been getting Fighting Dreamers, and Pein up I began thinking back to this story and Melody's back story. Now I am also working on editing and Ouran High host Club fic for the Sisters Grimm- I think it's Kaya whose writing this one but both her and Delilah IM'ed me about it, so I'm assuming they're co-writing -and the first ever fic that AJ, Joy, and Aaron were ever in. SO, this chapter may not be too lengthy, but I have a few ideas to get in before Olivia throws in her own. Anyhow, I don't own Naruto- you should know this by now. Enjoy!

Hidden From You

Chapter Three: Behind her Navy Eyes

Recap:

"Oh. Um...Livana, my mother, was killed during the Kyuubi attack 15 years ago."

"I'm so sorry, Luna." Melody offered, seeing the unshed tears threatening to fall from the Avalon's eyes. Luna nodded and bit her friend a good night.

Melody stared at the city through the window of the room she was supposed to be sleeping in. Luna had told Mel she could stay at the Avalon compound as long as she wished; but Melody was restless. She never slept much, and the large bed was rather foreboding. She sighed and made her way to her pack., Mel had left her chest bindings- her old bandage ones since Naruto ruined her corset and she only had them until she bought a new one -on and simply thrown on a pair of pajama pants. She grabbed a shirt and a hoodie before pulling on her converse. She slid the bay window open then shimmied down the pipe and onto the lower rooftop of the complex. She hopped from roof to roof until she came upon the Hokage Palace.

Melody made her way up the drainpipe and onto a balcony. She pulled her jacket around herself tighter and then turned to face the large full moon.

"Took you long enough," A voice said from behind Melody. Mel jumped a foot in the air and whirled around to meet deep icy eyes with her own navy ones. Gaara leaned against the doorframe and staring at the same moon Mel had been only moments before. His red hair was shaded crimson in the ethereal moonbeams, his eyes a flashing silver color, and his skin even more luminescent." Couldn't sleep again?"

"Nah," Mel said her voice going low automatically. She shoved her hands into her pockets and made her way to stand by Gaara." What about you Gaara-Senpai?"

"You know I'm just Gaara to you Masha," Gaara chuckled," I never sleep much… You know that, we're usually insomnia buddies on these trips. I don't normally have trouble sleeping in the Leaf, but I'm restless today…"

"I tried sleeping," Mel said. Her voice lost some of its forced harshness and she crossed her arms at the thought." But I had nightmares…"

"Again?" Gaara asked in a concerned tone.

"Eh, you grow used to them after a while." Melody shrugged, leaning against a post. The chilly night air whipped around her, causing her to shiver and pull her hood up around her head. "The Leaf is almost as cold as Suna at night." she chuckled in a low baritone volume. Gaara nodded, seeming unfazed to the icy winds. Melody's navy eyes drifted over a few buildings near the Hokage mansion. She recognized the Nara and Hyuga compounds instantly, but one district in particular looked to be run down.

"That's the old Uchiha compound." Gaara offered, noticing Melody's wondering look. "It's been abandoned ever since the clan's slaughter 6 years ago."

"Slaughter?" Gaara nodded.

"It's a complicated story, but theirs only two that survived the extermination. A pair of brothers."

"The poor things." Melody's voice had unconsciously returned to her normal alto, making the raveness blush and look away from the redheaded Kazakage. "I..I mean I can relate to them. I know what it's like to be the last of your clan."

"You miss them, don't you?"

"Of course. They were my family and my friends. It's heartbreaking to know I'm alone in the world, unloved by anyone." tears slowly slid down Melody's ivory cheeks and splashed onto the top of her hoodie, darkening the color.

"That's not true, Masha." Gaara interjected sharply. "You're plenty loved by many, even if you don't realize it." Melody only stared at the insomiatic boy in awe. "I used to think the same way, but Naruto made me realize I was wrong. He and I share a similar past. We were born Jinchuuriki, therefore, unloved and thrown aside like common trash. But unlike me, as Naruto grew older, he gained a family. Granted, they weren't blood, but that didn't matter. Finally, after 15 years being isolated and lonely, I've opened my eyes to see the family and friends that's been in front of me all along." Melody smiled and wiped her eyes.

"Thank you, Gaara." Mel said. She smiled and her shimmering navy eyes captivated the young Kazakage; he tried to shake the feeling, but her eyes were so deep and shimmering that Gaara couldn't look away." I think I should be getting back to the compound… Luna may worry… I just wanted to see if you were sleeping or not…"

Melody jumped off before Gaara could say anything and he watched her go. Could this boy- at least a boy in Gaara's eyes -was slowly creeping into his heart more and more lately. Could the Kazakage be going gay for the bodyguard? Oh, if only the sand leader knew Mel's secret…

!

!

Mel made it back to the Avalon compound just as the sun was rising on the horizon. She jumped to grab the top of her windowsill and used it as a gymnastic bar to swing into her room. She fell back against the bed and sighed with a smile; she was falling for him. It was so wrong, and it was so horrible, but she was falling for Gaara. She couldn't, she wasn't allowed to, but she was.

"Mel?" Luna's voice floated from the door. Melody sat up and shirked off her jacket and smiled at the girl. Luna frowned, and Mel met it with a frown of her own." We have to go to the Hokage Palace… We found a Bandit, Mel…"

And suddenly, Melody's high came crashing down again…

Emma: As I said, short, but it leads up to the plot arch we're looking for here. Hope you enjoyed! R&R please!