Emma: Great job as usual Liv ^^ so this fic is nearing its plot arch climax! Mel has just come face-to-face with one of the killers of her clan, while at the same time having to deal with these new- or not so new -feelings for Gaara! That sounds like a lot on her plate right now! Let's see what evil scheme- or, um, resolution I can come up with! I don't own Naruto! Enjoy!

Hidden From You

Chapter Six: Captured

"He got away." Mel whispered, still in shock of what she'd just heard.

"Then we have to peruse him." Kankuro stated. "He couldn't have gotten far."

"Yes," Luna said softly," I think it would be in our best interest to start off now, with a small team. That way we can move fast, maybe even have him lead us to their hiding place. Then we can call for backup and capture the bandits."

And then Mel can stop this stupid charade as well, Luna thought silently. She knew that Mel heard the unspoken words too, because the navy-eyed ninja blushed. Melody glanced up at Luna and nodded, silently happy to almost be rid of her façade after all these years.

"Well then," Mel said softly," The sooner we set off, the better…"

"Care if I tag along?" Gaara asked from the doorway. Mel jumped at his voice and whipped around to protest." Masha don't try you know it won't work." Mel stopped, she knew he was right." See? You know me too well…"

Mel tried not to let that make her heart skip a beat. It did slowly break her heart though, because she knew he knew little to nothing about her own secrets.

!

"Gaara, you and Me- erm Masha scout on the east side," Luna said. She silently hit herself for almost slipping on Mel's name." Temari and I will take the west, and Kankuro and Shikamaru can take the north and south. We'll meet back in the center tree at nightfall."

Gaara nodded and smiled at Mel who nodded back with a weak grin. Their scout was supposed to be a simple loop around the eastern edge of the forest- where the bandits had last been spotted -and Mel was contemplating ways to tell Gaara about her secret when it happened. Three ninja blindsided both Mel and Gaara, and before Mel could even pull her double swords to protect them, they were knocked unconscious. Later, Mel would beat herself up about not being a better guard- even though Gaara will later assure her there was no way of seeing the attack coming. When they both awoke, in a stark metal cell, neither knew what to think; however they didn't have time to question each other, or even start attack plans, because three men entered as soon as they came to their senses.

"So, you're the brat who interrogated our friend," The taller of the three sneered, grabbing Mel's chin and tilting her face up. Mel held her head high and glared at the man." Quiet one aren't you? Well we'll just have to change that. Kaiser!"

One of the men, with striking orange hair, stepped forward and slashed a kunai at Mel. She flinched back but felt no cut; it wasn't until she looked down and noticed her shirt sliced open to reveal her chest bindings, she knew why. She gasped and tried to cover herself, but the man- the first one to speak -grabbed her wrists and pinned her back to the wall.

"Why didn't we see it before?" The man dead panned." He was much too pretty to be a boy, too small too… Masha Ditto is actually the lost Melody Ditto of the Ditto Weaponry and Wind Clan!"

Melody hung her head in shame, and would not meet Gaara's eyes even though he was desperately trying to meet hers. The men all conversed about what to do, but in the end realized all they could do was tell their master and do something later.

"No reason not to torture the Kazakage for information though," Kaiser said with a grin. Mel came alive then; she jumped up in time to take the slap meant for Gaara's cheek. Her head snapped to one side as she took the slap to the cheek, and Gaara's deep blue eyes widened at this movement and he caught Mel as she was smacked towards the ground." What the-"

"Don't touch him," Melody said. Her navy eyes, always an odd shade of deep sapphire and cobalt, were now glowing with angry fire. Melody glared at the three ninja bandits and they all took a collective shiver of fear at the stare." Torture me instead, but don't touch Gaara, or I will personally cut off each of your fingers an toes, make you eat them and then slowly kill you with a needle to each of your pores."

Kaiser growled and yanked Mel from Gaara's grasp. He dragged her by her short blue-black locks to a pair of rope ties on the far wall of the cell. He tied her wrists so she was forced to sit on her knees, hanging up by the binds on her wrists. She took every hit, cut, and kick that all three of the men gave her. She wouldn't cry out, and she wouldn't let them see the pain in her eyes. She took the blows and held her head high. Gaara couldn't remember ever seeing anything so noble and bold in his life. The way Melody took each hit, even spitting blood once when she bit the inside of her lip so hard to keep from screaming, and how she managed not to let the attackers see… It was beautiful, and Gaara wondered why he hadn't realized sooner that she was a girl; and not just any girl, but the girl of his dreams.

"Why?" Gaara asked when the men left. Mel was still tied up, and Gaara stood, and made his way to her side. She glanced up and watched him untie one of her wrists, then the other, kissing the angry red chafe marks from the rough rope. Mel said nothing for a long moment and then sighed. She started to fall forward, but Gaara caught her. He cradled her against his chest, gentle as if she were precious porcelain.

"I can't answer that right now," Melody said softly. She took in Gaara's warm and familiar scent and tried to think her words through carefully." I'm sorry I lied… I didn't want to… Really, I wanted to tell you the truth, but the Elders and Temari said it would only put you in danger. I don't want you in danger I-"

"Sh," Gaara said softly. He stroked Mel's dark hair back from her face and pulled some stray cloth from his bag. The bandits may have taken their weapons, but not their side pouches. He sat her up a little, and wiped her face clean of all the blood and grime. He took some bandages out and wrapped a few of her cuts and worse scrapes." I know, I'll give you my answer when we get out of here…"

"Fine," Melody said softly. She closed her eyes focusing on his soft touch and warm voice." Gaara?"

"Yes Melody?" Gaara asked. Mel tried not to think about how wonderful he made her name sound; like some music that sang right to her heart.

"I want to tell you my story…" Melody said softly. Gaara glanced up at the girl and tried to read her unreadable expression." When I was five, my clan started working with the rebellion in the Star village… We disagreed with the harsh treatment that dictators had over that village… So, because our clan intervened, the bandits of the Star village- the dictator's lackeys -went after us. It was horrible… I was little, but I cans till remember the cries and the fire… The sheer chaos of my family dying around me. Mom and dad tried to hide me, showed me the secret room that was made for family emergencies. But Dad had to go outside… He heard Uncle Hiroshi and Aunt Ayah next door in trouble… Dad was like that, he always wanted to help people even at his own expense. Of course, Mom and I had to follow, but when we got out there, the man form interrogation, had a kunai through my father's throat. I saw the blood pouring out and I saw him hit the ground… Then I felt my mother shove me back inside the secret room, and walk out. It was the last time I would ever see her, I think I knew that even then…"

Melody paused for a moment; she tried to shake away the sad feeling in the back of her eyes and turned them onto Gaara's deep blue ones. She sighed and then turned her face away to continue.

"Mom left," Melody repeated," But I could see through a peep hole that dad had made in the room. I watched as Mom tried to talk to the man… The one with the silver eyes like cold metal and hate. He didn't even listen to her! He just knocked the side of her head and dragged her by the hair…" Mel had to speak around angry sobs now and she buried her face into her fists- white from being clenched so hard." A c-couple hours later… Luna's mom found me… She took me away and brought e to Suna for safety. She helped the Elders come up with my new identity, so that I would be safe. They decided until the bandits were caught, I would have to keep the façade. I didn't expect to become head guard and friends with Temari; I didn't think I would grow close to the Kazakage and his family; and I certainly did not think that I would fall for the guy I was supposed to be protecting with my life… I'm so sorry Gaara; for lying, even to protect myself. I'm sorry I had to play this part around you and be some name I was not. But it was all me the entire time! I was honest in my actions, even if not in name or gender… So I'm sorry and I'm begging for your forgiveness."

Two strong and tanned arms wrapped around her tiny curved waist. Mel's shirt had been shredded from her thin frame, so she wore only her navy training pants and her tight breast bindings. Gaara's firm muscled chest against her back, and his head against the crook in her shoulder felt so comforting and real to Mel it was crazy. He kissed her shoulder, where a particularly nasty cut was, and Mel relaxed against him.

"There's nothing to forgive," Gaara said softly. He buried his face into her neck and held her tighter against him." Besides, sometimes we do crazy things to protect the people we love… Like disguise our gender so they're not hunted down… Or bump them up to personal guard so you can watch over them as they have always watched over you… So you can always be by their side. Because, when you love someone, you want to be by their side forever, and you want to keep them safe and sound even at your own expense. I didn't know what love was for a long time, but Naruto helped open my heart, and I think you really opened it again, Melody."

Mel heard her heart pounding in her ears, and her face and neck flush pink. Gaara spread his hands against her flat stomach and Mel's breath caught in her throat. He traced the curve of her waist and frowned; her body was normally toned and lean- aside from the curves she hid so well -but in the recent months she seemed to have grown thinner from stress. Her ribs could be felt quite easily now, and her arms were positively emaciated against Gaara's calloused fingers. Gaara's eyes narrowed and he turned Melody around to face him; she was thinner then he had ever seen her- even as a boy -and that worried him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Why are you so thin Mel?"

"Well," Melody said softly," Sometimes, when I'm stressed, I don't eat enough… And I've bee training double time lately… I thought guys liked thin girls…"

"Mel," Gaara said ignoring her attempt at dry humor." Did I do this?"

"No!"

"I stressed you out though?"

"Well yes-"

"So I was a part of this?"

"What? No! I-"

"Melody…" Gaara said cutting her off again." I'm sorry…"

"Gaara," Melody said softly," There's nothing to be sorry for. You know you're just saying this- and having this argument -because you don't want to talk about the crisis at hand… You don't want to think that we're about to be killed tortured or worse."

"We're not dying."

"You're not," Melody said," I won't let that happen. I took a vow to protect you and to keep you alive and safe. I will stick to that vow! I-"

Gaara cut Mel off; but this time it wasn't with his words or his arms. He captured her lips in his for a chaste kiss to cut her off. He kissed her roughly at first, but then his hold and his lips grew gentler and more tender. Melody hesitantly wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled closer. Gaara pulled back first, Mel still clinging to his neck and shoulders for support; both were breathing hard and both were staring into each others eyes like they hadn't seen each other in years.

"You, Melody Ditto," Gaara gasped," Are the most amazing, infuriating, beautiful, crazy, and saintly person I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. And I love you because of that…"

!

Emma: Yea, so this is a tad longer then I had first planned, and the ending is kinda a cliffhanger- not to mention slightly Gaara OOC -but whatever. So, Mel and Gaara are in a cell… Alone… About to possibly die…

Mel: I wonder why that sounds bad…

Emma: Oh go make out with Gaara.

Mel: Too late you already wrote that.

Emma:… Fine whatever. Liv has next chapter. R&R kids!