Chapter 20

Jinrou POV

Eventually we just sat cross legged across from each other. My chakra and his sand kept colliding. Neither could get past the other. My team found us a while later and they were staring in awe at our battle.

"What are you two doing?" Sakura asked.

"We're having a match to see who is better between his sand and my chakra without actually touching each other. It's pretty evened out." I said and Gaara gave a curt nod. They stood there and watched. Gaara made a sand Gaara while I made a chakra wolf. The wolf lunged at the sand and they both fought. I made my chakra into a chakra me and her and the sand Gaara started sparing. They were rolling on the floor grappling before Gaara and I stood up. "Alright, that's enough! It's even." I said clapping my hands together. They stopped. My chakra came back into me as my appearance went back to normal, and Gaara's sand went flying back in his gourd. I smiled at him and he gave me a small smile in return.

"I should be heading back." He said. I nodded and hugged him.

"I'll see you later." I said. He nodded and ran off. I turned and smiled at everyone. Naruto grabbed my messenger bag from next to the tree.

"Is the information about your family here?" He asked. I nodded.

"Yeah, I showed Gaara and we talked for a while before battling." I said. He seemed mad for some reason.

"So you'd rather show that guy first than us?! We're your team, you have to share stuff with us first!" He yelled. I leaned back in surprise.

"What's your problem?" I asked. Sasuke also ganged up on me.

"We're your team, we're supposed to be more important than that guy!" He yelled. They both stormed off. I turned to Sakura and she just shrugged before following them. I sighed and bit my lip.

'Why are they so mad?' I asked Ookami.

'They're probably jealous.' She said.

'Jealous? Jealous of what?' I asked.

'Of the attention you're giving Gaara. Hey, did you know he also has a demon?' She asked me. I shook my head.

'No, but I guessed from his ability to manipulate sand.' I said as I grabbed my bag and began to walk home.

'Yup, I know him. His name is Shukaku the sand spirit.' She said. I raised an eyebrow.

'How long have you known him?' I asked.

'Oh, we've known each other for a very long time.' She said. I nodded. When I got in, Naruto was eating instant ramen and didn't even look up at me. I sighed and just went into the room. I put my messenger bag in the corner of the room and laid down on the soft sheets. I closed my eyes and fell asleep. When I wok up it was night time. I got up and saw Naruto drinking a glass of milk. I leaned against the doorway.

"Um, hey. Ookami wants to see Kyuubi." I told him. He nodded at me and we both laid down before putting our seals together. Something was different when we got to the room. We were separated by a wall that was the seal Itachi put on my stomach. The seal was just floating there, but neither of us could get past it. Kyuubi looked mad and Ookami was confused.

"So, did you have fun with Shukaku?" He growled. She looked confused.

"What do you mean?" She asked.

"Don't act innocent, I saw you two through the boy's eyes. I saw your chakra messing around with his sand." He growled angry.

"What! We were just having a match!" She exclaimed. He turned around so his back was towards us.

"Yeah, sure. I'm sure you enjoyed your match." He said. I looked at Naruto and he also turned his back on me. Ookami looked pained and mad. I looked up at her and jumped on top of her.

"Lets get out of here." I said. She nodded. When we were back in our own bodies, I pushed Naruto away from me and got up. He looked at me as I opened the window and jumped out. "Jerk." I said as I left. I focused my chakra to my feet and each time I stepped on something I went shooting forward.

'Well now what?' Ookami asked bitterly. She was very upset with what happened with Kyuubi.

'I was going to ask you the same thing.' I said. I passed by a hotel and someone called out to me.

"Jinrou." It was a monotone voice. I skidded to a stop and saw I was in front of a hotel. I looked up and saw Gaara leaning his head out of a window. He blinked down at me. I smiled up at him.

"Hi Gaara." I said.

"Why don't you come up?" He asked. I nodded. I focused my chakra on pinpoints in my hands and feet as I scaled the wall easily. He stepped back and gave me a small smile. I jumped through his window. We just stared at each other before I rushed forward and wrapped my arms around him. I hugged him tightly and he hugged me back. "What are you doing here?" He asked pulling away and looking at me. I sighed and shrugged.

"Naruto and Kyuubi were being jerks, so we left." I said indicating Ookami and me. His sand flew out of his gourd and caressed my skin. I smiled softly at him. I let my chakra flow out. I've been practicing making my chakra flow without changing my appearance. My chakra flew over his skin, caressing with the lightest touches and tickling him. He smiled softly at me and his sand gave my skin feather-light touches. In that moment I noticed the lights were slightly dim and we were standing really close to each other. His sand flew through my hair making it flutter around my head. My chakra ruffled his hair and teased his crimson locks. He smiled at me and I smiled back at him. Suddenly, the door opened and the mood was instantly killed. At the door was a blond girl and a guy with purple stripes on his face. I blushed as they stared open mouthed at us. His sand went flying back into his gourd and my chakra disappeared.

"Gaara, who is this?" The blond girl asked.

"This is Jinrou." Gaara said. After introductions were over with, we were all very sleepy. Kankuro and Temari went to go sleep in their own rooms leaving Gaara and I by ourselves. I looked at him and he stared back at me.

"So, I should get going." I said inching my way toward the window. He grabbed my hand.

"No, it's fine. Stay with me." He said. I blinked at him surprised.

"Really?" I asked. He nodded. "Um, okay then. I'll just go on the couch." I said going toward the small couch near the door. He grabbed my hand and steered me to his bed.

"No, that couch is too small and uncomfortable. And I know you won't let me take the couch so lets just skip all that because the outcome will be the same." He said. I nodded. He grabbed his sash and started unwinding it. He took off his gourd and leaned it against the wall near his bed. I took off my sandals and crawled into bed with him. He wrapped his arms around my and pressed his forehead against mine. I hugged him back and pressed my body against his. Suddenly, we were taken into my blue room. The seal was still there, but that didn't seem to bother them. I saw a giant sand demon, he must be Shukaku. He smiled at Ookami and she grinned back. I looked at Gaara and we just looked at each other. He gave me a tiny smile and I grinned at him.

~the next morning~

I woke up groggily. I sat up and saw Gaara sleeping peacefully. I brushed some hair out of his forehead and he opened his eyes.

"Good morning." He said sitting up. I kissed his cheek softly and stood up.

"I think I should go. I've overstayed my visit and my team is probably worried about me." I said. He nodded. I gave him one last hug and kissed his cheek again. "I'll see you later." I said and he gave me a curt nod. I jumped out of the window and landed lightly on my feet. I began to walk back to Naruto's house and climbed in through the window. I heard voices so I went into the living room. Naruto was pacing with Sasuke as Sakura and Kakashi watched them. "What are you all pacing about?" I asked. They looked up at me in shock and tackled me in a hug. I dodged out of the way and they both fell to the floor. "What's up with them?" I asked as I stood in front of Sakura and sensei.

"They've been pacing for a few hours to pass the time." Sensei said.

"Oh, okay." I said.

"The chunnin exams are tomorrow, are you ready?" He asked. I nodded.

"Yup, I think I should be fine." I said. They nodded at me.

~later that afternoon~

I was sitting reading a book when Naruto walked up to me.

"Kyuubi wants to see Ookami." He said. I looked up.

"Why?" I asked.

"He wanted to apologize." He said. Ookami was happy so I nodded. When we were in the blue room, the seal-wall was still there. Kyuubi was about to say something before he furrowed his brows and sniffed the air. He looked outraged and growled.

"What?" Ookami asked.

"You reek of him. You have Shukaku's scent all over you." He growled. Naruto looked at me shocked.

"You let Gaara in here?!" He exclaimed. I nodded as I crossed my arms.

"Yeah, what's the big deal?" I asked. He glared and look betrayed.

"So you slept in his bed with him?!" He yelled. I nodded.

"Yeah, as I was running by he saw me and invited me in. He offered so I stayed the night with him." I said. He looked enraged. "What's your problem?!" I finally yelled as I also got mad.

"My problem is you acting like some slut!" He yelled. I froze with my jaw dropped open and he looked like he immediately regretted it. I jumped on Ookami and we went back in our bodies. I pushed him away from me and locked myself in the bathroom. When I was sure he was asleep, I slipped outside and went to the couch. I grabbed a blanket and fell asleep. The next morning, I woke up and took a shower. I got out and changed into some blue shorts that fit me right under my butt, a black tank top, and my ninja sandals. I let my hair loose and tied on my headband. I saw Naruto walk out the door so I followed him. When we met up with our team, he went right to Sasuke and they both began talking in whispers. I rolled my eyes and we walked to where the chunnin exams would take place. Neither Sasuke or Naruto would talk to me and Sakura seemed to be following their example. First to fight was Naruto and Neji. After a while, it was Sasuke and Gaara, and I had no idea who to cheer for. I walked down, it was almost my turn. I was going up in a few fights. They called my name and I walked in. My eyes widened as I saw who walked in from the opposite end. It was Takashi. I smirked and he smiled back.

"You ready?" I asked as I saw him go into a battle stance.

"More than ready." He replied. A whistle was blown and the fight began.