The sky was totally dark by the time I got back to my room, and painted with stars. A full moon, too. The bed was so soft and cozy, but I was way too full to go to sleep, and had too much pent up energy to just lay there and stare at the ceiling. So, I decided to climb up to the roof and get some training in.

Hot as fuck during the day, and freezing cold at night, thats the desert for you. What a backwards place.

I practiced my hand motions, my wing displacement jutsu, even a bit of taijutsu. I wasn't exactly sure how long I'd been up there when I heard footsteps creeping up from behind me.

"I enjoy training by moonlight too..." I heard Gaara's voice say

I froze mid stance

"Whatever, don't get in my way and I won't hurt you."

He didn't reply but I could see him beginning to train out of my peripheral vision. I eventually stopped my own training and became mesmerized by his. I'd never seen anyone manipulate an element quite like he did. His motions were almost like an orchestrated dance. Everything flowed so smoothly...

So thats what he keeps in that peanut—I mean gourd—sand.

He glanced at me

"Show me what you were doing when I got up here, with the feathers." He demanded

I stepped back a few feet, granting his request. I was almost eager to show him.

Gaara stood in awe of her as he saw the beautiful wings of chakra emerge from her back as they had earlier

"You may want to stand back some." I warned

Gaara did nothing of the sort, but rather encased himself in a shield of sand leaving holes for his eyes.

"Go on." He said

I smirked. Cocky bastard.

"Hane no Ha jutsu!"

In a single moment, the wings separated into thousands of individual feathers of chakra, which changed into sharp blades that rained down, stabbing deep into the roof. 2 of which, got stuck in Gaara's sand barrier. The shield fell from around him and the sand retreated back into his gourd.

Well, I did tell him to stand back.

He gazed at me for a moment. I couldn't tell what he was thinking by looking at his face, considering he has the emotional range of a grain of sand. I felt my wings retract into my body.

"Can you show me that sand waterfall again, the one you were doing a few minutes ago?" I asked quietly

Gaara obeyed my request.

Amazing. The things he could do with sand were stunning. I was beginning to question my purpose for being here even more. Why would someone this powerful need me? I was being held here but why? Was I sent for, or sent away?

"You're going to come out into the village with me tomorrow," He said

"What the hell for?"

"I guess to show you around, I don't know... Wouldn't you be bored in your room all day plotting our deaths? Heh..."

He laughed but he didn't smile. How is that even possible?

"Fine."

Gaara watched her leap down from the roof and climb back through her window.

This was the first time he had ever asked a girl, well anyone regardless of gender, to casually do something with him. What did people his age call this again? He racked his brain. Hanging out? Yes, that was it. Hanging out. He wasn't too sure what people did when they "hung out" but he figured he could wing it.

The next morning, I attempted to find my way to the dining area, but I got a bit turned around, this mansion was just too big.

As I rounded a corner, I nearly collided with someone who was in the middle of a yawn. It was a girl. She was very pretty, her eyes were navy blue and she had blonde spikey hair that was in 4 pigtails. She cocked her head and raised an eyebrow.

"Ah, so you're the one," She breathed "Welcome to the sand."

"Who are you?" I asked apprehensively

"Temari. Gaara's sister,"

Wow, they look nothing alike.

"Oh...Hello..."

She stretched her arms above her head

"Were you heading to the dining room too? If we go now, we can catch Kankouro before he leaves so you can meet him too,"

We began to walk

"Kankouro...?" I asked

"Our older brother."

So Gaara's the baby, huh?

We reached the dining room within a few moments, there was someone sitting at the table. He was wearing a black bodysuit that covered his hair. His face was adorned with strange markings in purple paint

"Kankouro," Temari said

He looked up

"This is Mei Igarashi. She's our guest,"

He stood and walked over. He held his hand out, though I didn't understand why. What was I supposed to do with it? I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. He awkwardly withdrew his hand after a few moments

"Uh, welcome. I hope you like it here..." He said

I guess weird runs in Gaara's family.

"Goodmorning Gaara!" Temari beamed

Gaara appeared behind me, already dressed and ready to go. I hadn't realized he wanted to go out immediately after breakfast.

"Goodmorning Temari, Kankouro," He paused "Mei."

I nodded curtly and went to sit at the table.

After an uncomfortably silent breakfast of fruit and toast, I headed back upstairs to get dressed.

What the hell do people do when they do things together? And why did I have to anything with him of all people? He pisses me off. I had never really spent time with anyone before...

I searched through the drawers and cabinets in my new surroundings for a brush. When I found one, I walked over to the mirror. I barely even recognized the reflection looking back at me.. I guess I don't really look at my reflection alot, but having an actual room with a mirror for the first time was forcing me to. My hair had gotten long, it swung down around my waistline and it was still as black as midnight, not even the desert sun could lighten my hair. I brushed and brushed until it was obvious that I was just stalling, too scared to go downstairs and actually tell Gaara I was done getting ready.

I heard a light tap on my door.

"If you don't hurry up, I'll leave without you,"

I laughed sarcastically

"You say that like I'm supposed to care," I replied

I put the brush down and went to the door.

"You're lucky I'm going with you at all," I muttered

"You say that like I'm supposed to care." He mocked

I punched him in the shoulder

He showed no emotion in his face. I couldn't even tell if he felt that or not.

"Shall we go?" He asked

"I guess."

...