The next morning I woke up with Gaara's eyes staring me down.

"Isn't it a little early for this?" I groaned "Whats your problem?"

He looked away

"You still don't remember how you ended up in Konoha, right?" He asked

Where did that come from?

"No...I don't,"

"Well, last night you said something in your sleep that may be a clue... in fact it would be quite a shock if it was..."

"What? What was I saying?"

"A name," He replied

"Who's name..?"

He took a deep breath

"Sasuke," He said "Theres only one Sasuke I could think of that you'd be talking about... but how do you know him?"

That utterance name alone made my head pound, but I didn't know why. Everyone knows about Sasuke Uchiha. The rogue ninja. The former criminal who had since returned to Konoha. I had run into him quite a few times during the war, since I was always in different places and he was on the run. I had a couple of run ins with the Akatsuki, even Orochimaru. Plus, I was doing some tracking of my own during that time. He'd burned alot of bridges with people, and he was an annoying, arrogant, prick from what I learned when I met him, but nothing that significant had happened between Sasuke and I for me to be calling out his name in my sleep.

"I know him... but I don't understand why I'd be dreaming about him. Did I say anything else?"

"No, you just said his name."

He seemed a little annoyed.

"I'm sure it was nothing, it was just a dream. Don't get all weird,"

He half smiled

"You're right..." He replied quietly "Probably nothing."

Over the past few days Gaara had managed to convince me that it really was time for me to return to Konoha. It was time for me to figure out who I was... and to live on my own somewhere stable. Though I had come to sort of love Sunagakure and its people, I knew it wasn't going anywhere. I could always come back, and would to see Gaara. I still couldn't help but think about where our relationship stood. I knew we were friends, but I also knew we were more than friends... I'm too much of a pussy to bring it up...I just don't know.

I decided there was no use in postponing the trip, no matter how much I already missed him. I needed to do this for me, not anyone else. I was set to leave that evening after dinner.

The sun was setting in the village. I was all packed and ready to go. Gaara, Temari, and Kankuro were all outside in the courtyard to see me off.

"Are you sure you don't want anyone to escort you?" Gaara asked for the 400th time

"Dammit, yes I'm sure," I replied "Tsuyosa will guide me. She has more than enough knowledge of direction to get me to Konoha safely,"

He winced

"I'll be fine," I reassured him.

I bit my thumb and summoned her.

"Mei-chan," She cooed

I bowed "Tsu-sama,"

Kankuro and Temari's eyes were wide

"Woah..." Kankuro piped up "She's yours?"

He stepped up and pet her feathers

"Yep," I said proudly

Gaara stepped closer to me, motioning for his brother and sister to wrap up their goodbyes.

"It was really nice having you stay with us, Mei," Temari said "I'm in Konoha quite often... so I'll see you around. Plus, you're always welcome to come back."

She gave me a hug

"Yeah," Kankuro added "Come back anytime."

With a nod, they began to walk back to the house. Gaara pulled me close.

"I'll write to you all the time, and visit when I can. But since my duties keep me here alot—" He began

"Don't worry, I'll visit too..."

Part of me wanted to cry. Part of me still didn't know if I was ready to leave. He planted his lips on mine in a sweet goodbye kiss.

"Sabisii desu," He studdered "Good luck... I know you can do this,"

(I'll miss you)

"I'll miss you too...Thank you... for everything. I don't know what I'd have done without you..."

"Stop talking like you'll never see me again... this is not the end." He whispered

I smiled as a tear fell from my eye. I kissed him once more before mounting Tsuyosa.

"See you soon, Gaara," I said "Lets go, Tsuyosa."

Gaara watched as the beautiful black bird stretched its wings out and took flight into the desert sunset. He could feel a lump beginning to rise in his throat. Mei had become one of the most important people in his life in such a short amount of time, and he was determined not to lose her.

It took 2 and a half exhausting days before I reached the gates of Konoha, a familiar site to me. I let Tsuyosa go.

Well... here I go.

I walked up to the gate where guard shinobi stood.

"I'm Mei Igarashi...I'm supposed to—"

"Hello, Mei,"

Tsunade seemed to appear out of nowhere

"FUCK! ... Oh, sorry, you scared me."

"How was your stay in Suna?" She asked

"...It was interesting,"

"Glad to hear it," She said with a smile

Tsunade could see the change in Mei's demeanor compared to how she was when she arrived there the first time. She was still a hardass... but Tsunade could tell she'd learned something from Gaara, as she'd expected.

"Well, firstly, we need to get you a place to live. I've already arranged for that. I have some business to attend to but I'll have..."

She looked around, spotting someone walking by.

"KAKASHI!" She yelled

The man... holy shit the man was beautiful. Somehow he was even beautiful only showing half of his face. His silver hair was in messy spikes pointing to the right. He was reading a book as he strolled... Makeout Paradise? Geez. For someone who looks so badass, he reads that crap? He's like a walking contradiction.

"Ah, Tsunade-sama... you don't have to yell," He said cooly, closing his book and walking up to us "Ah... you must be Mei,"

I nodded

"Kakashi will take you to your new apartment,"

"O-oh."

"I'll give you the day to settle in," Tsunade continued "But I want you to report to my office at 7AM sharp tomorrow morning, understood?"

"...Hai."

(Yes)

My first day back and I already have orders tomorrow? Lame.

Kakashi and I began to walk.

"So, Mei...I heard you spent some time in Suna. How was your stay? Did the sand siblings treat you well?"

"Yeah... it was nice," I said

"Hm...Whats got you down?" He asked

"...Alot of things, but I'm kind of excited to start over here in Konoha."

"Thats the spirit."

I suddenly noticed something coming rapidly towards us.. wait maybe its 2 things? They were running at incredible speed.

"Oh boy..." Kakashi groaned

As the figures came into view, I noticed it was 2 men. Were they twins? They had awfully similar haircuts... and now that they're closer... Unnaturally thick eyebrows. They came to a screeching halt in front of us.

"Good morning, Gai," Kakashi said dully

"Morning Kakashi!" The older man said

"Good morning Kakashi-sensei," the younger man said

"Who's this?" Gai said, turning his attention towards me, he had a ridiculous grin on his face.

I couldn't help but start to giggle at the pair.

"Mei Igarashi," I replied

"...Karasu no Konoha," The younger man said

"I prefer Mei, but... yes,"

"Gomen nasai!" He bowed "My name is Lee. Rock Lee,"

(I'm sorry)

So this is the Rock Lee that Gaara had told me so much about. The Taijutsu master who uses no ninjutsu at all, but keeps up with all of the elite shinobi.

"Nice to meet you, Lee-san,"

Gai and Kakashi babbled on about some nonsense, while Lee and I stood there awkwardly. He was kind of cute in his own way, and I could tell that he was very strong.

"I hope you like it here in Konoha," He said "If no one else shows you hospitality, I'll be sure to!"

I smiled

"Thank you... I appreciate that. I'd like to train with you sometime, Lee-san,"

He blushed

"Definitely." He replied

Kakashi turned to me.

"Mei, we should get you to your apartment. I'll see you guys later."

"Goodbye! Nice meeting you, Mei!" They said in unison before they sped off.

Kakashi sighed

"You'll have to excuse them, they're a bit...exhausting."

I laughed. I had to admit, with all of the serious things I'd been dealing with lately, those 2 were very refreshing. I was actually feeling kind of comfortable around people, this was all so new to me.

After about 5 minutes, we reached an apartment building. It wasn't much. A brown and green building with a wooden roof. Kakashi led me up to the top row of apartments, and stopped at the second to last door. Apartment 403.

"Well, here we are." He handed me a key "Do you need anything else? If not, I'll be going now."

I shook my head. He smiled.

"I think you'll like your neighbor, he should be back later today."

"Neighbor?"

As soon as I asked that, Kakashi dissapeared.

What the hell was that?