EDITED!

A/N: HELLO PEOPLE!! Arg, project and homework can really kill us teenagers, you know? If it wasn't for all the reviews I would've posted this chapter next week. XD Thanks everyone who reviewed! I'm glad you're all enjoying it.

I tried to add a little fluff but haven't done so before, so its probably not even seen. Anyway, if it gets a little confusing don't worry, all will be revealed soon!

Now let's get on with chapter 12!

Hurting

Baki frowned slightly.

"I have to attend a meeting soon..."

"Then just agree already!"

"Temari, the exam needs only three..."

"We can treat her as a reserve!"

"Kankurou, there's no rule stating the need for..."

"That means there's no rule saying she can't go, right?" Temari quickly interjected. Their sensei stared at them closely, wondering why even Kankurou, would want the newcomer on their team.

I wonder how Gaara would react?

"Please, sensei! She is really good, she deserves a chance!"

"I'll have to discuss with the council..."

"Arigatou, sensei!" Baki reached out and grasped air as Temari and Kankurou disappeared before he could change his mind. Using the same hand to scratch the back of his neck, Baki turned back towards the Kazekage building.

I suppose a reserve would be reasonable.

-

"Chuunin exam?"

Seki looked from Temari to Kankurou, before turning back to Temari.

"It isn't an individual exam? Like how we became Genins?"

"Iie, this exam will be held in Konohagakure this year, and every village is going to send some shinobis to see if they can become a Chuunin."

"So, I have to go there...?"

"Baka! Can you be any slower?" Kankurou interrupted. Seki glared at the purple faced boy, and the latter just glared back.

"We're inviting you to join our team! It's suppose to be a three man team but we'll find some way to get you to qualify."

"Yes, and even if we can't, there are some good shinobis in Suna. We can probably find two more to join you!"

Seki's red pupils lit up like rubies. "You mean, I'll be coming along with you? To become a Chuunin?" Temari smiled as she recognized the fire in Seki's eyes, and the determination to be a better person. Kankurou smirked slightly, "Of course, several of our village's Jounins are supposed to be watching out for the exceptional ones before they make the final decision. But I think the four of us – Gaara included – should be able to qualify without question," his blond sister nodded and placed her hands on the shorter girl.

"Now, you'll get a chance to be the shinobi you want to be."

Seki burst out in a wide grin and pulled Temari and Kankurou in a death-grip embrace, sand swirling around them as the wind from Seki circled them like a string. She finally let them go, panting for air. Seki blushed and rubbed her neck. "Gomenasai, I was too happy..."

"You're... You're going to pay for that, you little brat," Kankurou spat out in a good-natured, challenging kind of tone that made Seki smile. She nodded fiercely and assumed her attack stance, which looked like a Chinese Kung Fu style with her hands opened in front of her. Kankurou smirked and pulled the bandages off Karasu, letting it dangle over his shoulders as he tried to look intimidating to Seki. The younger kunoichi merely rolled her eyes and gestured with her hands.

"Bring it on, puppet boy. Bring it on!"

-

Gaara walked through the entrance gates into the quiet village. The sun was setting, and after a day of destroying large pillars of sand, Gaara felt the fatigue and headed back to the house to meditate. He strolled along the empty streets, the colours of the walls changing from orange to red as the fireball slowly made its descent behind the village walls.

"Alright then, Kankurou, Temari. Ja ne!" A familiar sound – or voice – strike a chord in Gaara's heart as he passed by the training forest. An orange haired girl appeared from around the corner, and without thinking, Gaara leaped up onto a tree branch. He watched Seki skip towards the direction of her home, until she realized that she was beside the training forest. Gaara raised an invisible eye brow as Seki paused at the entrance of the forest.

Is she thinking... Gaara didn't even have to complete his thought when Seki dashed into the forest, stopping at the circular center she often trained at.

Closing her eyes, Seki embedded chakra into the air around her, willing it to accumulate under her feet and lift her into the air. She was exhausted after the friendly match between Kankurou, but a little extra training wouldn't hurt, right?

Don't hurt yourself now, Ki-chan.

Wow, that's the first time you're encouraging me.

I told you to be careful, not to make it to the top.

Hmpf! I'll show you...

Childishly, Seki forced herself to raise higher and higher, even though she knew she was pushing beyond her limits. Gaara frowned as he observed from the side. He could see that she was tired, but why would she push herself so hard?

Seki reached out her hand, desperate now, to just touch a leaf of the canopy.

20 cm... 10 cm...

5 cm... 3 cm...

Gaara dropped to the forest floor and looked up, eyes widening as he realized the height Seki had risen.

Chikushou! The forest trees grew the past few days!

A sense of helplessness grew within Gaara, as did his desire to overcome that helplessness. He knew something was going to happen, but he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to. The feeling overwhelmed his senses as the sand beneath him swirled, uncertain of the sand master's wishes. What was this feeling?

Is this, worry?

Above, Seki was oblivious to his presence, concentrating only at the decreasing distance between her fingers and the leaves of the canopy.

1cm...

Her control over her wind snapped at that instant, fatigue washing over her as she plummeted towards the ground. Seki quickly formed a seal as her mind imagined the impact when she reached the ground...

Seki opened her eyes a split second before she heard the impact. Her red pupils connected with Gaara's ocean ones, and for that split second, she felt safe...

BAM!

Seki's wind shield and Gaara's sand shield collided and burst at the impact, throwing the two of them towards the shrubs and bushes. Since Gaara's sand had been ordered to protect Seki, it pulled Seki along and covered the two teenagers in sand, resulting in Seki only receiving minor scratches from the sand's rough surface.

When the dust had settled, Gaara opened his eyes to see Seki lying on top of him. The area around them was covered with leaves and twigs, as well as sand from Gaara's gourd, which had disintegrated to protect his back from slamming against the tree behind him. Gaara pushed himself further up so that Seki was now lying on his lap. She seemed so still, so silent, Gaara felt his pulse race...

"Ga-Gaara?" Gaara let go the breath he had no idea he was holding. He also realized Seki wasn't really lying on him – more like lying on a sheet of sand that prevented any contact between Gaara and Seki. This somehow made him feel disheartened.

Seki tried to push herself up, but collapsed as a sharp pain shot up her right wrist. Gaara's hand shot out to catch her, and even though he had his sand armor, Gaara felt heat creeping up his neck as the warmth of Seki's back rested on his lower arm. As he pulled her towards his chest, Seki looked up and blushed as she realized she was close enough to see the sand grains of Gaara's armor.

"Heh, this is like the time we met huh?"

"..."

Seki tried not to think about the situation they were in. Her right wrist probably fractured, leaning against Gaara's chest, who was supporting her as both of them lay against a tree and a pile of sand. She blushed slightly and raised her head, their eyes connecting and without thinking, Seki raised her hand and brushed her fingers against Gaara's cheek. The red head felt nothing, but underneath his armor he was starting to sweat.

What... What is this feeling?

"Arigatou, Gaara."

"..." Gaara shifted so that Seki could stand up without hurting her wrist, and as she turned to smile at him, a beautiful, breath taking smile, before leaving, he felt the corner of his mouth twitching slightly.

Just, slightly.

-

Seki skipped home happily, despite her throbbing wrist, her heart feeling full for some reason.

Yeah, SOME reason.

Hmm hm hmmm hm hm...

"Keimyou-san! I'm home!" Seki called out to the empty house as she kicked off her sandals and flopped onto the living room couch. Hearing no reply, Seki got up and walked towards the kitchen to drink some milk, when she noticed a note taped onto the table.

Seki,

Don't wait up for me, gone on a mission to the Land of the Wind. I've left some food in the refrigerator for the next 2 days, so please prepare your own meals. Don't train too hard, there's a first aid kit on the kitchen counter.

(I know you'll need it.)

Love,

Keimyou

"Keimyou-san is so thoughtful," Seki giggled at the last sentence, her laughter bouncing off the sandy walls. Her footsteps were soft as she went into the kitchen and started to bandage her wrist up properly. She headed to her bedroom after that, but paused outside Keimyou's room. She had only been in there a couple of times, and he didn't bar her off it, really.

"I wonder what dark secrets he has in there..."

There was that Icha Icha Paradise book you saw under his pillow...

Oh, that! Haha, he sure was flustered.

Seki chuckled at the memory and walked in, unaware that this secret exploration was about to change the way she looked at life in a long time...

-

Gaara walked home slightly faster, not the slightest bit disturbed by the fact that someone had boldly yelled at him to get lost when he nearly banged into him (A clump of sand had sufficed in silencing him temporarily). He opened the door to the house he shared with his, now not as much, detested siblings and headed to his room upstairs, blatantly ignoring his sister's greetings and his brother's frown.

His heart was much too full to comprehend what was going on right now.

Sabaku no Gaara, the dangerous tool Sunagakure planned to use in times of need, a merciless killer and an emotionless, yet calm shinobi, was actually pacing up and down his room as his heart thumped furiously. His mind recollected the scene just 15 minutes ago.

The soft look from Seki's red eyes, the gentle touch from her hand, the warm weight of her small body that had rested on Gaara's lap. Everything about the teenager was making Gaara confused. He could not understand, could not even handle the feelings that now overwhelmed him.

How long since, had he felt accepted? How long since, had he felt safe? How long since, had he felt anything at all?

Too long, Gaara gritted his teeth as he came up with an answer. He stopped suddenly and dropped to the ground cross legged, facing away from the door.

"What is it, Temari?"

Kankurou pushed Temari through the door which had been opened ajar, causing her to curse under her breath. Gaara's slight turn of his head made her stop and she sheepishly rubbed the back of her neck.

"Gaara, I... Erm, well..."

"..."

"Kankurou and I went to find Baki-sensei today. We asked if Seki could join our team for the Chuunin exams."

"...So?"

"Yo-You don't mind?" Temari, and Kankurou, blinked twice and stared at Gaara's back.

"I have no objections."

"ALRIGHT!" Temari yelled, a little too loud for Gaara and apologized profusely as he shot her his signature death glare. Kankurou quickly pulled his older sister out and the two closed the door, enveloping Gaara in silence once again. He heard their whispers, but suddenly, the irritation he felt for them was ebbing away.

Maybe, I can do it now...

-

Seki's hands started to shake as the book she was holding dropped to the ground with a soft 'thump'. Suddenly her mind was swirling, memories appearing and joining with each other until it became one single mix of colors and emotions. And then, one emotion stood out from the rest.

"Sabaku no Gaara..."

The light from the setting sun shone through Keimyou's bedroom window, flashing over a pair of red pupils as they turned magenta...

-

A/N: How is it? I hope it meets your expectations. Please review so I know how to do better! Also many thanks to the following reviewers because just a few words from you guys made me finish this within an hour!

Hoshi Inuzuka
RebirthFlame
extremexunyi
Miraki Azumi
Hibiki-chan
KaRiSa
Dark Wolf Goddess of the Moon

Sorry for not replying your reviews! I will once this chapter is over, and my pile of homework decreases! Once again though, thank you!!

-JE