Gaara turned red. He didn't know anyone like that other than himself. His voice was slightly squeaky when he spoke. "B-but I don't know anyone that has dark red hair other than...m-me..." he refused to think she was thinking of him. He scanned his brain for other red headed boys and couldn't thing of any.

she giggled, "Because it is you..! I've always secretly liked you..."

Gaara moaned miserably. He liked her so much yet didn't want her to like him. He was nothing. Just a demon and a quite evil one at that. Gaara felt the tears spring to his eyes. "You can't like me...please..don't I'm not what you need..." He hoped she thought je just didn't like her like that. He didn't want to hurt her, but for her to be with him would be worse. He had taken so many lives and she was just an innocent girl. He ran off and went home leaving Natsuki alone. He burried his face in his pillow and sobbed.

"hmph...I won't give up...." she folded her arms against her chest

Sakura walked up. "Did he just...reject you? I dint understand.." she had a puzzled look. Temari looked at Natsuki sadly. "He'll never say yes.." Kankuro sighed. "I'd better go check on him and make sure ge didn't have a mental break down or something."

"..." Natsuki fell/sat down, she crossed her legs and thought..."We must know about...." she didn't finish speaking to herself, she talked to herself quiet often really

Kankuro came back a little bruised. "I don't know if he's ok or not. He seems to be...ok.." he knew Gaara was upset, but then again he was a teenager. Temari looked at Kankuro. "What happened to you?" "He was pretty mad when I came in without knocking. He was kind of emotional at the moment and when I busted in and then called him a cry baby well..." Temeri looked at Kankuro. "He was crying?" "Well duh...he's going through puberty it makes him different."

"....." she didn't even look up at Kankuro
....He must know about Bakeneko....stupid demon...why did you choose me...? she thought

Temari and Kankuro stood. "Do you want to come with?" Temari asked Natsuki. She had to wonder what the girl was thinking. Was she mad? Sad? Hurt? Confused maybe? After all everyone could see that Gaara liked her a lot. She wondered why Gaara had said no. It didn't make sense.

"...Sure...!" she stood up, and a little un-confident, too. But she kept a smile, though it was a little unsure+

Gaara was laying face down on his bed and Kankuro walked in and stroked his red hair. Gaara jerked his head up to see who it was. When he saw Kankuro he laid his head back down. Kankuro had closed the door so he and Gaara were alone. "Gaara..you shouldn't have rejected her...we all know you care for her." Gaara let out a strangled sob into the pillow. Kankuro countinued to stroke his hair. Gaara finally spoke. "K-Kankuro...I can't be with her..s-she's innocent..and s-sweet and I-I'm a evil d-demon." he let out another sob and Kankuro sighed. "Gaara..your not a demon. your just a little boy. Temari sat with Natsuki on a couch. They could hear Gaara's stranggled sobs and also heard them talking, though they couldn't make out what they were saying.

"Temari...."

Temari looked back at Natsuki "Yes? You called me?" Gaara's sobs were now much louder and Kankuro walked out of his room. He looked at Temari and then Natsuki. "I couldn't take it anymore.." it was all he said and then went to the kitchen. Temari looked back at Natsuki. "You were saying?"

"..Can you keep a secret fromt he village...?"

Temari smiled "Of coarse I can hun." she hugged Natsuki close "you can tell me anything."

"...Fine...Just..Dont be suprised..." she paused, "..I have a demon inside of me..."

Temari smiled. "I already knew that hun. Gaara told me. He's known all along. I think he felt like you understood him. Do you want to know a big secret Natsuki?"

"...ok...." she seemed shocked that she already knew

Temari held Natsuki like a sister would. "Gaara is so upset because he never wanted you to like him. He feels like because your demon I'd nicer, he's a terrible person. He thinks that because he's killed so many, you should have someone better. Gaara belives that it would be selfish of him to take you from Kankuro. He also thinks he's worthless." Temari gave a sad smile. "That's why you'll never get Gaara."

... she was quiet, lost in thought yet again ...he's got everything wrong... she thought

Temari sighed. How long was Gaara going to be like this? He'd been in his room for almost two hours now. He was silent. Temari walked in his room and saw him reading a book. "Gaara?" "Yes..." "You like Natsuki don't you..." "Yes..." "Why don't you just go with her? It would make her happy. Gaara looked at Temari like he might cry agian, but instead just went back to his book. "You already know why Temari...she needs better than me.".

((i'm tempted to just make Natsuki slightly yelll at him...but that would be awkward....))
"...."
Natsuki closed her eyes

((lol you can make her yell at him. That would be highly amusing.))
Temari gave up and left Gaara to pout. God he was such a baby! She walked over to Natsuki. "He won't give in..He says you need better." Temari rolled her eyes. "He is SO going to die alone!"

((im sure i will...i just don't know how to say what i'
m wantin' to say/....))
"...."
...so much has been goin' on....

----------

*testing stuff! :D))))

Gaara finally came out and saw that Natsuki was at his house. As soon as he saw her, his eyes got wide and he went back in his room, slamming to door.