"Kaien, wait!!" I barely managed to stop at the shout- I was halfway to the Kazekage tower by that point. I turned my head to see Kisuke once more, running full speed, before skidding to a stop before me.

"You misunderstood me..." he panted, placing a hand on my shoulder. I flinched, my stomach suddenly uneasy. "I don't... I didn't... I didn't mean for you to do this!"

"What are you talking about? Just get lost, don't talk to me anymore." I said irritably; he wasn't worth my anger.

"This... argument, is an opportunity!" he brought his eyes to mine, and gripped both of my shoulders now, "To break off from the old, a new start, become happy again- but with someone else!"

"Just what are you getting at- mmpf!!" my eyes became impossibly wide as Kisuke attached his lips to mine roughly, his eyes squeezed shut.

His lips tasted of peppermint and tea leaves- all wrong. I wanted to taste the bittersweetness of ginger snaps and oranges on my tongue, not this. This wasn't right!

Too astounded from shock, I merely became immobile, not pushing him away, but not responding either. I could only stand there, not quite comprehending what Kisuke had said before.

Happy... with someone else? As in, without Gaara? Without the warm goodnight hugs, the sweet lingering kisses, the fond teal gaze as we talked before sleeping each night?

Was he stupid?

Didn't he know that happiness without all of that was impossible?

Suddenly, the contact was ripped away, jolting me out of my reminiscence. Happiness flooded my being as I saw the redhead before me, but quickly faded.

He stood in slight crouch before me, furious as I hadn't seen him be for many years. I wished to reach out and touch my hands to the warmth of his protectively curved back, but restrained myself, not liking having to do so.

"How dare you touch her!" he seethed, in a tone that reminded me of when I first met him, way back when Sasuke and I had both yet to leave the Leaf.

"You hurt her!! I just picked up the pieces!!" Kisuke shouted back, blood trickling from a split lip that Gaara had evidently given him (A/N:what can I say? The man can punch, and I find that strangely attractive... wow I have problems -.-); equally as angry, though his fury wasn't quite as impressive as Gaara's.

"Our private affairs are nothing to do with you!" Gaara shot back. A few people were stopping to watch the spectacle.

"You don't deserve her! You're a monster, a murderer and always will be!!" a small gasp ran through the watching crowd. I growled, low in my throat.

"Butt out, Kisuke! You-"

"Enough!" Gaara cut me off, not even sparing me a glance, then replied to Kisuke, "You may think of me what you will, but that doesn't change that you are the root cause of this. However, I will not discuss my private life with you. This has caused enough of a scene already."

Gaara calmed immediately, the protectiveness fading before disappearing completely. I stared after him as he started to walk away, distant once again, before calling out, unable to stop myself. "Gaara, wait!"

He stopped, and the relief I felt was almost crippling, but was quickly shot when his gaze slid to mine, cold and unfeeling.

"What?" he said, with a tone no different to what he would use with anyone else. I was stunned into silence, and he turned away and started to walk again, "I thought as much."

Tears built in my eyes, and I lashed out to cover the immense hurt, "Fine, be that way! But don't expect me to try and apologise, just sulk for all I care!" I snarled, wiping my eyes indignantly before storming off.

I was sat in the training grounds when that jerk had the nerve to show his face. "Kaien..."

"Go die in a hole, Kisuke." I snapped, tightening my grip around my knees. He just sat down beside me, not seeming to get the message.

"Don't be like that, Kaien." he said gently, and I snarled.

"Well, I apologise for being angry with you after fighting with my fiancé because of something you did!" Kisuke remained silent for a long while.

"I thought... that I would be better. That I could look after you better. I wanted..."

"Me to be miserable? Yeah, well, mission accomplished. Bastard." he shook his head rapidly.

"No! That's not what I said! Quit twisting my words!" Kisuke said, agonised. "I just.. I like you alot, Kaien. I really do."

I whimpered, burying my head in my arms, "Just... leave me alone..."

"Kaien-"

"Go away!!" I screamed, "Haven't you done enough?!"

I was broken, a critical element to my composition had been removed, and it was only that that could fix me. But after today, I knew it for certain; Gaara didn't love me anymore.

Days, weeks passed in a blur. It was like a movie on fast forward; only certain things stood out. Times when I had walked the streets of Sunagakure, the villagers stopping and whispering. Times when Kisuke had attempted speaking to me, and I had just incapacitated him and walked away. I didn't use the chi shihai on him; I didn't want the tenor of his blood imprinted in my memory. And finally, times when I had passed Gaara in the street; he had merely looked straight through me, as though I didn't exist. Those were the most painful. It felt as though one thousand, no, two thousand kunai plunged into my chest with each blank stare. And he wasn't the only person I missed. I missed my twin too, dearly, but daren't risk seeing him. My fake smile wouldn't fool him like it did the others, and he would immediately demand to know what was going on.

Missions were the worst. Standing there, in that small room where Gaara's scent was most overpowering, in what used to be a part of my home. Whether I had comrades with me or not, it always felt as though we were alone, and reminded me of just how much I missed him. I felt like grabbing him by the head and screaming "Look at me!", or shaking him until he snapped out of it.

"Yes, Kazekage-sama." I would say, and bow, despite the agony I endured as the words tore a gaping hole in my chest.

I hated those words.

I ran my hand back through my hair with a sigh, eyes scanning my dark surroundings. It had been a month, and I hadn't slept a wink. I would go to bed, in the uncomfortable bed in the flat I was renting.

"Oi, Nee-chan!" I whirled around, seeing a familiar blonde barrelling towards me.

"Naruto?" I asked disbelieving. He skidded to a stop just in front of me.

"Who else?" he grinned, but something seemed off. I was too elated to fully recognise it, throwing myself at my brother.

"Ohmygod, I missed you!" I exclaimed, hugging him tightly and forcing back the tears. I hadn't felt this happy in a long time, but it was still wrong. It always would be, "What are you doing here?"

His grin faltered, "Actually, I probably shouldn't be here. Tsunade-baa-chan will kill me when I return to Konoha, so let's make the most of my last few hours!"

I grinned, "Okay, let's go get ramen!"

I grabbed his hand and pulled him to the ramen stand. "It's not as amazing as Ichiraku's, but it's still good!" I said, opening the door and tugging him inside. It was late, but the shop was still open. We sat on the stools at the front.

"Oi, four bowls of your special ramen each please, jiji!" I called, he nodded with his usual grin and started cooking.

"It's nice to see you here and eating my ramen again, Kaien." he called over the noise of the boiling water, "Business has been slow without you bringing your friends!"

I forced a laugh, "Sorry, jiji, I've been out of commission for a while, missions and such."

"Well, that's all right then," he said, placing our first bowls in front of us, "I thought you had switched shops."

"What?" I grinned, "No way, you make the best ramen in Suna."

Jiji chuckled, "Always a pleasure to hear you say that."

Naruto and I sat quietly slurping ramen for a long period, matching each other in speed. I glanced at him in concern.

"You're eating slower than usual. What's up?" I asked, and he coughed, putting his chopsticks down. I burped and sighed, eyeing him. Looks like both the Uzumaki siblings are having a crappy time.

"Just got Hokage stuff on my mind." he said, slowly, "I'm just stressed."

"Oh." I blinked, then laughed, "You know, you haven't said 'dattebayo' once this entire conversation."

He frowned, "Huh. I didn't notice." he shrugged and chuckled, "Guess I grew out of it!"

"Guess so."

- - -

OooOooOooOOOOooo!! An argument with Gaara! Yeah, not a very interesting chapter. This arc will get so much more exciting soon though. Next chapter, peoples! I have big plans! ;3

Well, vote and comment, I was disappointed by the tiny amount of comments on the last chapter in comparison to how many reads. My fault, I know; putting it on hold lost all my serial commenters D': but still. New commenters always welcome!

Baibai! :3