[A/N: Lol, This chapter is a gift for all you Gaara lovers/ peeps who have been wondering where Gaara has been. Enjoy!]

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Gaara stared up at the fluffy clouds that dotted the afternoon sky, an emotionless look on his face. He gingerly lifted a pale hand, reaching up as if he were trying to touch them, but of course that was impossible. In the background, the sound of children's laughter grew louder as two sets of feet approached the emo.

Suddenly the footsteps ceased.

"Ne, Taka-kun, why is that guy lying in the grass?" A little girl called out in a loud whisper.

Gaara didn't turn his head even though he knew the girl was addressing him. He was the only other person that was in the park after all. Another lower voice promptly shushed the girl.

"That's not a guy, Ame-chan, it's a monster." A younger boy said with a hint of disgust. "Remember, Mama told me us to stay away from monsters, so we better leave." He added as he turned, dragging the girl with him.

Monster? Gaara thought to himself. He had grown used to that word already, but hearing it right now made his blood boil. The red head casually tilted his head to the side, making out the two small figures, their backs to him, walking away.

Suddenly a piercing tremor flashed through Gaara's mind, causing his blue-green eyes to shoot wide open. The teen jolted up from his supine position, his hands clutching his forehead, digging into his skin.

Kill them A voice echoed People like them should just die

"Shut up" Gaara hissed to himself, as he clutched his head harder. He tried to control the beast welling up inside his mind. But the voice continued to grow louder, transforming into a commanding chant.

Kill them.....KIll THem....KILL THEM!

"Gaara?" A confused voice suddenly called out.

The shouting in Gaara's mind ceased at the interruption. A silence asking its place. The emo snapped his eyes open in surprise, lifting his head to see what had stopped the voice.

Black hair....Large, round eyes

"Rin?" The emo asked.

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Rin had been walking back home when she decided to take a detour through the nearby park . After escaping death, courtesy of a grey haired teen, the shortie wanted sometime to think by herself. Rin unconsciously felt a shiver crawl down her spine as she remembered the coldness in Hidan's words:

"Fine, but you better not try to kill yourself again" He growled at her. His eyes grew a shade darker as he muttered the last few words. "I swear, if I find you fucking dead, I will find a way to bring you back to life, and then kill you myself."

The shortie was definitely not going to be attempting that again. She was 100% sure that jashinist would stick to what he had said.

I can't believe I tried to do that anyway Rin thought to herself as she remembered the truck barreling towards her. She felt her legs tremble slightly in response. The shortie immediately whacked her own head to snap her self out of the flashback. Arggh! Baka Rin! Since when did I become such a coward? Pull yourself together.

The shortie would have continued beating herself up if not for the new voice that interrupted her thoughts.

"Shut up" It hissed.

Rin looked up in confusion. Her eyes fell upon a familiar red head, sitting in the grass, his pale hands grabbing fistfuls of his auburn hair.

"Gaara?" The shortie asked, a hint of confusion in her voice.

The red head looked up from his curled up position, a dazed look on his face. "Rin?" He asked back.

"Gaara, are you alright?" The shortie questioned as she held out a hand to him.

Gaara stared at the outstretched hand for a moment, as if he were unsure what it was for. He looked back up at Rin, who was staring at him with concern. Is he actually worried about me? The red head wondered.

After another moment of contemplation, Gaara pulled himself up, ignoring the hand. "Thanks." He mumbled. "But I'm fine."

Rin was surprised by Gaara's answer. To her, Gaara had looked far from fine a moment ago. "Are you sure?" She asked, tilting her head as she moved closer. "Maybe we should go see a doc-"

"It doesn't concern you." Gaara cut in, his voice hoarse as he unintentionally glared at her. Another deep tremor echoed in his mind, but he ignore it.

Rin couldn't help but flinched at the emo's words.

Gaara noticed the slight movement. He took a deep breath as he tried to calm down. This isn't good. He thought to himself. I'm letting emotions control my words.

"Sorry" The red head quickly apologized as he rubbed his head. "I'm just stressed..from school." He lied.

Rin narrowed her eyes, she could detect the lie hidden in his words, but didn't press further. As the two stood there, an idea suddenly came to the shortie's mind. "Ne, Gaara, let's go to the arcade!" She cheered. Rin had actually never been to an arcade, but she had researched about it and it seemed like a fun place to go.

Gaara's eyes widened in shock at the suggestion, but before he could refuse, the shortie had grabbed his hand and started yanking him in a random direction. "Oi-" The red head began to complain, but Rin only tightened her grip as she walked down the sidewalk.

"We both need a distraction" Rin replied softly without turning around.

Gaara froze for a moment when he heard the kid's words. He noticed how Rin's voice wasn't as bubbly as before, and how they're kid's shoulders were lowered almost as if he were depressed. But when the shortie turned around a smile was still on his face again.

"So just this once, let's go to the arcade." Rin added, trying her best to keep the grin on her face. She didn't want to think about the consequences that would soon come for her. For once in her life, she wanted to enjoy herself.

The shortie suddenly felt Gaara yank his hand out of her grip. Without a word he placed both hands in his pocket and walked past her. Rin's smile faltered for a split second as he continued walking.

" Aren't you coming?" A voice asked.

The shortie looked up in surprise to find Gaara a couple of feet ahead, looking back with an expression of disinterest. " The arcade, let's go." He said as he motioned with his head.

A smile ten time larger reappeared on the Rin's face. Before Gaara could blink, the shortie raced past him, her eyes practically sparkling as she ran. "Yeah let's go!" The kid cheered happily before disappearing down the road.

Gaara also started walking calmly after Rin. The murderous voice within him had all but vanished, and the red head was enjoying the much needed tranquility in his mind. His pale blue eyes casually watched as Rin's black hair bobbed up and down in the distance. For a split second he let a small grin come to his otherwise emotionless face. That shortie's one special friend indeed. The emo thought to himself.

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"WINNER...WINNER" a mechanical voice blared out as Rin entered the dimly lite arcade building. The shortie stood in amazement, staring at the neon signs that illuminated the dark room and the mass of teenagers who were packed in the place. Many were in small groups, crowed around the various games, cheering each other on.

Rin looked back as Gaara also entered the room. He had a similar dazed look on his face as his eyes darted around the place.

Too loud. The red head immediately thought as he rubbed his numbed ear. The shouting and deafening music in the background annoyed him too, but he didn't say anything. At least Rin's enjoying himself.

"Let's try that one first, Gaara!" The shortie gushed, excitement in her voice as she raced off towards a pink colored machine. All Gaara could do was follow. The emo could already feel the exhaustion creeping up on him.

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3 Hours Later

Rin had just finished playing all of the games she could possibly fine. She collapsed on a nearby couch set up along the back wall of the arcade as she happily counted the red paper tickets in her hand. She had at least 500 right now.

Suddenly, a bundle of tickets was dropped on her, completely covering her. The shortie felt the couch sink as a person sat down next to her. After moving around a bit, she was able to break free from the mass of tickets.

"Wow Gaara!" The shortie exclaimed as she stared at the tickets. "How did you manage to get so many?!"

"I have my ways." The red head simply replied. He of course didn't tell Rin that he had hacked all of the games to make him win the tickets. Even though hanging out with the shortie was fun, the loudness of the arcade was starting to really piss off the emo. "Hurry up and get a prize." Gaara muttered before leaning back and closing his eyes.

He heard the sound of rustling paper as Rin got up and walked over to the prize desk.

It took awhile before he the familiar footsteps approached again.

*Click*

Gaara opened his eyes at the strange sound to find Rin grinning in front of him, an old camera in his grasp. "Cool huh?" The shortie asked. "It's one of those cameras that develop the pictures write away." He added as he handed Gaara a picture. "You can keep it as a reminder of today."

Gaara remained silent as his eye turned to the white square. It was a picture of him with his eyes closed and Rin's face taking up the bottom corner as he stuck his tongue out. For the second time that day, the emo smiled.

*Click*

"I'm definitely keeping this one!" Rin said cheekily as she held a picture of Gaara smiling in her hand.

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The sun had already set as Gaara and Rin walked home. Gaara looked over to find Rin happily clutching the photo of his smile. He lightly bonked the shortie on the head.. "Oi, stop staring at that, you're being creepy." He commented, "

Rin faced Gaara, a pout on her face. "But I never see Gaara happy!" She grumbled. "That's why I have to cherish this, since your my friend."

Gaara suddenly stopped walking when he heard this. Rin also stopped walking when she realized Gaara wasn't walking next to her anymore. She turned back with a look of confusion on her face.

"Why did you sit down at my table that day?" The red head asked suddenly without making eye contact. "You could have sat anywhere...there must have been a motive"

It took awhile for Rin to realize that Gaara was talking about her first day of school. A nervousness crept up in her stomach as she tried to decide the answer she could give.

"Well.." The shortie mumbled with uncertainty. Then she took a deep breath. "My grandfather told me too."

Gaara's eyes shot up at this, connecting with Rin's. He wore a new expression, stone cold and completely devoid of feeling, but Rin contained to speak.

"He wanted me to befriend you because you're an infamous hacker." She said solemnly ."But that doesn't change anything." She added quickly as a determined look came on her face. "Friends tell each other everything, which is why I want you to know this. Even though my grandfather told me to do it I truly am your friend. Believe me!"

There was a silence for a moment.

"Is that so?" Gaara asked almost to himself. He paused for a moment. " Rin, can you keep a secret?"

The shortie looked up to find Gaara staring up at the stars that were just beginning to appear.

"Everything about me is evil. Since the moment I was born, death has followed me; it's first victim being my own mother as she gave birth to me. People called me a monster because of this. In truth, I do have a monster who lives in my mind. It tells me to kill. It tells me to destroy. It tells me that no one could possibly love me. And I have always believed it. And accepted that this was who I truly am."

The red head stopped talking for a moment as he turned his head back down towards Rin. "But meeting you, I think...I can finally start to change. I believe you."

Rin couldn't help but smile as she heard Gaara's words. For a moment the emo's cold barrier's had shattered, leaving a vulnerable teen who just lost.

Then Gaara's eyes grew cold again. "And if you tell anyone I said this, I'll Kill you." He added in a threatening voice.

But Rin just laughed at this. " You're secrets safe with me."

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Gaara entered his empty house. He gave a yawn as he walked down the hall. Huh...., I'm actually tired The emo thought to himself as he entered his room.

He immediately plopped down on the unused bed. A crinkled noise sounded as he turned on his back. Gaara looked up curiously as he felt around in his pocket. He finally pulled out a single square photo.

Another smile came onto his face as he thought back about everything that had happened today. His eye fell on Rin's happy face with his tongue stuck.

"AHHHHH!" A voice suddenly screamed from the doorway, causing Gaara to jolt up.

"What the hell, Kankuro?!" The emo complained as he glared at the shocked brown haired teen.

Kankuro remained still in the doorway. He slowly lifted a trembling finger. "Y-you..w-were smiling..." The teen managed to splutter out.

Gaara allowed his emotionless face to return to him, " You're imagining things." He said in an icy tone. "Now leave before I kill you."

Kankuro promptly obeyed, not wanting to get on Gaara's bad side. The teen scratched his head in confusion as he continued down the hallway. I swear he was smiling. He thought to himself.

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Rin silently trudged down the sidewalk. The excitement from the day had worn her out. She carefully carried the camera in her grasp, making sure that it was safe.

An ominous sense of dread was slowly eating away at her happiness with each step closer to her house. What am I gonna say to grandfather? Rin wondered. Should I run? Or maybe beat him up?

Before the shortie could plan anything, her phone started beeping. She pulled it out of her bag, a confused look on her face. Strange. Unknown number.

The shortie pressed enter to read the message. She immediately froze, her breath caught in her throat as she read the note. Rin twisted around and started running.

The message was the only thing on her mind now:

I've decided to keep your secret silent if you do me a favor. Meet me at the entrance of Konaha Elite in five minutes. You know who I am.

There's still hope. The shortie though to herself as she pushed forward.

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Lol, I felt like this was long chapter and it's late (as in 1 A.M. =_= right now), so I'm gonna have to end it here! :P

So there, Gaara appears again, \(^~^)

He was too nice in the previous chapters, so here he's a bit meaner in this one

What did you guys think? ^_^

And what do you guys thinks gonna happen next? O.o

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Thanks!