I would like to give thanks to the follow people for their great reviews throughout the birth of my very first Naruto fanfiction (or any fiction for that matter):

Chixon: Thank you so much for being my first reviewer! When you told me it's the best Gaara fic you ever read I almost cried with delight. And thanks for saying Chapter 6 is realistic because I seriously did not like how it came out. But it was my twelfth draft for that scene and I didn't have the heart to rewrite it again. Kenji is angry because he is jealous of Masao outperforming him, also that she is with Gaara because he liked her for a bit… And you're right; Gaara is a bit more outgoing with his feelings now that he knows nothing will befall Masao.

Element Girls: Thanks for saying it's the coolest GaaraxOC you ever read, that made me so happy. Things like that boost my morale and help make me a better writer! Romeo and Juliet? Coolio idea, but it never crossed my mind…

Poisoned Rose- Poetry…? Sometimes I dabble in it, but I never like how they turn out. Thanks a bundle for the review!

Taokitty- Thanks a heap! You people rock! I loved your little spiel, it was so… intriguing. Except you tortured poor Gaara… Ah, what the heck? It was funny never mind! (Gaara: Hmph!) Sorry about the unhappy ending, but I despise happy endings (Disney movies make me gag…) so I decided to break poor Masao's heart in the end. Otherwise she might have lived happily ever after…

Queen Kurash- I love you for reviewing! And I'm glad to know that I kept Gaara fully in character even if it was a romance story!

Thanks also to all future readers who reviewed after I posted this and also to every single person who gave my story a hit, even if you did it more than once. I love you all so much, and I now have the nerve to post something else!

You were wondering about a sequel? Well, I sincerely was not planning on writing one. (Holds Gaara in front of me to block angry, pursuing mob). Truthfully, I wouldn't know how to start. I don't know what would be a good place and scenario for them to meet again, and, as I said, I really don't like happy endings. If any of you have an idea, feel free to e-mail me and I'll see what I can do.

Words cannot describe how grateful I am to everyone who enjoyed my story. So I won't even try. All I have to sa to you wonderful, amazing people is:

Thank you so much.

My Gaara of the Sand 2006