Back again :) How are you guys? thank you for all the reviews, I love getting them XO

Anyways I don't want to talk too long, most of you might not even read this here :( but nevertheless enjoy

I don't own Naruto... though I'd love to ^^

Gaara and Naruto were lying next to each other in the still warm sand far away from the village, their fight had taken them further and further away in the opposite direction. Both were exhausted, physically and mentally.

While they had fought they hadn't noticed how they had been only working by willpower. They didn't have any chakra left and couldn't move an inch.

Gaara was having a hard time organizing his thoughts. Those new feelings were overwhelming. The girl next to him changed so much the last few days and he didn't knew if he could handle any of it.

"Gaara, are you sleeping?" He heard her soft voice asking.

"I never sleep, it's because of the demon." He heard the rustling sound as she moved her arm. His eyes went wide, when he felt very small, fragile fingers grab his hand.

"You can rest now, I'll watch." And he believed her. Suddenly he felt very tired and closing his eyes and drifting to sleep was somehow easy.

To her it was not. While the peace of a long awaited night fetched him, Naruto lied wide awake and stared at the stars. Why was her heart pounding that hard, when they were so close earlier and that he returned the embrace, made her hope for... For what exactly? That she reached for his hand wasn't just something to comfort him, she needed to be close to him. She never had this before.

She wasn't dumb, she read about this stuff and if anyone else had told her the things she was thinking right now, she would've told him or her "You are in love.". But she was different. She wasn't searching for love, her friends were enough. Also she thought that she wasn't able to love someone unconditionally. In the past years she had worked hard to become who she was today and what she heard about love was giving her the idea, that loving someone, meant to give up yourself. That was a price she refused to pay.

She like Gaara, that she admitted. Maybe her odd reaction was just because of the fight and stuff earlier. And who could blame her for not wanting to be alone in the nightly desert?

Confused she let go of his hand and tried to stop the shiver that ran up her arm and down her spine. It was because of the cold, she decided.

XXX

Naruto stayed awake until morning, to watch over both of them.

She never noticed the pure beauty of a sunrise. The stars were still visible as the first light colored the horizon in soft pastel pink and orange. As the moon faded away she remembered the silver shimmer everything seemed to have had this night. The crimson hair of Gaara was much more darker and her own was less golden. In his turquoise eyes the tears sparkled like diamonds and she had to admit he was very handsome. The black lines around his eyes just added to his mysterious looks. His skin had been so incredibly soft, as if nothing had ever touched it, which she presumed was maybe even true.

She almost felt sad, that they would soon be rested enough to return to the village. In the same second she scolded herself. That was just ridiculous.

She sat up and took a look around. Sand until the horizon, how should they find Suna-gakure this way? Well she just had to hope the sun would be helpful.

Then she noticed a group of four people approaching and her muscles tensed, She was in no condition to defend herself, even if those weren't shinobi. Hell, a bunch of Genin could knock her out at the moment. She didn't like the thought, as she was one of the most promising ANBU.

Her glance fell on Gaara's sleeping form. Having the Kazekage's son with her could maybe be helpful. Or there were Suna-nin coming and would kill her for hurting him. She shook her head. No, they would more likely praise her.

To her relieve she saw that one of the shinobi had pink hair and another one blue. She relaxed immediately. Now she was safe.

XXX

The Konoha-nin except Naruto were standing at the main gate of Suna It was early in the morning and almost no one was up yet. Only two figures were there to see them of.

"We are sorry, that you had to leave this fast." Temari said, looking to the ground uneasily.

"It's fine, a lot of things happened." Kakashi smiled with his one eye.

"Indeed." There was a long silence. They waited for the arrival of Naruto to leave the desert. As predicted Suna's council told them to go back home, but they were telling them that in a friendly way. Right now Suna was disturbed and could not guarantee for safety. They needed time to settle, but there would be a new alliance formed as soon as they had elected a new kage. Of course the shinobi from leaf offered their support of they needed help with rebuilding the village. Maybe they would think about it.

XXX

Naruto walked next to Gaara through the gap in the wall. Her feet seemed pretty heavy somehow, but she walked on steadily. The light at the end was faint, the sun was still low so there was almost no light in the tunnel. She looked at the redhead next to her and sighed inwardly. He seemed completely untouched his eyes calm and relaxed.

She knew it was good that her looked that way, from Temari she heard he never looked that calm in his life only unstable and unpredictable.

The end came closer and her fox eyes could see the silhouettes of her team. They were almost there.

She stopped suddenly. He continued to walk two steps when he noticed Naruto wasn't next to him anymore. He turned to face her and was surprised to see her confused and unsure.

"Naruto-san, what is it?" He asked politely. Since she helped him in the desert he tried to mke up for his behavior from before.

The stormy blue darkened and for a minute her gaze went to nowhere. When she returned, her eyes seemed strong and confident, her face had a peaceful expression.

"Gaara, there's something I want to give to you." The sudden swing of her mood left him without a clue what to do but he nodded. It seemed important to her.

She pulled something out of her pocket. She held a piece of snow white porcelain. Some blue and gray color was still there and through a small whole a dark blue ribbon was tied onto it.

"Is that a part of you mask?" He asked.

"Yes, it is. The one you broke that night. It's a symbol for me fighting the demon. Always remember that." She smiled softly and he took it. "If you ever struggle it will help you to recall the wish you have. I am your friend Gaara. Let this shard help you to never forget that."

"I'll treasure it, thank you." They looked in each others eyes for a minute. Then she turned to walk towards the village's exit, leaving him watching her.

Outside she joined the team and ordered them into a traveling formation, her at the front. Her hand wandered into her pocket and her fingertips felt the sharp edges of the shard inside her pocket. I hope you'll realize I have the matching one to yours, Gaara, she thought casting a look inside the darkness.

She greeted Temari and Kankura one last time and the turned to the endless ocean of sand, heading towards Konoha.

We will meet again, Sabaku no Gaara...

Actually I pretty much like the last paragraph, though some might not understand this. There is not much romance in this scene but I felt the intimacy between the characters when I wrote... I hope you feel it too.

This is the end of the Suna-episode and I will end the story here and writing the sequel in a new document.

Don't worry this won't be over, I love this one too much to abadon it without Gaara and Naruto getting together. As you know this is my very first ff( It's my baby ^^) and I'm quite proud a lot of you like it :))

So please read the new one. PLEEEAAASEEE!

Thank you for all your support. I love you all!