Who am I? [Gaara]

Chapter 4

My apartment is... Amazing. It's really nice, already furnished, and clean. It's not going to stay clean for much longer, now that I've moved in. Well, I have to eventually save to live anyways. This is only temporary.

I walk inside, carefully shutting the door behind me. I didn't want to break anything. It all seems so much richer and fancier than the house I owned back in the Sand.

This one has a separate kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom. The kitchen is small, but I don't like spending much time in the kitchen anyway. It has a small fridge, a reasonably big counter with built-in shelves. There is a window at the end of the room, with super cute lime-green curtains. The stove is also small, but that's the way I like it. The living room is also tiny. One of the walls is a window with dark purple curtains. There is a small mystic-purple couch on one side of the room, and on the other, there is an empty bookshelf. Next to the living room is my bedroom. It's probably the biggest room in the house. It has the bed at one wall, and a wooden desk in front of the window, opposite the bed. There is a built-in wardrobe near the bed.  The curtains and my bed covering are both lemon-yellow, dull, yet so totally cool! It's my favourite colour... The bathroom and the shower cabin was in the corner. There is a sink and all the other things you would usually find in a bathroom.

I dump my bag of clothes carelessly down onto the couch and go straight to bed without even bothering to remove my clothes. Today has been a big day, and I need some rest.

>>>>The next day

I woke up in the morning feeling rather hyper. I had a good sleep, and now, I'm ready to take this day on! I slip out of bed and go take a quick shower. Today, I'm wearing the same pants and a pale green top with one sleeve reaching my elbow, and the other sleeve cut off at my shoulder. It's weird, but it is super comfortable. As I race into the kitchen, I realize I have no food. Oh crap. I open the fridge to see milk, cheese, eggs and ham. The Hokage even took care of that. Well, the one thing I will never miss about the Sand Village is the 4th Kazekage. But I miss everything else. The endless heat that you wish would turn into snow, the creepy hallway leading to the Kazekage's office, the people, the sand, and most of all him. Gaara.

The boy who I've had an infinite crush for hell knows how long. Here, it's nice but... I slowly felt my heart race from just thinking of Gaara.

"No! I won't allow you to just bluntly start crying whenever I feel like this. I can't. I won't, I am used to the fact that this is your new home, Kasumi." I sternly tell myself. And Yet I let a single tear run down my cheek. I can't take this! I let myself crumple to the floor, now a stream running down my face. Who am I? This isn't me! Stop Kasumi! I mentally slapped myself. But the sadness that still lies in my heart is still there.

"Gaara!" I wail. He doesn't even know where I went. Nobody will bother to tell him. I just left him. Alone. And to add to that, I'm alone here too. Suddenly, I hear a knock on my door. I pick myself up off the cold tiles and slowly make my way to the front door. As I open it, I quickly wipe away my tears.

"Hey, I decided to check up on you, you know, see how you were liking the new apartment and things..." Shikamaru says quietly.

"Hey, Shikamaru. I was just..." I cut off. I can't exactly put it into words.

"You miss the Sand, don't you?" I simply nod, then force a smile.

"That's okay though. You know, it's really nice of you to come here. I would offer you some breakfast, but I kind of haven't got anything to cook yet," I said embarrassed, awkwardly rubbing the back of my neck. Shikamaru thinks for a moment, and then says:

"I suppose you could have breakfast at my place. Mom's just making something," He offered.

"R-really? I mean, thanks, but I don't want to be troublesome." I beamed as I smiled.

"You can't be more troublesome than mom. Now hurry up," Shikamaru, lightly tugging at my sleeve. I grinned, this time a true, genuine smile, and follow him over to his house.

"Ah, so you must be the new girl that Shikamaru told us about. He talked so much about you!" says Shikamaru's mother as we are sitting at the table, eating something that tastes heavenly. I blush lightly feeling the taste of her homemade rice.

"Mom!" Shikamaru also blushes. Shikamaru and I quickly finish breakfast and stand up. After I thank his mom, we exit the house and head over to the Hokage's office.

"Your mom isn't troublesome! Well, she doesn't seem all that troublesome to me." I say calmly.

Shikamaru shakes his head.
"She was just pretending to be nice. Trust me, I know her better than you." He laughed and I chuckled at his remark.

"I can imagine," I say with a little giggle. He just rolls his eyes.

We are walking past some sort of bridge when I see the girl that I bumped into yesterday, a boy with bright blonde hair, and the Sasuke boy, the cute one. The blonde one sees us

"SHIKAMARU!" he yells, wildly waving his hand. Shikamaru sighs at the kid.

"Naruto.... That idiot..." he mumbles and begins to head over to the bridge. I can't help but smile.

The blonde guy, Naruto, he seems like the complete opposite of Gaara, yet, somehow, he reminds me so much of him.

I follow Shikamaru onto the bridge.

"Shikamaru got himself a girlfriend? Aren't all girls, what do you call them... Troublesome women?" Mutters Sasuke, looking me up and down, then smirking at Shikamaru. Shikamaru ignores him and turns to Naruto.

"Do you always have to be so loud, Naruto?" he asks, clearly annoyed. Naruto shrugs him off.

"I was just saying hi. And who is she?" he asks, pointing to me. I take a little step back, feeling unwanted.

"This is Kasumi from the Sand Village. She's been transferred here." Explains Shikamaru. Naruto lets out a long 'ah'.

"So you're the one that bumped into me?!" demands the girl with pink hair, taking a step towards me.

"Sakura, stop being annoying," Sasuke says quietly, yet firmly. Sakura seems to shrink into herself. Oh. I know I would. He seems so harsh...

"Come on, Kasumi!" I hear Shikamaru's voice behind me. I must have not noticed him leaving. Quickly, I moved over towards him without him noticing.

"It was nice meeting you guys," and catch up to Shikamaru

>>>>>Hokage's office

"You are going on a D-Ranked mission with Team 7." The Hokage informs me. I nodded not really knowing this team.

Shikamaru, who is standing beside me muttered quietly; "what a drag..." as we exit the room.

"How come it's a drag?" I asked him.

"Team 7 is the team we met on the way here. We are going to have to go all the way back..." he looked bored and tired as it is.

"Oh, sorry." I said with a saddened face trying to make him feel better. By the time we get there, the three genin are still waiting.

"Hey, guys! I'm going on a mission with you, unfortunately." I say cheerfully. Sakura raises and eyebrow at me as she places her hands on her hips observing me and my every move.

"Really?!" asks Naruto, rather loudly. Too loudly for Shikamaru, because the boy lets out a groan of frustration, before turning and leaving.

"Hm." Is Sasuke's reply. This guy... What is it with him? Suddenly, I hear footsteps behind me. I quickly turn to see a man with silver hair, and half of his face covered by a mask.

"Hello there..." he begins darkly.

"YOU'RE LATE! AGAIN!" Sakura and Naruto yell at him. Sasuke shakes his head in disapproval. I can't help but giggle. This mission is bound to be more fun than the one I went on with Gaara.

>>>>