Chapter Nineteen - That Night...

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Chapter Nineteen
That Night...

 ~Gaara's POV~

Temari rolled open our scrolls and out poofed an unknown ninja.  I turned and walked away, guessing at what he would say and leaving the rest to Temari and Kankuro.

As I turned the corner, I ran in to a girl, fairly tall but thin and dainty.  When I looked into her eyes it felt like the golden orbs of fire were burning into my soul, making windows.  I stared at her eyes as she stared in mine- I say in because it was as if she was staring right through me.

Suddenly, I recognized her.  She was the girl who somehow flew down in front of Kankuro, Temari and I the day we met the leaf ninja.  A pale purple leaf headband, barely noticable, was tied around the waist of her tan dress jacket.

For a long while we just stood there, sizing eachother up.  She seemed to fragile, as if a single touch could shatter her into a million pieces.  Yet, she also seemed to have an odd sense of strength, like she was not to be messed with.

"Who are you and what are you doing here?" I asked her emotionlessly, not showing my shock at her beauty.  She blinked once, not in surprise but in more of a forced way, as if she didn't have to blink and had to remind herself to do so. 

"I am Tenashiuta.  I'm here because I finished the exam."  Her voice was melodic, nearly distracting from what she said.  Notice, there, that I used the word 'nearly'  My eyes widened ever-so-slightly.

I looked her up and down.  She looked just as dainty as before.  "How?  Where is your team?" I demanded of her, thinking she must be lying.  Her teams must be dead and she ran to the tower to cling to her life.  Yes, yes, that must be it...

"I'm alone in the exams.  I am my team."  she said in a monotone, not seeming to notice how my eyes widened once again at this revelation.  'She's her own team?  How is she not dead!?' I thought, panicing a bit.  'It's not possible!'

"Well, mr. second place, I don't believe you've told me your name yet."  she chimed, her voice like a church bell mixed with a flute.  I blinked.  'Mr. second place...?'

"I am Gaara of the Desert." I replied, not letting any of my surprise into my voice.

I was detirmined to leave her with a good impression.  I was not sure why, but I seemed to feel close to her.  I felt like if I saw her with another boy, I would kill him and steal her away... which was ridiculous. 

What is this feeling... in my chest?  In my brain?  In my fingers, that tingling?  Is it... love?  Do I love her?  No, that's preposterous.  I just met her.  Yet...

I heard Temari and Kankuro come up from behind me.  "Hey, Gaara, what should we d..." Kankuro trailed off as he saw Tenashiuta and I staring at eachother.   We were the same height and stood inches apart, looking at eachother's monotone faces.

"Um... hello?" Temari asked, unsure of herself.  Tenashiuta's eyes darted to her face and blinked, still forced-looking.

"Hello."  she said simply before her eyes flickered back to mine.  I could hear Kankuro gulp, expecting me to kill her.  Even if I wanted to, I'm not entirely sure I could.  Even if she did appear small and insignificant, she seemed like she wasn't so. 

"I must go." she said suddenly, snapping me out of my thoughts.  She turned and began to walk away.  "Well met, Gaara of the Desert." her voice faded away.

"Uh, yeah.  You too."  I managed to say back.  'Brilliant.  Here you are trying to be all cool in front of her and what poetry spews from your mouth? You too.' I thought, annoyed with myself.  She turned the corner and dissappeared from sight.

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