| Gaara | :|: Silent Eyes :|: | Ch. 03 - Connecting Stars |

I got up from my bed, finding it difficult to sleep. Kiba was snoring loudly downstairs, which made me annoyed. I never thought that my blood brother would convinse my mom to take me back. I sighed, climbing out of my window.

It was slightly chilly, but I ignored that, running as fast as I could. I didn't know where I was going, or even why. I was just going. It was nothing compaired to when I was injured. That hurt like hell. My senses kicked up when the moon was hidden by the trees. I headed through the woods, getting several scratches and leaves into my clothes & hair. I panted, making sure I was alive.

I suddenly collapsed onto my knees, out of breath and will to go on. I was surrounded by trees, almost like they covered me from the world. My fingers clasped around my locket. I took it off, gazing down to it. "Gaara . . . I'm not afraid of you, if only you knew . . . Knew how much I worried while I was in Kohona . . . Here . . . ," I continued to breath wildly. This was my weakness. Since the accident, it made me limited on breathing. I had trained for hours earlier, which made me tired.

I laid on the grass, watching several shooting stars zip by. It was pretty quiet, which gave me the advantage. Noise wasn't my best key either. I recalled our team sign ups at the Hokage office, so I laughed. He never liked the way Uyn looked at me. I knew he had a crush on me. Una was more like a young, worried, little brother. It was funny. Even if they were both older, I treat them smaller than me. I sighed, nodding before turning my eyes at my left.

"Couldn't sleep?" I sat up, shaking my head. "Well, Akamaru woke me up, saying you were gone."
"Oh, you can go back to sleep. I'm sorry." I smiled, collecting Akamaru in my arms. He snuggled against me, licking my hand. "No, I'll stay out with you. The stars are glittering a lot tonight. I guess it's because of this Gaara guy, right?" I eeped lightly, a blush covering my cheeks. "You heard!"
"Heh, not really. Just his name. Listen, mother is sorry she gave you up, but you were-"
"Kiba, you talk to much. Let's just watch the stars, huh?" He nodded, laying beside me. I smiled, going down on my back. "Quick question, though."
"Alright, Kiba, what is it?" I tilted my head to him, curious. "What does that locket hold?" I switched my eyes to the silver necklace, dangling from my hand. "Oh, just music and pictures." I shrugged my shoulder, handing it to him.

I closed my eyes when he opened it. The music flowed through my ears. "You sing beautifully." I nodded to Kiba's comment, imagining Gaara's soft voice. "It this him?" I opened one eye, staring at the picture of Gaara. "Yeah."
"I seen this guy somewhere . . . I think he was at the Kage office while I helped Hinata." I gulped slightly. "Yeah?"
"Ah huh, he was sorta strange. You were friends?"
I sighed. This was going to be a looong night.

/ Gaara's P.O.V. \
I continued to stare at the beautiful Mana's face, as he talked with the strange dog-boy. I was using my sand eye, so Temari wouldn't think of it if I left. She was so understanding of Kiba's millions of questions. Her locket was playing my song, which made me slightly dozed. I shook my head. I didn't need to fall asleep, not now. "Kiba?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you think that Gaara's heart become black?" I listened closely, trying to understand on what she was saying. "Dunno'. If what you said was true, then I don't doubt it." I sighed, releasing my eye. I didn't need to hear this. She knew how bad I became. I just wanted to get her out of my mind, and as far as possible. She wasn't important anymore. Just another memory . . . One that haunts me every day . . . But a memory nevertheless. I glared to the ground. Mana was very different. She was a distraction, though. He shook his head, trying to clear any images of her, but they just came back. He clutched his head. "IfI can't forget her . . . I'll kill her."