For the past few weeks, it has become a routine for you to go to Gaara's house in the morning, talk with Yashamaru until Gaara is ready to go, and go on an adventure with Gaara once he is ready. You both enjoyed each other's presence and were very close. So close, to the point even Gaara's father knew of such a thing even though he was too busy to even be in Gaara's life. 

Today's adventure involves you and Gaara relaxing in Chūseina's shed with Chūseina herself. You and Gaara lay next to one another along Chūseina's side as she too lays in the soft hay. You were both speaking of the future and what it could hold.

"When I grow up, I'd like to become a great Shinobi, just like my mother," you say smiling at the thought of your mother hearing such words.

"I'm not sure what I want to do yet, but I do know that whatever I do, I want to be with you (y/n)," says Gaara as you both blush at the thought of working alongside one another.

"Maybe we'll be put on the same team once we enroll for school- then we could continue to work together," you comment.

"I overheard that I have to be on a team with my siblings, since others are too afraid to approach me," says Gaara as he frowns.

"Well, maybe that thought will change. If people just got to know how kind and friendly you are, then I'm sure they'd love to be friends with you!" you exclaim with a bright smile.

"Thanks (y/n). Ya know, y-you should sm-smile more... It can fill the wh-whole room up with h-h-happiness!" says Gaara as he blurts out the last word due to struggling to spit it out without stuttering.

You blush, not realizing these feelings meant something more than a yearning for friendship.

"See! You're so sweet!" you exclaim, smiling even more.

Gaara blushes slightly and shyly thanks you for the compliment. Suddenly, you hear your father's voice calling for you both, which leads to you and Gaara coming out of the shed to find your father holding a camera.

"Hey kiddos! As I was walking through the house, I found a box we missed out on unpacking, so I took it upon myself to do the job. That's when I found my trusty ol' camera. Since I found it, I'd like to test it out and see if it still works. How about it, smile at the camera and say cheese?" insists your father as he holds up the camera, waiting for your response.

"Sure dad! What do ya say Gaara, wanna take a picture?" you ask Gaara, your (e/c) irides meeting his aquamarine eyes.

"I guess that's okay. I'm not very fond of pictures, but taking one with you makes me feel better about it," answers Gaara with a small smile.

"Then come on," you exclaim as you grab his hand, holding it tightly, "look at the camera and smile!"

Slightly taken aback by your actions, Gaara listens and looks directly into the camera, smiling as he feels the warmth of your hand.

"Say cheese!" yells your father.

You and Gaara yell cheese as you both look into the camera, finally hearing a click that signals you two to relax. You drag Gaara over to your father, only letting go of his hand once you make it to your father's side, to analyze the photo. You all patiently wait for the photo to pop out of the camera. Once the piece of paper comes out, your father picks it up and waves it. He squints at the photo, trying to figure out if the camera is still in good condition or not.

"Ah-hah, there you kids go," says your father as he hands you the photo for you and Gaara to analyze.

"Wow! The camera works! It's really us Gaara!" you exclaim, overjoyed with the fact that you were holding a treasure.

"Wow," was all Gaara could spit out due to being awestruck by technology.

"Ooh! Let's take another!" you yell ecstatically.

Due to such excitement, you hug Gaara, leading to him returning the gesture. Another click was heard, causing you both to turn to your father as he waited for another photo come out.

"You're so sneaky father!" you exclaim.

"Sorry, it was the photographer in me. It was a picture perfect moment," he explains at he waves the photo in the air, finally giving the photo to Gaara.

You both analyze the photo and feel heat rise in your cheeks.

"Would it be okay if I kept this one?" asks Gaara shyly.

"Sure thing!" you happily answer. "I'll keep this one then."

With that, you both shove the photos in your pockets and head inside for lunch. Today your father was whipping up one of the most exquisite meals on Earth (in your opinion at least) and you were determined to eat such a meal as soon as it was done cooling. What was this meal you so desired? Homemade ramen of course!

You and Gaara watched your father prepare the savory meal, helping with little tasks such as stirring in ingredients or fetching bowls and other materials. After a little more than thirty minutes of hardwork, the ramen finishes. This leads to you and Gaara, along with your father, sitting at the dining table feasting upon a delicious treat that you always wished to never disappear.

After lunch, it was time for Gaara to go home. Although the departure was earlier than usual, your father was given a job to transport goods to a neighboring village by the Kazekage himself that also involved you going with him. As your father packs for the departure, you walk Gaara home.

"I apologize that we have to stop playing so soon, I was really having so much fun," you say, smiling.

"It's alright. This must be a very important mission if my dad requested for the transportation to be done himself," replies Gaara.

It was not too long before you two were at the steps of Gaara's front door.

"Well, I guess this is goodbye," says Gaara with a small frown.

"No, I believe it's a see ya later. I feel like goodbyes are meant for permanent departures. I'll be back, and when I do come back, I'll come see you first thing. So see ya later Gaara!" you exclaim as you jump off his steps and wave, giving Gaara a giant smile.

"Then see you later, (y/n)," says Gaara with a small smile.

"Wait!" you yell as you run back up to Gaara.

You place a quick kiss on his cheek and look into his pretty, aquamarine eyes.

"I-I'd love to work alongside you Gaara! I mean it!" you yell out excitedly, blushing at your previous actions.

Gaara was almost speechless as his wide, aquamarine eyes looked into your warm, (e/c) eyes.

"Thank you," replies Gaara, still in shock, as you both part ways.

When you return to your home, smiling and looking more giddy than usual, your father is seen hooking Chūseina up to the wagon with the goods. When you get closer to your father and Chūseina, your father notices how incredibly giddy and red-faced you are.

"Why are you so happy?" asks your father, grinning as if he was expecting juicy gossip.

"Ah nothing, you know me, always being overly giddy and stuffs!" you exclaim as you hop into the wagon and take your seat.

"I see, well, I'm glad you're as happy as ever. We have the whole trip for you to spill the beans and let me in on your juicy secrets," jokes your father as he sits in the front and motions for Chūseina to begin the journey.

"I'm telling you, I'm just happy because I'm happy. I mean, I do get to spend time with my favorite father," you say, grinning as cute as possible to get your father to change the subject.

"I really am a cool dad, aren't I?" says your father as the wagon went through the gate of The Hidden Sand.

You agree with your father's statement and begin to talk about how you suspect that there won't be any troubling weather in the desert this time due to their being clear skies. However, your father reminds you that anything can occur and that the weather can never be trusted. You two get on all sorts of other topics as you two prosper on your journey.

Later on, you both find yourselves in a dense forest, trying your bests to squeeze the wagon through such a thick forest. Aside from the crashing of water due to a nearby river, silence pervaded the forest with a few sticks being broken due to being ran overed by the wagon several times.

With boredom filling the air, you decide to peek as to what goods your father was transporting this time as you guys crossed the river by using a long and narrow bridge. As you head into the back of the covered wagon, you hear another stick snap. Although it was louder than the other snaps, you ignore the sound and continue your hunt. As you open one of the many bags, you find that there is only sand in this one. You check other bags and find more sand.

"What village needs sand?" you ask your father.

"I don't know, what village needs sand?" giggles your father, thinking you are telling a joke.

"That wasn't a joke, father. You're transporting sand, so I'm curious as to what village requested such sand," you answer.

"Don't be silly (y/n), we're transporting salt, sugar and ginger to Konohagakure," states your father.

"But there's sand in all these bags," you note, feeling the wagon stop on the bridge.

You hear your father shriek in pain, causing you to quickly peek out the front end of the wagon. You find your father with a sword in his chest, blood splattered everywhere. You jump out, holding your father's corpse, trying to hold back tears.

"Father! Is this a joke?" you yell, praying that this was some sick prank.

"It's business, kid," says another voice as you turn to find a sand village ninja standing on top of the covered wagon. 

You scream in terror as you fall off the wagon onto the bridge, trembling with terror.

"B-But why?" was all you could stutter out as you try your best to crawl away.

"You've brought this upon yourself. You should have never gotten involved with Gaara," says the sand ninja as he quickly whips out a kunai, inching closer to you.

No words escape your mouth as you stare in fear at the masked ninja wearing a headband of your own village. Every memory you had played through your mind within these seconds. You thought about what you had told Gaara. You told him that you would see him again. How could you see him again if you died?

Snapping back to reality, you jerk your body to the side, feeling the kunai scrap your hip. The adrenaline was pumping and before you knew it, you had jumped off the bridge into the busy rapids of the river. You popped out of the water coughing, struggling to get a grasp of air. You tried your best to swim, but these powerful rapids were to much for you. The water stung your eyes, preventing you from clearly getting a view of anything. You felt yourself losing consciousness. Before the embrace of darkness, you heard a splash and assumed it was the sand ninja trying to finish the job. You wanted to swim away, but it was no use.

Hopeless, you embrace the unconsciousness and realize that this was it- you were going to die and never see Gaara again.