A/N: It's been a while. Apologies are in order... sooo my bad! Hope you all enjoy the latest! R&R Thnks guys.

PS: *Please excuse any mistakes in advance-also there is a review of chapters 1-15 in the beginning of chapter 16 incase you need to brush up, ja'ne*

Disclaimer: I do not own any characters associated with Naruto, they all belong to Kishi-sama

The Explanation

Temari pov

"Where? Where are they? Where did they get moved to?!" I ask harshly as I approach Haruka's seat in the archive room.

"W-what do you mean, Temari-san?" She stutters.

"The files from this box," I say while flipping the empty box in hand upside down.

She clutches the top of her shirt. "I, uhhh…"

"The whole section on Anare is gone. Everything! Where she came from, who her teacher was before Matsuri, every report ever written on her! All of it."

"Ahhhh, let me think…" she says in a panic.

"Your one job is to keep this mess organized, how is it that a whole group of files has gone missing?" I continue my verbal tirade. This is beyond unacceptable.

"Ahh gomen, Temari-san…" she said prompting me to pull back.

I study her face for a moment. She looks frazzled. Something tells me that there is more to this story. "Haruka, this is extremely important. If you know something about this, I need you to tell me exactly what happened."

After glancing towards the door she nervously straightens her glasses. "He came…"

I instantly become more disturbed.

"He came here and he took them…all of them," she near whispered.

"He?" I ask for clarification.

She nodded. "Deiada-sama…he instructed me that I was not to utter a word to anyone."

"I knew it…" I confirm under my breath.

Matsuri pov

It's been long enough. I huff as I dress for the day. I pull my sock up to my thigh as my mind drifts in thought. I've kept this pity party going for days now. Gaara is out of his coma and functioning and I'm still too scared to face him. Whatever this is, I have to get over it, even if we can't get past it. I'm ready to get back to work anyway. Staying home is doing nothing but making my angst worst. Everyday repeating the same questions over and over…it was driving me insane.

"Ahhhh," I wince as I stand putting slight pressure on my ankle. This is a problem. I sit and position my hands right above my injury.

SWOOOOOOSH SWOOOOOSH SWOOOOOOOOSH

I put the small amount of medical jutsu Temari has taught me to work. Too bad it doesn't work on hearts. I think cynically before standing again and rotating my foot. Better…for now. Walking over to the table near the door I pause as I go to pick up my Jouhyou. I think back to when Gaara first introduced me to this weapon. So much time had passed since then. So much has happened. He was my teacher, I was his student then thinks became complicated. It wasn't cut and dry anymore. Our emotions and sentiments had all become so intertwined…so messy. Things were a lot easier before we became a couple. No jealousy, no reservations…I almost wish I could rewind and go back to that time.

Finally I arrive at the Kazekage tower. As I head into the building I'm greeted by a security team.

"Hey Matsuri we haven't seen you in a while, I hope everything is ok." One of them says to me as I pass through a body scan.

I give him a light smile and nod. The truth was that I wasn't ok but I had duties that needed to be fulfilled no matter what was going on between me and Gaara, I still had a job to do.

"Ahh," I stagger a bit as I grip the wall outside his door. I take a deep breath. My ankle is still very sore but I need to suck it up. I can't let him see the hurt; the physical nor the emotional.

Knock, knock, knock

"Come in." His deep voice causes me to second guess everything I've decided up until this point.

My heart jumps into my throat. "Good afternoon," I say to him and Kankuro as I enter wearing my best mask.

"Matsuri-" he says eagerly standing from his seat.

Cautiously I make my way over to him. The only thing that separates us is his large wooden desk and a shield of lies. "I came to get the genin training sheets," I explain as I reach for the clipboard which is always in the same place. I begin to feel hot. Almost sick.

"You can't be ready to get back out there yet," he says doubting my abilities once again.

I'm determined to prove other wise. "I'm ready now." I say avoiding his eyes. I can feel him staring at me. My skin is over heating, my eyes are getting watery. What is this feeling? I turn to leave.

"Matsuri," he calls my name causing my core to stir. "Temari can take care of the classes for the remainder of the week so that you can rest," he still objects.

"Gaara, I'm fine." I say as my lips tighten to conceal the pain I was feeling. I look over my shoulder but still not at him. I couldn't. "Just let Temari know I'm going to class now. I'll be back later with a report." I say before heading for the door.

"Gaara…" I hear Kankuro whisper behind me.

Quickly I shut the door with a long exhale. I had been holding my breath hoping he didn't try to stop me again. This was going to be hard; the hardest thing that I would ever have to do. I feel a tear roll down my cheek. After touching my forehead for a moment to gather my thoughts, I limp down the hall.

Gaara pov

"I've already spoken to Temari about the possible outcome." I state to Kankuro as I read through reports that were written during the time I was comatose.

"A crock of bull," he comments as he uses thin chakra strings to move a paper ball he created. "They have no right and they have no grounds."

I'd been thinking about it all night and all day. The fact of the matter was, if I had been more strict with Anare the attack on Suna could have been avoided. Civilians were put at risk, the village was greatly damaged and good shinobi lost their lives. I was largely at fault and the council did have a reason to doubt my ability to lead. "What is done is done. If the Wind Daimyo approves the proposal I have no choice but to step down."

"Yea well I can't wait till today's meeting. There is no way I'm gonna let that happen-"

Knock, knock, knock

Kankuro is interrupted.

"Come in," I say looking to the door.

In she walks looking as beautiful as ever. "Good afternoon."

Immediately my chest tightens. "Matsuri-" I say eagerly as I stand from my seat. I had been holding back since the last time saw her. I've wanted to go to her on many different occasions but I kept stopping myself as I was reminded of our last tearful meeting.

She moves towards me almost with caution. The only thing that separates us is a large wooden desk and a hazy fog. I am still not certain what I did to her. My mind is still cloudy making my past actions hard to decipher. This meeting feels different, like she is estranged from me.

"I came to get the genin training sheets." She says without looking at me. She picks up the clipboard from the corner of the desk where it always is.

"You can't be ready to get back out there yet," I say not doubtful of her abilities but out of concern for her wellbeing.

"I'm ready now," she says with determination before turning away.

I can't help but stare at her. "Matsuri, Temari can take care of the classes for the remainder of the week so that you can rest." I object still. Knowing the injuries Matsuri received from battle and also hearing about her case of heat stoke, I am extremely reluctant to allow her back to her normal duties.

"Gaara, I'm fine," she begins looking over her shoulder. "Just let Temari know I'm going to class now. I'll be back later with a report." She says before heading for the door.

I can't remember the last time Matsuri was so short with me. I move to go after her.

"Gaara…" Kankuro whispers adding his hand to my shoulder.

I look to him just as the door closes.

"Let her go," he advises.

She is gone. The look of disappointment on her face is burned into my brain.

"You have to let her make her own decisions. She's a big girl." He adds.

I take a seat. Maybe he's right. There are a lot of things I need to say to her but now is not the time.

POOOOFFFF

"Lord Kazekage," a member of my Anbu team pops in and bows.

"You found her?" I ask my mood intensifying almost instantly.

"No sir. We are on to her trail though. We have been conducting routine searches of the desert but chances are she's slipped into the forest at the village's boarder. We are midway through that area at this time."

"And you've returned to tell me what?" I ask impatiently.

"Sir, we encountered other shinobi. They wore the gear of hunter nin from Kiri. They disappeared without engaging us."

Kankuro folds his arms. "So they're after her too huh?"

I seethe. "Find her before Kiri does. If you can't bring her in, kill her."

"Sir!" The anbu nods.

POOOOFFF

As fast as he appeared, he was gone. I had much faith in my Anbu squad. Most of them were hand picked by myself; a few of them had even served under my father. I trusted them. They knew how important the task of recovering Anare was. She needed to pay for what she had done not only to the village and me but mostly to Matsuri. Besides that, alive she posed too great of a threat. I wanted her captured…it might very well be the last thing I do as kage.

"They're after her head," Kankuro concludes.

I knot my brows.

"It's time to go to the meeting," he says stepping around my desk.

I stand, "Temari?"

"Yeah she's probably not gonna make it," he says as he opens the door.

We were vaguely aware of what Temari was doing at the moment. She explained briefly before leaving this morning.

"I just have this feeling like something isn't adding up. I need to check into Anare's background." She said picking up the girls' rogue ninja file.

Kankuro nodded. "Yeah, I think we could all agree that the little psycho was way suspicious from the beginning."

I remained quiet as instances replayed in my mind.

"Gaara," Temari called my name causing me to look up. "I'm going to start in the archive room. I'll return as soon as I have more information."

"Understood," I agreed. I too was anxious to see what Temari would uncover.

"Ready?" Kankuro asks bringing me back to current times as he puts his hand on the door of the council room.

I inhale deeply before giving him a look of approval.

Matsuri pov

"So is it true sensei?" Asks Seto one of the genin in my class.

I scratch my head. How do I explain this?

"Yea, yeah I heard it was Anare too! I heard she tried to kill the Kazekage," said Hikarou another student.

Everyone gasped.

"Guys…" I started. They deserved the truth since they were ninja of the hidden sand. I didn't feel the need to sugar coat. I wouldn't allow Anare to be remembered as a kunoichi of Suna. She deserved to be hated by everyone the same way that I hated her. "She was involved yes. She did take Gaa- Lord Kazekage out of the village and no she has not been located yet."

"We should get a tracking team together and go find the traitor." Seto commented riling everyone up.

"Hey you guys you all have work to do so no tracking teams. I want you all to focus on your own assignments." I instruct as the jonin show up to take their groups.

I watch as the teams disperse and I am left to my thoughts again. They had the right idea. Secretly I wished I could have the opportunity to face her one more time. Things would go a lot differently. I wonder momentarily about Temari and if she's found out any thing about Anare. She came to me right before classes started. I guess she was worried.

"Temari…" I spoke her name as she touched down in the court yard before me.

"You'll be ok today?" She inquired with a motherly tone.

I exhaled as I bent over to pick up extra kunai. "Hai, I feel good. I'm glad to be back out here."

"Yeah fresh air will do you some good."

We were quiet for a moment. It was awkward. She knows how tense things are right now between me and Gaara…

"Matsuri, I need you to tell me everything you remember about Anare."

"Anare?" I double check.

"I'm trying to figure some things out. I need you to think clearly about this."

I'm a bit thrown by her question. "Temari you everything I know."

"Think hard Matsuri…when you two trained did she ever mention anything about where she came from, who trained her before you, anything odd?"

I search my memory. Many things about Anare were odd but what exactly was Temari getting at? "She never talked about where she came from or who trained her or any of that…"

"What about her skills? When we fought her, she was very strong," Temari noted.

I shake my head. "There's no way she was at genin level. I wrote about it in the reports I filed on her."

Temari shrugged. "The reports are gone."

My confusion becomes more apparent, "Gone?"

"Right, as in taken, destroyed who knows. The only one we have is the rogue ninja file."

I think hard. "She used jutsu and moves that were like…at least jonin level. I mean, in Konoha she leveled fully grown trees easily. Besides that I'm not really much help. Her and I didn't exactly bond." I blush thinking back to the hot springs incident.

Temari nodded.

"What are you looking for Temari? Do you think maybe she was planted?"

She looks at me with loving eyes. "I'm going to find out. Gaara is depending on me."

I look at her with concern, "Is he in some sort of trouble?"

"You saw him today?" She asked quietly switching the subject.

"I did," I agree.

"Was it better this time?"

I shift my eyes, "It was still hard. I just keep remembering these things…"

She takes my hands into her own. "You know how Gaara feels about you. We all do. He loves you dearly Matsuri. He would never intentionally hurt you."

"It's just that, every time I see him…I can't bear to look him in the eye… I'm over come with this immense sadness. It seems like too much to bear and I always feel the need to get away."

"I'm working on things. I need you to trust me. Trust Gaara." She squeezes my hands.

It's too much for me to process. What she's asking me, what she's telling me.

"If you need anything, come find me," she says lovingly before taking off.

I look out over the landscape. It's getting later and the heat is tapering off. I think about the look on Temari's face from earlier in the day. What was it that she was looking for?

Temari pov

"She just showed up one day. She was alone and she had one bag. She said she needed to rent a room and that was that. She paid me weekly and came and went quietly." The little old lady said as she unlocked the room that Suna's #1 most wanted criminal previously inhabited.

Slowly I nudge the door open and step in. Looking around I take note of the frilly pillows and lace curtains. After all, she was just a girl.

"I'll be down soon. I'm just going to see if I can find anything." I say waving the old lady off before continuing to search the area.

Stepping over to the closet and I slide the hanging clothing from one end to the other. I check the top shelves and bottom racks. Nothing. I press the wall behind her shoes to check for hidden compartments. The wall is solid. I move to the bed and strip the sheets and pillow cases. After squeezing her bare pillows, I feel the mattress surface carefully looking for lumps or cuts in the material where things could be hidden. Nothing. The head board checks out and so does the frame. Under the bed is a single sock, moving it to the side I knock on the floor to locate any trap doors that maybe concealed. Yet again there is nothing. Moving to the only dresser in the room, I meticulously remove each draw and check the clothing inside. Pulling the wooden structure from the wall I look for any crevices or holes containing evidence. Nothing.

I stand in the middle of the room now. It seemed clean. Could it be that she left no traces of her insubordination anywhere? I sigh heavily and approach a vanity station which is situated near the window. Pulling out the stool, I flip it before taking a seat. The surface was normal. Lotion. Fragrance. Mirror. I open the draw. Lip stick. Hair ties. Brush. Picture of Gaara. I pull the photo out and examine it. It was something that was taken a while ago. He wasn't even looking toward the camera, Gaara hated pictures.

"Who could have taken this?" I ask myself aloud. I feel around the wooden draw. Damn. I curse as I slap my hand down on the top of the little table. That's all? I question with disappointment.

As I go to push the draw shut it hits something hard.

Doouchhhh

I pull it out and push in again.

Doouchhh

Quickly I snatch out the draw and peer into the opening. There hanging from the inside of the vanity is a book. I must have loosened the tape when I hit the desk! I think as I quickly pull it out.

"Her diary…" I say as if discovering gold. I open the cover and begin to hungrily devour each page.

Matsuri pov

I hold my breath.

Knock, knock, knock

I wait but there is no response. Slowly opening the door I peek in. Vacant. I walk to Gaara's desk and examine his seat for a moment. The feeling that over whelmed me before, maybe I can get over this. Maybe I can get over him. Now… I think as I turn to make a hasty exit before he returns.

"Matsuri," he says from the doorway.

Our eyes meet.

Immediately I'm brought to tears. Shit!

"Don't cry," he says getting closer.

"I'm not!" I respond a bit louder than necessary. Why? Why do I cry at the sight of him? This doesn't make sense.

"You are still upset with me, I understand."

I throw my head back and wipe at my eyes. "I just came to bring the report from class."

"I was hoping to speak with you."

They won't stop. The images. I can see him…and her. "I have to go," I say as I attempt to rush past him. He reaches out and grabs my arm.

"I need to talk with you Matsuri." He says sternly.

I look past him. I can't look him in the face.

He releases my arm.

"We can't continue this way…" he says with heavy words.

"I can't forget it…it's embedded in my brain. Every time I see you…it hurts so much Gaara." I tried to explain as the tears continued to fall. All I could think about was him and Anare together. My stomach turned.

"What ever you are thinking, it's wrong. I can see it too…what you're seeing… but I would never…I wouldn't do that to you Matsuri," he explains.

He can see it too? I shake my head. Do I believe him or the visions in my mind?

"Kankuro told me how devoted you were when I was in a coma. He told me you stayed by my side the entire time….what happened?"

I had no idea how to answer that. It was true after all. "I don't know. I didn't think about it then but when you came to my apartment it was like I could see it all…I could feel it…every single kiss you had with her, every embrace…sex. These images repeat over and over every time I see you."

"Matsuri, none of that is-" he begins.

"I have to go. I'm sorry." I cut him off. I can't take another minute of this torment. I move as fast as I can. It feels as though I'm being strangled. I head for the nearest exit.

WHAMMM!

The door slams against the building as I burst out into the open air.

Haaa, haaaaaghhh, haaaggghhhh

I gasp deeply. Just like that. My mind was clear. I wiped the last remaining moisture from my cheeks and gripped my head. Was I going mad? What was wrong with me? Pushing off the wall, I headed home. It was unbearable to be near him. How could this have happened? How could I go from loving him so tenderly to loathing his very presence? It was unexplainable.

Gaara pov

"Matsuri, none of that is-" I begin.

"I have to go. I'm sorry," she says cutting me off.

Quickly she moves. I don't try to stop her this time however it is very hard to let her leave. Slowly I take a seat behind by desk. A headache is ensuing.

Deiada pov

Things are getting problematic. Temari is snooping and I find myself doubling back to cover my tracks. It maybe time for me to take my leave from Suna, the place where I was raised, the place I vowed to some day rule. I would be leaving behind everything I know all because of that girl. The very girl I sheltered feed and taught. She will definitely pay for her discrepancies.

I look at my watch as a figure appears from behind a sand dune.

"Sir, Anare's trail has gone cold. We tracked her into the Forever Woods and lost her. She seems to have disappeared," says a hunter from Kirigakure whose face is fully concealed.

"Disappeared?" I ask with high annoyance.

"Sir we-" he tries to clarify.

"There is no need for further explaination. You are to bring her head, end of story. Find her and kill her if she is not already dead," I say turning away. "Dismissed."

"Yes sir," he says in response.

I didn't even want her alive. Her one purpose, gain the Kazekage's trust then execute him was a major failure therefore she was of no more use to me. Hhm. Falling in love like some simple minded teenaged girl. I should have known she would botch things, during one of our meetings I had to gauge exactly where her mindset was.

"You're supposed to be gaining his trust. How is it that you go and get yourself kicked out of the tower after I meticulously had you placed there?" I questioned with slight intolerance.

Her feathers ruffle. "First off, I didn't get myself kicked out. It was that damn Matsuri. She goes to him when I'm not around and says a few sweet words and he flips out."

"So why hasn't she been handled by now?" I inquire since my rule from day one was 'any means necessary'.

The blond haired hazel eyed girl took her time answering, "It's not that simple. There's Kankuro and Temari…I just can't kill Matsuri so easily. They'll figure it out. I have to make it look like outside forces…"

"I do hope that this job isn't too overwhelming for you my dear…besides handling this task, your life is point less." I remind.

"I can do this," she grumbles.

I watch her expression carefully. "You know love can be a blinding thing my child," I say as I caress her silky hair then chin. "Don't be mistaken, no matter what your feelings are towards him, the Kazekage is to die."

She tries to maintain an air of confidence. "We're going to the chunin exams tomorrow. I will take care of Matsuri right after."

Puuuhhhhhh… I blow a puff of smoke and attempt to forget the conversation. As I approach Anare's old rooming house I clear my throat and step into character.

Knock, knock

"Ahh, Deiada-kun what a pleasant surprise," says the old lady who owned the home.

"Yes like wise, Tsuki-san…" I smile suavely. "You are probably wondering why I am here."

"O, I can probably guess. You weren't the only tower guest to come by here today so I'm pretty sure what this about," she speaks freely.

I look to her with a smirk. "You don't say?" I didn't need to forcibly extract any info out of her, she was willingly giving it up.

"Yes, Temari-san was by. She came to examine Anare's room. Would you like to do the same?" She offered stepping to the side with the purest of intentions..

All my questions had been answered.

"Actually I was making sure Temari had been by. I'm sure she gathered any evidence she could find. But thank you anyway, have a blessed day." I say tipping my hat

"You're very welcome Deiada-kun," she bowed before peacefully shutting the door.

Just as I suspected. I would probably have to take my leave sooner than expected.

Temari pov

"Genjutsu!" I shout as I rush into Gaara's office.

"What the-" Kankuro questions.

"You guys are under genjutsu!" I go to Gaara and peer deep into his eyes.

"Temari-" he says with hesitation leaning back as I get closer to his face.

"What genjutsu?" Kankuro asks.

"ANARE'S!" I yell slapping down her diary on the table. "I read it in here."

Kankuro picks up the book.

"Here I brought chilli pepper bombs," I say going into my ninja kit.

"Chilli pepper?" Kankuro raises his eyebrow.

"It's the best way to break the genjutsu besides stabbing him." I explain.

"So Matsuri?" Gaara inquires.

"She has to be under the same genjutsu, maybe even worst. It makes her sick, she cries, she can barely breathe," I say shaking my head.

"Whenever she sees him it kicks in…that makes sense! This would explain why she didn't start reacting harshly to him until after he woke up." Kankuro waves the book as he catches on.

"It was more than likely initiated with eye contact." I deduce.

"Have you gone to her?" Gaara asks always thinking of Matsuri before all else.

"No, I wanted to inform you of everything I found out first," I admit.

"I'll send for her," Kankuro says as he exits the room leaving the diary on the desk.

"I have to set off this bomb now."

"So the visions of Anare and I?" Gaara speaks still trying to comprehend the situation.

I smile at him, "Illusions brother."

I can see alleviation on his features.

"Cover your eyes," I instruct as I set the bomb.

BOOOOOOFFFFFF!

A cloud of red dust explodes.

Gaara coughs a bit as the spices take over his senses.

I fan the dust from my face. "You should be released from the jutsu now."

Kankuro comes back into the room and pinches his nose. "She's obviously not dead yet since the jutsu didn't release on its own," he says as he makes a face.

As the cloud settles Gaara picks up Anare's diary and opens the book. His picture falls out. "What else did you find in here?" He asks as he studies the photograph.

While we wait for Matsuri to arrive, I explain.

Matsuri pov

Once again I make my way to the tower. This time I was summoned. Though I hope everything is ok with Gaara, I can't help but cringe at the thought of going back there.

BUMMMMPPPP

"Ahhh…" I wince as I collide hard with larger form.

"Pardon me my dear," says an older man.

I look up and recognize him immediately. "Deiada-sama," I acknowledge him with a head nod. "Sorry for not paying attention."

"Oh, Matsuri, it's quite alright. I almost didn't recognize you. It's been a while." He said with a polite smile.

"Ah, yes I took a bit of a break but I'm back to work now," I state.

"Good, that's very good to hear. Are you working late tonight?" He questions.

I tilt my head. I wasn't really sure what I was on my way to do. "Well, they just sent for me so I don't know what's going on yet."

"I see. I'm just leaving for the night myself so, don't let me hold you." He says tipping his hat.

I smiled. "Good night, sir."

Quietly he moved away. I looked ahead to the tower. What was I in for this time?