AN: Sorry this chapter took so long guys! A lot has happened in my life lately, graduated, got a job, got fired, got another job, and finally things are settling down so here I am! I made this chapter twice as long as way of apology for the wait. Enjoy, and let me know what you think about how things are turning out (I had major writers block so I'm hoping this doesn't suck!)

Bonds

Chapter Six: Blood Memory

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Sakura awoke to a throbbing headache. It was so bad her body seemed to throb along with it. At least that's what she thought until she realized her body was bouncing up and down on Gaara's hard shoulder.

Fully awake now she jerked up, effectively releasing her from Gaaras grasp. She cursed to herself as she hit the burning hot sand. What was going on? This was not her room and it certainly was not a dream – her bruised bottom told her that. She looked up to see Gaara now standing over her, his hand reached out towards her and his eyes gleaming with impatience.

She brushed his hand aside and stood on her own, almost losing her balance as she wasn't prepared for the heavy weight of the pack on her shoulders. She saw that Gaara too had a pack laden with supplies. She glared at him, not even knowing where to begin.

"We don't have much time. I would appreciate it if you could ask your questions as we continue."

Sakura looked around in all directions. Suna was nowhere in sight. Gaara had to have carried her all night to get this far; the sun was just now peeking over the edge of the horizon.

She folded her arms and dug her feet into the ground.

"You're going to tell me just what you were thinking while we go back to Suna you lunatic!"

Gaara didn't even flinch at high pitch of her voice.

"As you wish." Within an instant she was again over his shoulder as he sprinted at full speed – still clearly away from Suna.

Sakura felt a lurch of nausea when his shoulder dug into her stomach.

"Let me down, I'll go with you." She said exasperatedly, not wishing to hurl. Although it would be a fitting revenge.

Surprisingly he didn't argue with her. He must have thought she wouldn't try to run the other way – or knew that he was faster than her so it was pointless.

"All right, what the hell are you doing?" Sakura said between gritted teeth as they sped along the sands surface.

"If I informed the village elders of my...situation...they would be torn between re-implanting Shukaku or destroying it. Either way both parties would insist that I stay here while others take care of it and I can't allow any more Suna nin to die for my sake." He paused, then looked back at her, "I am sorry I had to take you along, if it were up to me I would take care of this task alone."

Sakura was silent as she stared grimly ahead. After a moment she said, "What about Suna? They need their Kazekage to be there at all times, now more than ever."

"Which is why it's so important I take care of this now. In order to best serve Suna I need to be free of Shukaku forever."

Sakura slowly felt the anger drain away. How could she stay angry at someone who was so self-sacrificing? Yet the danger he was putting himself in right now was supreme. The best she could do was to back him up one hundred percent. If Suna was Gaara's responsibility, then Gaara was now hers. For the sake of Suna she had to keep him alive and well.

"How do you know where you will find him? When we get there how will we get past Akatsuki? I hope you've planned this out."

"Shukaku will come to me when I am close enough."

"How could you possibly know that?" Asked Sakura incredulously.

"A gut-feeling."

"Flying off half cocked and going on a gut feeling...I think Naruto has rubbed off on you, and not in a good way." she said with a sigh. Gaara chuckled.

"Trust me."

It was amazing how those two simple words make her worry even more. She shook her head with a sigh. There would be no dissuading him. This man had no sense.

After fifteen hours of constant travel she had to remind him that he was human; I.E she was dog tired. With much reluctance on Gaara's part they picked a spot under a rock face to get a couple hours of rest. Both of them knew they wouldn't sleep; but at least they would be able to rest their bodies and eat. Despite this fact, Gaara insisted stubbornly that she sleep while he take watch.

Sakura sat herself on the top of rock face above him.

"You know I won't be able to sleep. Besides, why risk that bastard of a Tanuki visiting me in my dreams?" She snorted, "I'd rather suffer your company than his, thanks."

Gaara gave her a look of extreme impatience but he didn't press her further. Inwardly Sakura was cheering. About time he recognizes me as a person that can make her own decisions!

He must have noticed the impudent cat-like grin on her face because he rolled his eyes. Sakura nearly giggled. It might have just been the exhaustion, but seeing the Gaara of the sand making such a normal human expression was hilariously novel to her.

"What exactly is it that you find so very funny?" he said, eying her suspiciously.

"Nothing!" She suppressed another giggle at his consternation.

"I'll never understand you females. At least Temari never laughs for no good reason."

"Just because you don't know the reason doesn't mean it's not a good reason." Sakura said, sticking out her tongue.

Gaara just grumbled indistinctly.

Sakura couldn't help it. He was pouting. She burst out laughing.

"What?!"

"You! You're pouting!"

"I'm doing no such thing." He said indignantly.

"Then why is your lower lip clearly stuck farther out than normal, hmm?" Sakura said keenly.

He bit his lower lip, as if reigning in an errant dog who had gotten out of the house without his owner knowing. This only sent Sakura into more peals of laughter. She was laughing so hard that she didn't notice the shifting of rocks beneath her until she fell from the rock face and into the soft sand below.

"Eep!" She cried as her rump met the sand for the second time that day.

Now Gaara was the one laughing. Sakura glared at his upsi-down face.

"You did that, didn't you?" She accused.

He held up his hands, as if that would prove his innocence. The smug, self-satisfied look on his face said otherwise.

Sakura got up, jostling the sand out of her hair. She headed towards Gaara with evil intent in her eyes but as soon as she got within punching distance he disappeared in a swirl of sand.

"You play dirty!" Sakura complained.

"What gave you the impression that I played 'nice'?" Gaara said from directly behind her. She jumped and stumbled back, nearly falling again. However, this time Gaara caught her.

"You know what your problem is?" He said, still holding her in place.

Sakura furrowed her brow. The last thing she wanted was a lecture from him after he caught her off guard and essentially reminded her that at any time he could get the upper hand. Couldn't she just continue under the false impression that she stood a chance against him? No, of course not.

"Your problem," He continued, "Is that you let your emotions muddle your senses. You're a very skilled ninja but that doesn't matter when you get flustered."

Suddenly she was aware of how close he was to her. His firm grasp on her arms, the heat of his body pulsing against the cold of the desert night. She blushed, and tried to pull away from him. Never mind that he was right, on top of that he was producing the most disturbing sensations within her and that just wasn't fair. She brushed up against him in the process of trying to remove herself from his grip, and his breath hitched suddenly.

Her heart fluttered in her chest when he didn't allow her to pull away, and his grip tightened.

"Gaara -" She started, but she didn't have time to finish as he drew her closer, their bodies now pressed together. This flooded her with a wash of completely unwelcome but nevertheless very pleasant sensations. By the way that his breath quickened at the contact she knew that he was feeling the same.

His arm snaked around her, pressing her more firmly against him. He brought his mouth to her neck and paused, as if contemplating something. She could feel his hot breath on her skin, sending shivers down her spine.

"Gaara...let me go..." She said weakly, half of her screaming for her to say the opposite. Inner Sakura had awoken from her long slumber and was now shouting at her, NO NO NO! The right words are "Take me now!"

Gaara shook his head and let her go, stumbling back as if he had just snapped out of a trance.

"I am sorry." He said, and jumped up to the rock face, settling there cross-legged, "I will keep watch, you should sleep" He said as if nothing had just transpired. His face was infuriatingly blank as he stared out into the desert. The least he could do would be to muster up a decent blush after what he just pulled!

Sakura considered telling him off but then realized that she didn't want to talk about it either. Whatever had just happened was better left alone.

It didn't take them long after that to reach the edge of the desert.

Soon they were surrounded on all sides by thick, green trees. Taller and older than the ones around Konoha. Everything was covered with vines and foliage...but something wasn't right about the place. It took her a while to figure out, but eventually she caught on. It was completely silent. Not a single bird, or any other animal populated this forest. The only sounds was the crunch of old bark under their feet as they jumped from tree to tree.

"Gaara..."Sakura started, uneasy.

"I know." He said, keeping his eyes in front of him.

Sakura was getting a perturbing sensation that she was falling down a well, being pulled into somewhere that she wouldn't be able to get out. It was almost to a physical point of vertigo. Something flashed before Sakura's eyes.

Darkness. Red. Blood.

It was gone as soon as it came. For a second she had felt as if she were somewhere else. She glanced over to Gaara to see if anything had affected him. Not only did he seem unaffected, but he had a glint in his eye that was somewhat familiar...but she couldn't place how.

A heartbeat. A coppery smell in the air, hot and musty and filled with life and death.

She shook it off, then abruptly held out her hand in front of Gaara. He stopped, but barely so, not even bothering to look at her.

Something was very wrong. The stench of blood was in the air and this time it wasn't her imagination. The air was saturated with it. A battle had taken place here not long ago; and a gruesome one at that. Yet she saw no evidence of it. Ahead of them was nothing but more of the same; trees covered in vines, foliage covering the ground. It couldn't have looked more innocuous if it had tried...but it was anything but. When she looked closer she could see the area almost seemed to glow with and aura of killing intent...it was so saturated with it that it was impossible to pinpoint exactly where it was coming from.

Gaara suddenly leapt forward, and started digging madly at the ground.

"Gaara! What are you doing?!" Sakura hissed, glancing around warily. The last thing she wanted to do was to alert whatever had done this to their presence.

He didn't reply. Sakura ran towards him and almost stumbled over something. She glanced down to see a hand with an Akatsuki ring on it. She leapt away from it but then noticed with horror that it was not alone.

She hadn't seen before because they were ripped into such small pieces that the foliage had covered their remains. Only the tatters here and there of their robes informed her of their origin. It was...everywhere. How many had them fought this unknown foe? What WAS it that it ripped these men apart as if they were paper dolls? The stench of blood was overwhelming, it coated the ground like some sort of sick rain.

Sakura grabbed Gaara's shoulders, intent on dragging him from this place. Suddenly the world was turned upsidown and she...

She was floating in a vast darkness. Droplets of water like pinpoints of light swirled around her and the air throbbed like the beating of a heart. She looked up and gasped; above her was a giant pair of jaws; the water twirling up into it darkening to a rusty crimson as it disappeared into the creature's maw.

"Come to me. Embrace me." It said, and she stared transfixed as she was pulled inexorably forward.

Slowly it transformed into a dark figure, its arms outstretched.

"Come." Darkly alluring, with a promise of the world in its embrace. It was inside her it was surrounding her, it WAS her and she was it. Its voice reverberated through her, suffusing her senses with darkness.

Only accept me and it will all be yours. All of it, together we can rip the world apart and put it back together just the way we want. BloodbloodbloodIwantbloodgiveittome. Everything you ever wanted, shining beautiful just for you, perfect forever. RiptearIwantout.

The jaws she could still see, just barely behind the figure, hiding, laying in wait. She was getting closer.

"What...are...you? Shukaku?" Sakura managed to get out.

Laughter split her head open. It filled her and exploded out of her, dark and masculine but light and feminine.

We. We savored their screams and dying threats. Oh, so sweet after so much waiting. BLOODeverywhereneeditfeelitpumpingout. Together we are strong, together we conquer.

"Let...us....GO!" Sakura roared with much more vigor than she knew she had.

Laughter again, but this time she didn't just feel it...it was coming out of her own mouth.

"You want us. Need us. Take us inside." She heard herself saying, "HE wants it."

She suddenly saw Gaara above her, chained and bleeding.

"Weakness is not for him. It shouldn't be for you, either. You'll never have to feel weak again." Said Gaara's mouth. His eyes were open, but they were empty.

Sakura's eyes widened in horror. She knew what happened if a Tanuki inhabited a body without a seal. It wasn't common knowledge, but the old pervert had taken her aside one day and explained to her why it was so important the seal stay on Naruto – and why if it ever came off she would have to kill him.

"I know this is hard to hear, but you're one of the people closest to Naruto so you have to hear it. If the seal ever breaks completely the nine-tailed fox would consume Nartuo's lifeforce and use it to regain its own physical form. This happens the very instant the seal is gone – there is no time to act before it's too late. If the seal is gone, so is Naruto...even if it still looks like him. It will be weak for a few seconds as it begins to transform – this is why it's important to act fast..."

"Why? Why would we seal these monsters inside people if the danger is so great?" She had asked.

"Because they are a useful tool. Don't look at me like that, it's true. The villages all need anything they can get to have the edge. But more importantly, when they are sealed they cannot go to some unsuspecting fool and trick them into giving their lifeforce to them to take physical form. If they ever were to succeed the world as we know it would be gone forever.

That's what was happening. That's what Shukaku...and whatever it is that merged with him...wanted. They had to be stopped. In order to take over her body she had to invite them in...even if they would kill her because she refused to give in Sakura knew she could not allow this danger to get out in the world. It was her duty as a healer.

But what about Gaara? Was it already too late for him? Had he already made his choice? She knew he loathed being weak, longed to be the strong Kazekage his village needed. Were they able to fool him into thinking that he needed them?

"NO! Gaara wake up! Gaara SNAP OUT OF IT!" Sakura yelled, gaining back her voice. He shook his head, and for an instant his eyes cleared.

"Gaara it's a trap! They're going to consume us whole! You won't -" She was cut off suddenly, her voice leaving her.

It was too late, she could feel herself drifting away. She could only hope that Gaara had made the right choice.

Gaara ran through the desert at a speed that was inhuman for someone so small. At four years old he was faster than most of his village's top jounin…and for that he was thankful. If he hadn't been he would never have been able to escape.

He was tired of those eyes. Hateful, fearful, all of them. The only one whose eyes were not was Yashamaru; but that would never make up for all the rest.

Obviously they wanted him gone, so his only choice was to disappear.

He didn't know how long he had been running, but the landscape was beginning to change. These tall, green things (he thought they were called 'Trees' but he couldn't be sure since he had only seen them in books) rose from the ground, which was quickly becoming darker and firmer.

He decided it would be a good time for a rest once the trees overtook the sand and he was surrounded by green. Surely by now he was far enough away that anyone pursuing him would have given up.

He settled by a tree, and was about to eat some of the food he had packed away for the journey when he heard a sound. A sort of soft mewling sound…was it some sort of animal? Cautiously he rose and approached the source of the sound. He parted the bush in front of him to see…a girl? Yes, it was a girl, about the same age as him. She had a shock of bright pink hair and was covered in dirt. Tears ran down her face leaving trails of wet through the grime. What was a girl doing out here in the middle of the forest? His surprise made him careless and he stepped on a twig.

She looked up quickly, her bright aqua eyes a stark contrast against her dirt smudged face.

"Who's there?" She called out. He was surprised by her tone. It wasn't fearful, but simply inquisitive.

Against his better judgment he decided that he wanted to know more about this strange little girl with pink hair.

He stepped out of the bushes and showed himself to her.

Sakura looked up wide-eyed.

She had never seen anyone like him before. His hair was a dark copper red, and his eyes were rimmed with black. He looked at her with a frown on his face, his bright green gaze expectant…but she didn't know for what. Her parents had told her to be always wary of strangers, but ever since she had gotten horribly lost a day ago she hadn't seen a single human being. She was afraid and lonely and finally seeing another person made her so happy she did the only thing that any little girl would do in that situation.

She ran up to him and hugged him.

Gaara stood there in shock as the girl embraced him and cried on his shoulder. He had been expecting her to run, to vainly try to attack him, or at the very least bestow on him the same cold and hateful gaze that everyone else did. He had expected anything but this.

Slowly he allowed his arms to wrap around her and he patted her back awkwardly, not sure if it was the right thing to do. The only reference he had was once when he had come crying to Yashamaru and he had done the same thing for him

Apparently it was the right thing for the young girl's sobs started to die down and soon she became very quiet.

"Girl?" He prodded, but she didn't answer. Her breathing had become slow and steady. She was asleep.

----

Kankuro looked over to Temari, worry on his face.

"We lost visual of him over an hour ago, and I smell blood. This can't be good. We should have intercepted him long ago."

"Over there!" Temari shouted.

They ran up to the gruesome scene to find both Sakura and Gaara unconcious, convulsing out of control. Gaara seemed worse off, his arms and legs were in a constant flux...it almost looked as if...

"Shukaku." Whispered Temari.

"What? How could he...?"

"No time to waste. Kankuro, come here. We have to do it."

"But it hasn't been tested. Not at this distance!"

"If we don't Gaara will die and we will be in much more trouble then you can possibly imagine. Now do it!" Temari barked. Kankuros eyes grew serious, and he took out a knife, making a small slice in each fingertip. Temari did the same.

"If this doesn't work..."

"I know."

They began an intricate series of seals.

I hope this works...Gaara just hold on. Kankuro thought.

-

Gaara marveled at how easily sleep came to her, and how peaceful she was. Was this what sleep was supposed to be like? It looked comforting.

He felt a slight stab of jealousy as he set the girl on the ground gently, giving her his pack as a pillow. Why couldn't he fall asleep like that?

Of course, he knew why. Every time he closed his eyes, It was there watching him. Waiting to devour him. The bits of sand that resided in the dirt started to stir as tears began to fall down his face. Why couldn't he be normal?

As if sensing his distress the young girl awoke, and sat up.

"What's wrong? Can I help?" She asked sleepily.

He stared at her, unsure what to say.

No one had ever asked him that before; not ever. In fact, no one but Yashamaru had ever said more than four words at him and they had always been unkind.

Before he could respond though, the girl was squatting down in front of him, a bright smile on her face.

"I can fix it!" She said, and ran off.

Gaara stood and watched her go, bemused. He was considering whether or not he should follow her when he heard a startled yelp. On impulse he ran to the source of the scream to see the girl halfway up a tree and dangling from a branch precariously by one hand. The other hand was closed around something he couldn't see. Why didn't she drop it and pull herself up? Maybe she couldn't reach?

She was slipping. If Gaara didn't do something she would fall and hurt herself. Maybe even die if she landed the wrong way. He reached up to her, and little bits of sand came up from out of the dirt, wrapping around her arm and gently lifting her off the tree and down onto the ground.

The girl just sat there with a bewildered look on her face, and Gaara feared the worst. She would run like the other children, run and call him a monster.

But she didn't move. She just blinked, then looked up at him.

"Did you do that?"

He nodded sadly.

A smile broke out on her face, radiant and full of gratitude.

"Then you saved me! Thank you!"

Gaara looked at her wide eyed. She wasn't going to run? On the contrary, she walked closer to him and offered her hand to him, the one that had been clutching something so protectively before.

It was a flower.

"See, see? I got it from that tree over there…" She pointed to the tree she had been dangling from, "It's a Sakura blossom, and that's what I was named after! Seeing flowers always helped me when I was sad so I thought it would help you too!"

He took the flower, then noticed the cuts on her arms. She must have gotten them from climbing the tree, but she gave no indication of pain as she beamed at him.

"What's your name?" she asked, and plopped herself down by the very tree she had moments before been facing her imminent demise.

This girl was most unusual, but Gaara was beginning to realize that he did not mind that. He sat down beside her, placing the flower in his pocket.

"Gaara." He answered. She wrinkled her nose.

"That's a weird name."

"I'm not the one named after a flower." He huffed.

Then something very strange happened. She laughed.

He looked at her astounded.

"What are you doing?"

"I'm laughing silly."

"Why?"

"Because you're funny."

"I am?"

"Yup."

She was silent for a moment, then she said,

"I like you Gaara. Can we be friends from now on?"

He looked at her to see a genuine smile on her face and he felt something rise in him that was completely unfamiliar, a light feeling inside his chest. He smiled back at her.

"Sure!"

Suddenly he heard a loud growling. He stood up quickly, but there was no wild animal nearby. He heard a nervous giggle and looked down at Sakura.

"I'm sorry, that was my stomach." She said, her face turning red.

Then he laughed for the first time in all his four years.

"Hey! It isn't funny!" Sakura insisted, turning more red. He stopped laughing, and his face turned serious, almost comically so.

"I have food. You should eat." he said.

"You do?" Her eyes lit up so dramatically that he almost laughed again.

He pulled some bits of cheese and dried meat he had packed and handed it to her. She munched on them happily.

"You're the best Gaara!" She said as she finished her food. He flushed and looked away, unused to the unabashed praise she was giving him.

"I-It's nothing." He said. She moved closer to him, and poked him. He looked over to her.

"It isn't nothing. If you weren't here then I would be really sad and still alone. I'm glad you found me, Gaara," She yawned, "and if you hadn't found me I wouldn't have gotten good food…" She trailed off, and he found that she had again dropped off to sleep, her head resting lightly on his shoulder.

Gaara looked back out into the forest, keeping watch. He would protect her for sure. He would let nothing hurt his new friend. Nothing.

--

Sakura was swimming in and out of consciousness. Someone was hovering over her, concerned voices, memories flitted past her. Memories? Were they memories? She was fighting something, someone, pounding at her head. It wanted in, or out? She didn't understand. She hurt everywhere.

"Sakura! Don't........you'll be.......can you............just…...fight it! She heard a voice say, before she fell back into oblivion.

---

When Sakura awoke the next morning she found that her pillow hadn't moved an inch all night.

"Gaara?" She said sleepily. He looked at her.

"Did you sleep?" She wondered, noticing for the first time how pronounced the dark rims around his eyes were. He hesitated, then shook his head.

"How come?" She asked, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.

"I don't usually sleep." He said.

"But why?"

"I…have bad dreams." He said, looking away.

Sakura wanted to know more but didn't like that he was getting all sad again like yesterday, so she changed the subject.

"It's hot out." She stated.

"This isn't hot, not like during the day where I lived. The sun gets so hot that you can't even be outside sometimes."

"Really?" Asked Sakura, her eyes wide. She had to stay inside when it rained sometimes, but never was the sun so hot that she couldn't go outside.

Gaara nodded.

"Where do you live?"

"I used to live in the desert."

"Used to?"

"I don't wanna live there any more. People don't like me."

"Why not?"

Gaara was silent.

"Well," said Sakura, "My momma always taught me that when I was lost that I should stay put. An' I got in trouble because I didn't listen at first and ended up here! So I'm gonna stay here until they find me, and when they do you can come live with us!"

Gaara looked up, his face hopeful.

"Really?" his face fell, "But they won't like me…"

Sakura huffed.

"Of course they'll like you. You helped me a lot and you're nice."

Sakura seemed so sure of herself that Gaara believed her. Could he really belong somewhere?

After a moment of silence Sakura piped up,

"Well I still think it's hot, so I'm gonna go swim. You want to come? There's a lake just over there." She pointed.

Gaara nodded. Whatever swimming was, he was sure it had to be fun if Sakura liked it.

When they got to the lake Sakura took off her shoes and jumped right in. Gaara marveled at seeing such a large amount of water in one place. He took off his shoes and tentatively poked one toe in. It was cool, but not cold. He walked in slowly, watching the dirt swirl around his feet with each step he took.

Sakura swam back to the shallow end and ran up to him.

"Come on, come where it's deeper!"

Gaara looked back at the land, somewhat hesitant.

"It doesn't even go over your head, you'll be fine." Sakura insisted, taking his hand and pulling him in.

As the water rose around him he began to feel lighter. He never thought this was what it would feel like being immersed in water. He had never even had a bath before - to conserve water they always had to shower. A bath was considered a luxury and available only to the Kazekage.

Sakura started to paddle around him happily.

"See, if you take your feet off the ground and kick and move your arms like this you can move. It's like flying almost, that's why I like it!"

He watched her move and tried to imitate that movement but almost fell face first into the water.

"Not like that silly!" She said, laughing. Then she came up to him and placed a hand on his stomach. Gaara blushed at the sudden unexpected contact.

"This is how my Dada taught me. Lift up your legs, and I can help you float." So with Sakura's hand steadying him, he learned the right way to move around in the water and soon he was doing well on his own.

Sakura suddenly drew her hand through the water quickly, splashing water at him.

To Gaara's surprise, the sand shield did not come to stop it and the water hit him right in the face.

Sakura giggled.

"You're it! Now come get me!" and with that she was off.

She ran out of the water and into the forest, squealing with giggles the entire time.

Gaara paused and then slowly got out of the water, giving her a moment to get a head start to be fair.

Suddenly he heard her scream and he started, running over to the source of the cry as fast as he could. When he reached the clearing he saw Sakura backed up against a tree, facing off a large feline.

The most fascinating thing was that she didn't have a trace of fear in her eyes. She held a sharp stick in front of her and had a look of fierce determination on her face. It wasn't enough though, he knew. The cat was much larger than her.

"I won't let you get my friend!" She yelled, positioning herself in front of Gaara.

Sakura was scared, but she wouldn't let the cat go after her new friend.. It lunged for her and she readied herself, but before it got halfway to her something tan rose in front of her like a wall…sand?

She heard a snarl and a dull thud. Then the cat bounded off into the forest, it's leg bleeding profusely.

She looked up to see her new friend, his hand out in a strange position and a very intense look on his face. Had he saved her?

Gaara was sure that she would run now. Any time anyone saw his sand move they got scared and ran away. He hung his head and prepared for the inevitable.

Sakura turned, then ran over to him, giving him a tight hug. He was surprised to see she was crying.

"A-are you hurt?" he stuttered.

She shook her head.

"I'm just glad you didn't get hurt and I'm happy you saved me again. Thank you Gaara…"

Gaara didn't know what to say. She had tried to defend him with such determination in her eyes, she was worried about his well being. Is this what it meant to have a friend? He held her tighter. He would never let her go.

"Don't worry Sakura, I'll always protect you, and I'll never get hurt."

Sakura looked up at him and smiled.

"Good!" She stepped away from him.

"You're still it!" and with that she was off again. With a smile Gaara went running after her.

--

Gaara awoke to the sound of someone's imminent approach. He stood up and looked out into the forest. He couldn't see anything but he could sense familiar presences closing in. Suna nin. They had found him.

He knew that if they found Sakura they might hurt her, and he couldn't allow that to happen. He felt a cold rage take over him at the thought of having to return and losing his new friend. He wouldn't let them take him. He wouldn't let them take his new friend away.

Sand slithered up his arm and took hold. He wouldn't let them. He wouldn't let them.

–

"I won't let you!"

"Gaara, calm down! Someone hold him!"

"He's taking on Shukaku's form! Hurry and hold him down!"

"Watch Sakura, don't let him hurt her!"

"Don't touch her!" a roar.

Sakura couldn't focus. What was going on? There was still something pounding in her head, and her limbs were glowing a bright purple tinged with red.

LET ME OUT/IN!

It screamed and scratched away inside her, her mind felt raw from it.

"Jiraiya......time! Hurry........do....!"

Sakura strained to hear what was said next, but the thing eating away at her skull swallowed her back inside.

---

Sakura woke to the sounds of battle.

She couldn't see very well, but there was something large fighting several other figures. Then she noticed with panic that Gaara was gone. She stood up, trying to get a better view.

"Gaara…?" She called out uncertainly. The large figure turned and she saw Gaara, covered with something on half of his body.

Sakura gasped. Was that really Gaara?

One of the ninja took advantage of Gaara's momentary distraction to shoot a dart at him, but he dodged in time and it hit Sakura instead. She wobbled and fell, immediately unconscious.

Gaara lunged forward and grabbed her, bounding through the trees. He had to get her to safety.

Suddenly he was surrounded by unfamiliar ninja.

"Sakura!" One of them cried out.

"Get her away from that thing!"

"Let her go you monster!"

"I said hold him!"

"I WON'T LET YOU TAKE HER AWAY!"

The voice from before was still there but barely noticable, and easily drowned out by the sounds of battle.

Faintly Sakura heard screams, but she didn't know now if she was experiencing memory or present as the pain inside of her melded everything together.

"Gaara, it's me! Don't let Shukaku take you over, you're stronger than him!" A familiar voice, but Sakura couldn't remember who.

She saw a blur of tan and then everything went black.

---

I hope you guys liked it! Let me know what you think, I worked really hard on this chapter so feedback would be really appreciated! Or if you're even still reading, because if no one is still reading there's no point in continuing to write this lol.

Link to chapter illustration: http:// innerflame00 . / art / It-always-makes-me-feel-better-142964334