A/N: Words can't express how sorry I am for this long lost chapter. Honestly I have forgotten that I wrote this chapter a while back. Maybe it was due to waiting for a Beta to answer all those years ago that I had forgotten and went on with life. But going through my old files tonight I found this chapter and couldn't believe how long I had it sitting there. Again I have to apologize for how this took. It hadn't been easy getting by with life, work, moving from one horrible neighborhood to another, I just lost track of this place. With my busy schedule I thought a good way to cheer myself was to do something nostalgic. Reading through my old stories I came across this piece. So here I am again on this familiar website and realized I never posted the last chapter I wrote. This story was meant to go a long way and honestly I'm a little disappointed in myself for very finishing it. Maybe I'll get back into writing it again if I can get everything settled with my personal life.

Enough of my rambling, I'll leave you to read this lost chapter. My only warning will be that it hasn't been Beta.

Chapter 20: The Sulking Raccoon and Mischievous Fox!

"I am five seconds away from locking you in the bathroom, Naruto," Sakura couldn't stress how irritating the blonde demon was becoming. He was practically sulking like a child who was refusing to let his mother go out with a friend. But would it make her a bad mother for leaving her child? She thought worriedly.

At her own thought she mentally groan.

He's not your kid he's a three hundred year old demon, Sakura corrected herself in irritation. Though she had to admit there were times when Naruto acted more child than demon. And besides, Kakashi was perfectly capable of looking after Naruto.

"I don't want you to go."

She was a sure it was because of the bond she felt his words tugging at her heartstrings. Gritting her teeth in frustration, Sakura approach her demon and couldn't stop her hands from reaching up and cupping his whiskered cheeks, the Kyuubi's eyelashes fluttered lazily at his Master's touch . With her thumbs she rubbed the dark lines while her eyes beseeched him. Perhaps there was another reason why Naruto didn't want her to go. Her brain quickly went down the list of what could also be the problem until finally—

"Does it hurt you, Naruto, when I'm away?"

He was startled by her question, but thought back to the times when he started his training with Kakashi. With the collar off his powers had increased. "It doesn't hurt as much, but there's always this dull ache in my chest."

Unconsciously one of her hand left his cheek to press against his chest. She smiled at the strong beating of his heart beneath her palm. "But it doesn't hurt too much, right?" she asked, needing to know she wasn't causing Naruto any pain with her absence.

His blue eyes narrowed and he shook his head, "I still don't want you to go."

Despite his cool words she continued to leisurely rub her thumb over the dark marking on his cheek. His dark eyelashes fluttered once, twice from her strokes. As much as she wanted to give into her anger she restrained herself. What kind of Master would she be if she used violence to discipline her demons?

One who wouldn't have to stress so much, that's for sure.

With a heavy sigh, Sakura pulled away from her demon to dig through her closet for a decent coat to wear. "We will talk more when I return."

Naruto stiffened, his eyes narrowing deeper but he knew better than to argue with his Master when her mind was made up. "Yes," he snarled and than turn to leave.

With a shaky sigh, Sakura watched as the younger demon walk out her bedroom only to give a start at the sight of Gaara casually leaning against the open door with his arms crossed over his chest. The two demons eyed one another until Naruto was the first to break contact before disappearing down the hall.

"Gaara," she acknowledged wearily.

"You're too soft," the older demon casually said while his hostile eyes continued to follow Naruto's retreating back.

She arched a brow at his words, "And you wish me to be harsher with Naruto?"

Sakura resisted the urge to shiver when the red demon turned his cold eyes toward her. "If you weren't coddling the boy so much," Gaara observed dryly.

"I wasn't coddling him!" she said defensively.

His bored stare told her differently.

Her eyes narrowed. "Is there something you want to discuss with me, Gaara? Or are you just here to criticize how I handle Naruto?"

"Perhaps it's both."

With a huff, Sakura turned her back on the demon to continued rummaging through her closet. "How I handle Naruto is perfectly fine," she bit out through clenched teeth, "Now what is it you wish to discuss?"

"It will be cold out tonight," the demon remarked casually.

She rolled her eyes, "Which is why I am looking for a jacket."

Even with her back to him, Sakura could feel his eyes drilling into her. It was enough to make her squirm in discomfort.

This didn't go unnoticed by the red demon. "You may catch a cold in that outfit."

Sakura stiffened. With a forced scowl she glanced over her shoulder, "Is that your way of asking me to change clothes?"

Gaara cocked his head to the side. "A gathering of friends usually doesn't involve one dressing as such," against his will his eyes lingered on her exposed legs.

"There's nothing wrong with the way I'm dressed," she glared at him from over her shoulder.

He snorted.

Randomly selecting a tanned coat she hastily pulled it on while keeping her back to the annoyed red demon. "I won't be out for too long," she assured him, hoping the ease some of the tension in the room. She turned to him with a small smile, "I'll make sure you're nice and warm inside my bag."

At the mentioned of her bag, the red demon snarled his displeasure. It was humiliating enough that Gaara had to accompany her on her date, but to do so while in the body of his pathetic form was a low blow to his pride. Despite his displeasure of the situation, Gaara couldn't help but be relieved he would be close by to watch his Master. After all, the girl was a trusting dimwit. From the beginning Gaara always sensed something was wrong with this Hyūga, it was something about that human's eyes…something vaguely familiar.

It was enough to put Gaara on alert.

OoOo

Hair and makeup, check.

Money and I.D, check.

Nothing in teeth, check.

Matching bra and panties, check, check!

Now, all Sakura had to do was take off the armbands she'd been forced to wear for the weeks due to Naruto vigorous training. Giving herself another glance over in front of the full length mirror, Sakura grasp the left armband to yank it off, her effort was meant with resistance. Frowning in confusion, she tried again, but only to be meant with the same results. Shaking her head, Sakura decided to try the right arm, thinking perhaps the left bracelet was merely stuck. But unfortunately, the end result was the same.

The armbands are refusing to come off.

Hands on her hips, Sakura stormed out of her bedroom and into the living room where Kakashi was just getting ready to leave with a sulking blonde demon.

"Kakashi," she stopped him from leaving through the front door. "I need your help."

As always, it was Naruto who was quick to jump in, "Whatever you need, Sakura, I can help you!"

Not wanting to argue she turn to her demon with her arms held out. "Can you help me take off these bracelets? I don't want to give Neji the impression I'm one of those woman who like to show off their jewelries."

"But those aren't jewelries, Sakura," Kakashi corrected, coming to stand beside her though his eyes were focused on her armbands. "Those are weapons, two completely different."

She shot the dog demon a dry look. "My main concern at the moment is if you can get them off."

Brushing aside the blonde demon, Kakashi took hold of the armbands and tugged. His white brows furrowed in confusion when it didn't slide off. Taking a firmer grip Kakashi tugged harder only to jerk a startled Sakura toward him as well. Almost immediately both red and blonde demon shot the Dog Lord a dark look. Confused, Kakashi released his hold on the armbands to scratch the back of his head.

"This is odd," he muttered to himself, his mismatched eyes fixated on the weapons with concern. "I can't pull it off without further harming you, Sakura."

Panic starts to set in Sakura's chest. "Are you telling me I can't take these things off?"

To her dismay, Kakashi shrugged. "I will have to return to the library to do more research." He gave the distress human an apologetic look. "I'm afraid you're stuck with the armbands until I find a solution."

OoOo

In the end Sakura chose a light coat to go with her dress. She just hoped Neji was taking her to a place that didn't need for her to take off the coat.

At exactly six o' clock Neji arrived at Sakura's front door with a single red rose presented to her. Sakura's heart thump wildly as she accepted the thoughtful gift with a shy smile. She couldn't recall a time when a man had ever given her any kind of flowers on a first date. Wait! This was Neji who she had already gone out with, so would this make it the second date, right? Actually, the first one didn't count since it was interrupted by a certain orange fur ball.

Perhaps this time things would go better.

On second thought, Sakura would have to make this seem like a nice friend get together, after all, she didn't want to enrage a grumpy demon, who at the moment, was residing inside her shoulder bag. Though the black bag didn't go with her dress she couldn't exactly fit Gaara's pup form into her clutch purse. She'd tried to make the inside of the bag as comfortable as possible but the red demon merely scowled his displeasure when she'd lowered him inside earlier that night.

"Sakura?"

Sakura foolishly gave a start at the sound of Neji's concern voice. Trying to force herself to relax inside the comfortable leather seat of Neji's car, the flustered pink haired woman flashed him a smile, "Yes, Neji?"

With one hand on the steering wheel and the other on the shift gear, Neji silver eyes stayed on Sakura even as he drove down the smooth street with ease. "You look as though you were in your own little world," he said, his brows pulling into a little frown. "Is everything all right?"

She gave a nervous laugh. "Everything's fine," she quickly assured him, even when she felt a soft movement from inside the bag that sat on her lap. "Sorry if I'm spacing out on you."

He shrugged one broad shoulder and gave a dramatic sigh. "I must not be good company if you're trying to escape me through imagination."

"Neji!" she gasped in embarrassment, laying a hand on his arm she beseeched. "It isn't you, it's me!"

"Ah, the 'it's not you but me' speech," he feigned pain even as his eyes twinkled with amusement, much to Sakura's relief. "You truly are a heartbreaker, Sakura Haruno."

With a smile, she squeezed his arm. "Don't be such a drama queen."

He grimaced, though his lips still wore an amused smile.

"So," she said with an air of lightness, "What are we doing tonight?"

During the drive, Sakura noticed nervously that they was leaving town and heading toward the freeway. Sakura had voiced her concern earlier to her red demon, stating if they were to be attack Kakashi would have no way of knowing. Gaara had assured the nervous human that she could always contact Naruto through the bound, but not before reminding her that he was also there to protect her as well.

Sakura couldn't help but smiled at the thought.

"That, Sakura, is a surprise."

Sakura turned her head toward Neji, it took her a moment to remember her question but when she did she smiled in agreement, "Can't wait."

It was flattering really to have someone plan a special evening. All through high school Sakura had always been too busy to pay the opposite sex any attention. Even then the thought of a high school relationship never really sparked any interest in her. Despite Ino's meddling, Sakura always found ways to duck under her best friend's attempt to set her up with dates. Perhaps in some way Sakura was shallow, none of the men she had met ever excited her. Some handsome, others average, they all were friendly enough, they were the types that were labeled 'safe.' And yet for some odd reason Sakura couldn't find a connection with any of those men. Sure some made her laugh and others were able to hold a challenging conversation with her and yet it wasn't enough. Sakura never understood why she couldn't form a connection with any of those men.

They all were decent men, she thought to herself.

They were beneath you.

Sakura nearly jumped out of her seat when she heard a familiar monotone voice in her head. The black bag on her lap shifted slightly from her movement. It was odd to hear Gaara's voice instead of Naruto floating inside her head.

They weren't beneath me, she corrected, not knowing why she needed to defend the men she dated in the past. I was just being choosey.

The red demon merely scoffed.

Her brows pulled forward at the sound. Honestly, Gaara, they were all gentlemen. Anyway, I highly doubt I won't be going on anymore dates…not with the situation I'm in.

It was a while before the red demon replied. Good.

Sakura supposed she couldn't blame Gaara for his frustrations with her, demon rules clearly stated she wasn't allowed to be within the presence of an unmated male. Unconsciously, Sakura lay her hand on the small lump resting on her lap. The demon stiffened at her hand before slowly and grudgingly relaxing under her touch. Unable to help herself, Sakura smiled in amusement at the demon's displeasure. She supposed this would be the only time she wasn't cautious with the red demon. After all, who could be frightened of an adorable fuzzy pup?

Who could easily transform into a blood raging monster, she thought dryly.

Damn right, Gaara sneered.

OoOo

Underneath a promiscuous bookstore owned by a certain prevy demon lord, a curious blonde Kyuubi's blue eyes was busy scanning through each titles carefully in every section. Off on the other side, seated at his desk with unrolled scrolls scattered all over, Kakashi had been scanning through papers for the answer to the bracelets, his focus too engrossed with what he was doing to pay the younger demon any attention.

Much to Naruto disappointment.

Although the blonde demon did promised his Master he would lay off training tonight to preserve her energy, unfortunately Naruto was now and utterly bored out of his mind. Which now brought him to this section of Kakashi's private book stash and to a certain book he'd now had his eyes on.

'Blood Bond.'

Naruto fingers itched to reach out and take the book. In the back of his mind, he heard Gaara's voice explaining to him the power of the blood exchange. To reach his full power, Naruto would have to exchange blood with his Master. A tie that would bind them together until death takes them both. It was a cheat way, if you will, to achieve his full power without waiting for adulthood. The ritual sounded simple enough, but Naruto wanted to do more research on this before going through with it. After all, it wouldn't hurt to know all the details behind it. A look of guilt flashed behind the Kyuubi's eyes as he reached for the book. Beside, Naruto wasn't doing this just to gain power, it was the only way to protect his Master and friend. Naruto was sure Kakashi wouldn't allow him to take the book, seeing how this technique was forbidden and was considered too dangerous. But with a determined scowl, Naruto forcefully shook his guilt aside and shoved the book inside his coat.

OoOo

Just like the last restaurant Neji had taken her to this one was just as elegant, though it was smaller, it had more of a personal feel to it. From the outside, the restaurant looked like a modern lodging house but once inside it was enough to make Sakura gasp. Every little detail looked to be hand crafted, starting to from tables to chairs to just about everything. The small restaurant housed perhaps only forty tables roughly. A young hostess in a black dress showed Neji and Sakura to a table reserved by the window that showed a very breathtaking view of a garden with a lake. Sakura was sure the view would be more beautiful if there was sunlight, but with the moonlight reflecting off the lake was just as lovely.

"Would you like me to take your coat, miss?" the hostess politely asked.

Almost immediately alarm bells went off in Sakura's head.

"That's okay," Sakura quickly assured the woman and sat down when Neji pulled back her chair in a gentlemanly fashion. "I'll keep the coat on."

Both Neji and the hostess shot Sakura an odd look. But with a shrug, Neji dismissed the hostess and sat down in his own chair. "Do you like it?"

Carefully easing her bag down beside her chair, Sakura flashed Neji a bright smile. "I love it," she glanced down at the white cloth table where in the center was a handcrafted bronze candle. Sakura didn't know how they were able to carve every little loop, vined roses into the candle such delicately—

"Sakura," an amused male voice called to her from across the table.

Sakura looked up to see Neji's silver eyes staring at her in amusement. Leaning back into her chair, Sakura laugh sheepishly, "Sorry, it's just everything here is so beautifully handcrafted."

"I'm glad you like the place," he said as he leaned back in his own chair. "Now before we start dinner, I have to ask…"

On her lap, Sakura's fingers clenched nervously into her dress.

"Did you decided to leave your pet at home this time?"

"Of course!" she was quick to assure him with a forced smile even when she felt Gaara's murderous aura flared at the mention of being a pet. "I promise a repeat of last time won't happen."

Neji chuckled, his hand reaching for the empty wineglass. His silver eyes dimming dark as he stared at the young woman across from him. "Let us make a toast, yes?" he held up the glass.

"I read from somewhere it was bad luck to toast with an empty glass," Sakura warned in good humor.

He arched a brow. "Superstitious nonsense," he dismissed with a wave of his free hand. "You don't believe in such things, do you, Sakura?" he teased.

Sakura shifted nervously in her chair at the sense of cold that suddenly entered the room, she was sure it had nothing to do with restaurant's cozy atmosphere itself. With a shrug to cover up her shiver, she casually said, "There's nothing wrong with having a little superstitious in your life."

He smirked, his silver eyes dancing with amusement. "Would you like to hear a story, Sakura?" he asked, his fingers drawing lazy circle around the rim of the wine glass. "It was a story told to me by my mother, something that involves your supernatural interests."

Sakura nodded, her attention drawn to his deep voice.

"Like any good story," he started off, his eyes almost translucent due to the candle light on the table. "It began with 'once upon a time—.'"

Sakura couldn't stop the snicker from escaping her mouth. She quickly muttered an apology even as his lips curved into a grin.

"There lived a small, but peaceful village up in the mountains. The village was ruled by a man named Hiro who had two sons. The eldest son was Katsu and his brother, Riku, a boy who was three years younger and born blind. The villagers pitied the youngest son and the children ignored him, all except for his oldest brother who loved him."

"That's a good thing," Sakura smiled.

Neji chuckled, his eyes going distant as he stared into the candle light. "Sometime…being loved can't save you from your fate."

Sakura's smile waned, "What do you mean?"

"One day both boys got really sick, so sick that they were knocking on death's door," Neji's eyes grew dark as his fingers continued to play with the rim of the glass. "Hiro and his wife feared they would lose their children on that same night. That was until…deep into the night something appeared inside the boys' bedroom."

In the pit of her stomach, Sakura felt a dreadful knot begin to form.

"The creature was cloaked in darkness, Hiro thought it was Death himself who had come to collect his children's soul. Both parent pleaded for the creature to spare Katsu and Riku's life, but the creature had something else in mind, something that was much crueler."

"What did Death want?"

A grim smile stretched over Neji's pale lips. "Death wanted Hiro to choose which of his children should live."

She gasped, her mind horrified at the thought of a parent having to choose which of his children should live, "He what?"

"Hiro was only allowed to save one child."

"That's awful!"

"It was either save one or watch both his children's souls be drag to the nether realm. Hiro had no choice, so in the end he cast aside Riku to save Katsu. After all, Riku was the youngest and blind, Hiro thought he was sparing his youngest son a life of misery."

Neji took in a deep breath as he leaned back in his chair, his eyes hooded beneath his dark eyelashes. "Death took the body of Riku and disappeared, the next day Katsu woke up and was back to full health. Of course he was saddened to hear the news of his little brother's passing, and Hiro never told his eldest the truth in fear that his son will hate him."

"Did he, though?" asked a curious Sakura, "Did Katsu ever find out?"

Neji smirked. "That, Sakura, is another chapter I will reveal to you later in the future."

Despite her eagerness to find out more about the story, she couldn't help but smile at Neji's playful tone. Maybe it was a good idea to hear the tale another time, after all, they were here for dinner and not a bedtime story.

With his silver eyes still on her, Neji waved over a nearby waiter with a wine bottle and gesture for him to fill both their glasses. Once done the waiter left with a polite nod.

"We wouldn't want any bad luck tonight now, do we?" he decided to humor her. "Let's have a proper toast then."

Picking up her own glass, Sakura's emerald eyes stared at the dark red liquid. "To a good night," she announced, holding out her glass toward his.

At the sound of the delicate clink, inside the bag that sat beside his Master's legs, Gaara's eyes narrowed. But it wasn't from the sound of Sakura's voice nor the male's that had Gaara's eyes glowing yellow. Nearby somewhere, another demon was close. And here he was, stuck in a form that couldn't properly protect his Master from this new danger. Despite his need to stay quiet, the Tanuki couldn't stop his lips from pulling back to utter a silent snarl. The urge to burst free and find the source of danger was so strong Gaara could already feel his fur stretching painfully with the need to transform. While Neji ordered dinner from a waitress, Sakura trembled when she felt Gaara's sudden urgency.

Gaara!

Go, Sakura! The urgency in Gaara's tone was enough to startled Sakura out of her chair with her bag clutched to her chest.

"Excuse me, Neji!" she made a beeline toward the restroom before Neji could utter a single word.

After bumping into a woman exiting the restroom, Sakura gave a hasty apology before closing the door in the scowling woman's face. Making sure the door was locked, Sakura reached inside her bag to pull Gaara out only to quickly drop him when the red demon suddenly transformed into his humanoid form.

His naked humanoid form.

With a gasp, Sakura quickly turn around only to come face to face with a mirror that reflected the aggravated red demon behind her. Luckily for her, the mirror was short enough that it didn't show anything below Gaara's narrowed waist. The bad side, Gaara could see the flush in her cheeks.

Needing to get her mind off the fact she was alone in a restroom with a naked demon, she concentrated on the situation at hand. "What's wrong, Gaara?"

"Another demon is close by," he answered, his nose aimed at the opened window inside the restroom. He inhaled and growled, "This is no low leveled demon."

"The Uchiha Clan?"

Irritated at the fact he couldn't get a clear scent off the incoming demon, he shook his head. "I don't know," he grudgingly admitted.

Her stomach rolling with dread, she asked, "Are you going after the demon?"

Gaara shot her a look, both frustrated and anger. "I can't leave you alone. It could be a trap to lure me away."

She nodded, her fingers twisting the sleeves of her coat nervously. "But if you stay…the people inside the restaurant might get hurt when the demon arrives."

"The humans in this establishment is none of my concern," growled the Tanuki, his pale green eyes narrowed with dark intent. "If it means using them as a shield to get you away than I have no problem with sacrificing their lives."

Sakura's eyes widened with horror at the carelessness of his cold words. "Gaara!"

He sneered, "You're my first priority, Master," he spat out. "And your safety is hardwired into my brain. Those humans out there aren't worth my attention."

His callous words were enough to squeeze something inside her chest. Sakura's always known Gaara had a deep hatred for humans, after all, the red demon never bothered to hide it from her in the first place. Given a choice, she was sure he would have turned his back on her without a second thought.

Covering up her hurt with a determined scowl, she pinned him with a hard stare. "I am ordering you to protect everyone in this restaurant, Gaara."

Shock flashed behind the red demon's pale eyes at the fierce determination written all over his Master's face. His lips pulled back into a snarl, "I won't leave you unprotected."

"I'll call for Naruto," she said, her tone hard. "It shouldn't take him long to arrive."

His pale green eyes flashed a dangerous yellow, "It would take too long—"

The red demon hissed silently when his Master turned around to face him, his instinct nearly had him lowering his head in submission at the hardness in her emerald eyes. But pride and stubbornness had him staring back at her even when she raised both her hands to grasp the collar around his neck.

"I trust you, Gaara," she said, her eyes softening at the startled look in his eyes. "I'm pretty sure you will be able to take care of this demon without any problems."

He grunted, his chest expanding with confidence.

Sakura nodded, her eyes staring at the dull gray collar around his neck with a troubled frown.

Gaara didn't need to ask what was running through her mind, the red demon could easily read his Master like an open book. "I have more control over my powers then that child," he assured her gruffly.

It suddenly drawn to Sakura that she was now facing a naked Gaara, it was taking all her willpower not to lower her eyes below his neckline. The blush on her face returned with full force, her lips dry at the thoughts forming. She was sure her demon could hear the fierce pounding in her chest, could smell the blood rushing through her veins. This would be the first time she released the collar from Gaara's neck, and Kakashi wasn't here to supervise. The last time Gaara's demon took over, he nearly rip open her throat. The scar was long gone, due to Gaara's healing, but Sakura could almost feel the old wound pulsing out fresh blood at the dark memory.

But now wasn't the time to hesitate, especially with an unknown demon making its way toward them. Sakura had to push aside her fear and release the collar, she just wished her damn hands would stop shaking. Ignoring the trembling in her hands, Sakura slowly unclicked the lock from place and pulled the collar off before taking a hasty step back. The Tanuki watched his Master's movement through narrowed eyelids, his head tilting to the side, almost like a predator studying his prey. Sakura couldn't help the nervousness that crept up her spine.

The Tanuki inhaled deeply and smirked. "You shouldn't emit so much fear, Miss Haruno, you're getting Shukaku excited."

Sakura's blush deepened even as her eyes glared at him.

"Stay within the establishment," ordered the red demons, his mind focused on the task at hand. "I will return shortly."

With a huff, Sakura turned her back on him. "I'll call Naruto."

"Be quick."

Before Sakura could retort, a gush of harsh wind blew pass her face. Startled, the pink haired woman duck her head down with her hands covering her eyes in protection. Peeking through her fingers, Sakura glanced over her shoulder to question Gaara only to find the red demon gone. Startled, she glanced frantically around the restroom only to find that she was indeed alone.

"What the…"

Must be one of Gaara's demonic techniques, she thought with a shrug and then turned her attention on focusing for Naruto's energy.

Naruto!

It didn't take long for the blonde demon to response to his Master's voice. What's wrong, Sakura? Do you need me?

Naruto, I need you to focus on my location and come, Gaara sensed another demon close by and went to find it. She told him all the details and Naruto assured her he would be there as soon as possible.

Satisfied that Naruto was on his way, Sakura turn to leave the restroom only to stop at the sound of something crunching underneath her heels. Curious, Sakura lifted her foot up and frown at the source of the sound. Crouching down, she swipe it with her finger and held it towards her eyes to examine it closely, thought quite frankly anyone could easily identify what it was.

"Sand?"

A/N: Thank you so much, I hope this chapter.