Author's Note: Well, that chapter was…violent and surprising. I added my first OC character…which actually wasn't supposed to be there in the first place. Starting this chapter, I will put the first letter of each person's name at the beginning of their spoken dialogue…unless it is Sakura. LOL! So, enjoy the next chapter!

Disclaimer: HELP! MY BUNNY SLIPPERS ATE MY FEET!…Oh wait, I just stuck my foot inside them. LOL! (I only own Ryuu & Yuka…nothing else!)

Legend: GGaara, SHShikamaru, SASai, KKakashi, IIno, SSasuke, NNaruto, TTsunade, KIKiba, RRyuu, ITItachi, NENeji, YYuka

Ch. 3: Paper Thin Heart

G- "So Sakura, I've been here for a month and I haven't seen…"

I- "Sakura!"

G- "I stand corrected."

"Hey Ino, Shikamaru, Kiba. What are you guys doing here?"

KI- "Visiting. How have you been?"

"Good and you?"

KI- "Good, but I'm worried about you Sakura."

I- "We all are…the ceremony is coming up too."

SH- "This is bound to be troublesome."

"Don't worry about me, I'm fine. It hurts to think about it, but I'm too occupied to notice. I know the ceremony is next week. I have already bought my dress. It's red…just like that day. Anyway, what have you guys been doing?"

KI,SH,I- "Nothing."

"Well, I'm really tired you guys. I'm going to cook and go to bed."

Sakura all but pushed them out of the door. She waved to them and closed the door. On the outside, she smiled…but on the inside, she was breaking. Would there ever be anymore happy times? Could she ever be the same?

G- "So, you gonna tell me what the hell that was all about?"

"I…uh…it's a long story."

G- "I have time."

"You see…"

Flash Back:

A bloody and beaten Sakura lay sprawled on the floor at Itachi's feet.

IT- "I know that they'll come for their little bitch and I'm sure my dear little brother will be leading the way."

"Fuck you bastard!"

IT- "Such foul language flowing from such a pretty mouth."

K- "A mouth you will never harm again."

S- "This time, you will die!"

SA- "Sakura, are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Be careful."

N- "Sakura-chan, leave now. Neji and Kiba are waiting for you outside."

"Please be careful."

Sasuke and Naruto lunged at Itachi while Sakura made her way toward the exit. As soon as Sakura reached Neji, there was a large explosion and debris flew everywhere. In the next instant, Sasuke landed in front of her.

"NO!" Sakura dropped to her knees sobbing.

S- "S-Sakura."

"You're alive?"

S- "I wanted to tell you…that I…love…you…"

With that said, Sasuke took his last breath. Sakura began to beat on his chest.

"NO! COME BACK! I LOVE YOU TOO!"

Neji was about to pull her away, when she bolted towards the fallen building. She desperately threw the rubble out of the way, hoping that she would find one of her friends. She burned her hands, but she didn't care. Finally, she uncovered Sai. His face had been charred and was now bleeding.

"NO! DAMN YOU! COME BACK!"

She carelessly threw more rubble aside and found Naruto. Half of his face had been blown off. Sakura fought the urge to vomit and continued her search. Finally, she found Kakashi. He had blocked his face with his arms. They were burnt to a crisp and Sakura tried not to crack his skin as she pulled his arms down. His face had been unharmed. Sakura pulled down the mask to reveal smooth, creamy skin.

K- "Uhhh…." he moaned.

"KAKASHI! You aren't dead!"

K- "Not yet. My body has been burned and crushed beyond repair."

"Don't say that! I can help you!"

K- "I just wanted to tell you…to move on with your life…when we are gone."

"KAKASHI! You're NOT going to die too!"

K- "Sakura…I can't…hold on…much longer…"

"NO! I WON'T LOSE YOU TOO DAMNIT!"

K- "Sakura…take…care…of yourself…I…"

"WHAT?! KAKASHI!"

KI- "Sakura…"

"Come back! Please! I need you! Please don't leave me!"

Neji attempted to pull her away from Kakashi's body, but was thrown back into Kiba. Sakura slowly slipped her hand into Kakashi's top left pocket in his vest. She pulled out a blue locket. Her hands shook as she moved back to Naruto's body. She pulled the friendship bracelet off his hand and placed it on her own. She moved back to Sai and pulled off his ring. She put it on her left middle finger and slipped on Kakashi's locket. Finally, she walked back to where Sasuke lay motionless on the ground. She dropped to her knees and bent over him. She brushed her lips across his still warm ones. She looked up and saw that laying just above him was his headband. She picked it up and replaced her own with his. She looked at her blistered, bloody hands and spoke.

"I'm ready to go now."

End Flash Back

G- "Sakura…I…I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"It's okay." she chocked out to keep from crying.

G- "You can cry if you need to."

"I'll be okay. I just want to get some sleep."

Sakura and Gaara walked up to their room. Sakura quickly changed into her nightgown. She slipped under the covers and fell into a troubled sleep.

G- 'I never knew that they died. That had to have been hard on her. I know she was close to them.'

Gaara turned toward her when she whimpered.

"Please…don't…go…"

He saw that she was crying and figured that she was probably reliving the…incident.

G- "Sakura." He shook her gently.

Her eyes shot open and she flung her body into his arms. Gaara was unsure of what to do, so he held her and let her cry.

"Please don't go…please…"

G- "It's okay Sakura, it was just a dream."

"But it was so real…like I was there again."

Gaara really had no idea what to do, but he did know what she had dreamt about. It almost made his heart ache, thinking about all that she had gone through, but it didn't.

"Promise me."

G- "Promise what?"

"Promise me…that you won't leave. I don't want you to go too."

G- "I'm not going any where until I get healed Sakura."

"Promise me damn it!"

"Fine…I promise."

Suddenly, six shuriken flew at Gaara's back. Before he even had time to react, Sakura had deflected them with her kunai. She pushed Gaara into the closet and shut the door. In the blink of an eye, there was a young girl standing in front of her.

"Who the hell are you?"

Y- "My name is Yuka. I am here to assassinate the Kazekage, so move out of my way. I do not wish to harm you, but I will kill you if I must."

"Well, I suppose you will have to kill me then."

Yuka charged at Sakura…mistake #1.

Sakura quickly formed hand seals and shot 10 senbon into the girl's chest. She stumbled back and hit the wall. She wiped a trickle of blood from her mouth and smiled.

Y- "You're a clever little bitch aren't you."

"Why thank you for noticing."

Once again Yuka charged Sakura…her second and final mistake for the night.

Sakura threw two shuriken, easily deflected by Yuka. However, there where two shuriken in the shadows of the other two. Soon, Yuka felt blood flowing down her neck. She quickly pulled out the shuriken and jumped out the window. Before Sakura had a chance to follow her, she shushined.

"Damn it!"

G- "Let me out of the fucking closet. Now." Sakura winced at his tone.

"It was for your own good."

Sakura quickly unlocked the closet and let Gaara out. He pushed her against the wall, bruising her shoulder. Sakura struggled to get out of his death grip, but it was useless. She glared daggers at him. Suddenly, Gaara's lips captured hers. Sakura was so shocked that she didn't do anything at first, but soon she found her senses. She began to smack him on the head, hoping that it would make him release her lips. Gaara released her lips and stepped back.

G- "I'm sorry."

"What the hell did you think you were doing?" She placed her hands on her hips and lifted one eyebrow.

G- "I just…wanted to kiss you all of the sudden."

Sakura stepped back for a minute. Gaara looked up at her with cold eyes.

G- "Don't worry, it won't happen again. Who would want to kiss you anyway?"

"Fuck you!"

G- "No."

"It wasn't an offer! Who would want a mon-…" Sakura quickly shut her mouth, but the damage was done.

G- "Want a what Sakura? A monster."

"No…Gaara I didn't mean…"

G- "Don't worry, I understand. I thought the same thing."

Before Sakura could even say anything, he was gone.

'Gaara. I'm so sorry. I didn't mean it.'

'You're in love with him aren't you?'

'…Yes.'

Author's Note: I'm so sorry about the late update. I've had a pretty bad week. My Dad quit his job because his boss wasn't paying him and my best friend's uncle is dying, so I've been trying to be there for her. I hope you guys aren't too mad or annoyed. I hope you liked this chapter. Review plz!