Author's Note: Well, That last chapter was…sad. I almost couldn't type the part where Sakura began to call Gaara a monster. Anyway, hope you guys enjoy this chapter!

IMPORTANT NOTE: I do not know when my chapters will be typed and posted. At the current moment, I share my computer with 5 people and we are having a bit of a money crisis, so I've been a bit depressed. I hope you guys don't get too mad at me if the chapters aren't posted within the week.

Disclaimer: A good friend would help you up when you fall, but I'm a BEST friend. First I'll laugh at you, then I'll help you up, and then I'll remind you about it the rest of your life. That's what a true friend would do. LOL. (I own Ryuu, Yuka, and Lirin, but nothing else.)

Ch. 4: Pain Without Love

Years of love have been forgot…

In the hatred of a minute…

Yuka looked up at Lirin. Lirin had long pink hair, hunter green eyes, she was ample, beautiful, and very clever. Lirin made a point to tell Yuka that her medium length hunter green hair was ugly, her eyes were the color of steel, and that her heart was just as hard as her eyes. Yuka was slightly smaller than Lirin in every way. Oh, she hated her master…she hated her with a passion. And that pink hair! Her master had always been jealous of the famous Konoha medic she had gone up against tonight. Now, she tried to look like her.

"I asked you to do one thing Yuka! You were too useless to do that! I don't know why I keep you around!" Lirin smacked her hard, causing a trickle to blood to run from her mouth.

"I'm sorry Lirin, Sakura is protecting him."

"What? You can't even defeat that little twit?!"

"She's smarter and faster than we had anticipated. Not even the Kazekage knew I was there."

"Well, you better try harder or I will follow through on my promise!"

"Yes Lirin."

Lirin smacked Yuka one last time before sending her to her tower. The only time she was allowed to leave the tower was when she had a mission. Yuka began to pull the senbon from her chest. She had already healed the wounds on her neck. As she healed the wounds on her chest, she thought about what Lirin had told her the day before.

Flash Back:

"Yuka, I want you to do me a favor."

"Yes master?"

"Don't call me Master."

"Yes Lirin."

"Yuka, I want you to kill Sakura Haruno and the Kazekage."

"What? I do not wish to kill anyone." Lirin punched the girl in the side.

"You will do as I say or I will gut your worthless parents."

"NO! Don't touch them!"

"Will you do as I have asked?"

"Yes Lirin."

End Flash Back:

"Stupid Bitch. After I kill Sakura and Gaara, I'll kill her."

'Even if I don't want to kill them.'

Yuka picked up her flute and began to play and eerie and haunting tune. It echoed through the darkness and cast light onto her life. She continued to play throughout the night, not caring that someone was watching her. They always watched her…always.

Sakura jumped from rooftop to rooftop looking for Gaara…and failing miserably. She had been searching for nearly three hours when she realized where he was.

'The bridge. The place where he fell in love with me.'

Sakura quickly changed her route and a few minutes later, she found Gaara. He was looming in the darkness, but Sakura knew he was there.

"Gaara…"

"What do you want?" His voice dripped with venom and a silent 'I'll kill you.'

"I'm sorry. I don't think you are a monster. I said that out of anger."

"Don't lie to me. I know what everyone thinks of…"

"I'm not everyone damn it! I love you!"

As soon as the words escaped her mouth, she turned to run away. However, Gaara grabbed her arm. She spun around to tell him to release her arm, but as soon as she turned around, Gaara's lips captured hers. She instantly melted into the kiss. As their tongues danced, Gaara's hand ran up and down her arm. He finally broke the kiss, but only because he needed to breathe.

"Sakura…I love you too."

"I know."

"How long have you known?"

"For about 5 years."

They began to walk back to her house. However, shuriken flew at her head again.

"Not again. What the fuck do you want Yuka?"

"I have to kill you!"

Sakura threw two kunai at the girl. Yuka deflected the kunai, but she suddenly felt something creeping up her leg. She quickly jumped away before the sand had a chance to grab her.

'Sand? That means my poison has run its course. Damn it! I thought I would have more time.'

Yuka shushined away before Sakura could realize what had happened. When she turned around, she was smiling at Gaara.

"Well, I don't think she'll be bothering us for a while. Let's head back home."

"Sakura…I'm healed." Sakura stopped in her tracks and turned back toward Gaara.

"What? When?"

"I've been healed for about two days now." Sakura's eyes began to swell with unshed tears.

"Oh…I suppose you can go home now and resume your duties."

"…"

"I have to report to Tsunade. Uh…when I get back, you may leave."

Before Gaara could say anything, Sakura was gone in a flurry of petals.

'I don't want to go…I want to stay here…with her.'

Sakura jumped from rooftop to rooftop, letting her tears fly free. It seemed no matter what she did, she lost the people she loved in some way or another.

"Fine…I promise."

'He lied. He said he wouldn't leave me…no, he said he wouldn't leave until he was healed, but I wonder…does he really love me? And if he does, can't he stay with me?'

Suddenly, a shadow of the past loomed in front of Sakura. She saw herself and Sasuke, the day he left her when she was younger.

'He loved me too…why didn't he tell me? I knew Naruto and Kakashi had developed feelings for me over the years we were together…but Sasuke was always so cold…until he died.'

Sakura shook her head to clear her blurry vision and continued to follow her route to Tsunade. As soon as she reached the tower, she burst through the door, surprising Tsunade and Shizune.

"Sakura…what's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just wanted to let you know that Gaara has been fully healed."

"Already? I didn't expect him to be healed for at least two more months."

"Neither did I…"

"You love him don't you Sakura-sama?"

"Shizune…I…I love him and I don't want him to go…"

"Sakura…"

"It's okay. He has responsibilities and I need to get my life back on track."

Tsunade dismissed Sakura. She quickly traveled back to her house and found that Gaara had already left, but she did find a note.

Dear Sakura,

I have to get back to Suna. I have my duties and you need to get your life back to normal. When the time is right…we will cross paths again. Until then, I leave you with the only thing I can give you.

Gaara

Sakura looked down and picked up the necklace. It was a Japanese Kanji symbol…love. Sakura quickly slipped the necklace on and looked at it.

'Until next time.'

Sakura slipped out of her clothes and threw on a light silk nightgown. As she crawled under the covers, she had a large smile on her face.

'I wonder when I will get to see you again. I hope you don't make me wait too long.'

Author's Note: Well, that was an interesting chapter. Hmmm….I wonder when I'll make their paths cross again. Maybe the next chapter…maybe a few chapters from now…I don't know. I've been working on this chapter since I posted the last one. LOL. Took me long enough eh? Ummm….I will try to post my next chapter in a day or so. I don't have to share the computer today…as far as I know. My roomie has to go to her Uncle's wake today and my sister usually doesn't want to get on here. My Mom may want it though. LOL.

IMPORTANT NOTE #2: PLEASE Review! I'd really like to know what you guys think of the story and I'd like to know if you have any ideas on what I can do to make it better. One of my very wonderful readers pointed out that they didn't like the letters being written on the side when each person talks…and I agree. I despise writing those damn letters….haha….anyway, give me some feedback on what you think please. Audrey Rose