Most exciting chapter EVAH!!!! Ok well not in the entire story, but so far, it probably is lol. Here ya go!

!!!YEAH!!!
Sachi sat up, gasping in surprise. It was the middle of the night, and a loud crash of thunder had woken her up from a deep sleep and a happy dream. She jumped up and walked over to the window to look out at the weather. Her eyes widened as the rain crashed down against the glass, shocking her with the ferocious beating it was giving the window. She could hear it pounding a constant drumbeat on the roof, and she could feel the reverbations in her palm when she put her hand on the windowpane.

She gasped again as the lightning flashed, but not because of the lightning, although she was terrified of lightning. A sudden thought had just struck her. Well, not a thought. It was more of a name, which she said aloud, knowing that the sound of the storm would drown her voice out.

"Gaara!"

She grabbed her blanket and a big umbrella and snuck out of her room, heading towards the front door. 'Is he still out there? Oh my god, I hope he's okay...' She paused to avoid a creaking board. 'I hope he'd go inside, or at least find shelter in a doorway somewhere in a storm like this! I've got to find him!'

She slipped out the front door, the sound of the rain drowning out the creak the door made as it swung on its hinges. She battled the umbrella for control as the wind tried to sweep it away. She knew there was no way she'd make it jumping across the rooftops like that, so she detoured through an alleyway, cutting off the brute strength of the wind. Every time the lightning flashed, she cringed in terror. When she reached their building, she jumped straight up, landing right beside Gaara, who looked up at her in surprise. Rain pounded down onto his red hair, plastering it against his head. He shook from cold. He could have made a shield of sand, but water made his sand useless. He stared up at Sachi, wide-eyed with surprise. Something about the rain pouring down onto his skull made him look very vulnerable.

Sachi didn't like that very much. She sat down next to Gaara, holding the umbrella with one hand. Then, she slid the blanket over him with one arm, then took her arm back and held the umbrella over them both. Under the covers, she snuggled closer to him, ignoring the fact that his clothing was wet because she knew he'd feel bad if she pulled away. The lightning flashed again, and she cringed once more.

Gaara, meanwhile, was unsure what to make of this whole thing. He had sat through countless storms before, and no one had ever come out to him just to make sure he was doing alright. When Sachi snuggled into him, wrapping her blanket around them both, he felt himself blushing slightly. However, she didn't get any closer than that. The next time the lightning flashed, because he knew she wouldn't get any closer, he moved his arm around her waist, his hand coming to rest on her stomach, just above her belly button. She reached across herself with her left hand to rest her hand on his. After that, she simply sat with him until morning came and the storm dispersed, cringing every time.

Around three in the morning, after a particularly bad flash of lightning that caused Sachi to bury her head in Gaara's shoulder, Gaara tucked his hand under her chin and turned her face to his gently, so that she could resist if she truly wanted to. She didn't. He looked down at her face, studying her eyes intensely, his brow furrowing when the lightning flashed again and she cringed and shut her eyes, squeezing his other hand tightly.

"Why do you cringe so badly, Sachi?" He murmured softly.

"I...I'm afraid of lightning."

"Then why are you out here?"

"Because...you were out here all alone." She paused to cringe at another flash of lightning, worse than any of the ones before. When she was able to pull her face out of Gaara's shoulder, she looked up at him and finished her earlier statement. "You needed me."

He looked down at her in surprise as she squealed at another lightning flash and hid against him again. 'She...wow. I don't believe this. She's terrified, but she's putting up with it...just to keep me company.'

As she huddled against him again, he tightened his grip on her, holding the blanket shut and the umbrella steady with the other hand. His wet cheek rested on top of her soft, dry hair gently and comfortingly.

"You'll be okay, Sachi. I promise." He mumbled. "I won't let anything hurt you."

She nodded against his chest. "I know." She murmured, still cringing when she saw the lightning again. "I know I can count on you."

Gaara nearly smiled at that one.

'I should be saying that to you right now, Sachi. Not the other way around.'

!!!YEAH!!!
Gaara's the greatest, dontcha think? I've been watching Shippuuden, and I can barely do it. It actually upsets me to see him in pain. Weird, hmm? lol

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