Hinata frowned as Gaara seemed to tense up again. He had been like this all day since they had come to the marketplace with Naruto and the others. He would be smiling and relaxed one minute, but then all of a sudden he would tense up and lose himself to his thoughts. She was worried and exasperated at the same.

"Gaara?" She called to him, only slightly pleased he had heard her this time. "Is something wrong? You seem tense..."

She thought she saw a glimpse of something... fear? But it was gone just as fast and he pacified her with a smile.

"No. Everything's fine." He kissed the top of her head and led the group to a booth where the women fawned over their jewelry.

"So. Things between you and Hinata-san are better?" Naruto asked as he stood beside him.

Gaara looked at the only person he had ever considered something close to a friend. He nodded, refusing to elaborate more. He had shared enough being around them and he was unused to this whole, group date thing.

"It's okay Gaara... no need to be shy." Naruto prodded with a suggestive wig of his eyebrows. "I mean... Hinata is-"

Gaara smacked his hand over Naruto's mouth and amusingly, Neji slapped his head.

"Shut up Naruto." They both chorused and when Gaara let down his hand, Naruto revelead his lecherous grin.

Just the sight of the humor that enveloped the deadly ninja set Gaara at ease. He was not the only monster out in the world and if Naruto could master his demon, he could control his own. Once convinced that Naruto would not say something else inappropriate about his wife he turned his eyes to her.

She was a vision when she was brimming with pleasant emotions, such as now. Her pale skin would pinken and her bright white eyes would shine like opals with tears from laughter. He liked it when her tears were happy.

"Gaara..."

A soft voice froze him in his place and ripped through his thoughts. That soft, seductive, and feminine whisper was one he hoped he would not have to hear again. Guilt, fear, and rage swirled in his stomach, making his nauseous. Or was the memory of his acts with the owner of that whisper. He glanced around; knowing full well the woman he was searching for was long gone out of his sight. He wearily glanced at Neji and Naruto, wondering if they heard him.

They showed no sign of having heard the voice and his body released tension. For a moment he wished that they had heard. That somehow his secrets and carnal methods would be exposed and Hinata could be set free from the cage he had placed her in. But then deep down he knew he would not let that happen. She was his possession and she would just have to understand the extreme methods he took to keep her.

That is, if he ever told her the truth.

...

Today was a good day. It was one of the best days he had ever had with Hinata. They didn't fight. They were affectionate. They spent time with the Konoha nins. He had got her to laugh and be happy and at the end of the night he was still holding her contently in his arms. He gazed at her sleeping form. Her beautiful face resting on his chest and smooth, porcelain skin reflecting the light from the moon... as it always did. She was perfect there and he wished he never had to get up from her arms. But why, if he felt so content in the graces of Hinata's arms, was he not, in fact, content? He wondered why, after their time together he still felt uneasy and conflicted.

He closed his eyes, frustration keeping him awake. He hated this... He hated the guilt that now plagued his every thought and actions. Gaara knew that there was no way he could ever fully regain his peace of mind unless he confronted the one thing he had hoped to ignore. Ever since she had woken up from the hospital he had ended it. Not directly, but he had ignored in hopes that it would just go away and he wouldn't have to deal with it. After all, he had better things to hold now. However, he saw her in the marketplace where he, Hinata, and the other nins were visiting and spending their time. At first he thought it was a coincidence, but after he saw her again and again and again... he knew it wasn't.

He knew he would have to end this... he couldn't let that mistake ruin his life or his chances with Hinata.

And that is why, Gaara slipped out of Hinata's arms and out of their bed... That is why he silently left his home. To face the one who had rid him of his demon.

...

She was waiting for him at his office. Just as he knew she would be. This is where they usually met. Here in his office, in the middle of work hours, where he knew no one would disturb him. She said nothing as he appeared in the middle of the room. She still continued to light the candles one by one. The dim, yellow light set off her profile. The glisten on her pink lips shone and her brown eyes seemed to have the flame dancing in them. With a flick of her curly blonde hair over her shoulders, she turned fully to face him, a triumphant and seductive smile on her lips.

"I knew you would come back to me." She said, her husky voice sending cold shivers down his back.

He said nothing at first, remaining where he was and watched as she unbuttoned her shirt, revealing her naked breasts to him. She leaned back against his desk, pressing her chest out just a little further. The first time they had met his beast clawed at him... as if sensed the animal in this woman. He had thought she was beautiful and seductive, nothing at all like the whimpering, fragile wife that was laying the hospital. So he had learned to get rid of the beast inside of him... by letting it out on this woman in the most carnal way possible. And she had loved every second of his rough handling and misuse of her body.

Now, he didn't know what he saw in her. She did not compare at all to Hinata. Where Hinata was pure and caring, this woman was dirty and needy. Hinata's beauty was ethereal and this woman's was translucent.

"I don't want you." He spoke quietly and she only she didn't even falter.

She only smiled wider and approached him, the swaying of her hips almost predatorial and taunting. She ran her finger down his chest and looked down at his groin.

"Are you sure about that?" Her hand cupped his groin and he flinched in disgust.

Grabbing her wrist he pulled her away from. "Don't touch me. I don't want you. This is over." He repeated and though this time she faltered, it was only for a moment.

She sunk down to his knees, freeing his member from his confines into the soft coolness of hand. "We'll just have to see about that won't we, Master Gaara?" She whispered, running her tongue from his base to the tip. She grinned up at him, lust so clearly on her face. "Do what we used to... just think of me as her. And let all of your frustration out." She cooed.

He couldn't stop his reaction... he couldn't contain the ferocious need that he could never let Hinata see. He was so afraid that if she realized he still had these urges she would run... He groaned when she sank her mouth down on him.

There was no other way, he told himself.

No other way.

...