A/N: Alrighty, the shameless person who posted my work on that site I was informed about has been notified and banned from the site. Turns out that person had been posting since about half-way through Demonic Angel. After this little episode, I HOPE to god, I won't have this happen again, if it does, I may have to stop publishing Moon Illusions :( But on a happier note, I am proceeding to make up banners/icons for all four of my stories ( I just discovered Photoshop C2!). So far...my attempts have been shocking, becasuse my knowledge of the program is waaayyy below 0, but I will put them on my homepage, and place links on my fanfic profile for everyone interested on my failed talent...So okay, now to the chapter I owe you guys! Oh, and thanks to the person who helped clear up this mess! You know who you are, and I couldn't have done it without you! From one author to another... ILY.

Chapter 10- Devostation

OoOoOo

Gaara's mind flitted through all the possible outcomes. If he lied, he'd be dead. If he told the truth to a girl he barely knew...his father would have his head. Plus the fact he'd have to explain the raid...

Life is just too complicated, isn't it, pup?

You.Are.Not.Helping, Shukaku...

Just tell her, nothing's gonna go wrong. Not after you tell her what I told you...

Shukaku...isn't that a little like blackmail...

So what? It's not blackmail...it's the truth. And your going to tell her, or I will...

Are you threatening me, Shukaku?

Yes, I am...

Fine, i'll tell her. But me only...

Good, pup. He haulted the stream of possibilities racing through his mind and met at eye level with the identical pair of sea-foam green eyes. She stood now, hands on hips, glaring at him.

"Well...You have to promise silence first. This isn't some one-time deal, nor is it exactly safe...".

"Just tell me, Gaara...now, please. I have my grandparents due over in an hour and a half...". He shrugged.

"This could be a tad hard to explain, but i'll keep it simple...", at this she released her hips and crossed her arms, cocking one eyebrow, "..you are bonded to me. It wasn't my choice...". He looked away. He'd never told anyone about his secret...it had been too much of a weakness to him.

"I'm guessing Shukaku, has something to do with this mess?". He looked at her amazed.

"How do you know about Shukaku?". Then he remembered."Naruto. He has a demon too doesn't he?", Gaara asked.

"I think so...A fox?", Sakura tried to think. Gaara nodded.

"That would make sense. And if that's true...it's going to be a hell of a lot easier to explain".

"Okay, fire away...this could get interesting..", Sakura sat down on a small, grassy hill. Gaara sighed. She wasn't going to like this.

"Well, bear in mind, I only found out this morning...but, apparently that mark...is a mating mark", he felt her stare on his side. "Following so far?".

"Yes...a teensie overwhelmed, but I follow..".

"Well, that mating mark stays on for 5weeks. In that time, I have to claim you as my mate. If I don't...then you'll die, and i'll be sterrile for the rest of my life...But if I do, you'll most likely share Shukaku's power. On the other hand, if I die you die, and visa versa... Still following?", Gaara felt mildly better now that that was off his chest. She still didn't answer...Then she started laughing.

"YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING!". He stared at her blankly.

"You don't believe me do you?". She stopped laughing, wiping her eyes free of tears.

"I do Gaara, I just can't believe it's me of all people... Why did Shukaku choose me?", she asked. He smirked slightly.

"How should I know? He's the one behind it", Gaara snorted.

Ha ha, very funny, pup, blame it on me...

"Wh-What was that?!", Sakura asked startled.

Ah, Gaara...I think she can hear me... Gaara slapped his forehead.

"What is that... is it a spirit?", Sakura said, glaring at Gaara.

"Shut up, Shukaku...", Gaara cringed through gritted teeth. The demon laughed. Sakura arched one eyebrow.

"So, why can I hear it?".

HEY! I'm NOT an IT! I AM I HE!!

"SHUKAKU, SHUT IT!!". Sakura smiled. This was definitely one weird pair...

"Calm down...". Gaara spun around and pinned her with one of his evilest stares.

"How can you stay so calm? You should be going nuts! You just learnt your a demon's mate AND you conversed with one of the nine demons...How can you take this so well?!". Sakura shrugged.

"Being around Naurto tewnty-four-seven kinda prepares you for this. He is the original weirdo...".

"Now that you look at it-".

"DON'T YOU DARE INSULT MY TEAM MATES!", she snapped, then looked smiled evilly at him, "..That's MY job!". He shook his head. Then looked up at the now lunch-time sun.

"Didn't you say you had something to go to?".

"Oh yeah, shoot! I'm going to be late!", Sakura jumped to her feet and grabbed her waist-pouch.

"Want me to get you back...seeming you have no clue where we are...", he asked. She blinked twice and nodded, brushing a piece of hair from her face.

"How close can you get me to my house?". He smiled evily.

"As close as you want...", then he dragged her into him and zipped off, in a hurricane of sand.

OoOoOo

This was definitely something she was not going to do again. All the spinning sand was enough to make her nauseated... Gaara chuckled at the sight of her pale face, as her hands clutched at his chest for stability. She felt the world slow down as the sand-whirlwind stopped...

As soon as her feet touched solid earth she was flung up against the side of the apartment-home... They were in her back-alley, sounds of laughter and the sizzle of food floated over the wall.

"I dodn't think your friends and family would want to see me with you... I can tell i'm not wanted...", he started to drift off into the breeze. She flung her arm out and grabbed his slender hand. He turned and faced her with a small snarl tugging at his lips. He never did like physical contact.

"Gaara? I...I know this wasn't your fault... How 'bout you come and join in? I can just say you're a good friend-".

"No. Don't worry, I have some things I have to do. Go have fun...it won't last for very long", he answered grimly. And of course he was right, in two weeks...her reality would become hell. He stepped back and summoned another whirlwind. His body started to fade away...

"Goodbye, Mr. Sandman...". He dissapeared into nothingness...leaving behind only the smell of desert musk and a few light sprinkles of yellow-brown sand. She turned and headed through the gate towards the smell of roast pork and soup...

OoOoOo

Did she just call you Sandman?? Or was it just me?

I don't know. Gaara snorted. How did she come up with that nickname? It's not like he controlled the sand...the sand controlled him, no doubt about it. There wasn't a day in his life where he had total control of the sand, his life would've been much easier if he had.

"Gaara!", a girl's voice called on the other side of the thin rice-paper wall as he materialized.

"What? You woke me...", he snarled. He was never one for getting along with his siblings.

"So sorry, Gaara, but Baki has requested us to meet him at our training spot. We got news from dad, or rather his second...", she whispered the last words. Gaara stood stunned for a moment.

"Ok, i'll be down in a minute. Don't you dare leave without me, or i'll have your heads...". He slumped down on the high futon.

Did she say second? As in second in command?

I...don't know. If he sent word, and not father, then...

Could it be he's dead? But how??

It's easy to get to father, even though he has a cold heart...he still cares about some things...

You know there's only one way to find out

Yes, but that entitles going out...again. And whatsmore, being the in same vicinity as the baka...

You really love your brother and sister don't you

Can ya tell?

Ok, that was a stupid question...So we going or not? Otherwise...PARTAYYYYY!!

Gaara stood, gathered his coat and headed for the door. Shukaku's right, this could be interesting...

OoOoOo

Staring out her bedrooom window she admired the view below. Women in their summer kimonos, men in their summer suits...the place looked like a flower garden. And in the centre of the mass, a tiny little bundle dressed all in red, the centre of attention. She couldn't be bothered going downstairs...she knew all the faces, and she'd seen them only a few months ago at her cousin's wedding...

Her thoughts flitted to Gaara. How would her family react if she told them, she was technically bonded with a demon? Probably lock her up in an insane asylum or hunt the monster... Hunting Gaara? She could see them now, in her mind, weilding swords, knives and other assorted weapons. And they would too. She sighed and pulled away from the window, and the crown below.

"I wonder if they'd mind if I had a nap? Looks like dinner won't be ready for hours..", she sighed to herself as she lay down on her bed. Closing her eyes she slowly nodded off...

OoOoOo

Gaara jogged after Temari and Kankurou. He could't be bothered flitting or shifting...it took too much energy, and he was liable to let Shukaku free. He could hear their pounding hearts, beating almost in unison...a deadly siren's wail. It was making Shukaku agitated and restless, awakening the bloodlust the moon's kind face evoked. He shook his head and focused on trying not to run into a tree.

Not far infront of Kankurou a clearing slowly appeared, surrounded by a thick growth of leaves and trees...thrumming with spring-summer cicada songs. He took a deep sniff. Grass. Leaves. Cherry Blossoms. Wild Lavender. Prey. Again the bloodlust rose. Gaara quenched the feeling like dousing a fire. He'd become quite good at it when the moon was ripe. Ahead of him the two figures slowed and jumped the bushes, making their way to a larger figure leaning against one of the ancient trees.

"Baki!", Kankurou barked. The figure's head drifted up to face the approaching figures.

"Were you followed?", Baki croaked. The three shook their heads. Gaara conjured a sandhill and laid back against it. He liked showing off his power, it put Baki in his place: Subordinate.

"Your father ran into a bit of trouble as he was making his way over here. Orochimaru has betrayed us. Your father...was assasinated. His second left to hunt, and came back to his ripped up corpse".

"How do you know it was Orochimaru? Could have been theives. You know the area around Suna is thriving with them...Suna fugatives and run-aways. I've had-".

"Because Orochimaru left us a calling card", with that he tossed a long white length onto the ground. Temari screamed and jumped back. A white scaled snake, it's head severed, lay upon the forest dirt. Kankurou picked up a stick and poked it a few times before grunting and laying down in the shade of a tree.

"So F-Father's really dead?", Temari stammered.

"Yes. Orochimaru has made his move on Sasuke and he's already taken the disguise of your father. I think they intend on finishing what your father started all those years ago. At all costs we must gain it before he does. And now would be the perfect time... He's here and this is real danger".

"Hang on we're getting what? And for free service? Bullshit, I don't do anything unless it comes with a price-".

"Kankurou, shut up...", Baki ordered. The puppet-master shifted onto his stomach and laid his head in his folded arms.

"Kankie, we're going after that Uchiha kid remember. Or were you looking at those girls, the whole time Baki was explaining it?". She snorted with amusement. Kankurou snarled.

"Enough, you two. Gaara, you're awfully silent. Do you have any questions about the new mission?".

"No. Get the pampered brat, kill him and then find Orochimaru. Cover our purpose at all costs...And if discovered...kill them". Baki nodded.

"Maybe not so much killing...but taking out. We have Five days till we move, prepare yourselves. Temari, strengthen your technique, Kankurou and I will need and escape route when we get the Uchiha. Kankurou...up the dose of poision. We'll need it. Gaara...try not to go beserk. And I mean it". With that Baki vanished. The three Suna-nin were left alone amongst the trees.

Why are they bothering going against Roachie?

Because they're all baka...Pfft, they think i'm going to play by the rules. You know what...

What?

We're going to raise hell wether they like it or not..

Hehheheheheheh hahahahahahahahaha!!

Settle...not yet. We have at least 4 days....

But I want FOOOOODDDDD! I want BLOOOODDDD!! I want THEIR blood!

Hush...He rumbled out a laugh. We're going to alert our mate first...

Badump

Budump

Ba-badump

Gaara clutched his chest as a sharp pain racked though it.

SHUKAKU! What's happening!

OUR MATE! OUR MATE!! SHE'S DYING!! GAARA! WE'RE DYING!!

He heard the distant cries of his siblings before the inky darkness enveloped him...

A/N: OMFG!! WHAT JUST HAPPENED!! No! So much promised slaughter!! What's wrong with Sakura? How has she died? When did she die? OMFG!! I did NOT do that did I?? OH NO!! I KILLED GAARA!! :O

NEXT CHAPTER: Chapter 11: Crossing Danger

Will Gaara die? What will happen if he dies? Are they both...dead?