AN: Chapter Ten! Are we excited? You people should review more so I can tell. Anywho, I'm going to include Tobi in this chap. Sorry if he's out of character (OOC?). But I had to put him in, I mean Tobi's a good boy, how could I not?

Warnings: OOC

Disclaimer: I know we've been over this. I know that you know that I know that you know that I know that you know that I don't own Naruto, so why are we still talking about it?

Chapter Ten

Warning

After that first day, Gaara is careful not to be alone with his pink-haired partner. He invites Naruto and Lee to work with them in the library. He refuses to speak to her about anything that does not directly relate to their project. He does this because he is frightened for the girl; afraid of himself for her. Determined that he give himself no excuse to submit to Shukaku's head pounding demands.

But he continues to see her. Every day in class and every day after school. And that confuses him. He knows he should stop all contact between him and his potential victim. But he can't. He begins measuring time by how long she's in his class and how long until she returns. He begins to watch, to stare. He begins to remember her lips on his. And he begins to enjoy the memory.

Shukaku begins to rant and rage. Demand more and more blood. Gaara begins to fight harder than ever before against him. Three months pass and Gaara refuses to take a life.

"Gaara, the project's due Monday and if we don't work on it over the weekend, we're not going to finish." Sakura informs him irritably in the empty library. Naruto and Lee had finished their project nearly a week ago and Gaara had been avoiding working with Sakura. Which meant that they'd made little progress in the past six days.

Now, Gaara is faced with two choices: he can do poorly on this assignment worth twenty-five percent of his final grade, which will effectively fail him. Or he can agree to work with the girl he has rapidly become obsessed with. He doesn't want to do either.

"Fine." He manages to growl, while internally panicking.

Did I just say that? Oh, fuck! I take it back! I take it back!

"Okay, we'll go to your place after school tomorrow and pull an all nighter."

Too late.

"Wait, my place? All nighter? As in you'll be there all night?" An expression akin to terror crosses his face.

"Yes, your place. And yes, all night." Sakura says rolling her eyes. She's always so amused by him. Hasn't she realized that she should be horrified yet? Hasn't she realized he's dangerous?

"That's not a good idea."

"What a surprise!" she exclaims sarcastically. "Gaara doesn't think we should work together."

Confusion smacks Gaara upside the head again. "No, I just think we should work somewhere more…" he pauses searching for the right word to describe a place where he's less likely to lose control and slaughter her, "…public." Not quite accurate but close enough. And less likely to send her running for the hills.

Wait. I want her to run. Don't I?

You want what I've been telling you you want.

"What?" Gaara asks, realizing that she had spoken and he hadn't heard.

"I said it'll be fine." She says rolling her eyes again. "I promise not to rape you in your sleep." She adds raising her right hand as if taking a vow in court.

"Well, that certainly isn't what's worrying you is it, Gaa-Gaa?" Gaara's eye twitches .

"Tobi," Gaara says calmly, without turning to face his oddly attired acquaintance, "If you call me that again, I'll bring you along the next time Shukaku gets out of hand."

"EEP!" Tobi squeals. "C-com-come on, Gaara, don't be mean to me. Tobi's a good boy."

Gaara turns to address the masked man, but Sakura interrupts. "Hi, I'm Sakura." She says holding out her hand.

"I'm Tobi, Tobi's a good boy." He responds taking Sakura's hand and bowing.

"Tobi, let go of her hand. What do you want? I've no business with the Akatsuki." Gaara snarls, jealous of the slight contact. Tobi lets go quickly.

"I'm sorry, Gaara." He stands there awkwardly for a moment.

"Well?" Gaara snaps impatiently.

"Gaara, be nice! Stop bullying poor Tobi!" Sakura scolds, sending a glare at the redhead.

"'Poor Tobi' my ass." Gaara scoffs, "Spill it already, Tobi. I don't have time to play games right now."

"Oh, right. Zetsu told me to tell you that "Kaze has gone too far. He's moving into Akatsuki territory, if he continues with his foolish plan, we will take action." That's what he said to tell you. He made me repeat it back to him like a hundred times, so I wouldn't forget. But I remembered, because—"

"Tobi is a good boy, I know." Gaara glares. "But I don't care. Kill the bastard if you want. I'll not protect him."

"Gaara, what are you talking about?! You can't let them kill—" Sakura starts. Gaara mentally swears. He'd forgotten she was still there.

"Huh? They're not going to kill Kaze. He still has value." Tobi says, clearly puzzled.

The color drains from Gaara's face. "Who?" His words are a whisper.

"Um, Zetsu didn't name anyone. He just said Kaze's favorite toy. Oh, wait. Maybe you didn't actually want to know?" Tobi rambles when he sees the expression on Gaara's face.

Face ashen, hands trembling Gaara glances at Sakura. "Leave."

"Gaara, what's—"

"Now." There is no room for argument in his tone, but Sakura looks as though she's going to anyway. "Please." And that does it, Sakura nods and walks away.

Sakura out of sight, Gaara turns to the masked man again. "I want to see Pein."

"Zetsu said you'd say that." Tobi scratches his head thoughtfully. "Well, let's go, I guess." Tobi starts off, Gaara close on his heels. "Too bad your pretty friend couldn't come, I liked her. She was nice. Not like you at all, Gaara."

Gaara's hand moves faster than his mind and he's pulling the orange swirl of Tobi's face close before he's even thought about it. "Touch her and you die. Tell Akatsuki about her and you die. Even think about her again and you die. Got it?" he growls fiercely.

Tobi nods his head rapidly. Gaara releases him and motions him forward again. His hands are clenched into fists and he has grit his teeth together so tightly it hurts. He is blind to everything around him as he follows Tobi out of the school. He doesn't notice the head of pink hair watching worriedly as he exits the grounds. He can't. There's only room for one thought in his mind. Not even a whole thought. Just a name. Her name.