A/N: Alright, the long awaited fight scene is here! I tried a whole new writing technique with this chapter and I'm happy to say that I'm quite satisfied with the way it turned out. It came out long people, but I know most of you won't mind!

Also, if you're interested in joining a great GaaSaku fanlisting, please visit SakuraxGaara Forever's profile page! (can't put the link up, though. X3 Check for it on my profile page.)

Just a note concerning the differences between fighting styles. When it comes to martial arts, there's actually rules and the like which don't allow you to hit your opponent on certain parts of the body, depending on the art you're practicing (eg: below the waist, on the face, etc.), so if you screw up and attack them were you're not supposed to, you get disqualified or lose points. However, at least in this story, when it comes to 'bare knuckled fighting,' you can hit your adversary wherever you want, including the face and their 'private parts' if the need is great. So it's a kill or be killed philosophy. Just keep that in mind when you're reading, since 'honor' isn't something which comes into play with this type of fighting.

So beware since there's violence in this thing… Shukaku would not have it any other way! xD

I know you're anxious to read, so I'll go now!

Hope it meets your expectations.

Chapter 11 – Vengeance and Blood

The world narrowed down to the man before his eyes. All the screams, chaos and mayhem suddenly disappeared, leaving nothing but the black haired fighter standing in front of him.

His body kicked into automatic, clearly remembering all those times he had fought under similar circumstances and it knew exactly what it needed to do. The powerful muscles of his legs tensed as his arms moved in front of him, readying for movement. A familiar humming resounded all through his body as the adrenaline in his veins increased and the knot in his stomach tightened even more, honing his senses to the react to the most subtle of actions.

Instinct, power and speed. Those were the traits that a fighter needed to possess if he wished to survive in this kind of combat. Those were the traits the red haired bodyguard had developed all through his life, and now was the time to exploit those skills and to use them for a cause.

In those seconds while he waited for the signal from the announcer, Gaara's mind threatened to disconnect itself from the world, trying to put into gear an old habit it had formed while facing the hundreds of bare knuckled fights the red head had lived through.

But not this time.

He had a purpose here and there was nothing in the world which would prevent him from saving his woman.

Visions of cherry hair and green eyes flew in and out of his peripheral vision, constantly reminding him of his mission and of everything that was at stake. He could not lose himself in this fight, at least not yet, and he managed to control the instinctual pattern his mind wanted desperately to follow.

Somewhere from beneath the surface of his control, a raging demon called, its claws and tail swinging in anticipation, wanting to be released. Throughout his life, Gaara had called on this most primitive part of his nature many times and it had served him well, allowing him to increase his fighting skills to unbelievable limits. But tonight, he could not let the demon lose, since this fight was not about him.

Instinct, power and speed. He would incarnate these qualities and he would vanquish.

He knew it as surely as he breathed.

Sakura would return to his arms once again, for that was the only place where she belonged.

And the maniac in front of him needed to be taught a lesson… a lesson which would cost him his very life.

The announcer shouted something into the microphone as his hand went down.

It was the signal.

Gaara burst into action, the tension in his legs propelling him forward towards the waiting fists of his enemy, a silent scream of rage on his lips.

XXXXXXX

Sakura saw her lover lunge forward, an awe-inspiring look in his eyes.

Never before had she witnessed such intensity from him before and she knew that Gaara was willing to put his life on the line for her without any hesitation. The fact that he had accepted Sasuke's challenge was evidence enough of that, but the sheer immensity of his actions hit her in the face the moment the fight began.

He could die. He could easily die.

It didn't matter how many times he had fought under similar circumstances. It didn't matter if he was a professional fighter or not.

Her ex-boyfriend would make sure that all the hits he scored dealt serious damage, she was sure of that. A well aimed punch could end the red head's life, especially with the strength Sasuke possesed.

But she also knew that it was exactly the same the other way around and she knew Gaara would show no mercy. His kicks and punches were aiming for the kill as well and this would surely be a battle to the death if both combatants had their way.

Sakura wasn't sure if she could handle the loss of another loved one again, especially not the man with which she wished to spend the rest of her life.

Tears streamed down her cheeks unchecked, but she never lowered her eyes from the fight. Her faith in her lover was unbreakable and it stood firm against all the odds in the world.

XXXXXXX

The Shidokan Champion moved with the grace of a feline, striking at his opponent as he went. Moving as fast as his feet would allow him, Gaara pummeled Sasuke with a powerful combo of hits, all the rage and anger of his being behind the attack.

The black haired man dodged most of the punches but was hit by some as well. This did little to deter him however, and he lunged offensively towards his opponent. Now it was the red head's turn to defend and he did so with very little effort.

Moving as if he were controlled by a master puppeteer, Gaara moved as if he could predict his enemy's actions, as if the world around him were moving in slow motion. At the edge of his hearing, he could hear Naruto screaming his encouragement, but the fighting mode he was immersed in did not allow him to make sense of his friend's words.

There was nothing else in the world but Sasuke… nothing else but the movement of both their bodies as they came forward and engaged in combat. It was an intricate and deadly dance, and one of them would not walk out of the arena alive. They both knew it.

As they both fought each other all around the floor, the inevitability of this fact permeated all through the atmosphere of the warehouse.

But there was no time to ponder the possibility of death, not when the man in front of you represented everything you despised in the world.

Gaara sent a devastating kick directly at Sasuke's neck. The raven haired man was quickly enough to dodge the blow partially, but was severely hit on the shoulder and he stumbled backwards, losing his balance.

Dropping to the floor, Sasuke rolled as he saw Gaara's foot descend mercilessly towards his head, getting out of the way to avoid the impact which would have broken his skull. He regained his feet quickly and was once more in front of the red head, sending out a vicious attack of his own.

The red head dodged the first blows, but wasn't able to move away fast enough to avoid a powerful hit to his abdomen. He felt his rib cry out in protest, but he muffled the pain and continued to fight, going back on the offensive.

For the crowd, it was easy to see that both opponents were evenly matched. They stood at exactly the same level when it came to speed and power, so the fight would have to be decided by some other factor. Willpower was something which often came into play in these types of encounters and would possibly decide the outcome of this amazing fight.

Murmurs and shouts went all round, people taking toll of the bets they had made before the fight started. Whichever the outcome, thousands of dollars would be spent this very night, compulsive gamblers and drug dealers completely oblivious to the underlying emotional turmoil of the whole encounter.

But their avarice went unnoticed by the two men in the arena, where only the movements of your opponent mattered. The results of this fight would allow the victor to prove that his way of life was supreme, crushing the existence of the other and burying him along with all he had once stood for.

There was no room for losing in this abandoned warehouse and the echoes of bone hitting flesh reverberated all around.

XXXXXXX

Neji sat in complete alertness, trying to decipher which would be the best moment for his team to act. As he watched the fight from the corner of his eye, he knew that the combatants could go on fighting for hours due to the similarity of their skills, but that was a period of time they simple did not have the leisure to enjoy.

They needed to get Sakura out of there and fast. They were already strategically positioned and all of them were waiting for his signal so they could move in for the kill. The question was, who would kill who?

The two men sitting on the platform unnerved Neji but he didn't know exactly why. There was something about their posture which caught his trained senses and he could tell that they were experienced fighters. However, the cruelty which filtered through their faces was something that didn't sit well with the Hyuuga and he knew that these men would not hesitate to kill any of his team mates if it came to blows. In fact, they would probably go out of their way to do just that.

The dark haired one, the one who had an uncanny resemblance to the Uchiha fighting in the arena, especially worried Neji. He somehow knew that this man had spilled the blood of others many times and would do so again without a second thought.

Something inside him told him to wait, to avoid combat with these two at all costs. But time was getting short and he could feel Tenten sitting next to him, tight as a spring with anticipation, waiting for the slightest gesture which would allow them to engage.

But Hyuuga Neji knew that if they went up against these men, especially in this crowded place full of security, the costs of their rescue would be higher than they were willing to pay. At the same time, he knew that if he waited even longer, not only would Sakura's life be in danger, but Gaara's as well.

Clenching his teeth in frustration, he tried to calm his turbulent mind. All of them knew the risks they would be facing when they volunteered to help Naruto and Gaara rescue the pink haired girl. They knew they would be facing the greatest of odds. It was something they had prepared for and should be ready to face.

Sometimes, it was necessary to make sacrifices in life for the good of others.

Turning slightly towards Tenten, he nodded her way and saw her tense even more, but the courage in her eyes gave him the strength he needed. Facing towards the platform where a trembling Sakura kneeled, he steeled his valor and readied to raise his hand for the signal.

XXXXXXX

His control was slipping and remembering the pink haired beauty nearby was all he could do to keep himself from losing it completely.

As he dodged another lethal blow to his head, Gaara's instincts were going into overdrive and the demon inside his soul was screaming for bloodshed. He really didn't know how long he would be able to restrain himself from losing contact with the world.

The cuts and bruises he was quickly accumulating were nothing to him and the pain was only a faraway buzz reverberating through his body. There was no room for weakness in this moment… he had sustained worse injuries than this many times over.

But he knew that his opponent was in a similar condition as he saw blood spill from Sasuke's eyebrow. The raven haired man was as experienced in the arena as he was and was probably controlling himself to some extent as well. The problem was, Gaara could not rise up to meet his challenge if Sasuke decided to take the combat to the next level, at least not yet. If he did, he would be turning his back on his friends, who desperately needed the time to rescue the love of his life.

Sending a quick succession of punches in the direction of his opponent's stomach, Gaara moved to the side as he finished his combination, scoring a couple of hits. But Sasuke was like a rock and the red head was forced to move out of the way to avoid an incoming kick. Coming in from a new direction, Gaara changed tactics and sent a lower kick towards the black haired man's knees, intent on hitting his knee cap.

Sasuke jumped up in the last second and somersaulted forward, sending a sideway kick directly towards the red head's face. Bending his head and body back with amazing skill, Gaara managed to avoid being hit. But Sasuke was fast too and as soon as he landed behind the red head, he connected a vicious punch directly with Gaara's right kidney.

The power behind the hit would have left any other man on his knees, pain and anguish filtering intensely through his body. But Gaara ignored the agony his body was experiencing and turned round to face his opponent once more, sending out a punch of his own. Unable to hit anything but air, the red head was ready to face his adversary's next attack, predicting his incoming kick from somewhere to his left.

Grabbing Sasuke's leg as it passed in front of his face, the red head twisted his opponent's knee violently, intent on breaking his bones. But the raven haired fighter twisted his body in time with Gaara's hands and managed to escape his deadly grip but suffered considerable damage to his right leg.

The red head didn't give him a moment to catch his breath and came in hard, sending another kick towards the damaged knee, wanting to finish what he had started. Flying out of the way, Sasuke rolled across the floor to Gaara's right side, kicking his feet from under him.

From somewhere in the vicinity, he heard Naruto scream.

Landing with a loud thud on his back, the red head tried to stand up immediately, but Sasuke was too fast. He was already standing and sending his foot directly towards his fallen adversary's head. Rolling out of the way, Gaara managed to escape the deadly blow, but wherever he went, the raven haired man followed, trying to finish him.

It seemed that no matter how fast he moved across the rough arena floor, Sasuke was always behind him and there was no escaping him.

XXXXXXX

As Sakura saw Gaara fall, her heart froze for a moment in time. She saw it happen as if in slow motion… the way Sasuke had rolled next to him and kicked at his feet, sending her lover down to the floor.

Even from this distance, she could see every single injury on his body and had been unconsciously thinking about how to treat each and every one of his cuts. Somehow, she refused to believe that they would never be together again and held strongly to the hope that she would get the chance to heal his body when it was all over.

But then he was on the floor and Sasuke was over him, sending a rapid succession of kicks towards Gaara's head and predicting the direction of his rolling with unnerving accuracy.

If the red head didn't get up, it would all be over.

Closing her eyes momentarily, Sakura breathed deep and prayed. It was the only thing she could do.

From somewhere to her left, the sound of a cell phone brought her back to the moment, forcing her to look up and continue watching her lover struggle for his life in the arena below.

XXXXXXX

Neji stopped his hand the moment he saw Sasuke's brother pick up his cell phone and he signaled for his team to wait.

The odds weren't exactly in their favor at the moment, especially with Gaara down on the floor and Naruto screaming for him to get up. They needed all the advantage they could get and something deep in his gut told Neji to allow the black haired man to finish talking on his phone.

He had no idea what this could bring, since he could easily be giving order for security to tighten its hold on the place and blocking all their escape routes. They were all hanging on by a thread and any single unexpected incident could shift the odds in their favor… or could completely spoil their plans.

The seconds went by with excruciating slowness and as Gaara rolled out of the way of Sasuke's blows, the cruel looking man on the platform kept talking as if there wasn't a care in the world.

After what seemed like an eternity, he closed his cell phone and overlooked the crowd around the arena with cold, calculating eyes. As if coming to a decision, he turned momentarily towards his companion and exchanged a few words with him, both nodding their heads.

And by the workings of a merciful deity, Neji saw both of them stand up.

XXXXXXX

The end wasn't even near, that much was clear. He could not let it end like this, not without holding his pink haired lover one last time. Sabaku no Gaara would never be defeated on the ground... it was simply unheard of.

Something inside him clicked and he rolled unto his back, allowing the bastard to come close to him and to raise his foot as if he were about to land the lethal blow which would bring this contest to an end.

But as Sasuke's foot came within an inch from his nose, the red haired fighter moved, using the reflexes he had honed to an art form throughout his whole life.

His adversary's ankle was suddenly resting against his cheek and in a movement which could only be described as a blur, Gaara sent his elbow flying towards Sasuke's already damaged kneecap feeling the cartilage rip with the force of his blow.

The raven haired man screamed and stumbled forwards, giving the red head all the opportunity he needed to stand up again. Standing at the ready, Gaara stepped closer, intent on continuing where he left off.

But Sasuke straitened once more and turned to look at him, a merciless look in his eyes. As gleams of red shone from his previously onyx eyes, Gaara became aware that the time had come to takes things further.

The demon inside him cackled, ready to bring the buried monster which laid dormant inside Gaara's soul to life.

But the red head refused.

Not yet… not yet.

As Sasuke turned round with speed which belied his injured knee, the bodyguard brought his arms up in front of him, ready to block the incoming blows. As he took hit after hit, Gaara felt the bones of his forearms protest against the onslaught.

Trying to back away, he stumbled backwards under the force of Sasuke's punches, but kept his balance in check. It wouldn't do to be back on the ground in a moment like this.

"So you think you can beat me, Sabaku no Gaara?" the raven haired man whispered harshly, the first words either of them had exchanged during the whole encounter.

"Of course I can," the red head answered, refusing to fall victim to his opponent's daunting. It did no good to listen to whatever the psychopath had to say.

As if to prove his point, Gaara took the offensive suddenly, sending a vicious kick towards Sasuke's middle. The level of the fight had scaled to a whole new degree however, and the black haired fighter stopped his kick in mid air with one hand and sent a powerful punch towards Gaara's ribs with the other, sending him stumbling backwards for a distance.

The crack of breaking bone was heard throughout the arena and many people in the audience grimaced.

The red head felt a surge of pain run all the way down to his feet and as he coughed up for air, a stream of blood came out of his mouth. It was suddenly extremely hard to breathe and his vision blurred for a moment.

Gaara heard Naruto scream something from his right and he turned to look at the blond, trying to decipher what he was saying. Sasuke was coming closer, chuckling mercilessly.

"Do you think you're good enough for her?" he asked with a mocking tone. "Do you think you have the right to even touch what is mine?"

But the red heard wasn't listening. He was trying to pay attention to his friend, who seemed to be trying to tell him something important. The pain was too intense though and his brain seemed too muddled up to process anything else but the excruciating agony coming from his left torso.

"Sakura deserves better than scum like you… she deserves me."

Sakura.

His vision cleared immediately and his ears seemed to open up to the outside world… not that he needed them. He could now plainly read Naruto's lips and the message he was conveying brought an all-consuming relief to his entire being.

Sasuke's fist was coming directly towards his face at an amazing velocity.

Without even turning round to face his opponent, Sabaku no Gaara caught his hand in mid-air, mere inches from his cheek.

The time had come.

The demon cackled in ecstasy.

XXXXXXX

"Kisame," Itachi said gravely.

"What is it?" the gray skinned man asked, curious as to what might have disturbed his partner.

"I have just received some annoying information and I think it is of our best interest to leave this little scuffle early," he replied, signaling disdainfully at the two combatants in the arena.

"But I've got some money on this," Kisame complained but was brought to silence by a single look from the older Uchiha. "Alright, if you say so. What happened?"

"It seems that no one is walking out of this thing once it's done," Itachi replied, a hint of irritation in his voice, as if he couldn't believe that such insignificant incidents were bothering him. He knew he could very well take care of the whole problem, but he simply could not be bothered. "My little brother didn't take the necessary precautions like I told him to."

Kisame nodded, finally understanding what his partner was saying. "After you," he said, gesturing for Itachi to take the lead.

Without further ado, both men stood up and walked off the platform. Once they were out of sight, Itachi signaled for his guards, the ones who were providing security for Sasuke, to leave the area immediately. It wouldn't do to lose loyal and trained henchmen on his baby brother's whims.

"Should we tell Sasuke?" Kisame asked as they went out a back door, already knowing what the answer would be.

"What do you think?" Itachi replied, a dangerous gleam in his eyes.

The gray skinned man chuckled with malice as a car drove up to take them away.

XXXXXXX

When she saw him stand up again, Sakura's lungs suddenly released the air they had been holding.

He was up and he was fighting like never before, and it was all because of her.

Fresh tears welled up in her eyes once more, but she refused to clean them. She didn't care if anyone saw her cry her heart out for the man she loved, for the inhuman effort he was making on her behalf. None of the people in this room would ever comprehend the amazing relationship they shared.

Sakura knew that if she had been in his situation, she would have done the same. If it had been in her power to save him from kidnappers, she knew she would've fought a battle to the death for him without batting an eyelash.

Each punch he landed, each kick he connected she celebrated with him, her soul swelling with pride with the way he moved around the arena. It was her man out there, in every sense of the word, and she would stand by his side until the very end, even if she could only do it spiritually.

He was her Red God of Battle and she would worship him until he came to take her away.

She was so concentrated in the fight before her, that the pink haired girl failed to notice two people pass behind her and off the platform, leaving the stands completely. Her jade eyes would not leave the figure of the red haired man on the arena for anything and she would stay where she was until it was all over.

It was only when she felt a firm hand grasp her own that she lowered her eyes to the person below her and she gasped in surprise and bewilderment.

Temari was there, holding her hand as she took out a small knife, intent on cutting her bonds. She had been sitting before her throughout the whole encounter, her dark blond hair hidden beneath a baseball cap.

"We're getting you out of here," she whispered fervently.

All Sakura could do was nod in response.

XXXXXXX

Neji couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was simply too good to be true.

But he wasn't one to question the blessings life would sometimes drop in your lap.

Giving the signal as soon as the two men disappeared behind the stands, he moved his team into action, mentally telling them to hurry since they didn't know when they would come back.

Standing it up, he made his way hurriedly towards the platform, passing through the cheering crowd, Tenten on his heels. Across the way, he saw Lee and Shino jump into motion as well, heading towards the same direction.

Once they were closer, Neji saw that Temari had already cut the bonds of Sakura's hands and thankfully, the goon behind the pink haired girl was too wrapped up in the combat to take any notice.

The Hyuuga made as if to walk by, and as he did so, he sent a vicious punch towards the thug's ankle.

"Hey, you punk!" the large man yelled, jumping from the platform and following Neji.

He led him behind the stands at a run, but as the brute turned the corner, Kankurou was there.

Using a cloth soaked in an unknown substance, the tattooed man brought it to the large man's face, forcing him to breathe in the fumes, while Neji held him tightly by the arms. After a few seconds of struggling, the man went limp and the Hyuuga lowered him to the ground, hiding him beneath one of the stands.

Shino and Lee arrived then, ready to fight any other security guards they might have encountered.

"There's no one back here," Kankurou explained. "One of the men who just walked out was Sasuke's brother, Uchiha Itachi. He runs an extremely large underground operation and it seems he was the one who was providing security for his bastard brother. He signaled for his men to retreat as he walked out the back door."

"He's leaving Sasuke alone?" Shino asked, clearly unconvinced.

Kankurou chuckled. "Yes he is. There's never been much love between the members of the Uchiha family. I'm sure the way will be clear right to the exit."

Just then, Temari and Tenten appeared, holding Sakura by the arms between them. She looked haggard and worn, bruises showing on her cheek. She was still wearing the clothes she had worn to the club all those days ago, her shoes lost long ago.

"You guys are crazy…" the pink haired girl started to say, still not able to process the fact that she was actually being rescued and that she was finally in safe hands.

"Don't worry," Tenten told her. "It'll be alright. We need to get you out of here so your man can finally do what he came to do," she finished with a wink.

Sakura tried to chuckle, but only managed to cough through her dry throat. She didn't want to leave Gaara alone, not while he was facing that maniac. She didn't have a choice though and Lee stepped forward and scooped her up in his arms. Too tired to even protest, the pink haired girl rested her forehead against his neck.

"Lead the way," he said, turning towards Neji.

The black haired captain nodded. "Tell Naruto that Sabaku no Gaara now has free reign," he said to Tenten.

"Yosh!" she replied and began to whisper into the microphone under her shirt.

They all turned then and headed towards the exit, the objective of their rescue mission accomplished with a flourish.

XXXXXXX

The world narrowed down even further… down to the feeling of his body, to the tightening of his muscles and to the ecstatic sensation of power running through his veins. The pain receded once more to the back of his mind, an underlying humming in his perception. The wild energy of the demon coiled in his stomach, mingling with his already boiling wrath, concocting a lethal mix which enhanced the capacities of his body to inhuman limits.

He was a machine… bred only to destroy the man in front of him, the man who had threatened to take the meaning of his life away. Having climbed the long ladder up from the darkness of the early years of his life, Gaara had been finally blessed by the light and would never show mercy to any person who threatened to cast a shadow on his brilliant sun.

Sasuke was going to pay.

He was going to regret making Sakura suffer through all those years of their relationship, he was going to lament his choice of coming back into her life and he was going to experience the worst pain of his existence for daring to take her away.

Crushing the raven haired man's fist with his hand, Gaara pulled his opponent forward, making him stumble slightly. Unable to break the forceful grip on his fist, Sasuke used his other hand to bash the red head on the temple but Gaara shook off the blow as if it had been a playful swat.

He changed his grip on the kidnapper's hand and grasped his wrist instead, bringing his arm up above their heads. Sasuke struggled, trying break free and continuing to hit Gaara with powerful punches. But it was no use.

Bringing his right fist in with all the ire and hate he had been harboring these past days, Gaara bashed Sasuke in the face… again and again and again.

He could feel the breaking bone of his nose under his fist and he reveled in the excruciating sound it made. He could feel the blood cover his fist and flow down his arm as he kept on pounding the life out of him. Loosened teeth sputtered out of his mouth and engraved themselves in Gaara's knuckles, adding to the effect of his blows.

The demon squealed in glee.

In one final attempt to preserve his existence, Sasuke brought his right leg up and kicked Gaara hard on the side of his torso, exactly where his rib was already broken.

The red head let him go immediately, the worst jolt of pain he had experienced in his life coursing through him. Even through his adrenaline and anger filled mind, his lung burned with unbearable agony and his breaths became small wheezing pants as he tried to regain control of his senses. His vision started going black around the edges and he knew that it would be mere moments before he passed out.

While his enemy cradled his side like a wounded animal, Sasuke was sprawled on the floor, trying to crawl his way out of the arena. Through the swelling around his eyes, he managed to open them just enough to look up at the platform, trying to signal his brother to put an end to it all. Sakura was going to die for what her red haired bastard had done to him and he would make Gaara watch how a bullet pierced her pink little head.

But as he looked up, he found the platform empty. There was no one on it. At first, he thought it was the effect of his beaten up brain and that he was seeing things that really weren't happening. However, his mind cleared enough after a few more moments to find that it was true: his brother had deserted him.

There were no guards in the appointed places and Kuro, his large and reliable thug, wasn't anywhere that he could see. Itachi had probably bribed him into leaving with him.

"Brother, you fucking bastard," Sasuke whispered harshly, the hate he felt for his sibling coursing through his damaged body and he momentarily forgot all about Gaara.

He suddenly felt strong fingers grasp his hair, bringing his head up at a weird angle.

"You will never come near her again," Gaara said ruthlessly, all the hate and wrath of his being filtering through his voice. His jade eyes were glazy, as if he were pushing his efforts to the limit in an attempt to keep his body moving.

Grabbing Sasuke's head with both hands, the red head twisted his neck forcefully in a quick lethal movement. The sound of breaking bone pierced through the entire warehouse as Sasuke's body fell limp to the floor.

The crowd went wild and as their deafening cheers drowned the place, a SWAT team crashed through the roof a moment later.

XXXXXXX

Naruto could easily tell when something was wrong. He had been in the fighting world ever since he had been really small and he knew exactly which types of injuries could put an end to your life.

He had gone through the fight next to Gaara, living the entire experience with him. Each blow he had received he had felt as well, but he had also shared in the adrenaline rush which could only be achieved when you were kicking your opponent's ass.

With each move he performed, each flawless technique he pulled off, Naruto had screamed his encouragement, urging him forward. He knew very well that Gaara wasn't actually listening to him, lost in his own experience as he was, but he knew that somewhere in his deep unconscious his cheering did him good. It always helped to know that there was a comrade by your side when you fought; someone who supported you and would share in your victory… or who would finish off your adversary in case you went down.

But when Sasuke landed that final kick on Gaara's ribs, Naruto's rush came crashing down on him. He could tell from the red head's reaction that it had been a devastating hit and the way he was having trouble breathing indicated the worst possible outcome.

The blond had been about to step unto the arena and stop the red head on the spot. Thankfully, Sasuke was already too beaten up to do anything and Gaara was able to control his agony long enough to finish what he had come here to do.

Cold sapphire eyes watched as Sasuke fell dead to the floor, but the relief he felt was only short lived and was completely eclipsed by the anxiety invading his body as he saw Gaara fall to his knees next to his opponent's corpse.

As the police and SWAT team invaded the warehouse amongst the screaming confusion of the crowd, Naruto hurried up to Gaara and took his face in his hands. The red head was barely coherent and the adrenaline was already leaving his body, which meant that the pain would be increasing tenfold. He needed to get his friend to a hospital right now.

"Alright big guy," Naruto said to him as he brought Gaara's arm around his shoulder, "I need one last boost from you and then you can rest."

"Sakura," the red head whispered, the only word his quickly fading mind could think of.

The blond gave out a mirthless chuckle. "Yes, we'll go to Sakura. But to get there, I'm going to need your help." Through the confusion reigning through the warehouse, Naruto knew it was useless to try and get a police officer to listen to him, much less bring an emergency stretcher to him. Lifting Gaara by the arm on his uninjured side, the blond used all his strength to take on almost the entire weight of his friend.

"Walk, Gaara, walk!" Naruto shouted to him, trying to get the message across. The red head was extremely heavy and he wouldn't be able to make it on time without his help. The blond knew there would be an ambulance outside, since they really hadn't known in what state they would find Sakura. Now, that vehicle was the only possibility of saving Gaara's life and Naruto would be damned if he didn't get him there.

Following the order in his friend's voice, Gaara shuffled his feet. They advanced slowly but steadily. Thankfully, when they were halfway across to the exit, a member of the SWAT team realized what Naruto was doing. Slinging his weapon over his shoulder, he came up and took Gaara's other arm.

"Be careful, his ribs are broken," Naruto warned.

Nodding his head in understanding, the man aided Naruto in lifting Gaara up and they managed to carry him all the way to the entrance.

"He needs help!" Naruto screamed as they made it outside.

But Sakura was already there.

She had been wrapped up in a blanket and sipping on a cup of warm tea as she tried to keep her anxiousness under control when she saw the man of her life emerge from the door of the warehouse.

Throwing the cup and blanket away, she ran towards Gaara, hearing Naruto scream as she came to stand in front of them. Throwing her arms around his neck she kissed him softly on the lips. He reacted to the sensation and opened his jade eyes momentarily to look at her, his vision glazed.

"He won't bother you ever again, love," he said, before his head bent forward and he was swallowed by dark oblivion, his goal of bringing his lover to safety accomplished.

By looking at his battered form, it was clear that there was something terribly wrong.

"His ribs, Sakura," Naruto told him, worry in his voice.

It all became abruptly obvious and way Gaara's breathing was wheezing through his lips did nothing to lessen the surmounting feeling of dread crawling its way up her spine.

The pink haired girl didn't waste any time. The confusion and uncertainty which had been drowning her for the past few days disappeared completely and the actions she needed to take were crystal clear.

"We need a stretcher, QUICKLY!" she screamed, her authority as a doctor reasserting itself with a flourish and her exhaustion evaporating completely. "His lung is punctured and is filling with blood. He needs surgery NOW."

Thankfully, the emergency team was already there and they shuffled Gaara unto the stretcher in no time, placing an oxygen mask on his face and connecting an IV to his arm as they went.

Sakura walked hurriedly beside them, holding the red head's hand. The time for sitting idly on the sidelines while she watched him trying to save her had ended. It time for the tables to turn and she would not sit uselessly on the side now.

This was her turf and she would save the man she loved with her own hands.

As she climbed unto the ambulance, she saw Naruto and the rest of his Shidokan team mates jump into an adjacent van.

They had done so much for her and she was incredibly grateful.

It was now the time she returned the favor.

XXXXXXX

The large double doors of the hospital's emergency entrance opened abruptly and Tsunade bolted upright form her desk, sleep leaving her immediately. Earlier, she had cursed the day she had agreed to swap the late night shift with one of the other resident doctors, but it had seemed like a good option at the time since it meant the man would owe her a favor.

Thankfully, the night had gone by pretty uneventfully and she had been able to sneak into an office and catch some shut eye on top of a pile of reports.

But from the sounds outside the small window, it seemed that her little break was now officially over.

Straitening her doctor's robes and making sure it wasn't obvious that she had been sleeping on the job, she stepped outside the door and surveyed the scene on the hall with cold calculating eyes.

Even though she was used to all kinds of cases, especially at this hour of the night, what she saw before her surprised her immensely due to the fact that there was someone extremely familiar in the crowd before her.

And characteristically, she was arguing with one of the doctors on call.

"I HAVE to go in there, I know exactly what surgery he needs!" Sakura was screaming.

"I'm sorry miss, but you need to calm down. He will be examined by one of us and we'll let you know about his condition as soon as possible," the doctor answered, trying to keep his cool.

"We don't have time for that!" the pink haired girl yelled. "He needs immediate attention. His lung was punctured by his rib!"

"We'll evaluate him as we see fit and will proceed accordingly. We're the doctors here and we know what we're doing," the man responded at the end of his patience.

"I'm a doctor too!" Sakura replied angrily.

"It certainly doesn't seem like it and from the activities your so-called boyfriend was evidently participating in, I'm disinclined to believe you," he replied in a disdainful voice and turned round to enter the emergency room Gaara had been placed in, leaving Sakura outside.

Tears of rage spilled down her cheeks at the unfairness of it all. Gaara could lose his life thanks to the incompetence of this team of stiff-assed doctors.

Sighing as the pieces of the puzzle came into perspective, Tsunade approached the crying woman in the hall.

"Why is it that, even though I haven't seen you in ages, I always walk in on you when you're in desperate need of my assistance?"

Turning round like lighting, Sakura's features lit up. "Tsunade-sensei!"

Breathing out in an exaggerated gesture, the older woman waved her hands dismissively in front of her. "I knew there was a reason why I changed my shift."

"Sensei, I need your help, they don't know what…" Sakura started to say, words spilling out of her mouth before she could help herself.

"No need to explain," Tsunade interrupted her. "I heard enough. Go get changed, you know where the locker room is. Wash up and join me, since I'll probably be needing your help."

Nodding fervently, Sakura rushed down the hallway as fast as her feet could carry her.

Opening the door to the emergency room, Tsunade yelled at the top of her lungs. "I'm taking over NOW! Everyone who isn't useful get out of here immediately."

There were protests from the other doctors but she wouldn't have none of it, pinning them with one of her trademark glares. They quickly left the room without further complaints.

Placing her mask and gloves on, she turned to survey her patient, the man who was seemingly the love of her former pupil's life.

XXXXXXX

Hours later, the pair of exhausted female doctors emerged from the surgery room, sweat clinging to their faces as they removed their masks.

Naruto and the rest of Konoha's Shidokan team as well as Gaara's siblings, were sitting on a long bench located against a wall. When they saw the women step out, they looked at them anxiously, sitting on the edge of their seats. Naruto stood up and went to embrace Sakura, who welcomed his hug greatly.

"How is he?" Temari asked, her face pale and worn as she held Kankurou's hand.

"We did the best we could," Tsunade replied, "but there was a large amount of blood already inside his lung and it had to be drained in a very complicated process. We secured his bones as well, but there were tiny pieces all over since part of his rib was completely obliterated."

Somber faces turned up to look at her, aghast with the news. The level of the fight which had taken place this night was completely unbelievable.

"Will he make it?" Neji asked, the calm tone of his voice at odds with the look of worry on his face.

Tsunade sighed, looking over at Sakura who was whispering quietly to Naruto. "It's too soon to tell, but in all honesty, it's all up to him. If he decides to fight for his life, well yes, he'll make it."

Naruto looked up, determination and courage in his sapphire eyes. "Then we can rest assured that he'll be fine."

Tsunade smiled at the blond man before her. "I suggest all of you go home and get some rest. Sakura, you, of all people, need sleep the most but I know you won't leave the hospital, so you can stay with me."

The pink haired girl opened her mouth to protest, but a look from her sensei brought her up short.

"I'll make sure she gets the rest she needs," she told the others, "even if it means I have to drug her."

Naruto nodded and let Sakura go. "I'll be back later this morning," he told her softly, "I know it's hard, but please try to get some sleep. It's what Gaara would want."

With tears threatening to flow anew, the pink haired girl only nodded at her friend's words, silently promising that she would try.

All the others stood up and said their farewells to her as they walked past. "If his condition changes, for better or worse, you let us know," Temari told her, squeezing her hand.

"I will," Sakura replied solemnly.

She watched them walk down the hall, their shoulders slumped. All the bravery with which they had started the night completely evaporated after all the events that had transpired.

"Come on, we'll get you a bed," Tsunade was saying as she turned to walk in the opposite direction. "And after you have a good nap, I will very much like to know just what the hell happened!"

Turning round to look at the receding back of her former teacher, Sakura's eyes widened slightly. It was true, Tsunade-sensei had no idea of what had occurred during the past few days nor the events which lead to them to the hospital. Despite all this, she had not hesitated to help Sakura when she was in need and had increased the possibilities of Gaara's survival tenfold with her amazing medical skills.

Smiling slightly in gratitude, she moved forward and caught up with her. Even though it wouldn't be pleasant to relive those terrifying moments again, the retelling of her story was the least she could give to this amazing woman in exchange for the life of her love.

XXXXXXX

It was late afternoon when Sakura walked into the observation room where Gaara was being monitored. She knew she shouldn't be here, but she really couldn't bring herself to care.

The need to see him and sit beside him had been too great. Hence, she had followed her impulses and walked stealthily into the room, avoiding detection.

At the sight of his bruised face and haggard cheeks, tears welled up in her eyes, but she refused to cry. She needed to be strong for him now. During the operation, she had given her all to him in attempt to make him better. Now, all she could do was wait and to stand tall by his side, lending him her strength

All of them were doing just that, in their own way. And hopefully, all their silent prayers and wishes would be enough to bring him back to the waking world.

Walking round the bed, she sat down next to him on a chair, examining the bandages on his torso. When she had made sure that everything was alright, she grabbed his hand gently, caressing his fingers. His knuckles had been completely torn after the fight and some of the cuts on them had needed small stitches. It was actually a miracle that there weren't any broken bones in his hands, since from the looks of it, the power behind his blows must have been immense.

As she sat there beside him, she realized how his hands were a complete paradox. They could caress her and cherish her in the most loving way when they were together in bed, but when he walked unto the fighting arena, those same hands could deal deadly damage.

All in all, that was the precise contradiction which described Gaara as a whole… how he could exist at the opposite ends of the spectrum and make it seem completely natural was something Sakura had always wondered about. But in the end, she had decided not to question it, since she was more than happy with the way things were. That was just the person he was and she loved him all the more for it.

Her fingers trailed up his arm and reached his shoulder, only to move back down to his wrist again. Bruises and injuries covered his whole body and it would be some time before he would be able to walk again, especially with the condition of his ribs.

If he woke up…

Stopping herself, Sakura refused to even think of the possibility of never seeing Gaara's beautiful jade eyes again. She had faith in him and she trusted him enough to know that he would come back to her. Moreover, she had faith in her abilities as a doctor and she knew that she had done everything in her power to save him… and safe he would be.

She continued to caress his arm lovingly for a while, as she forced her mind to think of other things.

Sakura had learned of Sasuke's fate from Naruto earlier in the day and a strange sensation had settled inside her soul. Relief mixed with regret and she allowed herself a moment of weakness in wondering what her ex-lover's life might have been like if things had turned out differently. Not that she had wanted to be with him, definitely not. But she allowed herself to wonder about the type of existence he might have lead if he had decided to step away from the shadows.

Fingers twining between Gaara's, she thought about his hands again. These were the hands that had ended her ex-lover's life.

In all honesty, she didn't blame him for it… she would've probably done the same thing if she had been in his place. Sasuke had been an extremely dangerous person and in Gaara's point of view, you simply did not show mercy to someone who could easily threaten you or your loved ones in the future.

Reaching up with her other hand, she caressed his crimson hair lovingly. Even in this condition, it was incredibly soft and she couldn't help but remember all the times she had buried her hands in his locks while they were making love. Sighing deeply, she outlined the contours of his tattoo tenderly with her fingertip, as if she were caressing the very essence of his soul.

She would've giving anything in the world to be able to catch a glimpse of the brilliant jade eyes under his eyelids. To have him look at her once more… it was a wish she formulated in her heart in that very instant while she closed her own eyes. Maybe if she wished for it strongly enough, her desires would come true.

Holding her breath for long moments, she opened her eyes slowly but was only met by the sight of Gaara's impassive and bruised face breathing into his oxygen mask, eyes closed in deep sleep.

Sakura breathed out deeply, lowering her face to the mattress. With her cheek against his hand, she looked up at him, her heart breaking for the umpteenth time in the past 24 hours.

"Gaara, come back to me," she whispered as she closed her eyes.

The contact of his hand against her face somehow managed to lessen her anxiety and it was easy to let the accumulated exhaustion catch up with her. While listening to her lover's heart monitor in the quiet room, Sakura surrendered to the realm of sleep, grasping his arm unconsciously with her hand while she dreamed.

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