They were all watching me. Temari sat perched on a chair opposite me, her teal eyes observing me as I inked in my drawing. Whenever I moved her eyes followed my actions, and her hawkish watching was beginning to creep me out. Kankurō was no better. He kept gripping the arms of the chair, a diabolical scowl on his face.

Gaara was currently sipping tea; nonchalant.

I had expected everyone not to be so trusting of me anymore. After all, I had tried to run away from them, had stolen a puppet and had prepared to fight them…as well as using my Kekkei Genkai on them in order to run off…It didn't sound so innocent.

Temari had marched me back to the apartment as if she were going to escort me to a death chamber. Her face was grave and impassive, which made me worry.

Her eyes flickered to Gaara, and Temari frowned and gripped her own cup of tea as if wishing to break it. Her eyes were feverish, but with what seemed to be a clash of excitement and concern.

"So…Akiko," she said, breaking the silence, "You and I need to talk. In private."

With the last part she glared at both her brothers, demanding they clear out. A tense moment passed by as Gaara regarded Temari, and I saw him hesitate in meeting her demand. He moved slowly, as if not wanting to leave me. A few moments later Kankurō sulked off after him, his hands deep in his pockets.

As soon as the door closed Temari was in front of me, hands on hips, her sharp eyes searching mine. Setting down my paintbrush, I sighed.

"Yes, Temari?" I asked, unnerved.

Temari chose to sit down next to me, and she gripped both of my hands. For a moment she seemed intent on frowning at them as if they were strange objects that she had never seen before.

"Akiko-Chan," she stated flatly, brushing her hair off her face, "About you and Gaara. I think you should both slow down, because…Kankurō is also in love with you. Seeing you just skip into the sunset with Gaara must really hurt him. Hell, they're both mad about you. If Kankurō makes a move on you in an attempt to win you over, Gaara will react aggressively. He won't hold back, despite it being his brother."

Her words didn't shock me. I knew Kankurō loved me, since he had in fact told me, but I love Gaara. I wasn't going to risk my happiness just so that he'll feel better.

"I can't just ignore how I feel for Gaara, Temari," I whispered, my eyes wondering to the window.

It was pitch black outside, like an onyx curtain with pinpricks of light representing stars…The vast sky made me feel lost, as if I was spinning out of orbit and into the depths of the universe. Temari's voice grounded me.

"I'm not telling you to just 'switch off' your feelings. I'm telling you not to rub your romantic affections for Gaara into Kankurō's face."

Well, she had a point.

Leaning back in my chair, I saw Kankurō outside the door, his eyes flashing danger. From this distance he wouldn't be able to hear us, but I knew he had an idea of what we were talking about. For him, this must be slightly embarrassing…

"Okay, Temari, I'll…go slow."

It wasn't like me and Gaara would be doing this 'kissing' thing on Kankurō's lap now was it? Plus, Gaara was not one of those people to display his emotions so strongly. In fact, earlier tonight was the one time he had shown that he liked me at all.

An abrupt crack jolted me from my thoughts. Both our heads snapped towards the door, just in time to see Kankurō dash away to leave the apartment. I stood in order to follow, but Temari gripped my wrist.

"You'll be giving him the wrong impression if you go after him," she warned.

Sitting down again, I realised Gaara had entered the room. He gave a brief study of the place Kankurō had being, and then proceeded towards us.

"He punched the wall," he stated flatly, and then sat down next to me.

I moved onto his lap, seeking comfort in the warmth of his chest. Gaara obeyed my wishes, lifting me into a more suitable position, propping my head on his shoulder. He rested his arms around me, heaving a long sigh.

"What are we going to do about Kankurō?" I whispered to him, tracing the kanji 'love' on his brow.

Temari sat down heavily, yanking her shoes off. When she glanced over at me and Gaara all snuggled up she rolled her eyes.

"Nothing, Akiko-Chan…just give him time. He can't sulk forever," she retorted, letting her hair down.

Gaara nodded, absorbing everything. He didn't say anything, but his frown deepened as Temari continued talking. When he closed his eyes and pinched his nose I kissed his cheek, not liking the idea of him being stressed.

"I do feel bad for him. The thought of losing Akiko-Sama to someone else would destroy me," he said quietly, tucking my hair behind my ear, "Of course he's going to be in a foul depressed mood."

Silently, I connected our fingers, forgetting Temari was there completely until she announced she was leaving for a walk around. I was embarrassed by my lack of awareness, but was comforted when she gave a lazy smile in our direction before closing the door. It seemed she was happy that Gaara was happy. A slight feeling of pride flourished in me when I realised I made Gaara happy-it made me feel important.

Snuggling into his arms, I mewed in pleasure as he leaned in to give me a passionate kiss. If I could, I would kiss him forever, seriously. How had he acquired this level of skill? It literally had me shivering in delight as he ran his hands down my arms and to my waist. Oh, jeez…

"If you continue I'm going to melt," I protested unthinkingly, running my fingers through his hair.

He chuckled, picking me up in his arms as if I weighed no more than a child. He carried me into my room, placed me on my bed and then gave me one last long, lingering kiss. I could've died from happiness, which I didn't really think was a bad thing. Considering my entire life so far sounded pretty crappy, I think I'm entitled for moments of absolute bliss with Gaara.

And this is bliss…

He pulled away, and I groaned in protest, trying to pull him back.

"I have to stop here, Akiko-Sama…if I don't then I will certainly, inevitably, scare you…" he whispered, and then kissed my forehead.

My brow crumpled in puzzlement, and he kissed my frown away.

"I'll explain in time, don't worry. It's just not time yet, and I want things to be right," he comforted me, and then walked quietly to the door, "Goodnight, Akiko."

I gave him a smile, ludicrously overwhelmed with joy, "Goodnight, Gaara."

He left silently, closing the door on his way out, and I was left grinning at the ceiling. It was ridiculous, but I was so happy it was almost impossible.

I drifted into sleep gratefully, and the night was peaceful and still. Everything was deadly quiet, and my eyes wondered open occasionally. The first few times I opened my eyes they fell on the window and into the outside world. The moon was out, full in its ghostly glory. When I opened my eyes again, however, they found a black silhouette.

Jolting up in my bed, Kekkei Genkai activated, I dragged the person against the window with a solid 'thunk', momentarily stunning them. However, the person grunted and growled in a familiar way, and upon closer inspection, I realised it was Kankurō. His black eyes were intense as they met mine.

"Shit! Kankurō!" I hissed, throwing the window open, "Ever heard of a fucking door?"

He grunted, jumping into my room with shadow-silence. I just shook my head, closing the window before the icy air blasted in, but when I turned Kankurō had his hands on either side on me, his face close to mine.

"Why him?"

Heart thudding, I stared wide-eyed at Kankurō, alarmed at how close he was. Only Gaara had gotten so close, and it felt wrong for someone else to be. It felt too intimate, but with the wrong person.

"Kankurō, you should leave," I whispered, pushing him back a step, "Please."

This only enraged him further, and he reached forward and tilted my chin up, his eyes boring into mine. I tried to step back, but with the window behind me I couldn't go anywhere. Ultimately, I was trapped, unless I used force. My Kekkei Genkai would be useful, but I was running low on chakra after using it so much today.

"Why him? Why did you choose him? Is it because he's the Kazekage, or because he's better looking, or because you like the strong silent type?" he growled, his eyes flashing danger, "Is it something I did?"

Frantically I shook my head, aware he was getting angrier by the second.

"I didn't plan this!" I exclaimed, desperate to shut him up, "I love Gaara. I need Gaara; I will never love anyone else. I'm sorry, but that's not going to change."

Kankurō leaned back as if I had stung him.

Balling up his fists, he paced my room a moment, muttering and grunting. He was working himself into an agitated state. Yet then, he was suddenly in front of me again.

"Kiss me," he whispered urgently, pulling me against him, "He kissed you before you could say anything, so…kiss me, and maybe you'll feel the same."

That enraged me beyond words.

"Feel the same?" I shouted, pushing him away roughly, "No. Just fucking no. What I feel for Gaara has nothing to do with how he kissed me and you didn't. It feels right with Gaara. I feel like I'm so happy, I could practically glow. I'm not just saying I love him over a kiss!"

Kankurō muttered an apology, but still advanced towards me. I tried to summon my energy to fight him, but I had nothing left. It was a battle to just shout expletives at him.

When his lips crushed down onto mine, I tried to push away, but his hands held me in place. I was beginning to panic, feeling him attempt to deepen the kiss while I flailed about for escape. Kankurō growled, his grip loosening on me as if to soothe me, but I fought against him still. This intimacy was wrong. I only wanted this with Gaara.

"Stop," I gasped, feeling his lips on my neck, "fucking stop, or I'll kill you where you stand."

His lips hesitated, but he continued.

"Then kill me. If you do, then you don't want this," he whispered, continuing to nuzzle my neck.

Jeez, does he realise how much of an arse he sounds? I clawed at him, kicked at his legs and twisted away from him, and yet he was still advancing…

"Okay, how about this: If you don't stop I'll scream," I threatened.

He paused in trailing his hands down to my wrists, gently pinning them. I stomped my foot down on his, but he only sighed.

"Then go ahead," he dared, meeting my eyes.

At this point I was livid against how he cocky he was. My heart surged in panic as he leaned in to kiss me again, and I threw myself to the left, letting an ear-piercing scream explode from my throat. Continuously thrashing against him, refusing to conform to what he wanted, I screamed louder.

Kankurō hissed.

"Shut up. I'm not hurting you!"

That made me pause to gasp for air, amused.

"Oh really? Then why am I pinned against a fucking window?" I shouted at him, my words pulsing with sarcasm.

He tried to catch my flailing fists, but then we both heard the front door of the apartment smash open. Thundering footsteps were heard, before my own bedroom door flung open with a sharp crack. Kankurō swore. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.

Gaara unleashed his sand, catching Kankurō, tearing him away from me in a violent yank. He was flung to the wall, and I saw Gaara clearly at last. Yes…he was giving off a death aura, his eyes blazing a promise of death. For a moment I saw the intent to kill overtake him, and his eyes were locked on Kankurō. He was going to kill him.

"No!" I shouted, running at Gaara, "Calm down, Gaara-Sama."

His feverish eyes settled into a simmering fury, less of a danger than before, but still deadly. I hugged him, silently pleading with him, my eyes focussed completely on the fire in his eyes. Temari wasn't kidding when she said he would react violently…

"Akiko, just what did he do?" he asked me, his voice strained.

Kankurō was sitting up now, his eyes wide as he stared at Gaara. Paling a couple of shades, he shrank back towards the wall, as if he were afraid of just what Gaara would do to him.

"He came in through the window, started asking why I didn't choose him, and then he kissed me against my will even though I told him not to several times," I informed him, not about to lie, despite the menace radiating off him.

Gaara bared his teeth.

I understood my words didn't work in Kankurō's favour, yet I needed Kankurō to understand the severity of his actions too. He had just kissed me forcibly, despite me being with Gaara…of course the consequences were going to be apocalyptic.

"Okay, Kankurō, jump out the window. Gaara, stay with me. You two aren't going to see each other until everything has calmed down," I ordered firmly, taking a hold of Gaara's arm.

Kankurō stared at me one last time, his mouth open in silent apology. The tension escalated until he finally slumped into the direction of the window, falling silently into the folds of darkness.

Banging my head softly against Gaara, I let out a sigh. That could have gotten very bad.

"That's it," he whispered seriously, "we're sleeping together."