"I'm not doing the mission," Gaara growled at Baki.

"WHAT! You must, your Kazekage told you to," he yelled, outraged. "I'm not fighting against Miyako," Gaara snapped, slowly he tried unclenching his fist but he found it impossible. "Talk some sense into him, he must do it," Baki ordered Temari and Kankuro. "I'm sorry but I can not face Miyako either, one, she is stronger than us and two, Gaara cares about her and so do I, we have become friends," Temari whispered. Baki growled and then turned to Kankuro, "What about you Kankuro,"

"I can not do this mission; I can see that Gaara is in love with this girl, even though he would never admit it. Do you want to be the person responsible for killing the person that he cares about, he would hunt us down and kill us, I would rather be eaten alive by Shino's chakra eating bugs," Kankuro said solemnly whilst Gaara's cheeks dusted pink. "I'm not in love with her, Shukaku is in love with Tora, that is it," Gaara growled under his breath.

"You were in love with her before she told you, we saw her go to your apartment, we saw you take her in, we watched you comfort her, and she loves you too because she was the first person she went to after departing from the Hokage's office," Temari patted Gaara's shoulder.

"I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH HER, IT'S ONLY SHUKAKU INFLUENCING MY EMOTIONS, THAT IS ALL," he screamed. Everyone turned their heads to someone's sharp intake of breath, then a choked sob and finally tears hitting the concrete. "Miyako…" Gaara breathed before running after their spy. "Temari, Kankuro help me get her," they nodded once before jumping in different directions. After several hours, they had her. Kankuro held her arms behind her back and Temari watched out for any threats. Miyako's eyes burned with hatred, anger and … where was that usual gleam in her eye. It looked like someone or something had died within her. "Miyako …" Gaara started.

"SHUT UP, DON'T TALK TO ME, I HATE YOU, HATE YOU HATE YOU HATE YOU, I VOWED TO PROTECT YOU AND THIS IS MY RESPONSE," she growled.

"Miyako …" he tried again.

"I SAID SHUT IT, I NEVER WANT TO HEAR ANOTHER WORD ESCAPE YOUR LIPS, I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN, LET GO, LET GO LET GO LET GO," she squirmed around, trying to get free. "She's got a big mouth this one hasn't she," Kankuro whispered. Miyako stared at Kankuro, shooting deadly daggers at him. "Miyako…" Gaara growled.

"SHUT UP, CAN'T YOU SEE I'M BUSY AT THE MOMENT, I'M NEVER LISTENING TO YOU AGAIN, NEVER EVER, EVER, EVER," she screamed.

"Miyako…"

"I'M NOT LISTENING, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH …," she ranted until a pair of lips captured hers. He let go after a few moments and her legs gave way. "Hold her up," he ordered his brother, who was now just staring, his jaw touching the floor. Kankuro picked up the limp Miyako. "Miyako…" Gaara tried saying but she was shouting again. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU JUST DID THAT, AS YOU SAID, YOU DON'T LOVE ME, AND YOU'RE JUST SATISFYING SHUKAKU'S NEEDS YOU PEVERTED LITTLE JINCHŪRICHI."

'What did I do to deserve this,' he pinched the bridge of his nose in annoyance. "SHUT UP AND LISTEN WILL YOU!" he shouted at Miyako. Her mouth stayed shut and her skin got paler and paler. "How long have we got left until the end of the Chunin exams," he asked Kankuro.

"Not long, two sound nin are next and then it's you and Uchiha," he replied.

"Better make this quick," Gaara grumbled before talking to Miyako, "I only said those things so Baki didn't think I was weak, also now he is going to target you to get me to do the mission, also it is true that Shukaku loves Tora but …" he struggled to finish. "I think, what Gaara is trying to say is that he doesn't hate you, he feels something else towards you, Gaara do you get a dull ache in your heart when she speaks to you but you can't see her," Temari walked behind him.

He nodded.

"Do you get a warm fuzzy feeling in your veins when she says your name?"

He nodded.

"That night, when she was asleep and she said she loved you, did your heart almost burst with joy and happiness?"

He nodded.

"Does the thought of her being killed or even injured make you angry?"

He nodded.

"Do you love her?"

He nodded, his cheeks flushed pink. "No he doesn't, he thinks he knows the meaning of love, but what has he got to compare against," she closed her eyes. Then the worst thing for Gaara happened. She began coughing.