(A/N): I'm not as confident about this chapter as i have been about others. But i'm really sick right now, and i have to work four days in a row starting tomorrow. It's really not that bad, but when you factor in customers that don't know how to be polite, it adds up. Anyway, not much to say this chapter. Hope you enjoy, and thanks to those of you reviewing!


Wind rushed past Emiko, chilling her skin and freezing her to the bone. Her throat was hurting from screaming so loud, but she couldn't seem to stop. She was a ninja! She wasn't supposed to scream in fear when her death was approaching! But it wasn't, and maybe that's why she couldn't stop herself. She could clearly see Gaara throw himself over the ledge and plummet toward the ground after her. His hair was blown straight back as he rushed after her. Emiko felt things slow down when he got near enough to touch her. Everything was going in slow motion.

Just as Gaara reached out and touched his finger tips against hers, the sky tore open. When his hand closed around hers and he started pulling her closer to him, Emiko saw the first raindrops. Gaara tucked her against his body, cradling her head with one hand against his neck. With his other arm, Gaara held firmly onto her waist. Emiko almost couldn't breath because of how tightly he was holding her.

"Gaara!" Her voice was just a whisper, but the desperation and thankfulness was clear. Gaara's growl vibrated in his throat when he twisted around in the air. The two ninja were now falling feet first toward the ground.

"Don't let go!" Emiko nodded and held onto him. The ground was approaching fast, so Gaara let go of her body and quickly made a few hand seals. All of his sand poured out of his gourd in a single second. It flared out around him, keeping pace with his falling body. Gaara moved one hand out to the left, where half of the sand branched off and moved. It spiraled to the ground, creating a slide. Emiko almost let go when his feet hit the sand. Gaara didn't even grunt when his legs buckled slightly from the impact. He just wrapped his left arm around Emiko, trusting his sand to keep them safe. Gaara slid down the sand while controlling the other half of his sand with his right arm. The sand took on a serpentine shape, arching and sliding gracefully through the air. When it neared the cliff, the ends of it sharpened and became spikes. Gaara forced it forward, pushing Emiko's head against his neck in an attempt to keep any debris from hurting her. The sand creating the ramp twisted and lead him toward the opening he just made. His sand finally ran out, leaving a good fifteen feet between the edge of the ramp and the small cave.

"Don't let go." He repeated, focusing chakra to his feet. Emiko nodded again, pressing herself harder against him.

" I trust you..." She whispered, her lips brushing against his neck. Gaara jumped, hard, and launched the two of them through the air. Though their speed had decreased dramatically thanks to his sand ramp, they were still going to fast. "He's going to-!" Emiko struggled in his grip, desperate to make him let go. " You can't!" She shouted, jerking viloently.

"Shut up" Gaara turned around in mid air, successfully facing his back to the cave just as they entered. He slipped his free arm under her legs and held her bridal style. Dust and sand was sent flying when his feet started to drag across the ground. Gaara forced all the chakra he could to his feet, trying to slow his movements as much as possible. Shukaku would heal any damage he suffered, but he didn't want to be useless if something happened. The less pain the better. But pain was still pain. Even having managed to re-equip his sand armor in time, Gaara still felt himself smack into the rock wall. His back, and the back of his head cracked against the rough surface. For the first time in his life, Gaara was seeing stars. A searing pain like he hadn't felt since his fight with Naruto spread across his body. Gaara was vaguely aware of two things. His sand was quickly flooding back into his gourd. Not a single grain of it was left outside of it. And two, there was a thin body on top of his.

Emiko kept her face against Gaara's chest until the sand and dust was gone. She was sitting directly on his lap, straddling him. Gaara's back was straight against the caves wall, while his legs were straight out infront of him. His arms hung limp by his body. Emiko was gripping onto the front of his shirt as as she slowly raised her head. The rain outside was creating a dull roar inside of the cave, and thanks to the grey sky there was almost no light. Emiko could barely see Gaara in front of her. She could only make out a dark silhouette rubbing its head.

"G-Gaara!" Emiko let go of his shirt and grabbed his shoulders. " Are you alright!" Gaara was in no condition to argue with her when she grabbed his face and tilted his head to both sides. " Why did you do that!" Emiko's shouts were echoing in the cave, contrasting in a strange way with the sound of the rain. " Take off your fucking sand so i can see if your alright!"


Gaara stared at the girl on top of him with wide eyes. Had she really just cursed at him like that? Gaara allowed the sand to fall from his body. Instead of falling to the ground, it flowed into his gourd. As soon as the cap was back in place, Emiko's hands were all over him again. She re-examined his face, tilting his head from side to side. She ran her hands threw his hair to check for cuts on his head. When she was done with that, Emiko went down to his shoulders, than to his chest.

The entire time, Gaara had been to shocked to stop her. She was touching him. HIM. Subaku no Gaara. " she isn't disgusted." Gaara marveled at the girl in his lap, shuddering when she ran her hands through his hair. No one had ever gotten this close to him. No one had ever even touched him this much. Gaara was eternally thankful that he took the pain of the fall for her. He would never second guess saving her again. Especially if it meant she would touch him like this every time. Her hands were so soft, so gentle. She was being careful, just in case he was hurt anywhere. " She cares." He realized, opening his eyes back up. He could see better in the dark than Emiko could, he was sure. He did have a demon affecting him after all. The fishnet that Emiko liked to wear over her tube top was so far off her shoulders that the neck of it was halfway down her chest. Yes, he most definitely had a demon affecting him. Gaara hated himself for allowing his eyes to linger on his friend like that. But she was just so intoxicating. Her scent, it was like a drug. " What is it?" Gaara wondered, watching the rise and fall of her chest.

His eyes shot up to her face when she started tracing her hands down his chest. His talk with Kankuro came to the surface of his thoughts. "dammit." Gaara cursed his brother for making him acknowledge the things he was feeling for Emiko. He shuddered again when she stopped her ministrations and rested her hands on his chest. The fire that had been following her touches started to die down. There was only a ghost of a reminder that she had been touching him. " Don't...'Stop.'" Gaara quickly shut his mouth, praying she hadn't heard him.

" Don't what?" Well shit. Gaara eyed the slight blush on her face. " Are you hurt?" Her eyes showed him her concern for his well being. She shifted in his lap, leaning forward slightly and cupping his face.

" Fuck!" Gaara couldn't take it anymore. When she moved, she had accidentally brushed against him. Gaara was already having a hard time controlling his, 'urges', as Kankuro put it. It didn't help when she leaned closer to him, cupping his face in her soft hand. She was painful oblivious to the position they were in. Gaara had heard of being kind to a fault, but until that moment, he'd never really understood how it was possible. She was truly only thinking about whether or not he was hurt. Gaara shut his eyes and tried counting to ten. He was only on six when she said his name. He snapped. It was bad enough to have her on top of him. But to have her touching him, than calling his name with a voice like that? it was just torture.

'do it!'

Emiko didn't even have time to yelp before Gaara had her pinned beneath him. He had ditched his guord and trapped her beneath him in one fluid movement. Gaara grabbed her wrists and held them above her head. He forced her legs open with a knee and positioned himself between them. He was panting, hovering just above her and pressing her wrists down with a bruising force. No one would hear them. They were in some cave that he made on the border of the Wind country. Sakura and Kakuro had no doubt gone ahead to find Temari. The rain was loud enough to drown out any noise, and he could always just cover her mouth.

"Gaara!" Gaara tore his eyes from the entrance of the cave and looked down at his prey. Emiko was staring up at him with a look of complete horror. Her purple eyes were filling with tears and her bottom lip was quivering.

" Your scared of me?" gaara loosened his grip on her wrists in his disbelief. Now, now she was scared of him? She'd seen him tare people apart with his sand, destroy the leaf, and almost kill Naruto. But now, of all times she was scared of him! " WHY!" Gaara ordered, slamming her hands back against the ground. Emiko winced, but bit her lip to avoid screaming. " WHY ARE YOU SCARED OF ME!" Gaara bent down to shout in her face. " You shouldn't be scared!" he spoke quieter now, lowering his mouth to her ear.

" Please..." Her plea was pathetic to him.

" I know your stronger than that." He whispered into her ear, forcing her hands back down from her attempt to escape. " Don't fuck with me right now." He grinned wildly when he felt her shudder below him.

" Please...Gaara..." Gaara sighed against her neck and raised himself enough to look her in the eyes. What he saw made him freeze.

" No..." Gaara's eyes started to shake when he saw his reflection. Instead of the jade green he was accustom to seeing, yellow eyes looked back at him. The dark circles around his eyes had gotten bigger, and when he grimaced, he could see fangs.

" Your not you right now," Emiko whispered, bringing his attention back to him. " So please, stop."

" I-I" As Gaara looked down at Emiko he finally realized just what he was doing. She was right, this wasn't him. " I wouldn't hurt you." Gaara said, finally letting go of her wrists. Gaara put his hands on either side of her head. Emiko stayed beneath him, breathing just as hard as he was. Gaara continued looking her in the eyes. He saw everything. He saw the time she was forced to watch her family die. He saw the time she was forced to leave him. Gaara could see the training she was forced to go through because of her father. He saw all of the pain she had been forced to endure during her life. He refused to be another reason for pain that was forced upon her. He wanted to fuck her so badly right now, but he would wait. He had to.

" I won't hurt you." He repeated, falling onto the ground beside her. Gaara's arms were stretched out in front of him as he lay on his side. His smooth, pale face was pressed against the cool rock floor. His messy red hair was all over the place, falling over his eyes and covering his ear.

"cute." the word passed breifly through Emiko's mind. She looked outside, guaging the rain. " it won't stop raining for a while." She said, looking back to her friend. Gaara only nodded, keeping his eyes on her. " Can you still not sleep?" It was a stupid question, but Emiko couldn't think of anything to say.

" No." Gaara rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. " Not unless you want to fight Shukaku."

Emiko was halfway sitting up when she froze and stared at him. He glanced at her, than blushed and looked away.

" Did...Gaara just tell a joke!" Emiko burst out into laughter, holding her stomach and doubling over. Any fear from what just transpired disappeared. " Oh my God!" Her shout was broken, laughter taking over her voice. Gaara grumbled and turned his back toward her. He would never say anything again if she was going to react so wierdly. Yet, Gaara still found himself smiling.

" And now a smile to!" Gaara jumped when Emiko appeared in front of him, poking his face. She laughed again, tears starting to form in the corner of her eyes because of her laughter. " I'm the luckiest person in the world right now!" She cheered, fist pumping the air.

" Your trying to hard." Gaara sneered, facing his back to her again.

" Smartass" She muttered, puffing her cheeks out at him. " But still..." Gaara closed his eyes and waited for her to tell him how much she hates him right now. " I don't hate you right now, Gaara." His eyes shot open, but he kept his back to her. " It's my fault, that were in this mess. I shouldn't have fallen off the ledge. And even if i did, i should have been able to save myself. I'm a Ninja for fucks sake." Gaara couldn't take not looking at her when she spoke. He sat up and turned to face her. Emiko was laying on her back, staring up at the ceiling. Without even looking at him she patted the ground next to her. Gaara took his sweet time laying down next to her, looking at her from the corner of his eye. She had let her hair down, using it as a slight protection from the hard ground. Her hands were folded on her stomach, and her legs were close together.

"why don't you hate me?" Gaara wondered, keeping his eyes on her.

Emiko let out a short laugh. She closed her eyes and recited the words that Gaara had only just remembered. " No matter how much you hurt me, or how far we get separated, i will never forget you. I will never hate you." She opened her eyes again and looked over at Gaara. " Did you forget?"

" No."

" Good." The two of them laid in silence for a while. They listened to the sound of the rain, both lost in their own train of thoughts. Emiko finally broke the silence. " You don't twitch, or jump as much as you used to. You don't really blush anymore either." Emiko turned her head to smile at him.

" Your not as brave as you used to be." Gaara turned his head toward her with a small smirk.

" Ooooh, another smile!" Emiko laughed when Gaara glared at her and wiped the smile off of his face. " I bet you cheat with your sand armor any way." Emiko pouted at him and glared. " I want to make a bet with you!"

" What?" Gaara was already hating where this was going. His friend's eyes sparkled with some kind of mischief as she stated her bet.

" One whole day. That's all i ask. One whole day without your sand armor."

" You just fell off of a cliff." Gaara reminded her, staring back at the ceiling. He wasn't going to risk the puppy dog eyes. He'd only seen her do it once. It was back before they'd left on this mission. Kankuro had the last cookie, and Emiko just walked up to him and asked for it. At first, Kankuro said no, but when she gave him 'the eyes' he crumbled. Gaara was amazed that it only took a look to make his brother give up the cookie. Emiko just took it and skipped away to her room like it was nothing.

" I promise i'll be on high alert the whole time!" Emiko flailed her arms out in front of her. " Even if it's just Matsuri, i promise i'll chop her head off if she jumps out at you!" Gaara smirked again. " See? Not such a bad idea! So, do we have a deal?"

"..."

" Alright! The day after we get back. No backing out!" Emiko laughed and rolled onto her side, putting her hands under her head. Gaara was still staring at the ceiling. " Is it okay if i go to sleep?" Emiko yawned, covering her mouth with the back of her hand.

Gaara finally rolled over onto his side, putting one hand under his head. " I will keep watch."

" Don't watch me while i sleep." Emiko muttered, turning her back to him. Gaara mourned the loss of her face, but he could wait. She was already starting to breath slower. Ignoring the dull pain in his back, Gaara remained frozen in his position until she fell asleep. When he was sure she was asleep, he moved closer to her, gently turning her around. He caught her head, allowing her to use his hand as a pillow. It was almost funny how much like Naruto she was sometimes. Both of them were dangerously deep sleepers. Gaara wasn't sure how much later it was, but when a good amount of time had passed he opened his eyes again. Emiko had shifted in her sleep, bringing her closer to him. She was now resting her head on his chest, one arm draped over him while the other was stuck between their bodies. Gaara loved being around Emiko when she was sleeping. It was the only time she wasn't guarding herself. He doubted she knew it, but she talked alot in her sleep.

" Gaara..." He raised a brow when she muttered his name. She smiled softly and snuggled closer to him. After another few hours had passed, Gaara understood why she asked him not to watch her. She wasn't trying to be funny.

" No..." Emiko clutched onto his shirt, frowning in her sleep. " no...Hiroshi...mom...please..." Gaara felt something stir in his heart when he saw a tear roll down her face. More followed the first, falling as small drops on his shirt. Gaara was contemplating whether or not he should wake her up. He didn't want her to cry. " don't leave me..." Emiko silently sobbed, gripping onto him even harder.

Gaara instantly wrapped his arms around her. He pulled her as close to him as he could. Sand leaked out of his gourd, slithering across the floor and sliding over their bodies. For the rest of the night, Gaara held onto Emiko. He let her cry, silently promising to never let anything hurt her ever again. She didn't deserve to be in pain.

" I will protect you." he whispered, leaning his head toward hers. When he was sure she wouldn't wake up, Gaara placed a small, very soft kiss on her head. She was his, and he would keep her safe. No matter what.