Gaara covered his eyes, wanting not to see, not to hear. "No! Please, don't!"

He whimpered as the hands that grasped his shoulders slid down to his waist, and the eyes that bored into his narrowed. Gaara closed his eyes, twisting his face away. His hands were jerked from the position where they covered his eyes, and pinned to his side. "What's a-matter, Gaara, baby? Don'cha wanna play?"

"No! No, no, I don't! I don't wanna!" Gaara sobbed as his tormentor chuckled and leaned in closer.

"Oh, but I do. " Gaara screamed as the man morphed into a dark looking creature. A larger head took over the human one, the eyes large and ominous. "Don't you wanna play?"

The freak of a monster lurched forward, a terrific gurgling sound emerging from its throat. It sounded almost as if it was choking on its laughter, and if that was laughter, he must've found Gaara's predicament pretty damn hilarious.

Gaara reeled backwards, away from its groping hands and tried to slither under the bed. He was taller than he remembered- it was as if he had just grown three feet in the two seconds that it had taken to dive under the bed. He cried out as one of its wet, clammy hands closed down around his ankles. Kicking out at it, he broke free. "Come back here, Gaara, boy! Let's have a little fun!"

"No! Never, you sick fuck! It's not fun! " Gaara held back an infuriated shout as he wiggled out from underneath the bed to the other side, in a manner consistent with army-style. But, when he got up and started to run, he glanced back. The bed, as well as the bedroom, was gone. He was surrounded by dark grey, nearly black. But not complete black. The only thing that was completely dark was the creature following him.

He glanced over his shoulder as he sprinted through the gray haze, emitting a loud scream as the monster leaped and pinned him to the ground. "Let me go!"

"Never." Gaara cringed away from that damned harsh whisper, and then cried out when the arms of the monster wrapped around him.

Gaara bolted up in his seat, the sounds of his screaming rousing him from his sleep. He flopped back onto the bed, lacing his hands behind his head in a weary sort of way. Why was he having nightmares like this all of a sudden? The big dark man had been gone for a long time, and its sudden re-occurrence startled him to know end. What the reason for their return?

He rolled over onto his side and stared at the door, the heavy sound of his brother's breathing on the other half of the couch somewhat soothing. He tried to ignore the throbbing sensations that arose in his skull at the thought of his brother, but found that they got worse the harder he focused on ignoring them. Avoiding the thought of them was easier than trying to ignore the pain that they caused, because to ignore pain it had to be acknowledged in the first place.

Gaara, chest heaving, glanced over to his brother, who lay sprawled out on the opposite side of the couch. Feverish mumblings were slipping from his lips as well, and his breathing was distorted. Gaara hadn't realized it, but when his brother's breathing and distress increased, so did his own. He'd been matching his breaths to his brother's deeper, slower ones in an attempt to fall back asleep. However, it had only led him to hyperventilate.

Gaara's breathing tripped when suddenly there was freshly applyed wait to the area of the couch above his shoulder, and he looked up to see the giggling indifference of the pink-haired girl. Lately he'd been unsure about his motives toward her, and her sudden appearance- not the mention the manner in which she conducted it- further stumped him.

She looked away, only turning her gaze back to him when he could tell she was no longer able to stand the deathly glare. "Well... What-?"

"Hn." Gaara looked away, turning his glower to the television screen.

"You're cute when you're asleep." Mused Sakura, leaning comfortably into the back of the couch. Gaara snorted and didn't look away from the TV.

"What the hell would you know about cute?"

"A lot." Sakura replied, the smile evident in her tone. Gaara turned to look at her, his sneer deepened by her jovial appearance. This wasn't right... "But you, obviously, do not. I bet barely anyone called-"

"Well, don't call me cute, or I'll-" Gaara thought for a moment, "I'll kill you. You hear me?"

Sakura laughed and rolled her eyes, tuning out the hazy laughter on the television. "You know, Gaara, I never figured you as one for sitcoms..."

"I'm not. This is just the only channel I could find that doesn't have infomercials on at like three in the morning."

"Uh-huh. Sure. Maybe you're just missing the normalness that you're supposed to have. Maybe it's a sign! Maybe it means something! Gaara, this is huge. I think we should tell Tsunade. Maybe she'll give you an award, or something! Somebody sound the alarms! Gaara is having emotional progression!" Sakura giggled at her own sarcastic skepticism. Gaara's lips curled slightly in the effort of a wry smile. Sakura bit her lip, suddenly nervous, and leaned forward slightly. "So, why can't I call you cute?"

"I dunno... My uncle used to call me that."

"Oh, really? That's cool, I guess. What would you prefer I call you, Gaara?"

Gaara, missing the sexy allure of her tone, shrugged. Sakura rolled her eyes, and started again. "So, I don't really have any uncles. Lucky." Sakura frowned when he bolted up and his hand streaked to her face, stopping just before the slap could effect itself. His hand hovered there, usnure of whether or not he was apt to follow though with the action.

"Uh-uh. Don't say that."

"Why not? Sakura asked curiously, her frown lessening with the realization that he wasn't going to hit her. Her own hands sought to comfort him, but she reined them in before she contacted him, remembering his offense to physical contact.

"I-hn. Why would I actually tell you anything?" Gaara snorted his disdain, practically throwing himself off of the couch before nearly sprinting back to his room. Sakura followed him just as quickly, her small frame slipping past him as he walked into his room. "Do you need something?"

"Yeah, actually." Sakura brushed past his human barricade, and smiled as she dropped herself down onto his bed. She giggled at the fierce expression he bore, knowing that the intense resolve he seemed to appeal to meant nothing.

"Well?"

Sakura's smile faded as she remembered what she was meant to ask him in the first place, and Gaara's own lips lifted slightly. "Why did-... You helped me, and you didn't have to. I-... why did you do that?"

"I dunno. Maybe I like messing with you. Maybe I think that's my job. I guess that means you're my bitch." Sakura laughed aloud at this, falling into a breathless fit of laughter.

"Oh my god- was- did- you. Just. Told. A. Joke!"

Gaara shrugged, tugging as hard as he could at his lips. Was this a smile? Did it count? His smile fell as he worried that he would never smile again. It seemed that even when he was having fun- even a tiny bit- he couldn't bring himself to smile. He was broken.

Sakura stiffened slightly when suddenly his hand looped around her wrist, and he leaned in. "Scared?"

She nodded, and he smirked. "You're not a fighter, that's for sure." He sighed again when she rolled her eyes in response. What good was picking on someone if you barely got any reaction?

"All right, look. I've got a deal to make with you, and I don't particularly care what you think of it. You're going to carry out your part of the deal whether you like it or not. Don't ask me why either- I think I actually am crazy for considering this."

"What exactly are you considering?" She looked over to his brother, wondering if he really was asleep. She thought about how awkward it would be if he was awake after all.

"There are people here that would do things- horrible things. Even in here they're capable of effecting their fantasies, but I can... stop them from hurting you. Don't think this means I like you or anything, or that we're friends. I'm just doing this because I'm the only one that gets to screw with your mind."

"What the hell are you getting at?" Demanded Sakura, trying to replace her immense fear with anger.

"I'm getting at this- some of the people here would torture you to death, and then make a wax model out of you to keep the 'memory' alive." Sakura visibly shuddered at this, and Gaara chuckled darkly. "I'll look out for you, got it? But you've got to stay away from who I say, and do as I tell you without question. Don't bother asking why- if I've said it, then chances are it's pretty damned important."

Sakura giggled, nervously looking away. She turned her gaze back to him, smiling the shy nervous smile that she hadn't aired in quite a while. Gaara frowned slightly, his lightly colored eye brows drawing together in a contemplative pose. Sakura's lips parted in prompt to ask him what was wrong, but she found herself suddenly unable to talk. Gaara suddenly leaned in, planting a smooth, burning kiss on her parted lips. He pulled back slower than he'd gone in, but it wasn't exactly a slow withdrawal. It all happened so fast that she didn't know what to make of it.

"Hn. I would've thought that would be more exciting." In response to her look of disproval, he made an amused sort of grunt. Lifting himself from the bed, he easily sauntered from the room in that specific way that he had. Sakura stared after in disbelief. What the hell had just happened?

Naruto pulled Sasuke down to him, his fingers scrabbling for purchase on the Sasuke's belt.

"Naruto, w-"

"What. Now?" Growled Naruto, curling his fisted fingers into Sasuke's shirt. Sasuke grimaced at the gesture, hanging his head. Naruto's hands released, and then reattached on both sides of his head. "What?"

"I dont..." Sasuke growled impatiently as he tried to think of the words that would not come. Playfully, Naruto rolled them over so that he was pinning his dark-haired counterpart.

"Don't tell me you're scared. I was gonna make you work for this, but it looks to me like I'm doing more work than you!"

"Get off me."

"H-huh? But, I thou-" Sasuke snorted and cut Naruto's statement off.

"You thinking? Don't make me laugh!" Sasuke shoved at Naruto who still hadn't moved, and then let out a low, rumbling sigh of disproval. "Get off me, you idiot. I'm not having sex with you."

"Why not?" Demanded Naruto, shoving himself off of Sasuke and onto the narrow bed. He used more force than neccesary, glad to see that the wind was knocked out of Sasuke in the process.

"I- this is different. You wouldn't know what I meant if I tried to explain it!" Sasuke rolled off the lower bunk and plopped down in his chair by the barred window.

"So? You could at least tell me what's wrong! What did I do this time?" Naruto's lips sank into a grimace when Sasuke didn't look up from the bars of the window.

"It's not- oh, god, this sounds so corny. It's me, but it's you, too. Because, ... of how I feel about you."

"Oh... You don't... Like me?" Whispered Naruto, his eyes downcast. Sasuke flinched and hastily shook his head, even though Naruto couldn't see him.

"I never said that, at least not about this." Sasuke hissed. Naruto's confused expression didn't even surprise him.

"About what? I don't get it..." Naruto groaned, covering his face with both of his hands.

"I like you, Naruto. This is different than... I don't usually stick around after I have sex with somebody. I'm not good with the whole relationship thingy. I mean, I want to, this time, but...sex complicates things for me. "

"Oh..." Naruto smiled slightly and then sighed. Sasuke smiled, and silently they agreed to hold off on the sex. It was going to be a long day, and an awkward wait.

The music at the party was loud, a bit too loud- which was a good thing. It would work in their favor when they were trying to muffle Kisame's screams. Not that he'd be able to scream, once they got through with him.

Sakura looked around, trying to find him. They'd all been forced to show their costume in art the day previous, to get them all used to seeing each other. That way it would be a sure thing to identify who everyone was, and to keep fights from breaking out. Some people would be leery of the costumes had they not seem them enough times before the Halloween party.

Gaara, decked out in some of the creepiest threads she'd ever seen, waited patiently by the door. He was in line for the bathroom, which was moving very slowly thanks to Naruto and Sasuke's antics. They'd clogged all the toilets, and even some of the urinals. This way Gaara would be free to stand about without looking completely out of place. And when he got mad enough, he could stalk into the bathroom. He would get 'mad' whenever they caught sight of Kisame.

Kiba was in charge of covering the snack table- he was the most obvious one other than Naruto to go for the food. Kallou hung close to him, unsure of what to do other than that. It was obvious now- even to the other patients. The few girls that had been hounding Kiba- pun intended- had withdrawn their ploys, seeing Kallou as an obstacle. Obstacles didn't agree with them.

Sakura readjusted the hem of her micro-mini skirt, hoping to at least cover her ass-cheeks. For a homosexual, Naruto sure liked to showcase. Her outfit consisted of a short- very short- skirt of a deep green color, as well as a tube-top covered in leaves and vines. A shrug- deep brown and feathery- was tightly fit to her shoulders and securely fastened at near the beginning of the expanse of her ribs. The shrug- in some odd, intricate design by Naruto- tapered into fantastic wings. Her skin had been tinted by Kai with some sort of make-up. Her skin tone was now sallowed, her pink hair standing out in the crowd. She was some sort of Earth Faerie, and Gaara was her counterpart, though he was more subtle and less obvious. He seemed to be the evil part of the earth.

He wore snuggly fit pair of jeans, dark brown in color. His shirt was green, and covered in already-there leaves and elemental designs. His hair was as wild as ever, and his skin tone was darkened to a moody tanish green. He'd been taking forever to do it himself, and had finally allowed Kai to help him out. His shoes were dark moccasins of a smooth material, because hard soled shoes were not allowed. They matched Sakura's knee-highs perfectly.

Kallou and Kiba were adorned in matching outfits that didn't quite resemble the dog look they were going for. Both wore brown shirts and pants- Kiba wore a pair of Kallou's skinnies- and both had on brown flip-flops. Kallou's hair was pulled into little pigtails that somewhat resembled dog ears, and painted brown. Her face and skin was painted in accordance to Kiba's demands. Kai had given both of them a distinct dog look, though was still not very happy about how it had turned out. Not that it mattered- the two love-puppies had been kissing when their make-up was still wet.

Shikamaru was going as a stoner- for the simple ease of changing, and the lack of effort. His outfit consisted of loose-fit jeans, a band t-shirt, and his hair pulled back in a lazy pony-tail that allowed for strands of his bangs to hang free. In essence, he had the whole stoner thing down, he just needed the stereotypical clothing.

Naruto was wearing... well, he was looking pretty scary, actually. He was decked out in a dark robe, with all sorts of fake instruments hanging off of it, as well as blood oozing from random cuts and bruises. Fake blood stained his hair and dribbled down the side of his face. Sasuke was his victim, and oozed an even greater amount of blood.

Kankuro had decked himself out in shredded garbs, and Kai had painted him to be a ghoulish, pale color. His eyes bled a deep red, and his hair was sticking up at odd angles that suggested bed head of a dangerous degree. He and Kai matched him as well. They both looked quite terrifying, but that was okay- it was what they were going for.

Kai looked up from her position by the 'DJ'- it was actually their history teacher dressed up in what he called his 'gangster attire', and scoped around for their target. His gray-white hair looked out of place in comparison to his hip clothing, but he wasn't exactly old, so it worked.

She couldn't find him- where the hell had he gone? Did he know that he was going to die? Kai sighed, turning her head to glance over at the door where Kankuro leaned casually against the wall. He shrugged only slightly, and she rolled her eyes in aggravation.

In the process of rolling her eyes she found him. He was creeping along in the shadows of the dance floor in a manner most creepy. Kai caught Sakura's eye, and wordlessly gestured to him. This was going to be fun. However, catching the bastard was only the beginning.

Gaara bristled angrily, catching the subtle signal easily, just as they knew he would. Shoulder his way past some of those waiting in line, he was amused at how their expressions quickly changed from angered to submissive when they realized who he was. Kiba and Naruto looked up with surprise when he waltzed in, cool and relaxed as ever.

"Get the fuck out. You screw-ups have had your time. Now let me piss before I rip your heads off."

Of course, there were still other men in the bathroom- one of them was open, but it was hard for some men to take a piss when there were two other men- especially one that had been rumored to be gay. Gaara snickered at the pricelessly well acted expressions they bore, and laughed out loud when they hunched their shoulders and waddled out of the bathroom, their pants around their ankles. He had no idea what the last bit was for, but it was priceless.

Hurrying to relieve himself- of course had actually had to pee, for it wouldn't be real enough if he didn't- he then stalked out of the restroom at a pace that would impress even some of the fastest speedwalkers. His lean legs covered the ground quickly, and in no time at all he was closing the gap between himself and Kisame. However, once he was within reaching distance, he was shocked to see that Sakura had already beat him to it. Kisame was- or at least he thought he was- talking her into taking a "walk". Kisame probably thought he was either getting laid or a quick meal.

"Sakura, what are you doing?" He hissed, his hands encircling her arms. Kisame frowned, and Sakura rolled her eyes. "I thought I talked to you about th-"

"Gaara, relax. Kisame's harmless. He's a chef for crying out loud. What's he gonna do? And besides, you don't own me- I'm my own woman! I can do what I want with whoever I want. Got it?"

Gaara's breath stopped in its tracks, and he glared at her with such intensity that she almost broke. He didn't know that she wasn't serious- he couldn't know. She didn't know his acting skills- whenever he did something, he meant it. If he didn't honestly mean he anger at her, then it might not work. She wasn't sure of whether or not Kisame would've bought his act of anger, unless it was real.

Gaara stepped back, crossing his arms over his chest as he tried to keep from killing Kisame right there. She was his. She didn't get to do that- or even discuss it- with anyone other than him, now that they'd made that agreement. Sure he hadn't actually said it, but he'd implied the meaning behind his deal. She was going right back on it, and he'd likely kill her for it, if Kisame didn't first.

"Ooh, I love taking strolls around the halls! It's so quiet, and peaceful..." Breathed Sakura easily. Gaara cocked a brow, unsure of how she could go from being a terrible actor to a great one in no time flat.

"How 'bout we take a... long walk, Sakura?" Kisame pressed, his voice a low, rumbling tone that Gaara wasn't sure of. It could've been menacing or an attempt at sexy- either would've been terrifying to Sakura.

Sakura slipped her hand into Kisame's, and smiled over Kisame's shoulder at Gaara, raising a suggestive brow. Gaara growled loudly, the sound dying when even Kisame turned to look at him. "Hey, look, man, she's done with you. It's my turn now. Somehow, I don't think you'll mind too much."

Gaara's breath froze again when he said that. Kisame nodded slightly at the panicked expression on Gaara's face, and Sakura rolled her eyes- another show of good acting. Shikamaru had given her something to make her more alert, and whatever it was had worked. Her cheeks lifted in a soothing smile, and she grabbed Kisame by the arm.

"Come on, let's go, already. I want to get back in time for the best costume award!" She giggled as she looked Gaara up and down, and then she turned to Kisame again. "I wonder if Naruto and Sasuke will win."

Gaara anxiously looked down at his own clothing, suddenly ashamed of their lack of character. He felt the anger welling up in the pit of his stomach, and he mentally groaned. Why now? She picked now of all times to make him feel vulnerable? She tried to catch his eye again and give him some kind of reassurance- she hadn't meant to go this far! Her eyes had softened, and she longed to reach out and hug him. But that couldn't happen. He never looked up, and he never caught her eye. Sakura gulped, turning to go with Kisame. She would never have gone that far if she had known it might disuade him from helping her. From the looks of it, it seemed that he was going to let Kisame do what he wanted. Sakura regretted her moment of acting genius, and she was afraid it would come back and haunt her.

Kallou looked over to Kiba, moving into action when he gave her that slight nod. Now was the time.

Moving along the edge of the dance floor, she blended into the darkness that welled up in the corners of the large room. Ducking under her table, she yanked the white uniform on. It was a doctor's outfit. Not the slutty Halloween kind, but an actual copy of the doctor's scrubs and white coat. The others all had different outfits, and this was the only one that she could find on such short notice- especially that would match her deeply colored skin. She had a medical mask over her mouth to cover the dog features, and she could only hope that it would be enough to conceal her identity.

She peaked out from under the tablecloth to make sure that there was no one coming towards the table, and then quick-as-could be scurried out from underneath of it. Making her way towards the door, she made a big show of tripping and stumbling. She looked half-drunk, and she was hoping that it would appear she was heading back towards her room. Of course, there wasn't alchohol in the place, but she looked old enough to pass for twenty-one, and if they suspected alchohol....

They'd go searching for it, instead of searching for her. Tsunade eyed her once or twice before directing a nurse to take her back to her room.

The nurse, of course, didn't know which room number, and asked Tsunade. Tsunade called the nurse a few choice words, and then told him to go ask the 'drunk-son-of-a-bitch', not her. He nodded vigorously before heading over to Kallou and gently taking her by the arm. Leading her towards the door, he asked her politely where her room was. Kallou slurred, and thought quickly on her feet. She'd planned on just knocking the guy out when they left the room, but he was too sweet.

She continued to point directions to the gullible nurse, feeling only slightly bad about misleading him. At least they were doing something for a greater cause, right?

Kiba caught up to them in no time at all, having escaped the confines of yet another 'cell'. It was something he was known for. Escaping. He hadn't thought of escaping lately, because he'd had his eye on the prize. Ironically, keeping his eye on this prize meant him escaping.

"Come on, sugar. I thought you wanted this." Kisame Chuckled, his voice ominous and oddly endearing. It seemed that he truly did love her, but it was equally terrifying in that she knew he meant otherwise.

"N-no. I wanted a walk, and a talk. Kisame, this is too- it's too fast!" Sakura's thin hands pressed against him in an attempt to ward him off, but he pressed forward.

Gaara watched from the apex of the wall into an outward-angled apex. He peaked out silently, begging her to notice him. He was begging her to notice that he wasn't protecting her. He wanted her to realize that she needed him more than he'd ever need her.

Sakura's eyes squeezed tight as Kisame leaned in, and her breathing faltered, settling into a frenzied fit of hyperventilation. Her eyes opened again when he bit her shoulder, his teeth sinking deep into the flesh. She bit back her scream, her neck twisting as she avoided looking at her attacker. Her eyes flickered past Gaara, and then reeled back to look at him. He narrowed his eyes, and lifted his chin in a defiant manner, and she grunted angrily.

Kisame looked up, her blood trickling from his lips and she tried to repress the grimace. She made herself make a moaning sound when he bit her again, and out of the corner of her eye she saw Gaara bristle.

"Come on. I thought I was your bitch, Gaara!" Sakura retorted in a stage-whisper. She was responding to his sullen silence, and finally she was getting something out of him.

"Huh? What are-" Kisame broke off when Gaara arms enclosed his neck and shoulders. Pinning the larger man against himself, he wrestled Kisame in a choke-hold to the floor. Sakura let out a sigh of relief, and sank to the floor. Cradling her wounds with one hand, she leaned over Kisame to spit in his face.

"Stupid, sick, fuck!" Sakura's lip curled back in disdain when he only laughed in response, the sound coming out gurgled and frightful. Gaara's eyes widened a fraction, and then he pressed down harder.

By the time everyone else around, Kisame was out cold. They were going to have to take him back to their own wing and tie him up. They at least deserved to have a little fun with him, didn't they? There was more than one point to mutilating him. His own pain and humiliation- which wouldn't be felt if he wasn't lucid enough to feel it- and the message to the public. What point was a slicing and dicing if they wouldn't get any satisfaction out of it?

Naruto rested his head on Sasuke's shoulder, not caring if some of his make-up smeared. He was having fun, and he knew Sasuke was too.

As much fun as they were having, none of them could wait to get back to the wing so they could begin their task. Sasuke tilted Naruto's chin up to look him in the eyes, and Naruto blushed slightly when Sasuke kissed him in front of everyone. Naruto's moment of extreme-horn-doggedness had passed, and he no longer felt the urge to hump the living hell out his dancing partner.

They went back to dancing, their kiss aired to everyone. Sasuke grinned triumphantly to all the girl patients that'd been eying him and trying to get him to sleep with them. He was finally free of their endless nagging.

As they slow danced, some of the others- of their wing, anyway- were stuffing themselves with the food. More than one of them was stealing it and putting it away in secret pockets for later. Kiba chuckled mischievously as he shoveled cookies and such into his pockets, right in front of Tsunade. She merely rolled her eyes and laughed, glad that he was eating human food again.

Kankuro was pulling Kai out to the dancefloor in an effort to get her to dance, but she was resisting with all she was worth. She didn't dance. Not because she didn't want to; she couldn't- she didn't know how. Kankuro rolled his eyes, and picked her up, placing her on top of his toes. He wasn't the best dancer in the world, but he was at least going to save her from embarrassing herself.

Gaara and Sakura sat quietly on the sidelines, leaning back on their hands. They held hands in that lazy sort of way that only involved the slight touching of two or three fingers, with no real holding- just touching. Every so often they'd turn to look at one another, and one of them would smile in a manner most specific to him or herself. It was like they were telling little jokes that only the two of them knew.

Naruto looked over to Kiba, smiling slightly when he saw that his friend was still at the snack table with Kallou as they raided for sweets and treats. Leave it to Kiba.

Looking around again, he noticed that someone was missing. Funny thing was, he couldn't remember who it was...

Kai marched down the hallway in a huff, her angry breathing sending her heart into a flurried frenzy of beats. That asshole. He didn't even like her- he just wanted to get in her pants. Turning the corner, she faltered. There was a pale, sickly thin man mopping the floors in front of the stairs that she was planning on decending.

Spinning on her heel, she moved to walk in the opposite direction. She could always find another set of stairs, it wasn't as if that was a huge problem. At the opposite end of the hall, she turned left and then wandered down that hall. She was met with an intersection of hallways, and suddenly found herself of unsure of which direction to take. Left or right? Straight? Did she turn around and try to find another way?

Taking a deep breath, she carried straight on. The signs on the walls clearly expressed the room numbers for this hall, and they were- as far as she remembered- sure to lead her in the direction of her wing and room.

After walking about ten minutes, she came to another set of stairs. Padding lightly down them, sure paused at the bottom. There weren't any numbers, or even signs at all to help her out now. Wasn't she supposed to listen to her instincts right about now?

Her instincts told her left, but her mind told her right. Kai turned left, following her instincts. Sure she had warped instincts, but her mind was just as dodgedly so.

She didn't exactly know where she was going anymore, but she didn't mind. It was weird. She was scared, but not enough to go back and find her way. Should she even be scared in a place like this? It was supposed to be safe!

Yet... She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched. Or followed. She kept going though, trying to force herself oblivious of it all. It made things easier; to not pay attention made it all seem trivial.

Sighing, she wandered aimlessly down the hall, her mind meandering through the minutia of bullshit. Every so often it seemed she was tripping over her feet, but she didn't really notice it. The world looked beautiful, all full of colors and such. It was might pretty.

Coming to the end of the hall- which actually turned out to be a dead end- she swore and turned around once again in attempt to retrace her steps. However, it seems that retracing one's steps is quite hard when the exact steps are forgotten.

Kanukro paced down the hall, his angry breathing under-accentuating his immense anger. Why did he always end up with the squeamish ones?

He liked her, as much as he could stand to be around anyone, but she infuriated him to no end. It wasn't like that was even a big deal- people had sex everywhere, all the time. It wasn't an outlandish request- he'd actually asked her first, instead of just laying down the law like others would've.

Exhaling through his nose he rounded a bend, and his stomach bottomed out. The janitor mopping near the head of the steps had scared the shit out of him. Quickly pulling back and away from the guy, he hid behind the wall where he slowed his raging heartbeat. Leave it to him to be scared out of his wits by a janitor.

Making his way down the other set of stairs, he let his anger grow. He built on it, getting himself pumped up for the argument that he knew they'd have. He was more of a physical person, not an argumentative type. Hashing out his thoughts with her was going to be a real pain in the ass, and he'd rather be ready for it.

When he finally found her, he could've laughed aloud. She was trying to pull her arm free of the janitor, and when she saw him she stopped tugging and leaned into the janitor as if it was a completely normal thing. "What? Can't a girl change her mind?"

"Yeah, but not you. Not about this, and especially not about that." He laughed at the expression on the janitor's face when he realized that Kankuro was in fact pointing at him. Kai's features brightened slightly as he let her go, but then she turned around and kicked him in the shin, even though she was wearing flip flops.

She surprised Kankuro by slapping across the face. "You ass! I would've been- alright, I wouldn't fine; but, you still don't get to ride in here on your white horse and make me feel guilty for not... Gah! Get away from me!"

Kankuro only smiled and stepped aside. "So, you gonna find your way back to the wing? What if creeper follows? It's not like you're reporting him- who'd believe your wild stories?" Kankuro giggled like a child as her enraged expression seeped away.

"I... Kankuro, I hate you." He could tell she meant it at the moment, but in a few hours he knew she'd like him again.

"I know. It's my specialty, ya know. People hating my guts." Kai snorted at this, and rolled her eyes.

"Yeah, just try to make me feel guilty. Not gonna work." Kai jogged ahead, and Kankuro only had to walk to keep up; his long legs covered twice as much ground as her shorter ones.

She ended up finding her way back just fine. Kankuro had known she would, but he like to mess with her. She didn't, but what could she do about it? Refuse to kiss him? They both knew that she liked it too damned much to care if he had character flaws.

Author's Note: I am so sorry!!!! I didn't mean to take so long! This last part was a pain in the ass to write. :( So, forgive me? Sorry it its short or whatever, I'm running out of inspiration! HELP MEE!!!!

Also, would you all be mad if I put this on hold to begin my vampire story? I actually have a plot written out and everything for that story, and updates would be a sure thing. :) So, it's up for vote!

A- Continue this- or try to anyway

B- Start vampire story and give this a break.