I turned over on my side tiredly and looked over at where Deidara should be..he wasn't there. I sat up and looked around the room, knowing he must've went to make breakfast again. 'Maybe he decided to fix pancakes this morning, I'd really like some strawberries on my pancakes.' I smiled to myself, happy that I'd finally found someone I could share the secret of my kekkei genkai with, and hopped out of bed. I ran a comb through my hair impatiently, wanting to see Deidara, and walked out of my room. I walked down the hallway and into the kitchen; he wasn't in there.

"Deidara-kun?" I whispered, confusing flooding through my brain. I looked around, not understanding why he wasn't fixing breakfast since it was nine in the morning, and finally walked to the den. "Deidara-kun?" Nothing. I bit my lip confused and walked into my 'studio'. "Deidara?" Again, nothing. Where was he? I looked around and walked towards the bathroom. I knocked on the door and heard no response. "Deidara?" I yelled.

I didn't hear anything, where was Deidara? 'He might have went home to go get something. He must have had work. I'll go visit him...I do need a few new brushes.' I smiled slightly, knowing that's where he had to have went, and walked back to my room. I quickly got dressed in my daily outfit, put on my necklace and bracelet; they were the only pieces of jewelry I owned after all. I looked at myself in the mirror and pushed my hair infront of my face. I sighed quietly and walked out of my house. I walked down the street, feeling rather impatient about wanting to see Deidara, and I walked into the art store. I looked at Seji and he smiled, knowing I was a normal customer at the art store.

"Can I help you?" he asked, like all employees did. I walked up to the register since I knew he wouldn't hear my quiet voice and held my arms infront of my chest.

"Is Deidara here?" I asked quietly. He shook his head and gave me a confused look.

"Didn't he tell you?" he asked, sounding confused.

"Tell me what?" I asked curiously, what was going on?

"He quit." Seji stated. I looked at him confused, wondering why Deidara had quit, and said

"When?"

"He came in earlier this morning, around seven.." Seji replied. "Told me he had to quit."

"Nande?" I asked quickly. Seji scratched the back of his head in thought and shrugged.

"He said that he couldn't handle the stress, and he had to head home." Seji finally said. "Don't know what he meant by home, he lives in the village doesn't he?" I nodded, but I knew what he meant. He was going back to the Village Hidden in the Rocks, why would he go back there though?

"Arigato for your help." I said softly.

"No problem." Seji said, shrugging again. I walked out of the art store and ran towards Deidara's apartment, he couldn't have cleared all his stuff out in two hours...could he? I knocked on the door and waited; nothing. I knocked again, louder this time. Again, there was nothing.

"Deidara?" I said loudly.

I banged on the door, and it remained closed. I bit my lip, looking around the empty streets, and phased through the door into his apartment. I looked around and shook my head in shock; it was empty. I ran to his bedroom and gasped seeing it empty as well, so he had managed to empty it out in two hours. 'Why'd he leave?' I bit my lip and realization hit me. 'It's because of me. He left because of me...because of my kekkei genkai.' I slumped against the wall and dropped onto the floor. I drew my knees to my chest and put my head on my knees, coughing a little. I felt tears falling down my face and made no motion to wipe them away. I didn't want this to happen, I didn't think it would happen, but it had. Deidara was afraid of my kekkei genkai; he'd left because of me. I was hurt, I was really hurt. I fell in love with Deidara, and he'd left me. He hadn't even said goodbye, he didn't want anything else to do with me. I cried harder, choking on air, and punched the floor, trying to let out all my emotions.

"I'm so stupid." I whispered, hating myself. "Nande?" I sniffed, coughing again, and shook my head sadly. "Nande Deidara? Nande?"

After what seemed like hours, I finally managed to push myself to my feet and walked out of the empty apartment. I walked down the street and rubbed my hand. I couldn't feel anything, but it was all because the hurt emotions I was feeling was blocking the pain, I knew when I calmed down it'd be killer pain. I sniffed again, choking on air, and wiped at my tears. It was hard for me to stop crying but I knew that if I didn't, people would be surrounding me asking what was wrong. I sighed, wiping away the rest of my tears, and looked around the street. There had to be someone here that I could trust, someone that I could talk to. Sasuke wasn't here or I'd talk to him. Why did he have to disappear from his room like that? I needed him, and he wasn't here. He was my best friend, but I wait…I had Gaara now. Where would he be right now? I walked down the street, avoiding people's eyes like I normally did, and looked up hearing someone say

"Kankuro shut up you baka!" Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara were all sitting at the coffee shop Deidara and I often went to. "Stop hitting on the waitresses already." Temari ordered, not sounding very amused with him.

"Bite me Temari, I can hit on whoever I want." Kankuro yelled, not liking how she was bossing him around. Temari hit him upside the head and said

"You're such a womanizer." Kankuro started mumbling to himself, not seeming the least bit happy, and Gaara sighed.

"Shut up you two." he ordered.

I sniffed, happy that I'd found Gaara after ten long minutes of searching, and felt tears begin to roll down my cheeks again. I coughed softly, not liking how these tears were affecting me, and walked into the coffee shop. I had to make sure Temari and Kankuro wouldn't notice how much I was crying, we all weren't exactly friends…yet. Temari had invited me to dinner a few times since Gaara and I were becoming rather close friends, and Kankuro had stopped hitting on me since he found out Deidara was my boyfriend. I couldn't exactly consider them friends yet though, they were more like acquaintances than anything. I walked down the aisle to where they were sitting and tapped Gaara's shoulder.

"Sada?" I looked at him and bit my lip, trying to control my tears.

"Can I talk to you?" I asked quietly. I saw Temari and Kankuro looked away from arguing with each other, and I bowed my head slightly so my bangs covered my eyes.

"What's wrong?" Gaara asked.

He didn't seem to understand what was wrong with me, but I could hear the slight sympathy in his voice. He quickly got up from his seat, moving infront of me. I coughed a little, choking on air again, and he put his hand on my shoulder.

"Sada?" he questioned.

I couldn't stop myself, I was too emotionally messed up right now. I latched onto him, crying softly. I felt his body stiffen at first but he moved his arms around me, hugging me back. He must've remembered that hugs made people feel better and showed them that you cared, he was really learning how to understand people's emotions a little better than he used to.

"Sada." he repeated, I cried harder.

I sniffed and let him lead me to sit down beside him. I held onto him, still crying, and buried my face in his shoulder. I felt him move his hand to my hair, and he hesitantly stroked my hair. I bit down on my lower lip, still crying, and heard Temari say

"Sada…are you alright?"

For the first time since I'd met her, she sounded actually concerned about me. It was a nice change I guessed, to know that I had a female acquaintance that cared about me. I shook my head, moving my face out of Gaara's shoulder. She looked genuinely concerned, Kankuro did as well. They must've realized something major was wrong, they usually just let Gaara and me have our time alone together. I guessed that they thought Gaara wouldn't be able to handle this on his own, and that's why they were still here.

"Sada…talk to us." Kankuro asked of me, I coughed.

"She'll talk when she wants." Gaara said, sounding cold.

Kankuro cringed back a little, nodding to the redhead. I moved my face back into Gaara's shoulder, crying for a few more minutes until I managed to calm myself down enough so I could talk to them. I sniffed, wiping at my eyes, and glanced up at Gaara through my bangs.

"Sada…chan." I almost smiled at the suffix he'd added to my name, he must've remembered what I'd told him about the suffixes as well.

"He…" I stopped, wiping at my tears again. "He's…gone…"

Temari's eyes widened, she realized I was talking about Deidara. Kankuro's eyes narrowed in a glare, he understood as well. Gaara didn't look like he got it though, I'd have to say who.

"Who?" he asked, still sounding emotionless. I coughed again, managing to get out the name.

"Deidara."

Gaara nodded, I watched his eyes grow cold; he looked very angry. This was just like he'd always looked before, bloodthirsty. He looked like he was ready to kill, but I couldn't make myself calm him down...I was too heartbroken.

"Where'd he go?" Gaara asked, sounding cold. I shrugged, I didn't really know if he actually had went back to the Village Hidden in the Rocks. He might've just decided to move to another village.

"It…hurts." I whispered. I felt someone touch my shoulder, a hand that I wasn't familiar with. I looked up, finding Temari's eyes. She gave me a smile of sympathy and said

"Sada…you're too good for him. Way too pretty, and sweet, and powerful. You could do so much better." I coughed, shaking my head. I was worthless, I didn't deserve anything.

"Temari's right Sada." Kankuro told me, I moved my eyes to him. "Do you know how many guys admire how gorgeous you are? They all want you for themselves."

"Including you." Temari mumbled, Kankuro shoved her. I giggled a bit at the comedy and moved my eyes to Gaara.

"It hurts inside." he guessed with an emotionless tone, I nodded. I stared up into his sea green eyes, seeing that he was actually beginning to care about someone other than himself, and he said "I'm…not good at comforting." I smiled a little, hiccupping at how much I was crying.

"You're doing a good job if you ask me." I told him, hiccupping again. He nodded a little, holding me close to him, stroking my hair softly.

"Is this right?" he asked, I nodded in agreement. I buried my face in his shoulder again and heard him say "He'll die." I didn't even bother to protest. I loved Deidara, but Gaara was angry with him for hurting me this way. I knew that nothing I said would change his mind.

"Gaara…maybe that isn't the best idea." Kankuro said with a hesitant voice. I could just feel Gaara glare at him, he wasn't very happy.

"I'll kill him for hurting her." he repeated, sounding even colder than he just had. I sniffed a bit, taking a shaky breath. "Sada-chan's…my friend." I nodded in agreement, hugging him tighter.

"Arigato Gaara-kun."

I was lucky to have Gaara here for me and maybe…I could even consider Temari and Kankuro friends now. Not best friends, but just regular friends. Gaara and Sasuke were my two best friends, and no one could replace them. I smiled a bit and snuggled close to Gaara, I was lucky to have someone like him in my life.

A FEW DAYS LATER

I walked down the street and looked ahead at the huge building. It was where the third part of the Chunin Exams was to be held. I hadn't seen any of my fellow Konoha Genin since they'd interrupted my first date with Deidara, and I guessed it was for the better. I didn't want any of them knowing that Deidara had left me, or that I was heart broken. Gaara was giving me the support that I needed right now, even Kankuro and Temari were being more accepting of me around their apartment. They were all helping me feel better, I didn't know what I would've done if I didn't have anyone to talk to. I'd actually learnt a bunch of stuff about them that I wouldn't have ever guessed, the three of them were siblings; how much of a shocker was that? Sasuke hadn't returned yet or I would have told him everything that had happened. I knew that no one had any idea where he was, but hopefully he'd arrive on time for the Exams.

I walked into the building and looked around. There were so many people coming to see us, the Chunin Exams must've been a popular event. I looked over and saw all the Genin that had made the finals standing around in the middle of the field. I walked over to them and ignored the Konoha shinobi, walking around them to the Sand team. They were the only friends I had here anyway. I sighed a little and glanced at Dosu as I approached the Sands. He stared at me for a moment and looked away, I rolled my eyes. 'He's acting like he's so superior. Whatever, I can kick his ass.' I looked away from the overconfident Sound shinobi, Kankuro was saying

"Why isn't everyone here yet? It's almost time."

I rolled my eyes at that, Kankuro always had something to complain about. I came up behind Gaara and put my arms around his neck in a small hug. He still didn't like being touched all that much, so I was trying to keep skin contact at a minimum.

"Hi." I said quietly. He glanced back at me and smiled slightly.

"Hi." he greeted. I let go of him and stood beside him. "How was your night?" I shrugged and pulled my hair up into a high ponytail but let my bangs hang in my face.

"Boring. How was yours?" I asked, shrugging a little bit. He gave me a blank look, it told me that his demon had been bothering him. "Are you ok now?" He nodded a bit, I could tell that he was lying but I didn't say anything about it. I knew how hard it was for him to control it, it was a constant battle for him.

"How are you doing this morning Sada?" Temari asked, I shrugged.

"Eh, a little excited." I said honestly. "I can't wait to kick that Sound shinobi's ass." Kankuro chuckled at my swearing, he always thought it sounded "cute" for some reason.

"You will, he doesn't have very powerful chakra." he said, I giggled a bit in agreement.

"Yeah…I guess not." I said, not very interested in talking about it anymore. "I still wonder who'll become a Chunin…most likely you guys." Temari smiled, liking the compliment.

"You too." she said. "During the preliminaries…damn. That technique of yours seemed pretty powerful." I nodded, never having explained it to them, I didn't feel the need to.

"Hopefully…this place seems too cramped to learn though. Everyone seems a little too judgmental, no one likes my techniques anyway." Kankuro rolled his eyes, not seeming amused by that.

"I hate kids." he mumbled, I almost smiled at that statement; the Konoha shinobi were so closed minded. I looked over hearing Gaara mumble something and lightly touched his shoulder.

"Gaara-kun?" I questioned, he moved out of my touch.

"Don't…shut up."

I bit down on my lower lip, his demon was getting to him. I looked at Temari and Kankuro, they nodded. I took a few steps away from him, closer to Temari. Space was the best thing to give him when he was like this.

"Watch out, they're going to eat us!"

I looked away from Gaara to see Naruto talking really fast and apparently freaked out about something. I rolled my eyes, not the least bit amused at how loud he was, and sighed. I looked up hearing a voice, and the Hokage announced that the Chunin Exams were about to begin.

"Looks like we should get going then." Kankuro said, we all nodded in agreement.

I walked up the stairs with the Sands to the balcony, we didn't really talk to much about the upcoming matches. I stood by Temari and Kankuro next to the railing and watched Gaara lean against the wall. He was holding his head again, I looked at him slightly concerned. Was his demon getting that unmanageable?

"Kankuro?" I said quietly, grabbing his sleeve. He looked over at me, and I pointed to Gaara.

"It'd be best to leave him alone." Kankuro told me. "He has to fight it on his own, he'll be fine as long as there's not too much blood in the matches." I nodded, making myself a mental note not to get too messy in my fight, and looked down at Naruto ready to fight Neji.

(Alright as before all I'm going to do is say the matches, the outcomes and so forth alright? I'm only explaining Sada's match. And Sasuke's and Gaara's. That's it. Alright? Ok, let's get started)

Uzumaki Naruto VS Hyuuga Neji: Winner Uzumaki Naruto

Gaara VS Sasuke Uchiha: Winner ?

Sada VS Kinuta Dosu: Winner ?

Kankuro VS Aburame Shino: Winner Aburame Shino

Temari VS Nara Shikamaru: Winner Temari

"Let's move on to the next match." Genma said. "Sada vs. Kinuta Dosu." I took a breath and looked over at Gaara.

"You'll do fine." he assured, his same emotionless tone. I nodded, mentally thanking him for his support, and Temari smiled.

"Good luck." she said. I nodded a thank you, and Kankuro smiled as well.

"Kick some ass."

I rolled my eyes, slightly amused at how encouraging they all were, and jumped down into the arena. I walked over to Genma and looked at him, waiting for Dosu to get down here. Dosu finally came down after a few long seconds and faced me. I stared at him, getting rid of all emotion on my face, and Genma went through all the 'if the opponent dies you win' and blah blah blah.

"Are both of you ready?" he asked. I nodded, and Dosu nodded as well. I put my hands on my sides were my sais were and waited. "BEGIN!" I jumped backwards and pulled out my sais.

'Let the battle begin.'

Author's Note: Such a sad chapter, I hated writing it...sorta. The part with her upset about Deidara leaving at least. That was awful...Thing's will get better though eventually. Never fear!

PREVIEW CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

I twirled my sais and stared at Dosu standing across the field. He pulled the sleeve of his shirt up, and I moved my gaze to the sound device on his arm. 'If I get that off he'll defenseless…his chakra isn't impressive in the least.' I threw one of my sais across the field, and as expected, he blocked using the arm with the sound device on it. I quickly ran across the field and kicked him straight in the face. He steadied himself to where he didn't fly backwards, and I closed my eyes doing quick handsigns. 'Blinded in Darkness jutsu.' He covered his eyes, an angry expression on his face, and I smirked in amusement; I knew he wouldn't like this. Deja vu much? He staggered backwards, and I did a couple of back flips for distance. I didn't want to be caught in my own jutsu, that wouldn't have been a pretty sight.

"You bitch!" he yelled, sounding angry. "You have to have me blinded to defeat me? You're not even a shinobi you worthless scum!"I glared at him, ignoring his rambling, and closed my eyes doing my handsigns. 'Spheres of Darkness.'