Switched

By kiwime

Summary: She thought in her line of work holding on to love was harder than holding onto anything else. She was wrong. It was worse.

Previously: Yes, she definitely loves them. But love can only last so long.

"Please," the blonde begged.

"No," the redhead replied calmly.

"Gaara-san…" Ino said softly leaning against him, "… please…"

"Fine," he sighed taking the brush from her hand.

She grinned and turned around so her hair was facing the redheaded male. She felt his hand took a handful of her locks and begin to brush. Ino sighed feeling relaxed as she felt his movement continue throughout her head.

"It's soft," she heard him say as he ran his fingers through her hair once he was done brushing.

"Hm…" Ino smiled closing her eyes.

Ino felt tired for some reason, yet this was peaceful. She felt her body falling and she didn't know if she was actually doing it or fantasizing. The tug on her locks causes her to open her eyes.

"Hey," Ino frowned.

"I cannot brush your hair," he clarified looking down on her.

Ino gave a questioning look before she realized she wasn't dreaming. Her head was against his chest. She offered a smiled and sat back up.

"Are you tired?" he asked.

"Yeah," Ino sighed and yawned on cue.

"We should sleep then," Gaara stood.

"Together?" Ino smiled coyly.

"Hm," he smirked before walking toward his side of the bed.

"Hey," she said softly as she lay under the sheet, "… you're heading out tomorrow, right?"

"Hai," there was a sadness to his tone that she picked up.

"Hey," Ino touched his arm under the sheet, "… come over whenever you can."

"I will," there was that soft smile that she loves.

-o-o-

She was getting tired of staying in one spot for so long. She could feel herself tilting. She glanced to her right to see the redhead staring aimlessly forward. They were currently in front of her home on the street waiting for his sister to drive by.

It was empty.

Ino sighed. It had been thirty minutes over when she said she would pick him up. Ino knew from past knowledge that Gaara had abandonment issues. This was not good.

"Gaara-san," Ino spoke up, "… how about we wait inside?"

"You can go," he turned to her, "… you do not have to wait with me."

"Gaara-san," she breathed out, "… you are my friend. I will stay here with you."

"You're afraid," he accused softly.

"No," Ino shook her head, "… not of that…"

"Then of what?" he was curious.

"That I'll miss you too much," Ino admitted.

It was quiet for a few minutes as she watched his lips curve upwards. She smiled back and pecked his cheek before facing the street. She heard something from her left and looked to see what it was. Her face deadpanned. This isn't good.

-o-o-

"What do you mean?" she gritted out.

"Exactly what I said," he was eerily calm.

"Fine," she calmed down, "… is there a reason then?"

"I cannot say," the male smirked.

"Kankorou," she frowned.

"Brother," Gaara spoke up after seeing the blonde getting nowhere, "… where is she?"

"She is out," the hooded male shrugged, "… with some dude."

"With some dude?" Ino asked.

"Yeah," the puppet master said nonchalantly, "… no big deal."

"Kankorou," Ino grabbed his jacket and pulled him close, "… you know the issue, don't you?" her eyes turned icy, "… if she…"

"I know," he barked, "… don't worry about it! She's fine, trust me."

"Who is this dude then?" Ino dropped her hands and stared intently at the male.

"Um…" he laughed nervously scratching his cheek.

"Kankorou," there was a glint of anger in the red head's voice that caused his hair to stand.

"Okay, okay!" he cried defeated, "… this guy was on the side of the road," he explained.

"She wouldn't pick up a stranger," Ino drawled out suspiciously.

"He, according to her, was H-O-T," Kankorou made a face, "… she dropped me off and that was it."

"I can't believe this," Ino sighed aggravated.

"Ino," Gaara spoke her name and she turned to him.

"Don't worry Gaara," she replied to his unspoken question, "… we'll find her."

-o-o-

"Ino-san," Sally called out, "… here is the sketch."

"Thank you," Ino offered an appreciative smile before the female left.

She stared at the paper with a drawn out face. He really did look hot and knew exactly why Temari would've done what she did. The only thing that was wrong was who the picture looked like. The male, according to Kankorou, had long silver hair, purple eyes, and strong jaw lines.

Her face grimed.

"What's wrong?" Gaara questioned noticing the blonde's feature turn dark.

Ino didn't reply as she continued to glare at the sketch.

This couldn't be right. This dude was supposed to be under strict surveillance. This man was a schizophrenic psychopath. He killed so many people and had no remorse for anyone. He rambled on about this so called God who tells him he was the only person who could save the world and in order to do that, everyone must die.

A chill ran up her spine.

She stood blanking out her face.

"Ino, tell me what's wrong," it was a demand and when she turned her blue eyes to emerald, he paused.

"Gaara," she said with an even tone, "… you will remain here, while my team and I find your sister," she turned and started walking off only to feel his hand on her arm.

"He's bad, isn't he?" she didn't need to answer that question.

"I promise I will bring her back," she glanced at him as he removed his hand.

She closed the door behind her and headed over to where her boss was located. Once she knocked and he let her enter, she moved up to his desk not realizing others in the room. She felt like a robot.

"This is a sketch of the man who was last seen with Temari Sabaku," she placed the paper on the table, "… I request for a rescue team."

"This is…" her leader begun looking at her questioningly.

"It is," Ino nodded stoning her eye, "… she dropped off Gaara Sabaku four days ago. She had told him she would pick him up in three days. Kankorou Sabaku was dropped off here yesterday from his partner. He figured if Temari did not pick him up, she didn't pick up Gaara as well," she paused, "… I know Temari Sabaku personally. She would never leave her brothers."

Her boss leaned back and shifted his eyes somewhere else. Ino didn't move her eyes from him until the voice spoke up.

"Ino Yamanaka," she faced Kiba's boss, "… it has only been one day. Is it possible she forgotten or needed an extra day?"

"The man she was seen last with normally does not leave his victims alive on the fourth day," she evened her tone, "… I fear for her life."

"I understand where you are coming from," the older female in the room spoke up, "… are you positive this man is as dangerous as you say? What if he is a possible look-alike?"

Ino felt her blood beginning to boil. Why was she here again? She could've just taken off to find the sandy blonde on her own.

"I rather find her in the arms of a kind man than in the hands of a murderer," she said those words as if it was dripping with venom.

"I'll make a phone call to make sure he hasn't escaped before we do anything," her leader spoke up and she turned to him narrowing her eyes.

"Understood," she turned and walked away without a glance at the other two adults.

I will find you Temari, Ino promised, and I will kill him if he touches you.

-o-o-

"Kiba," she spoke into the receiver, "… I need your help."

"Anything for you," she could see his grin.

"I need you to help me find someone," Ino spoke.

"You got it," she smiled.

I will track you down… her eyes glared a hole into the wall, Hidan.

Thank You ShikaIno1 for your awesomness! :D