Note: I just HAD to include this awesome song by Lifehouse…it's titled 'Out of Breath,' because I thought it'd fit the relationship so far in my story between Gaara and Hinata. If Gaara could sing, I think this is what he should sing to her! XD. BTW: We are CLOSE to the ending….VERY close but not quite!

Chapter 10 – Out of Breath

I still feel the same

Though everything has changed

The pain it cost now I feel lost inside of my own name

But I keep running I am running I keep living for the day that I'm with you

That I'm with you

The past has left its stain

Now I feel the shame I'll seize the day if you take away the chains of yesterday

But I keep running I am running I keep living for the day that I'm with you

And I am waiting I am waiting I keep waiting for the day that I'm with you

A new day the sun is shining

Seems I'm closer to finding

That life is more than what we hide

No way that I am turning

As long as the sun is burning

Now it seems that all I want is you I still feel the same

Though everything has changed

The pain it costs now I feel lost inside of my own name

But I keep running I am running I keep living for the day that I'm with you

And I am waiting I am waiting I keep waiting for the day that I'm with you That I'm with you

Out of Breath – Lifehouse

The feelings he felt inside were getting confusing each time he tried to determine the cause of it. He wanted out of it…He wanted to have nothing to do with THAT GIRL!
Gaara looked up into the moonlight. It was blood red.

It was bleeding…the eclipse.

And then the moon became a blurry vision, forming into something.

Then he saw her face.

Her eyes…

Her smile…

Even her voice surrounded him.

The vision of the moon became pale and eventually changed into the form of her face.

Hinata's…

She was smiling at him, enticing him with those famous Hyuuga eyes. Her eyes had so much brightness in them that no darkness could ever penetrate. She was the goddess of the light, so innocent, so pure, yet so deadly in combat. She was the kind that was not to be underestimated despite the way she spoke softly. Hinata Hyuuga held that kind of aura where if ever provoked, that same aura would start to grow and burn up into a fiery flame…like a time bomb ready to explode.

Suddenly, an explosion could be heard in the distance, followed by the sound of people's laughs and cheers. A bright light gleamed just ahead of him and Gaara watched as the light brightened the night sky, followed by the sounds of multiple explosions.

Gaara stood up from his sitting position on the roof and jumped down from the roof of the tree. In contrast, the world that he has enclosed around himself was loud and dreadful, while the world around Hinata was peaceful and kind and inviting. The door to this world of hers was opened so that whoever wishes to become part of it, it was already there…ready to have someone enter. His world was filled with skeletons and smoke, while Hinata's was filled with flowers and sunshine.

They were different from each other…

They were yin and yang…black and white…demon and goddess.

So why does he have this feeling?

"You were born out of love…"

"I was? My mother loved me?"

Gaara flinched. "Arggh! No…no, please…no more…"

"Of course she did…why else would she give birth to you?" He felt his hand on his head, comforting him, reassuring him that he was telling the truth…but—why are his hands so cold? Is he afraid?

"She gave birth to you so she can take vengeance upon the world! She hated the world! She hated the fact that she was given a demon like you!"

"No……." Gaara clutched the sides of his head, the painful memories growing bigger and bigger.

"You want to know what that writing means on the side of your head, Gaara?"

The little boy nodded.

"It means she loved you…She loved you enough to keep you alive so you can become the killing machine—the one to destroy everything and everyone around you!"

"NO!" He looked up, his palms slamming down on the ground around him. Beads of sweat fell at the sides of his face. Gaara got up from his knees and stood up. More sweat fell and he suddenly began panting and wheezing heavily.

Neji looked around groggily. Where was he? Why couldn't he see anything? A light suddenly flickered above him. It took the dark haired Chuunin a while to get used to the darkness before he focused his eyes on someone moving in front of him. "Ryoki-san! How could you do this to our family!?" He tried to move, but he couldn't. Something was keeping him stuck on the wooden chair he was sitting on. A thick rope was tightly tied around his wrists and his ankles—too tight that it was almost cutting off the circulation around his body.

Ryoki showed his face underneath the light…that same, kind face Neji has seen on him for years were no longer there; instead it was replaced with pure hatred that it gave wrinkles around the older man's already baggy eyes. "I am so disappointed in you, Neji-sama…To be pulled into the so-called innocent eyes of Hinata-sama!" He slapped the boy repeatedly and then when he knew he had enough, Ryoki stood back and watched his creation go to waste. "I raised you as my own son and LOOK what you made me do! I didn't want to do this…I didn't want to hit you and teach you some lessons, but I had no other choice. Hizashi-sama left me with you, so I can continue what Hizashi-sama didn't have a chance to continue. I don't want you to be fooled by Hinata-sama's innocence. LOOK what happened to your father! DEATH! Is that what you want!?"

The dark haired Chuunin frowned and looked away, his face battered and bruised. "I would do ANYTHING to protect Hinata-sama…If you cannot accept that, Ryoki-san, then I'm sorry to have disappointed you. I was BORN to protect her so long as I have breath in my body! As a family, we must protect each other!"

Ryoki let out an eerie laugh. "Family!? Of COURSE we are family, Neji-sama! That's why we must protect each other at all cost!"

"Not like this, Ryoki-san! What you're doing is wrong! Killing another member of the family…iie….killing TWO members of the family is not the answer!"

"Soon, it will be three…once Hiashi-sama and Hinata-sama are gone; Hanabi will just be a piece of cake…"

Neji frowned. "I won't let YOU or anyone else murder this family! It's MY job to protect them and if it means having to sacrifice my life, then so be it!"

Ryoki smiled evilly down at him. "Hm…No wonder I liked you. You always had so much determination to be what you want to be." He touched Neji's face, the evil smile never leaving his face. "You believed in what you believed in and never gave up on anything. That's why I'm going to make your wish come true…."

"Nani!?" Neji squirmed in his seat. "Leave them alone Ryoki-san! LEAVE HINATA-SAMA ALONE!"

But it was too late, Ryoki was already gone.

Neji hissed and looked down on the ground, his fists tightly clenched behind him. "Gaara…if you have the decency to show her you love her, then you BETTER HELP HER!"

Konoha had become beautiful overnight. It was decorated with bright and dark colours all combined into making a festive décor around the village. It was announced that Hokage-sama was gone for the week, leaving Shizune to be in charge of the festivities with the help of the other Jounins. Everyone knew this was coming…but it wasn't like their Hokage-sama hasn't missed the Winter Festival before.

Hinata walked slowly down the busy street, wondering to herself WHAT on earth she was doing here…Maybe she wanted to be where everyone was, instead of being alone again. Where was Neji? The dark haired girl marveled at the beautiful scenery ahead of her…the faces of the five Hokages have never looked so cleaner than before. That mountain was the pride of the Konoha villagers and whenever children needed some inspiration, they would look up to those mountains and start praying for one. Maybe it was time for her to do that and look for some kind of advice on how to deal with this feeling she had towards the Sand Chuunin. Should she ignore the feeling, knowing it was just some kind of lust? Or act on this feeling and see where it takes her?

"Ore? Hinata-chan? What are you doing here?" a female voice spoke.

Startled, the dark haired girl turned around and noticed a girl with her long dark hair braided in two. "TenTen-chan? I was just going for a walk…There are just a lot of things on my mind." She looked away, embarrassed with the thought of having to tell the older girl WHO she was thinking of.

TenTen smiled and nodded. "Souka." For some reason, she seems to understand WHAT she was thinking of. Maybe it was because they were thinking of almost the same thing…almost. She knew there was a reason why she came here in the first place. "I guess we're BOTH looking for the same answers, ne?"

Hinata looked at her curiously. "Have you seen Neji-niisan?"

That question caught TenTen off-guard, but she managed to calm down and give the younger girl an answer by shaking her head 'no.' "I haven't seen him in days. I guess he's too busy with his training to be anywhere else especially in one of these Winter Festivals."

That's right…she doesn't know anything that has happened during those days- better keep it quiet, she thought. "You're right…Neji-niisan's never the type to really go to these events unless he had a reason to."

"Yeah…" It was time to change the subject…clear the way from her thoughts of Neji to Hinata's problems with a guy. TenTen hid the blue ribbon at the back pockets of her pants and pulled her shirt lower to hide it more.

"Hm….but I wonder where he could be. He could be resting back home now…"

TenTen's head looked up at her hopefully. "You think he's there?" Maybe she could tell him…maybe this was fate telling her it was time for her to tell him how she felt.

"Most likely. He looked really tired when he…when he came back from his training." Hinata knew TenTen had feelings for Neji, but she had no idea that the older girl was trying her hardest to hide it from her as if she thought she was too naïve to realize or something. "Do you want to come with me? I'm sure he wanted to talk to you too."

TenTen's heart pounded harder. "He…he did?"

Hinata smiled and nodded. "Besides, there's nothing else for us left here anyway. Let's go." She took TenTen's hand and pulled her along with her back towards the Hyuuga residence.

In the distance, Ryoki noticed Hinata pulling a girl along with her. He smiled as he hid his face behind the dark cloak he was wearing. "Hm…I guess I didn't need to find you after all, Hinata-chan…" With that said, he turned and followed her.

"Ryoki?" Hana turned and looked around for her fiancée. Where is he?

He wiped the sweat with his hands and looked down. Blood…he could see blood instead of the usual sweat that poured down his face. Gaara glanced down at the body lying below him. She was such an innocent girl, but her blood…they tasted so sweet. She was just standing there; smiling…so innocent and then he saw her. Her smile…her eyes, her face. They reminded him of HER. And he needed to get rid of it.

"See? You were BORN to be this way!" a hoarse voice croaked in his mind.

Gaara leaned down and pressed a hand on her forehead filled with blood. He examined her, looking down at her blood soaked body. No…he didn't do this. He couldn't…He would never leave a body to rot like this. SOMEONE had done this. An innocent girl like this…killed by a weapon ten times bigger than her. It pierced through her body like a knife cutting through thing meat.

"Oh my GOD!" someone creaked.

Gaara jerked his head up to see a woman staring at him, her eyes wide with fright. She turned, ready to call for help, but the woman hadn't seen him coming towards her quicker than a speed of light. The red haired Chuunin appeared before her, surprising the frightened middle aged woman. "Please don't kill me!" She kneeled down before him, begging for mercy. Gaara frowned down at her. How pathetic for her to be begging for mercy from a monster like him.

He lifted up his hand, ready to strike her, but he paused. He saw Hinata's smiling face. "I didn't kill her…" Gaara mumbled, before turning away from her and walking off.

Shocked beyond words, the woman stared after him.

Hinata looked around in the darkness. Just as she thought, everyone from the Hyuuga family had gone off to the festival and wouldn't be back until after midnight. She figured, since Neji didn't like going to these types of events and since after being back from rescuing her, he would be sleeping in her bedroom by now.

TenTen looked around as well awkwardly. What on earth was she doing here? This is crazy, maybe she shouldn't tell him tonight! "Um…Hinata-chan. I think I'm gonna go…" She turned, ready to leave, but stopped dead in her tracks when a shadow hovered over them. TenTen squealed in surprise.

"TenTen-chan? What is it-?" Hinata turned and gasped when TenTen was knocked unconscious on the ground. "TenTen-chan!" She ran to her side and shook her, but the older girl wouldn't wake up. "TenTen-chan, snap out of it! Wake up!"

"She won't be waking up for a while, Hinata-sama…"

Hinata looked up. A tall, dark shadow hovered over her. "Hm…I was quite surprised when I saw you running around as if no poison could affect you." The dark haired girl slowly backed up. She looked around her…There was no way out, except… To her right was the dark hallway that leads to Neji's room. Maybe she can run to him and wake him up and warn him there was an intruder in the house. "Just give up, Hinata-sama…Just give up this game and let me kill you slowly-!" But Hinata had ran off.

'Hinata-sama? Hinata-sama? Why was he calling her that?' No, there was no time to ponder that. She had to go find Neji-niisan soon and have him rescue TenTen-chan. Hinata ran as fast as she could, but not fast enough because the poison was slowly eating inside her.

He could feel her chakra slowing down. The poison was indeed working…it was slowly removing her powers away. Soon, she would rot like an old apple. She would no longer breathe and it would be easy to let the poison kill her, but she had lived long enough. The poison was slow…TOO slow in killing her. He had wasted enough time letting her live. Ribu had lied to him, but then again the bargain wasn't complete yet. He…Matsumoto-san hadn't made his move in trying to cut off Hiashi's head. He was just looking for the right moment after all.

Hinata ran and ran, her breathing now heavy from running. No…she couldn't give up yet. She was close to reaching Neji's room. "NEJI-NIISAN!" she called as soon as she reached it and slid the door open. She gasped when she noticed he wasn't there…His bed was still made, as if no one has slept on it yet. "No…." She turned and noticed the person calmly walking to her.

"It's no use….Neji-sama has abandoned you. No one will hear you scream…no one will be able to rescue you."

Hinata blinked. What was she going to do now? She had to run…she had to get out of here and get someone's help. No…she's not going to give up. She's not going to show this man her weakness…not one bit. As if adrenaline had suddenly kicked in, Hinata charged forward. Surprised at this, the man didn't have time to move out of the way. Hinata used the small area surrounding them to her advantage. She slammed her small body against him and when he was down on the ground, she got up quickly and ran back to where she entered from.

"Kuso! Persistent little-!" The intruder stood up and ran after her.

"I'll be back for you, TenTen-chan!" she yelled as she dashed out of her home and into the night. There was no other way she could go, except to the main streets of the village and call for help, but if she were to do that, there would be a commotion. She didn't know the man, she couldn't see his face and if she started telling people someone was after her, they wouldn't believe her. She would be named 'the girl who cried wolf.' Hinata ran to where her legs could take her, down the dark alleyway, through the small forested trees that surrounded some residential homes and towards the bright lights of the Winter Festival. She would have to find one of her friends fast…maybe….maybe….

Suddenly, someone grabbed her from behind. Hinata screamed, but a hand had stopped her from doing so. She kicked, punched and did all the things she could do in this situation, but it was to no avail. The perpetrator knocked her unconscious and she fell in his arms and was carried off into the night.

Gaara had felt something amiss in the air. What was that dark feeling? WHY had he felt it? Wasn't HE the one to cause trouble in these parts instead of someone else? Any of the good guys would be the ones to feel that sort of darkness. Had he been branded one of the good guys? He sighed and walked pass a crowd of people in the village.

Suddenly, a young girl emerged in one of the crowds. They all gathered around her, wondering what had happened, asking her if she was all right. But these people were blocking his way through the entrance so he had to push his way through them in order to reach the entrance. However, he was stopped dead in his tracks when he heard Hinata's name being mentioned.

"SOMEONE help HINATA-CHAN! A man…a man was after her…I tried to get her back…demo…demo…" The girl seemed to have been traumatized by what happened because she covered her face with her hands and could no longer talk.

Gaara watched as the girl with the long braided hair looked up. Her eyes were bloodshot and her face was red from crying so hard it was hard to tell what she looked like. Someone pushed Gaara out of the way and kneeled down beside the girl. "TenTen-chan…where is Hinata-chan?"

This man had silver, spiky hair, and his face was covered with a mask, but Gaara immediately recognized him to be Hatake Kakashi. He backed off a bit, turned and decided to head to the Hyuuga mansion.

He heard a scream in the distance…he heard her calling his name. Neji wasn't sure whether it was a dream or not, but he knew he had heard it. "Hinata-sama?" He had to get out…he had to help Hinata-sama!

The dark haired Chuunin looked around and noticed that in the corner of the room there was a piece of medium sized glass that must have chipped off of the corner of the window. Luck was indeed on his side and Neji reached for that kind of hope by moving his hands and feet to get to that piece of glass. He didn't know where he was, but he was getting the idea that he was somewhere in an abandoned building. It was an easy guess seeing as how the wood beneath him would start to creak every time he moved and the windows had been shattered, preferably because of vandalism. He put all his weight forward, as soon as he was in the right distance from the piece of glass and fell forward, his chin hitting the floor hard. Neji cursed briefly and relaxed for a bit before he decided to reach behind him to slide off his arms curled at the back of the chair. He swore when his right shoulder cracked as soon as he did so, but managed to pull his arm all the way in front of him. Neji stretched his arms and reached for the glass. "Kuso!" The glass had cut through the palm of his hand, but he wasn't about to have one little cut stop him. The seventeen year old ignored his cut and began cutting through the rope as quick as he could. He started from around his wrist and then slowly cut the rope from around his ankles. Neji swore underneath his breath again, rubbing his ankle for the rope had cut through it slowly, leaving it red and stood up slowly. He had to get to Hinata quick before Ryoki get her. The thought of losing his favourite cousin would hit him hard and he wouldn't know how he could live without her. He didn't want to fail…it was his job to protect her. He wasn't about to fail protecting her.

Neji ran to the door and twisted the knob open, but it wouldn't budge. He figured Ryoki wasn't going to leave the door unlocked so he locked him in from the inside. He looked around for anything that could help him unlock it, but really there was none. Closing his eyes, he concentrated, searching for his chakra and used his Kaiten (thank you Paul Pheonix for giving me the name!) to bring the door down. The power of the wind surrounded him and with all the chakra he has collected around his body, swung his right leg against the door and it flew open. With no time to think whether anyone was there or not, he ran out of the room. He was surprised to find that he was STILL in the mansion, because he could recognize the rooms around him. Neji paused. So he wasn't in an abandoned building. No wonder he had heard Hinata call out his name. She was SO close to him, yet he didn't even bother to call out so she could find him. Kicking himself mentally for being stupid, he ran as fast as he could, wondering where Ryoki would take Hinata to be killed. He would most likely take her in a secluded place…one where no evidence of a murder can be found, a place where she would undoubtedly follow.

"!" He noticed a dark figure just ahead of him. No…there was no time to be fighting Ryoki's henchmen now. He had to get to her quick…he had to. But the figure was blocking his way. "Urggh!" Neji faced both his palms towards the figure, hoping to use his byakugan to move him out of the way, but as soon as his palm was inches close to him, he was stopped. Surprised, Neji pulled his wrist away from the death grip and jumped back. "WHERE HAS HE TAKEN HINATA-SAMA!?" He lifted up his fists, ready for a fight.

"I don't know," the figure answered.

Neji blinked and put his arms back down. "Gaara?"

Gaara stepped into the light, frowning, his arms folded across his chest. He examined the older youth for a minute, looking at him up and down. "Did you have a fight with someone?"

The dark haired youth was surprised at that question, but he rebuked it by walking pass him. "I don't have time for questions! I have to get to Hinata-sama right away…" He paused beside him and glanced at Gaara over his shoulder. "Do you love Hinata-sama, Gaara?"

Gaara didn't answer.

"I thought so." Neji smiled, turning away. "Well I do too and I would do anything to protect her, even risking my own life to save her. If you love her that much Gaara, then you'd do the same." And then he ran off.

He didn't need anyone's advice, not from HIM. But why on earth was he running beside this Hyuuga? When he did so, Neji had glanced at him, grinning, as if he knew this was going to happen. Gaara said nothing as he followed Neji down the dark paths of the Forbidden Forest.

The impact of his fists connecting to her face frightened her, sending her skidding on the ground with a loud thud. Repeatedly, he kicked her in the stomach, the sand from his slippers hitting her eyes so she couldn't see. Tears had come out of Hinata's eyes, not just because the sand had made contact with them, but also because the pain in her stomach was unbearable. She still couldn't see the kidnapper's face, for he was wearing a mask to conceal his features. "Doushite?" she asked quietly, unable to muster enough volume in her voice. To her surprise, she heard him back up a little to give her enough room so she could sit up, using her arms as leverage. She gasped when she felt strong hands grip around the collar of her shirt, lifting her up in the air. The man's strength wasn't the same as Gaara's, but it was still strong enough to crush her throat.

She hated being vulnerable…

He gripped tighter, the fabric of her shirt making it a lot harder for her to breathe better. She was running out of breath fast and Hinata suddenly heard him talking. "I don't understand why Hizashi-sama died protecting a weakling like you and why Neji-sama is doing the same! You are in the way of Neji-sama being the head of the family!!!"

Hinata opened one eye, but he gripped tighter so she wasn't able to see his face up close. There was too much hatred in his voice for her to really understand what he was saying. The dark haired girl coughed.

"Look down, Hinata-sama…" Still held by her throat, she felt herself moving and Hinata looked down. Gasping, Hinata noticed that she was hanging at the edge of a cliff. If he were to let go right now, the wild waters below weren't the only ones that would finish her off, it was also the sharp rocks that were situated there.

"Gomen nasai…" she managed to croak out. "Whatever I did to make you angry, I apologize."

"IT'S TOO LATE FOR THAT!!!!" he roared.

She felt his hand slowly releasing her towards the dangerous depths. More tears escaped her eyes, but the bruises on her right eye were too painful for her to cry. Does she really deserve this? What had she done wrong?

"HINATA-SAMA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"Neji-niisan?" She couldn't open her eyes anymore. The wind had picked up, stinging her eyes. Her tears weren't helping either, because they were fogging up her focus.

Ryoki looked up. Neji and that red haired sand Chuunin had made it just in time. "Ah, it's good to have an audience and watch the performance as Hyuuga Hinata falls to her death!"

Neji paused. "Let her go, Ryoki-san!"

Ryoki-san? Masaka…why would he do this to her? He was always a trusted family member to Neji-niisan…How could he do this!?

Gaara felt his face go red in anger. His fists were clenched. He was angry…so angry that he dreamed of snapping the man's neck, not just in two, but in fours. Hinata looked so battered, like raw meat beaten to a pulp when it was ready to be cooked and eaten. Ryoki had done his job and it was Gaara's turn to hurt someone.

Ryoki laughed. "It's quite obvious that I WOULDN'T Neji-sama! This is for your own good!"

The dark haired teenager growled, clenching his fists at his sides. He had to find a way to grab Hinata-sama without startling Ryoki to drop her…Neji glanced to his right to where Gaara would be standing, but was surprised that he had disappeared. He blinked, looked back at Ryoki and noticed that Gaara had turned himself into sand, the wind sending him to where he wanted to go and appeared just behind Ryoki.

"What are you looking at?" Ryoki asked, staring at Neji.

"Me," a voice spoke behind him.

Startled, Ryoki turned his head. Gaara punched Ryoki near the heart, sending him flying in the air, but the man was able to muster up some strength to throw Hinata in the air back towards the edge.

"HINATA-SAMA!" Neji dove to catch her, but Gaara was quicker. He had caught her just before she would fall into the rocks below. Gaara jumped away from the edge and into the safety zone near the trees. Relieved, Neji stood up quickly and looked around to where Ryoki had landed. However, he couldn't find him anywhere.

"Maybe I should get rid of YOU first Gaara of the sand!" Ryoki appeared above Gaara, a long sword brandished high.

Gaara stared up at him with a straight face. He lifted up his palms towards Ryoki. Sand began creeping around his arm and flew straight upwards towards the man. The sand formed into some kind of hammer, slamming the sword out of Ryoki's hands. The sand then formed into a large hand, the fingers going around Ryoki's neck, ready to crush him to pieces. Blood poured from the sides of Ryoki's face. "I can kill you right now, easily destroy you as quick, or I can make you suffer and torture you as slowly as I want…" There was an insane look crossing Gaara's face.

Neji shivered. What was this feeling? Is this what Naruto felt when he fought Gaara?

"Neji…" The dark haired chuunin looked up. Gaara tossed Hinata in the air towards him. Neji blinked and caught Hinata in time, her weight sending him to land on his knees.

"Hinata-sama?"

Hinata wasn't responding. The choke hold she was under must have put her unconscious. Neji lifted himself up from the ground and glanced up at Gaara, whose sand hands still had a death grip around Ryoki's neck.

"Maybe I'll slowly torture you…the way you wanted to do to Hinata…"

Ryoki didn't wince, instead he smirked. "Have you forgotten who I am? I taught Neji EVERYTHING I know…I taught him how to fight, how to make seals and…" Suddenly, he disappeared and in seconds, had Gaara held into a choke hold, his elbow around Gaara's neck. "How to escape from the enemy's grasp!"

Gaara glanced at Neji. "Run…" he whispered. At first Neji didn't understand what he was saying, but as soon as the red haired Chuunin opened his mouth to say it again, Neji hesitated.

"But this is MY fight Gaara," Neji suddenly said.

"Your first priority is to protect Hinata," Gaara said as calmly as possible. He grabbed Ryoki's arm and flipped him over. Ryoki landed on the ground with a loud thud. Gaara summoned his sand again and it formed into a large hand, trapping Ryoki on the ground.

Ryoki stood up and removed the sandy hands by using his own kaiten. The large wind surrounded him as he kicked the air, blowing the sand away. He charged and as he did so, he produced something from the palm of his hand and this was a long sword in which he brandished high in the air, striking down to hit Gaara. Gaara didn't have time to react and the weapon left a cut in the middle of Gaara's right shoulder.

Neji had no choice. He turned and ran as far away as he could from the fight. What was he doing fighting? Why was he letting Gaara fight HIS fight? "Your first priority is to protect Hinata," Gaara's voice echoed in his mind.

Yes….he was right. This WAS his first priority. He was born to protect Hinata-sama from the very beginning.

Gaara looked over his shoulder and was quite relieved when he realized that Neji and Hinata had disappeared. "LOOK AT ME WHEN YOU'RE FIGHTING ME!" Ryoki roared.

Ryoki knew that Gaara was weak from the moment the gourd was destroyed. It was all thanks to the Hokage-sama for sealing the demon away. He knew he wasn't strong enough to deal with such a demon. He struck his sword repeatedly at Gaara, while Gaara struggled to jump away from his attacks.

No…Gaara landed on his knees, breathing hard. It was hard fighting without Shukaku. He needed IT back if he were to survive this fight.

"So…it's true that Gaara Subaku was weak without his demon companion…" Ryoki did his kaiten once more, sending Gaara flying in the air. "Where is he, Gaara? Where is your savior now?"

Gaara stood up slowly. Anger…lust for blood…that's what he needed to summon him back…to break the seal. He straightened up and pressed his hands together to perform a jitsu. This was all he could do at the moment. "Sand Hammer!" he yelled to himself.

Sand surrounded Ryoki and it hardened, breaking up the ground and forming it into a mountain-like structure. His Sand Hammer threw Ryoki in the air, but Ryoki managed to land safely on the ground.

Call me to me, Gaara and the seal will break…Have anger in your heart; bring darkness into your soul! I will come back to you!

"What you did to Hinata was unforgivable!" Gaara hissed. "I will NEVER have mercy on you!"

Forget Hinata! Lust for blood! Lust for me!!!!!

Ryoki blinked. Sand was surrounding Gaara immediately, covering him like a mummy in Egypt. It crawled around Gaara's legs, his arms and around his body. His hands began to form into a large claw and his face was deforming into something Ryoki has never seen in real life before…

GoodGurl: Wooh! This is getting interesting, ne? You've noticed I've changed a little bit about the importance of the Gourd that Gaara carries around him. The Gourd is actually the only thing that changes him into a demon, not the voice in his head, but I thought the voice in his head could work, because it's more dramatic that way….:) Anyways, see you guys next week!