Gaara's Love

Summary: Saahra is attacked again and it looks like she did herself. Gaara nearly cracks at the site and is afraid of losing her, but he comes to a resolution as Sakura heals her.

Rating: M

Genre: Romance/Drama

Chapter 9: I'm Going To End This

"Don't go back to that person. Please…" It was right in my ear as if she was right next to me, crying. I heard her crying, too.

I hadn't been able to protect her. I was Kazekage. I should have been able to stop the dart from hitting her, but I was so… entranced by her eyes. Kankurou had already left, along with Temari, to find out why the council wanted Saahra dead. She didn't even think it was his fault. I ground my teeth together.

"I'm sorry, Saahra," I whispered so she could hear me. "I need to protect you longer and to do so; I need to get the people who are hurting you." Her crying worsened into sobs and I heard a slight thump. I was worried for a minute that she had passed out, but I could still hear her sobbing. Maybe, I'm the one hurting her, I thought.

I stood up and left the room. I considered going to my office to get work done for the village. I knocked on Saahra's door, instead. No one moved within. I opened the door and froze. Saahra was by the wall, curled up on the floor. There was a kunai in one of her hands and a large cut on her arm. Her blood was flowing onto the floor. I ran to her and kneeled down.

"Saahra?" I took the kunai from her and picked her up. "Saahra what happened? Where did you get this kunai?"

She looked up at me. "I didn't… I didn't know… what a monster was," she whispered. No, she can't hat me now, I thought. "I still don't think you're one." Her eyes closed.

"Saahra, don't sleep," I pleaded. Don't die. I put pressure on her wrist. "Please, wake up." I didn't notice that I was crying. I held her close.

I heard the door open, but I didn't move.

"Gaara!" It was Sakura. Naruto and Sasuke were probably behind her. The pink-haired girl kneeled in front of me. "Gaara, what happened?"

I didn't look at her. I kept my eyes on Saahra's face. "I couldn't protect you again," I whispered to her. "I ended up being the one hurting you."

"Gaara," Sakura whispered. "Let her go, I need to help her. She's still alive."

I let go of her wrist and it fell limp. Sakura's hand was glowing white. She put it to Saahra's wrist and the wound healed.

"She's lost a lot of blood, Gaara," Sakura told me gently. "She just needs to rest and eat. She's fine. We just can't leave her alone again."

I couldn't say anything. I watched her sleeping. I couldn't save her. I couldn't protect her from the people under my control. I picked her up and laid her on the bed. I covered her up and held her hand. I leaned over her. I could feel three pairs of eyes on me. Something needed to be done with those against her. I noticed my face was wet and wiped it clean.

"I have to do something, Saahra," I whispered to her. "I can't stand by and watch you keep getting hurt. I'll protect you forever." I kissed her forehead and stood up straight. I still had the kunai in my hand. I threw it at where the open door was.

"Hey, don't try to kill us." Kankurou and Temari had returned. I turned and saw them both standing in the door. Kankurou had caught the kunai. "We've learned their next plan of action."

"Good," I said. "Call them into the council room. Make it an emergency meeting. You'll know what's going on when I get there."

They nodded, simultaneously, and moved so fast that they seemed to disappear.

I looked at three from Konoha. "Sasuke, Sakura, watch Saahra carefully. Naruto as Hokage accompany me to the meeting. It'll look like an update meeting for a while and then we can bring up this situation. Don't let anyone in here, Sasuke. Not until I come back." I walked out of the room and down the hall. Naruto ran to catch up with me.