Making his way slowly from the temporary living quarters his siblings and he would be sharing, Gaara stepped from the roof dropping down the three story building to the ground below with grace. He moved silently through the dark alleyway with all the stealth and ease of a predator.
Gaara noted two things, as the sounds of heavy breathing and footsteps rounded the corner from one of the main streets.

First, that there was a blood soaked girl sprinting in his direction. Terrified green eyes wide as her long pink hair fanned out behind her, the very sight of her sending a shiver down his spine.
Looking at the state she was in had him almost salivating.

Second, She was already being hunted.
The raven haired boy in pursuit had closed the distance between them with ease and he too moved with the grace and speed of someone who possessed some talent. Though not so strong as to be a real threat. Another shiver run through him at the thought of a blooded fight with a strong opponent.

For the moment, Gaara stood and waited to see how this situation would play out. The dark haired boy had noticed his still form observing them and slowed, hesitating. Leaving room for the girl to continue her run towards him.
She didn't seem to be slowing down, not that he cared. His sand could sense threats that the human brain couldn't even perceive. Those that wished to do him harm hadn't a chance at getting close to him.

So he stood relaxed as she got closer, her arms were out stretched towards him in a way that left him confused, he had never seen that action cast in his direction before. Waiting for his sand to shield him at any moment, the terrified girl crashed into his chest holding him tight as she shook with fear.

Gaara had never been clung too in his life.
He felt overwhelmed with sensations and feelings of shock, confusion, warmth and that hunger for something, darker.. Blood.
He would never betray it on his face in front of the glaring raven haired boy but he was deeply shaken by the frail civilian girl who was now holding onto him for dear life. The shaking warmth from her body almost pleasing against his, suddenly feeling over stimulated by the contact he focused on something else. He and the dark haired boy glared at each other, sizing the other one up. It almost brought a smirk to his lips, almost.

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"Who are you and why are you in Konoha?.. State your business." Sasuke said calmly with an arrogance that never seemed out of place on the Uchiha heir.
Typical that one of his teammates would do something stupid or down right confusing leading to generally more stress and work for him. To say he was confused by the scenario in front of him would be an understatement. The whole scene didn't make sense and standing there watching his blooded teammate pressed up against this clearly foreign Shinobi made his blood boil. Sasuke didn't care for Sakura in the same way she cared for him but, he did consider her somewhat important as his teammate and certainly his responsibility in this situation.

"My name is Gaara." The boy rasped in deep husky voice that didn't match his stature. "What's Your name leaf Shinobi?" He asked, focusing on Sasuke still.

"My name is Uchiha Sasuke." He said. A hint of pride went through him as he saw a moment of recognition cross the other boys eyes at the well known name of his clan. He couldn't help the smirk that graced his face, the legacy and strength he carried from his namesake would always make him a worthy opponent.

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"Sakura." I heard Sasuke's authoritative voice say. "Come." that smooth as velvet tone now not to be questioned.

Realising I couldn't hide away in the chest of the young Kazekage forever, I pulled back slightly but stayed close. Keeping my eyes down at first as I felt a flush of heat go to my cheeks, I looked up below thick lashes and caught his eyes. "I'm sorry.." I breathed out softly, no more than a whisper as my head dropped and I moved to pull away completely. I felt sudden strong hands grip the tops of my arms, holding me in place. My eyes shoot back up to his. He was looking at me, inspecting my face and then letting his eye wonder down my body causing a light shiver to run over my skin as I sallowed the lump in my throat. Slowly his eyes moved back to the boy behind me, leaning down very slowly towards my ear I could feel the warmth from his breath on my neck.

"You're lucky your friend is here." He breathed into my ear with a rasp. "Who knows what I would have done to you otherwise." He deadpanned, straightening himself slowly back up. Never once breaking eye contact with the Uchiha, he lifted his hand to a loose strand of pink hair to slowly and deliberately tuck it behind my ear before moving past me like none of it had happened.

I stayed with my back to them as they passed one another, frozen as Gaara made his way out of the alley and I was left alone again with Sasuke. I felt his presence behind me before I heard him speak.

"Sakura, let's go. You've obviously hurt your head. We can't meet the others with the state you're in." He grumbled annoyed but not unkindly. After a few silent moments I felt a soft touch on my shoulder, acting on instinct I whipped around, smacking the hand away with all the force a twelve year old girl had. Finally meeting his shocked wide eyes our hands still in the air.

"Sorry." I mumbled, bringing my hand back to my chest, letting my head drop again and breaking eye contact. "I can take myself, you go on ahead." As I moved to leave the alley this time I felt a vice like grip on my wrist. I shot frightened eyes back up to his now menacing ones filled with barely retrained anger.

"What the hell was that?!" He seethed. "You look different, you're acting strange, you're covered in blood. Who the hell are you and what did you do to Sakura?" He glared at me, Sharingan spinning to life as he used his slightly larger frame to encroach on me.
An onslaught of memories started flooding my brain, leaving me back in the grips of terror. I felt my breathing increase as my eyes lost focus and were now unseeing, trapped in a different place and time.

"NO! Stop Please" I sobbed out, falling to my knees shaking as fast shallow breaths made me once again light headed. I gripped the sides of my head trying to make myself small while I pretend that none of this was really happening.

"Get up Sakura, we're going to the hospital." It was a statement, not a question. His voice had lost the edge and had that velvet quality back again. This time when his hand appeared in front of my crumpled body on the ground, I reluctantly took it. Too scared to hurt his ego in my weakened state. I had no chakra now, no strength to speak of. I was basically a civilian pretending to be a ninja at this point. 'Pathetic'

Holding his hand, he was surprisingly gentle as he pulled me back to my feet. Inspecting my blooded appearance once again before moving forward and crouching down in front of me, an invitation to get on his back. The idea of rejecting his offer crossed my mind. Being that close to someone that had tried to kill me in hours earlier didn't quite sit right but the memory of his spinning red eyes seconds early at my rejection of his touch made the decision easier.

I stepped towards him slowly, gently lowering my body down to his praying he wouldn't feel me shaking like a leaf against him. Firmly grabbing behind my legs, standing swiftly with ease he made his way to the roof tops and off towards the hospital.