*NOTE: So this next chapter wasn't edited by my awesome friend, because of story reasons lol. Um once again I'm sorry!*

*Gaara's POV*

Sasuke and I came to a large clearing and there was a small pond next to several rocks. I sat down on the ground feeling conflicted. What did she mean I won't protect Sasuke? Of course I would protect him, even if it meant I would die.

Sasuke exhaled loudly, "What has been troubling you?" He asked getting on his knees in front of me. I glanced up at him. His head was tilted and he wore concerned expression on his face.

"She told me rather grim news and I am not sure what I can do." I told him. He leaned forward pressing his lips to mine gently. "Strike the old fish hag from your mind and focus on the man before your eyes." He whispered and gently kissed my jaw.

A smile formed on my lips, "Sasuke…you cannot be in such a mood." I muttered as his kiss turned into multiple kissing trailing down to my neck. I laid my head back allowing him ample space to ravish my neck and soon my entire body.

I jolted from my sleep at the sounds of shouting. I started to sit up. "How nice of the prince to finally join us!" I jumped at the sight of Orochimaru standing in front of me. I quickly started to move away from him. Suddenly hands grabbed my arms tightly, it was some of his guards. They roughly hoisted me up from the ground.

I began looking around for Sasuke and saw Kakashi, Neji, Kiba, and Shikamaru surrounded by a powerful fire shield. I looked for Sasuke and saw Orochimaru's guards also had him in their deathly grip. I turned my attention back to Orochimaru, my eyes glaring at his very existence.

He noticed and raised his left eyebrow, "I see you are angry little prince," He paused and stepped closer to me. He got in my face, his eyes brimming with anger, "Well I am too." He hissed. He slapped me.

I winced at the onset of pain, but quickly returned to my previous glare. "Orochimaru leave Gaara alone, come punish me!" I heard Sasuke shout. I looked at him surprised then back at Orochimaru.

A small grin formed on Orochimaru's face. He straightened, "How noble for a fucking pirate," He said and waved at the guards in a motion implying for them to move me somewhere else..

They dragged me, despite my fighting against them, and shoved me through the fire shield with the others. It burned, but I couldn't bring myself to think too much about it. I got up from the ground and stepped up close to the shield, being sure not to touch it.

"I will say if it wasn't for one of your friends, I would have never guessed that you would still have the intention of coming to Ningyo Island." He stated and walked to the shield. He stood in front of me. I looked at him confused, "What do you mean?" I asked and glanced at the others.

Kakashi, Shikamaru, and Kiba were far from Neji, who sat on the ground with his head between his knees. I looked back at Orochimaru and he was staring down at something in his hand. His eyes rose to mine and he showed me Neji's broach that had Orochimaru's insignia. Damn.

"I fucking forgot!" I heard Neji shout desperately. I ignored him and held my glare towards Orochimaru. His sinister smile appeared and he tucked the broach into his tunic.

He turned his back to me and walked towards Sasuke. Sasuke tried to break from the guards, but he could not. Orochimaru motioned his hand down. One of the guards grabbed Sasuke's neck and forced him down on his knees. He tried to fight it, but eventually he went down to his knees.

Orochimaru grabbed Sasuke's chin and stared down at him. He looked at me, "You know Gaara…it disgusts me to know that you've sullied my property." He stated. I watched as Sasuke winced and small amount of blood dripped from Orochimaru's hand.

"He is not your property." He stated and tried go against the shield, but the fire blazed when I got too close to it. I back away cautiously frustrated. I don't like being trapped like this.

Orochimaru chuckled and snapped his fingers. A few moments passed before Manda appeared from the forest. He approached Orochimaru and stopped.

Orochimaru let go of Sasuke's chin and looked at me. "Do you really think I would not brand him?" He asked. I did not reply to his question.

He chuckled, "Well let me show you." He stated and motioned for Manda to come over. Manda did and bent down beside Sasuke and grabbed his hair and pulled his head back roughly. Then he grabbed his bottom jaw and opened his mouth almost inhumanly wide.

Manda smiled and gently rubbed his face against Sasuke's cheek, "You're still so flexible." He spoke and his snake tongue licked Sasuke's cheek. I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists, but I couldn't do anything.

Orochimaru lifted his hand and it slowly morphed into a small snake's mouth. He then lowered it into Sasuke's mouth. Sasuke began gagging and trying to pull from the guards grip.

Slowly Orochimaru's snake hand came out from Sasuke's mouth and with it a long strand of silver hair. My eyes widened. It…it wasn't a dream?

I watched afraid of what was going to happen, a fear that seemed to know that nothing good would happen. Orochimaru stopped pulling it out.

"Well now you will receive you punishment Sasuke." He said and snatched the hair out. Manda moved away just as quickly and the guards released him.

Sasuke began coughing roughly. Suddenly his eyes widened and he began yelling in pain. He began gripping his arms. I watched as a dark mark spread across his body. Even the cloths he wore could not conceal the dark flame-like substance.

"That's what happened to that…" I heard Kakashi speak, but I could not take my eyes from Sasuke. I clenched my fist and tried to hit the shield but Kakashi grabbed my hand. I snatched my hand from him.

Sasuke continued yelling in pain and fell to one side. His hands oved to his shoulders and he began convulsing. I wanted to get out. I need to do something. I can't stand here and watch, but fire shields are nearly impossible to break through.

His body slowly stopped convulsing to the point where he just laid on the ground breathing heavily for air. Orochimaru motioned for the guards to pick him back. They lifted him, his body barely moving to resist them. I could see the black marks covering his face and visible body.

"Well, by the looks of your brand you are no longer a trustworthy slave for me." Orochimaru stated and once again took Sasuke's chin in his hand. "That is truly a fucking pity." He said and released his chin.

I began looking to see if maybe I could try to jump over the shield. "It won't work." Kakashi stated solemnly. I cursed and looked back at Sasuke breathing heavily.

"Sasuke I am glad you offered to take your punishment first," Orochimaru spoke. He looked at me and stepped back from Sasuke some. He tilted his head and grinned, "Now Gaara it is your turn." He said.

I glared at the monster of a man. He turned to Manda, who now stood behind him. He grabbed the handle of a sword and slowly unsheathed it, never taking his eyes from mine. He ran his finger along the long blade. Blood appeared on his finger and he licked it with his forked tongue.

I glared at him disgusted. Then he turned back to Sasuke. My eyes widened and my heart began racing as he lifted the end of the blade to Sasuke's chin. He slowly lifted Sasuke's chin with it. He stared down at the raven-haired pirate; a grimace replaced the grin he had previously.

"No!" I shouted and tried to push against the shield, but Kakashi grabbed me and kept me from going any further. "No don't hurt him!" I shouted. I can't protect him! I can't do anything! I pushed Kakashi from me and started hitting the fire shield.

Orochimaru glanced at me and the grin returned. He slightly lowered the blade. My body trembled with fear. His grin disappeared, "Gaara I don't like for my property to be taken from me, because once it has been…" He turned his head back to Sasuke and glared down at him. Sasuke looked up at him.

"It becomes worthless to me." He said angrily and shoved the blade through Sasuke's chest. I caught my breath in the instant. Sasuke's body slowly lurched forward his eyes staring down at the blade piercing his chest. Suddenly he coughed up blood onto the blade and ground. The guards released their grip on him.

Orochimaru pulled the blade out swiftly. Sasuke coughed up more blood and fell to the ground.

I yelled and ran at the shield and burst through and kept running towards Orochimaru. I quickly muttered an incantation as the guards came towards me. Suddenly the dirt beneath them surrounded them and pulled them from me.

I slammed my fist into Orochimaru's surprised face and he fell back into the forest. I got down on my knees at Sasuke and pulled him to my chest. I felt tears falling from my eyes. I moved him away from my chest to see his empty charcoal eyes staring up at me. I gritted my teeth and pulled him to my chest crying.

"Sasuke…" I muttered and rested my head on his. "No…Sasuke…" I whispered holding him tighter, my eyes stinging from the tears.

Suddenly I felt arms grab my arms roughly I tried to fight them, but I felt a tight grip around my throat. I let go of Sasuke and tried to grab at the grip at my throat. Immediately I was thrown against a rock.

I slowly lifted myself from the ground and glared at Orochimaru standing at the border of the new fire shield. He returned the same hateful glare, his cheek having a large cut. I gritted my teeth angrily. But slowly I closed my eyes and lowered my head. Sasuke.

I gritted my teeth and raised my gaze to Sasuke's lifeless body. I looked away angrily. I didn't…I didn't protect him. I could have. I could have protected him. If only I had broken the fire shield sooner. I closed my eyes tightly feeling the angry tears stream down my eyes. Fuck. Sasuke. I gritted my teeth as my heart felt as if it sank further and further into a dark cold pit.

I could hear voices, but they were only muffled sounds. I grabbed both sides of my head and screamed silently. Not Sasuke. I slowly began rocking on my knees. I felt as if I were losing my mind, but that would be fine if it would mean I wouldn't have lost him.

"You did this to him. Let that drive to take your own life, just as you caused his life to be taken." I heard Orochimaru speak. I slowly looked up at him. He glared down at me, "I hope you enjoyed holding his lifeless body, because I will be sure to make sure that is the last time you ever hold his body and the last memory you will have of him is watching him take his last breaths."