AN: I'm really happy that you all are reading this and like it so much! I really just want to reach through the compie and hug you, but I can't, and you'd just find that creepy. That's just awesome! Please, keep it up!

And to Thomas Drovin, … well, just wait and see. I have a feeling you're going to be happy with what happens.

And to the GrimSpeck18, you'll really like the ending of this chapter then. ^.^v

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or its characters etc. You know the drill.

Chapter Eleven: Betrayal of the Heart

"This is the pound section of the vet," Kiba said, opening a door and letting Ronni go through first. In here were housed several stray cats and dogs, all looking extremely happy at the visitors. They were all very well taken care of with shiny coats and sparkling eyes. The dogs all wagged their tails at them and smiled while the cats stretched and mewed.

Ronni squealed with excitement and jumped up and down. "AW!! THEY ARE SO CUTE!!"

Kiba laughed at her girliness. Ronni ran down the hall, looking at all the cats and dogs. She pointed at one dog and said, "This looks like the dog I had as a kid. Her name was Maggie. She got pregnant all the time by other random neighborhood dogs." Ronni pointed at one of the smiling dogs. It had black and white spotted and long-haired fur. She looked like a mix of collie and of spaniel, with very big brown eyes. Ronni then jumped to another kennel and stuck her hand in, allowing that dog to lick her extended fingers, " and then we had a black lab, like this one, named King. He's a great dog, very sweet and fun to play with. And we had a German Shepherd too. Like this one over here. His name was Caesar and he was HUGE!" She exclaimed moving over to another kennel with the similar dog in it, which was on his back and looking up at her expectantly. Ronni could do nothing but oblige the begging dog. "We also had two cats. Our first cat was grey tabby and his name was Sammy. Oh, you have one right here," Ronni indicated a cat who was rubbing its body across the bars of the kennel door. Ronni then said sadly, "Sammy died about a year ago." She reached between the bars and pet the fur of the grey tabby, who nudged against her hand and purred. " And the other cat we had, we called her Poo. We called her that because she did that in our aunt's hand while she was holding her. She was white with grey spots, like that one!" Ronni exclaimed, moving to another kennel where an identical cat lay curled up on a scratching post platform, snoozing.

Kiba laughed again at all her little stories. "You seem to have a lot of animals," Kiba stated.

"Oh, yeah. We had more than that though," Ronni laughed. "We lived on a cow farm, and we'd breed cows every year. We'd rent a bull and we'd keep the daughters if we had enough room. But we sold all the male calves, because we didn't want any inbreeding, so yeah. We had around eleven to twenty cows."

"Oh, well that's cool," Kiba smiled. Then he turned to her, arms held out in a wide gesture and asked, "So what do you think of this place?"

"It's so cool. You know I've loved animals my whole life and for the longest time, I wanted to become a vet. But now I'm just not sure," Ronni stated a little sadly, gazing around at all the animals smiling and wagging their tails or pawing the bars at her.

"But, aren't you a ninja?" Kiba asked, a little confused.

"Yeah, but eventually I'm gonna want to settle down and have a family. That's when having an at home job would be useful," Ronni replied, "but… it's a lot of training…" she trailed off.

Kiba frowned a little, "well if you ever have time, I could teach you some stuff. But I think you might already have the basic instinct to care for animals." Kiba smiled at her, and she responded with her own wide smile at the compliment.

"Thanks, I would like that," Ronni replied, arms folded behind her back and unable to wipe the smile off her face.

"Oh, we should be going, it's late," Kiba exclaimed, checking the clock on the wall.

"Aw," Ronni whined. "Oh, well. I had a lot of fun!" She smiled winningly.

"I did too," Kiba stated, smiling back at her. Kiba opened the door for her on the way out, like a gentleman, and the two went their separate ways back home, Ronni smiling broadly the whole way.

It was nearing five o'clock now, and Cordi was sitting in the living room, watching TV. She wasn't sure why, since Kankuro was the last person watching it, that the TV was on a local soap-opera channel. She figured that sometimes he wasn't as masculine as he'd like to think all the time.

Suddenly, she heard the front door slam, making her jump and look over suddenly. Gaara stormed through the foyer, and he looked like a wreck. Cordi quickly got up from her seat on the couch and followed him to the back in the kitchen. She saw him storm to the fridge and pull out a cold one. He opened it hastily, took a quick swig, and glared at the book case in the corner. One of the shelves held pictures of Kankuro and Gaara, Gaara and Matsuri, Kankuro and Temari, and all of the siblings. He stalked over to the bookcase, still glaring. He swung his arm abruptly, sweeping the pictures off their shelf, the frames shattering from their contact on the floor.

"Woah, Gaara," Cordi yelled. "What the hell?" Gaara glared at her, his eyeliner streaking down his cheeks, making it obvious he had been crying. His eyes were red, puffy, and glazed. He smelled like alcohol, and his body swayed a little, as if he had been drinking a lot. He quickly took another swig.

"What's going on? What broke?" they overheard Temari yell downstairs.

"Nothing, just go back upstairs," Cordi called back. She turned her attention back to the broken man in front of her. "Gaara, what's wrong?"

"You know, it's –" he started, slurring his words a little and swaying a bit trying to think of what he was going to say. "It's interesting how people can lie to other people, and make them fall in love with them." He glared at something off in the distance. Sniffing a little, he wiped his nose with the wrist of the hand holding his beer.

Cordi narrowed her eyes, putting the puzzle pieces together. "Did something happen with Matsuri?" She could feel that whatever had happened, it wasn't good, and it had hit him hard.

He nodded quietly, taking another swig from his beer.

"Something did happen with Matsuri," Cordi stated. "What is it?" He glared and walked away. "Gaara, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong!" she called walking after him.

"Maybe I don't want your help!" he snapped over his shoulder.

She quickly grabbed his shoulder, spinning him around to face her. She narrowed her eyes and asked as sarcastically as she could, "Now, why don't I believe that?" He looked away from her and tried to turn away from her. She put her other hand on his other shoulder, forcing him to face her. He refused to look at her. "What did I tell you about bottling?" He still didn't say anything. "Was she cheating on you? What?"

He gave her a shocked look. "Yeah – with Kankuro – how did you know?" Cordi sighed and put a hand to her head. 'Of course my guess was spot on,' she thought. "How did you know?" Gaara asked again scowling at the younger woman.

"When we arrived from Konoha a couple weeks ago, I told you I saw your face, and that's how I guessed you guys were together?" Cordi asked. He nodded a reply. "Well, Kankuro made the same face, too. I didn't want to say anything because, well – well, I wasn't sure if they were dating or if he was just pining for her." Gaara's face seemed to melt as if in pain. She had known and she didn't even tell him was all Gaara could think about. "Also, she just rubbed me the wrong way, and I'm normally a pretty good judge of character," Cordi added.

A tear went down each of Gaara's cheeks. "So, you knew," he sobbed, disgusted that someone he thought was a friend would leave out such a detail.

"Well, not really. It was just an educated guess. Look let's get you to your room so you can relax and tell me what happened," Cordi stated, trying to lead him towards the staircase.

"I thought we were friends! Why didn't you tell me!?" Gaara snapped, more tears running down his face.

"Look. I didn't have any evidence to prove it. And without any evidence, you wouldn't have believed me," Cordi explained. "Besides, I am your friend, which is why I'm going to take you upstairs to your room and send Temari out on an errand to get something I think will help."

"I don't think anything will help," Gaara mumbled, sniffling a little bit trying to hold back more tears. "The alcohol sure didn't."

"That's because alcohol doesn't do jack shit except make you look stupid and give you a slight high," Cordi replied in her usual snarky tone. Gaara smiled a little at her attitude, but then started to cry again. Cordi guided him towards the stairs while muttering, "I don't think I've ever seen a man cry this much," which he half chuckled half sobbed at.

Once she had gotten him upstairs, Temari came out of her room and saw Gaara's state and suddenly became frantic. "What happened? What can I do? Who do I kill?" Temari asked.

"You just cry it out, ok Gaara? I'll be right back," Cordi assured, setting Gaara on his blue bed. She saw him bring his knees up under his chin and wrap his arms around them.

Aleera jumped in with her worried thoughts as soon as she felt Cordi was disturbed. Hey, what's going on? What's wrong? She asked.

I'll tell you later she replied before she took Temari aside, who looked as worried as a mother bird with her eggs. "Ok, long story short, Gaara and Matsuri have been secretly dating for several months. He just found out that she's cheating on him with Kankuro," Cordi whispered to the blond Subaku.

"What?" Temari gasped, trying to intake even the fact Gaara and Matsuri had been dating for a while.

"Long story even shorter? Gaara, Kankuro, and Matsuri were in a love triangle, and it didn't turn out in Gaara's favor," Cordi stated in a sarcastic tone.

Haha, she isn't really that dense is she? Aleera remarked.

Be quiet! Cordiscolded.

"I got that much! I'm not stupid!" Temari snapped. Cordi could hear Aleera mutter something like Could have fooled me. "What happened?"

"I have no idea, I just told you all I know. Now, I need you to run an errand for me," Cordi stated, changing the subject. "Now calculating together how much he's told me of their relationship and how much he's crying, even after what smells like four hours of drinking, I'd say he'd fallen for her pretty hard, and he's crushed by the new twist of things. Are you catching on what I need you to get for him?"

"Uh," Temari started. She felt like it would be kind of bitchy to state the fact she never really had a problem like this, or had yet to help someone with a problem like this. This was a first for her, not a good one, but a first nonetheless.

"I need you to get chocolate. Lots of chocolate. The best for a situation like this is chocolate ice cream. Get a container and just bring it up here with a spoon. Also get chocolate bars, and chocolate covered strawberries if they're available. Chocolate covered pretzels are good too," Cordi explained. Temari nodded. She quickly grabbed her purse and darted out the door to closest grocery store.

What can I do? Aleera asked hopefully.

Nothing, sorry. I can handle the rest on my own Cordi replied. She could feel Aleera accepting this, and her mind receding.

Cordi turned back to Gaara who sat on his bed, chin between his knees, and tears falling quietly down his face. "What did I do wrong?" he sobbed. "Why doesn't she love me like I love her?" More black eyeliner dyed tears fell from his eyes and onto steadily growing wet patches on his knees. She walked over and sat down next to him on the bed. She pulled him into a small embrace, rocking him a little. "Is fate punishing me for killing all those people?" he asked. He lowered his eyes to his knees and sobbed, "I tried my best. I thought I had finally turned my life around. I thought everything was going great. Is fate laughing at the torment it's causing me?" Cordi rubbed his back a little as his lungs wracked with sobs. Then he asked the age old question. "What should I do now?"

"That is the question," Cordi stated, grimacing at the options. Then she breathed in, and said, "Well, you smell like stale beer, so I'd say take a shower. But also, talk out what you're feeling. Other people can help you, if you let them in a little. But only the people you can trust."

"I trusted Matsuri," he hiccoughed, "so how do I know who I can and can't trust?"

"A gut feeling?" Cordi guessed, hoping it was a good enough answer. "I've gotten really good at knowing who to trust and who not to over the years. Like, I knew you'd be ok to trust. The first time I saw Matsuri in real life, I didn't trust her, and I don't think Temari did either," Cordi explained. "I can do it by the way someone looks at me. I know, it's judging a book by its cover and it's considered wrong, but I get a gut feeling, and it hasn't failed me yet. If you're not sure about someone, then wait till they prove themselves trustworthy."

He nodded solemnly, knowing that's what he should have done in the first place. "But seriously? Take a shower, because you are making me dizzy just from sitting near you," Cordi said, giving him a sad smile, as she got up and offered him a hand. He looked at it skeptically. "Look, if you want, I'll sit on the toilet while you're in the shower if you want to talk." He gave a small nod and grabbed her hand. She helped him up and walked him over to the bathroom. She walked out, and waited for him to hop in the shower before she walked back in.

"What happened to Temari?" Gaara asked from behind the shower curtain.

"I sent Temari to get something my world calls comfort-food, which is what we eat in times like this. It's better than therapy," Cordi enticed. She could practically hear Gaara mentally debating with himself over whether food can actually help him or not in this situation.

"What do I do about Matsuri and Kankuro?" Gaara asked. This was the question Cordi had been waiting for. "Because, honestly, I want to kill Kankuro," Gaara added.

"And that would be wrong," Cordi replied.

"Why do you say that?" Gaara asked, a little confused with her siding.

"Well, we know Matsuri was in a relationship with both of you, so it's obvious that she knew she was playing you two. She'd be the one I'd punish. Matsuri asked you to keep your relationship a secret, so we don't know if Kankuro knew about you and her or not. Most likely, he did not know otherwise he wouldn't have dated her, for the very reason you put forth," Cordi explained.

"Which was?" Gaara asked.

"Most likely if he had known you and Matsuri were dating, he wouldn't have dated her at all. He knew you'd kill him if he did, and you could probably do it without leaving any trace of evidence," Cordi laughed. "And, you're his brother. No matter what relationship you have, Kankuro seems loyal enough that he wouldn't purposefully do anything to hurt you. I mean, ever since you guys got older and matured." Gaara had to admit, she was right. He and Kankuro had become close over the last couple years, and Kankuro happened to be one of his biggest supporters. "It's like something my mom used to say to my brother, my sister, and me growing up. 'Blood is thicker than water,'" Cordi added.

"What does that mean?" Gaara asked as if it were the dumbest thing he had ever heard.

"It means don't let people or petty things, like this whole Matsuri deal, get in the way of your relationship with your family. They are your flesh and blood, and bonds with family will be the strongest thing you have in life. At the end, all you really have is family. Friends come and go, but your family will always be there, whether you want them to or not," Cordi explained. "And I do know your family isn't really what people would call functional, but…" Gaara had to laugh at that, it was true. Most families wouldn't try to kill each other off or drive each other nuts like they do. "But it's still a family. Friends can become family when you grow close enough to them, but most of the times the bond can't be as close as a sibling. Take me and Ronni, I've known her for ten years and she is practically like a sister to me, but my biological sister and I have been close our whole lives."

Gaara felt happy with what she had said to him, but sad at the same time because his family was rather dysfunctional, and guilty for wanting to kill Kankuro without getting all the facts in. "You're right," Gaara said, sounding rather defeated.

"I know I am," Cordi laughed. Gaara made a face at her that she couldn't see due to the curtain.

"So what do I do about Matsuri?" Gaara asked. "I can't just kill her. I love her."

"You do?" Cordi asked, like it was a trick question.

"Well yeah!" Gaara said, as if to say "DUH!" "Otherwise I wouldn't be such a wreck right now."

"Point taken," Cordi sighed, kind of feeling as if she had been blown off. "But do you want her to feel like you do, or have you already forgiven her?"

"FORGIVEN HER!?!" he almost yelled. "I can't FORGIVE her after what she did! She went around my back and slept with my brother. She CHEATED on me! And who knows for how long! I'm not sure I can even trust her again!"

"And there's my point," Cordi said.

"What?" Gaara asked, completely confused again by her train of thought.

"How can you love someone you can't trust?" Cordi asked. Gaara was silent.

Kankuro got home around seven o'clock to find Gaara, Cordi, and Temari sitting on Gaara's bed eating chocolate. What was strange was Gaara's eyeliner didn't look quite normal, but he ignored it. They all looked at him differently. Cordi was curious, Gaara glared at him, and Temari scowled at him. Kankuro frowned at the attention given to him. "Did I miss the party, or was I even invited?" Kankuro asked.

Cordi got up off the bed, and said, "Kankuro, why don't we go downstairs and talk?" She walked over to him and grabbed his arm gently, pushing Kankuro away from the bedroom. He looked at them confused, especially Cordi. He didn't want to get pulled away from them if there was something going on.

But Cordi did successfully pull him away and sat down with him in the living room. "So," Cordi smiled, "You and Matsuri, huh?"

Kankuro looked surprised, and slightly mortified. "H-how did you know?" Kankuro asked, his eyes wide.

Cordi smiled and said, "I have my ways. So how long have you guys been together?"

"Uh, about a year or so," Kankuro stated. "Why?"

"Just wondering. I'm guessing she asked you to keep it a secret, because Temari and Gaara had no idea," Cordi stated, an evil smile playing on her lips.

"Yes, she did, because her aunt didn't really approve of me. Did you tell them?!" Kankuro asked, feeling a little betrayed.

"I actually didn't have to. Gaara walked in on your nooner," Cordi stated. Kankuro's face fell, as he was obviously embarrassed. His eyes were wide and his face paled. Then Cordi asked, "Were you aware that Matsuri was cheating on you?"

Kankuro suddenly grew angry. "Matsuri would never do such a thing!" Kankuro snarled, getting up from the couch to leave the room, obviously not wanting to hear anything Cordi was about to say.

"But she did and with Gaara. They've been dating for months. He had no idea about your and Matsuri's relationship," Cordi stated. Kankuro stopped mid-step and grabbed the side of the doorway. It seemed as if he was broadsided with the news, like a train had pummeled full force into him. She saw his shoulders shake as the news sunk in and he lifted his other arm to his face, rubbing at it. Cordi added softly, "And you didn't know about their relationship, either."

"I need a drink," Kankuro sniffled, letting go of the doorway and walking towards the kitchen, his purple face paint smeared across his cheeks.

"Kankuro," Cordi called after him, following him back to the kitchen as he too grabbed a beer from the fridge. He sat down at the table, ignoring her. "Kankuro, I'm sorry I told you so coldly. I needed to prove that you were innocent. Gaara's really upset."

"Gaara's upset!?" Kankuro snapped. He had just heard that the woman he loved was cheating on him with his brother, and the only reason the blow wasn't cushioned for him was because his brother was upset!? "I'm upset!"he yelled at the seventeen year-old woman, tears flowing from his face like a burst water main. Kankuro put his head down in his arms and cried. His back shuddered as his lungs were wracked with sobs.

Cordi nodded and walked back upstairs where Gaara and Temari were sitting on the bed eating chocolate. Gaara was doing a little better, but he was still upset. Cordi quickly grabbed some of the chocolate, getting curious glances from Temari and Gaara. "Kankuro's a mess," Cordi explained in a guilty tone, leaving the room with the chocolate before the other siblings were able to question her. She walked back to the kitchen, where she saw Kankuro sitting with his head in his hands. "Here, eat this. It'll make you feel better," Cordi said, dropping the bag of sweets in front of him.

"What is it?" Kankuro asked.

"Chocolate. Better known in my world as comfort food," Cordi offered, holding a chocolate strawberry in his face. He grimaced but took the sweet. He bit into it, and his face suddenly relaxed. "You and Gaara should talk. Now, do you know where Matsuri lives?" Cordi asked.

"At the corner of this street, why?" Kankuro asked, giving her a strange look.

"Oh, no reason," Cordi smiled. "You just eat." She got up and left the kitchen. In the foyer, she saw Gaara and Temari walking over to the kitchen. "I'll be out for a little while. See you." With that, she walked out of the Subaku house and down the street to Matsuri's house, hoping to give the tramp a piece of her mind. She quickly knocked on the door, which swung open to the brunette herself. As soon as Cordi saw her, rage boiled her blood for her close friends. She quickly threw a harsh right hook at the unsuspecting teen.

"Why?" Matsuri cried as she held her bloody lip and nose, while lying in the ground.

Cordi leaned over, a hand on her hip and the other pointing at Matsuri. "You know why," Cordi snarled before turning on her heel and walking back to the Subakus' house.

AN: Hahaha, I know, you all wanted to do that to Matsuri. Let her get her just deserts!!! Alright, everyone, remember to review!!!