The silence stretched.

Miyuki let it stretch as much as possible. She knew what she had to do but for the first time in her life, she doubted herself. Was she really going to throw all her hard work and everything she had been through because she decided to trust him?

He stared at her now, his presence was a mix of calm and chaos for her and she could not understand why or what was happening between them. She just…liked it. She began her story, starting with the day in the snow. The day she was found beside her dead parents. Gaara was a good listener. He didn't react much but somehow Miyuki found it oddly comforting.

When she finished she started to doubt herself again with the palpable silence emitting from Gaara. It was only after a short while that he had finally made a movement and it was to hold her hand tighter. She felt herself break inside. Trying to control her breathing she steadied herself. She was so confident that his strengths were weaknesses against her but why was she the one suddenly weak?

Why did she feel this man could undo her with a single movement? She barely knew him and yet it felt like he had stripped off every skin she had layered over her to protect herself from people. And attachments. And the pain that came with it. She was in over her head. A voice inside her screamed for her to get a grip. To not let this red headed man, get inside her skin, but she knew he already has and she had no idea how to go about it.

She could almost imagine herself pleading with the gods she did not believe in to give her this one thing. But she knew wishing and wanting was a luxury she could not have. She pulled her hand away from his. He didn't react to it. It was a moment before he began to speak.

"What you told me…it is hard to grasp," he explains. There was genuine doubt in his voice and Miyuki felt herself deflate at the sound of it. Great, the one she had believed to be her ally in this, doubts her. She shook the feeling off. It should not matter as much. She would leave here as soon as possible anyway, and never see him again. The thought had hurt her more than she had expected and suddenly she wished she had not pulled her hand away.

"But I believe you," he says quietly. "I believe you."

Miyuki opens her mouth to respond when someone bursts into the room.

"Kazekage, it is complete chaos out there," one of the guards exclaim. He does not even seem to notice Miyuki or the closeness of their Kazekage to this stranger.

"Naruto has been trying to hold them back off, but I do not think he can do it for much long," he continues. Gaara stands immediately and Miyuki felt a dread run down her spine. Eiichi. He's found out.

Miyuki makes a movement but stops when the guard finally notices her and holds back a gasp. She had forgotten her blindfold. She reaches for it but Gaara stops her.

"There is no longer reason for that," he says as he turns to the guard who immediately stands at attention, trying his hardest not to react to Miyuki and her eyes.

"It's Eiichi, he knows," she says, hating the way her voice shook at the mere mention of it. Gaara nods before walking to the door, turning only when Miyuki's feet reached the ground.

"You have to stay here," he tells her but before she could argue he had walked out and she heard the lock. He had locked her in. He didn't trust her? She tried to shake the thought away but found that she could not. She searched for another way out. If this was Eiichi, she was sure he had involved the other girls somehow. She had to protect them. She walked over to the only window in the room and saw her chance. She couldn't see the chaos the guard had talked about so maybe it was on the other side. This was it. She was not going to go to the fight, she was going to make Eiichi come to her. She held on to her blind fold, tight between her fingers. Before she let it go. She felt the fabric slip away from her fingers and she has never felt more free. Gaara was right, there was no longer any reason for it.

She jumped out the window and far away from where the battle was. She knew Eiichi would later realize where she was, and he would go after her. Besides, he would accomplish nothing without her.

Gaara saw the destruction from a mile away. And Naruto's familiar Chakra. He searched for Hinata and found her still working on healing some of the wounded despite her present condition. He had to get her to safety first or Naruto would have a repeat of last time. He rushed towards her but stopped when he saw Temari was bent on protecting her. The enemy could not even get a mile close to her. Temari saw him and an understanding passed between them.

"Go," she screamed. "Help Naruto! He's being stupid again. I don't know why men are like that!"

He gives her a nod and heads straight for Naruto. But as soon as he arrives, the creature he had been attacking was backing away. He later noticed the girls. Each of them seemed to be contributing to the chakra creature that was attacking his city. And all of them seemed to be unconsciously doing so. This was what Miyuki was trying to warn him about. But why where they backing away?

There was only one explanation. His eyes land on the familiar building of their infirmary. Miyuki had not listened to him.

"Naruto!" He called before following the creature out into the desert.

Authors note: SUPER SORRY FOR THE LATE UPDATE. huhu I would understand if you guys sort of gave up on this story. I have been working my ass off in law school. It seriously ain't easy. And I have been in a writing funk. Because as much as I want to be an author, it seems my original stories don't get much attention. lol not having a pity party, just venting out. *sigh* Anyway, I know its a short update but I hope you guys like it! and since its summer (4 months of it!) expect updates once a week or twice. Depends. xo