Here's the next chapter, you guys! I guess this kinda starts more into the plot, but more will come later.

Chapter 7: Sleep Talk

He didn't know exactly why, but somehow, this felt right to him. How strange. He looked down at her sleeping form, her warm, delicate body pressed up against his chest. She looked so relaxed as she slept. He smiled, glad that she was sleeping well now.

It was getting colder as he pulled her closer to him, feeling her shivering stop. After a few minutes, he closed his eyes, feeling Ino go into a deep sleep. He felt himself falling asleep as well, his body slowly relaxing, his breathing deepening…

"No." His eyes shot open, looking down at her. "Ino?" he questioned quietly, getting no response for a minute.

"Stop telling me that… You're lying…" Her voice was slightly slurred, a half whisper. He waited quietly for her to continue.

'She sleep talks? Hm… I thought that was just a reaction…' He thought, remembering when she had slapped him in her sleep. 'What is she dreaming about..?' He waited in silence for a few minutes. Nothing. He frowned.

"Ino? What are they lying about?" He inquired softly into her ear. He heard her groan slightly.

"This guy I know…" She murmured. Gaara half-smiled, a curious look upon his face. 'Wow… She's responding to my questions…'

"What do they say?"

"They… tell me I should stay away from him…"

He narrowed his eyes. "How come?"

"They tell me that he's… dangerous… that he'll kill me… They tell me that he's… unstable… or something…"

Gaara tensed; his mind and heart racing. Was she dreaming about him? "What else do they tell you?" He asked slowly, closing his eyes.

"They… they say that he's cold… cruel… That he's a… a… m-mon-monster." He felt her grip on his collar tighten, pulling him closer. "B-but they lie… It's all lies… He's… he's… no monster…" Gaara's eyes opened, staring wide-eyed at her.

"Why do you say that?"

"B-because…"

Silence.

"Because why?" He pressed.

"Because he… He's not like that…"

"How so?"

"He's not dangerous if he takes care of people… He's kind…"

"Y-yeah?"

Mmmhmmm… And he's… so warm… and caring…" Her voice was beginning to get more slurred, fading slowly.

"What else do you think about him?"

"He's… Mm… I like him…" Gaara froze at her words, blinking slowly.

"Wh-why would you like someone like m-him?" He asked, quickly catching himself before he slipped.

"Because…" She mumbled, her grip loosening.

Silence.

"Because why?"

Silence.

"Ino?"

He sighed, knowing that she was done talking for the night. He felt her bury her face into his chest, her breathing slow and deep.

'How… strange. She talks in her sleep and you can ask her questions, with her responding… A bloody conversation…' He thought, chuckling softly.

'What a strange girl.' He gently tightened his grip around her as thunder rolled above them.

'I wonder… however… if she was only dreaming and murmuring on randomly… Or if what she said was the truth…' He sighed, closing his eyes and finally drifting off to sleep.

[* * * * * * * *]

Miles away…

[* * * * * * * *]

"Would you kindly clarify that for me?" A long-haired man asked acidly, glaring at the man kneeling before him. The sun had set long ago, leaving them both in darkness in the empty compound.

"Our spies had gone to Konoha and spotted the remains of a battle. It appears that…" He glanced down at his notes, pushing his round glasses up. "Team 10 of Konoha had fought there; Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, and Yamanaka Ino. And there is a survivor."

The man standing narrowed his eyes. "So, Nara Shikamaru is still alive? Find him then, and—"

"S-sir, forgive me for interrupting, but he isn't the survivor."

"Who is it then? The fat one? Spit it out, Kabuto."

"No, apparently it's the girl, Yamanaka."

Silence.

"SASUKE!"

* * * *

He opened his eyes slowly upon hearing his name being called, black orbs staring into the darkness. He sat up, slowly standing and walking out of his room as he smoothed his raven hair. He had tried to catch a few hours of sleep, but he guessed that wasn't going to happen. He took his time as he walked to the other side of the building, walking as if he wasn't going anywhere.

Finally he reached the main room, yanking the door open and stepping inside. "What the hell do you want now?" He asked, annoyed. Orochimaru slowly stood up from his chair, his eyes narrowed.

"There was a mistake in your notes. Your weakest link made it though." He told him, slapping a packet of papers on the table, pointing to the middle line.

"What mistake?" Sasuke rudely, raising his eye brows.

"Read it."

Sasuke stared at him for a moment, then lowered his eyes to the line he was pointed at.

"Of all the teams in Konoha, Team 10 is lowest in it's ranks. Nara Shikamaru is the strongest of the team, then Akimichi Chouji, with Yamanaka Ino falling far behind; the weakest of the team. Since at this moment most of the Shinobi are out on missions, the village will be simple to wipe out."

Sasuke looked up. "Where is the mistake?" He asked, growing more annoyed.

He watched as Orochimaru picked up a pen, taking the paper and slowly circling something, then laying it back down. "This is your mistake." His voice was low as he controlled his anger.

He glanced at it, then narrowed his eyes.

"with Yamanaka Ino falling far behind; the weakest of the team."

"What are you saying, 'Roch?" Sasuke asked, completely agitated. "Are you saying that she put up the best fight or what?" He asked sarcastically, throwing his arms into the air.

"She's the only one that survived, Sasuke!" Orochimaru snapped, glaring daggers at him. Sasuke froze, eyes wide. Then he turned on him.

"What the hell do you mean?! She couldn't have survived!" Sasuke roared, nostrils flaring. 'She, of all the ninjas in Konoha, shouldn't have been able to survive this. She's the weakest of every other ninja out there!'

"Then fix it, Sasuke." Orochimaru's voice had returned to it's deadly, silky tone.

"Is there anything in specific you had in mind?" Sasuke asked after a moment, calming down.

"I think you can figure it out."

He sighed, turning his back and walking towards the door.

"Sasuke."

He paused, not looking back.

"Don't fail me this time."

He didn't answer as he walked out, heading back to his room.

Once there, he collapsed on his bed, anger and confusion seething through him.

"Yamanaka Ino; the girl that had fought with Haruno over me, the girl who cared more about her looks than training… Of all people, how the hell did you survive?"

He smirked.

"Well, you won't be a survivor much longer, Yamanaka."