EEK! it's thursday!!! and that means NEW SHIPUDDEN EPISODE!!!
-runs around naked like Sakuradeathblossom-

anyways, new chapter...this is a little shorter then the others 'cause it leads up to a BIG chapter...which is the next one.
but enjoy none-the-less.

and everyone...-sigh- i love you all!

:-)

A month passed by like a sandstorm.

I got word that Naruto had returned to Konoha and I immediately told Sakura the news.
She was so excited to see that boy that I couldn't refuse her request to visit Konoha and tell him the news about our wedding in person.
She didn't show it often, but I knew that she missed Konoha and all that it held. So I told her to tag along with Temari on her mission since she had to talk with Tsunade about the upcoming Chuunin exams.

While she was gone, life continued on as usual.
I found myself in meeting after meeting only to be greeted by a mountain of scrolls on my desk in the main office and also in my bedroom.
I was silently grateful for all of the work since it helped keep my mind off of Sakura and all of the dangers her and my sister could run into during their mission.
That strange feeling was still there, and it was only growing stronger.

Usually all the members present at the meetings talked about this group called the Akatsuki.
Apparently they were a group that wants to harness the power of the demons that Naruto and I had sealed within us…

During the meetings I sat back and listened to the elders talk and argue with each other on what actions to take.
I was mostly worried for Naruto since I knew the Kyuubi would be the most desirable demon to possess. Not only was it a strong demon, but it was also almost docile to its host, never bothering it…nothing like Shukaku anyways.
Again, I was amazed at Naruto's never ending luck.

The elders mentioned that they had put guards on watch for any members that came near the village. But I knew it was a waste of time, they wouldn't come after me…they would be crazy to want Shukaku.
I knew Naruto would be their prime target, and I had to help my friend.
He had saved me during our fight and only helped me out after that…he put my life on the track that it is today, and I had to repay the favor.

As soon as I returned to my office, I quickly wrote up a request for Tsunade to have Naruto return with Sakura and Temari. I made up a story about having him shadow me in order to learn and comprehend the true duties of a leader…especially since he aspired to be Hokage one day.

Wondering about my sanity since I knew that Naruto was only going to slow my work and bother me all day; and knowing that Tsunade could never refuse such a request, I sent the message immediately.

With Naruto and Sakura in Suna, I could easily keep my eye on both of them.

I saw them coming from a mile away.

I watched in amusement from the balcony attached to my office as Naruto waved his arms around wildly, talking excitedly about something.
I also watched as Sakura went from smiling, to laughing, to hitting him hard on the top of his head.

I half-wished I had been there to see his reaction when he heard about me being appointed Kazekage and Sakura's engagement to me.
But watching them as they approached the village, I'm glad I wasn't…

"GAARA!" I heard Naruto yell as soon as he stepped into the village gates. His loud voice could be heard throughout Suna.
Everyone around them stopped and stared at this odd blonde boy.

Sighing at his actions, I transported myself in front of him, arms crossed across my chest.

"GAARA!!" Naruto yelled even louder as he lifted me off of the ground in a hug.
Sakura laughed behind her hand while Temari smirked at me.

The villagers around us were waiting on my reaction.

"Naruto, put me down. You're making a bad example to the villagers on how to treat their Kazekage." I muttered to him.

Seeing his error, he dropped me immediately and bowed low as he addressed me by my formal title.

Rolling my eyes at him I said, "That's even worse…".

When he stood up again, I walked over to Sakura and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
I heard Naruto gawk loudly at my actions, but before he could say anything, I said, "Come. I will show you your living quarters."

Taking Sakura by the hand, I led the way to my house…where he would be staying unfortunately.
I placed him in Kankuro's room though…as payback for all of the pranks he's pulled on me as a joke in the past.

When I had showed Naruto to his room, I said, "I'm assuming Tsunade told you the reason for your being here."

Nodding excitedly, he responded, "YEAH! She told me! I think it's a great idea! It'll give us a chance to learn how to work together for when I become Hokage!"

"Hn. It starts tomorrow at 6 AM. Be dressed and ready to leave by then."

"WHAT?! That's so early!!!"

Rolling my eyes at him, since he was already giving me a headache, I said, "But for now get cleaned up and unpacked. When you are done, we will all go out to eat."

"Gaara…" Naruto said seriously, which caught my attention immediately, "Thanks buddy. And you and me need to have a talk about this wedding thing…"

Smirking slightly at his protectiveness of Sakura, I nodded and said, "I know."

Nodding his head, Naruto ran into Kankuro's room and immediately started unpacking.

I walked into the living room and saw Temari waiting to brief me on her mission. I motioned for her to wait and entered my bedroom where Sakura was unpacking as well. "When you're ready, we're all going out to eat." I said.

"Okay." she answered as she nodded to me and folded up an article of clothing.

I closed the door once again, and then moved to my sister.

"So?" I said as I motioned for her to sit on the couch next to me.

"Everything is going well. Tsunade tightened security this year, which was expected; but she told me that it has nothing to do with her doubting you, she just wants the people to feel safer this year."

I nodded my head at this news, "I would have done the same…Anything else?"

"No. Everything is on schedule, so in a few months we'll be visiting Konoha once again for the exams."

"Good."

I heard as a door opened and saw Sakura step out in the hallway.
Seeing my sister and I seated on the couch she said, "Oh sorry…I didn't mean to interrupt…"

"You're fine." I said as I looked at my sister to verify that we were done talking. When she nodded at me I said, "We're finished."

A loud crash echoed to the room that we were sitting in, closely followed by Kankuro's yelling and Naruto yelling right back at him.

"Excuse me." Temari said as she excused herself. "I have to go stop Kankuro before he starts choking Naruto."

Temari rushed out of the room and out of sight down the hall.

Sakura walked over to me and gave me a long and fiery kiss.

"I missed you." she said smiling at me.

"I could tell…" I said as I was still recovering from the kiss.

"Oi. Get a room you two!" Kankuro said loudly as he walked into the room followed by Temari and Naruto.

"We have a room. You walked in to it." I pointed out.

"Let's go eat…I'm STARVING!!!" Naruto said as she grabbed his stomach for added drama.

Nodding at his request, I motioned everyone to the door.

"Is there any ramen stands in Suna?" I heard Naruto ask as they walked out of the house.
Sighing and shaking my head at him, I closed the door behind me.

It was going to be a LONG month…

Naruto followed me around everywhere. Constantly asking questions about why I was doing this, and why I was doing that, and when did I get to fight against an enemy, etc.

It was so hard to keep my patience with the boy, the only thing I could do to keep control was remind myself the real reason why he was here.

With him constantly by my side, and with Sakura either with me or with Temari, there was no way the Akatuski could harm those dearest to me.

No harm would come to them
I would make sure of that…
But that feeling kept getting stronger and stronger.

Something's coming. I said to Shukaku.

You're right boy…something big is on its way.

Do you think we'll come out victorious?

I'll make sure that we do…I have to gain some of my hard earned reputation back…

I smirked at my demon's hurt pride. It was so easily hurt for such a strong and dangerous demon…

That night, I sat in bed looking over scrolls that Naruto couldn't view while Sakura slept soundly next to me.

At some point during the night she started moving around and reaching out into the empty air around her. I watched her curiously, I had seen people have nightmares before…I always wondered what they were dreaming about.

Suddenly she sat up with a scream and then slouched forward and began to cry.

Putting the scrolls aside, I pulled her into me.
When she had calmed down enough, I asked her what her dream was about.

"I don't know." she sniffed as she wiped her face. "Something was chasing me while I was running after you."

"You were running after me?"

"Yeah… you kept backing away from me and the faster I ran, the quicker you faded into the blackness around me. It felt like I was losing you forever."

"I'm right here. I didn't go anywhere." I said as I held out my hand in front of her face as proof.

Grabbing it, almost as if to see if I was really there, Sakura sighed and then asked, "How's the work coming?"

"Hn."

She laughed softly into my chest, "You're going to be doing it all night, aren't you?"

"Is the light bothering you? Because if it is then I can go into another room and do it. Everyone's asleep so it won't bother anyone."

"No. Stay here. It's not bothering me at all."

We sat like that for a while, with her using me as a pillow and me lying on my back staring up at the ceiling.
"I'm sorry…" she said quietly, "you're busy with work, I'll let you get back to it. After all, I should be old enough to know they're just dreams."

"No. It's okay. I can take a break."

Relaxing against me once again, she asked, "Gaara…can I ask you a question?"

"Hm?"

"What's the real reason why Naruto is here?"

"To shadow me and see what a Kage has to do everyday."

She sat up then and gave me a skeptical look, "Come on. You don't think I'm stupid do you? I saw through your bluff as soon as Tsunade told us the news."

Sitting up and resting my arms on my knees, I said, "I don't want to tell you."

"Why's that?"

"Because you'll worry."

"Well, now you have to tell me."

Sighing and rolling my eyes at her, I knew I really didn't have a choice in the matter…"You're lucky I like you…" I said giving her a sideways look.

"Spill it." she demanded.

"There's a group called the Akatuski, and they are trying to possess demon power. And the only way they can do that is by taking one out of Naruto or me. So I brought him here so that I could keep on eye on him."

"Well that's just brilliant!" Sakura practically yelled with sarcasm. "Why don't you just gather up all of the demon containers in a small little area and wave a flag around saying, 'here we are! Come and get us!'".

"I knew you wouldn't understand."

"What's there to understand?! You brought Naruto here, so now all this group has to do is swoop in and nab one of you…and then what? Who knows what they'll do to you…Did you even think about this at ALL!?"

"Keep your voice down. Of course I thought about this. I brought Naruto here because he's the only one in danger by this group. No one would want to host Shukaku, he's too difficult; but Kyuubi…that's who they're after. And with Naruto in Suna, I can protect him."

"Why do you have this intense desire to protect him? He's a perfectly capable ninja, he can protect himself. You don't have to put yourself in danger!"

"I'm not in danger Sakura. But Naruto is. And I owe him so much…it's the least I can do."

Sakura knew I was right…but she was still fighting it.
I saw her trying to think of another possible solution to the problem.

"I hate it when you're right…" she pouted. "Just promise me one thing."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll be careful, and if they do come here, you won't take them all on by yourself…"

"I promise."

"Good…because I've been having this really bad feeling in the pit of my stomach lately." she said as she laid back down.

Laying back down with her, I snapped off the light.

"Aren't you going to do your work?"

"No. You need to get some sleep."

"Oh, and Gaara…"

"Hm?"

"Don't tell Naruto why he's really here…otherwise it'll be more than just the Akatuski you'll have to look out for."

"He won't find out. You and I are the only ones who know the truth."

"Good." she said as she sat up to kiss me goodnight.

I wanted to say it then. It was on the tip of my tongue.
I love you…all I had to do was say it…but I couldn't.
Who knew that three small words could be so complicated…
I still had a month though, that was plenty of time.

"Good night." I said instead, and she laid back down and snuggled her face into my stomach and fell asleep.

Did you hear that boy? She's having bad feelings too.

What could be causing them?

I don't know…but I don't like it. I know you promised the girl that you wouldn't…

That's one promise I will break. I said as I bravely cut him off.

Good. Then prepare for a battle boy…because I can feel the electricity in the air. Look at the moon…it's coming soon.

I looked out of the window, and for the first time that night, I noticed that the moon was red.

"Blood on the moon…" I whispered into the silence of the night.

Something is coming…and whatever it is, it wasn't good.