Important: Gaara is not a vampire. All will be explained.

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"I'm your what?" I stared incredulously at, who I thought, was my best friend. Surely this was some kind of sick joke! Maybe Naruto had found and paid someone to act like Gaara, considering I had never seen him, I would fall right into the trap. It was so simple! I started laughing.

"Hey! Naruto! You got me!" I wiped some tears from my eyes. "Gaara" just frowned. "What is so amusing?" I tried to regain some composure, but looking into his face just made me laugh harder. "It's funny!... gasp... you think... I would... your mate!" I couldn't take it. I dropped to ground and laughed until I had to stop at risk of hurting myself. So I just laid there and said, "Let's try this again, I'm your what?"

Gaara just raised an non-existing eyebrow and stated. "You. Are. My. Mate." He glared at my form. "Do I need to spell it out anymore?" Forcing myself not to start laughing again, I asked a new question.

"Mate? I don't get it." I sat up and tilted my head slightly. He just sighed and helped me to my feet. "Shakku took a liking to you." I squinted my eyes. "Shakku?"

He sighed once more. "Shakku is my demon." His hand reached up and began to play with a strand of my hair. 'Demon? What the hell?' Searching my brain, the only information I could find on demons was...

Demon: In religion, folklore, and mythology a demon is a supernatural being that has generally been described as a malevolent spirit, or daemon and djinn. (1) A demon is frequently depicted as a force that may be conjured and insecurely controlled.

This could not be good.

'Plan... need a plan. Gotta think to have a plan. Gotta have a plan to get outta this. Gotta think.' My mind was running in circles, still trying to process what was going on.

"So... " I said after awhile. "Who paid you?" He dropped his hand to his side. "Nani?" Bowing my head, I repeated myself. He growled softly. "No one paid me." I lifted my head, glaring defiantly.

"So you did this just for kicks?" I crossed my arms, and waited. "I do not need to explain myself."

My eyes widened. 'Did I just... see right through him?' Literally speaking. I rubbed my eyes. Gaara was becoming transparent. I backed away a few steps.

I blinked. He was gone. No footprints. No sand. No chakra trace. Nothing.

I slowly lifted my hand to my shoulder.

No blood. No teeth marks.

I pulled my hand back and stared at it like I had never seen it before. This was way to freaky. Molding chakra into my feet, I took to the trees and headed back in the direction I had come. Naruto would still be at Ichiraku's, so there was no need to track him down.

Could I tell Naruto about what happened? Well, he wasn't very trustworthy when it came to secrets. No, I wouldn't tell him. I just needed company. Maybe Kakashi-sensei would be there now as well.

The only sound I could hear was the rushing in my ears and the thump of my body weight in the trees. But it echoed. That wasn't right. The wind was stinging my eyes, branches seemed to reach out and grab at me, but I pressed on. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't shake the feeling I was being followed, and I could only think of one person who would be following me... well, it's better left unsaid.

Coming to the place of gathering, (2) I saw that my suspicions were correct, Naruto was still there, not eating any longer, and he was accompanied by my sensei and... Sasuke?

'Wait, wasn't he just at the training ground? I frowned. What did Gaara do to him anyway? Shrugging it off, but remaining nervous, I jumped out of the last tree and quickly sat down next to Naruro. He was a bit shocked.

"Sakura-chyaaaan!" He said loudly, "I thought you left already?" Rubbing my damaged ear, I replied, "I did. I came back." To my relief, he didn't question me further.

I slumped in my chair, and tuned out everything. Not sleeping, heaven forbid if I ever became like Shikamaru. I snickered at my own joke, stupidly drawing attention to myself.

"Ne, Sakura-chan?" I opened an eye and gave him a look. Kakashi took this time to speak up. "He's right, you look pale." Naruto's eyes were filled with worry. I sighed. "I'm just tired from the run." Poor naïve little fool. I knew Kakashi figured I was lying, but he said nothing.

'I should ask Sasuke about... no. I can't! I should, but Naruto is here. That would just force to explain and it would just be a big mess!' Well, apparently my body and mind were separate today, for I found myself saying, "Sasuke?" He replied with a genius, "Hn."

"What happen to you at the training grounds?" He stared at me, no. Let me rephrase that. He glared at me. Not the normal, 'You're annoying,' kind of glare. This was a death glare.

"I never went to the training grounds." His onyx eyes narrowed at me. "I've been sitting here with the dope." I looked over to Naruto, he just bobbed his head. "He came right after you left, Saku-wait! Don't call me a dope, teme!" I was visibly shaken. I stood quickly, said good-bye, and rushed off without another word.

'If he was there... then who was with me?' I was stumped. I just walked, staring straight at the ground, knowing people would move to avoid running into me. I was now deep in thought. Maybe Sasuke sent a clone! Or, returning to my pervious theory, maybe it was all just a big joke, and everyone, including Naruto, was in on it! It was a conspiracy!

'I'm not safe anywhere!' Jerking my head up, I narrowly avoided bumping right into Shikamaru, who wasn't paying attention to where he was going either. Rather, he had his hands behind his head and was staring up at the sky. "Bye Shikamaru!" He looked around, then just kept walking. I shook my head. He would never change. (3)

I now decided watch where I was going, so I admired the view to my apartment, which I hardly had time to look at. Today really was a beautiful day. There were a few clouds, but the sun was beginning to set. The air was clean and refreshing, and it seemed everyone was happy. Almost perfect. To be completely honest, it was slightly unnerving.

Getting that feeling that someone was stalking me again, I began to look over my shoulder quite often. 'Ah ha! There! That shadow behind me. It stopped when I stopped, but when I look back no one's there, and there is no way that someone could be following me that close.' I sighed. Paranoia was becoming a very close friend of mine. So I quickened my pace.

I turned down the street that lead to my apartment. I knew if I could just get home, I would be fine! Besides, my katana was at home, since I didn't need it unless I was on a mission.

By now I was running. 'Just a bit... more!' Racing up the steps to building, and jerked the door open and ran up two more flights of stairs. I got out my key and jammed the my door open. I rushed in, closed the door, locked all three bolts into place, and heaved a huge sigh. I had been sighing to much today.

Convinced I was safe here, I removed my sandals, and headed straight for the shower. 'Relaxing, hot water. It's calling to me.' I walked into the bathroom, and turned the water on to hot. Really hot. I striped myself and stepped into the burning water. I stood there for a long time. Just letting the water flow over me, soothing my muscles. It was nice.

Reluctantly, I turned off the water, toweled myself dry, and got into a pair of comfortable shorts and a tank top. I let out yet another sigh as I fell on my bed. It was a long, eventful day. I was dog tired, and the sandman was defiantly hitting me over the head with a stick.

Without a second thought, I drifted off to sleep.

---Dream---

It was bright, too bright. 'Am I staring right into the sun?' It hurts. I blinked. No, I was in a white room with florescent lights. As I closed my eyes, I heard people murmuring to my right.

I was laying down. It was soft. 'Where am I?' The murmuring grew louder. I heard the words terminal, and hopeless. Everything else was too soft to understand. I just listened for a word I could hear. I didn't wait long.

My eyes popped open at the words... "Dead in three days." I looked at the people speaking. They were blurry, but getting clearer.

I tore my gaze away from the fuzzy blobs and glanced about the tiny room. 'A hospital room? Why am I... ' I was stopped from thinking any further when someone grabbed my arm. I looked over to the nurse, who was now much more visible. She gave me a pitying glance and stuck a needle in my arm.

I tried to scream, but my throat was so dry, I couldn't make a sound. The door opened. A shadowed form. I felt instantly cold, and my eyes grew wide as I finally saw who it was.

"Gaara... "

---End Dream---

I woke up drenched in sweat. The moonlight streamed through my window. I rolled over and tried to calm down, but my horror only grew as I looked next to me.

A small pile of sand...

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(1) Daemon, also spelled dæmon, is a supernatural being between a mortal and god, comes from Greek mythology. A djinn is like a sprite, brownie, or even an imp.

(2) My own little joke about them always going there.

(3) I'm sorry! I know this makes NO sense, but I love Shikamaru! So I had to put him in there.

Authors Notes: Well, I had my first flame. And after not leaving my room for two days, I got over it. So thanks to Mistress DragonFlame, who made me have a relapse in my therapy!

Sorry for the short chapter. Somehow I deleted the real one, and this is a retype, but I really wanted it post something for you guys. I'm sorry. Just a warning. I have the plot figured out now, and, well. You're in for a rough ride. Grins evily

And also, for any of you who want to know, my nephew is coming home tomorrow! Which is good, considering he was a preemie.

Thanks to: AnimeSenko, Gina01, Magical-Inkable-Pen-Of-The-Rubber-Duckies-Who-Lives-On-Durly-Lane-With-The-Muffin-Man-Duck-And-His-Muffin-Friends-Who-Rock-Solid-Rock-And-Hate-Michael Jackson(haha I love the add on to your name! Sorry to any Jackson fans.), LostsoulofRegret, Ali-Baba123, serpentslayer, gin-inu, Hao'sAnjul, forsaken13, inuyashaHELP, qtkag, EnV(me too), Haru, Kesganda, windborne, Angels-Ramen, chie, SweetAssassin, david, sakurachn(I really appreciate that. ), JCK, DrAgOnLuVeR88, BWOLFY, Sora Inu-chan, Kurenai Chinoumi, SabakuNoBrandye, Heartless Ghost(thanks again!), StarlitBaby, Dark Pyro Kiarra, mentally unstable X3, Chobbix, Pink Haired Uchiha, candle-rain-chan, SilverSimoneLady, Shadow, darkchild, DangerousandDemonicDevil, Scarlet Thunder19907(your review made me laugh. ), Super Lucky Tiki Charm(thanks for the tips!), everything you imagine is real, nutte, Lady-Crymsyn, Lady Jaja, and Gaaraslady

Gasps So many reviews! You guys have no idea how much it means to me! Seriously, I love you all! wipes away tear

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