Me: I'm back!

Gaara, Sakura, & Kabuto: (whine in unison) Already?

Me: (blink) ...I've been gone for, like, 5 MONTHS! Kay's just been typing up my written stories. I just decided that this story's too special to let anyone else type (no offense Kay)

Gaara & Sakura: I guess that's okay...

Kabuto:I disagree completely.

Me: Really now...?

(continued the end of the chappie)

Disclaimer: Honestly, do I REALLY have to put this?! Kishimoto-san's a boy people! I'm a girl. Do I LOOK like a boy to you?!...wait...you can't see me, can you?...crap...

Time went by, &, as fate would have it, Gaara 'convinced' his siblings to adopt Sakura. They were perfect for each other. Gaara warded off all those that wanted to pick on Sakura & Sakura was always there to keep Gaara company. Everyone said that "Suna's Little Monster" had found his soul mate.

What's more, the two went & did everything together. They walked together, talked together, even slept together. In fact, the only thing they didn't do together, was bathe, & that was because Temari & Yashamaru forbade it.

It was a pleasant, windy day & Sakura & Gaara were playing ball on the roof. "WEE!" Sakura squealed as she bounced the cherry red ball to Gaara excitedly. Gaara caught it & smiled, trying to think about the last time he & Teddy had never been so happy. Even Teddy had a new friend (Sakura's stuffed panda, Bamboo).

He bounced it back to Sakura, but her eyes weren't on the ball, causing it to roll past her; instead, she looked past him in horror, slowly lifting a trembling finger to the source of her fear.

Gaara followed Sakura's pale wavering finger to find a mysterious figure dressed in all black behind him. He glared at Gaara & pulled out a kunai, aiming steadily for him.

"No!" Sakura screamed, blindly running towards the masked figure as the kunai collided with Gaara's sand 'shield'. Sakura started pounding her small fists against the figure's stomach. "How dare you try to hurt my friend!" she shrieked.

Keeping his eyes glued to Gaara, he pushed Sakura away from him with such force that she was pushed off the roof. "Annoying little brat..."

Gaara fell to his knees, & concentrated hard on making a sand cushion for his quickly falling companion, barely catching her. The figure took this moment to try to attack Gaara, only to be pushed back by Gaara's shield. Gaara glared at his new-found foe with contempt as he placed Sakura softly on the ground, who quickly headed for the side stairs to try & aid her friend.

Between Gaara & the masked figure, an inexorable fray began, each parrying the others blows. Then the figure tripped & fell backwards, falling against the door that lead to the inside of the building. Gaara used this chance to pierce his enemy's body with several sand kunais before pinning him to the ground.

Gaara rushed over to his opponenet & pulled off his mask, weeping when he discovered it to be his beloved Yashamaru. "Why, Yashamaru? Why did you attack us?" he begged.

"From the day you two were born, I have hated both of you. You, for taking the life of my sister with your pointless birth, & that bitch of a girl you call your 'friend' for having those annoying goody-goody parents of hers & following their footsteps by befriending you. I'll have to dispose of her like I did her parents after I finish with this mission," Yashamaru growled in response.

Tears gushed even fiercer at Yashamaru's words. It was because of him that Sakura was orphaned? It was because of his uncle that she cried out at night, screaming & sobbing from the terror of her dreams? He was the cause of her pain? And here he was, threatening, not only Sakura's, but his life.

Gaara gulped back tears & cleared his throat. " Who gave you this mission?"

"Why, your father of course," he answered through hard breaths. When he noticed Gaara's expression, he smirked & added, "although, it was my choice to accept it." And with these last words spoken, Yashamaru took in his last breath & died, a smirk settled on his dead face.

As Gaara continued to cry, he heard a surprised gasp from behind him. He turned to see Sakura standing at the edge of the stairs, staring at Gaara in disbelief & confusion.

"Sakura, I-"he started, only to interrupted by Sakura, tears streaming down her white face like a waterfall & painful memories flooding her innocent mind as she fled back down the stairs, heading for the safety of her home, where she could hide from her reminiscences once more.

"Sakura!" "AAHHH!"

(continued from beginning of the chappie)

Kabuto: Yes, that's right...

Me: (grabs Kabuto & goes into a lip lock w/ him for 5min) Still disagree?

Kabuto: fdjksahjskdfhjk...

Sakura & Me: ...what did he say?...

Gaara: He said 'maybe...'

Sakura: How did you-

Gaara: Don't ask...

Me: Sorry to leave you at a cliffie, but I do solove them, thou... Plz review!

Review button: Plz touch me!

Me: ... o.O