Yeah! Finally, I have time to write! It's been too long, and I'm sorry for the long delay… I've been looking for work, and for college, and just a number of other busy stuff! Anywho, enough with my issues…

Thank you to all who reviewed! It's encouraging! Hehe, and now onward, my friends!

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Gaara stiffly hugged Ino.

"Hello, dear…" he said quietly.

Ino pulled away from him, looking confused. She put a hand on his arm.

"What is it? What's wrong?" She asked sounding concerned.

Gaara put on the best smile he could muster and put his hands on her shoulders.

"It's nothing serious. Just nervous…"

Ino nodded.

"Me too… I know that we should play our parts… but I… Never mind, I've not held my tongue. Forgive me." Ino said and lowered her gaze.

Gaara shook his head.

"Speak, if you wish… I won't judge you for it…"

Ino looked up into his eyes.

"Does this seem odd to you at all? I mean, I know that it will make both of our countries happy, but… something seems… wrong…"

Gaara stood there for a second, letting her words sink into him. Things had seemed off lately, not with his heart, but also with the gut feeling that something was going to go terribly wrong.

"It has seemed as you said…" He said and looked around, "Come, let us go to my chamber and we'll discuss this…"

Gaara led Ino away to his room.

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Two men looked up at another sitting in a chair, both garbed in Place guard uniforms. They bowed.

"Your orders will be fulfilled…" the white haired one said, "My sovereign…"

The man in the chair nodded.

"Go…" He said.

The men bowed lower, then walked away into the night.

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Gaara woke the next day, his head spinning. He was sure what to do. He and Ino talked long the previous night. They had confessed that they didn't love each other, but had agreed to be friends, and play their parts for the good of their countries. It still bugged Gaara, because he loved Sakura. He sat up with a sigh. That was one thing that he had not told Ino about. Jumping out of bed, he threw on his clothes and dashed out of his room. He ran flat into another person, knocking them both over. It was a man with white hair dressed as one of his guards. Gaara stood, extending his hand.

"I'm sorry..." he said hastily.

The man took his hand and hoisted himself up, straightening his helmet.

"No, it's my fault your highness…" he said.

Gaara looked him over.

"Are you new here? I haven't seen you before…"

The man nodded.

"Yes," he bowed, "My name is Kabuto… my friend Itachi and I just joined…"

Gaara nodded.

"I'm sure you'll do well… farewell…" he said.

Kabuto nodded and walked in the direction he had been walking, and Gaara went his way, sneaking out of the Palace.