Woooo…. I'm trying to increase output here and chapter length… who knew that they were so hard to write! Anywho, I'm glad that all of you are reviewing as I add, and keeping up the encouragement. Please keep it up: it helps me write! Arigato.

Sooo… Now we know that Sakura and Gaara have a thing for each other, and that there is a plot in the midst of things. What will happen? Muahaha! I shall not tell; that is for me to know and for you to find out.

Oh, yes, and I've been asked how old Gaara and Sakura are… Here's a rundown! I can't believe I didn't think of it sooner…

Gaara- 21

Sakura- 20

Ino- 20

Disclaimer: No ownage of the Naruto!

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Gaara woke the next morning, groggy. He sat up and looked out his window at the sun rising over the city.

Two days… he thought to himself.

His thoughts strayed to Sakura. Although he wanted to see her again, he decided it would be best is he stayed in the Palace for the day. With a sigh he got up and dragged his clothes on, then made his way out towards the courtyard, where preparations were already being made for the wedding. He leaned up against one of the pillars, watching things going on around him.

"Gaara…"

Gaara turned in the direction of the voice. It was Ino. Gaara smiled and embraced her softly.

"Hey…" he said, "What's going on?"

Ino looked up at him with her crystal blue eyes. She took his hand.

"Can we walk?" she said softly.

"Sure…"

When they were back in the castle and sure that there was no one in earshot, they stopped. Ino looked up at him.

"I… think I might be overreacting, but I believe someone has been watching me," she said.

There was silence for a short time, the Gaara said:

"Then I'm not hallucinating… I've felt the same way… It's like everywhere I go, there has been someone following me, but when I turn, no one is there…." He said.

Ino let out a sigh.

"Do you think it has to do with the wedding?"

Gaara shrugged, leaning against the wall.

"Or something with the new guards… I find it strange that two new guards would be enlisted so close to the wedding," he said.

Ino looked at one of the tapestries.

"I don't a lot about your systems here, but it does seem odd…" she turned to him, "I just hope nothing bad happens…"

She bowed.

"I take my leave then…" she said and walked away.

Gaara walked the opposite way, turning a corner and not really thinking about where he as going. Suddenly, his foot caught something and he fell to the floor. He turned to see Anko lying on the floor, face down, her robes torn and blood slowly pooling around her. Gaara crawled quickly to her.

"Anko! Anko!" he shouted, picking her up.

Looking at her stomach, he found the source of the blood. At least three stab wounds riddled her abdomen. Her robe was torn in several places and it looked as though she had also been beaten. Gaara put his fingers on her wrist. A pulse. A weak pulse, but nonetheless a pulse.

"Help!" Gaara called out, "Guards!"

Gaara was getting up when a hand pulled him back down. Anko had him by the sleeve, a feverish, burning look in her eyes.

"Ank-!" he started.

"L-listen! They got… to me! I… I knew to much and I…" a thin line of blood ran from her mouth as she talked, "B-Beware…"

Gaara crouched to her.

"Stay with me!"

Gaara looked up desperately, his heart thudding in his chest.

"Help!"

Anko's eye closed, flickering and she leaned her head back over his arm. The sound of running boots reached Gaara's ears and not much later, a black haired woman and a white haired man ran up. Their eyes widened as the sight of Anko and Gaara reached their eyes.

"M-My lord… What…?" the woman muttered.

Gaara looked up.

"Never mind! Kurenai, Help me with her. Kakashi, get Shizune! She needs help!"

Gaara and the woman, Kurenai, carried Anko to the nearest bedchamber and Kakashi ran off to find Shizune. It was a matter of minutes when Kakashi ran back with Shizune. Shizune's eyes widened as she saw Anko.

"What happened here?" she asked as she rolled up her sleeves.

Gaara shook his head.

"She was attacked by someone…" he said, "I found her like this…"

Shizune began to undo what was left of Anko's robe, removing the top of it. She put a hand over one of the wound on her stomach and put the other up in front of her face, forming a seal with it. Blue energy began to flow from her hand onto Anko's body slowly healing the wound. Kurenai bowed to Gaara, looking at the blood on him.

"Are you hurt, my Lord?" she asked.

Gaara shook his head.

"Listen, I want at least four guards here at all times. Make sure that no one enters here except for Shizune or myself…" Gaara commanded.

Kurenai nodded, and Gaara left, a sense of foreboding building within him as he walked away.