Wow! I feel so loved! Thank you for all the reviews! It's nice to see my inbox fill up with comments and speculations! I'm glad that the story has got you thinking! I hope to continue.

Hmm… So it's interesting now! There seems to be a plot against Gaara and Ino! Kuahahahaha! What will happen? Will Gaara and Sakura get together? Will something else happen? Who's in the castle causing trouble? Hehe, read on, my friends, read on!

Disclaimer: I own the story but not the awesomeness that is Naruto…

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Gaara shuddered as he peeled off his bloodstained clothes down to his shorts and sank into the hot spring to clean off. The thought of someone dangerous in the Palace unnerved him. Why would anyone want to attack Anko? She was a priestess, someone who helped others, not hurt them. Gaara hugged his knees. Why. The word reverberated through his head. He sat there, soaking for some time when he heard a footstep. He turned quickly toward the noise.

No one was there.

His heart fluttering slightly, he turned back to his original position, waiting. He heard the footsteps again. When he was sure that whoever was approaching him was behind him, he reached up and flung the person down in front of him straight into the water. He grabbed their shoulder and raised his fist. Suddenly, he dropped it, scooting back a little. It was Sakura.

"I'm so sorry…" he said, "I thought…"

Sakura smiled a bit uneasily, shaking her head.

"It's understandable," she said, "I heard the commotion in the Palace earlier… Is she ok?"

Gaara shrugged, leaning back against the rim of the pool.

"I have the best healers and guards with her… Hopefully there won't be a reoccurrence." He said, looking into the water, anger showing in his eyes.

Sakura nodded.

"Yes…" she said.

She allowed herself to lean back and float for a couple minutes, a slight smile on her face. Gaara watched her, longing building within him as it always did when he was with her.

"Have… you dreamed at all?" Gaara asked.

Sakura righted herself, cocking her head to the side slightly.

"What do you mean?" she asked.

Gaara scratched his head, sighing.

"Well… a while ago… I had a dream. I'm not sure what it was, but… well…" he started.

"Speak, Gaara… It's not like you to not…" Sakura said, swimming closer to him.

Gaara looked at her, catching her eyes with his.

"You and I were in it… it was like something out of the past, but I don't remember anything like it…" Gaara said.

Sakura looked at him for a second. She lowered her gaze.

"I… haven't had a dream, but I've had a feeling like this isn't the first time we've been together…" Sakura said softly, then looked back up at Gaara, "It's liked I've known you forever…"

Gaara's heart caught in his chest. He drew a breath, and embraced her. Sakura responded by putting her arms up around his back and laying her head on his shoulder.

"Sakura… I don't know what happened before we met… But… I think that we should cherish now as much as we can…" Gaara said softly into her ear.

Sakura pulled back, looking into his eyes.

"Yes, but…" she looked down, "What about your future… it has no room for us to be together…"

Gaara nodded.

"I know," he said, "But for today… can it be you and I?" he said.

He put a hand underneath Sakura's chin, lifting her head and meeting her eyes. Fear, longing, and compassion swirled through them like a torrent. She nodded.

"Yes… for today, and forever in my heart…" she said.

Gaara smiled and leaned his head down to hers, meeting her lips softly in a small testament of passion. Sakura tensed out of instinct, but then relaxed and deepened the kiss. All of the pain, the fear, and the sadness seemed to melt away at that time. When they parted, Gaara looked held Sakura close and uttered three words:

"I love you…"