The story goes on and well, I think this chapter is not really interesting and everything...but it's sorta like a prologue for me. Still focussing on Gaara and Sakura. And I really really really really wish that someone someone someone will at least write me a review! I need some suggestions and motivation!

PLEASE, for heaven's sake, can I get a review? I really wanna see some response around here. It feels like I'm writing to myself…which sucks. Seriously. I assure you.

Okok, enjoy the story.

I'll give you a sweet if you write a review. Please. I really will. I may even give you a glass of orange juice!!! ARGH!

:D

The sky was at the tail end of what must have been a riotously coloured sunrise. A girl laid on the bed, the up and down movement of her chest indicated that she was still fast asleep. The curtains in the room were fluttering in the direction of the wind, and the room was slightly cool.

"Sakura! Are you awake? Oi! Forehead Girl!" Someone was rapping the door sharply.

The girl rubbed her eyes groggily. She sat up and yelled back, "Yeah, yeah Ino Pig! You don't have to go around shouting! Give me a few minutes!"

Just as she was about to walk towards the bathroom, something soft slid down from her shoulders and onto the floor. Sakura picked the fabric up.

Gaara's cloak.

The conversation that she had had with Gaara flooded back into her mind. He had thought himself a monster. Even till now? When the shukaku was no longer in him? But he was willing to give up his life for his village, that should be more than enough to convince anyone...

"Oi! Forehead girl! Hurry up! Breakfast's ready and almost everyone's downstairs! You can pack your stuff later!" Ino's shrill voice interrupted Sakura's train of thought momentarily.

"I'm coming!"

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"I told you, there are really some things that you are just not as capable of doing!"

"And I have told you to shut up about your woman and man rubbish!"

"Geez, you're more troublesome than my mum."

"Come on, you think every woman's troublesome."

A heated conversation was going on between Shikamaru and Temari who seemed to enjoy biting each other's head off. However, noone seemed to have noticed as it was simply too common to see them bicker.

Sakura entered the kitchen which was cramped with 12 people. The kitchen's walls were a deep blue, and there were pictures of the three siblings on the wall. Examining each photo, she realised that Gaara was always unsmiling in the pictures.

"Good morning." A voice that had a hint of indifference to it murmured behind her.

Sakura turned around, flustered. She hadn't expected anyone to notice her looking at the pictures.

"Er. Good morning. Had a good night's sleep?"

He shrugged and sat on the table, picking up his cup and began sipping it. Sakura bit her lip to prevent herself from pounding him and demanding an answer. Why the heck was he so freaking quiet?

Ugh.

Her stomach began to growl. Sakura pursed her lips and sat down beside Gaara. She poured herself a glass of orange juice, sipping it slowly. A sour but pleasant tang could be tasted in her mouth.

"Is that stuff any good?"

"Wha- Oh, you meant this?" Sakura pointed to the glass of orange juice.

Gaara nodded his head.

"Yeah. I've had this since I was young. Wanna try?"

He hesitated for a bit before assenting. Sakura poured another glass of orange juice and passed it to Gaara. Was she just imagining it, or was the room going quieter and quieter as the minutes ticked by?

She watched intently as Gaara placed the glass against his lips and drank the orange juice. After finishing his drink, he replaced the glass on the table. Sakura looked at him meaningfully.

"Not bad. But a tad too sour."

"That's why I like it." Sakura answered nonchalantly. Two could play in this question and answer game, she thought sourly.

"Thank you." She added after some thought.

"For what?"

"For helping me to my bed last night. You did, right?" Sakura blushed lightly, she was still not very keen on remembering their conversation last night.

Gaara shrugged yet again. This is beginning to get on my nerves, Sakura thought.

"Oh, I'll return you your cloak later," added Sakura, getting up to leave the kitchen. She intended to pack her backpack but when she was about to walk up the stairs, Temari called out to her.

"Sakura!"

"Hn?"

"Erm. Just for you to know, Gaara has disliked orange juice ever since he was young, and he had never drank it, ever. This must be the first time I have seen him actually downing a glass of that stuff. Was this some kind of a bet?"

Sakura was taken aback. What?!

"Er...yeah, you could say it was..."

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It was still early when the four three man teams gathered outside the entrance of the Sand Village. Lee was busy competing with Naruto how fast he could scale the walls that flanked the gate. They were making a huge racket, but after Sakura muttered a "Do you yearn to learn the way to write the word, 'Death'?" to Naruto, everything became considerably quieter.

Shikamaru who was still quarrelling with Temari realised that everyone were finally paying attention. He cleared his throat and began giving out orders.

"Alright. Since it is still early, we can most probably reach our different goals if we continue to move on and only rest for certain periods of time. Remember our goals and keep in mind that this is for what we love and protect! Dismiss!"

Twelve figures rushed into the prevailing desert winds and vanished into the desert landscape.

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It could very well have been a hole. Yet, it was much too spacious to be one. The walls were rough, and not really what walls were like. They were rocky and chafed one's skin whenever someone brushed against it. A single candle lit up the room, with its flickering flame creating terrifying shadows on the uneven walls.

"Any news?"

The voice was like a metal scrapping at a rocky surface, raspy and inhuman.

"Our troops have retreated. The enemy seems to be in a precarious position; I suggest that we strike now, as their numbers have been largely reduced by our consistent attacks, Orochimaru Sama."

"What about you, Rukaro?"

A man coughed before replying weakly, "My spies have told me that Konoha ninjas were seen in the residence of the Kazekage and his siblings. They were seemingly on a top secret mission. However, I could not acquire further information."

"A mission? What do you think they wish to achieve, Rukaro?"

"It...it...is not possible for me to predict, Orochimaru Sama."

"Oh, really?"

There was an uncomfortable silence and the candlelight's unsteady movements caused more eerie shadows to be formed on the wall. The man who was sitting down previously, stood up and walked over to Rukaro.

Rukaro was sweating profusely, and turning paler and paler as the seconds whiled past. The steps of the man echoed throughout the room, it sounded ever so loud to the man.

Suddenly, the man's steady gait broke.

"I recall reminding you all that I will not stand a traitor, did I not Rukaro? Do you remember how I punish those that have betrayed me?"

"Ye-yes, Orochimaru sama."

The man's movements were quick, too fast for the eyes to trace. He murmured some words and snakes emerged from his hands, leaping onto Rukaro's face. They bit into every single area of his facial features, his eyes, his lips, his nose... A blood-curdling scream tore out from Rukaro's mouth.

Just then, Orochimaru grabbed a kunai and threw it at his throat. Blood gushed out of the wound immediately, slowly flowing down the throat, and onto his clothes. Foam could be seen forming at what used to be the mouth of Rukaro. His screams ceased, nothing was heard in the room anymore. The bloodied face of the man landed on the ground with a thud as his life left his body.

The snakes were dispelled. Orochimaru reverted to his original sitting position. The room smelt of fresh blood and the musty smell of dirt. The second man who had witnessed the events that had happened felt his stomach lurch as he watch the pool of blood forming on the ground.

"The future for a traitor is death, don't you agree, Hirota?"

"Of course, Orochimaru sama."

"Rukaro has so kindly been supplying Konoha with our plans, for money, and protection of his family. But he should really thank me; I have sent his family to meet him too..."

Another silence ensued, almost choking Hirota.

"Hirota. Your new mission is to ensure the end of these immature ninjas from Konoha, Tsunade must have sent them to collect information. There must be no survivors, I want my plan to be unaffected. If not, you know what will await you..."

Hirota felt his heart sink. Everything was looking ugly now.

How did you like that, eh? I know it's boring and all...BUT there is still more in the next chapter.

So please, if you want some better scenes, give me a review! Please, or I'll send a ninja dog after you and you'll have to go around with a dog on your butt… lol.

Till next time. TATA!

PS: I didn't know why i chose to use orange juice either... LOL. i mean gaara doesn't seem like a person who would drink orange juice...