Two more chapter to go! This really needs to be done because the entire time I am working on this I am eating out of my Easter Basket which is right in front of me. I'm going to get fat! I weigh under 110 and I would really like to keep it that way! Anyways please enjoy chapter 13...
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Chapter 13

As the smoke cleared Rei looked around. About twenty of the rouge ninjas now surrounded them, standing in the streets and on the surrounding roofs. Damn! It's just my luck that we get caught in a trap set by the biggest group! though Reiko.

"Well, look what we have here, boys!" said a small, fat man with a large mustache. He stood on the roof of the building in front of them. "The sand village's very own Kazekage, Sabaku no Gaara."

"What do you want? Who the hell are you? Rei yelled up to him. She reached for her sword but Gaara grabbed her arm.

"No. There are too many of them. We need to find a way out" he said quietly.

"Why are you doing this? Why are you attacking the Sand Village?" she asked the man. She was trying to remain calm but the anger in her voice was rising. "And why did you destroy the Hidden Ash Village?!"

"Silence girl!" he barked. "I don't have to answer your questions" said the man. "Get 'em boys! Kill the girl but leave the Kazekage alive. I bet some one would pay a lot of money for him" he grinned.

"Rei, stay back and let me handle this" said Gaara calmly. This time I will protect you!

"No," she replied. "We fight together, back to back. You can protect me and I will protect you." She turned her back to the Kazekage to face their opponents at the other side of the small street, and drew her sword. Gaara sighed, he knew he couldn't reason with her, she was too stubborn.

"Be careful" he said as he pulled sand out of his gourd and swirled it around them.

The men sprang at them. Gaara shot out sand, preventing anyone from getting close to him. He crushed the life out of anyone who was unfortunate enough to be caught by the sand. I need to protect Reiko. I won't allow her to get hurt because of me. I'm going to keep her safe this time. Die you bastards! He quickly smothered a man with sand, muffling his screams. Gaara easily crushed him.

There was a clang of metal striking metal as Rei deflected shurikan with her sword. She dodged a sword and quickly stabbed it's owner. Another man charged at her but she jumped up and pushed off his back, causing him to fall forward. She flipped in the air and landed in front of another man. She stabbed him then spun around, her long hair whipping through the air. She sliced the man she had jumped over as he struggled to get up. She twisted around and blocked a sword with hers then kicked the man in the chest. She took a few step back so she was back to back with Gaara again.

Two rouge ninjas appeared to the sides of Gaara and another appeared in front of him. They simultaneously shot a fire jutsu at him. Gaara was too fast for them and brought up a wall of sand, shielding Rei and himself from the attack. While the Kazekage was distracted, a man leapt off the roof above them. He threw kunai down at the unaware sand shinobi. Rei noticed the man right before he jumped and quickly knocked her opponent into the wall beside them. She impaled her sword through his shoulder, leaving it lodged in the wooden wall behind them. She man was screaming in pain. He was pinned and unable to move. She quickly pulled Gaara out of the way as he finished off the fire jutsu users. She wasn't' fast enough though. Gaara grimaced as the man put a long gash strait down his upper arm. As the man landed on the ground, Rei grew her nails into daggers and stabbed him through the stomach with her right hand. Warm blood flowed down her wrist and forearm. Another man came up from behind them with a long knife in his hand. Rei spun around and was met with a sharp pain in her side. She grunted in pain then quickly killed the man. He dropped to the ground dead with a bloody knife clenched in his hand.

Gaara moved behind her. The two shinobi fought until all of their opponents were either dead or had fled the fight. Rei and Gaara were both breathing hard and covered in sweat. Gaara cautiously lowered his sand and returned it to his gourd. Reiko leaned against the wall and slid down to the ground with her hand on her side. Gaara took a few moments to slow his heavy breathing.

"That's all of them" he panted as he pulled Rei up. She still clutched her side. "Are you alright?"

"Fine" she lied. Her side was burning and she began to feel lightheaded. "Are you okay?" she asked.

"I got a few cuts and bruises but yes.

''Good" she sighed. We should-" Rei grimaced and clutched her side harder.

"Reiko! What's wrong?"

She dropped to her knees and fell forward. Rei would have hit the ground face first if Gaara had not caught her. He leaned her against himself.

"Reiko? What happened? Look at me. What's wrong?"

She removed her hand from her side. Her hand was covered in fresh blood, which Gaara soon realized was hers. Her jacked was ripped and her could see a dark stain just under her ribs. "I… I got stabbed again" she laughed weakly. "I… I think it was… poisoned."

Gaara unzipped her jacket. Her side was covered in blood. "Shit" He picker her up. His still healing shoulder started to throb from the added weight, but he ignored it. "I'll get you to the hospital." Her head leaned against his chest and she pulled her arms around his neck. "Hold on."

What do you think I am doing Gaara?!?

The Kazekage quickly headed towards the hospital. He could feel Rei's breath against his neck. She was shaking harder. No! I can't let her die! Come on Reiko, don't die on me! "Hold on a little longer, we're almost there" Her arms slipped from around his neck. Gaara could see the hospital now. "Damn it Rei! Don't you dare die!

Baka! It's not like I'm trying to! She winced as pain shot through he side. She was starting to go numb. I'm sorry… Gaara. There's nothing I can do… The poison… It's spreading.

No! No! NO! "Reiko, stay with me" he said gently. "We are almost there. Your going to be fine. You can't die. I care about you so much. I don't' know what I would do if I lost you."

Huh?!? What did you just say? I'm trying to… hold… hold on. I don' plan on dying. "Gaara…I…" she mumbled as she tried to remain conscious. Gaara burst through the hospital doors.

"I need a medic!" Please hold on! Don't die, you can't die. Don't leave me. I don't want to be alone again…

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Oh no! Don't die Reiko! Gaara needs you! I just love Rei. She's such a smart ass even when she is dying. :) Well keep reading to find out what happens! Will Rei live or die? Will they live happily ever after or will Gaara be left alone and terribly sad? Only one way to find out.;) Please let me know how I did with the fight and with everything else. I know Gaara was really out of character but love makes people do crazy things :)
~Reiko