I apologize for not updating sooner. I've been busy. I also apologize for putting a (1) near the end of Chapter 2 and not explaining what it was for. Gaara no longer has Shukaku inside him, so he can sleep now. I tried fixing it, but it won't work for me

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto.

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Temari groaned. Whoever was knocking on her door at -she checked the time- 3:44 in the morning was going to die. That was the simple truth. Growling to herself, she reached for her fan and stomped across the floor. "What?" She snarled as she flung the door open.

Matsuri's mouth opened and closed and she looked terrified. "I-I'm sorry, Temari. I didn't mean to-I mean, I wouldn't have woken you up, but-"

"But what? Just spit it out."

"It-it's Gaara-sama."

Temari's heart sank. "What about him?"

"He's not doing very well...The doctor is with him now."

"What?!" Temari dashed past the young girl and practically flew down the hall toward her youngest brother's room. The door was partially open but it opened completely when she came near.

Kankuro stood there, worry in his eyes. "The doc says it's not good."

"No." Temari whispered. "I don't believe it."

"Tem..." He stepped forward. "Believe it. We sent a message to Konoha. Hopefully, Tsunade-sama will know what to do."

"But it's just a cold!" She protested. "How can he die from a cold? Answer me, Kankuro!" She screamed when he turned away.

"It's because of Shukaku."

"But he doesn't have that monster anymore. The Akatsuki have it."

"Yeah, I know. With Shukaku, although his defenses were tremondously strong, his immune system was weak. Before, he wasn't around alot of people. But now that he's Kazekage..." He trailed off.

"No." Temari stumbled back and slumped against the wall. "There has to be something we can do." Her eyes searched his desperately.

"Right now, all we can do is hope for the best." His voice sounded strangled to his ears. He reached out a hand for his sister and she took it, too numb to feel anything.

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Blackness swirled around him, encompassing him like a thick blanket, smothering him. Was he alive? He moved his fingers, his legs. He was.

His black eyes took in his surroundings. Although it was dark, he could see clearly, not that there was much to see. His left shoulder ached. He touched it, surprised that there was something carved there. He stopped breathing.

Betrayal.

No. He wasn't a betrayer. He would never -could never- do anything so horrible.

But wasn't he a Nara? And wasn't the Nara clan known for betrayal?

He could not -would not- believe it.

He would prove everyone wrong.

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Temari stirred restlessly, unsure of what had woken her. She blinked sleepily and focused blurrily on the figure lying in bed.

Gaara...

She pushed the thought of sleep away. Gaara needed her. Swallowing a yawn, she brushed his red hair out of his eyes. Her baby brother, who could die at any moment. She couldn't let that happen. She would do anything -give anything- to save him.

They hadn't been close before, and would never have called attention to the fact that they were siblings, but now things had changed. They were friendly to each other, though they didn't hug. They didn't see the need to. Or perhaps they were afraid that something would happen to change their relationship. After all, they were ninja, shinobi of Sunagakure. Emotions were sealed away, never to be expressed. Your puppy died, you didn't cry. You were injured, you didn't cry. Your comrade died, you didn't cry.

For the first time, Temari wished that she could break down and let her tears flow. But she didn't, although no one was watching.

She was too numb.

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Phew. That took a while to write. I hope it's good enough. It's really short, though I can't seem to write stories with more than one chapter...

Please read and review! Flames are accepted, but curses are not.