Hi again! Sorry for the delay… but here it is…

Recommended Song: Lighthouse – Hanging By A Moment

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of its characters. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto.

-Emotions Amok-

-13-

Something didn't feel right…

From the pits of his stomach, something… didn't feel right.

He had been sitting under the usual green tree with his drawing at hand and countless scribbles leaking off the tip of his pencil. The tree's large bark and the accompanying leaves made a huge bulky shadow over the ground, leaving his stranded in the midst of the strange patterns. All had been fine that day and no harassing fan girls were lurking around the corner, intruding his privacy.

So…: if everything seemed right, why did he feel, that deep down… something was going wrong. He lifted his head and gazed around the flocks of people mindlessly; but as each head count continued, he found himself growing anxious and desperate. Something was wrong alright… where is she?

She was usually always with Naruto and the stuttering girl during this time of day. He would have dismissed it as an errand having to be run, but then why else would his stomach have something else to say?

'Something doesn't feel right…' Shukaku interrupted his train of thoughts making him a little more on the edge.

He stood up earning several strange, yet nosy glances from the other 'bad boy's' as Sakura had carefully dubbed them, yet with one of his famous looks, they turned their attention elsewhere.

He started off with a slow walk as he approached the area under the tree where the wobbly picnic table most favoured by fun-loving gang resided. After he noted the lack of pink he turned his attention on Naruto, who was explaining something to the red-faced girl with black hair.

"Naruto" He interrupted coolly gaining the blonde's attention and a startled 'huh?' He noticed Hinata looking nervously to the ground not wanting to offend him and Tenten, the Hyuga and Shino looking around slyly yet cautiously from their spot against the tree. Kiba stopped playing with the white ball of fluff who also, amazingly, knew to keep his distance. Even the lazy Nara cocked one eye open to speculate what he was about to say. "Haruno, where is she?"

All of their faces had a look of shock but kept a barrier around their mischief. Some raised an eyebrow at him; it was strange after all. He didn't usually come out from the blue and ask for her. She usually found him when he wanted her… like some sort of 6th sense.

"Sakura-chan? She's… erm… Hinata-chan?"

"S-S-She's… erm…. G-Gaara-san… I- I'm sorry… I-I-!"

Gaara didn't give her a chance to finish. It seemed his gaze caught her under the headlights and the girl was having trouble breathing in his proximity, never mind answering a question, or even attempting to use her skills to find her. He turned to the next best possible person to ask.

"Hyuga"

Neji nodded in understanding. They gained a sort of mutual respect for one another during the mixed classes within the school. They rarely spoke, but acknowledged one others abilities. He was one of the few people Gaara would tolerate looking his way and one of the few he would greet, if a nod qualifies as a greeting, if they passed by.

"Byakugan" He said deeply allowing several veins to appear, running from his eyes outwardly. After a few seconds, he blinked and looked back at Gaara. "Corridor leading to the labs"

Gaara nodded his appreciation and left them to whisper to one another about his intentions. He caught on to Tenten chuckling something about young love and dismissed it annoyingly.

Love? Hah! Let the world know that Gaara Sabaku has never known love.

He smirked with pride as he rounded a corner and stopped himself immediately when he heard a familiar voice. An all too familiar voice he wished he could rip from their throat and feed to hyenas… just so he could have the last laugh.

He pressed himself against a wall and raised his foot against its surface, crossing his arms with curiosity. "Friends? I'm surprised they let you call them that… who would want to be your friend? He made his own choice…"

A laugh echoed the hallways in a dark, invading manner "Sharp tongue you have there… I'd love to taste it…"

His eyes widened then he shook his head at the man's tactics. He truly was a sick person, the Uchiha. He felt sorry for which ever girl he was trying to entice.

A smirk soon found its way to his face as a loud connection was made to what he assumed was Sasuke's face. This girl was certainly brave… not to mention, she had sense not to go for Sasuke. He frowned wondering if it was because she was his own fan-girls and continued to listen.

"Unfriendly aren't you? You will have me begging to date you…"

He fought back an uncharacteristic snort but his amusement wasn't long lived for the next voice made him want to crush Sasuke's head against the wall and then rip out one of his clavicle bones and shove it up his-

"I would rather not Sasuke"

He congratulated her bravery and it made sense that only she would be brave enough to stand up to the Uchiha seemingly fearless. It made perfect sense now he looked around and took full note of his surroundings. He was near the corridor Neji had mentioned, so of course it was her.

He seemed to remember Sasuke's words eventually and went to move out into the open until his Sharingan wielding rival said his next words. He truly wanted to help her and make sure she was safe. But he found himself stalling in curiosity.

"Oh I see…" His tone clarified his utter amusement. "You would rather date… someone else hm? I wonder who it could be…" He chuckled.

She already has someone in mind to date? Who? Were they worthy of the pinkette? No way! No one was worthy of Sakura, himself included. He had no right to listen in, but his stomach started to irritate him once more and the anxiousness took over. He felt his world starting to spin and the angry demon within him threatening to escape. He almost didn't want to hear what was next.

"Shut up!" Sakura's voice rang highly and had a nervous shake to it. He activated his sand eye and took note of their position, which didn't seem to help his anger issues. Sasuke had Sakura pinned to the wall, cowering slightly under his extra inches in height. He didn't need to touch her to have her pinned; his threatening aura alone had her cornered like a mouse.

"Oh? It seems I have struck a nerve… and I haven't even said his name yet…"

A name… the Uchiha knew who it was… how could he know, but not himself? Did he miss something?

The small old man that was the caretaker passed the opening of the corridor hurriedly with his cart in tow. Every time an uneven piece of flooring crossed his path, the bottles and signs all shook noisily, making his footsteps hurry to avoid the wrath of the Uchiha should he feel… peeved.

"You're wrong!"

His hopes lifted slightly hearing her protests. Maybe he was just winding her up and she didn't really like anyone…

"Then you won't care if I find Sabaku and tell him…"

He felt himself take a sharp, but quiet intake of breath. Did he just hear correctly?

Sabaku…

Sabaku?

There was obviously only his family named Sabaku…

Obviously, it wasn't Temari…

That left three…

Kankuro

Sasori

And himself…

Kankuro… no way would she dig his perverted, outspoken brother…

Sasori? It was quite possible… she talked frequently to him and was even drawn to their table in art; though he thought it was because of their arguing. But wasn't Sasori dating the blonde? Deidara? It was still possible… he did give her a little puppet key ring too, which Sakura often showed people happily.

Himself? Gaara Sabaku? Sakura Haruno…. Gaara Sabaku? She wouldn't… there was nothing he had to offer. This was the very reason he hated fan-girls… they wouldn't constantly swoon and declare their love when they had nothing to swoon over. They didn't know him. Hell, they didn't even know what love was, that he knew.

But this was Sakura he was talking about. She was far more sensible and nothing alike the countless masses of brainless fan-girls. She was far more different and seemed to have a reason to everything. Maybe, if there was that chance the Sabaku he mentioned was himself… he wouldn't mind at all… maybe, he even would enjoy her company that extra bit more.

"Stop it!" She continued angrily through her teeth, daring to threat the Uchiha.

"I'll warn you… you are complete opposites… you are way too innocent for such a darkened monster like him… you're like two sides of a coin…" Another of his famous chuckles rang through the corridor; he looked down the opposite end of the T shaped corridor and found a group of students carelessly strolling along slowly.

"But…" His laughter stopped and Gaara's attention was once more on Sakura. "…the sides of a coin can't exist without one another… otherwise; they don't make a full coin…" An angry stomp was heard and the Uchiha stormed down the corridor making the group of people, who were walking closely, jump out the way nervously.

Gaara watched in delight but he quickly turned back towards the entrance of the school, not wanting to alert her or possibly make her nervous and awkward around him, should he be the Sabaku Sasuke mentioned.

There was still a fifty percent chance he was, but why, he did not know. He had been awestruck the past month as she continued to amaze him through gestures, smiles and conversations.

'Of course it is you whom she desires…'

'Shut it!'

It couldn't be him… could it?

oOo

Translucent drops of cold, moistness fell onto smooth, yet rough skin. The hunched over form sat still, unbothered by the opened heavens raining down. No movement was made when the cool water droplets connected with the heat of human flesh. In fact, this figure sat so unstirred, it was a wonder he even knew the rain was accompanying him.

Elbows on knees, and strong hands gripped in soaked clumps of hair, the figure's eyes began to stir revealing jade orbs full of an unknown emotions. Confusion.

Probably not the worst of all emotions, but its presence was still unwelcomed by the broody teen, unfamiliar with such humanistic, bodily responses. Within the depths of confusion lay other tangled up emotions, occasionally thrashing their way to the surface, as if drowning.

Guilt was among these emotions. He simply stood there and allowed the Uchiha to pin and verbally frighten and aggravate her. He should have intervened but his damn curiosity got the best of him, which in return showed the worst of him. Some friend, as she dubbed him, he turned out to be.

Though he was easily distracted from the guilt with his fear, and pain also derived from this fear. Fear for being involved. Fear for his current status to her. Fear of… love. His hand unconsciously traced the lines of his wound, to which many thought was a tattoo. Oh, he had experienced love before… or so he thought.

But there was also the fear of being rejected. Facts hadn't been cleared yet and it was still uncertain that he was the Sabaku of which she spoke. The fear of being wrong.

But then again, doubt also resided in the mixture. Doubt in the fact that he was who the person the human ice-cube rudely accused. Doubt, in case that was the case, in Sakura's abilities to chose the right person. She still didn't know what he could do. She still didn't know what he had done… how could she feel for a monster?

It sickened him once these emotions were revealed from the usually empty vessel. Gaara Sabaku was not one to feel, and for such feelings to hold fear, he wanted to pulverise the person who evoked this uncharacteristic behaviour.

But that lead to something he couldn't identify. He wanted to cave his own head in at even believing he wanted to do such a thing to his sweet neighbour. His heart armed and clamped in his chest at the thought of those sparkling emeralds and warm smiles. He would not be the man to take those away from her and he would not let any other soul think about doing the same.

Maybe the reason he had been sitting in this desolate area on the lone bench, surrounded by tall trees, was because of the time it took for him to attempt to understand his feelings. It was one vicious cycle, from which ended at his vows to protect her and began once more at the anger at himself for not stopping the intruding Uchiha.

The pointed branches within the vicinity cried to reach him from their crooked place on the uneven bark of the tall tree. It seemed as if they were accusing him as the majority were indented towards the sturdy bench, which made him wonder how many others had unvented their emotions in this very same spot.

These thoughts and feelings could crumble even the most strongest of men, and for the red-head to evolve from the unfeeling, irritable teen into having an army of emotions stacked up against him, the effects were almost immediate… and worse: unstable.

Within the deep recesses of his mind, the Tanuki-demon was unnervingly silent. Instead, a harsh or mocking chuckle would sound sending him into a further state of anger. An anger which he wanted rid of.

Abruptly, he stood up releasing fragments of water from the spikes of his hair and long leather jacket. The large black boots which clung to his feet led him into a rough district, full of drugs, prostitutes and murder. Perfect…

It didn't take long for a victim to cross his path. "…and so willingly" Shukaku added in anticipation.

His bored expression, and tense jade eyes gave the man a once over as he wobbled towards him. The bruises in his arm indicated some sort of drug and the whiskey he clung to spoke for itself. There was also the fresh smell of sex lingering on his body, if you smelt past the strong alcoholic stench of his breath.

Male,

Late 30's,

Overweight,

The look in his eyes? Hostile… yet, undoubtedly, not a problem for the red-head.

"Th- Fuck're you lookin' a-…? Ffuckin' punk…" A trail of spit found its way to the cold, damp pavement from the man's disgusting mouth. "Wanna ff-uckin' go? Aaight!" He challenged making Gaara's expressionless façade fade into a feral smirk which promised pain onto the outspoken gentleman.

The man cracked his half full whisky bottle against the nearby wall and looked back to Gaara, expecting fear or, at least, a reaction of sorts. But the cocky male stood arrogantly, with his arms folded and the small irreplaceable smirk which provoked the man.

Unsteadily, he charged for the taller male but was met with a strange wall which wasn't there a few minutes ago. The sand which congregated around the man's overly chubby wrist clenched sending the man to the floor in a harsh scream of agony. The red head had wanted to neglect using his sand, but didn't want to risk touching the man. He hadn't caught a disease thus far, and didn't want to start now.

The sand formed a fist and pounded into the man's stomach making him throw up in the spot which should have been Gaara's standing place, only he moved to the side, his face contorted. The man was pathetic. After one hit he was choking for air coughing up a mixture of lumps and blood.

A small inaudible sigh passed his lips. And he continued walking the path to his neighbour hood…

Her neighbourhood…

oOo

"Hey Naru-tard, you got something…" Tenten said across the table from said blonde. She traced circles around her own mouth as indication and wasn't surprised when he tilted his head curiously. She slapped a flat palm against her head at his confusion and then the whole table began to laugh loudly at their friend's antics.

Hinata blushed faintly at his side and then plucked up the courage she had been steadily gaining over the weeks with the over-confident pinkette. A shaky hand rose to Naruto's mouth and he turned to identify what was happening, eyes widened considerably at the shy girl's actions. She wiped his mouth of any excess ramen, offered a shy, nervous smile and then turned around, discarding the used up tissue.

As dumb as Naruto is, he didn't let this open display of affection remain unidentified and now recognised her blush as something more. He offered her a sincere smile after realising her embarrassment and the table's silence.

"Thanks Hinata-chan!" He said looking into her silver pools. She looked up shocked and then returned the smile before looking away.

"Damn it!" Tenten swore under her breath earning the other's attention. "Where is Sakura at a time like this?!" She said a little louder making both the Hyuga and Uzumaki turn with a faint blush.

The doors to the cafeteria opened and said girl emerged mindlessly walking over to their table. Only before she got there, she had a collision. She bumped into a certain male who had just stood from his table tray in tow.

He dropped his tray on the table he sat up from making Sakura squeal in shock. She looked up and recognised the boy as the loner who sat away from the rest of the students. He heart gave a small pang from the shock in his usually stoic face.
It seemed he didn't know what to say or do since she hadn't moved away yet.

"I'm so sorry! I should have looked where I was going!" She said in a hurry leaning around him and helping to pick up the items he dropped. He looked over in confusion before replying.

"It isn't a problem"

A frown was set upon her face and she decided to further break the rules of the school's society. "I'm Sakura" She said with a bright smile, holding her hand out.

He looked at the hand in confusion before shaking it a little and withdrawing from it as if he were burned. "Sai" He responded looking back to his tray.

"Ah Sai, why don't you come over and join us in the future?" She asked with an expression which would prove a task for anyone to disobey.

"What?"

"Starting tomorrow… join us! There is lots of room still. It'll be fun!" She explained motioning to the table of onlookers who didn't seem to argue. In fact, even Naruto caught on to the warm welcome and rose to join her.

"Yeah Sai! Eat with us in future!" He said with a big grin as Sai stared in wonder.

"Sure" He nodded before turning to leave them without further word.

They walked back to the table and the onslaught of questions inevitably rose from their pink-haired friend. Only the table were now used to her and didn't give her much of a chance to continue.

"Who-?"

"Sai… he is a social outcast. Usually refuses to make any contact with any other student. In fact, I haven't heard him say so much before…" Kiba volunteered cleaning out his ear with his pinky.

"Well… let us talk to him" She said with a grin. "He too is victim to the social groupings…"

The group nodded or gave a small agreeable reply to which Sakura smiled.

"Let's invite him to the party to…" After another nod from the table Sakura looked directly at Kiba who smiled as way of letting her know she had his attention. "Will you tell me more on the way to class?" Sakura asked after hearing the familiar ringing of a bell.

"Sure!" A wolfish grin appeared on the Inuzuka's face as he jumped up to join Sakura. She turned and bent down allowing Akamaru to jump into her arms with a polite bark and she continued next to Kiba who was used to his pet's friendliness with the new girl.

oOo

"Sai… the most known thing about him, the reason he distances himself from the rest of the population, and the reason they distance themselves from him is because of Uchiha…" Kiba spat walking beside the intrigued girl.

They turned a corner coming face to face with a longer hallway. Kiba's arms rose to his flock of unmaintained, spiky hair and he continued to walk with a content expression on his face.

"Sasuke?" Sakura questioned turning her head to him.

He nodded and continued. "Before you ask… try to guess Sai's last name…"

"…Uchiha?" She wondered how they looked so alike. It should have been obvious.

"Bingo, only Sai's family disowned him…"

"Why?" Sakura felt her heart clench at the harsh words.

"The Sharingan: all Uchihas have the ability to use the Sharingan. It turns their eyes a blood red colour with black markings surrounding where his pupil's should be…"

Sakura cringed at the thought. This certainly had been the most informative, inconceivable trip of her life.

"It allows them to see fast-paced movements… to read them… to memorize them… to copy them… and worst of all… certain individuals, such as his brother Itachi, can use powerful genjutsus, to create illusions…"

Sakura felt her eyes widen and a small amount of fear spread through her body, making her shake. She guessed he was strong through the air of arrogance he carried about him, but this was damn serious…

"When Sai first came to this school, he had an accident, causing him to be absent from school for months. When he came back, his brothers ignored him and left him to fend for himself. No one knew what was happening until Saki began to mock him in front of an audience of eavesdroppers about the accident… he was left partially blind, and the genetic traits for the Sharingan were seriously damaged… damaged, beyond repair"

Sakura gasped and all fear of Sasuke went out of the window replaced by utter loathing. Sai was abandoned after an accident which threatened his line of vision, and instead of comforting him and remaining strong for him they neglected him! Her eyebrows furrowed openly showing her anger and she started down the corridor leaving a confused Kiba behind.

Her trail lead straight to the cocky Uchiha who was closing his locker as Ino talked animatedly to him.

"Uchiha" She growled as if the name was pure venom.

He turned to face her with a blank yet curious expression. Her fists rose out to grab a handful of fabric from his shirt and she roughly pushed him against the lockers looking fearlessly into his eyes.

"To what do I owe the pleasure?" He asked in a deep, unmoving voice. Sakura felt like ripping each of his teeth out so he could no longer smirk.

"How could you abandon your family?! Family?! Does that mean anything to you?"

"If you are talking about the pitiful excuse for a human, that is my brother, then no… he means nothing to me…"

Sakura brought back her wrist and then threw it perfectly against his smirking cheek. His head turned and the familiar scowl appeared as he grabbed her wrist. She didn't make a move to recognise the pressure he was applying to her thin arm as she glared back into his eyes.

"You disgust me" She added managing to inflame him even further. He was about to answer when a strong, dominant voice interrupted their thoughts.

"Release her Uchiha"

They both turned to look at the intruder and recognised the loose, messy red spikes and the black eyes, which stared intently at Sasuke.

"Sabaku" He half greeted, half sneered. He looked back to Sakura with a smirk and felt her confidence thin away as she looked at Gaara and then to Sasuke with worried emerald orbs. "It's a good job you're here actually… you see-!"

Sakura felt her heart heighten when he was about to speak those dreaded words only she wouldn't let him ruin her life so easily. She turned back to look at hi feeling time go by slowly and the fist she managed to clenched pounded into Sasuke's nose, making him stumble backwards in surprise and bleed over the hands which moved to cover the nose.

From behind Gaara, Temari and Kankuro stood in shock but they soon broke out with grins at the spectacle. Sasuke clearly didn't expect that and was still recovering from the shock.

Gaara himself stood smirking, proud of him pink friend but in the moment of the events, to say he was shocked was an understatement. She had clearly broken his nose.

Sakura herself had a look of loathing in her eyes. She stunned herself momentarily but reminded herself that he deserved it and then remembered the small amount of chakra which escaped in her punch. No wonder she heard a satisfying crack. Her lessons with Tsunade were paying off, but she already knew that before she marked Sasuke.

He looked up about to strike when Kakashi emerged from the corner, nose embedded within the confines of his favourite book. He didn't seem to need to look up as he uttered the words, "Uchiha, Tsunade-san's office… immediately" he paused in the corridor and waited until the sharingan-user walked over and began to follow him.

Sakura looked back to the Sabaku siblings with a firm look in her eyes and they all grinned at her, save for Gaara who chose to smirk instead.

"Nice…" Kankuro said after a brief silence.

"Although that punch had to hurt, I'd say you damaged his pride too…" Temari added.

Sakura smiled sheepishly and turned in time to greet a baffled, yet excited Kiba. "Whoa! Who took out Uchiha's pretty face" He commented. He immediately looked to Gaara thinking he was the most obvious choice when Kankuro patted Sakura's shoulder like a brother and Temari hung from her shoulders, giving hints as to whom. "S-Sakura?!"

"Haruno!" a forgotten voice interrupted angrily. They all turned to take in the sight of a very irritable Ino. "What do you think you're doing?!" She yelled angrily advancing on the pinkette.

"Oh come on Ino! He deserved it!"

"For what? Pray tell!" She said with her hands firm on her hips.

Kankuro and Temari walked to either side of Sakura's shoulders making Ino look up and think twice. She removed her hands from her hips and sighed in defeat before turning to walk away, only she didn't get far.

Sakura tried to form some string of words to warn her of the wet floor signs but her feet were already tangled in the plastic folding sign. She began to lean as if to fall but was caught by the strong arms of Kiba.

She opened her clenched eyes and looked up into intense brown ones, which looked down partially saddened. She gasped and let him straighten and place her upright before she pulled away and took off down the hall with shaky thanks.

Sakura didn't fail to notice the manner of which Kiba caught her, as if they had been passionately dancing and swooped her backwards into a dip. Nor the blush which arose from the blonde's delicate face. Or the intense emotion swirling within the eyes of her friend.

"What was that about?" She asked finally.

He turned and gave an unsure muffled response hoping she would back off, only this was Sakura. She crossed her arms waiting for a story and rose a delicate, mocking eyebrow to which he sighed and gave in.

"I guess… you're allowed to know" He gave up earning a content smile fro Sakura. "Ino and I… well, our fathers are friends, and we hung out since childhood, ya know. Until the social settings." He scratched his head uncomfortably and continued. "We were like best friends… but…" He tore off sadly and began to walk down the corridor signalling the end of his explanation.

Sakura sighed sadly for him and decided to help out in any way she could. In fact, Ino was pretty good competition and would make a killer friend. Why not… invite her out to the party?" Sakura grinned slyly and turned to the Sabaku siblings.

"Thanks guys…" She said with a small wave. They waved back, or nodded, before turning into their own doorways and heading for their lesson.

'Ino and Kiba huh?' She thought slyly.

'Time for a little… meddling…' Inner Sakura cheered making Sakura agree with her.

To Be Continued…

Anonymous Reviews Accepted!

Sorry for the delay…

Next Chapter: Sakura tries to persuade Ino into the truth and Tsunade surprises Sakura with new lessons.