AN: sorry for the long wait. I got my computer up and running again. Woo!!!!

I'm messing with a pair of kunai, trying to see if I could modify it to change into other weapons. Gontei strolls over and examines it, then shakes his head. He has no idea what I'm trying to do, and probably doesn't think it's possible.

I look up and lock gazes with Kabuto. He smiles omnisciently at me. I glare back at him. Sasuke told me how he betrayed his team. I can't help but thinking that she's seen him before. Before the exams. It bothers me how he knows about all the participants, too, especially Gaara. I wasn't completely ignoring him when he told Sasuke about Lee and Gaara.

There is something about the way he smiles that makes me want to claw his eyes out. I'd like to fight him more than anyone at the moment.

I get my wish in the preliminaries. Gontei and Shoji also fought Sound ninja. Gontei advanced to the next round. He fought after Sakura and Ino, thankfully making things exciting again. Shoji lost his fight; he fought after TenTen and Temari. That was a good fight. Temari amazed me with her ability, her fan is awesome. Kankuro is a great fighter, too. The way he disguised his puppet as himself was ingenious.

Plus, the way he controls his puppets reflects on the kind of kisser he is; completely in control. I shake the thought from my head. We can't love each other; one of us will only get hurt.

I smirk when I see my name and Kabuto's name appear on the screen. I walk up to the railing, grabbing it and pulling myself over. I slip in mid-air and land in a crouch position. I hear Sasuke, Kankuro and Shikamaru mutter, "Show off," I smirk up at them.

I turn to face Kabuto. He makes the first move, throwing a kunai at my abdomen. I turn to my side, grabbing the flying object when it brushes past my stomach. With a flick of the wrist, I sent it flying back at his throat. He jumps out of the way, but it still slices through his shoulder. I smirk at the drawn blood.

He vanishes from view, I expand my senses, and I'm ready when he appears behind me. Then we lock in Tai jutsu. He punches; I catch it and throw a kick, he blocks restarting the cycle. This annoys me, so I catch one of his punches, then grab his other arm and use all my strength to throw him at the nearest wall.

His facial expression is surprised as his body thuds against the concrete. But to my annoyance, it is only a substitution. I'm not ready for it when he appears above me. He lands on top of me and pins me to the floor. He gives me an evil snarl then takes a kunai and shoves it in my chest.

I let out a yell of pain and frustration. I can hear someone yell my name and a chocked sound from someone else. Another me appears behind him.

"Lightning Fist: Fist of Light!" I yell as my hand lights up with electricity. I punch him so hard in the back that it sends him flying into the wall, rendering him unconscious.

The ref smiles then comes over to pat me on the shoulder, but to everyone's surprise, that me poofs. It is only a clone. I stand, bleeding profusely from my chest and smile weakly at all the surprised faces. I don't care that I got injured, I care that I won.

I'm rushed out of the arena on a gurney, passing out as soon as I lay down.

I'm lying in bed, feeling useless. My wounds are healed, but the damned medical ninja won't let me leave. I don't even know if I advanced to the next round!

Sitting up, I'm completely bored. No visitors for me. I've been here for over two days with out a single visitor (except for the medical ninja).

Being bored and alone isn't good for me. I'm getting memories and nightmares on a regular basis. The two naps I took consisted of me waking up screaming and sweating, and then ending up on the floor. The only thing that accomplished was embarrassing me when the medical ninja rushed in.

"No visitors," I mutter to myself. "That's stupid beyond belief."

I look out the window and see a figure. Curious, I get up to open it. A tornado of boys stumble into the room. My cat-like reflexes carry me out of the way of harm. I sit on the bed and look at all the boys in my room.

Gontei and Kankuro are here of course. Sasuke isn't here and I get a pang of hurt, but it soon fades when I see him climbing through the window. I'm surprised to see Shikamaru, Naruto and Kiba.

No one speaks, so I ask Gontei, "Where's Shoji?"

He shrugs and doesn't meet my eyes, "He hasn't healed yet?" I marvel. But that's understandable, he lost badly. But the Sound fought dirty.

I look to all the other boys, "Why are you all in my room?"

Kankuro scoffs, "Popori, the last time I saw you, you were being rushed off on a stretcher. We're making sure you're okay, duh."

I roll my eyes, "I know why you're here. I'm talking about Kiba, Shikamaru and Naruto. I don't really know you guys."

Akamaru jumps off of Kiba's head and into my arms, licking my face. I giggle as Kiba says, "He wanted to see if you were okay."

I smile up at his blushing face, "Well he's nice for caring." I pet the dog in my lap as Kiba pulls his hood on farther to shade his face.

I look at Naruto. He gives me the thumbs up and says, "Popori, you're awesome! The way you beat up Kabuto was amazing! You're my next training partner, believe it!"

I smirk, "Thanks Blondie. You're technique wasn't too shabby either." He chuckles triumphantly.

I look at Shikamaru and give him a secret look, "I thought I was stubborn." I tease.

"You are," He says. "I was dragged along. I'd much rather be sleeping."

I smile at him, "Well, thanks for coming anyway, Shiky-kun."

He looks away from me, probably trying to hide the smile on his face. I look at Sasuke.

"You okay?" he nods then comes to stand at my bedside. There is a hint of worry in his dark eyes. "I'm fine. These people worry too damn much! No visitors. That was enough to drive me insane." I smile and the worry fades from his eyes. I hug him. "Thanks for putting up with these guys for me, Sasuke-kun. It means a lot."

I know he doesn't like interacting with these boys. He nods then leaves through the window. I look down at the sleeping dog in my lap. I smile then hand Akamaru to Kiba. He winks at me before leaving.

Naruto give me one last thumbs up and says, "Get better soon, Popori. I want to train with you soon!"

I nod at him as he leaves. Shikamaru glances at the window then pulls something from behind him. He walks over to my bedside table and places a vase with flowers in it on top. I smile; it's filled with white roses, my favorite. I beam at him.

"Thanks a bunch Shiky-kun!" he nods to me then rushes after the other two.

I look up to Kankuro and Gontei. Gontei is relaxed, sitting in a chair. Kankuro looks like he wants to punch something.

"What the hell?" he demands through clenched teeth.

"What?" I ask innocently.

He glares at me. "You know what. You have all those boys wrapped around you finger, girl. You don't have big hands, Popori. They aren't all going to fit."

I cock an eyebrow. That's a weird analogy. "Kankuro, are you jealous? I'm not your girlfriend."

A vein pops in his neck, "What, no 'Kuro-kun'? Saving all your little nicknames for the Sasuke punk and the punk with the earrings." He's fuming, he really is jealous.

"Kankuro," I say gently. "They are just friends." I look to Gontei for help. He's pretending to be sleeping. The only reason he's still here is to attack Kankuro is he gets out of hand.

"Then what are we Popori? Because I'm sure that you haven't gone on any date with any of them. And I'm sure you've never kissed any of them the way you kissed me!"

I look at my hands, "That was to get the scrolls . . ." I mutter.

He shakes his head at me. "It was more than that. You love me, too. You just don't want to admit it to yourself."

I'm fine with admitting it to myself, just not to him.

He sits on my bed and looks me in the eye. "Popori, I love you. It's fine. You don't have to hide yourself from me."

Tears streak my face. I don't want to do this.

His hands hold my face, catching tears as they fall. "You're fins with letting others in. friends take a place in your heart, too. You're fine with giving love to Gaara. Why don't you want to love me?"

I take a deep breath then talk with deep emotion. "Because I don't want to hurt you! I'm fine with me getting hurt, but I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I hurt you. I'm not setting myself up to get hurt when I make friends. I'm setting them up, Kankuro. I can't hurt you. I . . ." I gulp, fully aware of what I'm about to say. "I love you way too much."

He smiles softly and whispers leaning closer to me, "That's all I needed to hear."

And when we kiss, there isn't any deception in it, only love. When we finally break apart, he pulls me onto his laps and rubs my back soothingly until I fall asleep.

AN: Again, I'm sorry for the long wait, but I'm back now!!!! WOOOOO!!!!! So excited!!