A/N Here it is! I don't know when my next update will be, since my life's pretty busy right now. I hope you enjoy!

Lots of hugs to TheFeyRa, frostbird, and Misery's-Toll for reviewing! They made my day!

Disclaimer: Naruto isn't mine.

The scariest thing

Is not when you look at evil in the face

But when it looks at you

With an evil glint in its eye.

Sakura

"Who are you?"

The words. Three words. Three words that make Sakura's head explode from the inside, and whirl like a spinning top that never stops spinning. Everything is suddenly backwards, and..

The man standing in front of her isn't even Gaara.

Gone is the familiar red mop of messy hair, replaced by smooth, auburn locks that spikes up in some places. Gone is the jade eyes that showed nothing, rimmed with black. Instead, a darker pair of green eyes that only holds anger.

This is not Gaara. This is not even close to Gaara. Who is this man then, that is standing in the doorway of Gaara's house, inside Gaara's house, standing on Gaara's floorboards?

An image floats up to Sakura's head, demanding her attention. An image of an auburn haired man, typing away at the computer silently…

"Who are you?" The man repeats, his voice growing more agitated. Sakura sees splinters of wood on the man's hands and clothes. Her immediate guess is that he's a carpenter, but, the typing… That can't be right.

Something is desperately, desperately wrong here, but she can't put her hand on it. A few black stars are lingering, the rest are floating away.

That is not a good sign.

"Listen," The man says, letting out a big sigh and frowning. "I don't know who you are, or what you want, but you better leave me alone. I don't want to buy anything-"

Sakura seems to be hearing a faint sob from inside, but she can't be sure.

"-So get the hell away."

The man slams the door in her face with a loud bang, leaving her dazed and dumbstruck. Then she hears it.

The muffled crash from inside the house, followed by a scream and more sobs. It sounds so painful, so heart wrenching.

Instinctively, she rings the doorbell again. There is a little cough, shouts, and a bang from inside.

The same man opens the door again.

"You again?" He growls. "What do you want?"

Racking up her courage, she answers, "I'm partners with Gaara for our.. Science project!" She says, thinking fast. Inwardly, the girl gulps, wondering if he'll believe it.

As suspected, he doesn't. But his eyes seem to have a tint of nervousness in them, his pupils darting this way and that like a wild animal looking for a way out. "Gaara is-"

"Hey! Sakura-chan!"

(Damn it! So close!)

Clenching her fists, she turns around to see the bright-faced Naruto on the sidewalk, grinning stupidly at her.

"I didn't expect to see you hear!" He shouts, most defiantly waking up half of the neighborhood. "What are you doing at Gaara's?"

She forces out a smile. "I'm trying to get Gaara to come out. You know, for that science project?" Sakura tries to let a desperate look in her eyes, praying to whatever god up there to let Naruto understand that she's desperate.

But he's blunt, and she can't blame him. But there seems to be a jealous and accusing look in his eyes as he says, "Science project? What science project?"

It is an innocent question, but not to the man at the door. "Don't ever come back here again!"

He slams the door a second time, making the wood splinter from being abused so much. But this time, the screams and sobs don't come. Dejectedly, she drags her feet down the steps and down the sidewalk until she is right in front of Naruto.

"What was that about?"

"Nothing," she sighs, then looks up at the smell of muffins from Naruto's hand-woven basket. "What's that?"

"Huh? This?" He points at the basket. When she nods, his grin becomes more believable and non-forced. "Hinata-chan asked me to take some muffins that she baked to Kiba, so I decided to stop over there after work. She would come, but she can't since her uncle banned her from leaving the house,"

"Is she okay?" Sakura asks, remembering that she forgot to visit because her mind was so occupied thinking of Gaara. Naruto, seeing her guilty expression, laughs reassuringly.

"She's perfectly fine. Just a few scrapes and bruises here and there is all,"

"That's a relief."

For a moment, they walk in silence, listening to the bell-like tune of the fall birds, chatting to each other. There's a cold breeze that sweeps over them, making the leaves rustle as they flip and turn on the sidewalk.

Sakura breaks the silence. "It seems everyone's house is nearby, Hinata's over there, yours over here…"

Naruto snorts. "I wish. Nah, we're going to Kurenai's house. Kiba usually comes there, since Akamaru used to be friends with the dog that lives there…"

The trees around them moan at the mention of the deceased dog's name, as if they're grieving.

About ten minutes later, they reach an old, wooden Japanese styled house. Naruto knocks on the worn away door while Sakura stands a bit behind him, taking in the originality of the area.

It really does seem like Japan. She thinks. There's even a zen garden in the back…

She was so deep in her thoughts; she didn't notice that Kurenai had come out until Naruto is almost punching her in the shoulder.

"Hey, Sakura!" Naruto smiles when Sakura's gaze becomes focused again. "You sure do like to daydream, huh? Come on; let's get away from the cold."

Kurenai offers each of us tea

And gives each of us tea

As we wait for Kiba.

I don't understand why we're waiting

But I guess we have to wait.

I can't help but think about that man

And what he was doing

And that look in Naruto's eyes

And I just don't understand

Anything anymore.

Has my world gone so far out of control?

(Apparently so.)

Now Kiba comes in

Smiling

But not happy.

Laughing,

But there's no joy in him.

"Naruto, Sakura. What's up?"

It's not him.

Who are you and what have you done with Kiba?

The Kiba we used to know?

Even Naruto knows something is wrong.

"We brought you muffins. Hinata made them, but…"

Kiba reaches out for the muffins

And inspects each and every one of them carefully

Turning the soft things over and over and over

And plops one in his mouth.

He grins for real for the first time

And tells Naruto,

"Tell Hinata that these are delicious!"

Naruto grins

And says he will.

Another fake smile from Kiba.

"So, that's it then?"

Naruto squirms.

I'm looking at Kiba's face.

The fang tattoos are gone.

The thing that made Kiba, Kiba, is gone.

Gone

Gone

GONE.

Why?

"Why?"

"Why what?" He says.

"Your tattoos. Why?"

"Oh," He laughs a fake laugh.

"Those things? They were pretty old, so-"

"That's not why."

This time it's Naruto, who's still smiling.

But his smile is full of accusation now.

"I can change my appearance if I want to."

Another muffin is gone now.

Kiba is gone too.

"You aren't Kiba."

That is Naruto as well

But he's only voicing the things I am thinking.

"You aren't Kiba."

Kiba glares

But doesn't deny this fact.

"Where's Kiba?'

This time it's me.

Voice shaking.

Kiba (is that who he is?)

Shakes his head and says,

"I don't know.

I just don't know."

He smiles a bit

Face pained.

"Would you like to see Akamaru?"

His words are choked.

"He… He'd be glad for the company."

This is not Kiba.

This is not Kiba at all.

Akamaru is cold now, probably.

Lonely too.

Buried under all that rock and dirt

With only his cold gravestone for company.

There are fresh roses on his grave.

Kiba doesn't cry.

He is past the pain of crying,

But has moved on to something deeper.

I, on the other hand

I am crying.

The tears are burning, and won't stop.

I wasn't even close to Akamaru.

(It saddens you that another life is gone,

Gone to join the stars.)

"H-He was special to you,

Wasn't he?"

Kiba stares at the ground.

"Yes. He was."

Tears fall to the ground.

Naruto wraps his arms around me

And it feels so warm for now

And together, we're a barrier

Protecting each other from the cold of the world.

Now I'm leaving,

Leaving the shell of Kiba behind at the grave

Leaving Naruto, who is going the other way

Going back to the place I call 'home'.

When I open the creaky door

And go up the creaky stairs

I can hear snoring in the room

Next to mine.

(Daddy's home.)

There are drugs of various kinds littered all over

Like a parade of colorful stars

All glittering in the artificial light.

Glitter.

Glitter.

But they only glitter.

I wish they did something more.

Sakura comes to school the next day, earlier than usual. One hour before the bell rings. She enjoys the silence as her footsteps echo down the hallway, her feet taking her to wherever they please.

They end up taking her to the Chorus room. It mostly empty, expect a grand piano at the front and a few chairs here and there, scattered like mice. The girl tries out a few keys with gentle fingers, closing her eyes and taking in the honey-like sound they make. A few notes in a simple tune, played over and over again.

Amazing, how such a simple thing can fill a person's soul.

There is a rustling coming from the other room. Quiet footsteps, barely making a sound, accompanied by the occasional noise of moving cloth. Curious, she goes to see what it is.

The pink-haired girl jumps back when she finds a certain red-haired boy standing near the violins, picking out some of them and inspecting them carefully. His head turns to face her.

Gaara's body relaxes when he realizes it is just her, so he turns his head back around again. Sakura watches in fascination as he tentatively takes out a small violin and rubs his hand over the smooth, wooden surface. He plucks a few strings, and sets it back down again and repeats this process with other violins.

He finally decides on a dark brown violin, the color of oak. To Sakura, it looks no different than the other ones, but to Gaara… Maybe it means something more. The redhead takes out a small sketchbook from his pocket. As he's flipping to a blank page, Sakura catches glimpses of humans, animals, plants, shapes, buildings all in black and white. He starts to sketch the outline of the violin, making smooth strokes while glancing at it time to time.

"What are you doing?" She questions.

"What does it look like?"

"No," She shakes her head. "I mean, why are you just drawing a new violin?"

"I like to sketch the violin before I take it home." He replies bluntly.

Sakura blinks, still confused. "Why are you taking it home?"

His hand stops its movement across the paper. "My old violin broke," there is a tint of sadness across his eyes, but it's gone as fast as it had come. There's no emotion in his voice, no longing, Sakura notices.

"I don't think you can just take a school violin home,"

Gaara turns to her, his eyes still blank. "I can pay for it."

When she gives no reply, he turns back to his artwork. After a moment she blurts out, "I went to your house yesterday," He gives no hint that he is even paying attention, but she continues anyways. "There was a man at your house. He chased me away," Still nothing. "There were sobs and shouts coming from your house. What was that about?"

Gaara pauses, and his muscles seem to tense up a bit, before relaxing. "I do not know, neither do I care. But if you must know, one of the pipes exploded yesterday. That must've been it,"

He turns toward her, his eyes gleaming dangerously. "Why are you even here?" He questions. "Why do you care so much for me?"

"Temari asked me to. She's worried about you, you know." The words fall from her mouth, but she regrets it as soon as Gaara narrows his eyes.

"Temari... She doesn't care," He turns back toward the drawing. "She's proved that enough times. She just wants to get away from me, so she gave the responsibility to you. You shouldn't come to our house, you know. We're- I'm- not normal,"

"Does that matter?"

"It does," He pauses, before glancing over to meet her gaze.

"Your wrist looks better," Sakura comments, finding no other excuse to make him stop looking at her. But he doesn't avert his gaze to his wrist, but rather, keeps it fixed to meet her eyes.

"…"

There's an empty silence before he meets her gaze. Sakura focuses on those jade orbs, transfixed.

"Why do you care?"

"Why do you?" She retorts.

He turns away and leaves the room, violin stored back in its case and in his frail hands. Sakura is standing there, not sure what to do anymore, when a voice cuts through the silence.

"Sakura?"

She turns her head at the word, and sighs in relief when it's only Tenten. "Oh, hi… I haven't seen you since…"

Tenten makes no comment, instead goes to the violin rack where Gaara was standing mere minutes ago, and starts looking for a violin. "Have you seen Shiho? We're looking for him at practice," When Sakura casts a puzzled look, Tenten laughs, stopping her search for a moment. "I forgot, he hasn't told anyone yet, has he? He joined orchestra on bass. He's brilliant," Tenten is in a daze, but when she catches sight of the clock, she jumps up, grabs the nearest violin, and runs out saying, "See you later, Sakura! Our first concert's next Wednesday!"

Wednesday… six days from now.

Hinata

"Neiji-niisan…"

Neiji glared coldly at his little cousin, making her shut her mouth fearfully. "You should be more careful, Hinata-sama. You are the heiress, and a lot of people are after you. Particularly some dangerous ones,"

"B-But Neiji!"

Another glare was shot in the pale-eyed girl's direction, making her bow her head. "Y-You know it wasn't about me being heiress, Neiji. You know that."

"And because of your… situation," Neiji coolly lectures the girl "Is more the reason you should be careful."

Hinata coughs and Neiji is still staring down at her with distaste. "I-I'm sorry, Neiji. I-I needed th-the money. I d-did it for the f-"

"You should've found some other alternative," The Hyuuga boy interrupts. "You have no excuses, you have dirtied the Hyuuga family."

"Y-You won't tell, will y-you?" Hinata manages to say between coughs, eyes filled with sick worry. Slowly, she raises a pale hand to her forehead. As expected, it's still very hot. To her, it feels like someone put her head in an oven, but forgot to put the rest of her body in. Maybe that would've been better, since she's so cold while only her head is hot.

Neiji sighs and gives her a glass of water. "You do realize," he prompts her, "That I'm only doing this because of father?"

Hinata doesn't have a chance to answer, however, because a wave of sleep washes over her, causing her to fall into an endless void of darkness. A dreamless, empty, void.