A/N Thank you to all readers for waiting patiently. This chapter is a bit short, but I hope to make the next one longer.

Many thanks to Misery's-Toll, TheFeyRa, sakarami, Amara-nii-chan, and Frostbird for reviewing! Seriously, thank you all so much!

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.

Can you hear the whisper of the trees?

Can you see the stars that surround you?

Can you feel my heart, glimmering with evil?

Yes? No?

Sakura

"So, Sakura? Do you have a lot of homework today?"

Sakura snaps back into attention when the blond boy taps her head for the fifth time. Sasuke, who is behind them, sighs in a bored way, staring at the sky like Shikamaru does. Their destination to Hinata's is coming up soon, and it's obvious to any passerby that Naruto is the most excited with his endless chatter and the skip in his step.

Sakura doesn't share his joy. She tries to, but her mind keeps on drifting back to the isolated red haired boy.

This daydreaming gets her another tap from Naruto. "Sakura! Pay attention!"

Sasuke stares at her curiously, making a faint blush rise to the girl's cheeks. Luckily, she is saved by Naruto, who shouts, "We're here!" as soon as the Hyuuga house is in sight.

"Are you feeling okay, Sakura?" Sasuke inquires. She shakes her head and makes her best attempt at a smile.

This visit reminds her of the visit to Kiba. Look how that turned out.

Surprisingly, it's Tenten who opens the door. Her brown eyes blink twice before she closes the door, resuming whatever she was doing. Naruto, known for his repulsiveness, doesn't back down. In fact, he raps the door repeatedly until the door is wrenched back open, this time it's Neiji.

"What do you need?" He asks coldly.

"Isn't it obvious? We're here to see Hinata-"

The door closes again, but not before saying, "She's resting. Don't bother."

Sasuke grumbles something like, "I knew this would happen..." while Naruto fumes outside. Sakura, however, still has her mind somewhere else as she turns around, heading for her workplace. Naruto follows, leaving Sasuke to go the other way, to who-knows-where.

They strike up a conversation, well; it's mostly Naruto ranting about how rude Neiji is while Sakura nods absent-mindedly.

Does Naruto know she's not there?

Walking is a funny thing.

You put one leg in front

Of the other.

But soon, the leg that was in front

Goes in the back again.

I don't think it's fair

But people will stare if I hop all the way home.

Then again,

I'm being stared at already.

I pass by the old mansion again

My blood runs cold when there's a sound of a smack

And I ring the doorbell franticly.

No answer.

Just sobs.

I run run run again

To home.

(If you can stand to call it that.)

I press numbers.

Lots and lots of numbers.

"Hello?

Who is this?"

"Temari,

There's something wrong at your house

What are you doing?

Where are you?"

There's a pause.

"I-I know."

A click.

Gone.

(Will you travel to the stars with me?

Willyouwillyouwillyou...)

I stare at my reflection in the mirror.

So pathetic.

I look at the cans of beer on the ground.

So pathetic.

I stare at the caller ID of the person I just talked to.

So pathetic.

...

Pathetic.

It's night. And Sakura knows this.

Well, precisely, it's eight PM. But she can't help it... She can't help the fact she's drawn to this place. Perhaps by a certain red-haired boy? She can't be sure.

But she goes in anyways, and luckily, it's Temari who answers the door. "S-Sakura!"

"I need to see Gaara." The pink-haired girl says, getting straight to the point. The older looks around, and whispers,

"Okay, but quietly. Father's sleeping."

The pair of them tiptoe past the blaring music coming from the stereo, past a room where loud snores emit from, past the music that's filled with pictures and flowers. Temari leaves her as soon as she reaches the point where they're just outside of the room, only the door and walls separating whatever's inside.

Sakura slips in quietly, barely making a sound. But she doesn't need to worry, there's another sound that's covering up her footsteps.

It's sweet and flowing, creating a sad melody that vibrates and fades away. Sakura sits on the floor, closing the door behind her.

Then it strikes her. Gaara Sabaku is playing the violin.

And he is. His blood-red hair is illuminated by the soft light streaming in from the overhead window into the otherwise dark room. His usually staring jade eyes are closed, as if in a trance. He's barely looking at where he places his fingers.

Then he pauses, like he can sense a disturbance. His eyes snap open, and he glares over at Sakura. His eyes say, "What are you doing?"

"Play more. I like it."

There's a flash of shock across his eyes, but it's gone. He turns back and plays again, but this time his eyes are open, and the music isn't as flowing as it was before. It's rougher, sharper. A storm described as music.

And Sakura loves it. It makes her remember the days back when her mother was still in the world, when her father loved her...

"What is love, you think?" She wonders, half to herself. He stops playing, and stares at her. Sakura blushes when she realizes she said that out loud.

Instead of answering, Gaara puts his violin on his shoulder again and starts playing. It starts out slow and quiet, but it gets faster and faster and faster and louder until it all explodes, the notes furiously squealing until it's all squeaky and unpleasant to hear. And then he stops.

Resting the violin carefully inside the black case, he stands up and says one word.

"Leave."

"Why should I?"

He picks something up from the little table where the cactuses are. "Leave." The redhead says again.

Not knowing what to say, Sakura says the only thing she can think of.

"Do you know how to dance?"

There's an empty pause. Jade eyes inspect her carefully.

"I-I'll leave then," The girl stutters out, moving towards the door.

"I don't."

Her hand is on the doorknob when he says that. She turns around, smiles, and grabs his hands, sending him into a tiny moment of bewilderment.

'His hands are so cold.' She muses to herself. 'So pale.'

Then, he pushes her hand out of his, backing away. His eyes are like a frightened animal's.

Sakura rolls her eyes teasingly. "It's not that hard, you know. Just..." She twirls, making the world spin, spin, spin, and then she comes to a rest and does a little bow.

"That wasn't dancing, that was twirling."

Six words. Has he ever said six words?

(You're breaking through)

"Then show me."

Gaara stares at her again.

"Show me."