A/N Thank you all for waiting patiently! My schedule's been pretty full lately, but a one week break's coming up, so more writing for me~

I can't thank you guys enough. Every single one of your readers out there, thank you. The story has reached 2,500 hits! But special thanks to the reviewers that take the time to write a review, no matter how short.

Thanks to TheFeyRa, Misery's-Toll, frostbird, and Amara-nii-chan for reviewing. *gives cookies*

Disclaimer: Naruto doesn't belong to me.

It's hard to fit into the world

When every step you take

Only leads

To more

Disaster.

Sakura

"You're good, you know that? Ever thought about going into a collage for healing?"

Today, Temari decided not to take her limo to school for once in her life. Instead, she walks with Sakura, brushing snow off the pink-haired girl's shoulders every so often. Sakura shakes her head, mystified at the sight of the flakes dropping from the sky. Temari rambles on anyways.

"A miracle worker, you are. After you left, Gaara actually came down to eat! Amazing, isn't it?"

Sakura nods, paying attention a bit more, but not a lot. "Yeah. Amazing." Of course, she keeps her real thoughts to herself. The thoughts that want to accuse Temari for being a sister that ignores her brother so often. "You know, why don't you just get a therapist instead of asking me? I have to work too... And a professional would be better."

Temari doesn't have time to respond, since they reach the school doors right at that moment. A couple of Temari's friends are inside, waving to her from the fog-covered windows. The senior gives Sakura a wave before disappearing inside the school.

When Sakura enters the school, she is greeted with nothing but the ever annoyed face of Sasuke. There's a very cool tone in his voice when he speaks. "There's a school dance coming up, you know. This Friday, in fact," he stops to cast a glance at the spying fangirls that are behind the pillar. "Are you coming?"

Friday... Two days from now, since it's Wednesday. Sakura responds with an equally cool, "Do I have to?"

"I never said you did."

The two glare at each other for one second, two seconds, before bursting into a short laugh. "But really, I don't have a ride or anything. I don't even have a good dress." She admits.

"I could take you shopping. My treat."

Who are you and what have you done with Sasuke?

"Is Sasuke Uchiha asking me to a dance?" Sakura teases, stuffing her things into her worn-out locker. Even she is marveled by her courage. This is not the shy girl that entered the school doors on the first day here.

Sasuke's eyes gleam in challenge, daring her to object. She doesn't. Instead, the girl does a mock curtsey and says, "I'd be delighted to."

The fangirls squeal in disgust and disappointment, and start whispering to themselves. Even without a single glance at them, it's clear this news will be spread around the whole school before lunch. But that's okay with Sakura. She walks away, heading to her homeroom, leaving Sasuke to go in the other direction, but not before calling out, "I'll take you shopping tomorrow!"

She hears the call, loud and clear. And smiles.

But, after Sakura has disappeared into the classroom, the fangirls suddenly squeal and run. The quiet boy steps out from his dark corner and looks up and down the hallway. No one notices his menacing scowl at the direction Uchiha Sasuke left.

His sea foam eyes, once blank, are now filled with fury.

Gaara

'Are you jealous, sweet Gaara?'

'No.' He growls, banging his locker shut. It's long past since the bell's rung, but the redhead doesn't care all that much. He knows that the teacher would probably be happier without his presence in the classroom.

'You should be going to class.'

"As if you really care," he says out loud, sliding to a crouch with his back against the tiled wall.

'Just worried.' Shukaku smirks; at least, Gaara pictures the voice (who says its name is 'Shukaku') smirking in his brain. He's heard Shukaku laugh and plot in his brain for ages, but it has been getting louder and more interruptive over the past few years. 'You've been stalking the girl for quite awhile. Do you-'

'She interests me,' He thinks before Shukaku can get any further. 'She doesn't run, or scream, or whimper when she sees me. Like the others.'

'That yellow-haired brat doesn't do any of those things when he sees you, but you don't go around stalking him.' the voice points out. 'I'm glad to see you have a potential for stalking. Maybe, if you're lucky, she'll actually notice you in the school day. Then, you'll start falling in love and-'

Once more, Gaara interrupts the voice. 'I don't love. Never again. Now shut up.'

'Bastard,' Shukaku growls, but falls silent. The bell rings, indicating first period. Gaara slowly slides up the wall once more, picking up his stuff. Then he ponders the idea of skipping first period as well, but decides he'd rather face first period than get a lecture from Temari.

'Temari.' He thinks sadly. A pale hand is on the doorknob. He can already see the faces staring up at him in either fear or disgust.

'Hurts, when everyone that really cares is just smoke and mirrors, doesn't it?'

"..."

'My opinion? Just kill 'em all. It's been so long since I've seen the blood. Sweet Gaara, you'll do it, won't you?'

Gaara doesn't answer.

As usual, Gaara sits in the shade by the little hallway, accompanied by Naruto. But, unlike any other day, Hinata is with them. She looks a bit nervous, glancing at the redhead and looking away, blushing. The enthusiastic teen has most of his attention on the Hyuga girl today, and less of his attention on Gaara. The said boy doesn't really mind, and rather enjoys being out of the way. More time for his own thoughts.

The bell rings. Naruto straightens up from his relaxed position by the wall and shoots a look at him. "Aren't you eating lunch? Don't you ever eat lunch?"

Green eyes stare. "I've had enough at home." (To you, enough is nothing)

Naruto shrugs. "Suit yourself. Remind me to go to your house sometime from dinner. Temari must be one hell of a cook."

After memories of burnt, mashed-up, mutinous food, Gaara can't agree. Naruto grasps Hinata's hand and pulls her down the hall, making her squeak with surprise and turn bright red.

It's obvious there's a sort of close bond between them, something that just can't be reached by certain individuals, including himself. Not that he really minds, or cares.

With a pale hand, he brushes his crimson locks over the word that's caused him so much pain. So much pain.

'What are you trying to do, starve yourself?' Shukaku snorts. Instead of answering, he ducks into an air duct and retrieves his notebook that he hid earlier during the week. 'You know,' Shukaku comments again as he's crawling back out 'People call you a psychopath, but to be honest, I think you're just like any other boy. Getting into trouble, hating the world...'

This would help, if it weren't coming from another psychopath. But again, Shukaku is technically himself, just another illusion in his brain that's trying to calm himself. So, in reality, it's just himself trying to calm himself down. All these thoughts make Gaara's head hurt. Didn't he hate therapists?

'I'm not a doctor,' growl Shukaku, making Gaara even more freaked out. Even after all these years, he won't be able to understand how he could make a voice so real in his head.

Weirdly, the redhead's thoughts drift back to Sakura, remembering how she calmed him, and he didn't attack her... Why didn't he?

'Why didn't I?'

In his head, Shukaku cackles.

The house is empty when he comes home, as to be expected. Temari's at work and his father's probably at a bar or something. The latter makes him more relieved than nervous. Setting his bookbag carelessly on the floor and watches it skid away across the newly-polished tiles.

Gaara proceeds to go to his room, only pausing to water the flowers where Kankurou's picture is. Gardening is, surprisingly, a talent of his. The water gently pit-pats down the small blossoms and falls onto the darkening soil. The redhead stops and stares at the worn-out picture, but manages to turn away.

Plunking his gourd down on the ground, he sighs and plops down on the floor along with it. Little bits of golden flakes fall from the cracks in the cork that seals it, but the boy really doesn't care. Instead, his mind wanders to the pink-haired girl again.

Her jade eyes are truly striking. It's even more noticeable than her cherry-pink hair, in Gaara's opinion. Not to mention her bright smile and sweet voice. The thought of all that in the Uchiha's hands...

He scowls and clenches his fists. That cannot happen. It will never happen, at least, not while he's aiming for her as well. A burning rage (admit it. Compassion) starts in his chest and threatens to bust out in his throat. He manages to swallow it down.

Thinking some more, a wicked smirk spreads across his face. Not a smile, but a smirk.

A dangerous one, at that.

Sakura

He did take me out shopping after all.

I tried on dresses for the first time in my life.

I went shopping.

I looked for clothes.

Pretty clothes, not second-hand.

Amazing.

I dig through the racks

Searching for the perfect one.

I hold up various colors

And ask him,

"Is this okay?"

For all the questions, he nods

Not caring about the price.

I wonder if he is rich.

Sasuke just stares at me all the while

Not taking

His eyes off.

I become self-conscious

(smirk from the back of my mind)

And blush rather violently.

Why is he staring?

I try to change the awkwardness.

"The dance... is Friday, right?"

"Right."

"Is it past four? Because I have work until-"

"It is."

He's still staring. His eyes never leave me.

I blush even more.

What's wrong with me?

Finally, I choose one.

It's white

With almost transparent frills

Sparkles sprinkled here and there.

They gleam, making me look like I wear snow

With

Stars.

Perfect for December.

Just

Perfect.

I ask Sasuke,

and he says it's perfect too.

Although, he was staring at my face

So I can't tell if he's really talking about the dress.

Or me.

I'm counting the days.

"Tell me again, when's the dance?"

He rolls his eyes.

I see him doing so from the rearview mirror.

"December seventeenth, stupid."

When did we get so close? I hope my red cheeks don't show.

"Uh, yeah. Right."

It begins to snow.

The white looks yellow

Under the light of the streetlamps.

He drops me off at my rickety house

And suddenly I'm embarrassed.

He looks up and down the building before saying,

"Nice house."

"Thanks."

Sasuke clears his throat

...awkwardly?

"Well, see you."

"Yeah."

I can't quite say why

But it feels like betrayal.

(Are you that innocent?)

Clutching the shopping bag, she quietly steps into the house, careful not to make a sound. As Sakura's closing the door, there's a voice behind her, disguising fury.

"What. Are. You. Doing?"

Paralyzed with fear, she slowly turns around to meet the unfocused eyes of her father. (Father? He's not even family) Looking at his gaze and seeing his confused state, along with his slurred speech; it's almost impossible to miss that he's drunk.

"Answer my question!" He roars, face red. His daughter trembles in fear, jade eyes wide.

"I don't-"

"That dress!" The man grabs it out of her frail hands and dumps the contents on the floor. "This dress- It costs a hell load of money, doesn't it?" When she doesn't reply, he gets even more outraged. "ANSWER ME!"

"Y-Yes," Sakura squeaks. Even though her words are close to a whisper, Sakura's father hears it nice and clear. Even in his drunken state.

"Where did you get the money? You stole it, didn't ya?"

"N-No, a friend-"

He doesn't listen, however, as he swipes the now tainted dress from the floor and holds in between his hands. Realizing what he's about to do, Sakura grabs the frills and pulls it out of her father's grip. "It was a gift!"

"Gift my ass, ya bitch!"

This evolves into a sort of tug-a-war, the dress being pulled back and forth between their hands. It's teen verses drunken mad, but Sakura's got the upper hand when the man begins to sway from the nausea and throbbing pains in his head.

She manages to pull it away and dash up the stairs. Slamming the door shut, she breathes a sigh of relief when the room she ran into has a lock on it. The person on the other side is clearly pounding and kicking the door, mad with rage and alcohol.

"SAKURA HARUNO, I AM YOUR FATHER AND I DEMAND-"

"YOU'RE NOT HIM!" Sakura cries, tears dripping down her face but voice confident. "YOU'LL NEVER BE HIM!"

"YOU BITCH, FUCKIN' LITTLE-"

It goes on like this for awhile before his voice gets sore and her... 'father' gives up and goes into the safety of his room. Sakura wipes her jade-green eyes on her dusty sheets, and checks her appearance in the mirror.

(When did you start caring?)

Red eyes, scuffled hair, nothing a bit of water and hair brush can't fix. She tries smiling, but it's obvious that it's fake.

(Controlitcontrolit)

The little movement of cloth catches her attention. She rises, and holds the dress tight to her body.

Embrace.