((Okay, I am seriously even afraid to look at my reviews as of this moment... I'm afraid of one that just reads "I CURSE THEE!!"... nothing more, nothing less. I'm sorry!! But I want things to become awkward between the two of them... it'll make the story more interesting... and have more substance than just "he fucked her and told her that he loved her now that she slept with him. The end." That's kinda what I did in Bloody Acquaintance... but not so much... Well, I got six reviews between the hours of 2 AM and 4 PM so... I hope it doesn't leave me too mentally scarred.))

Kina:

YAYZ B-DAY LEMONYGOODNESS!! and aww...sad lemon...but really THAT WAS
FREAKING AWSUM!WOOT :D mind wanders)

((okay one friendly review... thanks Kina and happy late B-day))

NeferNeferi:

Well, I'm glad to see you're experimenting with length in both, chapters and
story. That's good to hear.
On another note, poor Chikage. And poor Gaara as well. I feel so sorry for
both. But I know you'll just make it right for them. ;) I'm looking forward to
how you'll do that. Please update soon!

((And a vote of confidence from NeferNeferi... wow... you guys are just full of surprises! I seriously expected the threat of ninja assassins... or a really ugly man at my doorstep if I didn't make them happy right away...))

xXTwilight-KunoichiXx:

sorry but no comment on the lemon...i just can't comment on lemons im not
like that but i will tell you think your chappie was great plz update soon

((I'm cool with that... and despite no review on the lemon part, I'm glad that you reviewed the chapter as a great huggles))

LadyAmazon:

THAT EMO LITTLE JERK! I KNOW I ASKED FOR LEMON BUT HE DIDN'T HAVE TO LEAVE
HER LIKE THAT! GAARA, YOU BETTER PRAY TO THAT DEMON OF YOURS BECAUSE IF I EVER
FIND YOU IN SUNA, YOU'RE IN BIG BIG TROUBLE!

((At least he didn't impregnate her! O.o' I'm sorry but it's my fault, not Gaara's... I made him that way... besides, I'm posting the entire raccoon mafia around his bedroom door... don't worry, they'll get together... after she does some thinking and falls into a certain depression. Gaara, run!! An Amazon lady is after your hide!!))

VampireGaaraCheesepuffs:

AW!
That was the most depressing lemon ever! (I admit it, fanfic perv here, leave
me alone XD)
UPDATE SOON, hopefully something that DOESN'T make me wanna go watch barney
(I need something sappily happy)
VampireGaaraCheesepuffs
BARNEY TIS EVIL

((I am the queen of sappy speeches... I can make a true romantic wretch at my very words... funny thing is, Naruto is FULL of sappy speeches... just not the romantic kind... and yes... Barney and DORA are evil... to any and all extremes! And I'm going to kill them both. want to join my cause))

Gaara-frenzy:

aww poor chikage. she needs to find a different way to show him love. i feel
like hitting gaara and i've never thought of doing that before. wow. you know
what? this story reminds me of a roller coster where you started at the top.
the only place to go from up is down but when you get to a low point you have
to go up again. chikage has been on that roller coster throughout this she
just hasn't gone up yet. wow. i hope that i never have a moment were i want to
write poetry. that scared me. good chapter i cant wait for the next one XD

((not only can I write sappily but I can also make people feel anger towards their beloved... the power is both a blessing and a curse. And just so you know, she will try... fail, yes... but the ending will be HAPPY AND SAPPY!))

((not a curse in the bunch and I have accomplished a depressing lemon! Let's see if I can top that... but I don't think I'll be putting an end lemon for the concluding chapter.))

Chapter 23: When Everything Goes Wrong

Chikage had never experienced such heart-shattering words. Her eyes had an endless string of melted ice and the pain was unbelievable. It was worse than the moment when Gaara had taken her without mercy. Worse than when he'd mocked her love for him. Is that what she got for showing him love? Cruel banter and a quick romp with nothing to show for it?

She was more confused than ever now. Gaara had wanted someone's acceptance long ago and she wanted to bring that part out of him again. She did accept him, more than he knew. Then her broken heart fell into her liver, the shards slicing into the muscle roughly. She didn't show him love... she showed him the portal to his lust. She'd given him her body... like a common street whore. Like a stupid one. She, as his harlot, hadn't even received any payment. Gaara only used her. And she couldn't help but wonder if he would have used another girl, had she offered herself to him. She knew that he would have. He was a male, a hormone-induced boy with enough balls to do whatever the Hell he pleased. But she was also sure that he would have killed that other girl.

'What does that mean...? Does he think that by keeping me alive, he could use me over again... he doesn't believe that I won't fall out of love with him! ... but he's right. I was never attracted to him this way,' she thought. When did her sweet, sad angel of a sand god... become such a monsterous thing? He never tried anything with her before... until this night. The night he found out that she loved him... the night he obviously sought out to show her how very wrong she was.

And now, she lay on that cold bed, her body exposed and unwilling to move. His words of disgust and hollowness made a lump in her throat appear by magic. But the tears did not multiply. She slowly sat up and swallowed painfully. 'I didn't spend all of that time... imagining a love for Gaara-san... just to have it tossed in my face like trash. I have to find him... make him see me as more than his play thing. I can't give up! Not now... that I've gone too far.' The thought was supposed to end with "this far," not "too far"... but that's exactly what it was. She went too far, too fast. Her love was worn on her sleeve... and in her underwear.

With her virginity lost but her vow of love rekindled, Chikage grabbed her panties and put them on. Then she exited Gaara's room to find herself face to face with Temari.

"Gaara came into my room and he told me to get you some clothes..." she said, motioning to the pants and shirt that she held in her hands. "But he didn't say why..."

"I've got to go home... I'm not even supposed to be here. I'm sure my family... I'm sure Hito is worried about me. I'd better go ease his suffering and let him get some sleep."

"It's so early in the morning though... I bet he's already asleep. Besides, you're the one that's suffering... what happened? Don't try to play stupid with me."

Never had there been a more wrong word than at that moment. The word "stupid" remained in her mind, Gaara's voice overshadowing Temari's as it replayed over and over. The tears that she had dried up only moments before had returned with a vengeance and despair covered the lilac orbs. "I'm not stupid... I'm not stupid..." she whispered softly, gasps of air coming quietly between her silent sobs.

Temari raised a brow. "I know that... is that what's wrong? Gaara called you stupid?"

Chikage shook her head. "No... I mean, yes. But I'm okay now. I guess I'm just sensitive... when friends that I trust call me things like that. I'll be fine. I'm sorry for freaking out on you."

"Hey, if it's any constellation, he calls everyone stupid... and annoying. That's just how he is. When he found out how you felt, he went back to how he was before. Naruto saved him once... but I don't think it'll work again. Only you can help him now."

"You're wrong..." Tears were still in her eyes but the despair was long gone. Instead something even more fragile stayed there-- her courage. "... Gaara doesn't need anybody's help. I can try... but in the end... it's up to him to help himself."

Chikage went back into Gaara's room and put on the clothes. Then she exited his home, slowly making her way home. Unaware of a certain boy that was following her every step.

Gaara was swift and silent as he watched the girl. He didn't understand. He had taken her innocence and obviously made her feel like a random hooker. He had left all sorts of dangerous objects, from sharp ornamental swords on the walls to the very glass in a framed picture of Yashamaru. He had shattered it the night of his betrayal but hadn't thrown it away. It was a reminder, much like his "Ai" symbol, that he was hated by all so he was meant to only love himself. So the question was... why hadn't she killed herself?

He would have done so... if it was any other girl. But Chikage... something about her made him unable to want to kill her... so he decided to let her do it for him. After all, he had made it so easy for her... it was like he was doing it himself anyway.

But she didn't pick up a shard of glass and slice her throat in two. The sword's remained in there spots, untouched by her soft delicate hands. No blood had been spilt in that room... besides that of the maiden's barrier. He watched as she strode towards home, her body moving weakly. Gaara knew that if anyone was to attack her or try to use her, he would kill them on sight. How could he not? Chikage was HIS... and only HIS to use. No one else could touch her. If Shukaku were still inside him, he would have been denied the pleasure of touching her as well. Though even as he thought of the possibilities of killing those who tried to take his property... his heart remained hard and cold. No love graced him, the lust he had felt now lay in the middle of the desert, covered the the elusive sand that he controlled. Once again, he was empty. Though he could not deny that he didn't like the feelings that she'd stirred within his loins, the tightness of her walls pressing against his shaft.

Gaara's stoic face broke into a small evil smirk as he whispered, "One way or another, Chikage... your blood will drain from your body. And Death will shadow your face, his scent flowing upon the winds of pain, soaked with that bittersweet taste of your crimson life..."

((Okay! Chapter's over and it's getting more depressing by the minute. Chikage isn't gonna give up just yet... but with Gaara not giving her any chance to succeed, just how far will she go until she finally gives in to the temptation of the blade? And will Gaara even let her commit? We'll just see! Review for the next chapter please!!))