This had to be the best thing ever. I thought I was in love, but I wasn't. This is much better. He actually loves me.

"You only eat instant ramen?" I asked.

He shrugged. "Yeah."

I laughed. We would go out to eat, we decided. Even though we were in the desert, it was only 68° outside and that was cold to Sunagakure. We put on our jackets, his being a jacket and mine being a cloak.

I smiled as we walked down the street, to a season-themed shop. I asked him what he wanted and went up to the counter. It was crowded in front of the shop, so I left Akihiko at a side table near the street.

I reached into my purse for the money and paid for our hot chocolates. I smiled and thanked the woman at the counter. I picked up the hot chocolate very carefully and made my way back to the street.

But I stopped.

Because I didn't want what I was seeing to be true.

What was he doing here? He should be at his office.

I froze to the spot as he approached me, smiling slightly in such a soft way, I was falling for him again. Then I started trembling and the feeling was gone. He reached a hand out and caressed my face, now only a few inches from me.

I was scared out of my wits.

"Sasa-Chan," he whispered, close to my face. "Why'd you leave me? I didn't do anything wrong."

I was terrified. He was so soft and calm and he was scaring me. It felt weird, because he had never really scared me before.

"I . . . I . . ." I stammered, unable to find my voice. My word came out a squeak. I swallowed, because tears were forming in my eyes. "Choudai—choudai—choudai sakini kara ware!"

He didn't like that. He snarled and disappeared, so only sand filled his place. I was breathing fast and I dropped the hot chocolate. They splattered at my feet.

I didn't even stop to pick them up as I ran back to Akihiko. He was standing in the street, talking to Matsuri. I pressed my face against his sleeve, saying, "Aki—Akihiko, let's go home." I was crying now.

"Sasa?" he asked, looking down at me. His brow creased with worry and he told Matsuri, "Mata ne."

When we got back, I was crying, but not hard enough to not tell him what had happened. He looked angry after I finished. Then his face softened and he hugged me, promising not to leave me like that again.

"What if he shows up here?" I asked him.

"I'll fight him off." He reassured me. "Chigiri."

I trusted him for that and followed him around again the next few days. I smiled and talked with him and he stayed away. I must've made him very mad. I proved my theory when Akihiko was called away on a mission—a soro mission.

I wasn't happy, that's for sure. Now my protector would be gone for who knows how long—and he was sent away by the person trying to hurt me. I cried the first night he was gone, mostly because I was scared, and partially because I was alone. I bu being alone.

I was calmer the next day. I invited Kiyoko over and she stayed the whole day. I knew she didn't know about the incident but she insisted that I was to visit her every day Akihiko was gone and to come straight to her whenever I needed to talk to someone or I needed help.

"Mata ne!" I called as she left that evening.

She smiled and waved. I smiled back and closed the door. I sat down on the couch, much relieved that my friend was so caring. It was just like Kiyoko. There was a knock on the door while I was folding laundry.

"Come in!" I called, thinking it was Kiyoko; she had left her hat.

I smiled as I kept folding laundry, hearing the door open and close. I pushed a pile of folded clothes aside and grabbing a pile of unfolded ones as I sensed someone enter the room.

"Kiyo, you baka," I said, folding a shirt. "You forgot your hat. It's on the table."

However, the person didn't move towards the table, they moved towards ware. I turned around, opening my mouth to speak, but closed it instantly.

There, standing in my best friend's living room, was my worst nightmare.

There, standing in my best friend's living room, was Sabaku no Gaara.

Choudai—Get

Sakini—Away

Kara—From

Ware—Me

Mata ne—"See ya"

Chigiri—Promise

Soro—Solo

Bu—Despise

I know, it was supposed to be a one-shot. But kpop is luv wanted more (didn't realize it was a none-shot), so I made more. I guess it'll be a little mini-story. But only if people help. If they don't, I'm leaving it at this.

—Not Dead Nor Alive—

Remember:

If everything is going well, you obviously overlooked something.