Megami:Salvay!

Ukime: Hello! No, Bonjour! Or Konichiwa! Whichever you prefer.

Megami:" I said it is Latin!

Gaara:Which is a dead language...

Megami: So!

Neji: It makes things unique, I suppose.

Ukime: :D

Megami: I am a unique person! Which is why I don't understand how I can't own Naruto!

Ukime: It's true... I want to own it. I want to succeed at something...

Gaara: Your succeeding in writing a good fanfic for it

Ukime: Awwwww! Well thank you, Gaara!

Neji:...You stole my words...

Megami: You two have a creepy twin thing going on so it doesn't count for you to say that Neji, but thank you for thinking it!

Ukime: You three make my day better. I just got called a slut for no apparent reason... :( Again.

Neji: Ignore her, she's the slut, if anyone.

Ukime:... :)

Megami: I know for a fact you aren't a slut! I am your sister these things are fact to me. 1.I love Gaara

are not a slut

3.I love you!

Ukime: See? You guys make my day better. I love you!

Neji: We love you too. Anyway, back to the story.

Gaara: Read on! It will make Ukime happier, and Megami happier by extension.

Chapter 7-Connections

Ino was blushing furiously as Neji and Gaara left, Tenten was in the shower. She hung her head, so her plan hadn't worked. She blushed darker as she thought of how she'd reacted to Gaara's warmth. She'd leeched on to him, sucked it out, an endless upply of warmth flowed from him, she'd also slipped into his mind, filled with dark shadows and murder. Despair, pain, hatred. She's linked them accidently too, almost like an imprint. Well thats what it was called in her book. When a vampyre or fledgling bit a human, other vampyre, or fledgling, or in Stevie Rae's case a raven mocker, they were connected to each other. She's done that to Gaara without blood. A shock went through her and she winced. His mind was in turmoil, he was confused. She wished she could help, but she could only feel it. To distact herself she brought out the book and concentrated on it, wrapped in her blankets and her wet cold clothes.

"I'm not gonna ask what happened while I was gone." Tenten said reaching for her own book, Ino suddenly reveled in her roomates presence.

"Nothing I swear, I was just freezing myself and he came to the rescue." Ino said.

"So what was that I walked in on?" Tenten asked. Ino reached over an turned on her MP3, bad romance glee version played. She winced and changed it. "Why'd you do that."

"Because when we were on the bed here I slipped into his mind, I saw what he's like, and it's dark. Don't get me wrong I love the dark, I don't like his darkness." Ino said.

"The dark and darkness are two different things?" Tenten questioned.

"Darkness is evil with a capital E and D. The dark is like the midnight sky, peaceful, calming, brilliant. He's got Darkness." Ino said.

"And your not running for the hills?" Tenten asked.

"I don't want to, and therin lies my problem. I'm feeling! I don't want to feel! I can't feel! I had a crush on Shika when we were younger, I was heart broken. I "fell in love" with Sasuke, he leaves I'm alone and heartbroken again, so I decide not to feel. It works until I meet him!" Ino said sounding every bit F.I.N.E. Fucked up, Insecure (not so much that one), Neurotic, and Emotional. Tenten looked a little shocked.

"If your linked with him, doesn't he know your stressing right now?" Tenten asked, and with it's uncanny ability to also sense her mindset Toxic glee version came out of her speakers.

"Yes." She said sitting back on her bed and calming herself. "I have to get used to being linked, my Dad never told me much. He only said the link could be dangerous. Like it was for Mom and Him. She died to break it." Ino said staring at the ceiling.

"I'm sorry." Tenten said.

"Don't be, I'm not making the same mistake, and I am not breaking this." Ino said forcefully.

Tenten didn't really know what to say. She felt flattered that, after only two days, Ino felt the trust to confide in Tenten. But, she hadn't been very good with that sort of thing, comforting and what not. She also never knew the right thing to say. Instead, she only sat on her bed, looking at Ino.

"I think I need to go to bed." Ino said. Tenten looked at the clock.

"It's only 7:38." Tenten said.

"Oh, really? It feels later." Ino shrugged, heading for the bathroom. Tenten heard Ino brushing her teeth. So she was serious. Tenten pulled out her pajama pants, already wearing a baggy shirt, and changed quickly. She hopped on her bed and pulled out her book as Ino walked out of the bathroom. As Tenten read, her eyes began to get blurry, so she shook her head and shut the book. She looked over at Ino, who was snoring lightly. She left the room as quietly as she could, not even bothering to put shoes on.

Tenten liked the main building better around 8. Not many students were in the halls, but people were still awake. There was music, shouting, and beeping coming from many rooms. Tenten decided to take the stairs and walk around some floors. She opened the door for the stairs and started walking. A few floors later, she found a familiar face.

"Gaara, why are you up here?" She asked. She hadn't heard Gaara leave the room. He shrugged, looking at nothing in particular.

"Well, I'm going to continue walking now."

"Shouldn't you be wearing shoes?" He asked, looking at Tenten's stockinged feet. She wiggled her toes.

"Maybe, maybe not. I don't really feel like it." Gaara nodded, deep in thought. "Well, I'll leave you to your thinking." Tenten said, turning back around. She was feeling kind of tired at this point, having been exploring for quite a while.

"How is Ino?" Gaara ashed as Tenten opened the door. Tenten stopped.

"She's alright, why?" She turned, looking at the red head. He shrugged.

"I just had a strange feeling." Tenten nodded, thinking about what Ino had said earlier.

"She's a little miffed, but nothing too bad." Tenten said. She didn't know how deep Ino's issues were, and she didn't find it her place to share them with Gaara.

"Well, goodnight." Gaara said.

"Night." Tenten waved and shut the door.

As Tenten disappeared into the room Gaara reflected upon Ino, and what had happened. She had obviously done something, he felt somehow closer to her. He could feel what she'd done was purely innocent and meant a great deal, he also knew it would be hard to dispel. But somewhere deep inside he was hurt at losing the new connection to the blond. She wasn't afraid of him, he could tell that, and when they'd been lying there together she had been inside his mind, glimpsed the Darkness and hadn't been repulsed. It was a start he supposed. He sent a coil of sand to check on her, and stay with her to watch over her. He was watching the sand so he could see her, once again in the t-shirt from this morning, she was curled beneath the purple comforter and completely at peace. He smiled wishing he could feel that peace like she did, unfortunately not going to happen, although he could feel the peace through their bond. He liked the feeling, after being sure she was okay, he went to the roof of the main building.

"Little brother, fancy seeing you here." Temari said smiling and hugging Gaara, he made no move back. She didn't care, she was used to it. She sat on a giant fan being held up by her wind power. "I imagine your not gonna talk so I will." She said and motioned for him to come closer. Gaara 'hn'd and sat next to Temari on a sand floor, and not the fan. She smiled. "I saw you with her, I know somethings happened, All I can say is that you've changed, it's as if your taking her good energy into you. That's a good and bad thing, don't forget to give back." Temari said and left the roof. Gaara contemplated his sisters words, she was a girl so she knew more about them, and Gaara thought about Ino, her blue that changed from pale to sky to sapphire, and her pale blond hair, that was soft and whip-like. Her voice dagger-like and soft. She could cut with her words and change someones mind with them. She herself was a weapon, and he was connected to her now. He couldn't change it, he didn't want to, but he didn't know what to do from here on out. His sand told him Ino was becoming restless, and he calmed his turmoiled emotions, calming her as well as himself.

Neji sat around the dorm, glancing at the clock every few minutes. 8:15. 8:30. 12:04. Wait, 12:04? Neji shook his head and looked around. Gaara was now opening the door, trying not to wake Neji. It hadn't worked.

"Have fun on your midnight adventure?" Neji asked his roommate. Gaara nodded, locking the door and heading for his bed.

"What about your friendly visit?" Gaara asked. Neji nodded, his throat tightening. He cleared it and got up.

"I'm going to shower." Neji said.

"At midnight?" Gaara asked. Neji nodded. 'I have a feeling it's going to be a long one.' Neji thought to himself. He grabbed one of his over-fluffy towels, the only ones at his old house, and headed for the bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, after showering and brushing his teeth, Neji came out. He noticed Gaara was actually sleeping, giving him quite the surprise. Gaara was known for his insomnia. As quietly as he could, Neji went over to his bed and continued reading.

Neji woke up to the sound of his alarm about ten minutes later. Well, what felt like ten minutes. And, as it turns out, it wasn't his alarm, either. It was knocking. Very loud knocking. And shouting. Neji looked at the clock. It was around 6. Neji made an inaudible noise and got up.

Neji opened in time for Tenten to knock the door, also known as his face. He blinked and looked at her.

"Get up!" She shouted, making Gaara jolt awake and yelp slightly. He took a deep breath and relaxed.

"Class doesn't start until eight, Tenten." Neji said, leaning his tired head against the door frame. Tenten tapped her little foot.

"I know that. Ino and I are going out for breakfast." Tenten's hair was down and it rested a little past her shoulders.

"And you wanted to know if Gaara and I would join you." It wasn't a question. Tenten played with a strand of her hair.

"Well...Yeah." Flames went to her cheeks. Neji wanted to smile, but he kept it inward. Instead, he crossed his arms and nodded.

"Give us ten minutes." Tenten smiled and hopped.

"Okay!" She scampered to her side of the hallway.

Ukime: Here first again. I am on a ROLL! Woosauce!

Megami: Woosauce?

Neji: When she's excited, she adds 'sauce' to the end of everything. Especially fucksauce.

Gaara: Okay then...

Ukime: Don't judge my way of life, Gaara. I will cut you! XD

Megami: *starts singing Lets Talk About Sex*

Ukime: I LOVE THAT SONG! *dances to song playing in her head*

Gaara: Review...Do not take off your shirt Megami!

Neji: Review as we try to reign them in.

Megami: Lets talk about sex baby lets talk about you and me!

Ukime: I don't know the actual lyrics so.. Let's talk about all the good things and the bad things that make me! I think? Haha. Am I right?

Megami: No it's all the good and bad things that may be

Ukime: It's close enough. I'm not good with lyrics.

Neji: Don't act like a snobba bobble... heh...

Ukime: Shut up! Anyway, review and I'll study some lyrics!