"She'll last two days." That voice came from the left of Sayuki. It was a boy's voice and it was obviously about her. She could feel the eyes drowning her with their stares. She didn't look though; she didn't acknowledge them. Sakura had warned her not to. It was like satisfying them with a reaction or letting them know you're concerned or worried. It gave them some sick thrill to see her suffering.

"Why are they together? Are they making it easier to pick them off by grouping off together?" A girl this time. Her voice was sickly sweet. This time Sayuki did look towards the voice. It was inevitable, and Sayuki whipped her gaze away from the thin raven haired girl who spoke. She realized the girl's gaze was on Gaara who stood beside her though.

"They should just get it over with already and leave."

"Do they even have friends?"

"Who'd be their friends? So gross."

"Leave."

"You're unwanted."

Sayuki sank into herself as she walked. Her pace quickened and she could feel Gaara's questioning eyes on her back as she got ahead. Everyone had already heard about them. She didn't think the rest of the school would ever care. She was swiftly becoming an outcast. Not that she had been much of a social butterfly, but she had been trying to get along with friends more. She had honestly tried, and everything was now crashing down.

"Do you really want to start!?" Gaara's voice was low but sharp enough for Sayuki to hear and rip away from her mind. She snapped around to look at Gaara grasping some guy by his shirt, no fist raised, but they stood only a centimetre apart. The guy Gaara gripped looked slightly taken aback but he held his stance, their glares matching.

"Gaa-" Sayuki began to call out to him but stopped when a blur of pink blocked her view. Next she saw Sakura's small arms shove the two apart with the help of surprise. They both staggered from her small thrust.

"Gaara, let's go. Don't start stupid fights. They're just bored with themselves." Sakura flashed a glare at the by standing crowd before she whipped around to Sayuki. She grabbed her wrist with a swift motion and began to pull her down the hallway. Sayuki began to match Sakura's pace before looking back to see if Gaara followed. She was surprised to see he had, though hung back a bit behind them throwing threatening looks towards those who whispered.

"We just passed our class..." She caught a glimpse of the fiery red hair of Karin as they zipped passed the door. The sight of it clamped Sayuki's mouth closed on mentioning they had passed it again and instead followed Sakura, whose grip had lightened.

"We're skipping first. I need some time to breathe." Sakura explained with a huff as they exited the emergency doors. It was already close to class starting at this point, so there were only a few students who had decided to loiter about outside.

"Did something happen..?" Sayuki couldn't remember a time Sakura had not been in class. She didn't seem the type to skip out from class. She was always just there, never having a day of ill. Even if she was ill, she would probably push passed any groggy feelings or even a high fever. She acted like nothing could stop her.

Sakura ignored her questions as she continued to lead the way. The scraping of Gaara's shoes against the paved path could be heard behind Sayuki as none of them spoke. Sayuki became nervous. No time since Sayuki had seen or even been with Sakura had she been so quiet and held-back. She usually always talked and told Sayuki what was going on. It unnerved her. It was just weird and Sayuki grew more scared of what was happening.

"Sakura!" Sayuki shouted surprising authoritative considering the slight shake in her voice. It was enough to stop Sakura right in her tracks. Especially for her, who was used to the silent follower. She had immediately stopped at the sound of Sayuki's voice, dropping her grip on the girl's wrist.

Sayuki stood straight up, her stance strong unlike the norm. Her arms were held against her side, her hands clenched in small tiny fists. Sakura just blinked in confusion. "I asked what was wrong Sakura!" Sayuki repeated her eyes unwavering now, her voice completely strong. The tiny bit of unsecurity in her voice before was gone like it had never been there. Sakura seemed unwilling to tell her anything though.

"What happened?" Gaara repeated for Sayuki as he stepped closer towards them. He seemed to be also taken aback by Sayuki`s stance, but at the same time like he wasn`t completely surprised by it like Sakura. Sakura averted her eyes from Sayuki`s cold determined eyes and to Gaara`s stern, knowing stare.

"It's nothing... I just needed air." Sakura said after a silent pause between them passed. Gaara's brows furrowed in disbelief as the sweet, innocent eyes of Sayuki seemed to darken in the same thought as Gaara. Sakura swallowed, not willing to let the truth out. She didn't want to worry the tiny girl. Instead she raced through her mind for something she thought would satisfy them both. "I... just had a fight with my parents this morning about missing school. They were worried I would make it a constant thing, and I just got filled with hot air. Needed a breather. Sorry for dragging you out here with me. It was selfish."

Sakura quickly explained herself, trying not to pause so they would suspect anything. For the most part she was more worried about Gaara picking up on it then Sayuki. She didn't want him to bring it up though. She thought Sayuki herself would accept this, especially after the way she had reacted about her own parents finding out about it. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened with her parents now, but decided not to ask quite yet.

"Oh. I'm sorry it's my fault you got in trouble..." Sayuki mumbled apologetically, back to her meek self. Sakura smiled slightly at the return, until Sayuki suddenly stepped towards her. She was so quick and swift that she didn't even notice her move until she was right up in her face. Sayuki studied Sakura's face for a few seconds before her hand reached out and touched below Sakura's left side of her lip and ran it up her cheek gently.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked the girl weakly. She was beginning to feel like her and Sayuki had switched roles now. Except Sayuki was stronger than Sakura; she'd even say creepier.

"Your face is bruising... I can see it under your foundation. You lip is cut too." Sayuki observed; her voice calm and soft as she traced her from her face to the cheek once again. Sakura's eyes widened slightly as she said this. She had looked in the mirror before and thought it had been covered fairly well. The mark was almost invisible, even at a close inspection.

"Oh that..." Sakura laughed nervously. She paused in thought. "I just got it when I was playing around with some friends after school. Soccer got a little rough and I got hit a bit. Nothing too big though," Sakura fibbed quickly. She smiled as brightly as she could.

"Do you honestly expe-" Gaara was cut off as Sayuki's chilling voice rang in their ears.

"You're lying to me." Sayuki accused, her eyes growing slightly while she frowned at the same time. Her eyes were filled with the cold accusation she spoke in her voice. A slight breeze blew passed them and the blond strands of her hair hid Sayuki's blue eyes for an instant. She took this moment to speak before she became paralyzed by the stunningly bright blue eyes.

"I'm not. I swear." Sakura said, her voice slightly shaken for the first time around Sayuki. She noticed Gaara step towards the blond haired girl and put his pale hand on her shoulder. Sayuki looked back at his as he spoke her name quietly his eyes wide too. She only glanced at him for a moment though before she took no notice of him and looked back at Sakura. Her eyes pierced Sakura's as she spoke.

"You are." Sayuki stated matter-of-factly in a cold voice as she frowned deeper. She stepped away from both of them, and glanced back and forth. "You are and I'll find out what the truth it later. I'm not going to sit back any more and watch like I'm not the person involved." Sayuki paused. "I'm going to take control from now on."

"Sayuki I'm not ly-" Sakura began to explain herself quickly as though she had committed some crime. Though lying probably was a crime in its own way; a crime she was about to do once more. She didn't know how else to break her from her trance like personality.

"I believe you Sakura." Sayuki spoke, the worry and innocence swiftly picked up in her voice again. Her eyes sparkled with her sincerity. This confused Sakura and questioned her sudden change. She opened her mouth to speak but she caught a glance at Gaara who shook his head. He mouthed to not say anything about it. She looked back to the girl in front of her, studying her. She was slightly slouched once again and kept glancing to the ground as she looked her up and down.

"Okay..." Sakura nodded, unsure of the girl in front of her.

"Sakura, I shouldn't be out here. If my parents find out that I left again without telling the teachers... they will-" Sayuki began but choked on her words as she looked at Sakura and Gaara. Sakura blinked. She quickly reached into the back of her dark blue skinny jeans and pulled out a paper. She opened it and held it out to Sayuki.

"What is this?" Sayuki questioned curiously as she warily reached out and took it from her hands. She glanced up and down at the neat and elegant handwriting on the smooth white paper.

"It's your excuse out. I took a picture of a letter I saw in your parent's room and with my artistic abilities perfected her signature and writing," Sakura explained as Sayuki looked at the letter. It was a letter excusing her from class due to a dentist appointment. "Oh, sorry. It was rude of me to go in there, but I figured it may come in handy in the future. I was just worried about you and what they would do..." Sakura attempted to justify her intrusion. Sayuki just shook her head.

"It's fine..." Sayuki said, as she examined the paper. It looked exactly like her mother's writing. She would have believed she wrote it too if it weren't for the fact Sakura told her it had been her. It was identical. She could almost imagine her mother's long fingers writing the letters delicately as though any slight error would ruin the entire thing. She looked away from it and slipped it into the tiny black back pack she carried on her back.

"There's no point going back now..." Gaara spoke suddenly. Sakura nodded in agreement. The bell had rung even before they had begun speaking. Gaara sighed and glanced back at the school. "I'm not going to bother going to any of my classes."

"That's probably for the best. Maybe we should all just skip. I could quickly write you up another note for the whole day Sayuki." Sakura suggested. Sayuki looked at her questioningly. Sakura had been the one who told her to go to school no matter what. To show no fear by walking in with a straight back and her eyes up. Now she was saying it was best not to go?

"I think I should go though Sakura. I can't let them think they scared me away... right?" Sayuki questioned her, her eyes running up and down Sakura. Sakura nodded in agreement.

"Usually yes, but today... I would just feel better if you didn't. We can go to my house. My parents went away on business yesterday." Sakura informed her. Sayuki nodded before she paused. For a moment as Sayuki looked up at Sakura, she swore she could see the same cold stare from before. When she blinked though, the same innocent face was back.

"I'll see you two later then." Gaara broke into Sakura's thoughts. Sakura shook her head lightly before she looked up at the red head.

"You come over too." Sakura suggested. He looked surprised by the invitation. He nodded an instant later though and Sayuki smiled.

"I just have to grab some things from my locker. Do you two need anything?" Gaara asked as he began to walk back towards the doors. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his black jeans.

"Grab me a drink on your way back." Sakura instructed. Without looking at them he just nodded in response before he disappeared from their sight.

Gaara walked towards the door of the school. He ruffled his hair as he walked up to the door. He replayed the moments with Sayuki from that day. He wasn't what he had ever imagined before. She was always the meek girl in the class who didn't particularly stand out. She looked so gullible and a pushover. She seemed to have snapped suddenly when she had spoken to him earlier that morning and moments ago with Sakura.

Something snapped behind him and Gaara looked back to see nothing. He scrunched his eyes as he peered around the area and shrugged. He opened the door with a slow motion before stepping inside. The cool air of the school swished over him as he entered. The halls were basically silently except from the class discussions in the rooms that floated out.

He quickly walked to his locker in silence. He sighed as he turned the lock into the combination. Soon he swung the door open and grabbed a bag and some books. He slammed the door close before locking it once again. He began to head towards the door before he remembered the drink. With a quick turn he moved down another hall where the juice machines sat. He slipped a few quarters into the hole before clicking on a drink. He waited for it to fall before he left again.

Gaara stepped outside the doors minutes later. He saw a pair of shadows stepping towards him and the shuffling of their feet. "Hey, here's your drink Sakura..." Gaara's words drifted off as he felt a sharp pain in his stomach. He coughed forcibly as the first jabbed farther. He felt another sharp blow to the right side of his face with a crack. He bit his own cheek in surprise from the blow and could taste the irony blood in his mouth.

"What the hell. You bastards!" Gaara roared in anger at the first chance he got. With no response in words, another blow came from behind. The steel toed end of the boot cracked another blow to his back thrusting him forward and onto the paved ground. He began to push himself back up to retaliate now that no one held him back but felt himself forced back down. His arms were grabbed and held against his back and several blows to his back were made.