Anyways...This is the new chappie, and I hope everyone likes it...I need more hits for The Devil's Child and The Artist and the Dancer, so if' you have time, read at least one of those stories...review them, too...

Song to Listen to On Repeat:

Losing Grip by Avril Lavigne

Disclaimer: I own the storyline, but not the show... TT.TT

"Who are you?"

"I'm Sabaku no Gaara."

Sakura paused to think about this. He was obviously posessive, not to mention unstable, but she couldn't stay away from him. She found herself craving him, like a horribly addictive drug.

"Gaara, do you think we'll make it through the exams?"

"I don't know. But I do know this: If anyone tries to hurt you, I'll kill them."

Sasuke was furious. He tore apart his room, cursing the land of Suna to oblivion, and envisioning himself obliterating that Sand-nin. How on earth could Sakura fall for that guy? She didn't even know him. As Sasuke tore apart a pillow, he repeated one thing over and over in his mind:

I'll kill him...

Gaara dropped Sakura off at her house, his kiss still lingering on her lips. It killed her to think that they might have to kill one another during the exam. As she closed the door, her mother came bustling out from the kitchen, talking so rapidly that Sakura couldn't keep up.

"Sakura? Are you alright?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine, mom. Training was a bit rough today, that's all"

Heh, like you were really training...

You again...

Face it, you totally want to sleep with him!

NO! Well, maybe...okay, so what if I do?!

I thought you liked Sasuke?

I did too...but I just can't stand him anymore. He's smothering me, now. Did you notice how ever since we met Gaara yesterday he's been popping up at random everywhere? Just last night he asked to take me home!

Yeah, I noticed...You turned him down, didn't you?

Yeah...

"Sakura?"

"What?"

"You zoned out again. Anyway, shower and come down for dinner. You smell like you fell into a butchery..."

Sakura sniffed her shirt, and she felt her flesh begin to crawl.

She smelled like blood.

Post-dinner, she sat down on her bed, lights off, looking out the window at the moon.

I wonder if he's looking out at the moon, too...

She shook off the thought. She sat on her windowsill, and looked into the street. She wished he were here, so she could talk to him, maybe ask him about Suna and how he lived there. Seeing no one but a cat, she swung her self out onto the fire escape, and climbed the ladder up to the roof, where the view of Konoha was best. She lowered herself level to the surface, and looked up Shikamaru-style at the stars, moon hanging overhead like an awe-inspiring orb of silvery light.

"I wish you were here to share this with me...'

"I am..."

"HOLY CRAP!"

Sakura scrambled to her feet as Gaara came out from the shadows. She realized she was only in a tank top and a pair of short-shorts, and she began to blush as he took her in his arms and kissed her. This one was better than the last, fuller and much more suggestive than it was before. She eventually had to pull away, and looked him in his black-rimmed eyes.

"You know, my mom'll be pissed if she sees you up here with me."

"I don't care." He nipped her neck, earning a gasp as she squeezed the front of his shirt in suprise. "I don't care if anyone knows." What was he saying?

Snap out of it, kid!

Keep out of it!

Kid, you're letting her make you soft! She's making you weak!

Gaara stopped. She looked at him, inquiringly.

"I have to go."

"Why?"

He whirled her to face him. "You weaken me. That's never happened before. I can't afford to be weak."

"Gaara, what are you talking about?"

"I can't be seen with you. I'm sorry."

He kissed her again, just one last time. This one was sad, full of pain and hurt. Sakura began to cry. What did he mean?

"Gaara..."

He kissed her more hungrily, moving to her jawline, her neck, her collar, wanting to spend this last night with her, in her, beside her.

"Gaara, stop."

He stopped, regaining control. She was holding him, and he didn't want her to let go.

"Why can't you see me?"

"I can't be weak. You won't understand."

This got her mad. "All anyone ever tells me is I won't understand. 'Sakura, you just don't understand', 'Sakura, you don't get it', well NEWS FLASH, i can't understand if you don't tell me! I can't..."

Gaara cut her off with another kiss. "Sakura, I'm not like other people. I can't afford to be weak. I can't afford to love."

With that last word, he slipped a note and something cold into her hand, and left. She opened the note, and read four simple words:

I will miss you.

Still confused, she shook her head and entered her room. She looked at the other thing in her hand, and her heart skipped a beat.

It was a locket, a locket that had his kanji on it.

"Sakura honey! Wake up!"

She rubbed her eyes, and remembered the night's events. She grabbed at her neck, and felt the necklace hanging off it. Peeking at the window, she saw a few glistening grains of sand, and smiled.

Skipping down the stairs, she was face to face with her mother.

"Sakura, You're going to be late and...What's that?"

Sakura watched her mother's eyes fixating on a spot on her neck where her hairline met her jawline met her neck. Her eyes widened as her mother's did the same.

"IS THAT A HICKEY?"

That was a tiring chappie to write. I hope the next one isn't as hard to write...

REVIEW!!!!