I'm back! Please don't kill meh! (Dodges sharp objects) School's starting up again, so refrain from killing the author. The only time I really want to write this story is when I'm in school or doing something school related. Now that school's starting up again, I'll actually update more often. It'll be awesome, because since this is the twentieth chapter, we'll have a super chapter for you guys!

Gaara: GET ON WITH THE DAMN STORY!!

Sakura: SHANNARO! WE"VE BEEN WAITING FOR MONTHS!!

Me: SHUT UP! I'm WORKING ON IT!!

Disclaimer: No humans, demons, or jinchuuriki were harmed during the writing of this chapter. Oh, and I don't own Naruto.

Playlist:

Paper Wings by Rise Against

Sakura Kiss from Ouran High School Host Club

School Boys from Gakuen Heaven

Honey Vanity by Kozi (It's a kick-ass song)

A battle was raging in Gaara's head. And it looked like Gaara was winning.

Sakura felt the pressure begin to ease around her abdomen, and she stumbled as the sand fell away. Sakura and the unseen Temari flinched as Gaara's screams pierced the air like a million knives.

His body contorted, wracked with the force of the demon within. Demon and container alike seemed to be in immense pain, Gaara flailing about and nearly flinging his body off the narrow branch they were standing on. The sand retreated further as another scream tore from his throat.

Sakura couldn't stand to see him like this. In a life-altering decision, she ran forward and wrapped her bruised arms around his shaking frame.

What is this warmth?

Gaara opened his eyes. White nothingness surrounded him.

Am I dead?

He looked around, and his eyes fell upon Shukaku's still form. Gaara gritted his teeth, poised for battle. But nothing happened.

He looked again. Shukaku sat upon the ground, eyes closed in what seemed to be a meditative state.

What is going on here?

A faint pressure surrounded his form. He felt soft breaths stirring the hair in the nape of his neck. The pressure slightly increased, and he inhaled a sharp breath.

He smelled cherry blossoms.

Sakura could feel the tears slipping down her cheeks. She clutched his still frame in her arms, not daring to think. She did know one thing though.

Gaara wasn't breathing.

Gaara felt something wet drip onto his arm. Slowly, as if in a dream, he looked at it. A perfect sphere of liquid met his sight. Another fell into the palm of his hand. He realized they were tears. More fell onto his body, creating a melancholy rain. He felt the pressure grow tighter, and without really thinking about it, he raised his hand to touch the unseen pressure.

Sakura felt her tears subside as a warm hand touched her wrist. A groan, and Gaara's eyes opened.

"Jesus," he muttered," I feel like I've been to hell and back."

"Gaara!"

Sakura and Gaara both looked up. Temari and Kankuro were running forward, Naruto hot on their heels.

"Gaara," Temari said, voice frantic," Konoha shinobi are coming! We have to go!"

"Not yet," Naruto yelled," I want to tell him something!"

"Gaara! We have to go!"

"Damn it, I said not yet!"

"Shut up."

Temari and the other blonde stopped. "What?"

Gaara stared at them. "Let him speak."

Naruto glared down at him. "You were alone. I know you were, because you're exactly like me. I was alone until I met Iruka-sensei, Sakura-chan, Kakashi-sensei, and Sasuke. I know you and Sakura have been seeing each other."

Naruto rubbed the back of his head. "I guess what I'm trying to say is this: Sakura-chan is your special person. She's your only special person. You hurt her, and I swear I'll hurt you ten times worse, because Sakura-chan is my special person, too."

Naruto then helped the redhead to his feet. "Now hurry up and get going! Trust me, Kakashi-sensei won't go easy on you, even if you're the Kazekage's kids!"

Sakura looked at Gaara for one last time.

"I'll be back," he assured her gently, "even if I have to fight my way back."

She nodded, and watched as his siblings took his broken body back to his desert home.

Favorite chapter, this. I loved writing it. Sorry it's only two pages long, and I promised a super chapter, but think of it this way: I finished the Chuunin Exam arc!

REVIEW FTW!!