BB: Okay, the end of this chapter is depressive, yeah, but it's kind of important. It's a major foreshadowing for the sequel to this story, Shattering Sand. Okay, i just came up with the name, but yeah, that's what I'll call it.

Shay: I like it!

BB: Considering it'll be about you, you better like it!

Alleanye: anyways, BB does not own Naruto or Yu-Gi-Oh.


Naruto sat in his office, legs on his desk, video game in hand. He had changed into his suit, designed by his friend Shikamaru Nara. Shikamaru was the head designer of Lazy Nara Fashion Corp. and Naruto didn't trust anyone else with his suits.

His suit was almost completely black. His tie was the only splash of color, a dark blue set against a light grey undershirt. It was a little darker then what he was used to, but Shikamaru had said that darker colors were the way to go when a man had no idea what his date was wearing. Black went with anything. Naruto had picked the tie himself though, because it about the same color of Hinata's hair.

Hinata had been let out early today, along with Matsuri. Neji and Gaara had done so, letting the two women have extra time to get ready. Naruto had asked what Gaara thought of Matsuri going out with Kankuro. Gaara's answer was simple. "He better not scare her. I don't have time to train another secretary." Other then that, the Subaku didn't seem to care.

Naruto cursed slightly, as his Silent Magician got killed by a Blue Eyes White Dragon. He was addicted to horrible video games, and Yu-Gi-Oh card games were one of his weaknesses.

His door opened, and Rebecca stuck her head in. Naruto let out a silent sigh. He didn't like Rebecca. She was almost on the same level as Sakura.

"Yes?" Naruto asked, not looking up from his game.

"Hinata is here, with two other women. They seem dressed up for something. Should I tell her to leave?" Rebecca asked. Naruto shot her a sharp glance, and turned his game off. He could beat the snot out of Maximillon Pegasus some other time.

"No, she's supposed to be here." Naruto rose, and walked to the door. He ignored the look of adoration in Rebecca's eyes, and slipped into the hallway. "Go get Gaara and Neji, please"

Rebecca gave a little dip of her head, and ran. Naruto sighed, and walked into the reception area. He stopped dead in his tracks. His jaw had to have hit the ground.

Hinata was standing with her back to him, but Naruto could tell that she was beautiful. She was wearing a dress that matched her hair, and high heels that probably put her two inches shorter then eye level with him. A cough came from one of the other women in the room, and Hinata turned.

Naruto snapped his jaw closed, but felt shock shoot through him. Hinata was practically a goddess. She was wearing a dress with a shimmering Kitsune near the hem, and a silver necklace of a fox. Her hair was in a loose bun on her head, with tendrils of midnight hair spilling against her face and brushing her shoulders.

He was staring, and he knew he was. It wasn't until one of the other women started laughing, that he snapped out of it. He turned, and saw that a blonde woman was laughing at him. The brown haired woman was smiling.

"I'm sorry." Naruto said quickly, "I was being rude."

"Don't worry, blondie." The blonde woman said. Her voice sounded slightly familiar, but Naruto dismissed it. "Hinata deserves to be stared at sometimes." Hinata blushed bright red.

"My name's Tenten." The brown haired woman said. "And this is Shay."

"Naruto Uzuamki." Naruto said with a small bow. He let himself observe the other two women.

Tenten seemed to like sharp objects. Her dress was decorated with sliver weapon-like items, and she wore earrings shaped like swords. She was pretty, but he didn't think she held a candle next to Hinata.

Shay was definitely the daring one. Her dress was tight, molded to her body, and stopping above her knees. It was purple, and Naruto recognized it as Desert's Embrace from Akatsuki fashions. He wasn't a big fan of Akatsuki, but this dress was beautiful. Shay was taller then Hinata or Tenten, and on her high heels, she was almost the same height as Naruto.

Shay's hair was sandy blonde, and down, cascading down her bare shoulders, and stopping at about her waist. It made her look a little wild.

But Naruto's eyes snagged on the blonde's necklace. He had seen that pendant somewhere before, but he couldn't remember where.

Naruto heard footsteps behind him, and turned to see Rebecca coming, with Gaara and Neji behind her. Neji was wearing a black suit, but with a lavender undershirt and a black tie. Gaara was wearing a black suit as well, but his undershirt was red, and he wore his without a tie.

Both of them stopped and looked at the women. They were impressed, Naruto could tell, but they didn't seem to show it. He hoped that the women didn't take it as an insult.

"This is Neji Hyuuga, and Gaara Subaku." Naruto said, pointing to each man respectively.

Tenten stepped up, and gave a small bow. "My name is Tenten, and this is my friend-"

"Mura." Gaara's voice was cold.

Naruto blinked. Shay flinched, almost as if she had been slapped. Hinata and Tenten were looking from Shay to Gaara, confused.

"Who?" Neji asked, glancing at the Subaku. Gaara was glaring at the blonde woman, and the blonde looked like she was about to be hit.

"Shayshaymura Gaffer." Gaara answered. His tone was so cold, it was like ice cubes. Recognition hit Naruto like a thunderbolt.

"Shay?" Naruto and Neji both asked, and they too looked from Gaara to Shay. Hinata glanced at her cousin, but didn't say anything. Shay just held her eyes on the ground.

"Hi Naruto, hi Neji." the blonde woman said, her voice small.

--

Shay couldn't help but wince at Gaara's voice. She had only ever heard him talk like that once, and that was to his bastard of a father.

Shay couldn't look at him. She had known him since they were five, and they had been best friends until high school. In high school, they had dated, and she had fallen in love with him. But she had left near the end of junior year, without a word of goodbye or anything. The week before she left, she didn't even say a word to him.

She had met Sasuke and Naruto in middle school. It was Shay who had made Gaara and Naruto meet, and it was Shay who later introduced them forcibly to Neji high school.

She had hoped that Hinata had paired her up with someone else, but she really should've known better. She knew that Hinata was curious about her relationship with the Subaku, so she should've known that Hinata would've pulled this. She also should've known that Gaara wouldn't have had a date.

Shay felt the tears well up in her eyes. She glanced at Hinata, and judged by the look on her face, that the Hyuuga was feeling guilty.

"Hey, Gaara, Hinata and I are going to go now. You should talk to her, not give her the silent treatment." Shay could hear the slight rebuke in Naruto's voice, and knew that he was getting a glare.

"Tenten, perhaps we should go too." Shay almost flinched again. Neji and Naruto were taking her only allies away. They were singling her out, so she could deal with the pissed off Subaku.

"It's good to see you again, Shay." Naruto said. Neji didn't say anything, so Shay guessed that it was either he nodded at her or he was ignoring her.

Hinata and Tenten put up a slight argument, but it stopped when Naruto told them that Shay and Gaara were old friends, and that Gaara wouldn't hurt her. Shay wanted to laugh at that. Gaara would hurt her. Him just being there was hurting her.

She heard the elevator doors close. There was moment of tense silence, then Gaara spoke again.

"I want to speak to you in private. Follow me."

Shay's eyes flicked up, and saw that he was already moving. She followed him, ignoring the need to cry. She had caused this, she knew. She was the one who broke his heart, even though her heart had already been broken.

She just wished that seeing him again, hadn't brought up so many memories.


BB: See, I have BIIIIIGGGGG plans ready for them. I just wanted to foreshadow a bit. Next will be a little more explanation about Gaara and Shay, and then meeting Granny Tsunade.

Illiana: So please review!