Alright, my beloved readers, I can't keep the suspense up anymore; mostly due to the boost in comments that were begging for more. I've been working on getting the rough draft down for more than a year now, and I'm already getting to where I can't keep it back much longer. So… I am going to give you a little bit of a sneak peak of what to look forward to in the sequel to Love Me or Die: Death by Your Love. Everything you came to adore about Tsuki is back.

I know I left a lot of things to question, many of which you guys have already picked up on and made comments about: Tsuki's relationship with Itachi, Deidara's sudden bouts of affection, what's going on with Neji, what's left of her and Gaara, why the sudden drop off of an ending? I was hoping, (and I know that many of you did) that you would see through me as a writer and realize I was planning another round. It wouldn't have all fit into one story anyway, and as the majority of Love Me or Die took place during the grey area of the break between the series, I'm picking right back up in the Shippuden. Without further ado, I give you the preview to Death by Your Love.

Stage One: Negotiations

Tsuki walked through the market of Sunagakure without purpose. Vendors called their wares to her, shoppers bustled around her unmoving figure. She dismissed them without much notice; she was busy staring up at the large, gourd like building. She still had hours to burn.

XxX

Neji ran his fingers through his hair and sighed as he turned his gaze to the streets within sight of the window. Gaara looked up at him from across the long, oval table, where Neji's pale eyes reflected in the dark wood, full of concentration and thought. Neji barely caught a glimpse of crimson hair.

Gaara cleared his throat. "Should we take a break, Hyuuga-san?"

The rasp of Gaara's voice brought Neji back to Earth, though his pale eyes did not break away from their target. "Perhaps that would be wise, Kazekage-sama." He felt distracted, and his mind had gone numb from inactivity and boredom.

Gaara followed Neji's gaze through the plate glass and beyond the shops below. Neji observed the look of distain on Gaara's face through his reflection in the glass. "I believe you're right," he sighed.

Neji rose to his feet silently, straightening his stack of papers into their file before he left. "I think twenty minutes ought to be enough, Kazekage-sama."

"That sounds fine," Gaara mumbled. He rose from his desk and followed his cohort out the door, feeling a twinge of regret as he watched Neji's retreating back.

Neji attempted to ignore Gaara's obvious staring as he watched Gaara get smaller through his Byakugan. He took the stairs one at a time as he passed through the corridors and into the baking sun. Just as she hadn't in the last ten minutes, Tsuki hadn't moved from her spot in the sun. He didn't understand how she didn't fry in this heat. Surely she couldn't still be used to it?

Tsuki heard Neji before she saw him, and upon shifting her gaze, she knew without asking how his meeting was going. "Is it that bad?" she asked with caution.

"I've never endured anything more awkward," Neji stated in a flat tone, as though he was commenting on nothing more interesting than the weather. "Thank you for warning me."

Tsuki shrugged her shoulders. "If it helps at all, I'm not looking forward to my meeting, either."

Neji looked down at his feet. "I don't understand it; if we're on good terms with these people, if they're our allies, then why do we receive so much hostility?"

She folded her arms across her chest with sour frustrations. ""There are still raw emotions among us." She looked up at the Kazekage's office.

"From what little of your encounters with Gaara you informed me about," Neji began, "I can understand the tension between the two of you; what does your past have to do with me?" He followed her gaze to the top windows, where the Kazekage stared at the pair of them openly. He didn't even shy away when Neji made eye contact; he blinked once, but that was it.

"Gaara doesn't even know," she answered truthfully. "I think he's mostly stuck wondering who you are."

Neji shifted his gaze away from the Kazekage's stare. "I'm Neji Hyuuga," he answered flatly.

She rolled her eyes as she continued to stare up at Gaara. "You're missing the point, Hyuuga-san."

"It's getting unprofessional," he whined, looking her in the face.

She finally looked back at him. "I understand that, but Konoha needs for us to get through this mission with the treaty still intact."

Neji sighed as he looked into her violet eyes, nearly a full head's height below his own. "I think it would help us both if you saw him, and soon."

Her shoulders dropped in submission as she sighed. "I suppose you're right; the least I can do for our village is try." She looked up into his eyes. "You should go, he's waiting for you."

Neji glanced back up at the window of the conference room. From the corner of his vision, he could see Tsuki wave up to Gaara. He returned the gesture with a smile. "He still adores you," he concluded. "It makes things difficult for me." He took the first step toward the office, unwillingly leaving her behind in the market.

XxX

Tsuki walked into the Kazekage's office while he and Neji were in another recess, but Gaara wasn't there. She knew she ought to turn around and leave, but she couldn't get her feet to cooperate. She had twenty minutes before her own appointment, and Gaara started again in a half an hour. Neji would return shortly before they started, so she was granted at least ten minutes before she had to leave. Surely she could find the use of her feet again before then, right?

"I was starting to think you were avoiding me," Gaara's voice behind her stated softly. "I can't tell you how relieved I am to know this is not true."

"Our schedules haven't been forgiving, I'm afraid. Even so, I'm supposed to meet with Temari soon." She smiled politely. "It has been a while."

"Two years," he answered with grief in his sea foam eyes. "I would hope things are much less chaotic for you."

"Very much so, yes," she answered, "Though Tsunade-sama still doesn't trust me."

He walked over to his desk and sat down, his back to the window. "She sent you to handle our negotiations, didn't she?"

Tsuki sat unceremoniously on the corner of his desk, twisting her body to face him. "She only sent us because you had specifically requested me being here."

"I don't remember requesting Hyuuga. Is his attendance necessary?" He leaned forward, resting his chin on his intertwined fingers.

Tsuki sighed heavily. "I told you, the Hokage doesn't trust me alone. He's here to make sure I don't go AWOL."

Gaara regarded her through cynical eyes. "It seems he's doing his job well; he got you here in one piece. How long has he been assigned to you?" There was a razor's edge in his voice as he made unvoiced accusations.

"Ever since I gave my loyalty to Konohagakure," she answered tentatively. "He's the reason I had the option to return there at all."

Gaara regarded this in silence for an extended moment, chewing over the thoughts and questions in his head.

"Don't let your emotions cloud your judgement, Gaara. Our villages are relying on us." She looked deep within his thought filled eyes.

"It isn't my emotions I'm worried about," he admitted, "It's his." He stared back, seeming to look deep within her soul.

She removed herself from his desk slowly. "He doesn't have emotions, Kage-sama." She walked slowly toward the door, the accusation weighing heavily on her shoulders.

"Tsuki," Gaara softly called to her, with pain laced through his cracking voice.

"I need to go; I'm going to be late. I can't afford to give your sister another reason to attack me. She hates me enough, as it is."

He regarded her explanation just long enough for her to get to the door. "My door is always open to you, Tsuki, here or at home. You are not a stranger. Please, don't feel the need to behave as such."

She hesitated for a moment longer. "I'll try to make it over later," she stated.

"Don't bother to bring your guard dog," he nearly hissed.

"I'll see what I can do," she answered.

He watched her shut the door as she walked out. Before the door had a chance to latch shut, his mind was already buzzing with the turn of their conversation in comparison to their previous interactions. Something was weighing her down; something she wasn't telling him. He despised feeling like she was hiding something. It sparked that deep, dominating curiosity he held for her that lay dormant within his soul.

Well, darlings, that was the beginning of a new era for the old cast. We'll see how this one turns out, shall we? Feel free to leave your thoughts and anticipations, requests and questions in the comments section. I'm still in the editing and composing phase, so any ideas won't be dismissed without being processed first. Looking forward to our next encounter, though, you must forgive the repetitive nature of sequels. I'll try to keep the back tracking to a minimum.