I do not own any character, settings, items, etc from the anime/manga, Naruto! I do own Abby and Sarah, other original characters, and anything else that I came up with. Please enjoy and review :)

And something messed up and twisted entered my head. "Neh, Ryuu..." I turned to him, "Would you go out with me?"

"Eh?" He voiced, his face turning bright red. "W-what do you mean?"

"Will you go out with me?"

"Well..." He thought, "Hmmmm." He looked at me seriously, "I do like you." He said, making my face blush. "But, I don't really want to go into a one sided relationship. I'd rather, I work for it."

"Can we at least try?" I tugged on his black long sleeve. "It will get my mind off of Gaara, and I can start over, as if it never happened." I smiled my usual smile. "I think...This would be better than being down in the dumps all the time."

He smiled back, "Ok!" He yelled enthusiastically. "Now, to that celebration!" We took off to a restaurant.

The outing was fun. We yelled, sang, messed around, and had a little food fight.

It has been a little over a week since Ryuu and I have been together. Ryuu was eager for our relationship to hit the next level, but I tried my best to keep it where it was. It was the day Ryuu and I sneaked out of the building to get a treat, I couldn't help but feel a slight twitch of pain in my chest, when we were called up to the Kazekage's office. We knocked on the door, and heard a light 'come in.'

"Where have you been?" He asked us, right to the point.

That voice, that hair, those eyes. I took every aspect of him, as my ex-boyfriend sat before me. I shook slightly, and cursed myself, hoping no one noticed. Apparently Ryuu did, because he took my hand in his, as if it would calm me. The only thing it did for me, was make me feel more uneasy. I wanted to brush his hand away from mine, as if it was never there, so Gaara wouldn't get the wrong idea. The thing was- He would be getting the right idea. Ryuu and I were now a couple. I felt so guilty though. I knew in my heart that Gaara was the only one I loved, and that I didn't have any romantic feeling's toward Ryuu. I couldn't help but feel that I need something, anything, to fill the void that was in my chest. To help glue the pieces of my heart back together.

"Out to eat." Ryuu answered, squeezing my hand, and breaking me out of my thoughts. I gulped when Gaara looked over to our hands, noticing the light motion.

He turned his gaze back to Ryuu. "Although, we have freed you from the prison, your not entirely off the hook. You must stay within this building, and not leave with out permission."

It looked like Ryuu was going to say something obnoxious, but was glad he didn't when he glanced back over at me. "Yes, sir." He said, slightly mocking.

"Dismissed." Gaara ordered. I took one last glance at him. I noticed how much he looked...Not better. He seemed kind of different. His shields were up, and his voice was cold. His beautiful crystal sea-foam green eyes were glazed over, and he seemed different. Was this what Temari was talking about? I felt a twinge of guilt, but pushed it to the back of my head.

This is for Gaara. He will get over it. He's strong, and has responsibility. If it's for Gaara, it's worth the hurt. Things will get worse, before better.

I was at the door, when I heard something made my chest swell. "Abby." I turned around to Gaara, the one who called me. "Stay. We have something to discuss."

I looked back over at Ryuu, who gave me a smile, and himself a smirk. "Well then, darling." He said sweetly, "Let's meet back at your room later, k?" Then pecked me on the lips, and was off. I was to scared to turn around, to see what expression Gaara had. It was only when he spoke again, did I know I should.

"Come over here." He ordered, just as cold.

I silently walked over, and stood in front of his desk.

"I guess it's true that you and Ryuu are now dating?" He said with authority, but his eyes held wishing, and hope that it wasn't true, even if he just saw proof.

"Hai." I answered blankly.

He twitched slightly, then continued, "Remember that he is not completely free. Don't go overboard with him."

"Hai." My voice cracked, making him look up at me. Damn it! Damn it! This is not even the right conversation to let my feelings show through. "Ah, gomen!" I yelled taking on my usual demeanor. "My throat has been hurting lately. Hehehe." I scratched my head nervously.

Gaara held sad eyes, so he must have comprehended the hint. That I have been crying so much last night, that my throat was sore. But boy, he probably couldn't even think how much. If I saw me crying, I would think I would drown myself. He turned his gaze away from me, and sad slowly, "Your dismissed."

My brain raced through for excuses to stay with him. I didn't want to leave. Then it came to me.

Be myself.

"Ehhhhh! But I don'ts wanna!" I whined, plopping down on the floor criss-crossed.

Gaara looked exceptionally shocked, to say the least. He didn't know what to say, so I continued.

"Neh, Panda-kun! I'm bored. Let's go somewhere."

"Isn't that something that you should do with Ryuu?" He asked expressionless.

I almost stopped my plan, but wouldn't let it crumble so early. "But, I wanna go somewhere with you." I pouted, "We haven't seen each other in forever!" I gave a calculating look, "Then...Tell me a story!"

"You are dismissed." He said again, closing his eyes.

"How about...You train me? Oh! Or we can go get some ice cream! I'v been craving tha-"

"You are dismissed!" He raised his voice. I stopped in my tracks, mouth still open, and eyes wide. Both went back to neutral.

"You know Gaara," I started, matter-of-factly, "Nothings going to change, if you don't let it." I got up, and started walking away.

I felt a hard push, and banged against the wall. Gaara was in front of me, both hands resting on the wall on either side of my head. "There's only one thing I want to change, and-"

"And, it's not going to happen." I denied, turning my head.

He turned his hands that were flat against the wall, and to fists. "Why?" He demanded an answer.

"I already told you-"

He suddenly crashed his lips into mine hungrily. His eyes were closed, but mine were open with shock. I shook my head, trying to get him to stop. I tried voicing him to stop, but it just came out as muffled groans. All attempts to stop him, died down. Every fiber of my being told me that this was right. That it was perfectly fine, and correct in every way. That no matter what, apart or not, I'll always want Gaara. I tried to silence myself. I told myself over and over that this isn't right. How could anything change if I'm here kissing him. I finally got the strength to bring my hands up to his chest, and push him away. I was panting, but Gaara seemed fine. He stared at me with a determined stare, that held my greenish-blue ones. "S-stop." I breathed out.

He just looked at me, then scooped me up into a warm embrace. One that made me want to stay like that forever, and never want to leave his strong hold.

But something shattered me, broke my demeanor, made me want to kiss him all over, something that that made me want to get back together with Gaara, and never leave him again. The simple, yet, so not simple words he uttered, put me into a state of utter panic, and confusion.

"I do not know much about love." He started, "Many things that I thought I did, were all messed up. But, I know that no matter what, Abby- I love you." He buried his face into the side of my neck, and held onto me stronger. Tears leaked from my eyes, and I shook my head back and forth. I tried to voice my denial, but nothing came. I tried my best to push him away again, but no strength came to my limbs. I was so confused.

I inwardly slapped, screamed, and punished myself, for being such a complete idiot. I wanted to receive Gaara's new feelings, but there was still a part of me left that told me that to protect him, I had to hurt him..

Gaara let go of me, but still stood close. He brought both hands up to either sides of cheeks, and brought my head to his own, bringing me back for another passionate kiss. I couldn't help myself, and told myself that I'll deal with the consequences later. I accepted the kiss my looping my arms around his neck, as he brought his hands down to hug me around my waist.

We parted, both panting slightly this time. I finally noticed what I was doing, my feelings washed over me once more, and I silently cried, still in his arms. He brought his one hands up to my cheek, and brushed the tears away from my eye with his thumb. I buried my face into his chest, and breathed heavily. I took in the wonderful scent of him, and tried to calm myself down. I had to give him a straight answer. I broke away from him, and his arms left my waist.

"Gaara... I love you to." I confessed. "But, we can't be together. I-"

"Will go out with me?" He cut me off.

"W-what?" I shook my head, "I'm trying to tell you. I-"

"Will you go out with me?" He said stronger.

I truthfully didn't know how to respond, so luckily he kept talking. "You think that being broken up will help, and that going out with Ryuu will fix it. It's only being masked with something, that's see through. I love you, and you love me. Will that, we should be able to handle anything. Especially, something as little as the council." He grabbed my hand, and intertwined our fingers.

I looked up at him, and saw a beautiful smile on his lips. It was small, but still clearly visible. This took away any confusion I felt. "Panda-kun," I grinned widely, and poked his forehead. "Let's go get some ice cream, neh?"

He seemed confused, so he didn't answer. With this, I pulled him out of his office and into the streets of Suna.

After Gaara confusedly bought the ice cream, we sat down on a bench.

I watched him as he stared at his chocolate ice cream cone curiously.

"Don't you want it?" I asked

He looked at me, and didn't say anything, for some awesome reason I took this as an ok to steal some. I reached over and liked his cone. He moved away from me, but left the cone outstretched.

"The chocolate's good, try some!" I urged on. I swear I wanted to squeal and hug him, as he cautiously took a little like of his cone. "Is it good?" I asked

He turned to me with a delicate smile, "Aa." He responded

I could feel my face heat a little, and stretched my cone into his face. "Wanna try some of mine?"

Without answering, he bent over and took a little lick of my vanilla cone.

Don't forget to lick the spot he licked.

Ah, Hey! Inner-me! Wassup? Haven't heard from you in a long time.

Well, that's because you'v been to mopey and depressed. But, not to fear, I is back!

I don't know if that's really something I should be happy about, is it?

Well, it's how you look at him. anyways, what are you doing? He asked you back out, and you drag him for ice cream...Even I don't know what's going on, and I'm you!

What? I wanted icecream.

Ugh! I'm so hopeless!

Why, yes. Yes, you are.

"Ah, Abby!" I heard an all to familiar voice. He stopped when he saw Gaara. "So you guys made up? that's good." He sat down, and put his arms around my shoulder, at which I tensed to.

"Ryuu." Gaara addressed him. "I told you, you are not aloud out of the building without permission." the sand around us was stirring up.

Ryuu put his hands up defensively. "Woah, hold on there. I did get permission. from one of your siblings. It took them awhile to convince them, all I had to do was buy some stuff." The sand calmed down, at these words

"So, Abby. wanna go back to the mansion with me?" Ryuu said standing up, and reaching a hand down.

"Ah, gomen, Ryuu. I'm actually gonna hangout with Gaara today." I denied, with a smile

"Ehhh, gonna diss your boyfriend for your ex? Meanie." He said with a exaggerated frown.

I tensed at 'boyfriend' and 'ex,' and knew what I had to do.

"Actually, about that Ryuu." I said with a huge smile, but it turned to a pitiful one. "Let's breakup."

His eyes turned dark, and he was silent. After a couple moments he sighed, and shrugged, "I guess, I saw this coming." He ruffled my hair, "Be good." Then he glared at Gaara, "And you better keep an eye on her. S s you probably know she's crazy. Oh, and not to mention the fact that if there's a chance, i'll take her."

Gaara smirked slightly at Ryuu, "Not a chance."

Ryuu grimaced, "Well, I got to go. See yah 'round Kazekage-dude, and Baka-chan!" Ryuu waved off, and left.

"Single once again." I sighed looking up at the sky, and turned my gaze to Gaara, without actually turning my head. He was staring straight at me. He grabbed my hand and got up, bringing me with him. he let go of my hand, and looked away, but brought his gaze back to mine.

"Turn around." He ordered gently. I did as I was told, and felt his hands near my neck. Something slithered down, and I looked there to notice he was tying my locket back on. He must have took it off sometimes when I was distracted. After the locket was on, Gaara brought his mouth close to my ear. He enveloped me into a hug, while he was still behind me, and whispered in my ear.

"Abby, I love you. Will you go back out with me?"

I broke from his grasp, turned around, and enveloped myself into another.

"Yes!" I said happily. even though the word was muffled, from my face being in his chest, I knew he knew it.

And no matter how hard I thought, I couldn't think of times, where I was happier to say, 'yes,' in my life.

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