Hope you like this one.

Hinata's eyes were wide in disbelief.

He kills people.

He kills people.

Hinata took a deep breath and swallowed hard. It couldn't be accurate; it just couldn't. Sure, Gaara had a hard life from what she heard, and she knew he was a fighter. But she didn't know that he was paid to be a fighter, to fight in an illegal, or she presumed to oppose the club.

Slowly and very timidly, she turned her head to look at Gaara. His once pale skin was covered in thick blood from head to toe; the blood dripped from his bangs, which, she suddenly noticed, seemed to stain his hair the same colour of blood. His pants were ripped and wet from sweat and blood, and even his shoes, which still had trademark holes and dirt, were drenched with blood, too.

His broad shoulders were shaking when she looked at him, his eyes wide and full of rage. She cowered in fright and turned her head away from him.

"Sasuke..." Gaara clenched his teeth. "You will pay for this!" He ripped his gaze from Hinata's and glared at him.

"Hm." Sasuke licked his bottom lip, leaning on his elbows on his desk, "I believe it will be you that will pay." Sasuke laughed.

Gaara growled and leaned over to pick up the glass in front of him to throw at Sasuke when the door flung open.

"Boys!" Ino clicked her tongue and shook her head at the scene in front of her.

Sasuke was leaning back in his chair, holding his stomach as he laughed. Gaara was standing with a glass in his hand in an attempt to throw it at Sasuke. Hinata was cowered in her chair, her eyes tightly closed and her hands clasped together in a tight knot.

She shook her head.

Men.

"I believe the meeting is settled, gentlemen." She glared at both of the males.

Sasuke looked to Ino, and suddenly, becoming all serious again, he regarded Gaara again. "Ensure she is ready for the next time we meet." Nodding his head, he got up from his desk and walked over to the blonde woman. "I think I need a woman's touch tonight." He smirked and grabbed Ino by the waist.

She hit his chest with the back of her hand, "Not even in your dreams." She whipped her head around and walked out of the room.

Sasuke laughed and looked towards the two figures in the room, "Oh, Hinata?" He called.

Hinata opened her eyes and turned her head to look towards Sasuke.

"We're going to have lots of fun." He smirked at Gaara, "I promise." He laughed and walked out into the hall, searching for his secretary.

It was just Gaara and Hinata left in the room.

The air between the two was thick and full of tension. The loud pounding of the music from below the floor was vibrating against the walls and floor. The silence was deafening.

He didn't know what to say.

She didn't know how to feel.

"Hinata..." Gaara began.

Her shoulders shook. She didn't know if she could meet his eyes.

"I..." He trailed off.

She thought he was going to apologise again.

"You weren't supposed to be involved." He stared blankly at the wall towards him; a few stolen artworks were hanging behind Sasuke's desk painting he had stolen. "I promise, however." He looked at the shaken girl beside him.

She finally gained the courage to look at him.

"I will protect you."

Hinata sat on her bed.

It was 2 in the morning; Gaara had dropped her off a little while ago. The air between the two was filled with silence once they left. Not a word was said after what he said to her. She was modified.

Hansuke was right.

He was a bad boy.

A bad person.

She shivered at the thought of what Sasuke had in store for her. She knew Gaara would have to train her in what; however, she did not know.

She lay down on her bed; her hair was sprawled all over her pillow, creating an angelic illusion. She sighed; she was scared. Petrified.

And yet the idea all the same excited her. A sick and disgusting side, which she was terrible to admit.

Had she been the good one, the golden child all her life? And yet, in her father's eyes, she was still a disappointment; nothing she ever did was enough to please her father. An A+ in her school report, a trophy in her after-school club activities, which she worked hard for through sweat and blood, a scholarship to a college or even an invitation to the top colleges was still needed for her father.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

She was a weak, pathetic fool.

Only she was to blame for the situation she was in. If she hadn't been so stupid or naïve and just spoken to Gaara before she had followed him to the club, she wouldn't be in the situation she is now currently in.

Looking at the clock once more, 2:15AM, she closed her eyes and rolled over to look outside her window.

She had to meet Gaara at the old park tomorrow.

And she wasn't sure if she was more excited or scared.

Gaara sat on the mattress on the floor, and Shukaku lay at the end of his bed, sleeping peacefully.

He shook his head.

Stupid dog.

The moon was shiny and complete; it illuminated through his skyscraper window and shone brightly in the tiny apartment.

His head was full of taunting thoughts.

Hinata.

The precise Hinata of his.

She was afraid; he could tell. It was so plain to see. She couldn't hide much from him or anyone. He couldn't blame her. The work he does is a dangerous one, not for a timid girl like Hinata.

She is so pure.

So innocent.

Gaara gripped his head.

It was the voices again. They always stayed. They are always there. Always watching.

Sasuke did this to him.

He knew.

Sasuke was taunting him again. He knew that if he added Hinata to the mix, he wouldn't be able to contain himself any longer. Fighting is what contained him.

Fidgeting with the pockets of his pants, he ruffled until he found what he was looking for. Finding it, he flipped the case of his phone and redialled.

The phone rang a couple of times before the person on the other end answered.

"Hello..." a groggy voice answered.

"It's happening again..." Gaara winced.

Hinata woke up bright and early that morning. She showered, brushed her teeth and hair and walked down to breakfast. It seemed as if last night was all but a bad dream to Hinata as if it was just something to be forgotten. However, it was not so.

Glancing down nervously at her cereal, she bit her lip to calm her nerves. It was only an hour before she had to leave to meet with Gaara. She slowly and timidly finished her cereal, never looking up at the maids walking past.

"Hinata?"

Hinata looked up to see her sister bearing down at her, eyes hitched up and hand underneath her chin as If in thought.

"Y-yes?" She answered, feeling nervous under her sister's gaze.

"Are you okay?"

Are you okay?

Are you okay?

Am I okay? I haven't even thought of that myself. Hinata thought in despair; she shook her head.

She smiled brightly, "O-of course I-I a-am", Waving her hand as if it was nothing.

Arching her brow once more, Hanabi shrugged her shoulders, "If you say so." She said coolly, taking a piece of buttered toast and heading out into the lounge area, presumably to watch cartoons.

Hinata gave a slight sigh of relief, then, leaving her bowl of cereal on the table, she walked out of the kitchen with her head bent down and out the front door.

She needed to go to the old park first before she met Gaara.

She needed to clear her head before she did.

She needed confrontation.

She needed her sanity.

Hinata arrived at the park first, and for that much, she was grateful. She sat on the warm, and what still was around, grass which was for the first time in, probably forever, which was not muddy or wet.

She wanted to satisfy; thus, she arrived early and in the exact spot she was asked. She waited in the precise place Gaara had described to her, or at least in the general area he wished her to be. Whatever Sasuke had in store for her, she would do to make Gaara and Sasuke happy.

More importantly, she wanted to live.

Mindlessly, she started to draw in the dirt, at first little stick figures, but then she began drawing homes and cars and little things, little stick figures, she giggled, needed.

Oblivious to the looming figure behind her, a hand grabbed her shoulder. Hinata shrieked and put a hand to her chest as she jumped away from the person behind her.

"It's okay." A soft voice answered.

Hinata looked back and saw red.

"G-Gaara…" She let out a little breath, "Y-you S-Sacred m-me."

You haven't seen anything yet. He shook his head, "You need to be more careful." He growled, not intending to sound as harsh as he did.

"W-what?" Hinata questioned, dusting herself off and standing up. He sounded and looked different to her today, more intimating.

"If Sasuke wants you to do my job, then you will have to be less timid." He crossed his arms, "And we are to start by losing that stutter." He added.

"O-okay." She smiled.

"No." He shook his head, "No stutter when you answer me." His eyes seemed to drill holes in her body; she couldn't stand to look at his critical eyes as he looked at her.

He probably thinks I am weak. She cried, she wanted to weep so severely, but she feared this new Gaara would yell at her or, worse, hurt her.

"Okay, G-Gaara." She swallowed thickly. She was offended by his harshness towards her.

"Hinata." He warned.

He didn't mean to be harsh; he didn't want to treat Hinata this way. However, the desperate measure would have to be put into place. She was timid and fragile. He would have to be harsh to get her used to the violence and pain she would see in his world. The suffering and heartache.

As hard as it was, his world was much more complex. He would be damned if Hinata was caught up in his world without the strength she would need to overcome it. And he would have to be that person to do just that.

He would, of course, protect her; he would also need help. Thus, teaching and training her to be a warrior would have to be the right course of action if Sasuke had used her.

"Yes… Gaara." Bowing her head, she closed her eyes to stop the tears from flowing.

He smirked, "You're learning fast."

Her voice was so much beautiful when she did not stutter.

"Now." He cleared his voice, "Attach me."

The girl in front of him stirred; she jerked her head towards him and stared with her mouth wide open. Confusion was written across her face.

"W-what?" She timidly replied.

"Hinata!" He yelled.

She flinched, "I'm… Sorry." She whispered.

"I said attack me…." He stepped forward, "And I mean to attack me."

He moved so quickly she barely blinked an eye; he was precise and calculated like he was in the fight club, and the next thing she knew, she was flat on her back.

"Ow." She rubbed her elbow; it would seem he wasn't being gentle either.

"If you want to live, you must get in touch with your aggressive side." He put out a hand for her to take, which she did so cautiously.

Hinata bit her lip. She didn't want to do this anymore; she didn't want to do this with Gaara. He was harsh and hurtful. She wasn't the type of girl to do this sort of thing. She was lovely and gentle, Hinata. Soft and sweet. Her breath hitched.

That's why you're not worthy of father's company. A voice in Hinata's head spoke. She shivered.

"I…I… Can't… Do… This." Hinata spoke slowly. She did not wish to anger Gaara further by stuttering.

He sighed, "I know…."

Tears threatened to fall from her eyes; she quickly wiped them away before Gaara could see. She did not want him to think of her as a weak fool.

"I know… I know." He said again, "But you're in this regardless. I promised to protect you, and I will. But this is the only way."

"But… why?" She sniffed.

"Because it's the only way I know how." He looked her in the eyes.

Her breath hitched as he walked towards her; reaching out to her, she fell into his arms. He gripped her head and looked more deeply into her eyes. She could see anger in them and even worry.

He could see tears so close to falling, yet he knew she wouldn't let one slip. Not even one.

He laughed.

Gripping her head more fiercely, he reached down and touched his lips with hers.

Naruto sat on the park bench, away from the sight of the two couples standing before him. He sat with a packet of chips in his lap, and a cold Mt drew bottle resting against his thigh. He was here waiting, watching.

Gaara, of course, knew he was there. He had asked him, of course.

He was worried he would do something to the poor damsel. Being the good friend he is, he agreed. And boy, was it a great show.

Naruto smirked as he recorded the whole show on his phone.

It would be used for ransom later.

He chuckled as Gaara gripped the young girl in his arms tighter.

"Oh, Gaara, I just can't leave without you." Naruto mocked in a girlish voice.

"Hinata… I can't do the same." He then mocked in a deep 'Gaara' voice.

"Gaara… Take me." He chuckled hysterically.

And then Gaara abruptly pushed the young girl away.

"Oh fuck."

He saw the distorted rage in his manner.

He was going to hurt Hinata.

Reaching under his white, crisp t-shirt, he pulled out his gun.

Sorry it took so long. But please R/R.