Shika/Shino:(finger their shuriken pouch)

Rogue: (tightens chains causing Sakura to cough) I said don't move..

Shika/Shino: (look at each other and give a nod)

Shika: What are your demands?

Rogue: I just want the girl,  if you getin my way I will have to kill you.

Mysterious Voice: I'm afraid I can't allow that..

Sakura's thoughts: Another one?!

Sakura: (looks up to see Gaara standing up on a branch, she gasps astouned just by his looks alone)

Sakura's thoughts: Wow, it really has been a long time. (mental blush)

Rogue: (snorts) I'd like to see you try. I always wanted to fight someone bestowed the title 'kage'.

Gaara: If you wish to fight me, let her go. Iwon't kill you until you do so. (death glare)

Rogue: Cocky are we? Fine, I'l release her.. (loosens chains, wrapping it back around his arm)

Sakura: (Walks up over to Shikamaru and Shino)

Sakura's thoughts: I'd kick that rogue ninja's ass if I wasn't afraid to get in between Gaara and his fight..

Gaara: (opens hand revealing his palm) Sabakukyū.. (sand travels up to the rogue ninja closing in on him)

Rogue: What the?! (whips chain with his free arm at Gaara only to be blocked by his Suna no Tate: Sheild of Sand) You bastard!

Gaara: (moves sand over the rogue ninja's mouth, muffling his cries)

Sakura: (closes her eyes, knowing what's next. After feeling no blodd splatter on her, she squints her eyes open to see Gaara up in her face) AAGGHHH!! (After shrieking she falls back clenching her chest) You nearly gave me a heart attack!

Gaara: (forehead furrows where his eyebrows would be) You are a strange one.. (puts out his hand to elp her up, and then turns to Shikamaru and Shino) Arigatō for your troubles.

Sakura: Wait, what about the rogue ninja?!

Gaara: What about him? (turns to the clomp of sand, of which is the rogue ninja)

Sakura:Well, I..

Gaara: (he says finishing her sentence) Thought I was going to kill him?

Sakura: Well, t's not that..

Gaara: Don't worry Sakura, I'm not the same person you once knew during the chounin exams.

Sakura: I guess not. So what are you going to do with him?

Gaara: Well, I believe this man knows something we don't.. So we're keeping him alive for this trip back to interrogate him.

Sakura: (nods head) Wait, we?

Gaara: It's a long trip back and it's late, plus you have a fire going.

Sakura: Oh, yeah! I forgot about that. Did you bring a sleeping bag?

Gaara: Uh.. (sweat drops)

Sakura: Lemme guess, you forgot about that small, little detail..

Gaara: I suppose so.. (rubs the back of his head nervously)

Sakura: (sighs) Shikamaru, Shino. Did you guys happed to bring a spare sleeping bag?

Shika/Shino: No.

Sakura: Looks like you'll have to hare with one of us.

Sakura's thoughts: He looks amazing! Wait, no! I can't share with him!

Sakura: (blushes) I mean.. with one of the guys)

Shika/Shino: (become slightly angry at Sakura, neither of them wanting to share with another guy)

Gaara: It's quite alright. My sand can provide as a bed.

Sakura: Wouldn't that be uncomfortable?

Gaara: No, since I can manipulate sand I'm sure I could make it more comfortable.

Shika/Shino: (let out sighs of relief)

Scenery: (Both Shikamaru and Shino are asleep as Gaara looks up at the stars, and Sakur's head is buzzing with questions)

Sakura: Hey Gaara..?

Gaara: Yes?

Sakura: How did you know we were in trouble?

Gaara: To be honest, I didn't. I knew people were out to get you though, so I decided to meet you at the borderto help the rest of the way.

Sakura: Yeah.. Gaara?

Gaara: Hmm?

Sakura: How could you stay calm and unphased when you were saving me? (blushes)

Gaara: Well, I knew that if I couldn't stop him I had Shikamaru, Shino, and you to help out.

Sakura: (blushes harder) Thanks Gaara.

Sakura's thoughts: Wow, he really has changed. (Inner Sakura: squee!)

Gaara: Noproble. You should probably goto sleep now, we have a long wa back to Suna.

Sakura: Alright. (rolls over onto her side)

Scenery: (everyone lays asleep but one, Gaara. Who is still looking up to the sky)

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