Death wasn't as much of a bitch as I had expected her to be.

I had expected so much of her and at sudden movements, she did not disappoint. It was more of a daze as a chilling feel crept upon my petite limbs and hushed at my trembling form to give under to a state of still peace. I saw no white as many people explained would be the sight of death, well that and sitting in the middle of a circled group of family and friends that just smile to you and you would just smile right back at them as you either talked of shared memories or kept the calming peace as your final memory. None of that kept my lucky company as I only saw the eerie sight of black and ran my tongue weakly over my bloody gums as I tried hard to swallow the taste of iron that clouded my mouth. My body felt heavy as death's fingertips curved down my cheeks and spiraled away from my collarbone and as I much as I begged for her to just shut my eyes, my words were clumped in a cough as blood overflowed from my pink faded lips. I wanted to scream or fuss my heavy body but a binding of peace held my soul and my eyelids were kissed as I shut them with gritted teeth.

Gaara, I begged as I was kept in the tense grip that held me, just save me already.

A sudden twisting pain brought excruciating pain to my abdomen and I could feel a warm wave of fluid touch my fingertips as I arched with a withered gasp, my cotton ball like lungs pulsing rapidly though I believe it was only my heart beat that had begun to speed up. The taste of steel was beyond what the iron was in my mouth and shakily raising my arm, I touched a pale skinned hand to my lips and wiped the blood that spotted along my face before bowing my head and parting my lips to release the rest of the red in my mouth. It was funny at first, as only months ago I held so much potential of a blonde beauty in her freshman year of school and now, now I was here on my own, dying.

Tracing a finger to my abdomen, I felt suddenly colder and in brave stupidity clung my fingertips around the source that was paining me and marking me. Gritting my teeth, I tried to brave myself as I pulled the cold steel from my belly but my lips instantly snapped apart as I roared with my head shooting back, denying death its sweet prize over my perfected weak death. Heh, a day before my wedding day I was going to be pulled under to the other side? I shook my head as I bit my lower lip as sweet tears curved down my hollow cheeks and from my dull baby blue orbs. This was my parting from death, she would not longer haunt me.

For I wasn't scared anymore.

It was strange as when I saw blurs of colors, I still felt chilled to the bone. Attempting to move, I felt I was restrained in an iron hold of arms and suddenly becoming annoyed to the restriction, I parted my lips groggily as I stirred against the strong hold.

"H-Hey," I spoke up and my lungs punished me with a fresh rush of air and still the taste of iron haunted my tongue and from my movement, my belly felt raw as air touched it and feeling of another close against me only dug deep into the wound and with that I screamed. Instantly, the hold broke and I felt nearly weightless as I fell back onto soft earth and my sight gazed high of bright blue and fluffed white, I wanted to lift my hand and lift my fingertips swim through the color but something distracted me from doing so. A set of emerald jewels blinked to me in fearful bleeding worry and upon them, my expression changed from a blank canvas to a tender smile and I lifted my hand and allowed my fingers to dance upon the pale color. A cold temperature covered my hand and pressed my touch harder to the paleness and at that moment, I knew I was alive again.

"I love you." Was spoken softly and my heart nearly fluttered out of my heart by those words. "Just know that, please."

"I love you too." I whispered back and just the satisfaction of my words made the redheaded teen above me gave a pained smile.

I winced as pain struck my abdomen once more, feeling the slightest prick of gentle fingertips touch over a wound that for some reason I held no memory of. I could only assume it was best to not have a memory of something that felt so painful as it hurt like hell already. My hand curled slightly against Gaara's pale cheek and he must have seen the expression on my face as he withdrew his hand immediately from the wound, his pale fingertips coated with my blood as if it was finger paint. "I'm not going to die." I said bravely as Gaara's eyes looked down to my belly and as my soft words released, he flickered his fearful emerald eyes back to my weak gaze. My heart felt tense from his pained expression and I just knew I had to do something. My elbows dug into the grassy ground as I pushed my body upwards, gritting my teeth as the action nearly pulled everything out of me, I found myself face to face with Gaara and at that moment, I was already in tears.

"You shouldn't use your strength," He muttered and quickly snacked his arms around my waist to hold some support. "Just because you're stubborn doesn't mean you can-"

"You're worth all of me." I told him, cutting him off as my pale arms moved to touch my hands at both of his cheeks, feeling the moist skin that held what seemed to be drying tears.

My words eased him somehow and in achieved silence, he touched his lips at mine. Just like in my state of death, I felt a wave of peace coat me and settle to what felt like perfection. Withdrawing from the kiss, I kept my forehead touching against his and couldn't help myself to smile even in my horrid state of bleeding. I parted my cold lips to say many things as I just speechlessly stared into my boyfriend's calming green eyes but found no words left to say that hadn't already been spoken.

"If you don't do something now, you're just going to keep bleeding." A voice mumbled but Gaara's lips held no movement.

Sai was sitting cross legged as his back was to a rotting bark tree, his hands in one another as his usual paint pad was beside him, his brown eyes were dead and motionless as it stared upon the grass. Soon they raised to me and I knew that he must have hurt to when I was in that paining darkness. I could imagine his ghost like figure laid beside mine, embracing my hand tightly within his as if it was his last chance to be saved, to live. True as that was, maybe it was his cold touch upon me instead of deaths. The paint pad looked in ruin as it was torn, parts of its parchment rolled away from the center as the strokes of black were harsh of a thin facial outline, lips wide as the color black was darkened from it. Guilt stabbed at my head and my hands then laced with another as they fell behind Gaara's neck. As my eyes fell from the painter, I kept focus on Gaara and reading in my expression, he simply nodded as he cradled my body in his arms, lifting me from my place on the grass as he begun to carry me bridal style. Sai joined beside us as he retrieved his paint pad and carried it within the weak grip of his right hand.

"Sakon is dead," Gaara announced in a hollow voice and I attempted to look up at him but his face was turn to hide his expression.

"Where did you put the body?" I asked, leaning my head to Gaara's solid chest, my short blonde hair bunching to my cheek.

"He hid it in the forest," Sai stated sternly, looking his brown eyes upon the Kazekage of who he was based off of. "Of course after tearing him limb from limb."

"The point is its taken care of." Gaara spoke softly and I clutched the fabric at his chest, ignoring the sigh that Sai gave.

"He used the kunai," Sai explained with a shrug, "Took the one from your hand after you pulled it out and sliced the guys throat with it after he got him all caught up with that sand."

I could easily imagine that. 'Blood spilled from her will never compare to what is going to be taken of yours.'

Sai was kind enough to pass a single finger across his pale neck for effect of the kill. I shuddered, knowing Gaara was a killer but it had to be done. Though right now, I could care less what happened, as of now I just wanted my wound to be taken care of so that my outfit wouldn't be completely stained of blood by the time I do get taken care of. That and so I wouldn't pass out, I didn't exactly feel like facing the darkness again. Plus I didn't feel like giving Gaara another heart attack so I tried my best to keep my eyes open as we traveled on.

"Please tell me we're going back to Suna." I groaned as the last thing I wanted to do was go back to Konaha.

"Of course we are," Gaara chuckled and nuzzled his chin at my head, he must have read my mind. "Where else would we go?"

"A chapel." I joked and even Sai snorted to my little joke.

Though now that I thought about it, Suna didn't have much to offer as it was still in poverty and the chance to ruin into a full experienced doctor would be having to be a fucking miracle but I trusted Gaara as we trudged through sand and found our way to the large gates of Suna that immediately were open at the sight of us. Awaiting before us were two people I was defiantly happy to see again. Immediately another set of arms touched me as loud words shouted over my weak body and at that I winced.

"Geez Gaara, she's pretty much soaked with blood." Temari cursed as she looked upon my squirming form, Shikamaru joining at her side as his gentle eyes went directly to my wound.

"You feeling okay, princess?" The brunet asked me and after swallowing a bit hard, I continued to nod to not give any worry to the group.

"Just a scratch," I told him and my body jolted as the layer of my dress lifted from my wound, baring a heavy weight as it was covered in crimson color. When the air hit my skin, holy hell it wasn't like any other feeling and I attempted to hold myself back from bitching out Shikamaru altogether. My body fussed violently, nearly causing Temari to drop me on hard pavement but the blonde kept her balance though I continued to shake. Gaara touched my hand and I gripped it tightly and even tighter than that and an emotion of holding back pain took his beautiful features, not because I was hurting his hand but because he couldn't take my struggle.

"Help me, God please just don't fucking stand there, help me!" I screeched and gritted my teeth, my hand laced with Gaaras began to tremble uncontrollably. Temari bit her lip as she lowered me so my back touched the pavement and upon it, I writhed in stinging pain, whimpering as my eyes refused to let me cry any more. Pieces of my dress were torn off me, pieces that held no blood. Carefully, Temari touched my belly as she brushed off the fresh blood, mumbling soft words of comfort as Gaara kissed my forehead tenderly, while Shikamaru explained that the air could seal the wound up even though it looked as if it was becoming infected.

The bandages wrapped around my legs were stripped and Temari then asked me softly,"Lift your back as much as you can."

I did so and the bandage was then wrapped around my abdomen, slowly pressing against my gash and sealed it from the stingy air. "Good," Temari sighed with a nod and then offered a small smile as a sign that I was going to be alright for the time being. "Good."

"Wouldn't want me bleeding through a wedding gown," I joked hoarsely but no one found comedy in my words. I then felt Gaara kiss my forehead again, his thumb brushing over my fingers as he continued to hold my hand that was now weak in strength.

"That can always wait another day," The redhead told me in a whisper, "None of that matters now."

Though I know it meant something to him, it meant a hell of a lot. To me, that mattered now. So why not just do it now? Alright, I get it, I'm covered in blood and in no shape to step one foot inside any church but now, I was positive that I could handle it. If I could fight death then I should as Hell could handle saying to words I was absolutely sure of to the person I love. Yet we don't need a priest or a church, we just need just Gaara and I and to say two simple words. I pulled myself up to Gaara, him having helped me sit up as he stared to me, waiting for what I was about to do. Looking into his emerald eyes, I found nothing but curiosity and gentleness. Swiftly, I set my lips to his and the response did not fail me whatsoever. Honestly I wanted to knock Gaara back and release the want that was now corrupting my heart, my one innocent act now sinful as the teen before me ran his hands from my waist and up my back.

I couldn't do that sadly, unless I wanted Temari and Shikamaru watching.

"Hm," A cough came and I couldn't help but roll my eyes at that. Oh yeah, Sai too I suppose.

Removing my lips, I kept my forehead steady against Gaaras and nuzzled him. "Well when it matters, I'll be more than ready to say 'I do'."

Seeing that thin line of the Kazekage's lips curl up, I squeaked as I was hugged closer and the nuzzling was returned. Honestly it didn't seem to matter who was watching us as Gaara pulled me down upon him as he leaned back onto the pavement, laughter flowing from my lips as my fallen blonde hair circled around his face. "As will I, a thousand times and many more." The cool words touched my cheeks and froze my curved smile that grew on my face.

It seemed that for now, we could be happy, all of us.

Another cough triggered and I felt myself tense in my thoughts. "Happy? You're joking of course, I know you have to be." Sai's light voice laughed and I noted the bitter hum that trailed through his words, each word ending in a sting. Honestly, I didn't know what his problem was but it was really killing the mood. After all, how many times has there when everyone was okay and happy? Oh right, there never was one.

"There was a time," Sai argued back but I wouldn't listen.

I already had my face buried into Gaara's shoulder, breathing him in and keeping my peaceful state of mind. A cold touch wrapped around my wrist and pulled at me, I would have thought it to be Gaara as I looked up by I was yanked to another direction, finding hardened colors of brown. I mimicked the hard gaze, wanting Sai to just shut up and sit down and soak in the happy fest that was recently going on. Yet I felt a ghostly gasp pass my lips and a twisted pain ached my chest. It wasn't like the pain of death but more of a heavy ache, if you know what I mean. If you don't then don't worry about it, then imagine a hollow feeling in your gut and as if someone had stabbed you in the chest, not hard to hurt but enough so they could watch you suffer from the blow. Yeah, it was pretty much like that.

"Does it hurt?" The black haired teen whispered, his words a statement as if he knew I did.

Wide eyed, I said nothing and after blinking for a moment I responded, "No."

A thin line marked his lips and he could tell I was lying right to his face.

"It will." He breathed and the cold grasp retreated from my wrist and I was back looking into colors of emerald.

Cold burned my warm cheek and I watched as Gaara frowned to me. "You look disturbed."

I shook my head, allowing my shortened blonde hair to wave about. "No, I just...I dunno."

"Maybe you should rest." He supplied and I smiled for his sake and nodded, knowing that simply sleeping wouldn't fix what was going to happen and that frightened me.

When I finally let Gaara settle me into a bed, I didn't fuss at all.

Which is pretty weird as I wanted to stay awake and spend more time with my soon to be husband but by the worried expression Gaara held, I knew better than to test him further. So I shut my mouth and closed my eyes, feeling tender warmth to my forehead before a cold force left my hand and at that moment I knew I was alone. In my dreams, I felt myself standing alone, my arms at my sides as I stared ahead, finding a familiar sight.

Gaara was merely feet away from me, smiling softly as he reached his arm out, a beckoning hand encouraging me to move. It was only he and I, which was never a bad thing. We were in Suna still, I could tell by the pavement and the large gates that stood behind Gaara. So I moved forward, slowly at first until my adrenaline pushed me to a run until I passed Gaara's hand and touched my hand to his cheek which sunk right through him.

"Smile beautiful."

I nearly stumbled to my knees but managed a bit of balance as all of me passed through the transparent illusion of the Kazekage. What the Hell was going on? I looked over my shoulder once I was finally sturdy on my feet and found myself alone. Of course. Shuddering, I touched my temples, shaking my head as humming voices fluttered in my mind. I released a deep breath, seeing it release my lips in a smoky wind as if I was surrounded by winter air. I don't know exactly what was going on here but I've had enough of it. The chilling cold sunk right into me as I could feel my veins chill within my arms and then in my stomach but I didn't mind it one bit, I had learned to love the chill of cold things.

"Of course you have," A silk voice warmed me, forcing my attention to its owner. My sight trailing to a pale skinned teen clad in black, his hands in his pockets as his brown eyes glared me down into the pavement. I never expected him to be wormed into one of my dreams.

"Yet that means you love me too," Sai spoke and walked closer to me, tilting his head so bits of his black hair could angle against his face. "Right?"

"Of course I do," I answered, my hands finding their way to my hips. "Why would you ever question that?"

"Maybe cause I'm not the real thing," He said emotionless and froze in his steps, his hands free of his pants pockets as he spoke with them. "I'm not your stupid boyfriend, I'm not a murderer, I'm not the one who left you time after time."

I said nothing though I wanted to but my lips remained parted in shock as I let my creation speak. This was beginning to be an awkward dream.

Though maybe he had been holding all this in and it's the right thing to do to let him vent it out. After all, I was a big girl, nothing was very harmful to me anymore, especially words. A bitter smirk grew on the pale face of the painter and I knew he had heard my thinking, honestly I wish he couldn't but then again, he was but another thought in my head.

"I do too," He snarled and moved in slow steps until we were a feet apart. "After all, you just think of him all the time and news flash, it's pathetic."

"Look Sai," I said sternly, my patience already run out. "I understand you're your own person but doesn't mean-"

"Oh, you understand, huh?" Sai interrupted with a laugh and turned on his heels so his back was to me, once the action was done, he shook his head. "Fact of the matter is, you don't understand, Ino."

I huffed, stomped over to him and grabbed his shoulder to get him to face me. I understood every part of him, I created him didn't I? So that meant I had to know something. After all, if it wasn't for me then he wouldn't even exist, er, appear as he would now. When his face finally met mine, I took a quick breath to prepare my scolding to the taller teen and before any words could stumble their way out, a set of lips forced them back in from escape. Okay, so I don't remember the entire situation that had led me to kiss Sai but I didn't stop it. My lifted arm was frozen as the wrist was gripped by the painter and as for the other, it was stern against my side. It was good that Sai had at least closed his eyes since my remained wide and the last thing either of us wanted was to creep each other out by staring during the kiss. Yet when we parted, I shivered as I felt a trickle of cold tips touch my warm cheek.

"I love you," Sai said softly as if the words pained him to say,"If you love me back like you say you do, you'll stay with me."

I blinked and then blinked once more. "Stay where?"

"Here," The painter said in a much brighter tone as he looked from side to side of the abandoned structure of Suna, a smile growing on his face as he pulled me into his arms.

I pushed back from his chest, 'here' didn't exactly sound too thrilling and besides, I didn't have time to play 'lover' with my imagination when I'm suppose to be a married woman. A chuckle followed after that thought and I glared up to the teen as my chin was caught by his fingertips.

"You're a little young to be getting married, do you really want to grow up that fast?" Sai asked me and I wanted to nod, it wasn't that fast, it wasn't like Gaara forced me into the decision."Yet he did when he bought you."

"Why are you against this all of a sudden?" I found myself snapping, shoving myself away. "I thought you would be happy that I grew up and am happy."

"With your thoughts, I was forced to be happy." Came the comeback, "Do you honestly think I'd be happy that the person I love is going to marry something real while I'm just some fake mold of that person?"

Alright, I never thought of that but every other possibility was impossible. I made Sai to fill a void, to have something that would be a safe hold when I was abandoned by Gaara and abused by my own hands. I needed him to love me when I couldn't love myself and to make me happy even though what we went through was all in my head. Sai must have understood it, he couldn't be that dumb. He wasn't real and neither was anything he did but in truth, I knew that he loved me.

"Why are you doing this Sai?" I had to ask, my voice cracking as I just stared to him, expecting an answer.

"I'm sick of being second to him," He answered back as if it was easy for me to give everything up and stay with him in where ever the hell we were.

This is all your thoughts, it can last forever." Words of my memory came and I shook my head, bringing my arms around my body as everything became a lot colder. Bits of colorless flakes fell upon us and around us and I watched as Sai held out his hand and the little flakes piled upon another. At that he chuckled and my heart beat heavily at the pure sound. Sai had loved snow he once told me.

"I don't know what to do," I at last spoke and just the shakiness of my voice set a worried expression upon that beautiful pale face.

"Just love me," He whispered and tugged my hands from around my body, holding them gently as he brushed his thumb over my bony fingers. "We'll make our own world, we'll stay here and nothing would stop us..." His excited little whispers sparked that smile on his face and I couldn't help myself to bite my lip. "I may not be the real thing but I'm yours, please..."

"Sai..." I began but my hands were squeezed weakly, the begging word 'please' repeating softly. "I-I can't..."

At that time, things began to speed up and our own little world began to shake. "Just think about it, please!" Sai begged me as he removed his hands from mine and flung wrapped his arms around me, tightening his hold as my head began to spin and caused my head to pound.

"Don't leave me here alone..."

I don't remember when my eyes opened but when they did, I had never felt more like shit. Of course when I sat up on the bed, my head continued its tantrum and groaning, I ran my hand through my hair. Nobody was in the bedroom with much which somewhat surprised me as I at least expected Gaara's watching eyes on me since he seemed so worried. Ah well. Gaining my sight back, I found the room to be filled with paintings which caused me to shudder. Sai.

"What?" A voice yawned and I pulled my legs close to my chest as I hugged them.

"That dream..." I mumbled and couldn't pull myself together to look up to the figure that stalked over to me.

"Hm? What dream?" The words sound innocent. "You okay, blondie?"

I gave a small 'heh' as I shooed away the hand that was tapping at my head. "It's nothing, I just thought..."

"Right then, you're weirding me out." The words were mumbled and the raven haired teen shrugged and returned to the paintings of the room.

Whatever just happened, was it all just in my head? Now that I think about it, I have felt pretty guilty about Sai. Yet what can I do about it? The Sai in my head is different from the one in my dreams. Sai would never feel that way, right?

"Hey Sai," I mumbled and heard the faint echoed footsteps reach me once more.

"Yes?" The cold breath touched my cheeks and I reached my hands out to touch the cheeks of my creation, staring into his mellow brown eyes as I reached forward to kiss him. The response finally came back after what seemed to be seconds of either shock or hesitation. After seconds passing of our eyes shut and lips together, we pulled back and the pale teen looked dazed to me.

"What was that for?"

"I love you." I said quickly and those once mellow eyes brightened.

"Now let's not be silly," Sai said in a quiet tone, smiling softly as he touched a hand to my cheek. "You're getting married soon, ya know, there's no need for this."

"I don't need to grow up so fast, Gaara would always be willing to wait." I told him and pulled him closer to cling to his petite form.

"Yet you're grown, I'm happy for you-" He began and I squeezed him tightly as gently his arms waited around me.

"Aren't you sick of being put second?" I blurted and silence soaked within the room and I felt myself weak in the arms that loosely held me together. I don't think Sai even responded to my question, I didn't want him to. We didn't look at each other or move whatsoever, we only sat in silence, holding each as I regretted every word. A sigh was released and the tension deflated as noise broke the awkward barrier of the room.

"I see you're awake, did you rest well?" A voice made my body jolt to reality as I looked to see Gaara by the doorway. I nodded in silence as he trailed along slowly to kiss my forehead and hug me to his chest, giving slight comfort to rid me of pieces of guilt I held. I then hugged back as a weak smile grew on my face, feeling hollow on the day of my own wedding.

"I love you." I whispered against Gaara's chest and the response didn't not fail me as it unison of two voices as one. "I love you too."

My perfect little world then continued to turn.

A/N: It has been a really really long time since I updated this story. I'm not quite sure if it meets up to expectations but I'm working on that. ^^'' Um, Right then. The next chapter just might be the last just so I don't drag this story on. I don't expect to make a sequel so meh. I'm just happy to have written this chapter since it's been a whole year since I wrote anything of this. Well review if you wish to and thank you very much for the read. :)