A/N: So sorry this has taken so long to get out!! I've been working on other stuff and I had school and everything. But I finally decided to work on this story. Its hard, because I don't exactly know what all I want to put in here. Like so the fight doesn't drag on too long. But i'll figure it out. Anyway enjoy!!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto just Ami.

The Pre-Battle

I groaned, as I slowly fluttered my eyes open. My body felt so weak, and it took me a few seconds to focus on the stuff around me. "What…happened?" I asked quietly.

"Oh. So you're finally awake." I looked up hearing footsteps and saw Kankuro kneel down next to me. "You feeling ok?"

I stared at him before nodding and slowly standing up. "What happened to me?"

"You don't remember?" he asked and I shook my head. "You and Shikamaru used your jutsu's at the same time, and well, the effects of your jutsu affected you too and you passed out."

I took a deep breath and let it out. "Well guess I lost then. That sucks."

"No. You won."

My eyes widened as I looked at my teammate. "What?"

"Yeah the kid forfeited, saying it would be too much trouble if he won since he'd have to fight more, or something." Kankuro smirked. "You got lucky."

Well that was a shocker. I thought for sure I would have lost. I then remembered something and looked around. "Hey where's Gaara?"

"He started walking down for his match." Kankuro said, looking down into the arena.

Oh no. Did this mean that……I walked over to the railing and looked down, only to have my fears confirmed. Sasuke had arrived. This wasn't good. Gaara wasn't stable, he hasn't been for a while now. And if the two of them fought, one of them would die! I had to talk to Gaara before the match started.

"Hey where are you going?" Kankuro asked as I hurried to leave.

"I just need to tell Gaara something. I'll be back!" I said quickly before running out of the area and down the hall.

It didn't take me long to find him, since he wasn't that far yet. But unfortunately, there was a reason he wasn't that far. These two ninja were standing in Gaara's way of getting downstairs into the arena, and they didn't look friendly.

"You puny kids think this tournament is all about you. But its really about the people who bet on you, or against you in your case." One of them said. "You see our master's got a lot of money on the other guy to win."

"Got it?" the other smirked. "That means, you gotta lose."

This wasn't good at all. These guys really didn't want to mess with Gaara when he was as unstable as he was now. My eyes widened as the cork from Gaara's gourd twisted, trying to get off. I gulped, frozen in my spot as the two continued to stare at him.

"Well?" the first ninja said. "So what's it gonna be, kid?"

Gaara continued to stay silent, as the cork continued to twist.

"Maybe he's too scared to talk." The second ninja said. Yeah, that would make this a lot easier wouldn't it?

My eyes widened more as the first ninja took out a kunai, and Gaara's cork popped off at the exact same moment, sand pouring out of the gourd.

"Huh?!" the two said shocked as the lights blew out above them, making the corridor go dark.

Gaara started breathing heavy, the way he did when he was losing it, and I knew I had to stop this. Suddenly the sand lashed out and wrapped around the first ninja, pulling him back towards Gaara as he screamed.

"No! Gaara stop!" I yelled running up to him, but it was too late. In a matter of seconds he had crushed the poor man. The sand lashed at the other man who screamed and ran, but the sand was too quick for him. It caught him around the ankles, making him fall to the floor, and dragged him back as Gaara crushed him with the sand too.

I guessed I probably should be used to this, seeing Gaara kill people since he does it all the time. But I still was frozen to the spot after having witnessed what just happened. I came back to my senses somewhat as Gaara started walking away. I still had to talk to him.

"Gaara! Wait!" I yelled, or at least tried too. It came out as an almost whisper. But surprisingly he heard me. Gaara stopped and turned to face me slightly. I looked down at the ground. "Please…..be careful. Sasuke's strong, and I know you are too. But I can tell with all that's been happening lately you've become very unsta-" I cut off my eyes widening as Gaara's arms wrapped around me, pulling me into a hug. I hadn't heard him move at all.

"Thank you…..Ami." he said quietly. I closed my eyes and hugged him back.

"Your welcome." I smiled.

Gaara let go of me, and without a second glance, turned and walked back down the hall, to go to the arena. I stared after him, not moving. I figured I should go back where the others were to watch the match, but I just remembered something I forgot to tell him. I was going to tell him not to kill Sasuke. I mean, Sasuke was my friend. Maybe not one of my better ones, but we still talked and stuff. So I didn't really want him to die.

"Gaara wait!" I yelled running back down the hall to the stairs, but I stopped when I got there. Sitting on the steps were Shikamaru and Naruto. "You two again?"

The two looked up at me, apparently shocked. The expressions they had on their faces made me realize something. They had seen Gaara kill those two guys. Obviously they weren't used to it, since they looked completely terrified.

"What are you doing here Ami? Are you feeling better?" Naruto asked, briefly coming out of his shocked state.

"Yeah thanks. And I was going to tell Gaara something but…..he's gone already." I said looking over at Shikamaru who was giving me a bored look. I sighed. "Uh…congratulation Shikamaru. On beating me, I mean." I added, seeing his confused expression.

"Oh….uh….thanks…" he said uncertainly.

"I'm not one who holds grudges." I smiled at him. "I can't hate you just because you beat me in a match. That would be stupid."

Shikamaru stared at me before smiling slightly. Naruto stared between us, and I looked over at him. He looked like his mind was still on what just happened.

"Uh….look. I'm sorry you guys had to see that." I said staring at the ground. "I know how horrifying that must have been. But you guys don't know Gaara's full story."

"What do you mean?! How can that make a difference? He just killed two guys without even caring!" Shikamaru said.

"I know that. But…..that's really the only way he knows how to survive. He told you the basics of the story that day in the hospital. Remember?"

I knew by their expressions that they remembered exactly. I looked up, hearing faint cheers coming from the crowd, and realized the match must be starting.

"Well, uh, I can't stay to talk with you guys. I'm sorry. I have to go watch this match." I turned but stopped after taking a few steps. Maybe I couldn't tell Gaara to not kill Sasuke, but I knew someone who could do something about it. "Hey Naruto?"

"Yeah?" he said looking back at me.

"Um….you might want to get someone to stop this match. Unless you want your teammate to die that is." I turned after seeing his eyes widen in horror, and walked back to where the other contestants were. Or should I say, Kankuro and Shino, since they were the only two still up there.

A/N: sorry this one isn't as long as some of my other chapters. I hope you can forgive me!! Anyway, review please and let me know what you think!!^_^