The Sand Prince 4/?

[Chibi_Kawaii_Neko]

A.N.:Hey! I hope you all enjoy Chapter 4! Sorry about the spelling mistakes

Disclaimer: If I owned Naruto?do you think I would be writing fanfics? ...No so anyways?I don?t own naruto!...but one day? heh heh heh?

Last time-

?Oh Saku-chan?I don?t want to go?.? She cried and hugged her.

?Oh Hina-chan I know?.? She too cried and hugged her back as the moving carriage carried them away from all they knew?to all they didn?t know.

?Thoughts?

?Speech?

Chapter 4- Desert? and Attack.

Sakura sighed and leaned back against the velvet seat of the carriage. Sweat beads lying on her hot skin.

?Does the desert have to be so ?hot, even at night?? She quietly asked the sleeping princess across from her, knowing she would not get an answer.

?Would you prefer to ride out here?? Neji asked from the window closes to Sakura. Sakura jumped a little, her heart speeding up at the sound of his voice. ?There is a breeze out here and it would be better than in a stuffy carriage.? Neji continued. Sakura nodded before realizing he could not see her in the darkness of the night.

?Yes.?

Neji stopped the carriage and opened the door for her.

?You may ride with me?. We have do not have any extra horses.? Sakura blushed furiously. She was glad it was dark out.

?What is his name Neji?? she asked referring to the horse.

?His name is Whicker.?

?Oh?that?s a nice name.?

He picked her up and put her on the horse. After she was on the horse he climbed on to sit behind her. He then called to the carriage driver to go and their procession started up again.

?So how long do you think it?ll take for us to reach the Leaf Kingdom?? Sakura asked Neji. She gazed up at him, unable to tear her eyes away from his white gaze. Butterflies dancing in her stomach as he smiled and then answered.

?In 6 days? why do you ask??

?I was just wondering?.?

They both fell silent for awhile. The breeze picked up and Sakura found her self shivering.

?Are you cold?? Neji asked the concern in his voice evident.

?No...just a bit chilly.? She answered.

?Lean back against me ?you?ll be warmer and more comfortable.?

?Oh? okay.? She leaned back against him shyly. A blush coming to her cooled cheeks and once again she was glad it was dark. ?Why am I acting like this? We?ve hugged and leaned against each other before and I?ve never reacted this way. Arg! Not fair?.I do NOT like him that way?we are just friends?well?closer than friends?more like siblings?arg...stupid feelings!? She ranted in her head. Her thoughts in a whirl wind.

Meanwhile

Gaara watched the carriage stop. A man with long chestnut brown hair and white eyes opened the door and held his hand out. What was going on? Why were they stopping? It was hours before dawn?

All thoughts stopped and his breath caught in his throat as a beautiful pink haired girl with the brightest emerald eyes he had ever seen stepped out of the carriage. She had the hand of the man with white eyes.

?She must be the Princess?. Odd pink hair and the color of emerald her eyes is...just starting. Some might call them odd.?

The man put her on the horse he had been riding and climbed on after her. Jealousy boiled up in him. ?He?ll be the first to die?? Gaara said aloud. The man next him looked over at Gaara nervously.

?Who, sir?? the man asked.

?What?? Gaara asked back not realizing he had said it out loud, not even looking at the nervous man as he watched the girl.

?Sir, you said: He?ll be the first to die? who did you mean?? the nervous man asked.

?? none of your business??

?Yes sir??

?Go tell the others to keep hidden?we attack at dawn ? take who ever you want captive but?don?t dare touch? the pink haired woman. She is mine? If anyone harms but a hair on her pink little head.. the person will end up like Hideki.?

The nervous man nodded and took off to tell the others. All would avoid the pink haired woman, no one wanted to end up like Hideki. ?I would rather crawl threw fire than end up like Hideki.? The man thought to himself.

Gaara sighed?and continued to watch the carriage and wait for his time to capture the little princess.

Neji glanced down to look at the sleeping woman in his arms. Her back leaning against his chest and her head was resting on his collarbone. She shivered slightly and he wrapped one arm around her stomach, he used that arm to pull her closer to him. Sakura sighed and snuggled into him seeking the warmth his body offered.

His cheeks flamed and his heart which was already beating too fast began to beat erratically.

?Neji?? she mumbled in her sleep.

Was she dreaming of him?

?You? are...?

?I am what??

?..An??

??.??

?Idiot!...?

?Idiot? What did I do?? he was thinking when Captain Kakashi?s horse pulled up beside his.

?Good evening?.Captain??

?Good evening, Lord Neji.?

?Is there something you wanted to say??

?Yes..?

They rode in silence for a while before Neji broke the uncomfortable silence.

?What did you want to say??

The older man glanced at him before looking at the girl in Neji?s arms. His face softened as he looked at her.

?I have been Lady Sakura?s body guard all her life. I was there for her when her mother passed away and when her worthless Father was murdered. When she began to learn Swordsmanship, I was the one who taught her. I have been there for her, her whole life.?

?You love her??

?Yes...but I think of her as a sister and sometimes?even a daughter. She is my family. The only family I have. If anyone were to hurt her either emotionally and/ or physically, I would kill them? Have a good evening and here? cover her up more.? He handed a very confused Neji a blanket before riding ahead to talk to one of the soldiers that was a head of them.

Meanwhile

Gaara growled as he watched the white eyed man wrap an arm around the sleeping girl.

?She?s mine!? He thought ?Or will be in a few minutes?? A smirk appeared on his face.

?Sir, everyone is in position. We are ready to attack at your word.? A man said beside him.

?Good? We wait till they stop?. ?

?Yes, sir.?

Gaara?s smirk grew bigger. A couple more minutes and the pink haired princess would be his.

Sakura woke up as the rays of the rising sun hit her face, warming her almost unbearably. She opened her eyes to find her self in Neji?s arms.

?Good Morning??

??.Good morning, Neji!? She sat up and looked around. The scenery had not changed much.

?Would you like to eat breakfast with Princess Hinata??

??Yes??

?Good?we will be stopping for the day. It is too hot to travel during the day.?

?Oh?.?

?Tents will be set up for the day?? Neji climbed off the horse and lifted Sakura down from her perch. She smiled at him and he smiled back. She felt her insides go all gooey. She was about to invite him to eat breakfast, when a shout from a sentry was heard.

?Attack! We?re under attack! It?s Shakaku?s desert bandits!?

Neji grabbed Sakura and opened the carriage door. He pushed her in to the carriage where Hinata sat her eyes wide and full of fear. Sakura spun around to face the open door that Neji was closing.

?Neji??

?Sakura, Hinata ?don?t worry. We will protect you!? The door closed. Sakura stood and gazed at door before turning to talk to Hinata.

Sakura growled. ?I could be out there helping them!?

Men?s screams of pain and anger could be heard in the carriage.

Hinata was nodding when she suddenly stopped and stared at door behind Sakura.

?What?s wrong, Hinata?? She asked spinning around yet again to face the door. The door was open and a man clad in black and red stood there looking at them. The man?s outfit covered him completely except forhis eyes. His amazing jade eyes met her brilliant emerald eyes.

If he thought he was going to kill or kidnap Hinata or her, he had another thing coming. Sakura growled and grabbed the tray that breakfast was sitting on and promptly hit the jade eyed man with it on his head. He didn?t even flinch, but instead humor lit in his eyes.

?You can?t possibility believe you could beat me with a breakfast tray, Princess. Now come with me and your hand maiden won?t get hurt.?

Sakura?s eyes widened. ?He thinks I?m the princess?. That means he?ll take me instead of Hina-chan.?

TBC

A.N.: Muhahahaha! Cliff hanger! Sorry for taking so long to write this! I hope you like! Read and review and tell me what you think?hmmm?.. a carriage in the desert?. I know it doesn?t make sense...but oh well.