Chapter ONE
Requested by anon -
Gaara and Sakura meet in Suna for business and a spark ignites.
Read this please -
In all honesty I want to do a mini series with this prompt as the starting point. If anyone thinks this is a good idea let me know, if not I'm still doing it =D So that means that I will be filling scenarios of my own making and prompts that you lot send in that fit in with the verse I have created. Of course there will be a plot but your prompts will make it interesting as well. All of the chapters will be about this long and we will slowly work our way up to the 'gaasaku' smut that has been requested of me. I just don't feel it is plausible otherwise. That and I want to hone Gaara's character. This is my first time writing him, so I'm sorry if I cocked it up. It will get better, I promise.
Anyway, first chapter of the mini series starts here...
Mistakes are all mine. This is barely edited. It's 5am. Proof readers a welcome. To request scenarios and prompts visit my tumblr at merinxd . tumblr . com and click ask.
xxx
Every time Sakura leaves Suna she forgets how hot and dry it actually is. Compared to the Leaf village, the barren desert is an oven, despite the constant wind rolling through. However, the weather does not deter the residents of the sand from smiling cheerfully and going about their day. It is a part of life and they are accustomed to the temperature, from the boiling heat during the day to the freezing cold at night.
Sakura is almost melting and if Tsunade's reaction is anything to go by, so is she. Though her rapid disappearance could have more to do with her favourite bar being located in Suna and less about the heat. In any case, the pink haired diplomat has been left to handle the Kazekage all on her lonesome. Thankfully, the task won't be a hard one, with Sabaku no Gaara being a comrade and friend. In actuality, it is he who requires the help from Konoha. A trip that Sakura could have taken alone became 'imperative' for her mentor as well, and the pinkette is disappointed in herself that she didn't see it sooner. Shizune is certainly going to be disheartened with the Hokage when she catches wind.
It has been a year since the end of the war and Sakura has been doing her best to keep her nose in her work. There was plenty to do with the hospital and the just built village of Konoha, so the task was an easy one. Sakura knows that if she gave herself time to think she will be forced to remember that Sasuke is not longer with her. It has been a year and no one has sighted him after his disappearing act. Surprisingly, the thought is starting to hurt less and less.
It makes sense though, Sasuke made his peace with her and Naruto, he avenged his clan and now he needs to find himself, away from a village that killed his family. It just hurts that Team 7 isn't a part of his plan...That she can be discarded so easily.
Sakura has a choice though. She can forever wait for a love that may never come true, or she can move on in her life, live and be happy. Her heart will always hold Sasuke in it, and there is no denying that she pines for him still, but she can't put her life on hold for a man with a path so clearly set away from hers.
Sakura needs to start living for herself. Which is part of the reason that she accepted this meeting. If she is interpreting the Kazekage's the correspondence correctly, then Gaara needs help with his hospital system, with the complete lack of organisation after the hectic war.
If Sakura is offered a station in this village, she is secretly inclined to take it...
Climbing the stairs to the Kazekage's round office, the pinkette follows the silent sentries who walk with purpose. Usually when Konoha ninja arrive in Suna, Gaara is waiting at the gate himself. However, Tsunade travelled at a quicker pace than needed and as a result the two are a day early. Not that it matters in the scheme of things.
The faceless men murmur quietly between themselves and one enters the large familiar office. In an instant the nin pokes his head out of the door with an expression that is much less closed off.
"The Kazekage will see you now." The man says formally before the wide double doors open for the petite kunoichi.
"Honto arigato." Sakura murmurs, bowing to each guard with a small smile. She turns to gaze at the office and notes that for once, Temari and Kankuro are not here. It is a shame, but there will be time later to catch up with her friends.
Sakura's emerald zone in on the desk in the center of the room, closer to the wide spanning glass wall that looks out over the city. Gaara stands beside his chair with a soft smile adorning his features. There is paper work and an ink pot that he is obviously working on and the girl feels guilty for pulling him away. Stepping closer and looking closer, the pinkette notes that he has grown taller. The sandy red hair atop his head is a little longer, and all in all, Gaara looks good.
"Sakura-san." The leader greets with an inclination of his head. The soft voice of her friend is deeper than she remembers, but the last time they spoke it was during the war, and that was a hectic time.
"Kazekage-sama, you know that it's just Sakura." She smiles brightly, stepping closer to the nin. One sentry makes a move to stop her but the other guard shakes his head in warning. It is obvious that this ninja is new at this.
"Then Gaara is suitable." The red head replies, smiling also. He moves to meet Sakura and the two stand a foot or so away, just looking. "You look well." He states, and his hand reaches out in a social act of conformity, something he never would have done before his role as Suna's leader.
Sakura glances to the outstretched hand as she accepts the gesture easily. His warm palm comes into contact with her own and the pinkette glances up to catch his incredibly aqua eyes. They are so blue in fact, that the girl forgets to let go.
"Sakura." Gaara says after a moment, and the woman feels completely foolish.
"Ah, gomen." She replies, dropping his hand as if it were a bomb. She misses the slight smirk upon the sand nins usually stoic face and instead tries in vain to hide her blush.
"It's fine." The Kazekage utters, and Sakura is unable to stop herself from looking again, all because of the humour in his tone. The teal eyes that look down on her seem to hold mirth and the girl realises that her heart is beating a mile a minute, he can probably hear it.
"I'm sorry that we arrived early Gaara-sama." Sakura tries, keeping eye contact and willing herself to be professional. She never looks at men, why would she start now? Especially the Kazekage!
"Iie, I am aware of the Hokage's fondness for our native drink. I offered her a free supply at a venue of her choosing should she agree to my terms." The red head informs and he motions for Sakura to take a seat.
Following his lead, the kunoichi sits across from the Kazekage and she fiddles with her fingers mercilessly, under the table where he can't see. The powerful nin pulls out a manilla folder that seems to be quite thick with paper work, sliding it over to the girl, he says -
"This is a mission that I have drafted to Konoha. My terms are inside." Gaara states, and his hands clasp together on the desk. He is the picture of professionalism, which makes Sakura feel even guiltier, not to mention crazy. His piercing eyes look over at her and if the kunoichi didn't know better she would say that there is a spark within his unreadable depths. Something different to before. But then, not having to worry about a war would do wonders for one's disposition.
Glancing back at the yellow folder, the woman flips open the front page and sighs inwardly at the massiveness of the piece. She should have known that Gaara does everything properly, he really was born for this role. If only Tsunade could get her paperwork in order like this, just a couple of months a year would even be good enough.
"May I ask Gaara-sama, what are you terms?" She questions. It isn't that Sakura won't read this, because she will. Sometimes it is just easier to hear it directly from the source first.
Her eyes meet his again and Sakura curses the strange feeling in her stomach, the tell tale butterflies of a very new crush. The Kazekage looks serious and his gaze is resolute, though not demanding. Then he leans back slightly and says -
"I request that you transfer to Suna to lead the hospital. You are the best medic in the shinobi nations, Sakura. It could take a year or more, but I will pay Konoha handsomely. You will be fed, housed and payed, as well as offered all of the privileges of a resident of the sand, including access to any medical files you require." The words are straight to the point and even though she was expecting something akin to this, Gaara's request still baffles her. However, it doesn't confuse her as much as his next actions.
Leaning forward to sit up straight, the Kazekage states, "Above all, I have chosen you, Sakura, because you are a friend that I can trust." He pauses and the words sink in. "If you want a night to think it over I can have Temari collect you in the morning." He suggests, and his tone becomes less formal once more. Well, less formal for Gaara.
But Sakura already knows her answer. This is it. This is the chance that she has been waiting for, the needed change in her life...
Shaking her head, no, the pinkette smiles brightly, like she is about to tackle a good challenge.
"No Gaara-sama, that won't be needed. I trust you." Reaching forward she slides the ink pot towards herself and says, "Where do I sign?"
The chair scrapes backward and in the next moments a very able shinobi is leaning over her and pointing toward each section required. One of his hands rests on the back of her chair while he leans forward, his chest almost brushing her shoulder, and Sakura needs to breath steadily in order to think. It is absolutely ridiculous. She has been closer to this man plenty of times.
He thinks of you as a friend, baka! Sakura thinks to herself firmly, breathing through her nose.
"Here." Gaara says, "Here...and here." He points, and the pinkette signs each spot his finger marks. When she is done, the leader leans back a bit, but not far enough to be away from her. Their gazes align and Gaara says with a slight upturn of his lips, "I hear that you are interested in poisons."
This is going to be an interesting stay...
xxx
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