this is called: heroine syndrome
hypheniated :is the author
the pairing is: Gaara/Sakura
the disclaimer: I own nothing.
the summary: He was constantly ill because he made himself to be. That didn't stop her from sunshining her way into his life. –GaaraSakura.
the inspiration: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
this is: chapter one
Sakura was waltzing down to her room in an extremely happy mood.
She had done all her chores and duties for the day, and it was only four o'clock in the afternoon, and tomorrow she was going home for the day to see her mother and father and all her little siblings.
She felt a tickle in her dress pocket. She twirled, her thin dress fanning out, and she gently lifted out a tiny fledgling of a baby robin that she had found a few days earlier.
The pitiful little thing was no more than perfect to fit into the palm of her mistress' tiny hand. Tiny tufts of smoky-grey-ish down feathers sprouted from the baby bird. The little bird was christened 'Puff'.
"I do hope you are well, sweet." She cuddled the bird to her cheek. The bird nipped at her cheek affectionately before letting out a quiet chirp.
"That's my little baby." She cooed softly. She stroked the small head gently with the back of her pointer finger, and clutched the bird to her chest.
The housekeeper, Shizune, raced down the hallway in a frantic rush.
"Shizune!" Sakura called out.
She stopped, and turned to face the cheerful pink-haired child that she had hired to do a bit of housework for the gloomy manor they lived in.
"Yes, Sakura?" Shizune decided to stop and talk to the girl. At least it would delay herself from having to attend the young master of the house.
The innocent sixteen-year old cocked her head at her. "Where are you going in such a rush?"
"I'm going to see the young master. He is throwing a fit, screaming and crying and wailing, child." Shizune sighed.
"There's a young master?"
She didn't know, Shizune mused. This child must not have heard anything from the other employed members of this household. How odd.
"Yes, child, there's a young master here. He's such a wicked, spoiled, sick thing, always having headaches and insomnia and hallucinations, and the like. Nothing like you, all sunny and happy." Shizune frowned.
"Ah. Bye, Shizune, my day off is tomorrow and I can't wait to go home to mother and father!" Sakura beamed.
"Child. Isn't your room that way?" She pointed in the direction she was going in.
"Oops!" Sakura shrugged sheepishly. "I guess I'll keep you company on the way."
"Alright. Come." Shizune shook her head in amusement, and continued down the hallway.
They walked peacefully down the dreary corridor, until they started hearing screams and sobs continuing to become louder as they kept going.
Shizune scrunched up her face. She hated the screams of the young master. It pained everyone to hear them.
"I WON'T! I WON'T! YOU CAN'T MAKE ME EAT THOSE FILTHY THINGS! GO AWAY!" a thin, frail boyish voice shouted out weakly. "YOU'RE A TERRIBLE PERSON! GO AWAY! I DON'T NEED ANYTHING!"
Sakura frowned. He was really loud, and getting on to her short-tempered nerves and spoiling her good mood.
"I'M GONNA DIE ANYWAYS, WHAT'S THE STUPID DIFFERENCE? YOU ALL ARE ALWAYS TELLING ME THAT I'M GONNA DIE, WHAT'S THE POINT OF ALL THESE PILLS?"
That was it. Sakura could not stand this weak hoarse voice complaining and saying dumb things. It was annoying, painful, and completely-mood-ruining!
"Shizune, can you hold my baby bird for me?" Sakura ground out. "And where is this young master's room?"
Shizune, a little frightened of everything happening, held out her hands for the baby bird.
"Two more doors down."
Sakura put the little bird into Shizune's outstretched hands, and stormed into the room.
It was a blank room, with faded grey walls, and a soft plush grey floor. Grimy curtains covered the dying rays of sunlight streaming through the equally dirty window, illuminating specks of dust.
The center of attention was a black blanket-covered lump quivering in hysterics and sobs.
A scared nursemaid and a bored-looking doctor stood off on the side, staring at the lump in apprehension.
"STOP LYING TO ME! I KNOW YOU DON'T CARE!" The lump yelled. A greasy feathery red head popped out from under the covers, his green eyes wild with feverish delirium.
"SHUT UP!" Sakura screamed back at him.
Everyone in the room nearly broke their necks to stare at the furious pink-haired girl.
"SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT GONNA DIE, YOU IDIOT! YOU AND YOUR STUPID TANTRUM! YOU'RE BEING SO LOUD THAT THE PEOPLE FROM THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD CAN HEAR YOU! YOU'RE RUINING MY PERFECTLY GOOD MOOD! YOU MEAN BOY!" she shrieked childishly. She took in a breath, and smiled politely at the nurse and doctor.
"I'm sorry. I'll leave now." She curtseyed, smiled sweetly to the two shocked aides again and walked out the door.
She passed Shizune, who had a dumbfounded look on her face.
Sakura collected her pet, and continued on to her room.
"That girl-child had the impudence to scream at the young master…" the nurse gazed at the door in wonder. "No one ever dared to yell at him."
"Why would we? That boy always has to have his own way." the doctor murmured.
A stirring from the bed caused them to snap to attention.
What they saw was the most surprising sight.
The young boy, no more than sixteen also, was visibly frightened. He cringed. "Who was that?" he demanded tiredly. His tantrum had also left him visibly exhausted.
"Are you alright, young master Gaara?" the nurse inquired.
"I'm fine for now." he answered irritably. "Answer my question, nurse. Who was that girl?"
"Never mind her." Shizune strode into the room.
The doctor began to take absent notes out loud. "No visible signs of major distress, no sulking. How odd."
Gaara sat forlornly on the bed. "All of you. Go away. I want to sleep."
And as if to punctuate the statement, he flopped exhaustively onto his pillow.
The adults left the room, puzzled, but nevertheless, tongues started wagging the minute the door shut.
The next morning, before the sun was barely up, Sakura awoke.
"Good morning!" She sang to her tiny 'roommates'.
They consisted of her baby bird, and a mouse called Snowdrop.
"We get to go see mother and father!" She continued, dancing around the room.
She grabbed her sturdy worn leather boots, and tore off her sleeping chemise for a rough, warm dress in a chocolaty brown.
She scooped up her pets, and practically flew down the stairs.
The cook was already in the kitchen, baking bread and whatnot.
"Sakura! You're quite early today!" The cook exclaimed.
"I'm going home for the day! I'll be back tomorrow morning!" She grinned.
"Take some bread and cheese. Be off!"
"Gladly. Bye, Cook!" She called, snatching a clean checked kerchief. She quickly gathered several loaves of bread with currants, her favourite, and some soft yellow cheese.
When the cook's back was turned, Sakura grabbed a chicken drumstick, and ran out the kitchen door.
"Senri!" She called out.
A full-grown fox with beautifully glossy red fur trotted out from the bushes towards her.
"Senri, Senri, how have I missed you! Hopefully, I can sneak you into my rooms next time!" She grinned, and sat on the ground.
They were a little away from the gloomy manor, but not far enough to be out of earshot or out of sight. She tossed the drumstick to her fox, which was snuggled into her side.
The little bird chirped, and the mouse squeaked. It was unfair that he was allowed food, and they weren't.
"I have not forgotten about you, dear ones!"
She crumbled some bread for Puff to eat, and broke off chunks of cheese for the mouse. Sakura herself enjoyed a loaf of bread herself.
Once they were done eating, she gave a low whistle between her teeth. The fox stopped gnawing on the chicken bone and the mouse and bird clambered into her pockets.
"Let us go now, Senri." she tightened the laces of her boots, and stood up.
She started along the well-worn path that led away from Hourglass Manor to the main road, singing loudly and slightly off key while the fox followed behind her faithfully.
From a grimy bedroom window, curiously suspicious jade green eyes watched as the thin figure of the pink-haired girl disappeared further and further away.
hypheniated would like to say that she is back from the dead and she would really like reviews to know that she hasn't lost it yet.