The Truth About Fire and Ashes
Summary: Because sometimes, the Phoenix doesn't always rise from the ashes with wings. (Gaara/Sakura)
Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto.
Prologue
She didn't think it was a good idea. At all.
More over, saying that she was terrified, was an understatement.
Having to hide it? A statement all it's own.
Carefully, she climbed the metal strips known to most as steps that made a hollow sound as her weight was exerted upon them, her eyes irritated by the sand that whipped around where she had just come. Tears of pain were already forming in their red rimmed depths, and not just because of the weather outside.
Temari glanced back at the Leaf girl, not quite capable of feeling sorry for her.
He doesn't sleep at night. His temper isn't the best.
Sakura, as if noticing she was just there, blinked, and paused on the step she just took. That's all you know about him? Her voice was uneasy. Temari was expecting that.
As if this information handicapped her, Sakura gripped the cold, metal railing as she continued upward.
We are in contact with your Hokage, and I will come every Sunday to inform you of any events, changes and whatever... The blonde stole a glance at the door. He won't be happy having to baby-sit you all the time, so be careful. He has gotten much better with the year gone by, Tolerable came to the Sand-nin's mind, but you know how he is...
Sakura nodded, bleakly, even though she didn't know anything anymore, and couldn't find herself to thank her. How could she...? Even though the rational part of her mind told her it wasn't Temari's fault for all of this happening, but it seemed easier at this moment to find one solid person who she could see and hear to blame.
I've gotta get going. Temari took her leave, looking uncertainly behind briefly as she took the sets of stairs by twos. She thought that maybe as she hit the floor, it wouldn't be the last time she'd see this girl again.
But one could only hope.
Sakura almost didn't want to see anything past this door, but she knew it was the best.
She was doing this for Sasuke-kun.
But that didn't stop the tears that flowed down her cheeks.
Seeing Gaara suddenly appear where the door must've opened-
did.
Gaara knew the situation; he was to protect a girl in high priority of Orochimaru, or more particularly, his apprentice. A warning from a spy had been received three mornings ago, that they heard her name in a conversation amongst common Sound nin. A conversation revolving around a certain apprentice and Kohona. Of course, the possibility of it actually being her was considered slim, but when the spy was killed moments later, the Hokage decided her best tactic would be to hide her somewhere where she would be safe and under cover.
And so she wouldn't have to meet up with this apprentice if he should come.
Now, that left a wide number of options. The Hokage, after some deep thought, chose the Hidden Village of Sand as her hiding place. As he understood it, it was supposed to be the best strategy.
How he got stuck with her, was something he was not informed of.
Perhaps that was done purposefully.
So, Gaara of the Desert was expecting Haruno Sakura. He expected he would become a bigger threat to her than Orochimaru in the days that were to come.
But, Uzamaki Naruto had a kind of attachment to her, and he owed him.
When it became time, he crept toward the door, and heard the most unpleasant and disgusting of sounds.
He was hearing her...cry.
Immediately he opened the door, with force but lacking sound, and low and behold, raking gasps were escaping her throat against her will, and her back was hunched in the slightest way as to suggest she was trying to stand up straight like the strong person she wasn't.
His eyes, rimmed with black, narrowed, his brow wrinkling.
Gaara was expecting Haruno Sakura.
But wasn't at the same time.
