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7 Memories of Pain
Bulling hurts.
It really does.
Sad part is that not many people recognize this fact and if they do; they don't know how to help the situation.
My mission?
Get the word out.
Help people recognize the signs and know what to do.
Problem?
My name is Sabaku no Gaara.
And I was a former bully.
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
"Okay, Gaara? We'll get started okay." A pink haired young woman smiled at her red headed apprentice. They were standing outside the front of a café, with the warm sun beating down on their skin and the cool wind blowing through the trees. It was the beginning of summer; the time for fun, partying and getting drunk until it hurts.
"Hn." Gaara growled, snatching the stack of papers out from her outstretched hand and glaring at her. 'What the fuck is wrong with this pink haired freak?' He stalked out into the middle of the sidewalk and stood there for a moment, sending various people death glares as they quickly passed him.
Vibrant emerald eyes followed his movements with pity as he scowled and began giving out the papers; muttering incomprehensible things while shoving the flyers into the pedestrian's chest's, stomachs, backs and faces. "Gaara!" She shrieked and dashed over to him, grabbing his wrist in her small hands before he slapped the flyer into a small child's face.
"What?" He growled, his teal eyes narrowing as he yanked his hand out of hers.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Her emerald eyes flared as she tucked a strand of her pink hair behind her ear, revealing the rarely seen sea-foam green cartilage piercing.
"Handing out flyers." The red head muttered, sticking his arm out and shoving anther flyer in a middle aged woman's face. He smirked and adjusted his shades as he eyed the fuming pink haired woman in front of him. She wore a simple light pink baby doll dress paired with white short shorts and black gladiator like sandals. Her long pink hair was tied in a messy bun atop her head with some fringes falling out and framing her face. Atop the bridge of her nose rested aviator shades, rimmed in gold and rhinestones. His gaze fell to her crossed arms right below her full breasts; which her low cut doll top revealed plenty of.
"Of course you are." Sakura heaved a heavy sigh and ran her long, elegant fingers though her hair and down the side of her neck. "Okay okay, let's take a break and get something to cool down with…coffee?" Her eyes glanced at the coffee shop to her side. "Ice-coffee…you like coffee right?"
Gaara frowned but nodded, tossing the remainder of the flyers onto a nearby table, ignoring them as the spilled on to the ground and walking inside.
"That's called littering you know." The pinkett muttered, following closely behind him. Her green eyes scanned down the back of the red head; noting his choice of color on the hot day. He wore a white wife-beater beneath a simple black short sleeved dress shirt and black khaki's. On his feet were old, beat up Vans with black and white checkered laces.
Sakura walked into the shop behind him to be met with cool air blowing down from above. "Ohh the wonders of air-conditioning…" She sighed dreamily.
"Hn…What do you want?" Gaara growled in front of her, at the counter.
"Oh! Uh…Ice-Latte…"
"Hn…what she said." He scowled at the blushing barista.
"O-Okay!" The long haired blonde barista gushed as she quickly ordered the two coffees. "My name is Ino by the way…" She turned around with the two ice-lattes and batted her long, fake eye lashes.
"Hn." The red head nodded, glancing to his right to see Sakura making her way to the back of the café.
Ino scowled, not satisfied with his reaction she placed the two lattes on the counter and purposely leaned forward, giving Gaara an eyeful of her chest. "So what's your name handsome?" She asked, lowering her voice.
"How much?" He drawled, keeping an eye on the pinkett as she settled herself in the back corner on the deep lavender couch.
"Look; I don't normally go for your type but your hot so-"
Gaara pointedly ignored the blonde, reaching into his pant pocket to pull out his wallet and handed her a crisp ten dollar bill.
Ino snarled, disgusted with his attitude. "What the he-"
"Either shut up and take the money or give me the shit for free." He growled, glaring at her.
"Uh…uhm…you-your change is-"
"Keep it." He growled and grabbed the two medium sized ice-lattes with extra foam then proceeded to the back of the café.
'Stupid woman.' He glared icily at the few patrons in the café, pointedly avoiding them and scowling when they glanced his way.
"You're never going to make friends when you walk around looking like that." Sakura's voice caught his attention as he walked up to the sofa.
"Do I look like I give a shit?" He muttered, handing her a latte and sitting beside her.
"It was just an observation." She sipped the icy goodness and reclined back; reveling in the feeling as it slid down the back of her hot throat, cooling her insides. Her calm gaze swept the café, noting the lack of customers in the mid-morning as well as the glaring blonde barista. 'What's her problem?' She chewed her lower lip as she watched the woman move edgily around the counter, cleaning the table tops and re-filling the milk containers.
Gaara watched Sakura's expression as she slowly sipped her ice-latte; her gaze locked on something past him. 'What the hell is she looking at?' His teal eyes followed her as her face went from confused to surprised to annoyed. 'If she's fucking checking out some asshole while I'm here I'll fucki-'
"Why's that blonde headed woman glaring at you?" She cut off his mental rant.
"What?"
He followed her gaze to see Ino frowning at him; her jaw working as if trying to control her temper. "I have no fucking idea."
Sakura raised a perfectly plucked eyebrow at him. "Oh really?" She shifted slightly, adjusting her pink purse so it was now between the two of them. "So she just decided to hate you and constantly stare at the back of our head?"
"Hey if she's a fucking mental chick that has anger issues it's not my problem now is it?" Gaara asked coolly, reclining back onto the sofa and draping one arm over the back of the couch behind Sakura's head. He adjusted his shades before taking a sip of his latte and working his jaw.
"What? Do you not like it or something?"
He glanced down at the pinkett and shrugged. "It's fine."
Half an hour later the two strolled out of the café, with Sakura sipping her second iced latte, her emerald eyes continually darted up to the red head beside her, a question dancing on her lips. A few seconds past with the now warm mid-morning wind blowing down the sidewalk and more pedestrians strolling up and down; some going for brunch others now waking and going for their morning cup of java.
Sakura once again glanced up at Gaara, toying with a strand of her pink hair before she stopped sipping her latte and cleared the throat. "Gaara?"
"What?" He answered, staring straight ahead, adjusting his shades on the bridge of his nose.
The pinkett pouted and nudged her shoulder with his to gain his attention. "What'd you do to get in this much trouble?" She asked artlessly, sipping her latte once again.
"Why do you care why I got in trouble?" Gaara snarled, pushing her shoulder away from him.
"Because."
"Great explanation."
"You got in trouble."
He racked his hand though his messy red hair. "Really? So that's why I'm here."
"I want to know why."
"I punched some loser."
Sakura scowled. "You beat him to a bloody pulp."
"If you already know then why are you asking?"
"I want to know what you have to say."
"Oh so now you're playing referee or something? If you find out I'm a good boy are you going to go running to the principal and tell them to let me off the hook? Are you going to be rewarded if you suddenly get through to me? Stop me from being a bad boy?" He mocked, a cruel smirk resting on his lips.
"What? No…"
"Then it's no concern of yours now is it." Gaara derided leaning down to her eye level. "My life is mine alone. You don't know me and I don't know you. I was forced to do this anti-bullying shit and as far as I'm concerned it's fucking pointless. The moment I'm done, I'm gone. Got it?"
Sakura narrowed her emerald eyes and her petite hands flew up to the sides of his face and she held him there. "Okay, my turn." She mimicked his leering smile. "You are a cruel, sadistic, malicious person. And I believe that is all just a façade." Gaara snarled, pulling back away from a little only to have her long, manicured nails dig into the sides of his face. "I think you are actually a pleasant person to be around once you drop that attitude."
"Like I give a flying shit about what you think." He growled, glaring at her, turning his check away from the cold latte pushing against the side of his face.
"Oh I think you do." She smiled. "See, I like you. You remind me of a friend of mine and I think we'd have a lot of fun together. Perhaps you know him?"
Awkward silence.
"See his name is Naruto. Ring a bell?"
No response.
"Okay well let's go visit him shall we?" She released his face then looped her arm though his.
Gaara stared down at the pinkett on his arm with a look of distaste in his eyes. 'What the hell is wrong with this girl?' He eyed her as they walked down the sidewalk. 'She's bossy, demanding, controlling, weird, and opinionated and well hell everything else that can be fucking annoying.'
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
Naruto scrunched his face in concentration as he stared at the badass, red headed male sitting on his couch. He furred his eyebrows and squinted his sparkling cerulean eyes as he leaned forward on his chair, taking in the read head. 'Seems familiar…I met this guy before…didn't I?'
"Naruto, this is Gaara." Sakura gestured to the red head smiling. "You two met before remember?"
"We did?" Gaara drawled, sighed and closing his teal eyes.
"Yup. Way back in…well when you two were kids. Remember?" Sakura took a seat on the loveseat, kicked off her gladiator sandals and propped her feet up on the coffee table. "It was before we were friends Naruto." Her emerald eyes focused on the spiky blonde. "We went on a field trip and met up with the other school, in the large arena you two started fighting. Drove Kakashi-Sensei insane trying to calm you down Naruto." She sunk down lower in the chair. "Anyways after the fight, and a few lectures from all the sensei's you two met up again at the snack bar. Unintentionally of course. Anyways Naruto you sat in the coroner sulking until he walked in then you marched up to him and started yelling about how he had no right to pick a fight with you and he should be nicer. That he wouldn't make any friends if he just picked a fight with whomever he wanted."
Naruto burst out laughing and fell onto the couch. "You know, it sounds just like me!" His sparkling eyes began tearing up. "I sort of remember yelling at a guy, real mean looking too! With no eyebrows and red hair!" He wiped the tears rolling down his cheeks. "But-but I" another fit of laughter erupted within him. "He looked so evil!"
Gaara sighed and glared at the spiky blonde having a laughing fit on the couch in front of him. He crossed his legs; placing his right ankle atop his left knee and closed his teal eyes. 'Oh for the-I should have known. A girl like her would have friends like him…all hyper and idiotic…makes me want to defenestrate myself.'
"Naruto that boy you remember is him." She pointed a long, perfectly manicured finger at the red head. "He's grown into this guy right here."
Baby blue eyes shot open to gawk at Gaara. "NO! Really?" He studied that male intently. 'Same red hair, no eyebrows, same tattoo, same glare of death. Yup. It's really him.' Naruto chuckled, stood up and stuck his hand out to annoyed red head.
Gaara just stared at the extended hand in front of him in disdain.
"Shake." Naruto grinned.
"What?"
"Shake my hand." He repeated.
"Why."
"Cause that's what you do when you haven't seen someone in a long time." Sparkling cerulean eyes opened to meet irritated teal orbs. "Aw C'mon shake it-it's not like I have cooties or anything." He laughed.
'As far as I know.' Gaara sighed and tensely reached out and grasped Naruto's awaiting hand.
"See no harm done!"
Sakura laughed and clapped, a huge grin glued to her face. "Aww are we all best of friends now?" She chirped, batting her long lashes.
"Fuck no." Gaara growled, jerking his hand back and wiping it on his pant leg.
"Hell yeah!" Naruto high fived Sakura.
Awkward silence.
"So, why you here Sakura?" Naruto asked, turning his attention to the pinkett while he adjusted his black dress shirt's collar.
"Oh, well Gaara here was being a dick so I though hanging out with you might help." She stated simply, smiling at Gaara.
"Huh…okay…" Cerulean eyes danced between the two. "Well how about we go out for lunch? Well a late lunch…I'm hungry." He laughed awkwardly. "I'll drive."
"Sure." Sakura nodded. "No ramen. Let's eat some real food for once."
Naruto pouted but nodded. "Hey, let me just grab my keys and we'll take the Hummer?" He cast a glance at the two sitting in the living room before opening the closet door.
"Sure." Sakura stated, standing and stretching her back. "Let's get going Gaara." She smiled down at the still seated red head. "Naru's bathroom is over there if you need to go." Her long manicured finger pointed to a hallway near the patio door. "I'm going to go outside for a bit kay?"
"Kay Saku." Naruto's deep voice echoed from the kitchen. "I gotta find my keys anyway!"
Sakura laughed as she strolled over to the white patio door, unlocking it and opening it, smiling as the cool breeze rushed over her skin. "You check your pants?" She offered, pushing open both patio doors and walking out. Her emerald eyes swept the backyard, admiring the grounds work and taking a seat on one of the patio chairs.
The backyard was amazing; Naruto had added white benches around the pond where the ducks swam and had added a concrete pathway around the pool and up to the house and patio, he finally finished renovating the pool house which was freshly painted a light orange; a nice contrast to the white house. He had given the garage a facelift; painting it white to match the house and adding on to it so he could park his motorcycle and biking equipment in there.
'Wow he's done a lot of work since last I've been to his place.' She chewed her lower lip, crossing her legs and adjusting the baby doll top. 'Aw I left my shades inside…' She was about to stand up when a pale hand shot in front of her face holding her gold rimmed aviator sunglasses. "Huh?" Her emerald eyes followed the length of the pale, muscular arm up to meet teal eyes.
"You left this inside." Gaara mumbled, thrusting her shades onto her lap.
"Oh-thanks." Pink dusted her cheeks as she fingered the rhinestones on the side. "You di-"
"It's been glued to your face since this morning." Was all he muttered before turning his back to her and staring out into the backyard?
After a few minutes Naruto came bounding out of the house, keys in hand. "Hey guys! Found the keys! You wouldn't believe where they were!" He waved as he jogged down the pathway. "It was stuck in my-"
"Naruto come here." Sakura called, slinging her large, pink purse over her shoulder. "You're-you look a mess…" She motioned with her hands for him to come over. "What were you doing in there?" Her lips smacked as she adjusted the shoulders and collar then tucked the end of the shirt tail into his pants. "Looks like you got into a fight with yourself and lost…" She eyed him over the rim of her sunglasses as she adjusted the front of the shirt, buttoning some up the buttons and straightening his chain.
"Heh well you see before you know how it was unbuttoned?" He motioned down the now buttoned front of his shirt. "Well I fixed it and buttoned it all up but then the arms…" He held out his muscular tanned arms for her to see. It looked like he had tried to roll up the sleeves but instead just pushed them up his forearms.
Sakura chortled and shook her head. "Hold out your arm Naru." She ordered and unrolled the messy sleeves and fixed them so they were now rolled up to his elbows. "Better?"
"Haha yeah…" Naruto laughed and kissed her forehead. "Gee thanks Saku. Not sure what I'd do without ya."
"Probably perish in an unsuspecting flood."
"Flood?"
Emerald eyes glanced up at the male beside her as they made their way down to his Hummer where Gaara was waiting. "Yeah, in your bathtub."
Cerulean eyes stared up at the blue sky for a moment. "What a way to go…death by bathtub…" He mussed idly.
Gaara eyed the two before hoping in the backseat, ignoring Sakura as she opened the passenger door and stared at him. "Psssttt." She batted her hand against the seat. "Psssttt…hey you…" Her eyes remained trained on the impassive red head. "Yeah you! With the red hair and kanji tattoo…psssttt"
He sighed and lulled his head to face her. "What?" He drawled.
"You can sit up front you know." She whispered loudly.
'What the fuck is wrong with this girl?' Gaara watched her as she shrugged at Naruto then tried to climb into the Hummer; struggling. She tossed her bag onto the seat and tried to pull herself up; her legs too short to push her into the Hummer. 'Oh hell…' He rolled his eyes and reached forward between the drivers and passenger seat to grab her upper arm and pull her into the seat.
"Oh-thanks!" She chirped, her face dusting pink as the aviator shades slid down the bridge of her nose.
"Hn." He fell back into his seat as Naruto climbed into the driver's side. "Oh Saku! Man sorry, I always forget how short you are without those high heels of yours." He laughed and grabbed her by her waste to stop her from falling out the open door. "C'mon and close the door." His voice tumbled out as he laughed and stared the engine. "I get so use to you wearing those shoes that it's freaking weird without you having them on."
"Yeah yeah." She mumbled, buckling her seatbelt and fixing her clothing.
"Where are you taking me?" Gaara's deep voice emanated from the back seat as Naruto slowly drove out of his drive way.
"Ah you talk!" The spiky blonde laughed and turned on the indicator. "To this restaurant I know, real nice place. Gorgeous décor with just a touch of the westerns in it." His cerulean eyes looked back at Gaara though the rearview mirror. "Nice waitresses too if you know what I mean." He winked and laughed.
"Naruto." Sakura warned.
"Okay okay, its real risqué in a classy kind of way; the foods great, serving steak, sea food, sushi, and ramen. Everyone's happy."
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"So Gaara." Naruto stared, sipping his ice cold Heineken. "How've ya been?"
"Fine." Gaara answered, stirring his Vodka mixed with Coca-Cola.
Cerulean eyes studded the male in front of him then the female beside him. Sakura sat by Gaara's side, nursing her shot of Tequila.
"So how's work going Saku?"
"Eh…you try working for Kaka-Sempai and tell me about it." She scrunched her nose and turned to Gaara. "I'm Kakashi's teachers assistant. Not fun."
"Ah." The red head nodded.
"How's life with Jiraiya?" She asked.
"It's Jiraiya." Naruto stated. "What do you think?"
"Heh, hey a job's a job." She moaned.
"Yeah…What about you?" Naruto interjected, asking Gaara.
Gaara glanced at him and shrugged. "Nothing."
"Nothing?!" Sakura and Gaara chimed together.
"Yeah. Nothing." Teal eyes closed as he gulped down his Vodka.
"How can you do nothing?" Naruto wondered, smiling as the waitress brought them their meals. "I mean how do you make money?"
Gaara sighed and he moved his glass out of the way for the waitress to place his stake in front of him. "I'm rich." Was all he muttered, before he cut into his steaming steak.
Sakura eyed the male beside her, taking in his expensive dress shirt and wife beater again. 'Born rich…well I was too, but still I'm working…though I guess family life plays a big deal and from what I gathered he didn't have much of that…'
Naruto downed his Heineken, watching Gaara over the rim of the glass. 'Not working…not working at all yet still having money…damn that sounds nice.' His gaze flashed to his pink haired friend. 'But thanks to Saku I have money in my wallet, and Goddamnit I'm grateful to her, hell I'm grateful to have a job to go to everyday….Not that I'm exactly ecstatic to work with Jiraiya but still…'
Awkward silence.
"So Gaara…you ah…haven't changed have you buddy?" Naruto asked, stirring his Ramen.
Teal eyes glared up at him under red fingers. "I'm not your buddy." He growled.
"Hey, I'm taking you out to lunch. You're my buddy." He grinned. "So come one, lighten up."
Gaara glared his famous death glare at the spiky blonde in front of him.
"Okay." Naruto nodded. "Fare enough, I'm pushing you. But just know that we-Saku and I are here."
"Yeah. Life's tough but we're here for you." Sakura smiled, poking his arm. "I mean yeah, we kinda just met a little bit but still; if you got no one in your life then that's not really living is it?"
Gaara worked his jaw as he cut into his juicy stake, his eyes darting up to the pinkett by his side and the spiky haired male in front of him. They were laughing, drinking, and having fun; trying to make him feel at home.
"Hey, red haired freak." A man's grueling voice appeared by their table. They looked up to see a big man with spiky blue hair and blue paint smeared on his face looming over them. "My girl friend thinks you're fucking hot." He leaned down to Gaara's eye level. "And I don't like that." He snarled.
"And that's my problem?" Gaara asked, glaring back at the man.
"Yeah. Yeah it is boy." The man worked his jaw, flashing his sharp, white teeth. "So you know w-"
"Get the hell out of here asshole." Sakura smacked her lips and stood up in the booth. "Like it's our fault your girl has good taste but unfortunately ended up with you?" She placed her right hand on her hip, the left one she placed on the back of the booth to keep her balance. "Don't try and make it our problem that your face is ugly okay? Be a fucking man, grow and dick, and deal with your horny girl."
"Heh, yeah." Naruto stood up and stepped out of the booth. "Leave before you cause trouble. You already disturbed our meal, don't piss us off more."
"Listen kid." The man flexed his neck, his beady eyes trained on Sakura. "I don't give a flying shit what yo-"
"Sir." One of the waiters intervened. "I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave now." He grabbed the man by his elbow and pulled. "You are disturbing our guests. This is not a bar, we do not tolerate fights."
Gaara scowled as he watched the man leave then he turned his attention back to Naruto and Sakura. Naruto had token his seat and resumed eating, ordering another beer; this time Corona. But Sakura still remained standing, her emerald eyes watching as they kicked the man and his girlfriend out and called a cab.
"Sit down." He ordered her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her back down to sit. "You didn't have to do that." He muttered.
"Yah well like I said, you're a friend and friends watch each other's back." Naruto shrugged, stuffing his mouth full of Ramen.
Gaara nodded absently, his mind wandering away.
'As a kid I was picked on, excluded from everyone for something I couldn't control. It wasn't my fucking fault that my mother died giving birth to me, it wasn't my goddamn choice to be born a monster, it wasn't something I could control; this life I was born into. I know this fact and I know it well; but just because I know it doesn't mean I can accept it. I won't fucking accept it because no matter how many times I fucking tried to explain this to people; they won't listen. Goddamnit, its hard living with no one by your side.'
He closed his teal eyes and sighed, leaning forward and rubbing the back of his neck. "Hey you okay?" Sakura asked, her small, petite hand rubbing his shoulder.
Gaara eyed the girl next to him, taking in her concerned emerald eyes, her loss of appetite and full attention.
"You doing okay there buddy?" Naruto kicked his leg, stuffing his face full of Ramen, his cerulean eyes boring a hole into Gaara's forehead.
"Yeah." He nodded, head tilted down with the faintest hint of a smile dancing on his lips.
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"So I'll see you tomorrow Gaara?"
"Hn."
Sakura sighed and worked her jaw as she closed her emerald eyes. "I'll take that as a yes. In front of the coffee shop again?"
"Hn." Gaara mumbled, turning on his heels and walking away from the two.
"You sure you don't want a ride? It's no trouble!" Naruto yelled after the departing red head.
"Naru….I don't think he wants a ride." Sakura laughed half heartedly, patting his shoulder. "But I would like to crash at your place tonight if you don't mind."
"Of course not!" Naruto laughed and swung his arm around her shoulder and proceeded to escort her to his Hummer. "So what's with the sudden interest in this guy?" He asked, his voice dropping low as they walked though the darkened parking lot together.
"Ehhhhh…Kaka-Sensei asked me to see to him…and what's with the 'this guy' reference? You just accepted him with no questions now your-"
"What'd Kakashi-Sensei do? And well you seemed to like him well enough and he doesn't seem like a real bad guy…a little misguided maybe, and he does have the badass thing down but I think there's a good enough reason for it." Naruto shrugged, reaching into his pant pocket to pull out a ring of keys and clicked the unlock button on the remote start.
"He's doing this anti-bulling thing and put me in charge of it." Sakura tucked a strand of her pink hair behind her ear. "And you think so too huh."
"Kakashi-Sensei is doing some program for anti-bullying?" His eyes glanced down at the pinkett by his side before he opened the passenger door for her. "Why do I find that hard to believe?" He asked before closing the door and walking around the front of the Hummer.
Sakura sighed a relaxing sigh and adjusted herself before Naruto opened the driver's door and got in. "Well it's more like if he doesn't do it he'll get fired." She answered.
"Oh so he's being forced to do it." He locked the doors and buckled his seat belt.
"Yeah…" She laughed. "Yeah he is."
"That makes more sense." Naruto chucked, staring the engine; relaxing as his Hummer jumped to life. "So what'd Gaara do to get put in it?"
Sakura sighed and buckled her seat belt, slipping off her shoes and settling into the seat once again. "He beat up Lee. Remember him?" Her emerald eyes flickering to the male beside her. "Gaara beat him to a bloody mess and Kakashi-Sensei decided to put him in the anti-bullying program. Ironic huh?"
Naruto nodded, his eyebrows raised as he reversed out of the parking lot and into the road. "What does Guy-Sensei have to say about it?"
"That Lee will heal better than before because he has the power of youth within him." She stated automatically.
"Of course." Naruto laughed, stopping at a red light. "But I meant about Gaara."
"Oh, well he said Kaka-Sempai's idea was brilliant and youthful that Gaara would make an excellent anti-bullying advocate."
"Huh…" Naruto chewed his lower lip as he turned the corner. "Was he on crack when all of this happened?"
"Huh?"
"Did Gaara unintentionally dress up as a magical panda at the meeting and that's why Guy-sensei said that?" Cerulean eyes sparkled with mischief.
"Well I don't think Gaara did the panda costume…" Sakura idly wondered.
"Cause I don't think Gaara looks like the anti bulling advocate Guy is thinking of." He teased. "You need some magical fairy dust? Because I think I got some stored in the back of my closet." He chuckled.
"I just may need some Naru…I just may need some…" Sakura chortled, closing her tired emerald eyes as
Naruto turned down the street and paused at the gate.
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Emerald eyes blinked awake as the warm morning sun beat in though the opened window. Sakura groaned as she turned over on her side, the white sheets crinkling with her every move. She sighed and buried her face in one of the fluffy, white pillows; her long pink hair sticking to her neck caked in sweat. 'Why does summer have to be so unbearably hot?' Her eyes tired slowly opened, to see the window open with cool air blowing in. 'Yet I'm covered in sweat.'
"Hey, you up yet?" Naruto's hushed voice called though her closed door.
"Yeah." Sakura mumbled, sitting up as the lone, white sheet covering her pooled at her waist.
The white door opened and Naruto stepped in, a grin on his face. "Hot?" He asked, walking in with a stack of papers in his hand. His cerulean eyes scanned the room, noting her clothing from yesterday askew on the flooring, along with her purse. He followed her trail of articles from the doorway to the bed; his eyes traveling up the messy bed sheets to her pouting form.
"Still tired?" He asked, sitting on one of the couches and placing the papers on the coffee table.
"Yeah…" She croaked, sighed and running a hand though her messy hair.
Naruto nodded, watching her. He noted her choice in pajama's and was glad he went shopping for her. She was wearing a simple pink wife beater and short shorts. 'It's a good thing I followed my mind and bought clothes for her.'
"What time is it?" She asked, stretching her stiff muscles and rolling her neck.
"You have time for a bath, breakfast, and tea before you need to meet Gaara. Naruto smiled at her.
Sakura scowled and swung her feet off the bed. "How can you be so…so-"
"I didn't drink as much as you." He stated and waved in the direction of the bathroom. "Go take a bath and relax. Breakfast will be ready when you're done."
She rolled her eyes and got out of bed, stretching once again before walking over to him seated on the couch. "Whatcha working on?" Her emerald eyes scanned the pile of papers on the coffee table then looked over his shoulder at the packet he was reading.
"Book." He murmured as she poured herself a cup of coffee then leaned against the wall.
"Oh yeah…How's that coming along?"
Naruto smiled up at her. "Good enough. It's not as easy as it looks, writing. Especially with Jiraiya."
Pink hair swayed as she nodded, gulping down the coffee then walking to the bathroom. "I'll go take my bath now."
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
Naruto scowled as he tried to flip the pancakes but achieved minimal results. 'Stupid pancakes…how the hell is it so hard to do?!' He sighed and gave up, grabbing the spatula and removing them normally.
"Naru?" Sakura's voice echoed down the hall.
"Kitchen." He answered, whipping his hands on a cloth then grabbing two plates filled with bacon, eggs, pancakes and toast.
Sakura sighed happily as she entered the kitchen wearing a white, baggy Hello Kitty tank with a small black bow in the middle with simple, plain pink short shorts and black ankle strap sandals. "Hey I'm awake now!" She chirped, gratefully accepting the mug he held out for her.
"I see." He grinned, nodding to the table. "Sit. Eat. I'm hungry."
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
'If he was just going to go back home then why the hell did I even bother?' Her eyes bore holes into his back. 'Made me walk all way into town only to walk back here…' this is Naruto's and my neighborhood!' Sakura sighed as Gaara led her up the long street, the houses became significantly larger with more acres and less neighbors to a gated community. They walked up to the guards in front of the gate, Sakura's heart palpitating in her chest with every step she took. 'Okay…if he's going to suddenly turn around and scream 'I KNOW WHERE YOU LIVE BITCH!' Then I'll…I'll-wait, he'd never do that…well yell anyway…but that still doesn't explain why were going into the neighborhood in which I live…'
"You know ironically I live around here too…" Sakura stated as she approached the guards at Gaara's side.
"Yeah?" Gaara eyed her.
"Yeah."
"Hey Sakura." The young guard waved at the pinkett.
"Hey You!" She chirped happily. "What's up?"
"Oh you know; same old same old. Guarding, doing my job."
"Well that's good." She smiled, adjusting the gold rimmed aviator shades on the bridge of her nose. "Anything interesting happened?"
"Nah, just Lady Shizune running around trying to catch Ton Ton again." The guard chuckled, adjusting this hat.
"Oh? Well I keep telling her to put a leash on him but she never listens." Sakura sighed, running her long fingers though the ends of her hair.
"Yeah, I told her the same thing but she just waved me off." The young guard then turned his attention to the silent red head. "Hello Gaara." He nodded, his bright smile fading a little. "Is there anything I can do for you Sir?"
"Open the gates." Was all he growled, marching up to the locked gate.
"Right." The guard nodded, turning to his fellow guard who opened the gates.
They watched as Gaara walked though, up the newly cleaned streets. "So, since when do you hang out with him?" The young guard turned his attention back to Sakura who had her eyes trained on the red head.
"Since today." She shrugged and slowly began following Gaara. "See ya later." She waved, smiling.
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pains
"Try and not break anything okay?" Gaara grumbled, unlocking the front door and motioning her inside.
Sakura 'hnn'ed and walked into his house, gasping as soon as he shut the door behind them. The house was more like a mansion.
"This isn't my house alone, my brother and sister live here too." He offered, tossing his keys onto a nearby table.
"Ohhh…"
"Tour?"
"What?" Sakura blinked stupidly.
"Do. You. Want. A. Tour." He repeated slowly.
Pink dusted her cheeks as she nodded, wandering around the entryway admiring the décor.
"There's four levels, not including the basement, attic, and servants floor." Gaara began, running his fingers though his hair.
"So there's seven in all?"
"Yeah."
"Why have so many?"
"Why not have so many?" He countered a conceded smirk on his lips. "One for me, Kankurou and Temari."
"Temari?"
"Sister."
"Oh. Right. Kankurou?"
"Brother."
"Right."
"One for entertainment, one for guests, one for storage."
Sakura chewed on her lower lip as she wandered into the kitchen and sat on one of its many stools by the rather large island. "I see no need for having such a large…place."
"Well it's not for you to see. You don't live here." He stated, placing iced cold bottled water in front of her then grabbing one for himself. "Besides if you live around here don't you have a big house?" He eyes her. "Or are you a servant?" He jeered, a sardonic smirk on his lips.
Emerald eyes glared daggers up at the male. "No I'm not a servant. And I do have a large house but unlike you, we make good use of it."
"Oh? What do you put up poor people?" his teal eyes turned sardonic.
"No…"
"Well then what 'good use' do you put the extra space to?"
Sakura sighed and twirled a strand of her pink hair in between her fingers. 'I should have just kept my mouth shut….' She smacked her lips before rolling her eyes and answering. "A few people crash at my place okay?"
Gaara let out a gush of air before turning around. "Elaborate."
"Kaka-Sensei and a few others okay."
"Who? You mean that gray haired Sensei? He lives with you?" He turned around and his teal eyes traveled down her frame. "I honestly didn't think you were that type of girl…"
"I'm not!" Her cheeks flushed red as she adjusted the bow on her tank and tracing the outline of Hello Kitty's head.
"Who else lives with you?"
"A few other people…"
"More sensei's? You're into the kinky stuff huh…"
"No! It's just Neji and Kiba…"
"More guys?" His teal eyes staring into her own. "You're a naughty little girl aren't you?"
Sakura pouted and stood up. "Oh why don't you shut up…" She turned on her heels and walked to the double doors and opened one, allowing the cool air to rush inside. "It's so nice out…let's go outside." Her pink hair flared out as she spun around to face his leering gaze. "We could go sit under the canopy thing over there." She pointed behind her smiling. "Yeah?"
Gaara sighed as walked up to her, his strides slow and easy. "I guess." He shrugged and opened the other door motioning for her to walk out.
He watched as she sauntered down the steps of the patio and around the small pond. She walked on the pathway, enjoying the feel of the warm sun as she made her way to the outdoor canopy swing set, complete with matching chairs, table and outdoor bar.
'Figures.' He shook his head as he followed her lead. "Want a drink?" He asked as he opened the bar and grabbed a bottle of Tequila and opened it.
"No thanks." She answered, playing with a strand of her hair. "So…uh Gaara?"
"Hn." He poured himself a drink and turned to face her.
"Will you tell me, why you did it? Why you beat up Lee and well…" She trailed off nervously.
"My life isn't as nicely as you picture it in that…unique head of yours." Gaara muttered, carefully choosing his words as he sat beside her.
"Gaara you're a high school student; what do you mean that there's things in life I won't understand?" Sakura asked and pulled out a sharpie marker from her purse.
"I mean-what the fuck are you going to do with that?" He glared at the black marker.
"Draw. Now explain." She ordered, grabbing his pale fist and placing it on the table in front of her.
"That I've been through-why the hell are you using mar-"
"Because if I use eyeliner it will smudge on your shirt."
"…"
"Continue."
"I don't want to."
Sakura scowled. "Well I'm telling you. And no cursing."
Gaara eyed the pink haired young girl barely half his size sitting beside him underneath the tree drawing on his hand. 'Telling me? I could pick her up and toss her across the street…' he sighed and closed his eyes, feeling the marker run smooth across his skin. "My name is Sabaku no Gaara. I am 17 years old and have been the target for abuse for 13 of those 17 years. My mother died while giving birth to me, my father from the moment of my birth began feeding me enhancement drugs; for fighting, my brother and sister were distant because of this. I was a lab rat, constantly being tested on and fed new drugs. I was blamed for my mother's death and shunned from my family because of the way my father treated me and what he did." His teal eyes flickered over to the pinkett by his side to see her long fingers tracing the veins in his forearms down to his fist. "The one person I thought I could turn to, in actuality hated me for killing my mother. In the end I suppose I was always alone."
Sakura shifted beside him and furred her eyebrows. "So that led you to be a bully?"
He snarled. "Nice way to put it."
"I mean…"
"I know what you meant."
"Then why are you taking offence?"
"Would you like to me for a day?"
"Actually yes. Yes I would."
"Would you now?" He looked down at her, a slightly surprised, pleased look on his face.
"Yes. Then I can understand why you're such a jackass to everyone around you."
"Gee thanks." He scowled down at his fist.
"You're more than welcome love." She winked, speaking with a British accent.
Gaara eyed the young woman in front of him 'What a weird chick…'
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
Gaara growled lowly as he made his way down the sidewalk, through the park and across the street to the medical center. He scowled down at the sidewalk as he dug in his pant pockets for his cigarette and lighter. 'Why does God hate me?' He sighed in relief when he found the lighter and placed the cigarette to his lips, cupping his hands around the flame then taking a deep drag out of the cigarette. His teal eyes glanced at the pinkett trailing behind him before his gaze flickered to the front door of the medical center. 'Can't exactly go in with her following my every move…'
"Are you really going to fucking follow me around everywhere I go?" Gaara drawled, taking a long drag out of his cigarette as he walked towards the shade provided by the building.
Sakura gaped at the red head standing in front of her. "Yes and are you smoking?!"
Teal eyes closed as he leaned back against the cool brink building behind him. "Yeah. It's a new day; don't you have something you should be doing?"
Green eyes flashed in anger before she plucked the cigarette out between his lips. "It's disgusting!"
"Told ya so bro." A deep voice chuckled.
"Shut up Kankurou." Gaara snapped glaring down at the pink haired girl fuming in front of him.
"What? You never smoked before so I don't see why you're doing it now." The male walked into the cool, grinning but standing a good seven feet away from the red head. "If I were you I'd back away from him a little bit Shorty." Kankurou smirked at Sakura.
"Shut up Kankurou." Gaara repeated, glaring at his older brother.
"What? I just don't want you to hurt the girl."
"You here to see Yashamaru?" Gaara asked, ignoring Sakura.
"Who are you?" Sakura spun around to face the male, noting the facial paint and his choice of clothing. He wore a simple black The Rasmus band shirt paired with old, ripped blue jeans and beat up black DC's. "And why is your face…so…decorated?"
Behind her Gaara snorted, trying not to actually laugh out loud.
Kankurou frowned at the pink haired girl and pulled out his phone. "I saw you and decided to come over and tell you Temari's coming over for dinner." He glanced at his younger brother then nodded. "I was but since you're here there's no need for us both." His gaze darted to Sakura before he dug in his pant pocket and retrieved a ring full of keys. "Give this to him will ya?" He tossed the ring to Gaara who caught it smoothly. "C'ya." He waved over his shoulder then walked away.
Awkward silence.
'So….that was Gaara's older brother?' She watched as he walked across the parking lot to his vintage, red 1968 Pontiac Firebird. He walked in slow strides, not at all in a hurry to reach where he was going. 'Not at all like Gaara.' Her vibrant emerald eyes flicked up to the red head behind her to see him puffing his cigarette, his eyes closed. "Gaara?"
"What?"
"So that was your brother?"
"Hn."
"Answer me." She demanded.
"…Yes."
"Oh…he's not at all like you." She stated, blinking.
"Thanks." He muttered sarcastically, shoving the ring of keys into his pant pocket.
Sakura sighed and began walking back and forth in a circle, twirling around and laughing. "What the hell are you doing?" Gaara asked, staring at her.
"Enjoying life." Was all she mumbled as the wind blew though the trees and she closed her eyes, enjoying the feel of the wind on her face.
Teal eyes watched as the wind swept her hair back off her shoulders, allowing for a full view of her long, elegant neck. His gaze traveled down to her exposed chest; today she opted for a low cut white, lacey cami with a pink bow in the middle paired with a light pink skirt that stopped just before mid-thigh. On her feet rested simple white flip flops though on her ankle rested a small silver chain with several small crosses on it.
"Hey, didn't I destroy your cigarette?" Sakura spoke, her eyes trained on his lips where a newly lit cigarette sat innocently.
Gaara closed his eyes. "New one. I do have more than one you know."
"Oh?" She raised a perfect, pink eye brow as she advanced further on him. "Well you do know what I need to do now don't you?" She held out her hand, palm up.
"What you want a high five or something?" He stared down at her outstretched hand.
"Cigarettes. Now." She growled darkly.
"Fuck no." Gaara snarled; until she snatched the cigarette from his lips again then reached inside his pockets to take his lighter and box of cigarettes. "What the fuck is wrong with you?!" He grumbled, grabbing her wrists and holding her in place.
"A lot of things." Sakura's eyes flashed in anger.
"And that's my fault?"
"Well maybe it is! No more smoking, you're quitting!"
"What the f-who the hell do you think you are?!"
"Your mum!"
"The fuck?"
"Shut up. You're quitting." She growled and flipped her long pink hair over her shoulder.
Gaara glared daggers at the small, petite girl in front of him. 'Why the hell does God hate me? Why of all the people in the world she chooses to annoy me? Why?' He sighed and ignored the pinkett, brushing past her in his way through the front doors into the medical center.
He stalked in, relishing the cool air as it brushed over his heated skin. Behind him trotted the upset Sakura, tailing him as he walked past the receptionist, flipping her off as she called out to him and nodding when he pointed over his shoulder to the pinkett.
They walked in silence down the long hallway until he reached an office; he knocked once then barged in. "Yashamaru." He mumbled, scanning the room until he located a man with semi long blonde hair sitting at a small table near the window. "Here." He tossed him the keys.
"Oh, thank you Gaara." The man replied, an amused look on his face. "I take it you all are done?"
"Yeah."
"So…"
"So we won't ever be going back to your house." Gaara growled then stalked out of the room and into Sakura who was poised at the door. "You know when you said you'd follow me everywhere I didn't think you meant it literally."
Sakura shrugged; a bored look on her face as she turned on her heels and folded her arms behind her head. "Sooo…where to now?" She asked innocently. 'Looks like they moved out of that guys place…but who is he? And why did they?' Her long hair swayed as she walked down the hall beside the red head.
Gaara glanced down at the pinkett and sighed. She had removed the gold rimmed aviator shades from her face and placed them atop her head, pulling some strands of her fringes back, giving him a clear view of her vibrant emerald eyes. "Pharmacy."
"Huh?"
Teal eyes rolled as he replaced his shades and began strolling down the hall. "You know the place where you get over the counter drugs?"
"I know what a pharmacy is." Sakura drawled lowly. "But why? We're in a medical center." She craned her neck to look up at the red head.
"Yeah."
"You mean you can't get whatever it is you need here?"
Gaara glanced at the white walls surrounding him. "I don't like this place."
"Oh." Sakura dropped the subject.
Together the two strolled out of the medical center and down the street to the local pharmacy, they walked in silence, enjoying the short walk and cool, calming air. They dodged late morning joggers and nanny's with babies in their arms, avoided coffee addicted assistants and early delivery guys. "Here." Gaara mumbled and stopped at the corner, turning to go inside the store.
Sakura nodded absently and trailed behind, adjusting her shades as she followed him throughout the lanes until he reached the medicine section. Her emerald eyes watched as he picked up a 200 count Aspirin bottle then reached for a bottle of 400 count Advil. She noted the way he shifted his weight on one foot to the next when his long, muscular arms grabbed another bottle. He was wearing a simple white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up his arms with a black wife beater and simple, casual jeans and black and white checkered Vans.
After a few minutes he turned to her then nodded at the casher, his ands filled with pain killers.
"Why so many?" She inquired as he pulled a crisp $50 from his wallet.
Gaara shrugged and collected the change.
"Don't tell me your addicted to smoking too…" Sakura sighed, eyeing the plastic bag filled with medicine.
Teal eyes glared down at the pinkett walking beside him. "Why the hell do you mean 'too'?"
"Watch your language." She chided and shrugged. "Where to next?"
"Go home." Gaara sighed and racked his fingers though his hair.
Sakura twisted her mouth as she studied the male beside her. 'He's less grouchy…which is good…he's changing…slowly but surely…' "Gaara? You know we have to pass out flyers again right?"
"What?"
"Tomorrow…and this time you need to do it the right way."
He heaved a heavy sigh and resumed walking, chewing on his inner cheek. "Thanks to you I'm going through withdrawal." He mumbled, rubbing the bridge of his nose.
Sakura nodded and stared down at her feet. "Hence the painkillers?"
"Hn."
"Still not going to get you out of passing out flyers politely tomorrow."
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
Gaara sighed as he took the flyers from Sakura's hands and walked to the middle of the busy sidewalk. He adjusted his sunglasses and ran his fingers though his messy red hair before he took one of the flyers and began handing them out to accepting pedestrians. "Sir?" He mumbled, handing a flyer to a male.
Sakura watched with a smile on her face. 'He's not shoving it into people, he's not calling them names, he's being polite, he's not harming the children…I knew he could do it!'
"What's with that stupid look on your face?" His deep voice interrupted her thoughts.
"Huh?" A lit tinge of pink dusted her cheeks.
The red headed male smirked as he handed out the last of the flyers to a group of 13 year old girls. "You have this absurd look on your face." He stated, turning his attention back to Sakura.
"I do not." She mumbled, cupping her hands around her cheeks. 'Well that's embarrassing…'
"Yeah you do." He strolled up to her, his teal eyes boring into her own. "What the hell are you thinking about?"
Sakura sighed and pulled down the front of her baggy black shirt. It was low cut, hugged her breasts, then flared out around her stomach to tapper in against her hips. She wore it with white short shorts and her black gladiator sandals. "I was just thinking of how much you've changed is all. And watch your language. There are kids around." Her voice fell small.
"Oh." Gaara's eyes turned dark as he though back to how he was. 'Yeah, I changed alright. A huge difference from being a bully to being an anti-bully. It's funny, the minute I opened up; was the minute I realized I wasn't alone in life. My idiotic 'friend' from the past always had my back, my stupid brother and annoying older sister had long since forgiven me and only wanted the best for me in life. And now this pink haired freak now wanted me by her side. It's fucking funny how life works. That so much wrong and bad could be done to one person and then suddenly all this good come to them. I went through so much pain as a child; none of which were my choosing and now I finally achieved just a little bit of happiness. It just fucking sucks that people can't understand that what they do to others hurts. And it hurts a lot.'
7 Memories of Pain 7 Memories of Pain
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