SUNSET'S WHISPER

Disclaimer: I don't own Naruto

Reminisce

"You want me to give it up"? he hissed into her face. His ringed eyes were blazing, and for the first time in a long while, she was afraid of him. Every pore of his body radiated fury and contempt. "Give up my dream, my ambition, just for you"? There was a hissing noise in her ear and suddenly, she was aware of thousands of minute particles swirling madly around them, tiny stinging pinpricks against her unprotected arms, legs and her moist face. And in that minute, she was confused.

"I stand by what I said", she said, pleased with how calmly her voice came out. This time, she would not beg.

He appeared to expect that however, as he didn't hesitate. "Very well then". In a gesture heartbreakingly familiar to her, he walked away without a backward glance.

xxxxx

1. Departure

Why would people choose to live out here?

The sweltering heat of the desert didn't suit Haruno Sakura at all. Despite the protective clothing she'd worn, her delicate skin burned and flaked, and the hand she wiped across her forehead came away dripping in sweat. The fact that they were already two days late thanks to a sudden windstorm and a decided lack of sleep only added to her fatigue and irritation.

"Damn Ibiki to hell", she mumbled to herself, wincing at her chapped lips. He'd really known how to punish her, hadn't he? True, Tsunade had informed her that Ibiki or no Ibiki, as one of the top medical apprentices in Konoha, she'd have been trudging across this godforsaken desert anyway. As part of the newly implemented Konoha-Suna Training Scheme, shinobi from both villages were being exchanged to improve or learn new skills in areas such as alchemy, weapon use, chakra control and in Sakura's case, healing and medicine. However, Sakura couldn't help but feel that she'd been given less choice in the matter, compared to the other shinobi in the little troupe.

"I guess it's partly my fault, she mused as she bent down to clear her sandals of grainy sand. I was pretty rude to him after all, and I really shouldn't have said what I did about his brother…" Straightening, Sakura nearly stepped on a thorn, and was forced to perform a little hopping dance to avoid it. She cursed aloud, arms waving madly as she struggled to keep her balance on the shifting sand.

A large hand pressed firmly against her middle back managed to prevent any further humiliation, and Sakura turned and smiled gratefully at Hyuuga Neji, prodigy of the Hyuuga clan, jounin elite, and leader of the small Konoha party 'starting off' in Suna. She was guiltily pleased to notice that the desert hadn't been kind to Neji either – his normally flawless face was flushed from exertion, and his hair was a gritty rat's nest. The sight of her normally staid and controlled friend appearing so disgruntled cheered her immediately.

As if he knew what she was thinking, Neji's mouth quirked upwards slightly in a rueful smile.

"I doubt we resemble our identification photos in the least".

"No". Sakura smiled back, reaching out in a feeble attempt to draw Neji's hair back under his forehead protector. All she succeeded in doing was releasing more strands, which flew immediately into her face. She laughed with some exasperation, and decided that as she'd paused, she might as well re-hydrate in the process. Coming up beside them, Tenten, Rock Lee and Aburame Shino also stopped and uncorked their water skins.

"The flame of youth burns bright"! Lee announced, somehow finding the energy to do a Nice Guy pose, blinding teeth and all.

"How much longer"? Tenten panted, greedily swallowing the precious liquid, careful not to miss a drop. "God, I can't wait to have a bath".

"Taking into account our delay", Neji responded. "I'm guessing we can be there before sunset. Unless another storm occurs, we shouldn't have to spend another night out here".

"I certainly hope not", Tenten murmured, shuddering even in the heat. Sakura privately agreed; they'd all near-frozen for the last three nights they'd spent in the desert, and during the night of the windstorm, only Shino's bugs had alerted the party that they'd camped extremely closely to a nest of deadly scorpions, which had resulted in tramping through blindingly violent winds to take refuge at a safer site. Sighing, she re-corked her bottle and nudged it firmly into the darkest part of her backpack.

"Let's just go", she muttered. "I want the next few months to be over already, then we can go home".

Neji agreed, and they set off again. Hoisting her pack to her shoulders, Tenten gave Sakura an enquiring look.

"Aren't you looking forward to Suna, Sakura"? she asked, a note of curiosity in her voice. Sakura snorted.

"Looking forward to training a bunch of snotty-nosed graduate medics who can't tell a vein from an artery? Not likely".

"You know that's not what I mean", Tenten responded. She cast Sakura a cheeky look. "Gaara's Kazekage after all; don't you want to see him"?

Of course. Tenten was referring to the three years the Gaara and his siblings had stayed in Konoha when they'd been fifteen, exiled in a way, from their home village as the ultimate 'peace offering' to Konoha. "Peace offering my ass, Sakura thought sourly. They couldn't wait for an excuse to get rid of him, and everyone knew it".

To her own surprise however, Sakura had developed an especially close relationship with a certain rusty-haired ninja known as the deadliest and most remorseless killer of their generation. A ninja now known as the twenty-year old Kazekage of the Sand, whose reputation itself was enough to cause even the wealthiest and most aggressive Kages to hesitate to offend Suna. Even though she'd known he would have to return eventually, Sakura had firmly believed they'd developed an unshakeable bond, once which would last for an eternity.

And then her own selfishness had ruined it all. As a result, she hadn't seen or spoken to him in two whole years.

"I suppose", Sakura replied after a brief pause, keeping her voice as neutral as she could manage. Beside her however, Tenten raised an eyebrow; her sharp eyes and ears hadn't missed the slight hesitation.

"Lover's quarrel"? she asked playfully.

"It was nothing like that"! Sakura retorted. "We were friends - it's just that– well", she faltered slightly, meeting Tenten's sympathetic eyes. "We didn't part on the best terms that's all", she finished lamely, feeling her shoulders sagging as the memories surfaced, and the full implications of spending a few months in Suna suddenly materialized in her mind. She was going to have to see him. Report to him. Train and grade Suna ninjas under his supervision, maybe even teach him some of the medical techniques she'd prepared. He'd probably never forgiven her, and never would, she panicked. Because in the end, hadn't she let him down, exactly what he'd feared the people he came to care for would do?

Sakura felt a pricking in her eyes, and wondered how she could possibly explain to Tenten how much she both dreaded and looked forward to arriving at Suna. Every time she allowed herself to speculate, the mixture of emotions almost overwhelmed her; sadness, fear, anticipation, and tightly beneath it all, a desperate yearning to see him, touch him, and possibly regain some of what had been lost.

"He probably hates me", she whispered. It was all my fault. Damn, why couldn't Naruto have come with us right now? Her blond friend with the sapphire eyes and wide grin was the sunshine of her life, and had always by his mere presence, managed to make things look brighter.

"Then it's just as well that you'll have a chance to work things out", Neji's smooth voice from in front of her suddenly spoke up. If she hadn't been so sunk into gloom, Sakura would have attempted to send him flying for his blatant eavesdropping. Tenten did it for her instead, flicking the scarf she wore around her mouth to keep out the sand at her captain's neck. Neji evaded it gracefully as always. As he angled his body slightly to the right, Tenten noticed the scowl on his face, quickly hidden. She smiled to herself. Let Gaara treat Sakura badly if he dared!

"I'm sure he doesn't hate you, Sakura", she began kindly, feeling somewhat abashed at having brought on the misery in her fellow kunoichi's eyes. But Neji interrupted her. He was all team leader now, practical and professional.

"I never knew Gaara that well", he said. "Neither did Tenten or Shino here. Even Lee wasn't as...close to him as you were". He waved a hand over the small party. "It will be in all our interests that you repair that friendship as soon as you can". He ignored Tenten's frown of reprimand, watching Sakura sternly. When it didn't appear as if she would protest or become distressed at his insensitivity, he went on. "This way, it will be easier for you to act as an intermediary between us and the Kazekage, to approach him with problems, and offer new ideas and suggestions to improve the program. Overall, this will contribute to the success of this mission, for both Konoha and Suna. That is partly why the Hokage requested you on this mission was it not? Answer me, Sakura", he barked when she just stared into space.

Blinking a little at his abrupt tone, Sakura looked onto the ground and nodded. "I know, Neji", she said quietly. "I'll try. I promise". There was an awkward pause for a moment, as the party's reflected weariness and fatigue appeared to suddenly come to a head. Then Shino, who had barely said a word for the last hour, suddenly spoke up.

"My bugs have detected civilization around 30 miles straight ahead". He announced in his quiet voice. "At the very most, we should be at Suna within two hours."

xxxxx

A.N. Reviews are my poison. They keep me going!

Also, this story might seem a little familiar to the 20 or so people who read this story aeons ago (I think sometime back in April). I got distracted by both life and my other story 'Manevuers', and haven't updated since, so my deepest apologies! I did a complete re-edit and will hopefully have a second chappie up soon.