Better Than Me
It's days like these, staring out into Suna, that I recollect my memories. My childhood, my genin days, and the first chunin exams I attended…
"Thinking about her again, aren't you?"
My sister joined me on the roof of the Kazekage Tower. I remember when I didn't even consider her to be a sister to me. I regret those days. Temari's been there when I needed her the most.
"Why did she protect him?"
That girl…she's a friend of Naruto. Haruno Sakura. She protected my opponent during the exams, the Uchiha. The determination in her eyes when she stood to block me…the love…it startled me. Even though she clearly stood no chance against me, she stood her ground. But why?
"Why…does she love him?"
I had heard that the Uchiha left Konoha. The Hokage asked if my country could keep an eye out for him. I also heard that the Hokage had taken on a student. Why was she training under the Hokage?
I learned from Temari that Sakura had confronted the Uchiha the night he left. Temari had talked to a friend of hers in the Leaf, so Nara Shikamaru, about it. What could've the Uchiha said for Sakura to endure training under the Leaf's Slug Queen?
I decided to start training too. I wanted something to work for, like Naruto, but I also wanted to for her. I wanted to be better than him. The years passed with the training, and I became Kazekage. But was it enough?
"She's still looking for him, Gaara…"
"I know."
The Akatsuki threatened my life. Konoha sent two teams to aid my country, Team Kakashi, with Team Gai as backup. In my absence, my brother Kankuro was poisoned, and Sakura saved him. She, along with our elder Chiyo-baasama, faced an old traitor of my country. The traitor was defeated, but Sakura…had only gained a sliver of hope.
I was saved, given my life back thanks to Chiyo, but Sakura did not cry over me. She was with Chiyo-baasama. I didn't know what to say to her, not then, not even on the journey back to my Hidden Village. But in her eyes during the trip back was the same determination she had when she faced off against me.
What did you say…
Uchiha…Sasuke…?
I was gracious to the Konoha squads. I offered them time to recuperate. But they wouldn't have it.
"We have another mission to attend to," Naruto's sensei stated. I knew it had to do with him.
I had to say something to her. But what? I could only think of one thing. I turned to her.
"Thank you."
Her bright eyes dulled. I could see that pools of tears had started to gather. She turned away and walked off.
So that was what you had said. That's why she trained. Why she searched. Why she healed. Why she cried.
It's also why she loves you.
"He's always been better than me…"
Temari took on the task of being a comforting sister, but I couldn't believe her.
He has her, even if she hasn't found him yet.
He's better than me.
A/N: Good, bad? Sorry, I'm not much of a GaaSaku fan. But, I enjoyed writing from Gaara's point of view, since I've never really had a connection with his character. I'm surprised I could even write from his view. ; The song "Better Than Me" by Hinder inspired me, if you didn't notice by the title. Anyway, thanks for reading a please review!