Prologue~
She was staring out of the large window, gazing at the crystal clear night sky. The bright moon that cast a lazy white light over the village leaving it looking somewhat ethereal, with a backdrop of the sparkling sky.
A cool breeze drifted through the open window causing her to snuggle backwards into the warm body wrapped around her. The arm draped over her waist tightened its hold, making her feel secure. Yet she was sad and conflicted at the same time.
She was biding her time until she knew he was deeply asleep. Right now he was merely dozing and any movement would wake the man she was currently sharing a bed with. She deeply hated her decision, but had not found another solution to her problem.
Two days ago she was in the marketplace in Suna, wandering around like she normally did on her days off. She loved this village. It was a lot quieter than Konoha. She did miss the green, but she felt extra useful here, not to mention she was starting to get to know the villagers. Waving to them as she passed their stalls or carts holding staple wares of the country. And some with rare items brought by trade routes from the other nations. She heard a couple girls she knew to be gossipers. She use to think they were just a bunch of harpies chattering away about any nonsense they heard, but there had been a few times their words had rang true. Likely they were drug out of some lonely shinobi between the sheets and the girls spread legs. Which was unfortunate because –he- didn't need rumors spread among the people about anything that was supposed to be top secret.
None the less, she overheard the woman talking about the impending visit from the Daiyamo and his daughter. How they had heard that the Daiyamo was planning to marry his daughter to the Kazekage to strengthenthe alliance between their conjoined leadership among the people.
Sakura had dismissed the conversation and went on her way. Later that evening Temari had told her that the hospital needed to be in top condition due to the Daiyamo coming to inspect various areas in the city that they had been working to improve. She also didn't miss the offhanded gripe come from the blonde woman about hating the man's daughter who was also supposed to be there.
That night she had lain in bed thinking about this. And tears slipped out the corner of her eyes in silent streams as her mind weighed the cost of her dreams versus the need in the village. She knew he loved his village, and had worked hard to make it a better place not only for shinobi, but for civilians alike. She could not bring herself to be selfish. It could ruin everything for him.
She knew from experience in her own village how fickle the Daiyamo could be. How unforgiving, and how they could make a village miserable. Using their influence on other villages and districts within the nation they could cut much needed trades or raise taxes to ridiculous amounts. Bringing a prosperous village into poverty on a whim.
He already had enough to contend with dealing with the Elders of this place who had wished him dead long ago despite his running successes in bringing prosperity to the hidden sand.
By the morning she had decided to leave. She had to go. Because she couldn't bare it if he told her he was going to marry the Daiyamo's daughter, and if he wasn't, she wouldn't let him make a decision that would cause any harm to this village. In any form.
And if he knew her secret she knew for sure he would never do what was best for his people.
Two weeks ago, Sakura found out she was pregnant.
She smiled at the thought of having a child, and wondered what it looked like. She had lain in his arms the news on the tip of her tongue when they had talked long into the night about nothing and everything.
Reminicing on the past year brought a smile to her face. A month ago had been a year exactly from when she had come to Suna on a mission with an open duration. At the request of the Kazekage for a medical ninja that could help train more staff for the new hospital and help in coordinating renovations as well as new construction to maximize functionality. She had included adding greenhouses annexed to the hospital and created a division that specialized in creating medicines.
Not only brewing known remedies, but also a special group that created new ones. She had ordered seeds from several of the surrounding nations and worked hard to cultivate the plants in special green houses that had been made to mimic certain conditions.
They had fought for several things that caused her budget to grow, debated needs for the new facility and what was cost effective. She had won most arguments but he had stood his ground on a few as well. They had spent many nights going over blueprints and general proposals that she put together to try and implement. These 'meetings' usually came with food ordered from one of the local resaurants. Sometimes they would meet to talk during lunch or even talk during sparing matches while training.
One day during a rather heated argument about whether they needed a special wing for hospice. Gaara had said they had a facility for their elderly but Sakura had argued vehemently that it was grossly unequipped to properly handle some of the medical needs that she had noticed present itself.
She didn't understand why he would be so against it. Their spar became a little more fierce as each had argued their point until she lost focus in her anger and he was able to pin her to the ground. Both of their chests heaving from the workout. He had stayed there staring at her determined bright emerald eyes alive with the ferocity of her conviction, and then he was kissing her.
It had been surprising, but then she found herself kissing back and the moment escalated into something that made her burn and he was the only one who could soothe her. She was thankful he had the good sense to teleport them to his rooms because she was sure she would have let him take her in the middle of those training grounds. They spent the rest of the afternoon confined to his room.
Not that she complained, he was a wonderful attentive lover. For all his stoicism once he opened up he was pleasant company and an intelligent conversationalist that made her think. She enjoyed that about him. She felt privillaged to have seen this side of him.
And now as she lay in his arms she silently wished they had met in a different life, one that didn't consist of responsibility so that they could be free to explore this growing attraction, if not love. She was certain that she loved him, but had been afraid to voice such things to him. Now she was glad that she hadn't.
Finally his grip on her loosened and his breathing became deeper and she knew he had finally fell into a deep meditative sleep. She slowly slipped from the bed and gathered her things from his room. Getting dressed she quietly went to the door and gave him one last look before slipping out of his room, and life.
She had already packed a small bag with some clothes, supplies, and a few items to remind her of her time here. She slipped over a wall in between guard rounds and started across the desert. Disappearing over the dunes.