For 'that someone just for me', wherever he may be; for my mom, thank you so much for putting up with a daughter like me, you'll never know how much I wonder each night on just how you didn't give up on such a girl; and for everyone who had ever fell in love.

Honorifics-

-sama: A term used after one's name to show respect.

-chan: It's usually directed towards girls to express endearment.

-kun: A suffix used after a male's name to express endearment or familiarity.

The First Time You Talked To Me

Chapter One

First Words

First Written: January 31, 2006

Edited: February 20, 2006

'You're annoying…'

Those were the first words he said directly to her when they had an actual conversation.

'…you're annoying…'

Those were the words that broke her heart when she left it by his feet. Two years past ever since that day. Naruto was injured badly when he came home. 'I'm sorry Sakura-chan…I couldn't bring him back…' Two years. Two long freaking years filled with nothing but her vows to get stronger. Two years…filled with nothing but her brooding memories of him. That traitor. That bastard of a friend. That Sasuke.

"Sakura! There has been numerous reports on a plot against Konoha. Numerous villages have been slaughtered; villages very close to here. Naruto and Neiji have already been informed of all this and you will most likely be joining them on this S-ranked mission the day after tomorrow. You will be lounging in a nearby village, where rumors have that it will be attacked next. You are after all our best medic, and…just be careful." Tsunade's pause made her wonder.

"Of course, Tsunade-sama." Sakura bowed and walked out of the room quietly.

Tsunade briefly glanced out the way Sakura went and sighed.

"You're always trying so hard to prove yourself…just don't get hurt again…Sakura."

The gentle rush of wind pushed through the doors of her room and she shivered lightly. The room wasn't as great as before, nor was it cozy. It was hollow and reeked of all those tears the kunoichi inwardly groaned and fell into the pink bed. Sleep overtook her before she could help it and fell into a dreamless slumber.

She was awoken in the most unpleasant way. It wasn't as nice as how she would wake up, sweat-drenched in fear of Sasuke returning to destroy her precious home; no, it was far worse. She woke up, sweat-drenched, trying to recall exactly what she was dreaming about. It wasn't often for her to forget her dreams, and she had a sick feeling in her stomach signaling she didn't like it. Her emerald eyes glanced out the window of her apartment and noticed it was dark, really dark. She turned her head and looked at her clock across the room. 1:56 AM. Damn it's late! she thought to herself. Her pounding in her chest told her she wasn't going to get sleep anytime soon, so she shrugged off her covers and raced into her bathroom.

Twenty minutes later, she emerged, with a blast of steam, feeling better than before. She looked out to the window one last time before deciding that taking a walk didn't seem like such a bad idea. There's nothing better to do anyways. Inner Sakura pressed.

If he hadn't stepped out of the alleyway drenched in blood, she would have never noticed him. Hadn't Sasuke say that his level of sneakiness was equal to that of Kakashii's? There was no way she could have noticed him if it weren't for the coincidental meet; she was walking by while he walked out. The light of the street lamp made shadows on his face, making his eyes look more deadly than she had ever saw them. Maybe she was tired. There was no way he would ever come here. He was a Kazekage for goodness sakes!

Sakura shook her head, trying to clear whatever her mind was hallucinating. She slowly opened her eyes and saw the same figure, only this time, closer. His lips curved into a smirk and she inwardly shuddered.

"H-Hey, Gaara! What brings you here?" She swallowed, but it seemed to only make her throat drier.

"Mission." The blunt answer was probably the most she would ever get out of him. It was already a miracle that he didn't kill her right then. But then again, it could be because he didn't want to harm the delicate thread of alliance between the Sand and Konoha.

"Oh…uh…well…have a nice day!" Sakura made a quick bow before running off completely in the other direction. Damn his freaky attitude! If I hadn't known any better, I'd say he was enjoying it! Damn that stupid bastard… Inner Sakura fumed at the thought of someone belittling her. But if I had stayed any longer, we may have tried something…besides I couldn't take the silence any longer. Sakura reasoned with her Inner half. She was so busy glancing every few seconds behind her that she didn't notice someone before her until it was too late.

She crashed into a firm wall of flesh.

"Running away again? Pathetic." The male before her stared at her as if she were nothing more than a piece of filth and started to walk away. How dare that mascara wearing, no-eyebrow freak insult me! Inner Sakura's ranting about how the 'stupid, good-for-nothing, killing machine was belittling her again for the second time' really was getting on Sakura's nerves and before she could stop herself she opened her mouth.

"Come back here you no-eyebrow freak! How dare you belittle me!" Sakura was about to slap her hands over her mouth when he turned around with a gleam in his eyes. Gleams were never good when they came from Gaara.

"What did you say?" He was stalking towards her fallen body. The kunoichi quickly stood up and tried to compose herself.

"You heard me, or is the great Kazekage-sama really not as great as everyone says?" There was no way she was backing down. Backing down meant that she was scared and that would prove him correct that she was indeed running away. Even if she wanted to just bail her eyes out for him to take mercy on her death, her pride would leave no room for such an useless escape route. He narrowed his eyes and Sakura could tell he wasn't wearing mascara. Damn! There goes my hypothesis of him being gay. Inner Sakura sighed. Then way did he have those rings around his eyes? It must be a beauty mark…or…it could be because someone punched him too hard…naw! It could be brought on by his lack of sleep. Insomnia. Yes, that could be the reason. Didn't Naruto say something about that?

"Well? Aren't you gonna say something? Or are you just going to stare at me all day?" There she was again, burying herself in more shit than she could dig herself out of. She raised her head and stared at his deadly pale green eyes. Inner Sakura shuddered and started ranting on about how scary his eyes were. His lips slowly curved upwards into a smirk and briefly pushed back some of her bubble-gum colored bangs behind her ears.

"So soft…so delicate…it wouldn't take much effort to break you." He pushed a hand into her hair and forced her head forward, bringing the rest of her body too. Oh my god! Is he hugging me? Ack! Inner Sakura's musings were cut short when Sakura felt a warm velvety object strike against her cheek.

"So sweet. So innocent. I wonder how your blood would taste…" At this point Sakura growled and started struggling wildly against his hold. He's going to kill me! This is your entire fault! Sakura panicked. My fault? You were the one who actually scream out the words! Inner Sakura screamed right back. Ragged breaths stopped her squirming; she paused and tried to listen desperately for his next words.

"Stop struggling…fight me." He managed to groan against her neck. At least if it were a fight, he would have an excuse to drink her blood, without having to kill her and breaking the alliance of the two lands.

"No." If she were to fight with him, he would kill her, no questions asked. Him and his desert coffin. She saw it in action; crushing the body of his enemies with a flick of his wrist and making it rain blood. The death was quick and painless, but she was not dying a virgin!

"Yes." He tightened his hold on her waist until it started hurting.

"Stop it. You're hurting me." No duh! Isn't that what he wants to do? But now that you think about it…what good is it to him if he were to kill us? Sakura started pondering, trying to ignore the pain about her waist. To feed his gourd maybe? Sakura answered. But if he did kill us, it would break the alliance and Konoha would be on his back for years. Naruto would kill him. Seeing that Inner Sakura had a point and the pain around her waist was becoming unbearable, she opened her mouth to change her answer.

"Fine." She managed to gasp out. His hold loosened but he didn't let go. There is so going to be a bruise tomorrow. Sakura winced.

"Damn!" Sakura cursed as her fist landed on the ground, creating a massive crater.

"Too slow." His warm breath pressed against the base of her neck and she shuddered when a small line of sand began to form in front of her. Quickly seeing the danger and advantage she had, she whirled her feet and landed a forceful kick on something solid.

"I told you. You're too slow." The copy made of sand cracked under her inhumane strength and she felt a quick slice on her arm. Warm droplets rolled down as her body started healing itself on its own. She quickly whipped her head around to throw another punch when he caught her by the arm.

"This match is over." In a whirl of sand, he disappeared. Damn him! Sakura raged. She glared at the direction in which he once was standing and huffed.

Gaara watched the retreating figure of the kunoichi as he licked the blood dripped kunai. A shiver ran down his spine. Delicious. He slowly licked the remainder of the blood from the sharp weapon and marveled at the metallic taste. Maybe his stay would benefit him in a way…

When the Hokage told him that she would really appreciate it if he were to help her on the next mission, he declined automatically. Why would he waste a bunch of his time saving Konoha? He was very busy, no time for meddling in the affairs of others. Then that smirk glued itself on Tsunade's face. That blasted smirk.

"Well, Kazekage-sama. I'm afraid you'll have to accept this mission."

"And pray tell why should I?" Tsunade's smirk grew wider and her eyes sparkled in the most unusual way.

"You are the only one acceptable for this spot. Kazekage-sama, you are the only one who can defeat Sasuke, no?" Damn her ways of twisting it into a way he found pure pleasure in: fighting.

"No. There's that idiot, Naruto." Ha! Take that! There was no way she could make him change his mind…no matter how tempting the position sounded.

"But, Naruto would never kill Sasuke. I'm afraid there may be a risk in which he would attack the team, and nobody except you and Naruto can defeat him; if he were to attack viciously, Naruto would be too soft on him, which Sasuke most likely would use as his advantage."

The idea of killing the Uchiha and feeding his precious gourd really did bring him to his limits; but having the permission to kill him? That sent him over.

"Sakura-chan! Sakura-chan! We're leaving for the mission tomorrow!" Naruto's stamina was really something to admire. Neiji sighed and muttered something about losing to such an idiot.

"I already know that, Naruto!" Sakura screamed. Even with her body's unconscious healing abilities, there was still a small bruise from Gaara's hold; Naruto had the tendency to jump up and throw her into a hug, which would have him wrap his arms around her waist…where the bruise was.

"The Fifth Hokage wishes to meet us. We'd better hurry." Neiji said. Sakura nodded and Naruto grumbled.

"That Granny Tsuande, what does she want with us now?" But nonetheless, Naruto bounced off with Sakura and Neiji right behind him.

They stopped in front of a large building and entered the room. Sakura suppressed the urged to scream in frustration when she met a pair of dull emerald eyes.

"Sakura, I want you to wait outside for a moment." Tsunade motioned for her to step outside and shut the door. Once the girl was out of view and the door was shut, the Fifth Hokage nodded at Naruto and Neiji.

"You are well aware of the danger you may be to put up with. Gaara, here, has been willing enough to lend us a helping hand." It was just so obvious Naruto wouldn't be able to leave his mouth shut. If he was too loud, Sakura might hear him; Gaara's little event this morning certainly wouldn't bond well with the fact that he'll be on the team.

"Granny Tsunade! What is he doing here? He's a Kazekage, damnit! He has a village to look after!"

"Well-"

"Temari and Kankuro are more than qualified to make decisions. I trust them." Gaara finished for the blonde woman.

"Gaara, what are you doing here? Helping us with what?" Neiji spoke for the first time since entering the room. Gaara's lips curved into a smirk, recalling the early morning encounter with a certain pink-haired female.

"Mission."

"ARGH! Can you believe her? Telling me to cut down on my ramen supply. She's just like Kakashii!" Naruto fumed in front of Sakura and Neiji. Sakura looked down at the pair of black gloves Tsunade gave her.

"These gloves are different from your other pair. While it is to protect your hands, it also absorbs and stores some of your chakra, minimizing the amount of chakra needed to fight and perform jutsus." Tsunade gave her a brief smile before turning over to Neiji and discussing a few brief things about the mission and their money supply.

The kunoichi was surprised to see the desert man gone when she was told to step into the room, but she shrugged it off thinking it was nothing really important. Naruto would tell her if it was.

"See you at the park in an hour Sakura-chan! Bye Neiji!" Naruto beamed at the female and bounced off. Leaving her alone with a man with extremely pale eyes. She turned to Neiji and smiled.

"Neiji, what was it that happened when I wasn't in?" Neiji looked puzzled for a moment and answered.

"Nothing you need to concern yourself over, Sakura. You better hurry yourself and bring an extra change of black clothing." With that said, Neiji walked off. Sakura sighed and sadly shook her head. What is with all the guys being so 'a man of little words'? Inner Sakura laughed in her head. Don't you find that attractive? Sakura paused at the thought and blushed; quickly shaking her head and heading off for home, she tried to ease the feeling of being watched.

She threw in her extra change of clothing and three pairs of undergarments. She paused awhile before throwing in a hairbrush; a girl must always brush her hair, especially her pink her that loved to get into a tangled mess. The kunoichi threw her head back and tied her uniquely colored hair into a stubby little ponytail before securing her forehead-protector in its usual place. A few stray bangs fell on her face, but it was better than its usual mass of bubble gum color in her eyes. Nobody can ever be too safe; she would never know when an enemy would attack and having her bangs in her face scratching out her eyes while she tried to fight just wouldn't cut it.

Sakura checked the clock before running to her bathroom and wrapping her fingers around her trusty first aid kit. She was going to be the healer of the group after all. Emerald eyes scanned the room for anything that the medic nin could have forgotten and they landed on a pair of gloves. Damn! Thank god I didn't miss these. Sakura breathed. She threw on the black gloves securely over her hands and ran out the door, shutting it loudly after her.

When she got to the park, she noticed that Neiji was already there, not a big surprise. However, the one next to him did surprise her.

"What the hell is he doing here?" Sakura demanded from the paled eyed man. Neiji stared at her like she was a complete dumbass before answering.

"He's on the mission with us, didn't you know?" Gaara looked slightly amused at the assistant of the Fifth Hokage's expression. Her pupils dilated and her mouth hung slightly opened. To put it simply, she looked like Naruto when he was in shock.

"Sakura-chan! Let's go! Let's go!" Naruto ran by jumping with excitement and bid a quick greeting to Neiji and Gaara. Sakura shook her head out of her shocked state and glared at Neiji and Naruto, as if blaming them for the presence of the Kazekage. Naruto cocked his head in confusion while Neiji shrugged and smirked at Sakura's behavior.

The four ninjas turned their heads around started walking towards the only way in and out of Konoha.

"Let's go!" Naruto threw a fist up in the air and looked on with determination at the land just beyond the border of Konoha.

Gaara suppressed the urge to jump the pink haired female walking in front of him and lick her. Such innocent blood…He shuddered at the thought of once again feasting one her, but with her as an ally in his mission and a close friend of Naruto, he couldn't risk harming her. His eyes observed the way the kunoichi's eyes averted back and forth from Naruto's talkative person and around her. Paranoid. Gaara thought with a small grin.

The Kazekage's eyes unconsciously landed on the young woman's well-defined ass. When he realized he had been staring he cursed himself for allowing his, usually under control, hormones to get the better of him. He was a sixteen-year-old boy of god's sake! It wasn't his fault for not being able to allow himself to feel an attraction to the opposite sex. He would never let anyone get too close to him. He couldn't. Not after what Yashamaru did.

"Your mother…she never loved you."

"Gaara. Are you okay?" The sand welder unclenched his fist and eyes. Concern shone brightly at him in the form of green colored gems. He stared into their depths and nodded. She smiled at him and held out her hand. Gaara stared at it in s strange way. What do you want? He questioned inwardly.

"Since I figured we're gonna be working on the same mission in the same team, I want to call it truce between us. So let's shake on it." He slowly raised his hand and grasped her's. They're so small. He thought before he widened his eyes and jumped Sakura onto the ground.

"Hey! What are you-" Her voice died off in her throat when four shurikens wheezed by near her face.

"Naruto!" Gaara ordered.

"I'm on it! Kage bunshin no jutsu!" Multiple Narutos appeared as they all ran for the trees in which the weapons were thrown from. Gaara stepped up and quickly scanned the area, much like Neiji was doing a few yards away.

"There are eighteen of them." Neiji indicated to the Kazekage. Gaara narrowed his eyes when twelve kunais aimed towards him. His sand moved on its own and created a wall in front of him.

"Pathetic." He growled. That's when he felt it. A mass of chakra heading straight towards them.

"Ha! They're coming out now!" Naruto jumped out from a tree and stood next to Gaara, while Sakura stood up and backed herself against Naruto.

"Hakkeshou Kaiten!" In a blast three ninjas jumped away from the paled eyed man. Neiji stopped his spin and smirked. "You shouldn't play with toys you don't know how to use." He opened up his hands and dropped four shurikens and five kunais. He grabbed those when he was spinning. Naruto exclaimed in his mind.

"Rasengan!" Naruto's scream and a flash of blue light signaled that the battle wasn't going to be easy.

"Desert Coffin!" Gaara squeezed his left hand into a fist and three screams were heard. Drops of blood spattered over his face as his eyes gleamed with sickening pleasure.

"Get away from me you bastard!" Sakura screamed and fisted her hand over the ninja's face, breaking it with a loud crack. The bloody faced man fell down with a thud, dead. When three more of them advanced towards her, she sighed and cursed. Those idiots. Always picking on the female eh? Inner Sakura surged with rage. "I said GET AWAY!" A loud crackle was heard throughout the forest as a huge crater was formed underneath Sakura's fist. Naruto, Gaara and Neiji were smart enough to see what was going to happen and paused their attacks and jumped out of the way.

Bits and bits of rocks flew as six of their enemies fell into the crater and became buried in boulders of the mess Sakura's temper created.

"I knew I shouldn't have been able to believe those idiots could be enough to handle you four." A dead familiar voice sliced through the air as the four Konoha ninjas paused. More and more ninjas surrounded them, while the old ones just backed away into the midst of the others. Sasuke-kun? Sakura idly wondered.

"You bastard, Sasuke!" Nobody could tell whether he was happy to see the lost man or not. Gaara glared at the Uchiha and diverted his eyes at a frozen Sakura. She was trembling. Sasuke-kun! He's back! Inner Sakura cheered. But he's on the dark side! Sakura countered. This isn't Star Wars, Sakura! Sasuke's just doing what he has to do to avenge his clan.

She slowly turned her head towards her long-lost friend and stared at him.

"S-Saskue-kun?" Sakura stuttered, not believing her eyes. The man before resembled little of the Sasuke she once knew. He was taller, skin paler and his eyes…gods, his eyes…they were so much colder and deadlier…and they were Sharingans. His lips curved into a smirk when his eyes met with hers.

With her heart pounding loudly in her ears, she wasn't sure if anyone was saying anything. A blonde man looked ready to attack if the ex-Leaf ninja were to attack his precious friend.

"Sakura." Sakura swore she heard her heart stop as a sickening gleam of amusement reached his now Sharingan eyes.

"Are you as annoying as I remembered you to be?" Sasuke's deep voice mocked. That's when hell broke loose.

This is the longest chapter I have ever written and I hope you like it! I didn't like my first draft of this chapter much so I rewrote it, although I'm not too pleased with this one either, I think I can live with it. XD I hope the characters were 'in character'...I tried! XP

Please review!

-Sanguine Dreams