Sandstorm

A/N: This is my second fic and my first Gaara/Sakura but I'm pretty excited about it! :) Hope you enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of it's characters.

Chapter 1

It had been many years since Sakura had played a part in bringing the Sand ninja back from the dead but she still woke up in a cold sweat on night like tonight.

Slowly crawling out of bed she went to the kitchen and poured herself a glass of water.

She could still remember it like it was yesterday. Her battle with Sasori had left her with a scar on her stomach she refused to heal as a reminder of her mortality, and a scar on her heart that she doubted would ever fade.

Sakura had always feared the infamous Gaara of the Desert, but in that moment as she watched Chiyo-baasama pouring her life giving chakra into the Kazekage's lifeless body she no longer feared.

She knew what kind of terrible wrath he possessed but after that terrible day she could no longer look at him and see the monster, just the man who bled just as she did and who had died in battle as she knew she someday would.

Sighing deeply at her thoughts she decided that trying to return to sleep would no doubt be a fruitless endeavor, so instead she decided to pour over her numerous medical scrolls that she had tasked herself.

In the morning she would be sent out on a solo mission to the Sand village to help them rebuild their medical unit. The Fourth Great Shinobi War had completely annihilated the brunt of the Sand Village's medical corps and so as a gesture of good faith between the villages Sakura had been elected to spend the next 6 months in Sand helping to train new medic ninjas.

She was a little afraid to face the stoic Kazekage since she had only seen him briefly during the war and he was busy with his duties and had little time for chit chat.

Putting her thoughts behind her she went about reading and rereading the scrolls before her. She was confident that she would be more than adequate to train willing ninja, but her confidence faltered a bit as her thoughts turned to a familiar face and lifeless green eye that were so different from her own.

She should have expected her three day journey to Sand to be bothersome, but she didn't account for every ninja outpost between here and Sand to be closed down. Apparently there were so many casualties from the war that outpost to friendly territories had been closed in an effort to conserve forces. They had won the war, but Akatsuki had won enough of the battle that the after effects would be felt for decades. Sakura suddenly felt guilty for her behavior. "I should just be glad that we won and I am alive. I lost so many friends and comrades and here I am pissed because I don't get to sleep in a cushy bed." She shrugged off the sadness that had enveloped her at the thought of her fallen friends. "I guess I will just have to move faster so I get there before nightfall", she said to no one.

Sakura let a small smile play across her face as she spotted the village in the distance. "Ah, I never thought I would be so happy to see the Sand village." Just a few more minutes of running and she was approaching the gate.

The man who was guarding the gate looked up at her and then nodded when he saw her headband and widely pink hair.

"Hello Sakura-sama. I don't believe that the Kazekage was expecting you to arrive until tomorrow. I will have word sent to him at once. Until then please have a seat inside and make yourself at home."

"Sakura-sama?" Sakura knew that after the war was over many people in the leaf had declared that Naruto, Sasuke, and herslef to be the next generation of Sannin but she hadn't realized that word of her elevated status had left the village. "That's going to take some getting use to."

She entered the small room next to the gate and decided that the first this she needed was a drink and a shower. Luckily this room was prepared so that visiting shinobi could make themselves presentable before meeting with the Kazekage. She knew it was slightly vain but she always felt more confident after a hot shower.

Gulping down a rather large glass of water she set off into the small bathroom and turned on the shower. Locking the door behind her she turned on the water and stepped in while it was still cold.

Several minutes later she stepped out of the shower and wrapped a towel around her body while searching for her extra set of clothes to change into. Instantly she realized that she had forgotten to bring her bag in the room with her so she opened the door to retrieve it.

"Well, well well. Be still my beating heart" The voice that spoke was deep and full of mirth.

Sakura turned to see who spoke but she was sure she knew before even seeing. "Kankuro! Temari! How wonderful to see you!" Modesty forgotten she immediately threw herself at the two for a warm hug.

"Uhm Sakura?"

"Yes Kankuro?"

"I think you dropped your towel..."

Kakuro was still chuckling to himself as the three walked to the Kazekage tower. "Well I who would have thought that little Sakura was such a bombshell?", Kankuro thought to himself.

Sakura left her two companions in the hall and entered the Kazekage's office. She saw the man standing by the window looking out over the village below. She felt something twist in her gut that she couldn't figure out so instead she shook it off and began.

"Kazekage-sama, as you know I have been sent by the Hokage to help to train your new medical ninja. Hokage-sama has given me 6 months to accomplish this. Also I was asked to deliver this scroll to you." She handed him the scroll and watched as he opened and began to read.

She heard a chuckled and that knot in her belly grew stronger. "Did he really just laugh? I don't believe I have ever heard him laugh while not in bloodlust... it's pleasant, calming even. I think I quiet like it. Wait, where did that thought come from?" She quickly turned her attention back to the man before her.

"I see that Naruto is still his obnoxious old self? I'm glad he has achieved his dream. He will be a great Hokage, and interesting Hokage, but still great." Gaara could not contain the smile that had set on his face at reading the words that his old friend had sent to him. Naruto was the first person to ever believe in him and he would forever be in his debt. Without the yellow haired goofball he would have never come off of the dark path he had been treading. He would have never earned the respect of his people and therefore would never have been Kazekage. Yes he owed a great deal to the man and he would do his best to live up to that gift.

Sakura realized that she was staring at him with her mouth open and quickly snapped it shut. "Thank God he was too busy to notice!"

"Please make yourself at home while you are here and don't be afraid to ask should you need something. Since you are staying here for half a year I have decided to have you stay in one of the rooms here in the tower. Your room is located in the same wing as the family rooms which are west of here. I will have Kankuro show you around and you may begin your work tomorrow." Gaara reached down and pressed a button on the side of his desk and a few moments later the door was opened to reveal the puppet master.

"Hey Sakura, our rooms are right across the hall from one another. Any chance I can take a peak of your... uhm.. assest again?"

Sakura paled at the words and shot Kankuro a look that promised retaliation.

Gaara raised and eyebrow at the exchange and wondered what exactly his brother had meant by that. Clearly there were undertones that Gaara himself was not catching, and clearly the pink haired kunoichi was not amused at the thought. "Kankuro explain."

Kankuro looked pleased with himself as he began to tell his story. "Well you see. Sakura had just gotten out of the shower when Temari and I showed up and she went to hug us and dropped her towel. Let me just say that she has a really nice..." Kankuro never finished his sentence before the small fist crashed into his ribs. He knew she hadn't used the full force of her strength or he wouldn't be here but it still hurt like hell.

"It was nothing Kazekage-sama just an accident." Sakura could almost feel the embarrassment rolling off of her in waves. She shouldn't have punched Kankuro. She was a guest in this village and his brother was the Kazekage, but dammit it felt good! "Serves the bastard right!"

"I see." With that Gaara turned and strode toward the window. Not quiet sure what to make of the feeling that had just begun inside him at the thought of his brother seeing the woman behind him naked. "What is this odd feeling? Surely Temari will know. I shall ask her after dinner." He didn't bother to dismiss the two behind him, his actions had made it obvious.

Sakura practically dragged Kankuro out of the room and started tearing into him the moment the door was closed, "You ASS! Why would you say that in front of your brother! You know he barely likes me as it is and now he probably thinks I am some secret exhibitionist!"

"Aww come on Sakura! I was only teasing. It's not like I was going to draw him a picture or anything. Although..."

SLAP

"Don't you even think about it you sick pervert!" She was prepared to dish out another slap but the puppet master look subdued, for now. "Now show me to my room before I murder another puppet freak!"

Behind the door Gaara had heard ever word and he couldn't help but chuckle. That in itself was not extraordinary. Gaara had changed a lot since having the one tailed beast removed from his body. He was much calmer, more focused, and even friendly sometimes. People still cowered when he was angry, which was actually more rare than his friendly moments, but he also knew that he had the respect and love of his people. He absentmindedly touched the kanji on his forehead and wondered what it would feel like to be loved in a different way, but he quickly put such thoughts aside. Not that much had changed. He knew that he would never have love in that sense. The only woman who wasn't afraid of him was his sister, and he shuddered to think of the poor bastard who ended up with her. Shikamaru was a genius, but all of the intelligence in the world wouldn't help against her mood swings.

Gaara found himself thinking about a certain pink haired woman sporadically throughout the rest of the day. By the time dinner came around he had less patients than he would have like and found himself snipping at people who didn't deserve it.

Sakura rounded the corner and found the table she had been told she would be dinning at. She hadn't expected to be seated with the family but she was an honored guest after all. She also had expected to find Gaara at the head of the table since his position was the most elevated, but she was pleased to notice that he sat in the middle next to Kankuro. Opposite the pair sat Temari who motioned for Sakura to join the seat beside her. She did so happily and began to engage the two older siblings in light conversation.

Gaara sat across from the pink hair woman and tried his hardest not to stare. " Who has pink hair anyways? Such a stupid color"

Sakura looked up to Gaara and noticed his brooding face. "This is more like the Gaara I remember" She wondered why she suddenly felt sad at the thought of him not being the happy man she had seen a few hours before, but her thoughts quickly died at the words he spoke next.

"Pink is a such an ugly color." He hadn't realized he spoke out-loud until he heard the silence that permeated the room. Gaara looked around quickly and saw the horrified looked on his siblings faces and realized their train of thought. They both knew that this particular kunoichi was known for her short temper and they were afraid that she would retaliate and then Gaara would hurt her. He wouldn't hurt her, but when he looked up to her face to gauge her reaction he almost wished she would. He could see the hurt written across her face as if there were letters there telling him what she felt.

Sakura couldn't understand why the words he spoke had hurt so badly. What did she care if he didn't like her appearance? But she realized that she did care and that made it hurt even more. She quickly made a few short hand-signs and noticed that both Temari and Kankuro hand reached for their surriken pouch just in case she became volatile. She had no intention of hurting anyone and instead finished the seals and started her henge. Pink faded into strawberry blond and Sakura's henge began to work.

"I am sorry that my hair offended you Kazekage-sama. Please excuse me." Without another word she quietly removed herself from the table and retreated to her room. She threw herself onto the bed and cried. For the first time in years she sobbed, though she had no idea why.

"What the hell was that about Gaara?" Temari felt like throttling her little brother. "How could you be so insensitive? She is our guest!"

Gaara didn't know what to make of the situation. He had never meant to hurt her feelings and he wondered what made him say his thoughts out-loud. Temari was right, he was being insensitive. He should go up there and apologize right now for his words and hope she wasn't too hurt. Before he had the chance however he saw his brother get up and walk towards the door.

"Don't worry. I will see to her."

Gaara suddenly felt that feeling again when he saw how confident Kankuro was that he could placate the woman. "This is going to be a long 6 months" Gaara thought to himself.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please review. If you don't let me know what you think I can't improve as a writter! :)