Chapter 2: A Compromise

A/N: Hey guys sorry for the delay…

After a long while of being unconscious, the pink haired maiden started to stir. The red headed man just started at the girl as she gradually opened her eyes. "I see you're already well. So I'll be leaving then…" Sakura had barely opened her eyes but then she sat up straight upon hearing a strong male voice.

"W-wait!" she immediately responded as she struggled to stand. The man stopped walking away but did not face her. "What now?" he wanted to make it clear to her that he was very agitated.

Her left foot ached as she put pressure on it. Inspecting it, Sakura was surprised to see it bandaged quite well. "Ano… thank you for saving me," she walked limply towards his side. "Look woman, it just happens that those guys took something from me and I wanted it back. I didn't beat them up to save you," he said arrogantly while crossing his arms in front of his chest as he faced the approaching maiden.

Sakura looked up at his emerald eyes then smiled. Gaara wasn't only astonished by reaction but was also very captivated by her smile. It was both sweet and powerful he can't help but blush. He had to look away to not let her see her effect on him. "Even if you didn't do it intentionally, I still have to thank you for mending my injury." She said truthfully.

"Hn, don't flatter yourself lady. I just did that because I felt obliged to do so since I was the one who caused your injury but my responsibility ends here. Bye then," he began to walk away again.

Blinking a few times, Ino didn't mention this side of Sasuke. Her thin pink eyebrow rose as she stared after the man. Ino... Damn I still have to find her. "Sasuke-san, wait!" she ran after him with difficulty because of her injury.

Gaara continued walking as if he did not hear anything. Who in their right mind would mistake me for that Uchiha? She seemed serious on calling me by that name though… he abruptly halted his walk causing Sakura's face to bump on his back.

Rubbing her nose, "Sasuke-san, I have a favor to ask," she started. "Don't tell me you're another fan girl," he guessed impatiently. "Err no… Can you please help me find Yamanaka Ino?" she stated her request. "No," he automatically replied then his feet began walking.

The sun was already rising and the people were starting to begin their shopping. Gaara walked to the streets followed by a limping Sakura. "Sasuke-san, wait!" she shouted as she ran after the red headed man. Upon hearing the name of one of the wealthiest daimyo's son being called, most people turned their heads to see if the famous Uchiha was really around.

Gaara noticed the unwanted attention she was making so he dragged the pink haired maiden by her arm. "Will you stop calling me by that name?!" he whispered to her as he took her to a nearby alley. Oh… so Sasuke-san is just like me… a stow-away… she then smiled to herself as a plan entered her mind.

"Why are you smiling?" he asked irritably. "You MUST help me find Yamanaka Ino," Sakura restated her request. "I said no didn't I?" he glared at the grinning maiden. "Maybe you haven't noticed the difference from what I said a while ago to what I am saying now." Gaara looked at her both questionably and impatiently. "I said... YOU MUST help me…" she emphasized her point.

He then smirked as he looked at Sakura. "And what makes you think that I'll help you?" he crossed his arms in front of his chest knowing his victory. "Because if you don't help me. I'll call out your name and most probably the town guards will know you're out of your mansion without proper supervision plus the fact that dozens of crazy fan girls would swarm over you before you can even take five steps away from me…" it was her turn to smirk.

In truth, Sakura wouldn't dare approach a town guard since she knew that her mother would probably be looking for her now. So she hid her pink hair behind her cap.

Gaara looked at the girl with his eyes widened in shock. It was not in her appearance but she's damn good in black mailing people. Though the he knew that her threat about the fan girls wouldn't be serious since he's not the onyx-eyed pretty boy, her threat about pointing him to the town guards is really a predicament. Though he's not the son of a daimyo, he IS the son of the Kazekage of the Sand country which is to say… the Leaf country's RIVAL when it comes to trade. He was trying so hard to hide his red hair with a hood but if even one person identified him… it would be a disaster.

While he was having his self-contemplation, Sakura was looking at him rather closely. Hm… Ino sure is not exaggerating when she said that Sasuke is good-looking. She was also right when she said that this guy's hard to deal with. "Alright," she heard him sighing in defeat. It snapped her out of her thoughts and back to reality.

Sakura looked at Gaara as he touched his creased forehead in frustration of his helplessness. "After we find this Yamanaka, Ino… you'll let me off the hook," "Of course!" Sakura rejoiced her first success in negotiations in the outside world. "Saku- err- ya… Sakuya," she shook his hand. "Nice meeting you Sasuke-san."

The red headed man then raised his three fingers right in front of her face. "If you want us to have a peaceful compromise… first of all, you won't call me by that name, secondly, don't you dare think you can manipulate me and thirdly this would be the first and the last request you'll be making and that's final." He laid out of her. Sakura had no choice but to nod helplessly.

They started asking people about the daimyo's daughter. "Why are you looking for her anyway?" he asked as Sakura finished asking a vendor. "Huh?" "Why is a maid looking for a daimyo's daughter?" he questioned her as they continued their search. Oh… I'm still wearing the disguise Ino gave me. "Err… Because I'm her new maid," she lied. "Hn, if you're her maid then you should know where to find you're mistress." He was trying to figure out who she really was and Sakura was well aware of it.

"I came from a different town. Ino-sama was with me in town but then we got separated." She congratulated herself for her speed in making an excuse and being a damn good liar. As she looked at him, she noticed Gaara staring at her curiously.

After a few steps, Sakura's stomach started complaining. I forgot I didn't have anything after leaving the mansion. Searching her pockets for her jewelries she found it… "Gone… oh no… this can't be good," she said to herself. She checked and rechecked each and every pocket of her clothes but "IT'S GONE!!!" she exclaimed.

"What's the matter now?" he approached her from the back startling her. "My- err- Ino-sama's jewelries are gone," she said almost tearfully. "Don't look at me. I didn't take anything from you. You must've dropped it," he stepped back as Sakura looked at her carefully.

"If I did dropped it then there's no chance of me finding it then. Huh…" Sakura's stomach complained as she did. Glancing at her companion, it seems that he's either not aware that she's dying of hunger or he really doesn't care.

"What do people do here to get food?" she asked tactlessly. "Hn… they earn money to pay for their food, of course," "How can I earn money?" she continued her questioning. Gaara looked at the maiden incredulously. "Are you sure you're a maid?" "Why are you asking?" she began to feel nervous. "If you're really a maid then you should know how to earn money. Unless, you're a total idiot," he said flatly Sakura can't help but feel embarrassed.

"I- err- worked for food and not money so I really don't know much about it," she lied again. "You worked only for food?" Sakura made a reluctant nod. "Huh… To earn money, it's either you work for it or…" "Or what?" she asked enthusiastically.

"You gamble for it," they stopped walking right in front of a huge gambling house. Loud laughing and constant shouting erupted from the place. "What's a gamble?" they opened the door to find each and every kind of gambling being performed.

Gaara glanced at his companion but found no one. Scanning the area, he found no sign of her. Then he heard her familiar voice from afar, he then followed it to another room.

He found her holding a book and a rather large crowd of drunkards smiling maliciously at her. "Alright here's the deal. I drop open the book you must be able to guess the last word on the page if not I take your bet if you win you take ours," one man laid out for her. Sakura listened carefully as she stared at the book. "Alright, I'll play," she replied quickly. "Wait a minute young blood, you got to bet something first before you can play," the man said as he eyed the maiden.

"Alright, I'll bet my… mizuage," each and every man in the room shouted in their bets upon hearing what she would be betting. "Sakuya!" Gaara called out as he entered the room. "Oh is he your lover?" a man said as he looked at the man and Gaara glared at him back. "No. Are we going to play or what?" she started flipping the book's pages. They started placing their bets. "Hey, I'm betting something much more than that. Can't you make it any higher?" Sakura winked at the drunken men. As expected, they placed higher bets.

"Sakuya, what do you think are you doing?" he sat beside her as he eyed each and every man in the room. "I'm gambling," she replied effortlessly as if her virginity wasn't at stake. "Here we go," Sakura started flipping the pages then slammed it cover-up on the table. "What's your guess?"

Each man stated their guesses. "What's your guess?" a man looked at Sakura. She looked closely at her companion. Gaara looked her nervously though he tried to look as if he wasn't affected. "Love…" Sakura smiled at him. "Alright, let's flip this over" one man lifted the book to find that the last word was… "This is impossible. The last word IS LOVE." "You cheated," one man said.

"How in your wise opinion can I cheat?" Sakura raised her eyebrow questionably. "Err… I don't know." "Alright, why don't we have another round? I'll let you slam the book on the table. In that case, there would be no way that I'm cheating. I'll still bet my mizuage but… you guys have to bet higher," Sakura suggested.

She smirked as she saw how easily drunk men can be manipulated. As she said, it was done. The bets were higher than ever. The man started flipping the pages then slammed it on the table. "Guesses please?" Sakura began.

Soon after, Sakura was the only one who didn't state her guess. "What's your guess lady?" a man asked impatiently. She looked closely at the book then looked back at her companion then… "Red," she stated. Immediately, they looked at the last word to find that it's "RED!!! Oh my gods, you're a damn good guesser," one man said.

"Thanks for your time gentle men. Maybe we'll play again someday," Sakura and Gaara exited the premises rather quickly. "Where did you learn to gamble like that?" he asked soon after leaving the room. "Oh… I've been reading that book since I knew how," she answered truthfully.

"Let's eat. It's my treat," she held up her winnings. He merely smirked in reaction to the impossibility of all that had happened. This woman's… unbelievable. Who in their right mind would bet their virginity at stake just to get money?

Sakura entered a certain restaurant. Gaara, having no choice in the matter, followed soon after. She was famished so she started ordering for the both of them.

"I hope you don't mind that I ordered for the both of us," she grinned at him as he sat in front of her. He merely sat there without a word. The food was served. Gaara was surprised to find so many dishes laid out before them. He then looked questionably at the girl in front of him.

Sakura saw his inquiring gaze so she replied "I think you're as hungry as I am. Consider this as a token of gratitude for accompanying me," she handed him his chopsticks.

Accepting the chopsticks helplessly, the two started eating quietly. Gaara glanced at Sakura and was surprised to see her so refined. She ate with poise and grace just like a princess.

Unknown to Gaara, Sakura was doing the same. She sneaked peeks whenever he wasn't looking. Unlike, the men inside the restaurant who were eating heartily without minding their manners, this man in front of her was well… different. He chewed his food slowly and drank quietly. He was so well-mannered just like a prince.

"By the way Sasuke-san, if you don't want me to call you by your name since it would attract unwanted attention, what do you want me to call you?" Sakura started a conversation. He did not answer instead he continued eating as if he didn't hear anything. "Oi Sasuke-san, if you won't answer me then I'll decide for you," she pouted rather cutely according to Gaara's observation.

"Hey! What are you doing here Ga-," a blond man appeared right in front of them but upon reflex the red headed man glared at the new arrival. "Sasuke-san, do you know this person?" the pink haired maiden stared at the blond. "Sasuke?" the man's stare traveled from Sakura to Gaara.

After a few moments, he knew what was up. "Oh I'm Naruto. Ga-err-Sasuke's friend," he held out his hand. "Sakuya, I just met Sasuke," she shook his hand. "Why don't you join us Naruto-san? It seems I've ordered too much for two people," she offered and Naruto was all too happy to accept.

Sitting beside Gaara, Naruto started to fill his plate. "What the heck are you up to Gaara? Why are you pretending to be Sasuke of all people?" he whispered to his seatmate. "I am not pretending. She's assuming." Gaara defended himself. "Oh really? Then why don't you tell her that you're Gaara and not Sasuke?" that hit the mark. Immediately, the red head had nothing to reply. Naruto merely smirked as he ate.

"I don't blame you. This Sakuya is really beautiful. She looks just like a princess," the blond stared at the eating maiden. "Eyes off, dobe (dead last)," he snapped. "Oho, possessive aren't we?" Naruto teased as he elbowed Gaara.

"She's just a maid for crying out loud," he tried to rebut. "So? What's your point?" the blond sipped his ramen loudly.

"Naruto-san, I was wondering if you can help us find someone?" their conversation was interrupted by a gentle female voice. "Of course, who are you looking for anyway?" Gaara started coughing. "Yamanaka, Ino," "Ino?! Of course I know her. Don't worry I'll take you to her," Naruto reassured, Gaara sighed painfully and Sakura rejoiced loudly.

A/N: Okay guys time for your part… read and review please…