Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto

Note: Thanks for the reviews, and sorry for the late update. I actually thought the first chap is a bit of a drag. The story will begin picking up pace in this chap

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Tsunade looks at Gaara, now seated in her office, his gourd beside him. Temari stood beside him, looking very tired and sleepy, but still she stood. Tsunade had her eyes on Gaara, who has his eyes back at her. She started to feel uncomfortable. She faked a smile at him. "Kazekage-sama, how was your trip?"

Gaara continued to stare at her, expression unchanged, and he didn't even bother to answer. "Is she the one?" 'She' referring to Sakura.

Tsunade nodded. "Aah, I picked her myself."

"Why?"

Tsunade was shocked by the question. She looked at the four pieces of paper on her table that the girls wrote why they shouldn't be picked. She sighed. "Does it even matter?"

Gaara stood up and motioned to Temari to leave the office. "We shall take our leave now, Hokage-sama."

"Wait!" Tsunade called. "When are you leaving for the Sand?"

"As soon as possible," Gaara replied without looking. He exited the room with Temari.

Tsunade relaxes on her chair and looks at the four papers. She took Sakura's and opens it. It was blank. "Indecisive again eh, Sakura?"

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Temari let the door of Tsunade's office close by itself. She yawned and stretched her hands. Then she jogged after Gaara.

"Temari"

She straightened at the sound of her name and looked at the caller. Her little brother. "What is it?"

"Get some rest"

"Gaara, I'm fine. I can still stand" Temari said with a smile.

He stopped and looked at his sister. She looks back at him. "It will be troublesome for me if you fall sick."

Temari was shocked but she smiled, knowing that Gaara cared. "I'll rest." Gaara turned to walk away but Temari caught his hand. He looked at her. "You'll talk to her, right?"

He nodded. Temari yawned again and went on her way. He walked out of the building and looked around him. It's been some time since he last came to Konoha. It hasn't changed much. He looked at the sushi shop just opposite of the Hokage building. Sakura was seated on one of the tables with a cup of tea in front of her.

He walked towards her. She stood up when she saw him. She nodded her head at him. "Kazekage-sama."

Gaara looked at her with that unchanging expression and then seated himself down. She too, slowly sat back down. She found herself shivering. 'Why?' she wondered 'Am I afraid of him?'

"Are you afraid of me?" Gaara asked, as if reading her mind.

"I…I….no-"

"I won't blame you though. I tried to kill you before." Gaara said. Sakura wondered how he could be so straightforward in saying that. Sakura looked down and didn't say anything.

"You're unwilling, aren't you?" Gaara asked.

Sakura looked up at him "What?"

"It's written all over your face. You'd rather wait for that one Uchiha Sasuke to come back than be in this situation."

Sakura was speechless. Everything that Gaara had said was absolutely right. Sakura gulped, remaining quiet.

"Then why did you agree?"

"Uh,…Tsunade-sama said that we can't object."

"Well, to me it doesn't matter. As long as you are willing enough to accept this and follow me back to the Sand, I don't care what you hold towards that Uchiha. You can continue waiting for him forever. What a foolish waste of time though. He won't come back."

Sakura slammed her hands on the table and stood up. "I can wait for him, even this long because I believe in him. Don't say it's foolish! You will never understand this feeling! He will definitely come back, I believe in him."

Gaara stared at Sakura for the longest time before standing up himself and walked away. Sakura looked at him leave. She wasn't sure if she should say anything to stop him. But then again, she felt better without him around so she didn't do anything. He disappeared around a corner and Sakura sat back down. Some other customers in the shop were looking at her, well aware of who she was just talking to. However, they were ignored, and Sakura took her cup of tea up to her lips, and took a sip.

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Nightfall. Most shops have closed their doors. People are retreating back into the safety and comfort of their homes. Sakura walked the streets alone. She didn't want to call it a day yet. Usually at this time, she would be hanging out with Naruto, but he isn't around now. He is out of Konoha on a mission, and won't be back anytime soon. She thought of looking for Ino, or Lee but decided against it. Lee is probably with Gai-sensei and it's not good to interrupt them when they are together. Ino too, is probably home by now.

Sakura continued to walk, eyes closed. She recognized the roads so clearly she did not need to see where she was going. She walked confidently and in her mind she was counting the steps to the turning. 'nineteen, twenty, twenty-one'. She stopped and turned left. She started her first step and bumped into something. It felt oddly hard and soft at the same time.

Her eyes flashed open as her bum hits the floor. 'There's no way I could hit anything' she wondered. 'unless it's a person.' Her suspicions were proven as she looked up to a man wearing white robes. Despite the fact that the night was dark, the moonlight was enough to illuminate his red hair, the kanji writing on his forehead and the black rings around his eyes.

He looked down at her, as she swallowed. "Gaara?" she squeaked, just as she realized that she wasn't supposed to call him that. He had a higher authority than her. She immediately stood up and dusted herself off. She bowed slightly at him. "Kazekage-sama"

He gave her a glare that rendered her throat dry, before turning to the direction she came from and continued walking. She sighed in relief and watched him go before it hit her. She didn't apologize for bumping into him! She started to go after him when a hand caught hers. She turned to see who it was and was surprised to see that it was Ino.

"If you're thinking of apologizing, forget it. He isn't going to bother," Ino said.

"Huh?" Sakura replied, puzzled that Ino knew how he would react.

"I bumped into him at the corner outside my shop. I can't believe how silently he walks. Anyway, I apologized and he didn't even bother to look at me," Ino explained.

"Still, I'd feel better if I apologized," Sakura said. She took a step and felt a tug on her hand. Ino held her hand still.

"Wait," Ino said. "He isn't going anywhere other that the province of the village. I, on the other hand, have something to ask you."

Sakura looks closely at her friend but she already knew what was coming.

"You're the one, eh?" Ino asked. Sakura flashed a small smile and nodded. "I guess."

"I made a bet with Tenten…….I bet on Hinata, she bet on you……and she won," Ino said.

Sakura chuckled. "What's the deal?"

"I have to be her slave for 20 days a month, for 5 months," Ino said, sounding reluctant.

Sakura was shocked. "What?...then you shouldn't have agreed."

"I didn't think that I would lose….." Ino answered. "I didn't think that it would be you."

"I didn't think that it would be me either. But there is nothing that I can do about it now," Sakura said, in haling deeply. "Maybe it's time to move on."

"Move on? From Sasuke-kun?" Ino asked.

Sakura gave a sad smile. "I doubt I'll ever.….but I can't ignore what Tsunade-sama said," Sakura exhaled. "It may be right."

Ino gave an unconvinced look. "Maybe. But you definitely can't move on with that guy." Referring to Gaara.

"I don't have a choice. No objections, remember?" Sakura said. She looked up at the moon, then back at Ino. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"I'm…..just taking a walk. I should be heading home now," Ino said. "Let's go together."

"No, you go on. I'm going to walk around for a while more." Sakura replied.

"Well, if you say so. Ja ne, Sakura," Ino said cheerfully as she walked away.

"Aah,……ja ne, Ino." Sakura replied. She watched Ino go until she disappeared around a corner.

Sakura sighed. 'Alone again' she thought. She started walking, not realizing that she was going in the direction that she came from. Gaara's glare came into her mind, that expressionless face, those sad eyes. Knowing she didn't apologize, she decided to look for him. Corner into corner she turned but still held no sight of him. 'I've walked everywhere' she thought.

She stopped and leaned on the wall of the nearest shop to take a break. She was tired of walking for so long. She heard a noise from the alleyway in front of her. She straightened. 'Is he there? In the alleyway?' she strained her eye to see, and from the darkness, emerges a black cat. It purred at her and sat down. Sakura smiled and walked towards it. She bends down and patted it on its head. It pushed its head against her hand and purred deep in its throat.

"What are you doing out here all alone?" Sakura asked gently, still stroking its head. It suddenly sprang up, and Sakura drew her hand back, startled. It ran towards the shop she leant on and looked up before climbing up using the things around as a boost. It disappeared above the roof, and Sakura is left to stare after it. Looking at the roof, she realized something. She jumped up onto the roof. She looked around, and didn't find what she was looking for. She moved from one roof to another, and after a while, spotted her catch.

Seated three roofs away was Gaara, staring at the barely visible moon, now covered by the constantly moving clouds. She landed on his roof and slowly made her way over. He didn't spare a look at her but she knows that he knows she's there. She stopped about four feet away. She thought of what to say to him, before taking a deep breath.

"Kazekage-sama," she greeted. He didn't move, not an inch. He didn't say anything, he didn't even blink his eyes, and yet she knew, he wasn't enjoying her presence.

"What do you want?" he barked. She looked down, before looking up again.

"I want to apologize, for bumping into you back there," she started, not sure whether she should state the reason. 'That you bumped into him because you were walking with your eyes closed? That's great.' Inner Sakura said, piping in. Sakura ignored her inner self, instead focused on Gaara. His silence has not changed, but she somehow felt that he was expecting her to continue.

"I……wasn't ….looking," she finished. Still, no reply came. She wanted to leave, but didn't feel like it was appropriate to leave without some sort of dismissal from him. "Uhh,…about this morning, I guess I was too straight forward, I shouldn't have said more than I should to you. I'm sorry."

Indeed, saying things like 'Don't say it's foolish! You will never understand this feeling' to him and actually slamming your hands on the table while doing so is not the way to speak to the Kazekage. He still didn't say anything, and she turned her left foot to leave. But what he said next, caught her by surprise.

"You don't have to apologize. It's true that I don't understand your feelings. The love you hold towards Uchiha Sasuke. I never knew love." He said, in a monotonous voice. Sakura looks at him with sympathetic eyes. He went on. "Even this marriage, is just a lame excuse from those old men to get more control over me."

Sakura didn't know what to say in return. She opened her mouth a few times but always ends up closing it again. This continued for a full five minutes, with Sakura constantly shifting he weight from one foot to the other.

"You-" Gaara started. Sakura looked at him with attention. "may probably love that Uchiha, and may probably hate me." He glared at her, and she squirmed in her position. His glare was intense, and made to kill. He turned away. "But even I understand something. This is a political marriage, no love exist in a political marriage. If you understand this, probably you'll accept this relationship better."

Sakura was taken aback by what he said, he sounded gentle for once. But again, her urge to say something was clouded by her fear for him. He stood up and formed a hand seal with his right hand. "But don't worry; your life won't go wasted with me." A cloud of sand enveloped him and he disappeared with the sand.

"Wait!" she shouted, but it was too late. 'My life won't go wasted? What did he mean?' she wondered. She felt somehow guilty, but she pushed the feeling away. She looked around, and decided to head home.

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Tsunade stirred in her sleep and without moving her body, she opened her eyes. She saw that the window was open, and the nights' cold breeze was blowing in. reluctantly, she pushed herself to an upright position and held out her left hand to close the window. 'I thought I closed it.' She thought. It was then that she felt it, someone else's presence in the room. Again, without making any suspicious movement, her right hand reached under her pillow where she hid three shurikens. Her left hand continued to reach for the window.

"You don't have to look for those. I took them out," her intruder said.

Tsunade tensed and slowly turned to look at her intruder. She heard the sound of metal slicing through air and moved her head just in time to evade the three shurikens that flew past her head and out the open window. She turned to face him almost immediately. She couldn't tell who it is, but could make out the outline of his body standing at the corner of the room.

"Who are you?" she asked, angry and actually surprised he managed to take her shurikens without waking her.

"Don't worry," the figure said. "I didn't come here to kill you. I come here on business means," he said, slowly making his way towards her. He stepped into the light.

Tsunade stared. "You……"

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The morning was clear, fresh air lingers still. Sakura walks down the street, deep in her thoughts. She looked at the shops around, all starting their business. She thought of looking for Gaara, and telling him that she will still go with the deal, regardless of her will. But first, she had to look for him. She knew looking for him isn't easy, considering she didn't know how he spends his mornings.

She spotted Kiba in front of her, walking towards her, with Akamaru walking by his side. Akamaru has gotten huge over the years. He was now bigger than Kiba and Kiba can even ride on him.

"Good morning, Kiba-kun," Sakura greeted.

"Oh, good morning, Sakura," Kiba replied. Akamaru barked in return.

"Naa, Kiba-kun, have you seen the Kazekage?" Sakura asked.

"The Kazekage? I heard he arrived yesterday, but I haven't seen him, not once," Kiba answered. "Why do you want to look for him?"

Knowing that other that herself, Ino, Hinata, Tenten, Tsunade-sama and Shizune, nobody knew about the marriage, she wasn't surprised that Kiba asked.

"No, nothing. Thanks anyway," Sakura said. She smiled at Kiba and turned to leave.

"Wait, Sakura," Kiba called. Sakura stopped and faced him. "I heard you're going to marry him, Gaara."

Sakura was surprised he knew. "How'd you-"

"Hinata told me," Kiba interrupted and answered.

So Hinata told Kiba, which means probably Shino knows too, and if Ino and Tenten told their counterparts, basically everyone knows.

"Aah,….that's true," Sakura said.

Kiba gave her a sad smile. "Are you okay with it?" Akamaru hung his head low, sharing Kiba's sadness.

Sakura didn't know how to answer him. She gulped and forced herself to smile. "Of course. Why should there be a problem?"

"What?" Kiba asked, clearly shocked. He didn't expect total acceptance from her.

"Kiba-kun, I have to go now. I'll catch you some other time,"Sakura said, already walking away.

"Aah…okay," he answered. She waved goodbye to him and walked a while before sighing to herself. She suddenly realized that she was in front of Ichiraku Ramen and Shikamaru was inside, eating ramen. The first customer of the day.

She approached slowly, and took a seat next to him, but he didn't notice her and continued eating.

"Good morning, Shikamaru," she greeted.

"Sakura?! What are doing here?" Shikamaru asked. He did not intend to be spotted eating ramen at Naruto's favourite shop, but it can't be helped now.

"Have you seen Kazekage-sama?" Sakura asked.

"Aah,….once, yesterday when he arrived. Why?" Shikamaru answered.

Sakura thought that if he was asking why, it meant that Ino hadn't said anything, and Sakura didn't want to tell him. "No, nothing."

She stood up to walk out and continue her search when suddenly Shikamaru grabs her hand. He looked as though he wanted to ask her something but could not bring himself to say it. Sakura slowly sat back down on her seat and looked at him straight in the eye. She wondered if he knew about the marriage and wanted to ask about it.

"What is it, Shikamaru?"

Shikamaru released he hand and stared at his ramen bowl. "Ah, this is troublesome," he said, mumbling to himself. He turned back to Sakura. "The Kazekage, he came with his sister right? That girl with the fan?"

Sakura nodded. "Why do you ask?"

Shikamaru shook his head. "Nothing," He smiled and continued eating his meal.

Thinking that it was nothing, Sakura got up and walked out. She headed for the Hokage's office. 'Probably Tsunade-sama knows where he is' she thought. As she approached the building, she sees Rock Lee coming from the opposite direction. He brightened when he saw her and jogged up to her.

"Good morning, Sakura-san," Lee greeted, with a big smile.

"Good morning Lee-san," she replied. "What are you doing here?"

"I've just completed 100 laps around Konoha!" he exclaimed, as if he has never done it before. Sakura smiled at him 'He's still working hard' she thought. He has become a jounin, although fresh from the exam he took just months ago. But even as he is fresh, his skills were not taken lightly. He was named special jounin for his incredible speed. He is now the fastest shinobi in Konoha. Without the weights, of course.

"Naa, Lee-san, have you seen Kazekage-sama?" Sakura asked.

"Kazekage-sama? You mean Gaara?" Lee questioned in return. Sakura nodded. He thought for a while before snapping his fingers. "That's right! I saw him this morning, leaving Hokage-sama's office. We had a short talk."

"Do you know where he went?" Sakura asked.

"Hmmm.…he went the direction you came from but I didn't ask him where he's headed."

It wasn't much, but it was still information. "Thanks Lee-san,"

"Aah,…no problem. Anything is fine if I'm doing it for you," Lee said, with a big grin.

Sakura smiled and turned, only to look straight into Shizune. "Shizune-san?"

Shizune smiled at her, then grabbed her hand. "Come with me," she said as she pulls Sakura with her.

"Wait! Where are you going?" Sakura asked.

"Tsunade-sama wants to see you. She has good news," Shizune said as she winked at her.

"Good…..news?"

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Sakura stood in front of the grinning Tsunade. Tsunade looks awfully happy, which adds to Sakura's discomfort of the situation. To make things worse, Shizune was grinning as well. Sakura gulped and waited for Tsunade to say something.

"Sakura," Tsunade started. Sakura looked at her intently. "As you should know, Shizune should've told you, I have good news."

Sakura gulped again. "What is it, Tsunade-sama?"

Tsunade closed her eyes and grinned wider. Sakura took a deep breath in anticipation. Tsunade's eyes snapped open and looked straight at Sakura.

"I received a visit from Kazekage-sama last night while I was asleep. I'm actually marveled that he managed to gain entry into my room without waking me. The only other person whom I think can match his stealth ness is probably Kakashi, but he too, is getting old," Tsunade said, wearing an odd look of regret on her face.

"He and I had a small talk regarding your marriage to him and I'm happy to inform you that you are no longer needed for it. You've been dismissed," Tsunade finished, with a sincere smile.

"What? I don't understand," Sakura replied. She felt like an object being tossed around now that she is unneeded.

"He wasn't pleased with how you reacted towards him when he spoke to you, so he requested a change." Tsunade explained.

'That's what he meant when he said my life won't go wasted with him. But why? Why did he do this? Why did he care whether I was willing or not?' Thoughts raced through Sakura's head. She wondered why she cared. She should be happy now that she didn't have to marry him anymore. But she couldn't convince herself that things were good, were fine that way. She felt guilty, that she caused this. She felt that she forced her way out of the situation, and it just felt wrong.

"Who is it?" she heard herself asking, with a little urgency in her tone.

"Well, compared to you, I choose someone more…..submissive. He should be with her now."

"Where is he?" Sakura asked, sounding almost angry.

Tsunade was taken aback by Sakura's behavior, and stared at her apprentice. "He's at the Hyuuga main house. The girl is Hinata."

Forgetting all manners and respect, Sakura ran straight for the door and burst out, leaving Tsunade and Shizune staring after her. Tsunade looked at her assistant. "Shizune, did I say something wrong? I thought she'd be happy."

Shizune looked at Tsunade and shrugged. "I thought so too, Tsunade-sama."

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Sakura ran down the corridor, and out of the Hokage office building. She looked right, then left, before darting to the left with full speed. It's times like this that she wished she had Rock Lee's speed. Even with the weights, he still could run faster than most others.

She ran, while also marveling at the fact that she hasn't hit into anyone, or anything. 'The Hyuuga main house? I passed by it on my search for Gaara earlier. Why didn't I sense his presence?'

'All this time I've been waiting for Sasuke-kun. I was loyal to Sasuke-kun, and I've turned down the few good men who actually liked me because of him. And where is he now?' She turned through a tight corner, hitting the wall, but kept going. 'The few good men who actually liked me.……..Naruto…….Lee-san' She remembered the look on their faces when she turned them down. First Naruto, then Lee, and she vowed that she never wanted to see that expression on anyone's face again.

'And that is why I don't want to turn Gaara down. Even if he doesn't actually like me.' Sakura thought, realizing suddenly that she was in front of the Hyuuga main house. She stopped at the entrance, unsure of whether she should barge in. To her relief, she saw Neji heading out towards her. In his hands, he carried a black cat. She immediately recognized it as the one she interacted with the night before.

"Good morning, Neji-san," she greeted, not knowing what else to say, having never been close to Neji before. He nodded at her and continued to head out.

"The cat-…..?" Sakura inquired

Neji looks at the four legged creature he carried in his hands. "I found it on the roof. I'm taking it out," he explained, before looking at her. "Are you here to look for Hinata-sama?"

"Aah, kind of. Is she here?" Sakura asked, trying to find out if Gaara was still around. He probably left already.

"Yes, but you'll have to wait a while. Hianta-sama is tending to some guest," Neji said.

The word 'guest' rang a bell in Sakura's head. 'So Gaara might still be inside' she thought, oddly happy.

"Guest? Is it Gaa…..Kazekage-sama?" Sakura asked, with urgency.

Neji nodded. "Aah, how did you know?"

"I need to see him," Sakura said, ignoring his question.

"I'm sorry. Kazekage-sama and Hinata-sama are discussing important matters. You'll have to wait."

"This is important too!" Sakura insisted.

"I'm sorry. I can't permit you."

Sakura looked down, as if understanding, then said in a low voice. "I'm sorry, Neji-san." With a sudden burst of speed she sped pass him and into the house. Neji finds himself unable to stop her with the cat in his hands. He quickly puts in down and went after her.

"Sakura-san! I'm telling you, it's not a good time to enter!" he told, going after her.

Sakura ignored Neji's words, still moving around the house as if it was her own. She had only been into the Hyuuga main house once, but she remembers where the guest hall is. Neji was gaining on her and she quickens her pace.

Finally, she arrives. She grabs the handle of the door and slides it open. Her eyes immediately registers what she sees. Hyuuga Hiashi was seated facing her, in front of him was Gaara and beside Gaara was Hinata. Temari was seated behind Gaara, to the right. She also saw that Gaara and Hinata were holding hands.

She thought of what Neji said, that it was not a good time, and started to believe it. But she couldn't stop herself anymore. A message has been sent from her brain to her voice box. She felt her mouth open, and words went flying out. She wondered to herself whether she had really said it, and the words that echoed back to her in the hall gave her the answer.

Neji arrived beside Sakura just in time to hear the last of the echoed words resonating around the hall. It was faint, but he could make out the three words. Neji thought to himself, 'Gaara, I accept?'

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I've finally completed chapter 2. well, this chapter isn't much actually. It just shows how Sakura accepts her fate. And towards the end I felt there was something wrong but I just don't know what. From the next chapter onwards it will be about Gaara and Sakura budding feelings for each other. evil laughter and I know that I have problem with my tenses so please don't flame me on that. I KNOW. So, next chap will be up ASAP and till then, enjoy. Oh yea, I'm not sure if it's hyuuga hiashi or hizashi so if it's wrong, please overlook it. XDXDXDXDXD