Welcome to chapter 2 of Ever Since! Not much to say so we're going to roll right into it!
-X-
Sakura quietly walked along the path into the park. She approached the boy sitting on the bench.
"Hi there!" Sakura chirped with a grin.
The boy looked startled as he looked up at her with sad eyes. "H-hi..." He replied in a small voice.
"What'cha doing?" She asked as she noticed he relaxed the slightest bit.
"Nothing." He said quietly.
"Want to play?" She chirped.
He looked shocked. "Y-you want to play with me?" He asked in disbelief.
"Of course!" She said happily, taking his hand in hers she pulled him over to the swings.
He stood there dumbly with a shocked, yet hopeful expression. "You're not afraid of me?"
Sakura gave him a questioning look. "Why would I be?"
"Because I'm a monster." He said sadly, averting his gaze to the side.
Sakura hopped up and stared intently at him. "Hmmm, you don't look like a monster to me!" She said with a smile.
His eyes lit up at her words. "Really?"
"Yup." She confirmed as she patted the swing next to her.
He smiled inhumanly wide as he hopped on the swing next to her. She in turn smiled back at him.
"What's your name?" He asked.
"I'm Sakura." She said happily. "It's nice to meet you...uh..."
"Gaara."
"Oh. It's nice to meet you Gaara-kun." She said with a grin.
He smiled back. "You too Sakura-chan."
"Hey, I have a great idea Gaara-kun."
"What is it?"
"Let's be best friends!"
"Friends?" He tried in a hopeful tone.
She nodded. "Do you want to?"
"Yeah!" He said happily.
Sakura grinned as they shared information, telling each other about themselves as they swung together in the evening glow.
They were happily talking and playing together for a couple of hours when...
"Sakura!" Sakura heard a male voice call.
Said girl looked over her shoulder. "Oto-san? Oka-san?" She questioned as her parents walked up to her with a mildly angry expression.
"Do you realize how late it is young lady?" Her mother scolded.
"Sorry." Sakura said. "But I was having so much fun with Gaara-kun!" She continued happily.
Her parents looked over at the young boy and gave him a discreet glare.
"Come on Sakura, it's time to go home." Her father said.
"Awww, okay." Sakura pouted. She turned to face Gaara. "Come back here tomorrow so we can play some more." She told him, pulling him into a hug.
Her father pulled her away as they walked out of the park.
Gaara sat in shock as she was taken away. 'Why didn't my barrier go up?' He questioned internally.
Nonetheless Gaara ran home with a huge grin on his face. He burst through the doors of his home. He ran from room to room looking for his beloved Uncle Yashamaru. He found him sitting in the living room.
"Yashamaru, Yashamaru! Guess what?" He asked happily and out of breath.
Yashamaru looked up from his scroll with a questioning look. "What happened?"
"I made a friend!" He said excitedly. "Her name is Sakura and she's really nice!"
Yashamaru was shocked as well. Nonetheless he patted Gaara's head. "That's wonderful, Gaara."
Gaara nodded happily and ran up to his room earning some strange looks from Temari and Kankuro.
"What's up with him?" Kankuro asked while Yashamaru walked up to him.
"Some girl befriended him."
Temari let out a small gasp. "But who would? Everyone in the village is afraid of him."
"It's the daughter of the family that just moved here."
"That explains it." Kankuro said. "Should we warn her?"
"I don't think so. Let's see how this plays out on its own." Yashamaru stated as he walked out the door, presumably heading for the hospital.
Kankuro and Temari exchanged concerned glances but then went their separate ways.
Up in his room Gaara laid on his bed with a smile on his lips. His eyes started to tear with joy as thoughts of Sakura passed through his mind.
"I can't wait for tomorrow." He said happily.
-±- With Sakura -±-
Sakura had just finished her bath and was preparing for bed. She had slipped on some red silk pyjamas and had crawled into bed. She turned onto her side and stared at the moon. She giggled girlishly to herself.
'He was cute, wasn't he?' Inner squealed.
'Yeah he was.' Sakura agreed. 'Definitely not a monster.' She thought as she drifted off into a peaceful sleep full off her best friend.
Sakura's parents stood in the kitchen together, worry clearly evident in the atmosphere.
"What are we going to do?" Her mother asked. "She made friends with that demon."
Her father sighed heartily. "I don't know, we might have to cut our mission short. I can't allow anything to happen to Sakura."
"I think that's the best idea." Her mother agreed as they too headed off to bed,
Sakura woke up at 8:30 the next morning. She yawned and stretched while warm sunlight poured in through the window, filling her room. She walked over to her closet and pulled out an emerald green dress that were the same colour as her eyes. It was knee length and had a short v- neck style neck line. It was sleevless and split up the sides of her thighs, revealing tight knee length black shorts underneath.(Generally just like pre-shippuden outfit.) She took the brush off her bed and glided it through her short pink locks, making them nice and smooth.
She found that she was well prepared for the day so she ran down the stairs, the kitchen her current destination. She looked around the room, finding it empty.
"Where is everyone?" She mumbled to herself. She put it aside and slipped two pieces of bread into the toaster. She watched the toaster carefully as if she were a predator and the toast was her prey. She jumped and grabbed the toast while it was in mid air, just like a cat catching a butterfly. She giggled to herself as she nom'd the toast down to crumbs.
She looked around the corner of the doorway, but her parents were still not awake. "Should I wake them up?" She asked herself quietly.
She shrugged it off and grabbed a glass of water. After downing that she fetched a piece of paper and pen to write her parents a note.
'Went to go play. I already had breakfast.
Love Sakura'
She laid the note on the table and headed out the door. Since she was not yet familiar with the village yet, she took the same route she had taken the day before. She glided and pushed herself through the busy market district. She was coming up to the pet store and she saw the fox was still there. It tugged at her heart but she pressed forward and headed for the park.
She went around the corner of the alleyway that She, Kaito, Yuzuki, Tsuki, Mayu and Hisoka played in. She followed the short path into the park. She stood in the center of iit and looked around, but no one was in sight.
"Maybe I'm early." Sakura said quietly as she took a seat on the swing.
She rocked back and forth for a few minutes before she heard some rustling in the bushes behind her. Her guard went up the slightest bit. Out of the bushes tumbled Gaara with bruises on his face and arms and a nasty gash on his cheek.
"Gaara-kun!" Sakura called worriedly as she ran up to him. "What happened?"
"It's nothing." He mumbled softly.
"It's definitely something." Sakura half scolded. Mint green chakra begun to swirl around Sakura's hands. She lifted her hand to Gaara's face, and gently touching the gash she begun to heal it.
"You're a medic?" Gaara asked in awe.
"Yup. Tsunade-sama has been teaching me medical nin-jutsu since I was six." She said with a confident grin.
"At such a young age, that's impressive."
"Thanks." She said with a smile as she placed her finger tips on the bruises that adorned his pale cheek.
'Her chakra feels so nice.' Gaara thought blissfully.
'I don't get why that girl can get near us and the sand barrier wont activate.' Shukaku said, deep in thought.
'It doesn't matter, she wants to be my friend.'
Gaara was snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Sakura's soft voice.
"All healed." She said with a smile as she took out a cloth out of her pocket and wiped the blood off his cheek.
"Thanks Sakura-chan." He said quietly.
"No problem, I don't want you to be hurt Panda-chan." She claimed and patted his head.
"Panda-chan?"
"Yep. You look like one, so it'll be your nick name." She said teasingly. "It's cute, isn't it?"
Gaara smiled. "You can call me anything you want Sakura-chan."
"It's really hot, let's get some ice cream." Sakura suggested as she took him by the hand and led him out of the park.
'S-she's holding my hand.' Gaara said to himself, a small blush appearing on his face.
They walked along the streets together as people glared at Gaara and gave Sakura strange looks for being hand in hand with a demon. Sakura just ignored them but Gaara felt insecure.
'Why are they glaring at Gaara-kun?' Sakura thought angrily.
'I don't know. Who could hate such an adorable creature?' Inner chirped.
'He is adorable, but you need some help with your fangirl-ness.'
'Oh bah.'
"There's some!" Sakura said aloud as she jogged up to the stand. The man smiled at Sakura but glared at Gaara.
"What flavour do you want Panda-chan?" Sakura asked.
"You don't have to Sakura-chan."
"Don't be silly, it's my treat." She persisted.
After a few moments of uncertainty he gave in and sighed. "Strawberry then."
"Good boy." She said with a smile.
"One strawberry and one chocolate please." She asked the man politely.
He gave the pair a weary look but placed their orders and after a few moments, handed over the creamy treats.
"That will be 10 ryo, young lady." The man said with a small smile.
She handed the man the money and then handed Gaara his ice cream. "Let's window shop." Sakura chirped as she ferociously licked her ice cream.
'She's still holding my hand...' He thought in slight disbelief. 'Maybe she really does want to be my friend.'
They walked around the market district for a while laughing, talking and browsing the various items. Gaara was surprised that he actually laughed, a lot at that. It was getting to be afternoon when, while shopping, a rock sailed through the air and grazed Sakura but hit Sakura in the face.
"Gaara-kun, are you alright?" Sakura asked worriedly and glared up at the culprit.
"Sakura-chan, get away from him!" She heard Kaito call.
"Are you okay, Sakura-chan?" Mayu asked.
"Did he hurt you?" Tsuki asked.
"What do you think you're doing, you monster?" Hisoka growled.
Sakura snapped and punched Hisoka in the jaw with a chakra laced fist, sending him flying across the street, crashing into a nearby stand.
"Hisoka!" She heard Yuzuki call.
"Don't ever call Gaara-kun a monster!" Sakura growled dangerously. "He didn't do anything bad!"
"Sakura-chan it's okay..." Gaara said softly.
"No it's not!" Sakura half yelled. 'You're not a monster, they have no right to do these things to you!"
"Sakura-chan..."
'She's standing up for me...' Gaara thought happily. He felt like he wanted to cry with joy.
"Gaara!" Sakura heard a female voice call. She turned to see another girl with sandy blonde hair and a boy with brown hair running up to them.
"What did you do Gaara?" The boy with the brown hair asked, pointing to Hisoka who stumbled over, blood running down his chin.
"Temari, Kankuro..." Gaara said quietly.
"It was me, not Gaara-kun." Sakura said sternly, facing Kankuro.
He looked over to Sakura with wide eyes. There was such a strong, menacing aura around the girl. 'That girl has such strength...'
"You don't have to stand up for Gaara." Temari said in a harsh voice.
Sakura's eyes narrowed as she let out a low growl. "Why can't anyone see that Gaara-kun isn't bad?" She said, her voice now a lot deeper and more menacing. "You have no right."
"If you don't leave him alone I assure you that you will end up the same way he did." Sakura warned. "I won't stand for it." She continued as images of Naruto flashed before her eyes.
Gaara blinked. 'She has such a menacing aura...' Gaara breathed internally.
'She's not normal.' Shukaku said.
'What do you mean?'
'She's not the same person as before, her chakra is different. It's stronger and evil.'
Gaara observed the fuming Sakura and did notice she even looked different. Her eyes were dark purple with hints of black in them and her hair was a lot lighter.
"Sakura-chan..." Gaara said softly as he laid a hand on her shoulder.
She shook her head, her eyes returning to their normal green and her hair darkening up. She turned to Hisoka and bowed.
"I'm sorry I hit you Hisoka-kun, I just snapped." She said softly.
Hisoka just nodded dumbly, he was still shocked at the immense strength Sakura had.
"It's just that, I had a friend back in Konoha that was in the same predicament, and I can't stand to see someone else going through the same pain." She said, turning her head to face Gaara.
"But he had a demon inside of him."
Temari and Kankuro exchanged glances.
"Are you Haruno Sakura by any chance?" Temari asked.
Sakura gave a slight nod.
"I suppose you don't know."
"Don't know what?"
"That I have a demon inside me." Gaara finished for Kankuro.
Sakura blinked. "You do?"
"He's called Shukaku."
Sakura closed her eyes. "I'd recognize that name anywhere. One of the Bijuu."
"You know about them?" Temari questioned.
"Yes, while I was training with Tsunade-sama she taught me about the Bijuu because my friend was the jinchuuriki for the Kyuubi." She explained. "You're a jinchuuriki too?"
Gaara nodded sadly.
Sakura hit Gaara lightly on the head with a stick she found on the ground. Gaara looked up at her with a questioning look. She wrapped her arms around Gaara and pulled him into a tight embrace. Gaara's eyes widened and everyone else gasped.
"I don't care that you're a jinchuuriki, you're no different than anyone else." She said sternly. "I still want to be your friend, jinchuuriki or not."
Gaara let a single tear slip down his cheek as he too wrapped his arms around Sakura, returning the embrace. Sakura smiled into his shoulder.
"Thanks, Sakura-chan." He whispered, pulling away from her with a smile.
Sakura smiled back and patted him on the head. "Now don't you feel better?"
He nodded and laughed lightly.
"Can we talk to you Sakura?" Temari called from a little ways away.
Sakura nodded and walked up to the two.
"Are you serious about wanting to be Gaara's friend?" Kankuro asked.
"Yes, I am." Sakura said sternly.
Suddenly Sakura was caught in Temari's embrace. "I've always wanted Gaara to have a friend." She said in a shaky voice, tears starting to form in her eyes.
Sakura blinked. "Do you know him or something?"
"He's out brother." Kankuro explained.
"He is?"
"Yeah, everyone has hated him since he was born including our family." Temari said while letting Sakura go. "Even though we're frightened of him, as his siblings we want him to be happy."
Sakura allowed tears to flow gently down her face. "That's terrible, he's been hated for that long?"
Temari and Kankuro nodded slightly. "Please take care of him." Temari asked with a small smile.
Sakura wiped away her tears and smiled up at the siblings. "I promise."
The two smiled down at the pinkette and left her to her business.
Sakura ran back to Gaara and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. "Ne Gaara, I have to get something, want to come with me?"
He nodded and smiled as Sakura took his hand and lead him towards the market district.
They pushed and pulled their way through the many villagers.
"What do you need Sakura-chan?"
"You'll see." Sakura said as they neared the pet shop.
One final push of the crowd and Gaara and Sakura toppled into a heap in front of the fox cage.
Sakura rubbed her side. "Ow."
Gaara held his hand out for Sakura to take. She smiled and took his hand, him pulling her up.
"You needed something at the pet shop?"
She nodded. "I needed this." Sakura said as she walked up to the cage with the silver fox laying in it.
The begun to pet the small fox. The fox smiled up at the two and licked Gaara's hand.
"It's really cute, are you going to buy him?"
Sakura nodded and pulled out her Lucky Star wallet. "Definitely." She chirped as she walked through the open door of the pet shop.
She walked up to the young girl at the counter.
"Hello, I'm Aria. What can I do for you today?" She asked with a sweet tone.
Sakura smiled at the girl. "I'd like that baby fox out front." She asked politely.
The girl nodded. "Got ya." She said as she walked out from behind the counter and ushered for Sakura to follow her.
Sakura followed Aria out front. Aria pulled a pin out of a hook and the wire door fell open, allowing the fox easy access out of the pen. Aria picked up the small fox and turned towards Sakura.
"He's 180 ryo, do you have that much?"
"Yep." Sakura chirped, handing over 180 ryo.
Aria smiled and took the money. She handed the fox over to Sakura, Sakura cuddled the fox like a baby, giggling at how cute it was.
Aria turned to go back into the store when Sakura called out to her. "Oh, Aria-san I think I need a collar for him."
Aria giggled. "Alright, come on."
Sakura followed Aria back into the store. She stopped and turned to Gaara. "Want to help me pick, Panda-chan?"
He nodded and followed her in. They walked up to a wall of various collars for various animals. They looked and looked and then Gaara spotted one near the top.
"What about that one?"
Sakura followed Gaara's gaze and saw the one he saw. She grinned "That's perfect!"
Her grinned dissipated when she noticed she was too short. "I can't reach it."
Gaara smiled. "I'll help you." He said as sand whirled around beneath Sakura's feet and created a stable platform to stand on. Sakura's eyes widened when she was lifted into the air and up to the collar of choice. She grabbed it from the hook it was on, and she was gently placed back on the ground.
Sakura looked over to Gaara. "Did you do that?"
Gaara all of sudden looked sullen. "Y-yeah..."
"Wow, that's so cool! You can manipulate sand?" Sakura chirped, placing her hands on Gaara's shoulders.
Gaara lit up. "You think so?"
She nodded. "I wish I could do that."
He smiled as she fiddled with the collar. It was dark purple that had a medium sized silver bell attached to it.
Sakura approached Aria with collar and placed it on the counter.
"Will that be all?" Aria asked sweetly.
"Yes."
"10 ryo, please."
Sakura smiled and handed over the last of her money to Aria.
Sakura set the fox on the counter and put the collar around its neck. "There you go, little fella." She cooed as she picked it up and walked back to Gaara.
"Let's go Panda-chan."
He nodded and took his spot next to her. The two left the store and walked down the empty streets of the village.
"What are you going to name him?"
Sakura pondered for a moment. "Hmmm...how about Hitoshi?"
Gaara nodded. "I like it."
"Ne, Gaara."
"What is it?"
"Want to come to my house?" Sakura asked, burying her face in Hitoshi's fur to conceal her blush.
Gaara had a small blush of his own. "I'd like that."
Sakura grinned. "Follow me." She said while running away.
Gaara smiled softly before running after her.
Gaara had caught up with her and was a few feet behind her. She giggled and called back to him. "Better catch up or I'll leave you behind~" She teased.
Gaara let out a small laugh of his own and picked up his pace.
Sakura returned her gaze to the road ahead of her, only to run straight into a person. She fell to the ground. She rubbed her head.
"I'm so sor-" She begun but then stopped. "Oka-san? Oto-san?"
Indeed, her parents were standing in front of her with disappointing looks in their eyes.
"Sakura-chan are you okay?" Gaara asked as he knelt beside her. He looked up to see her parents glaring down at him.
Sakura's father grabbed her wrist and pulled her up. "You're coming home right now." He said sternly, starting to pull her away.
"Hey, wait are you doing?" Sakura asked as she tried to struggle out of her father's grasp. "Let me go!"
"We're not letting you hang around a monster." Her mother said.
Sakura's eyes narrowed. "He's not a monster!" Sakura growled dangerously.
"He's just like that Naruto kid." Her father added.
Sakura's eyes turned a deep purple and her hair turned silver, a black energy swirling around her. "Don't call him a monster." She said quietly, but evilly.
"Sakura-chan...?" Gaara mumbled softly.
"Oh no" Her mother gasped.
Sakura's father pulled a seal out of his pocket and placed it on Sakura's chest. The seal glowed and engulfed Sakura in a soft light. Her hair returned to its normal pink and her eyes returned to its brilliant green. Sakura felt her vision blur, and she fell into a state of unconsciousness in her arms.
"P-Panda-chan..."' Sakura mumbled before going completely out of it.
"Stay away from her." Her father warned Gaara as he walked off with Sakura in her arms.
Gaara sat in the middle of the road, it felt like his heart was ripped in two.
"Sakura-chan..."
-X-
Aw, poor Gaara.
Anyway, tell me what you think. R&R please!