Sakura awoke in the morning to Naruto snoring in her ear, she pushed him away and sat up she was still dressed in the kimono she was in yesterday, everyone was still sleeping.

She walked into the living room and sat, thinking about the day's events, she was afraid of what she was becoming, she was bound to kill someone around her.

Kazekage Tower, Suna 7 years later.

Gaara No Sabaku was 15 and he was dressed in all black he glared at everyone and hated everything, the only thing he loved was his teddy bear 'AI' it was old but dear to the little boy, it was given to him by his dead mother, she was killed by the Suna plague. He could control sand, he could throw kunai with deadly accuracy, and shuriken alike.

He was at his father's funeral, clutching his teddy bear, he would not mourn for a man that had hated him throughout all of his short life, his sister was expectedly next in line to the Kazekage title, but it went by youngest family member, no one would defy their Kazekage now that he could kill them with a look.

Gaara was not happy to be the center of attention, and often escaped in his 'office' to talk to his animals, he enjoyed the company of them but he was most fond of the raccoon, which stole to stay alive and had dark rings around its eyes.

Gaara left the funeral with his servants trailing behind ready to be ordered around, "Leave me be." He ordered and took off into the park, he sat on a swing and propelled himself back and forth, he heard a scuffle coming from behind him in an alley, he went to observe, he watched in horror as some adult raccoons threw a littler one around, the little one had given up on escape and was taking the punishment.

"No, don't hurt it!" he yelled he summoned some of his sand to pick the little creature up and bring it to him, he cuddled the animal close to his chest and watched in awe as it did not run away, but cuddle closer to his warmth, he allowed a small smile to grace his lips, he took the animal home and fed it fruit. From then on out they were inseparable, and Gaara named him Fang. 2 weeks went by until he was told of the Konaha pedestrian that was coming to stay with him and his family.

"Why did I not receive news of this earlier?" He asked icily the servant gulped "We believed you to know." He shuddered, "When will he arrive?" Gaara asked looking at the papers on his desk. "It's a girl sir and she will arrive later today, it's her birthday, also." Gaara glared at the man, "Get a room ready and let Temari know." He shooed the servant and sunk down into his seat, absently mindedly petting Fang's head.

Haruno compound, Konaha

"Why do I have to go?" Sakura screamed in the face of the Hokage "I though you liked me!" she ran off ignoring the calls to summon her back.

Sakura ran to the graveyard and into the grave house in which her parents were buried. She prayed to them asking for guidance, she fell asleep behind their coffins out of sight. She awoke to a tickling sensation on her nose, she cracked open her eyes and saw a cobra flicking its tongue over her nose she laughed and picked it up it was a young snake, newly hatched, "Hello little girl, how are you?" She asked running her hand over the 2 foot span of its body, 'I am fine two-tongue, why do you cry over your parents?' Sakura looked at the animal and smiled, the hissing sounded like words to her. "I cry because my family wishes to get rid of me and they forgot my birthday was today."

Sakura walked out of the grave home, the snake wrapped firmly around her neck. She went back to her home and packed her bag; she would not look or talk to anyone, as far as she was concerned, they had betrayed her trust. "Sakura we've been looking for you everywhere!" the Hokage exclaimed when he found her at the gate.

"I will leave now, no one will follow me understand?" Sakura stated and took off for Suna her snake up her sleeve; she had decided to name her Midnight after her black scales. Sakura stopped after 3 hours of running, she settled down by a calm stream and took a drink and gave Midnight a piece of raw meat, Midnight took it happily and gulped it down.

Sakura made it to Suna 2 hours later; she made her way to the Kazekage tower calm and at ease finally away from her home and the memories.

Sakura walked to the center of the town putting her hair up with a golden ribbon on her way, she had not had any 'abnormalities' since she accidentally cut herself. Sakura sat in the lobby; she was tired from all of her running, she watched as a man with red hair came down the stairs and talked with the secretary who pointed at her she kept her face expressionless, but on the inside she was nervous 'Why would they send me here?' she hugged her bag tighter and stroked Midnight.

"Sakura Haruno?" Gaara asked the secretary she pointed to a beautiful girl sitting in the corner, he swallowed a blush and fingered the box in his robe pocket, he had gotten the girl a gold locket inside was engraved 'Cherry Blossom' on the other side was space to put a picture. He went up to the girl, aware that she saw Fang running around his feet, he was pleased when he saw her smile at Fang.

Sakura looked up he was coming toward her! 'Why am I so nervous? It's just a boy.' She calmed herself down and smiled at the baby raccoon running around his feet, "Sakura Haruno, welcome to Suna." Gaara said, his voice mid-ranged for a mans she looked up at him, he handed her a black velvet box and muttered "Happy Birthday." She opened it up and smiled her eyes lighting up, "Thank you!" she exclaimed and hugged him quickly before clasping the locket around her neck. He blushed lightly and motioned for her to follow him.

"This will be your room, I sleep across the hall and Temari sleeps in the room next to you." Gaara stated opening the door and followed her inside, the room was a dark red the floor a black carpet, the bed, black velvet trimmed in gold braid. Sakura smiled and dropped her bags next to the bed and jumped on it taking care not to rush Midnight "Umm Kazekage-sama?" Sakura started he looked at her, "Do you allow pets other then Fang?" He looked at her and nodded Sakura smiled and pulled out Midnight who blinked, not use to the light outside of Sakura's sleeve.

Gaara looked at the snake that wrapped itself around Sakura's neck loosely just so it looked like a fashionable necklace. "Sakura do you wish to see the garden?" Gaara asked she nodded and followed after him, they walked into a completely different place, flowers dotted the landscape and trees grew to the greenhouse roofing, Sakura ran to the closest tree and climbed to the top, she looked down Gaara sat at the bottom looking up at her, "Come up Gaara!" she yelled down he shook his head and gathered sand at his feet and propelled himself up to where she was he looked at her, she was laughing and shaking her head she grabbed his hand and pulled him into the tree next to her.

They watched the sun fade from orange to red and finally to gold. They went in hours later as the cold nipped at their fingers, they retired content with the days outcome.