Chapter contains fluff but no lemons.
Sakura felt her breath stop. This was a different feeling from being around Sasuke-kun. With him she felt herself breathing faster. Around him she was always nervous, thinking that he might be angry with her. But with Gaara she felt alive. Safe. She knew his story. She knew that he would never hurt her.
Gaara saw her relax slightly. He saw the lines in her face smooth out. Her hair fell gently around her face. Her whole countenance glowed with the soft caress of the silver moon. She was always beautiful to him, though the attraction was more than skin deep, but with the moonlight shining down on her, she looked like an angel. 'Too good to be real', he thought. Kiss her, Shukaku commanded. Now.
Gaara chose to listen to the demon. He closed the distance between them quickly. His mouth met hers. He felt her skin against him. It was cold but it began to warm. Her eyes looked into his. He felt happy. Shukaku's victory dance in his head was nothing more than a twittering. Sakura was real. There. And he loved her.
They broke apart. She leaned up against him. He rubbed her back gently. Her eyes were warm. He was falling into the green. A Sakura blossom fell from the tree and landed in her lap. A petal fell off of it. She picked it up with a bitter noise.
"That's what I am, a damaged flower. I can't love, Sasuke-kun broke my heart." Gaara kissed her cheek gently. He shook his head. Gaara reached out. He took the pink petal from her hands. He took a pinch of sand out of his pocket and dropped it on the flower. It fell into the center. He put the broken off blossom back into its place. He sat the blossom in his lap. Sakura watched the flower. He made a small hand sign. She couldn't see what it was but he seemed satisfied. He picked up the flower again. The petal was attached. It was whole again. He offered her the flower. She took it.
There was no evidence of any break. He smiled and she timidly returned it.
"That flower is whole again. You aren't a damaged flower anymore. You are a flower growing back from a broken heart, even more beautiful." Her eyes filled with tears.
"Gaara, its, its." He put a finger to her lips.
"Shhh. I know." His face was calm in the moon's pale rays. Her heart stopped again. She had never looked at Sabaku no Gaara, the Sand Village's weapon, this way. But she had to admit that he was good looking. Maybe better than Sasuke-kun. Inner Sakura said, And he likes us. I say, go ahead. 'He is maybe.' Sakura thought back, 'And Inner,' What? 'He's in love with ME, not you. Stay out of this.'Inner Sakura went off the sulk in the corner.
"You can learn to love again." He said gently. "I can help you." She let out the breath she had been holding. Gaara didn't expect her to be perfect. He didn't want a girl that she wasn't. He wanted her, Sakura, the way she was. And she wanted him as he was.
A perfect couple, Shukaku commented, A boy who doesn't know love and a girl with a broken heart. Perfect. 'And where does the egotistical demon fit in?' Gaara thought, 'No where. Stay out of this.' Shukaku went to sulk in the corner.
A small irritated sound caught the ear of the demon. It looked across. A version of Sakura except with the word 'Inner' on its forehead was looking annoyed. Shukaku whistled at it. It turned. A slow smile spread across its face. Why can't I have some fun too? It said. I deserve some fun. It moved across from Sakura's counciousness to where Gaara and Sakura were touching. It leaned out from Sakura's head to the edge of Gaara's. Shukaku did the same. I deserve some fun too, The demon said slyly. Inner grinned.
In reality Gaara and Sakura were listening to the conversation. Gaara looked at her.
"If even Shukaku is happy with it," He trailed off. She smiled softly.
"I'm just glad we're together."
The wind caressed the branches of the cherry tree. A shower of the pink blossoms fell around the two lovers as the moon shone down through branches.