Here's another chapter. I think this is my longest one yet. And 4 chapters is the longest story i have ever written. WOW i am actually sticking to something... anyway...

Theres probably a lot of OOC in this chapter. BUT then again, there is nothing to prove that Gaara doesnt act like this after Shukaku is gone, if you think about it.

If I owned Naruto, this wouldnt be just a fanfic.

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Everyone knew that Sakura was in a bad mood that day. Most of the hospital staff had the wisdom to avoid her, knowing her incredible strength, but one new nurse asked her how to use a certain herb. The glare she received left her shaking for a good half hour.

Even Gaara, who barely looked at anything other than the roof, noticed something was wrong.

"Excuse me," for the first time since his childhood, his instincts told him to be polite. "Is there something wrong?"

Sakura rounded on him with a glare, for the simple fact that he dared to speak to her. This did not affect him at all, his face staying in the usual emotionless mask.

After a few seconds filled with silence and glares, Sakura gave in, and spoke.

"No, nothing is wrong," she forced as much spite as she could into those words.

"Don't lie. It isn't becoming of you. And it is obvious something is wrong, you're not exactly hiding it. It's obvious you just want something."

These words almost sparked a new glare from Sakura, but it didn't happen. She could not muster enough anger to keep it going. Even though his words were completely rude, she just sighed.

"I do not want something."

"…"

"What?"

"Nothing."

Sakura just looked at him. She hated the way he was making her felt like a jealous, spoiled child. But, she thought grumpily That's probably how I'm acting. Still, he has no right to insult me like this.

"Is there anything you need, Kazekage-sama?"

"Call me Gaara. And yes. Would you play Shogi with me?"

Sakura jumped slightly as a shogi board formed before her, comprised entirely of sand.

"I suppose so," she said, slightly nervous. She had been taught to play by Shikamaru at a get together of Ino's, but that had been a long time ago.

"You do know how to play?" he asked, making her feel like a child once again.

"Yes! I'm just… a bit rusty," she replied indignantly.

"Hn."

They played a first game in silence, and Gaara won very easily.

"Another game?" Sakura asked him, having been surprised by how much she had enjoyed the first.

Gaara nodded, and his sand set the board up again in an instant.

They began again in silence, but halfway through, Gaara spoke.

"You never told me what was wrong."

Sakura looked at him with empty eyes, and would have crushed the piece she was holding in her hand if it had not been made of Gaara's sand.

"You really want to know, don't you?" she spoke evenly, placing the piece into obvious danger without realizing.

"Yes," Gaara took out the piece with a motion of finality, and looked at her calmly.

Sakura sighed, putting her head in her arms, and began to speak.

"You know about the whole Sasuke thing, right?" she didn't wait for an answer, "They have discovered a lot of information of his whereabouts and companions and such. And they are sending a team to retrieve him. And I am not to be on this team."

She looked up, defiance in her eyes and voice.

"It was meant to be me bringing him back. Me and Naruto. We were going to bring him back together, to be a team once more. But no, Tsunade sends my friends, and Naruto, and gets me to choose who is to go in my place. This may be the last chance we have, and I am expected to stay here and do everyone's bidding while the person I am meant to be getting back is being fetched by everyone else!"

She stood up, slamming her hands down onto the side of Gaara's bed, sending the Shogi board flying.

"It's not fair!" she yelled, spinning round and storming to the window, as she suddenly felt like the small room could not hold her anger.

She had opened the window, and was climbing on to the window sill, when she felt a hand grip her arm. She tried shaking it off, but it gripped on tighter.

"What are you doing?" Gaara looked at her with confusion and annoyance.

"Let go of me."

"If you tell me what you are doing."

"Going somewhere else."

"Where?"

"I don't know."

"Why?"

"Why do you care?"

Gaara just stared at her, then let go and returned to his bed.

He's making me feel like a child again! If I could just hit him this once…

Do it, do it do it!

No, I can't. You always want me to do stupid things.

Because you would never do anything interesting if I didn't. Now either get out that window, or hit the stupid fool!

Sighing inwardly, she slid lightly off the window sill, doing neither of the things her rebellious other half wanted her to do.

"Kaze-"

"I said call me Gaara."

"Gaara-sama,would you like to continue our game?" Sakura asked lightly, trying not to portray her real emotions.

The board reformed itself from sand before her, the pieces exactly as they were before she knocked them askew.

They played in silence for a short while longer, but were interrupted by a knock on the door. It slid open to reveal a young nurse, who bowed to Gaara.

"Sakura-san," she said, turning to the kunochi. "The healing of the teams that the Hokage-sama spoke to you about is about to began. You were specifically requested to lead the healings."

"Yes, I shall come now, if the Ka- Gaara-sama doesn't mind," she glanced at Gaara, who merely nodded, the board dispersing back into his gourd.

Sakura bowed to Gaara, and followed the young nurse.

x-x-x-x-x

That evening, Sakura trudged home slowly, exhausted from the day of constant chakra use. The teams had been fully healed, and were now out of critical condition, and should be walking again within a short space of time.

When she reached her flat, Sakura threw herself straight into bed, not even bothering to change. She slept quickly, her anger of the morning forgotten.

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Thar we go. Please review. It makes me want to write more. D