A/N: Back! Again, still do not own Naruto.

Thank you to all my lovely reviewers! Oh yes, DarkangelB, this is my first story.

Oh yes. On the smex, sorry to disappoint you guys, but that will not happen for a long time, and it will not be all that descriptive. Since I am but only 13. (First one to call me "Kid" Gets thwacked with a mushroom)

However, it's my birthday in a week!

Red Sand

After an exhausting day of healing many of the injured in Suna, Sakura returned to the Kazekage's tower. Smiling politely at the people passing by, she opened the door and walked down the hall, thinking about the encounter with Gaara. Still remembering his touch. Shuddering slightly she turned to the right, and found a single door, with a sign that said "Sakura".

She blinked and opened the door, not sure what she was expecting. But whatever she thought it might have been, it wasn't.

The 'House' was rather small. Consisting of three rooms, the first a bathroom, the second, a bedroom, and the third, a kitchen. There was an open living room. Walking in to the house, she closed the door.

Glancing out the window, she smiled. How pretty the desert could be. First thing's first. Taking off the heavy, not to mention huge, medicine bag, she slumped down onto a couch.

"What's this?" She asked no one in particular. Hey, a stereo! She thought with a smile. Maybe this place wasn't so bad.

Turning it on, she found that they had already put a couple of CD's in it. Turning on a CD by random, she found herself listening to some sort of dance music. Making her want to dance, which is what she did.

Hold my hand lets chase the sun

We both know something's begun

Nothing feels that real without you

Want to learn so much about you

Sakura smiled, twirling on spot, trying to mimic the dazzling voice she had heard.

Shining star I've seen your face

Everything falls into place

Nothing else seems to matter

You bring me your love.

Sakura skipped to the kitchen, where she took out some bread, some meat and lettuce. Wow. This was quite nice now.

Feels so lonely

Wont you show me

Where I need to be

You bring me your love

A knock on the door interrupted her singing, Sakura looked up. If it were Gaara, she'd massacre something.

Feels like a raindrop on my skin

You reaching somewhere deep within

You make my body come alive

You bring me your love.

"Gaara…"She said annoyed. Crushing the knife she held. He stood in the doorway, not talking. Sakura glared at him, hands on her hips.

I whisper things you never knew

I can't believe that tonight I'm here with you

You make my body come alive

You bring me your love

"Well?" She asked him after five minutes, getting more annoyed by the second, about to slam the door in his face.

See it burning in my eyes

Don't want words don't want no lies

Face any more then words are spoken

Promises always be broken

"Shouldn't you invite me in?" He asked her simply, folding his arms over his chest, motionless. Sakura blinked. Right…that would have been the polite thing to do. Blushing, she stepped aside to let him through.

Feels so lonely

Wont you show me

Where I need to be

You bring me your love

"Gomen…Gaara." She said embarrassed before closing the door.

Feels like a raindrop on my skin

You reaching somewhere deep within

You make my body come alive

You bring me your love

He shrugged and leaned against the back of the now closed door. She went back into the kitchen.

"Would you like something to eat?" She asked him, getting out a new knife.

I whisper things you never knew

I can't believe that tonight I'm here with you

You make my body come alive

You bring me your love.

"Haruno, can you turn off the music? I can't think." He said glaring at the stereo, wanting it to explode. Sakura nodded and turned it off before returning to cooking.

"So, why did you visit me? Another injury?" She asked him with a slight grin. Gaara did not look amused.

"No. As Kazekage, I'm to make sure your stay here is pleasant." He said simply. Sakura smiled, and nodded before putting the deli meat on the bread.

"Oh, lucky for me then…hey Gaara?" She asked him now shy, remembering their encounter in his office.

"What is it Haruno?" He asked still leaned against the door, glancing up at her as she called his name. God he loved how it sounded coming out of her mouth.

" Why did you…you know…in your office?" She asked him once more, not satisfied with the answer he had before.

Gaara sighed. "Didn't I answer you already?" He asked the girl who walked over to him and sat on the couch opposite him.

She shrugged. "I forgot." She lied, before taking a bite out of her food.

"Because I can." He replied once more, turning to leave.

"What? That's it?" She asked rather angry about his reply. There must have been something else.

"Don't flatter yourself, Haruno. I was bored." He told her with a smirk and left.

At this Sakura's jaw dropped. Suddenly, things just got a lot more complicated.

To play poker when one was bored is all perfectly fine. But to use people, actually no, to use her, because of boredom was not fine. It downright was absurd.

Sakura glared, before feeling something drop down on to her knee, placing a hand to wipe it away, she felt it was wet. She was crying.

Sniffing, Sakura curled up her legs and hugged her knees. Why did it hurt so much to know he had only been fooling around? She closed her eyes, trying to shut off the waterworks.

How could he do that? He had no interest in her at all? She was used? It was a combination of these things that upset her. Or maybe it as the fact that, she did enjoy the attention…and she did enjoy the fact that it was Gaara who had given her the attention.

But now, feeling lower the sand beneath Gaara's feet, she couldn't help but wish for him to die.

How could he just toy with her?

Then a creepy voice crept into her mind.

'Because I can'

Finally stopping her tears, she growled. No matter how important he was, she hated him, for his guts, for his arrogance, for his handsome looks, wait…the last one wasn't suppose to be there.

Blinking in confusing, she growled out and flopped back onto the sofa. Why had she been so infatuated with him?

Making a promise to hate the man, Sakura stormed off to the bedroom to sleep. Tomorrow, he'll see. He could not have her.

The next morning, Sakura took a shower and brushed her hair, before tying the headband into her hair.

Getting the usual bag on, she left the tower, in full determination not to talk to Gaara. Not to even acknowledge his presence.

Surprised when several streamers popped in front of her face and she heard shouts of joy, along with music in the background.

Eyes widened as she realized Suna had come to life, with people down in the streets, children laughing, and balloons and streamers everywhere.

"What's going on?" She asked a passerby.

"It's the celebration of the Kazekage! Today, we celebrate our Kazekage!" He shouted joylessly, and bounded away.

"You don't know about it?" A little girl asked her shyly, tugging at her clothes.

"No…tell me?" Sakura asked her with a smile. The girl smiled back.

"Today, each one of us tells the Kazekage one thing we are thankful for about him. There's also a feast, a dance, and a ceremony." She said with a smile.

Sakura glared. No way was she honoring him today. The girl looked taken back.

"Oh no dear, it's not you. I just don't like Gaara all that much." Sakura reassured her. The girl blushed.

"He told me if I were older, he would wed me." She said out nearly mortified with embarrassment. Sakura glared. Feeling a pang of jealousy, yet more disgust that he would say such a thing.

"How old are you?" She asked her, tipping her head slightly. The girl smiled, "Eleven."

All right. That was it. She was murdering the man. To get a little girl's hopes up like that.

"I'm hoping he will pick me later tonight." She said interrupting Sakura's thoughts.

"For what dear?" She asked her.

"The dance. The Kazekage starts it off." She told her with a dreamy sigh.

Sakura sweat dropped and patted the girl on the head before making her way to see the patients.

How dare he? Even when healing the people of Suna, her only thoughts were of him. This whole not acknowledging thing, wasn't working out. Especially since it was 'his' special day.

Finally, it seemed like forever, but she was done. Making her way out of the last house, she saw that all of Suna was quiet and the girls were all lined up, down the street.

"What's going on now?" She asked someone, who blinked confused.

"You're a lady. You should be in line!" He said, and with help from several others, Sakura got pushed into the line of girls.

"Ladies and gentlemen! Now that all the girls are presented, our Kazekage will choose one lady to be his escort for the first dance!"

Sakura glared. Oh no. If only she had been born a boy. Then she saw him. He was smirking, and with one raised hand, he shouted out the words,

"Haruno Sakura."

Ugh. This ignoring thing. Definitely not working.

A/N: What do you think? Still short. But I wanted to get this posted up soon. Anyways, as always, review and read!