Serendipity just didn't cut it. Coincidence, no. Sheer happenstance? Not even likely.
Gaara just stared at the rosette, trying to relate the dedicated medic before him, completely engrossed in her task, with the insecure kimono-clad woman on the bridge the first day of the Konoha festival.
The day had started as ordinarily as it would, in the midst of the festival week in Konoha. Gaara had found one of the training grounds a peaceful place to meditate and was not alerted by Naruto's distinct chakra signature making its way over to him. In hindsight, he should have been more careful when instead of slowing down, Naruto's chakra signature seemed to speed up the nearer he came. A crash, a searing pain in his abdomen & a half-hearted apology later, Gaara found himself in a hospital room with Sakura, who just happened to be in the vicinity.
He scowled at the turn of events. No wonder Naruto's half-excuse of not seeing him was accompanied by a conspiratorial grin. At this realization, his scowl became more prominent and his gaze returned to the medic in front of him.
Sakura was flustered, to say the least. The Kazekage, undoubtedly one of the most intimidating men on the planet, was staring, no, scowling at her. She was in the midst of healing a nasty gash on his stomach that Naruto positively claimed was just an accident. Sakura would have buried him beneath the boulder he was sitting on, if Gaara's injury didn't require her foremost attention. Unable to withstand the penetrative gaze, Sakura resorted to her massive temper in defence. "How could Naruto even land a blow this deadly on you?!" At Gaara's answering smirk, Sakura backtracked," Let me re-phrase that. How could you let Naruto land a life threatening injury on you? What if you died? The peace treaty would be null and void."
Gaara simply shrugged," It was an accident. A minor oversight on my part. Rest assured that this slight transgression makes no effect whatsover on the alliance between our villages."
"If you say so, but -"
"Sakura.."
At his sombre tone, Sakura startled & met his amused glance,"My bandages are coming apart." Sakura looked at the bandages she wrapped around his abdomen sloppily in her mounting anger.
Overwhelmed & embarrassed, she re-did the bandages in silence.
Once the mortifying ordeal was over, Sakura glanced at the wall clock and muttered," Now, I'll never have the time to prepare."
"For a meeting with Sasuke?"
At Gaara's curt reply, Sakura turned sharply to him. The indignant, cutting retort on the tip of her tongue died as she saw the contemplative, passive-aggressive look on his face.
"He'll leave you stranded," He said with a finality that had her reeling.
She stood up, walked to the door of the hospital room with short, clipped steps. At the doorstep, she faltered.
"How could you possibly understand?"Despite her quivering words, the steel in her voice was evident.
"How can you possibly not?", Gaara countered with an easy stance, but the dourness in his eyes was not lost on Sakura.
She simply turned around and left.
As Gaara was just about to heave a sigh at a lost cause, the doorknob turned & Sakura peeked in,"Don't be so sure. He'll be there. He likes the festival. You're the only one who scowls at it and willingly lets Naruto land a blow on him to avoid the festivities."
As Gaara was left alone once again, he couldn't help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of it all.
Not so much of a lost cause, after all.