Chapter 4: Fight

Sakura slipped in an out of sleep most of the night. Yawning softly she got up and went to her computer again. Rubbing her shoulder she waited for the screen to load up. The cover of her last book blazed on her desktop. Flipping through her pictures she picked out one that she did herself a long time ago it was the symbol of the leaf and of the sand and two ninja's in battle in shadows beneath them. Looking at it she shook her head as she loaded another document. Rubbing the back of her neck again she sighed softly.

Sakura looked around her. She was on her knees. The dark aura pulsing throughout the clearing, something was wrong and out of place. A shiver ran down her spine at his new look and the purple chakra flowing in an odd way around him. Strangely enough Inner Sakura was quiet. She didn't even give advice on what to do. Something about the darkness paralyzed her and when he began to speak a shudder ran through her.

Her phone suddenly went off. It was the ring tone 'Enter the Sandman' by Metallica. At first she never understood why that ring tone suited him but now she knew. Flipping the phone open she answered tiredly.

"What Gaara?" she asked in annoyance.

She knew that he'd chew her out, about this recent staying up late. What he had to say startled her a bit.

"I need you to meet me outside now."

"But Gaara…" she looked at her watch and it read 3:00 a.m. "It's three a.m."

"You're up so deal."

There was a hard edge to his voice and it made her wary right off the bat. She remembered and incident with Sasuke in the past where his voice became steeling and it made her shiver.

"All right…"

She sighed softly saving the small piece she got done and stood up. Grabbing the nearest jacket which happened to be a blood red wind breaker with two white stripes running down each shoulder, she shrugged it on. Going downstairs she let herself out and locked the door behind her leaving a brief note saying that she went out with Gaara. Sometimes she swore that the woman that was her mother now was the mother that was a ninja. Shrugging her shoulders she walked down the pathway until she saw him standing there. This time he was really standing in his red outfit with the white vest minus the gourd on his back.

"Gaara what…"

Before she could say anything something launched itself at her from her left on instinct she dodged backwards and then balanced herself in a crouch and leapt forward towards the shadow. As she suspected it was a clone of someone other than Gaara. The clone poofed turning into a log, and before she could even react properly someone slammed into her back forcing her into a hard collision against the ground. Sitting up rubbing her shoulder Sakura looked for the threat. Gaara was standing there calmly with his arms crossed as if this was everyday.

"Her reaction time is off seriously but that can be remedied easily."

She knew that gruff voice. Inner Sakura was bristling at their callous nature. Of course she knew that's what they were like and yet she still didn't even try to comprehend it.

"Well excuse me for being the normal one."

Sakura stood. She didn't have to take this crap from anyone much less these idiots that though beating her to a pulp was a good idea. She wasn't going to be used like a pawn this time around she was going to fight harder than before not needing anyone to save her ass. "Gaara if the reason you made me come out here is to watch me get my ass kicked then I'm going back to bed."

"No you're not," Gaara said without opening his eyes. "You're not going to waste your time writing about the past."

"The past is what this is all about Gaara don't you see that?" she snapped. "You want me to regain the strength I had back then. All of you are steadily gaining your past memories or already have them. As stubborn as his family is I'm sure that the ways of the past ninja were kept up in secret through the ages no matter what. Now I'm leaving."

Sakura tried to move but there was something wrapped around her ankles. Looking down her ankles were encased in sand. If looks could kill Gaara would have been pushing up daisies. Moving towards Gaara which the sand allowed her she hauled back and slammed her fist against his cheek. Shocking both males into silence and stunned looks. Her anger managed to channel a little bit of her stored chakra to the surface. Sakura was sure that he'd be feeling that particular hit tomorrow.

"I'm not her anymore even if I remember her past. I refuse to lead that life again."

"It's for the world…"

"The world can go to hell. I had everything ripped from me before and I have a good life here. I'm going to be selfish for once and do something for me."

She turned her back. Without even a glance back she ran to her home. Sakura ran to her room and landed on her bed and started crying her eyes out.

Both men stood there completely confused. A heavy sigh from a figure sitting up in the trees made them look up.

"I told you both it was to soon."

"We don't have the luxury of time," Gaara growled.

"Stop being Sabaku no Gaara. You're her best friend not the man from before and don't be surprised if she doesn't talk to you for a very long time. You've pushed upon her a fate that ended badly for her last time."

"Well if she doesn't do anything this time around we'll all die."

"That's not the point Neji. She's an emotional wreck and Gaara just tore up her trust in him. Good luck getting it back."

Tenten landed gracefully on the ground and walked away from the two of them. Gaara and Neji looked back and forth between the two of them. They didn't have a clue.

Sakura got up and went to her mother's room and shook the woman awake.

"Sakura what is it?" she asked groggily.

"I need to be excused from school for the next few days."

"What? Why?"

The older woman sat up a light clicked on beside the bed. There was concern written all over the woman's face.

"Sakura what is it?"

"I need to go see Grandma."

"Sakura what brought this on?"

Sakura never willing went to see her mother's mom in any way shape or form. People dubbed her insane and senile on top of that so she kept her distance from the older woman but now she understood what her Grandmother had been trying to tell her. Her Grandmother was trying to teach her the old ways that were steadily being lost to the modern age as magic and useless knowledge unless one wanted to be a thief.

"They want to old me back."

Her mother looked at her in shock. She didn't need to classify who they were. It was beginning again. It was indeed serious if most of the past was catching up with her.

"All right. Go get packed. I'll call the school in the morning and I'll get a hold of your Grandmother. However, you have to be sure you want this. Maybe you should go to school tomorrow to get your assignments for the next few days so you don't get behind."

Sakura only nodded in defeat at the logic of that reasoning. She wasn't looking forward to the next day facing all of them. Curling up on her side in bed she drifted to sleep and for once didn't dream about the past.

The next morning Sakura dressed in her school uniform and moved down the hall. Her hair was up in a no business short ponytail. It was a bit longer than when she cut it in the Chunin Exams by a few inches. A familiar mess of blonde hair came bounding towards her. As he was about to hug her she growled.

"Touch me Naruto and I will send you packing to hell."

"Sakura-chan…"

"Save it Uzumaki."

The blonde looked dumb founded. Sasuke was leaning against the wall and was smirking for some odd reason.

"What are you smirking at Uchiha?" she snarled as she turned her fury on Sasuke.

Sakura figured she had a lot of bottled up anger from the past life and she would be damned before she let them gain the upper hand, again.

"Hn," he said.

"For someone who is supposed to be smart your vocabulary is lacking."

"Just because you're pmsing doesn't mean that you have to take it out on everyone else."

"Sasuke-kun," she breathed softly as she sauntered up to him with a coy smile on her face. Sasuke didn't completely relax, but he relaxed enough. Before he could even make a move she had him by the collar. "For your information Sasuke Uchiha I am not pmsing I am just really angry that other thinks for one second that they can use me like some sort of pawn in their sick game."

She pushed him backwards into the locker making him hit his head. Shaking her head she knew this idiot wasn't her Sasuke-kun. That man was long since dead and rotting in a grave that has probably been demolished. Naruto looked extremely worried and she knew this blame should be placed at Gaara's feet and not Naruto's. Shaking her head she went into the classroom no caring who heard her declaration.

Naruto helped Sasuke to his feet. Tenten stood beside the two shocked boys.

"Tenten what happened?" Naruto asked completely forgetting that Sasuke wasn't his old teammate anymore.

"I told them it was too soon to push her that far, but they insisted that time was running short."

"That's stupid. Inner Sakura…"

"Is free and being very angry, and she has a lot to be angry about. Gaara just betrayed their trust as best friends."

"All those bottled up emotions are running rampant now."

"I hear she's leaving," Tenten admitted softly.

"Wha…"

Sasuke listened intently to what they were saying. For some reason this Sakura girl intrigued him like nothing else and yet he didn't show interest.

"Don't tell Gaara, Naruto. He'll try to stop her but I think she needs this time away."

"Damn that bastard Orochimaru. It's putting all of us on edge."

Tenten looked at Sasuke. He looked interested in what they were saying but none of it was registering.

"It's Gaara and Neji's fault for even trying to test her again."

Naruto looked at the doorway where his teammate had vanished through. Running his fingers through his blonde locks he sighed in frustration. He knew Sakura had a lot to be angry about beside this life's Gaara betraying their friendship. In the past Sakura was always looked over when it came to training. Sasuke and himself were the prized students that could do great things or terrible things in Sasuke's point of view. Sakura was always forgotten and left behind. Of course she blossomed underneath Tsunade but that spot light died quickly once that mission to the Sound was issued to her. He was sure that some part of Sakura died that day. Naruto shook his head knowing he shouldn't be thinking this hard about it considering this was their chance to make things right. This lifetime the world's salvation rested solely on Sakura, not him and his immense power with Kyuubi and Sasuke's Sharingan. Naruto's gaze rested on Sasuke. In truth Naruto knew that no one ever deserved to have the immense love that the pink haired woman could give. Shaking his head he went into the class room.

"Come on teme you're going to be late."

Tenten shook her head as she followed the two idiots into the class. It was going to be a long stressful day for all of them.

Hours later

Sakura sighed softly as the last bell rang for the end of the day. Getting up she retrieved the homework for this class for the next few days before shouldering her backpack and moving quickly to her locker. Thankfully she hadn't run into Gaara or Neji. Sakura after some convincing got Inner Sakura back in place and quiet. Getting her books for the next few days she shut it was loud bang and spun the combination quickly. A presence beside her didn't startle her in the least.

"I suggest you move Gaara before I give a mock performance of last night."

She shouldered past him easily before going to the pickup area for parents. Her mother was waiting for her with her bag already in the back.

"You're ready Kura?"

"Ready mom."

Sakura leaned back in her seat and stared out the window. Her mind was completely awash with so many emotions like; confusion, anger, sadness, betrayal and yet the love she felt for all of them still lingered in the forefront of her mind. Sighing in annoyance she drifted to sleep hoping that no dreams of the Leaf came to haunt her.

A/n: Thanks to you my three loyal reviewers. I actually didn't think anyone would like this story at all. Its kinda a weird mix up of a few different things.

KT

A Forgotten Fairy

Ree