The last beam of sunlight evanesced and the night became black. The day had gone by fast for Sakura. She had helped Temari with some of the chores around the house and had spent the remainder of the day reading old scrolls about the world of shinobis. Her mind buzzed with new knowledge about chakra, medical jutsus, and weapons. It was all just so… fascinating.
Sakura sighed, picking at the crackling bonfire in front of her. The glowing embers danced with the wind and she soon found herself swaying with the hypnotic light. Another sigh escaped her lips as the smell of the cool desert wafted around her. Her toes dug into the cold sand beneath her feet, she relished in the wonderful softness of it. The dark sky illuminated with specks of white stars that surrounded a misty crescent moon. A smile graced her face. Night in the desert was nothing like the city.
"I see you are enjoying it in the desert, huh?" A familiar voice startled her, pulling her out of her trance. She looked up to see her new sand friend, Temari, with Gaara and a painted stranger. They joined her around the bonfire, seating themselves down on the dry logs surrounding it.
"Hello Temari, Gaara…" She looked towards the stranger, waiting for him to give her his name. He gave her a suspicious look, eyeing her from head to toe. A look of uncertainty followed.
"And what's it to you?" He muttered beneath his breath. A cough soon followed, accompanied by a symphony of wheezes from the sharp nudge Temari gave him. She smiled in apology at Sakura.
"Sorry Sakura, he's my brother Kankuro, but feel free to call him idiot." A small yelp of 'hey' followed. "He thinks that you are a spy sent by Uchiha, but don't worry, no one takes him seriously." Another 'hey' emitted from the boy as he threw a dirty look at Temari.
"Come on! She might know medical jutsu and she conveniently ends up in the arms of the leader of a hidden shinobi village? If that doesn't spell suspicious, I don't know what does." Sakura blushed. She was in Gaara's arms? She looked in front of her at the red haired leader. He remained stoic, his eyes stayed glued to the flames.
"You idiot! You don't even know how to spell suspicious!" Temari yelled at her younger brother with a punch on the head.
"That's not the point!" Kankuro he defended, rubbing his sore head. "Don't you guys find it strange that she was found wearing a wedding dress? I don't know about you, but I don't know any poor civilian that owns a wedding dress, especially one as expensive as that! Therefore, she's bound to be the heir of some rich family connected to the Uchihas!" He exclaimed, all the while pointing at Sakura who seemed worried.
"Idiot! You don't say that about guests!" The two siblings continued to fight, leaving Sakura to wallow in her worries.
"Stop." A deep voice boomed from across the bonfire, causing the two fighting siblings to halt.
"But Gaara! Father-" Kankuro started before a harsh glare was thrown at him.
"We will have no talk of father, now and never." With that, Gaara left, leaving the two sand shinobi with Sakura.
"I'm sorry Sakura." Temari threw an apologetic look towards the young pink haired girl. "Gaara, he's… just upset about the loss of our father. He was executed at the genocide by a skilled group of soldiers. He-" Temari's head was tilted downward. The fire's light brought out to attention the little sparkling specks of tears in her eyes.
Sakura looked at her in shock and sympathy. Her own father had died in the genocide as well, serving as an Uchiha soldier. He had died in attempt to kill the Kazekage, blowing up his entire army to kill him. Sakura was too young to remember his funeral, but she did remember seeing the disgusting joy her mum had when she found out about his death.
"H-He's dead?" Her mother's eyes were wide. Tears welled up in her eyes as Mrs. Uchiha rubbed a caring hand on her back. "Please Mikoto, leave me to mourn." Her mother's voice was soft as she waved a limp hand at her friend, her eyes glued to her back as she left.
A smile crept onto her face when she heard the sound of the door close shut. Sakura looked in confusion as she watched her mother chuckle, toss aside the handkerchief she had been dabbing her eyes with. Why wasn't she sad? Sakura asked herself, rubbing away her tears in confusion as her threw back her head in laughter.
Suddenly she stopped, her eyes locked with Sakura's, a smirk on her face as she watched a tear run down her daughters face.
"Don't cry Sakura," she grinned manically. "With all of daddy's money, we will be well off and I can finally shop without limits!" She threw her hands up in the air, her laughter boomed over her daughter's sobs.
"H-He says-"Sakura was suddenly brought back to attention when Temari raised her head. Her tears fell in little streams down her face, glittering through the darkness of the night. The bonfire lit her eyes, changing her brown eyes into a ghastly yellow as they filled with hatred and pain. "He says if he ever finds the son-of-a-bitch leader, he will make no hesitation to kill his entire family." She choked between words. "Even if it means killing himself like that son-of-a-bitch leader."
Sakura's eyes widened. 'Surely they don't mean my father?'
"And the Kazekage will be avenged with the death of the little fucker's family!" Kankuro shouted, waving a fist at the burning fire.
Sakura choked on her spit. 'KAZEKAGE?!' she thought as she wheezed, a comforting Temari patting her back. 'My father killed the Kazekage…' She coughed violently. 'The Kazekage is Gaara,Temari, and Kankuro's father…' Temari's gentle patting now felt like razor blades against her skin. 'And Gaara wants to kill me…'
A dull pain shot her heart as she kindly accepted the glass of water Kankuro held in front of her. Temari gave him a puzzled look.
"What?" He replied coolly. "She maybe a spy but I am still a gentleman…It also doesn't hurt that she's hot." He grinned perversely.
Sakura had no time to giggle or blush as she chugged the water. The cool liquid ran down her throat, soothing the dryness in her throat she didn't even know she had. What was she going to do? If they ever found out, she's dead. Her heart raced, she was sure half the village can hear her heart pump against her chest. What was she going to do?!
"Uh, Sakura are you alright?" Temari asked, she gave a worried look at the hyperventilating young girl.
Sakura slowly raised her head towards them, her stomach dropped at the look of care in Temari and Kankuro's eyes. Her eyes welled up with tears when she thought of the pain her family has brought upon them. Her heart ached even more when they rushed to her side at the sight of her tears.
"D-don't cry Sakura!" Kankuro sputtered, sitting beside her. His hand pat her back awkwardly. "Uh, it's okay I don't think you're a spy! Please don't cry!" He reassured her with a good pat on the head.
"What's wrong Sakura?" Temari asked worryingly, rubbing a comforting hand on her knee.
"I-uh," Sakura sniffed. She needed to think of a lie, and quick. She wiped away her tears, her breath came out jagged as she muffled her sobs. She swallowed the lump forming in her throat and spoke, trying to ignore the hand Temari placed on her knee that suddenly grew heavier.
"I-I was thinking of my father. H-he died around a year ago." Lie. "He was all I had left b-before… He came." Lie. "That bastardtook advantage of me in my weak state a-and forced me to marry him." Well at least that part was true. "S-so I ran away. And now I have nothing." Her tears seemed suspended, eyes wide at the sudden realization of truth. 'Nothing.' She realized.
"You have us, Sakura. We are your family now: Me, Kankuro, and Gaara. " Temari placed another loving hand onto her own. Sakura's heart swelled at the motherly look in her eyes. Never had she felt so… so comfortable. Even Kankuro joined in, nodding and giving a brotherly pat to the top of her head.
Sakura smiled slightly. She looked up at her 'family'. In the little time she's spent with them, she has already felt more at home than she has with her own flesh and blood. They welcomed her, as a stranger, into their close knit family, without hesitation. She looked towards Kankuro, her smile widened a little. Without that much hesitation. A shot of pain ran through her heart as he smiled back at her. How long has she dreamed of something like this to happen to her?
The tiny pink haired girl sighed. 'If they knew the truth…' She thought. 'They –They don't have to know the truth…' Selfishness clouded her mind. 'Then I will finally have a family.' She grinned to herself, her mind conjuring images of the four of them laughing and eating at a dinner table. 'They don't have to know.' She concluded, taking a final look at the two sand shinobis beside her before engulfing them in a hug. 'Besides, I've always wanted a big sister.' She dug her head deeper into Temari's warm embrace.
"Welcome to the family, Pinky." Kankuro smiled, his arms wrapped around her shoulders as he returned the hug.
Sakura smirked at the painted shinobi. "You would accept a spy into your family?" She questioned slyly.
"Yeah, and what was that about Sakura being hot?" Temari joined in, her arms crossed in front of her chest, a cheeky smile on her face. Sakura's lips tilted upwards when a blush broke under his face paint.
"W-well." Kankuro sputtered, his head faced downward at the ground in embarrassment. "I was-" An arm slung across shoulders and he stopped talking, looking down at the smiling young girl. He smiled as he mimicked her actions, placing an arm on her shoulder.
"It's okay big brother! As long as you don't do anything about it." Sakura winked teasingly. She felt a slimmer arm around her neck and looked to her other side at her new sister.
"Let's get to bed. It's been a long day and we all need to get some sleep." She said, her smile widening at the image of her brother and sister. 'Now if only Gaara was here.' She thought to herself with a happy grin as the three walked back to the huts, arm in arm.
Sakura sighed as she leaned her head against Kankuro's side. Her eyes softly shut as she lost herself to the feel of pure serenity. The fire light had died out, making the stars seem brighter against the dark sky. Sounds of crickets harmonized with the wind as it whistled against the huts, creating a tune to which fine grains of sand danced to. The desert's cold had began to settle as the night grew longer, but she didn't mind, leaning more into her Kankuro's embrace. She grinned as she felt Temari's arm shift on her shoulders.
Sakura glanced down at the sand and smiled to herself as three sets of footprints trailed behind them.
Well?! What do you think? Do you think the story should touch upon more family issues or are you guys pissed off about the lack of GaaSaku smut :P
As always, leave a review, constructive criticism is encouraged :)