Chapter 4

"Haruno Sakura! Wow... we haven't seen you since...since...," Hiro looked up trying to recall the time he had seen me around. Once seemingly coming up with an answer he looked down and continued, "Eh...if I remember correctly it's when Granny Chiyo passed away." Hiro gazed right into my eyes as if pleading for my forgiveness on bringing the topic up.

The air changed around us, one from joy and surprise to remembrance.

"It's alright," I replied absentmindedly. Tension was trying to sink in but I would have none of that, "May I enter?" I asked, biting the skin on my lips in such a manner to be perceived as nervousness.

"Actually, no. Gaara-sama gave us orders to detain you here until he comes down here. He should arrive shortly."

"Gaara saw me coming?" Interesting, I hope he hasn't heard a word about my failed execution. If that's the reason I cannot enter Suna, then there will be trouble for me yet.

"Oh...yes...um he did." I could hear the way he chose his words carefully. This might not end up being good if it has anything to do with my defection.

I turned my head to gaze upon the dawn that was slowly approaching which signified my mini-mission of getting here a success. The sands were billowing as the winds of the morning awoke. My thoughts wandered to the timeline I constructed in my head; Konoha could possibly take twice as long to get here and by that time I should be gone. Noticing I was ignoring the guard Hiro, I turned back to see his pleasant smile patiently waiting for my response to what he had said previously.

"I see. Hiro is there a problem? You seem a bit guarded...," I drifted off.

"It's nothing really just just Gaara-sama's greatness gets to many women here in Suna and well not many want to consider guys like me." I watched as he began drawing circles in the sand with his toe.

"Oh Hiro, I'm so sorry!" I exclaimed. It really reminded me of Sasuke. Fan girls would chase Sasuke while the other boys were left with practically no girls to chase after.

"Don't be, it's not your fault. I mean I think you actually help the situation. Usually when you visit, Gaara-sama's mood is extremely pleasant. He smiles more often. The whole village pretty much acknowledges this fact, so maybe... you know... I'm not trying- "

"It's fine. Really! I understand." I rushed out the words and gave Hiro a bright smile.

"I think Gaara-sama is approaching." Hiro nodded his head towards the inner gates of Suna. Sure enough, after a few moments Gaara is standing right in front of me.

"Good morning. I'm sorry about the hold up I only wanted to retrieve you myself." Gaara explained. His calm demeanor penetrated the fresh morning air.

"Kazekage-sama." Hiro and I bowed down before straightening ourselves out. I didn't miss the look of annoyance pester onto Gaara's face.

"Sakura! You know as well as I do that we are friends. We are equals, there is no need to bow down."

"Hai, Gaara." Whew! As far as I can tell, Konoha has not contacted Suna yet.

Gaara turned to Hiro and said, "Thank you for watching over Sakura here." With that, Gaara offered me his hand. Already knowing the procedure, I took his hand without hesitation and we teleported to his office. By instinct, I always close my eyes. When I opened them, I found myself watching over Gaara's shoulder at the peach colored walls and his nice wooden desk littered with papers.

"Sakura...," Only then did I notice that somehow during the teleportation process, we ended up standing extremely close to each other. Our faces were merely inches apart. I watched in a stricken haze as Gaara used his left hand not holding my own, to inspect my hair. To my surprise, he brought his nose to the strands occupying his hand and began to heavily inhale. Gaara's eyes were closed in ecstasy as he breathed deeply.

"Sakura," my name was purred from his slightly chapped rosy lips, "... your scent is heavenly to my senses." My eyes almost popped out of my sockets.

That. Was. Unexpected.

I didn't know Gaara as the one to be so...so... flirtatious. I just barely get here in an emergency and now I'm almost a victim of molestation. I know I have to put an end to this.

"Gaara, listen... I-"

"Shh...please," desperation seeped into Gaara's voice, "I know that possibly do not like this situation but please..." He began to nuzzle my neck, his hot breath fanning over my skin, "Just please...I've been waiting for you to make a move for awhile now and I cannot stand it that there are none. This is a way of me to see, will you reciprocate my feelings? I understand if you do not...and if that is so, just please let me hold you like this for a little while." Gaara was pleading with me over something I had no idea how to handle. I've never been with a guy before this intimately, and my "love" for Sasuke was just an illusion casted over by my rival Ino. At first we were friends until, both of us found the need to beat each other at everything. When Sasuke defected from the village, somehow that rivalry slowly came to a halt. Not to say that there are no competitions between us. There are. Or rather after this, there won't be any.

"Gaara. Listen, I came here with urgent news," I felt him stiffen up against me and slowly he let me go with his arms lazily cradling my waist. At first I wasn't going to reveal that I was almost hanged, but if I don't mention it, it's not fair to Gaara or the village. I have to warn him and him make his decision on whether to help me or not, otherwise I will never forgive myself.

"I see."

"I think the best time for us to discuss, well...us, is after this problem has resolved. Although, I will say, I believe this problem will exist for a while. A long while." My viridian eyes suddenly found the floor interesting. I felt ashamed that I was in this predicament. I remember Naruto and I applying salt on the wound when Sasuke came back. It wasn't easy for us to except that Sasuke left, then came back as if nothing ever happened. It hurt us. In the end, Naruto forgave, while I drifted in the shadow trying hard not to lash out at the fact that his betrayal hurt our team. Now I'm pretty much in Sasuke's shoes. I'm a traitor. The only difference between us is, I want to live, his reason was to get stronger. To me, his reason is nothing compared to mine. All the same though, I took the cowards' way out and ran, ran away from all of my troubles and came here to Suna endangering the alliance between them.

What was I thinking coming here?

A particular sound awoken my mind, until it registered that it's a messenger bird. It took me a few good seconds to realize what that would mean if it is what I think it is. We watched as the brown and white feathered creature perched itself onto the window sill and gave another sound for acknowledgement.

Gaara completely get me go and approached the hawk. I could feel myself getting all the more anxious as Gaara took the message, and as he was about to open it, somehow my instincts propelled me to launch myself at him. Next thing I know, my left arm's elbow tingles from the impact and my face is mushed against the floor rather uncomfortably. I can feel my legs touching something, but I can't seem to figure out what.

"Sakura..." I hear Gaara sigh in annoyance, "What is the meaning of this? I believed we would discuss our relations after this predicament you speak of is resolved."

I frowned at what he said. I cannot believe he thinks I flew at him because I was attracted to him.

Nope. Not at all.

"I believe you recall yourself about to unravel that messenger scroll that came in. I did not want you to open it, not until we speak about the news I have." I lifted my head and looked back at his face that was a bit flushed.

"O-Oh." He replied.

Both of us literally sprang up from the floor and the distance between us increased. I took a seat in his nicely plush visitor's chair, and Gaara walked over to his side of the desk and sat down behind it with the scroll placed neatly on his messy desk.

Gaara looked straight at me, waiting for some sort of explanation.

Taking an enormous breath, I prepared the information I was going to reveal to him. It was important that I convinced him to help me, otherwise the moment Gaara opens that message I'll have no chance against his sand techniques.

I took the simplest route to explain my dilemma, "I killed Danzou." I said suddenly and clutched my eyes closed waiting for some sort of repercussion. Not hearing or feeling anything, I opened my right eye and then my other eye followed to look at Gaara's smirking face and his crimson locks that seemed to be everywhere at this point. Must have been me tackling him that caused that mess called hair on top of his head.

"Good." At last Gaara replied.

I apologize for not the updating earlier. I had a tough decision to make regarding on how to break up this chapter as there was supposed to be more to it, but I made up my mind to stop here as this is a plot turner. I, also, apologize for being busy with school work for the past few months but luckily it ended and I will be posting chapters up hopefully much faster. Once again, my sincerest apologies for those that have been waiting and I look forward in receiving feedback from all of you readers in the form of a review! I hope you enjoyed reading Chapter 4 of this story called: Visionary.