Gaara and Sakura sure are dumb. Cha. I'm not sure if i'm happy with this chapter.
"An orange rose?" Sakura asked herself, bringing it in from the now customary spot on her windowsill
Inner peered and quietly stated Fascination
"They're fascinated with me now? I wonder what I did to cause that" She held the rose between her teeth as she twisted her hair into a bun. Grinning at her reflection in the mirror Sakura went to place the rose with it's companions. On a whim she cut the stem on one of the dark pink roses and tucked it into her hair at the back.
What's with the flower? Inner asked eyeing the rose in her outers hair
Sakura shrugged locking her door Today's going to be a long day...I need all the support I can get.
Her self made prediction turned out to be true.
The morning was taken up by 6 broken arms, 12 cases of concussion and a party of children from the academy who had somehow tangled with kunai and needed to have the cuts healed.
With a deep sigh Sakura finally removed her white coat and headed towards the canteen for lunch.
Running steps were briefly heard coming her way and Sakura let out a deeper sigh
5...4...3...2...1
"Haruno-sama!" a young apprentice nurse yelled, skidding upto Sakura "Theres been a bad accident, one of the Hyuuga's has been brought in with a nasty pitchfork injury!" The young woman panted out this information whilst running with Sakura back down the hallway. Sakura dragged her coat back on and took several deep breaths before entering the emergancy room.
Once inside Sakura could immediatly see who her patient was, laying down on the bed was a young woman of about 18 with a nasty looking wound to the shoulder. Close by was another member of the Hyuuga clan, his white eyes creased, every so slightly, at the corners with worry.
"Hello" Sakura said walking upto the bed "I am Dr. Haruno"
"I am honoured Haruno-sama" The man bowed deeply "My daughter Rewana was caught in the shoulder by a pitchfork by another apprentice gardener who was not paying attention whilst forking hay." Sakura nodded
"Rowana-san" Sakura spoke to the woman on the bed "Can you hear me?"
The woman's eyes opened, slightly strained with pain "I can hear you"
Sakura smiled at the woman "Ok, I'm going to sit you up with the help of Nurse Shou and remove the robes on your upper half, the curtains are drawn around the bed, no-one will see you except us, but I really need to look at that wound - sound alright?" At the womans nod Sakura gestured the nurse forward and with some difficulty they managed to remove all the fabric around the wounded area.
Two hours later both Sakura and Rowana were bathed in sweat, Sakura was almost finished she was chasing any infection out of the wound and reducing the swelling finally, with the lightest touch she sent Rowana to sleep.
Shou helped her sit down as she spoke to Rowena's father "Hyuuga-san" She began, smailling and flapping her hand at the mans worried expression "She will be fine, she will scar....but will heal and use her arm again in a week...though two would be better."
"Thank you so much" He said bowing
Sakura took some deep breaths and stood "get yourself something to eat and drink, she'll be asleep for the rest of the day - I'll check on her this evening. You don't need to bow to me Hyuuga-san" Sakura said as he went to bow again "This is my job...I'm paid for it" with a smile she left the room and headed for her next appointment
Oh dear....More medical training with Gaara...and I'm very late... With a groan Sakura managed to make herself begin to jog up the hospital steps.
Gaara was pacing again.
I wonder what this lesson is going to be on he thought pacing still I learnt about control and healing small wounds last time, I think today is just a rounding up
Shukaku poked his nose up If I say things are you going to throw me into the cage again? he asked
Gaara paused it depends on what you are going to say. If you can keep a civil tongue then you can stay out.
Shukaku was quiet for a long time, and looking at the clock Gaara realised that Sakura was late, with a sigh he sat down.
Does this mean we're not allowed to talk about how deeply you're attracted to Sakura Haruno?
What!?
Admit it Kit, on another level you've liked her for a long time, and just yesterday you thought she was beautiful.
The red-headed Kazekage drummed his fingers on the desk in front of him considering what Shukaku was saying
Many women are beautiful. He finally answered, That doesn't make them attractive.
Shukaku stared at his host Does that even make sense? Besides he carried on before Gaara could interrupt We both know it is not just beauty that makes her a perfect choice
Watch your step demon Gaara broke in this time any talk about mating, sex or Sakura's physical attributes and you go back in the cage
Growling Shukaku glared I don't just think about sex, I was of course referring to her intelligence and other attributes.
Amused now Gaara watched his inner demon pace Dammit Kit! Shukaku suddenly snarled your damn hormones and desires are making me go mad! You don't even know what you're doing!
What is wrong with you! Gaara was no longer amused and looked worriedly at Shukaku
With me! Shukaku laughed With YOU, perhaps you should look outward instead of inside...incidently where is that Kunoichi?
Startled Gaara glanced at the clock and was surprised to find that an hour had gone by with no sign of Sakura "Strange" he muttered about to leave he paused at the sound of jogging coming up the corridor.
The classroom door opened to reveal a very disheveled looking Sakura "Sorry i'm so late...there was an emergancy and I had to attend" She sat down with a wince.
Frowning Gaara looked her over for injury, not quite sure why he was suddenly feeling so worried. "You are well?"
Her lips twitched "Oh Gaara" she said shaking her head "I'm exhausted"
Something about the way she said his name, he realised that when she said it it was almost a thrill. There's something wrong with me
Shukaku snorted
Sakura's stomach choose that moment to let out a huge roaring protest of it's treatment over the last few hours - mainly the lack of food entering it. Sakura blushed bright red "I am so sorry....I missed lunch" She stood "I'm sorry Gaara, I really should cancel and go over this with you another day when I'm fit for it..."
"Sakura, wait..." Gaara said as she moved to the door "Uh..."
She's hungry - ask her to join you for food...geeze
"Food" Gaara finally stated under Sakura's questioning stare "Would you like to get something to eat with me, rather than this lesson?" Sakura waivered undecided "We can discuss what we were goign to be doing without your stomache growling" he added, trying to fill the silence that had just filled the room, it fell again, filling the space between them until it was an almost physical entity.
"I'd like that" Sakura finally replied smiling.
"Why did you hesitate?" He asked as they walked side-by-side down the corridor
"I was trying to remmeber if I had some clean clothes at the hospital...do you mind if I swing by the changing rooms first?"
Liarrrr you were just stunned speechlessss Inner mocked
SHUDDDUP! it was partly the truth!
Gaara meanwhile was having his own mental discussions
A date eh?
I don't think she'd consider it a date....I asked her for lunch, not a date...
Maybe another time eh?
Eyeing the woman walking beside him Gaara allowed himself a small smile maybe. We shall see.
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Outside the changing rooms Sakura paused and turned to the man who had been walking beside her "I'll be right back, I'm going to grab a quick shower then be out for lunch with you" with another smile she entered the room whilst Gaara settled to wait.
Fifteen minutes later Sakura ran a glowing hand down her hair, using a tiny amount of chakra to dry it, leaving it down she surveyed herself in the floor length mirror situated beside the door. She had found a long flowing black skirt and a fairly plain white shirt in her spare clothing locker, but if nothing else it was clean and didn't smell of blood and sweat. Smiling Sakura added the last touch, tucking the rather resiliant rose behind her ear before walking out to meet Gaara.
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He stood and looked at her approach to the door and stared
Hmf...dark pink rose...gratitude..
How do you know that?
I -am- an ancient and wise being. Knowing inane things pretty much is in the job description
Sakura paused, looking down at herself to see if there was some stain on her clothing, after finding nothing she looked at Gaara perplexed "Is there something wrong with how I look?" She asked worried
"Ah...no" He stepped closer looking more closely "I've never seen you with your hair down...that's all" he added holding out his arm
"Oh..." Sakura took his arm and they began walking in silence, risking a peek up at the Kazekage Sakura decide to carry on the converation. "I don't wear it down often .... it gets in the way"
"It's beautiful..." Gaara stated somewhat awkwardly "it matches its owner"
Almost glowing with embarassment Sakura couldn't say anything.
"I'm sorry" Gaara suddenly stated after the silence had grown to excessive lengths, he stopped unhooking his arm from Sakura's so he could see her face. "Did I say something horribly wrong?"
The woman rubbed her arm where Gaara's warmth had left it feeling cold, "I...it's...it's just I'm not used to someone speaking to me the way you do" she finally managed to tumble the words out, seeing his confused look she decided to elaborate "I have fanboys and random admirers who write me silly poetry...but you, you're different."
"How so?" They resumed walking towards the embassy
Laughing Sakura shook her head "I'm still trying to work that out....then again I've only just got used to you speaking to me on first name terms Gaara."
Again the way she said his name ran tingles up his spine, but Gaara ignored them, opening the door to the embassy's eating area.