Argh I just realised I made a mistake in the chapter with Ino referring to Gai-sensei when I already said he was dead.....sorry about that :-/ Also some of the spelling mistakes and the horrible habit I have of mixing letters up in words...I do go through and read the chapter again before I post, but some things slip through. Plus I don't really like Beta readers (no offense any that are about it's nothing personal) if I was writing a book rather than writing something for fun I'd have someone to read it, but I always feel like the story has died a little when I get it back from beta's...and that takes the fun away for me. Anyways, enough rambling, I was in the library till 3am this morning so have just woken up - enjoy the chapter)

The kiss was almost too much for Gaara, the pure emotion was overwhelming and he could feel his knees buckle followed by him falling.

"Gaara!" Sakura knelt in front of his kneeling from, noting the shellshocked expression "Gaara? Are you alright? Gaara?" The man didn't reply just stared at her blinking He must be horrified! "I'm so sorry" Sakura managed to choke out "I shouldn't have done that" I must have gotten it all wrong ugh, how stupid! Sakura didn't realise but she had huddled into a small ball, her back against the wall, but Shukaku had.

Child! Why are you letting her cry?

Cry? Gaara blinked, coming out of his daze I...I...don't want her to cry, she did nothing wrong

Don't tell me that, she probably thinks she has done something terrible as you are just KNEELING THERE STARING AT HER WITH A SLACK EXPRESSION

"Sakura?"

The pink haired medic didn't look up but said "Yes?" quietly

"Are you alright?" Gaara couldn't help but allow some of his worry be conveyed by his voice...Sakura looked so...miserable, it almost hurt

"You're upset with me. I shouldn't have kissed you when you didn't want it." she stated still not looking up

Gaara ran a hand through his hair and stood, catching view of something from the corner of his eye the Kazekage smiled. Sakura let out a small yelp as she found herself lifted bodily by Gaara and carried through the apartment and out to the balcony. He placed her on her feet and Sakura looked up at him confused as to why he'd bring her out here.

"Gaara....what..."

"Shhhh" Gaara replied holding a finger to his lips. Gently he turned her to look over Kahona "Oh..." Was the kunoichi's awed reply.

---

The storm of the night had cleared over the village leaving behind a crisp, cold, yet dazzlingly sunny morning with a crystal clear blue sky. The sun had yet to rid the streets and buildings of their moisture and instead caused them to sparkle, almost as if they were made with diamonds. The most amazing thing was to the west, where the storm was still visable travelling, rainbows followed in its wake, adding a splash of colour to the darkened skies that way.

"It's beautiful" Sakura spoke finally

"Don't you usually see such sights?" Gaara's voice came from beside her ear and Sakura realised that he had wrapped his arms around her waist and rested his head on her shoulder

"I...I am usually at the hospital at this time" She managed to stammer trying not to think abut how close they were "Gaara...about kissing you..."

Gaara managed to interrupt again, cutting off her explination "I was overcome...it wasn't something you did wrong"

Her silence was an invitation for a better explination, but Gaara felt the smaller woman relax slightly into his embrace. He thought his heart would burst because of it. "I spent so long..." he began before shaking his head "I never expected you to kiss me, privately it was something I thought about...but for you to actually do it..." Sakura turned and looked up at him with her emerald green eyes, expression confused, yet slightly hopeful, Gaara smiled, using one hand to stroke the exposed flesh on her neck "I would like..." He suddenly found himself unable to say, almost shy. Luckily Sakura understood, and standing on her tiptoes kissed him again.

"Yes sensei...Yes...No...OK....Goodbye!" Smiling Sakura hung up her telephone and turned to where the Kazekage stood nearby "Tsunade say's it's fine for me to have the day off, are you sure it's alright for you as well?"

Gaara smiled down at her "I can think of nothing I'd rather do today, though we will have to talk seriously at some point"

Sakura nodded, but her reply was cut off by the loud rumbling of her stomache "I think we should have breakfast" She grabbed her bag from the hallway and beckoned him "I will buy breakfast, seeing as you bought lunch yesterday, plus I know a really great Cafe if you don't mind"

"After you" He said opening the door

She laughed and together they went out on to the streets.

"Gaara!" Temari lept up from the sofa where she'd been sat for most of the afternoon surrounded by medical textbooks and notes. "Where have you been? I was really wo..." She paused at the look on her brothers face "You look...really, really and i mean -really- happy"

He grinned "I am, would you like some tea, oh hard-working sister of mine?"

Stretching and wincing as her back cracked Temari smiled at her brother "Yes please -then you can tell me what's made you so happy" she said with a grin, not letting him avoid her

To Temari's surprise Gaara actually blushed before walking very quickly into the kitchen. The blond ninja stared after him for a moment before allowing herself a large grin "This ought to be good" she said to herself clearing some books away so that both of them could sit down.

-

Gaara meanwhile was waiting for the kettle to boil, pondering what he would tell his sister.

what's wrong with the truth? Are you ashamed of our mate?

She's not our mate Gaara replied quickly before Shukaku could get ideas a girlfriend is not a mate

Shukaku however, seemed estatic racing around Gaara's mind and giving off happy feelings

-o....k- Gaara thought pouring the now boiled kettle into a teapot and carrying the whole thing through to the lounge

-

A happy sigh had escaped Sakura's lips the moment she had closed her apartment door. When she was sure Gaara had gone (by waving to him from her balcony as he turned the corner in the street below) she allowed herself a small squeal of delight.

That was...fun Inner danced around happily

Sakura grinned making herself comfortable on the sofa and smiling like an idiot at the ceiling It was

Ha, I knew he liked us Inner cried shooting her fist into the air

I can't believe I am going out with Gaara Sakura replied almost giggling I never thought it!

Cha, yeah but you got to admit, you picked a good one

Yep!

We had such fun today!

Sakura stretched remembering the day, breakfast had been good, in a small cafe run by a retired ninja on top of one of the nearby apartment blocks, then she had taken Gaara to see some of the parks, before her treacherous stomach had given her away and he had, laughingly taken her to a very late lunch.

There had been a serious talk as well, Gaara had spoken about Shukaku amongst other things. Sakura closed her eyes remembering his suddenly serious expression as he had pulled into a secluded part of the park away from any prying eyes and held her close.

//flashback//

"Sakura...I need to talk to you, before anything else." He said looking down at her warily. She had looked up at him and nodded paying close attention to his words. "I am the embodiment of my people, if I stand strong they will believe themselves to be strong...if I act, well, if I act like I want to act with you they will not know what to do, not only that, once people found out how I felt...they would try and use you, I don't know how I would react to that" he said sheepishly looking into the sky

"What are you trying to say Gaara?" Sakura had asked, hoping to get a concise answer

He took a deep breath and took on a sterner demenour letting her go "I can never put you above the needs of my country. I will always be working, I don't know how you'd feel about that."

Sakura smiled at him "Gaara...I'm a ninja, I'm a medic, it's my life to put others before me, and I never stop working really....I can understand" She held out her hand to him but let it drop again when he didn't take it "What else are you trying to say?"

"Shukaku has a habit of doing things without my permission" he said suddenly looking up and deep into her eyes, searching for traces of fear or disgust "I, I cannot always promise your safety, although he cannot do anything I don't wish to do, though that sometimes is liberally translated" he had said with a frown

"Do you want to hurt me?" Sakura asked

"NO!" The exclimation was shocked and Sakrua felt herself held tightly against him "No" he said again breathing in her scent "This is why I am telling you this, if it's too much...I can understand, we can go back to how we were, well, I can try." he added

Sakura had looked up at him, seemingly amused "Somehow I don't think that would work"

"I see"

They stood for several minutes just looking into each others eyes, until Sakura's creased at the corners, showing she was laughing inside

"What?" he had asked perplexed

"I believe this is where you ask me to be your girlfriend Gaara - unless of course you don't wish to be my partner."

"Can't we just assume that without me asking?" He said leaning forward to kiss her, to his frustraition however the smaller nin stepped out of his grasp and laughingly pointed at him "Nope!"

Looking to the heavens Gaara wondered what he had gotten himself into, before giving chase

//end flashback//

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"WHAT!?" Temari swore as she knocked over ehr cup of tea, grabbing a nearby cloth to stop the spread of liquid. "You and Sakura?"

Gaara frowned at his sister shocked reaction "I thought you wanted me to be nicer to her?" he asked carefully sipping his cup

Temari rubbed her head "Please tell me you didn't just ask Sakura to be your girlfriend because I told you to be nicer to her" that'll cause all kinds of trouble

"Temari...DO you really think that I'd do such a thing if there were not affection on both sides? I...just didn't realise how I felt about her, what do you think?" Gaara leant forward sincere

"Really?" Now Temari was even more shocked

"Really, I know how much you like Sakura - your approval means a lot to me and I suspect if she knew we were having this conversation to her also"

Temari smiled "I am happy Gaara, I hope it'll all work out, I have to admit to being very relieved"

"How so?"

Now it was Temari's turn to look embarassed "The elders...approached me and we made a bargin towards your marriage..."

Gaara placed his cup down on the table with a sharp click "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"It didn't seem important"

"What was this deal?" His full attention was on Temari now and the older woman squirmed slightly "They agreed to not bother you about marriage and producing heirs if I gave up taking missions and stayed withint the city unless on diplomatic business. As i'm -mildly- more attractive than kankuro" The way in which Temari said this indicated that she was quoting and slightly angry "I would be more likely to get married and produce an heir to the Kazekage line."

Gaara growled "Snivelling cowards" he muttered "Why did you let them talk to you like that? Is that why you were doing medic training?"

Temari looked down and Gaara was horrified to see her bottom lip tremble a little "It...was hurtful Gaara." Something in the tone of her voice made him sit next to her wrapping a protective arm around her taller shoulders "They kept coming with marriage contracts for you, wanting me to sign them as your guardian, they figured I could persuade you and then when I refused we came up with a compromise" She looked up witha grin wiping her eyes "though now you can just have lots of children with Sakura instead"

Gaara stared at her "WHAT?!"

"Joke! it was a joke!" Temari squeaked waving her hands in front of her

"If" Gaara pointed at her "I hear another word about Sakura and me, there will be trouble"

Temari pouted "Can't I even tell Kankuro?"

"I'll tell him when we go back" Seeing his sisters face Gaara added "And send any elders to me if they bother you, I hink you're pretty Tem - even if you are my sister." and with that he grabbed the cups from the table, avoiding a cushion aimed half-heartedly at his head