I Do Not Own Naruto

Wilds

Sakura wore a clingy, red, silk dinner gown with a slit up the side which revealed her pale legs with every step she took. Her hair was pulled up elegantly so as to display the seal she was so proud of and her minimal makeup was more of a highlighter rather than a concealer. She stepped out of the room as she turned to walk down the hallway then she saw him.

Sasuke was waiting for her, he was dressed in black as always, and his eyes were hooded. She didn't smile as she walked towards him, she was tempted to run from him because there was something feral and untamable in those black eyes. It was a look she only associated with him and wild predators, she didn't know how to feel about the way he was watching her. She didn't know if she were his prey or his friend when he looked at her like this. It was unsettling but she ignored it, as she stood there beside him waiting for his reaction.

He poked the seal and then they were descending the stairs to the lobby. She just tried not to focus on his poke of affection as she strode down the stairs to her friend and current employer. She smiled at the man who's pale blue eyes looked blankly at her. Gaara never smiled so she didn't expect him to smile but she saw a faint upturning of his lips as she approached him.

"Hello," she greeted him, he nodded and then they were walking off towards where they'd have dinner. The moment they stepped out of the hotel she was staying at Sasuke disappeared, her heart ached but she'd ignore that as she walked with Gaara. There wasn't much conversation but she didn't think it was necessary for them. Sakura had figured out a few years ago that never ending talking didn't put people like Sasuke and Gaara at ease; it agitated them so it was so for the best if she remained silent until she had something of value to say. And until she was at the restaurant she wasn't going to be speaking because there was nothing for her to say.

"Sakura," she looked over to Gaara. "Why is Uchiha here?"

"He's my escort, Kakashi felt that if I came I would need an escort for protection," Sakura explained. She didn't mention that she argued that she was perfectly capable of taking care of herself and that the Uchiha was merely being an annoyance at this point. But one never argued the Hokage's orders and Kakashi had apparently felt that it was vital that she have an escort so she had the Uchiha with her. Not that she was thrilled about it.

"You'll be well guarded here, but the Uchiha will help," Gaara agreed as he seated her. She smiled at his gesture of kindness and then he was seated beside her.

"I'm certain this poison master can't be that bad," she mused. Gaara gave her an icy stare then.

Sasuke perched himself on the top of the Kazekage's office because it was the highest point in Suna as his Sharingan scanned the city around him. Mainly he focused on the restaurant that Sakura was in because he didn't want to lose her to this poison master and if the Kazekage died with him in Suna then his tarnished reputation would forever be destroyed beyond redemption. Also if he lost Sakura he'd never forgive himself, it just wouldn't be possible for him to forgive himself if she died because he couldn't help her or protect her. Even if she were pissed with him.

But in the end it didn't matter to him if she was mad at him or if she was pleased with him. So long as she was alive, that was all that he cared about and so this was why he found himself here, tolerating a very angry Sakura and also an unbelievably stubborn Sakura. She was everything that mattered to him and he would admit that to himself so here he was. And much to his aggravation he was here watching out for Sakura who seemed to be hating him at this moment but he didn't care about being hated. He was hated by most of the world because he had been pardoned for all his crimes which had been both extensive and horrendous.

So being hated was nothing new to him.

But just because he was hated didn't mean he was willing to have Sakura die or be in harm's way. As irrational as that was he didn't care or mind, so long as she was safe it was fine in his mind for her to hate him. It hurt that she hated him but he could over look that after everything he had ever done to her.

Sasuke pulled out a hidden photo from his cloak. It was an old, tattered, photo from the time before he left her on that bench that night. It was one of the only things he had had of her which he had guarded from Orochimaru, Itachi, Obito, and Madara. He glanced at her smile of bliss then he slipped it back into his cloak before he leapt off the Kazekage office towards the restaurant. Something was bothering him as he slid through the shadows.

Something was off, and he was certain of it as he slipped into the restaurant and felt the chakra of someone powerful here who wasn't Gaara or Sakura. All the other chakra signatures were known to him as he walked through the restaurant. His gaze flicked to Sakura who nodded as she stood with Gaara.

"I've had a lovely time but we're leaving," she said softly. Gaara said nothing as he offered sakyra his arm and then they were gone. He didn't pull his weapon or anything as he slipped thorugh the restaurant. But the chakra was gone, and as he looked around he felt none of that chakra.

Two more updates tonight folks! Rain for Tears and another chapter of Never Be the Same!

That's all for now folks!

Enjoy Only Tears! =)