Chapter 9: Truth by Intimidation

Little Falcon:Surprise!!! Yes! It's an update! Again I'm late but hey what's new, right? Here's the next chapter. Read and review onegai…

Standard Disclaimer: I only own the idea that's all. If I did own this series I'll be the happiest person on earth!!!

"Ready…get set… go!!!" the Chinese take-out that were lying neatly on the table were jumped on by the rowdy group of boys like a meat thrown to a pack of hungry wolves.

The house's guest, Sasori, could only blink in disbelief as he remained seated while the guys continued to 'eat'. "I know, they could be on national geographic, right?" his former roommate abroad handed him a separate order of the Chinese take-out with a reassuring smile.

"You seem to be pretty used to this 'tradition'. I've heard your stories but I never imagined them to be true," he split his chopsticks and dug in. Sakura was somehow relieved to see her guest 'not so traumatized'.

"You think I was kidding when I told you how we eat?" Sakura sat beside him and took out her own separate order. "Oh, and by the way… I taught them that," Sasori froze midway from eating. The piece of meat he was holding in between his chopsticks fell back to the carton box as he stared at the lady beside him who was apparently eating elegantly.

"You've got to be joking," his eyes remained fastened on her innocent face as he waited for her reply.

"Nope, she is not," the whiskered blond with rice on his cheeks showed his teeth that had pieces of meat clinging at some corners. "Sakura said that this way eating is more exciting," Naruto said in between his mouthful of food.

"Did you see the way she snatched the food before us? She's so good, I'm so proud to call her my sister," the older guy said as he waved his chopsticks in the air.

"I thought you had these separated beforehand," Sasori tried to recall the grotesque before-during-after scenes of the meal and tried to see how Sakura could've pulled it off.

"What? Now, that's not fair," Sakura looked at him like he was a lost puppy then she smiled as her eyes met Gaara's for a brief second. "I'm full," she finished her meal in record time. The others did as well leaving him alone still eating. "Sasori, I forgot. The last one to finish cleans up," she winked at her then vanished to the living room with the others laughing.

That night, Gaara found trouble sleeping. Not only because of a stranger's presence in his room but also of the stranger's loud snoring. Sasori, however, slept like a log even though, he looks so uncomfortable in the position he's sleeping in. tossing and turning, covering his ears with his pillow, nothing seemed to even lessen his 'roommate's' snoring.

Finally losing his patience, Gaara jumped out of bed with a large pillow in his hand determined to smother every breath out of Sasori when he heard a light knock on the door. Glancing at the clock, he saw how late it was and wondered who could it be? Must be Naruto sleep walking again…

All the traces of sleep lifted from his eyes as he saw Sakura dressed in a flimsy silk spaghetti strap and shorts, standing by the door. The sight of her exposed skin made him swallow with difficulty, and that out of the bed look made him stop breathing all in all. "Here," her innocent smile made sure that it was a dream. This is far too good to be true. Since it was a dream, he stared at her openly even as she walked back to her room. Looking at what she handed him, he saw a pack of ear plugs.

"Good morning, Sakura!" that unfamiliar yet irritating tone woke him up followed by a heavy nudge to his side. Without opening his eyes, he felt for his ears to find ear plugs corking them. So… it wasn't a dream?

"Gaara! Gaara, wake up! That guy, that guy, Sasori just entered Sakura's room!" Lee almost got thrown to the wall as Gaara shot out of bed.

If it wasn't a dream then Sakura's wearing… a sense of possessiveness took over him as he imagined having Sasori see what 'his' Sakura was wearing. Gaara almost tore the door open to Sakura's room. Sakura was nowhere in sight but the bathroom door is closed while Sasori sits casually on her bed. His jade eyes narrowed as he dragged Sasori out of her bed and out the door.

"Ohayo," Sakura greeted with a yawn as she stepped out of her room. Her thin eyebrow rose in question as she found Sasori dumped on the couch. "Ready?" she stood over his unmoving form.

"Yup," like a jump started car, Sasori got up as if he wasn't thrown from the second floor to the couch downstairs.

"Where are you guys going?" Naruto, who saw Gaara's stunt and was trying to suppress his laughter, asked as he finished ordering breakfast.

"Oh, Sasori's going to take me shopping," Sasori took Sakura's arm and intertwined it with his as they left the house. Gaara did not fail to notice the arrogant smirk on Sasori's face as he closed the door.

Everyone did not say another word for a while as they felt Gaara's killing aura linger in the air.

"They sure are taking their time," it was a Saturday. A day that would've fun because there is no school and it's the time to shoot some hoops but then again… there was Sasori… AND…Gaara to consider. Naruto and the others were stuck watching re-runs of old movies or cheesy series.

"We're back," almost everyone jumped out of their skin in joy as if saying Finally, Gaara can loosen up. Sakura was carrying several paper bags and so was Sasori. "What happened? You guys look like the grim reaper was at your shoulder," she said with mirth as she climbed the stairs together with Sasori.

Gaara's eyes did not dare leave the two as soon as they entered the house. Tying to find something to do in his room, he saw Sasori arranging several paper bags. One of it fell and the contents spilled out of the bag.

His blood boiled almost instantly as he saw a very seductive piece of nightgown on the floor. But what made it worse was when Sasori picked it up, placed it back in the bag and exited the room to head towards Sakura's door.

"Sakura… here," Gaara's vision turned red as he saw him hand her the package. Like a bull on a rampage, he tackled Sasori towards the nearest wall and began to slam his fists on his pretty face.

"Gaara! What the hell are you doing!? Sasori!" everyone downstairs were just waiting for this signal have a piece of the action as well.

Sasori was stunned by the surprise attack at first but he soon began to retaliate with equal force as well. Punches and kicks were thrown in almost all direction as they battled it out on the house's small corridor.

Naruto was first on the scene with a video camera in hand, the Chouji with his potato chips, then Kakashi and Lee who finally tore the two apart. Last was Shikamaru as he watched the aftermath with his lazy eyes. "Mendokusai," he muttered as he handed Sakura a first aid kit and some ice.

"Seriously, that was childish," Sakura cleaned his face gently. Gaara flinch a bit as she touched a tender spot. "Sorry," she muttered as she put the towel back in the basin. "What the hell made you do that?" she sat right in front of him just so his eyes could meet hers.

"I just felt like doing it," Gaara mumbled as he reluctantly tore his gaze from her.

The sight of his bruised face was reason enough not to yell at him but the painful look in his eyes made her feel guilty for some unknown reason. Wrapping the ice with a towel, she gently lifted his chin. Tenderly, she applied the ice on his bleeding lip.

Her feather-light caresses forced his eyes to look at her angelic face. Concern and fear was evident in her eyes but she was still breath taking.

It was only when she felt his warm breath on her face did she realize that he was that close. Slowly, she removed the ice from his lips; she closed her eyes and felt his warm lips on hers.

Her kiss was light as if careful that he would break but he needed more and he didn't care what it took. His hand caressed her nape and waist and drew her even closer.

Sakura drew back looking intently into his eyes then initiated the next exchange. Although, it was Gaara's tongue who first begged for entry; Sakura seemed to be learning pretty well. During their intimate moment, he somehow found a way for Sakura to sit on his lap as he explored the sweetness of her mouth.

"You're injured you know," she said in between her breaths as they broke apart for air. Her lips hovered centimeters from his.

"I-don't-care," he said in between their fleeting kisses then began another lengthy, sensual moment.

"Woah! Get a room!" In comes Naruto with his video cam. As of hearing nothing at all, the two continued for another few seconds then finally stopped. "That was…" the blushing spectator was left speechless.

"…amazing," Gaara finished as he placed his forehead on hers while she still sits in his lap with his arms around her. Sakura could only bite her lower lip in reply as her cheeks grow red.

"Finally! You two hooked up!" Sasori entered the room with the ice bag on his face. The others spilled into the room and dropped their jaw. Sakura raised her eyebrow in inquiry and Gaara tightened his embrace while glaring at Sasori.

"I was beginning to feel guilty about spending time with Sakura when I have a fiancée back home," that arrogant smirk was still in his face even if it was bruised all over. "You punch real well might I add," he began to laugh… and so did the others.

Gaara shook his head in disbelief while Sakura smiled at him affectionately. "Is that was this is about? You were jealous?"

"What if I am?" he answered her directly then pulled her in.

"GET A ROOM!!!" the others exclaimed as they threw pillows at the new couple.

"Just so you know… that night gown was for her fiancé," Sakura jumped out of his embrace laughing.

Little Falcon: Read and review please…