"Love takes up where knowledge leaves off."
--Saint Thomas Aquinas.
"Anu, you've disobeyed me."
"I-I'm sorry, sir! I-It won't happen again!" A tall white-haired man trembled in fear as he bowed lowly before the man in front of him. The pale man standing over him hit him, and he fell back, a slash across his cheek.
"You won't have the chance to fail me again..." Said the ominous voice, and screams of terror were heard through the night.
xXx
Gaara had spent the evening walking along the streets of Suna with Sakura. As he headed down the hall to his room, he paused by a certain room when he heard the soft sobs of a child.
His eyes widened in realization. 'Tamru..'
Gaara softly knocked, before poking his head in the door. "Tamru," He said quietly.
He raven-headed boy quickly wiped his eyes and turned around, pretending nothing was just happening. Gaara entered the room, leaving the door cracked open. Tamru was sitting in the middle of the floor, eyes slightly red from crying. Gaara kneeled before him, looking at him concernedly.
"How long have you been crying?" He asked.
"I-I wasn't crying!" Tamru said, shaking his head profusely.
"I know you were, and I want to know why." Gaara said, frowning at him.
Tamru looked down. "…I-I just… I've been all by myself for a long time… I-I feel alone.."
To the boy's surprise, Gaara put a hand on his head, ruffling his hair.
"I'm sorry, Tamru," He said softly, ruffling his hair again. "Things have been happening, and I haven't—"
"Gaara-sama," Came a soft female voice through the door. Gaara looked up and there stood Sakura in a short nightgown, rubbing her eyes rather childishly. He turned pink, blinking.
"What is it?" He asked, standing to his feet.
'She is absolutely adorable,' He thought, biting his lip.
"Uhm.." She looked down, turning pink.
"Don't tell me I have to leave my own room," Tamru said, voice in a playful whine.
"No no!" Sakura said, turning redder. "I-I just… I can't sleep."
'Oh, that's right,' Gaara thought dismally. 'It's been quite a time since I got back. I went to my office for… Paperwork.'
"Oh, I see," Gaara nodded, before saying, "If you'll give me a minute, Sakura.."
She nodded meekly and left the room, slipping the door closed behind her. Gaara then kneeled again in front of Tamru, who was grinning from ear to ear at the man.
"What are you grinning about?" Gaara frowned.
Tamru giggled childishly, grinning even wider (if that was possible).
"What?!" Gaara asked, now frustrated.
"I thinks you love that lady, Gaara-sensei," Tamru giggled.
Gaara frowned deeper. "What gives you that idea?!"
"By the way you act, and the way you were with her that time when I had to leave the room before," Tamru continued. "I've been watching, and I know you have some kind of feelings for her!"
xXx
Sakura covered her mouth, on the other side of the door.
'..D-Does he really..' She thought, heart pounding in her chest. '..Return my feelings..?'
xXx
"Shh," Gaara growled, looking around. He then took Tamru by the shoulders, looking sternly at him.
"You're a child," He said. "This is something for adults to discuss, okay? I'm not going to give you details on it, and don't spy on us anymore."
Tamru bowed his head shamefully. "I-I'm sorry, Gaara-sensei.."
Gaara patted his head, standing. "Go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow."
The red-head then left the room, Tamru sitting on the floor.
He looked down, black locks falling into his smiling face. "I… I might have a family.."
xXx
Gaara looked at Sakura from the closed door, and stepped towards her. "So what's the problem..?" He asked.
Sakura looked up, surprised at the voice. She quickly composed herself, linking her hands behind her back. She bit her lip, pink dusting her cheeks. "Uhm.." She began. "W-Well, this is embarrassing to say, but.."
She bowed her head. "That night outside Suna, with you... Was the best I'd slept since I was a young kid.."
Gaara turned his back on her, so she couldn't see his red cheeks. He cleared his throat. "Well, what do you.. Suggest?"
He actually hopes she would ask for him to share a bed with her, because ever since they got back, he hadn't been able to get any sleep at all.
And he knew, that for some reason he'd never be able to sleep without her again.
He didn't know what she did, but something about her… Just made him go crazy. He felt so many emotions, strange emotions around her.. He'd never felt before.
"W-Well.." Sakura's fingers fiddled behind her back as her hair slightly covered her blushing face. "I-I was hoping you could just… M-Maybe come with me, and make sure I get to sleep…"
Though his heart fluttered, Gaara coughed and waited a few moments before muttering, "A-Alright."
Sakura's face lit up, and she smiled a bit, pink still covering her cheeks. "A-Arigato, Gaara-sama.." She said, before turning in the direction of her room. He turned, following her.
She padded softly down the dark hall, hands brushing against the walls for support and direction. She finally reached her room, and opened the door, peeking in.
Gaara decided he'd give her room, and sat in a chair in the corner of the room. The pink-headed woman crawled in the large bed, sliding under the maroon covers. She shivered, closing her eyes and trying to make herself comfortable.
A few minutes, and Gaara was leaning back in the chair, resting himself. His chest heaved in sighs, body relaxed.
A sea-blue eye popped open at the sound of a timid voice reaching his ears.
"G-Gaara-sama.."
"Hn'n..?" He grunted, looking at her.
The small roar of thunder could be heard through the thick walls. Sakura buried herself deeper in the thick blankets, shivering again. Gaara furrowed invisible eyebrows.
"I-I'm scared.." She whispered. He leaned forward to hear; her small voice didn't project.
"..Scared?" He frowned, peering at her from his chair.
She nodded, from what he could see. "C-Could you.. Join me?"
His heart skipped a beat. He steadied himself, however, and stood slowly. "Alright.." He said softly, before approaching the bed, and sitting on the unoccupied side. He only sat on the edge of the bed, watching her.
To his slight surprise, Sakura turned over to face him, looking at him. She then softly patted the pillow beside her, her slim fingers sliding over the soft, silky pillow.
Gaara gulped, and hoping she didn't hear his gulping, eased himself closer to her on the bed, but failing to get more than an inch closer.
Every small movement she made, he watched closely. He watched, heart pounding as she sat up, moving closer to him slowly, on her knees. He watched, as she put one hand on his shoulder, the other touching his face. He watched, as her face leaned closer to his, pink locks brushing against his face and neck.
He stopped watching, for his eyes closed when she pulled him into a deep kiss. The hand on his face travelled up into his red locks, gripping them gently. She pulled herself over him as he slowly laid back, head resting on the silky pillow she'd patted previously. His hands gently rested on her waist as she laid atop him. She pulled away for breath and quickly claimed his lips again. She pulled away, and returned over again, giving him heated kisses to the lips.
He shivered, hands running along the silky smooth skin of her outer thighs. His pale fingers splayed out over the skin, gripping it gently as he returned each kiss with equal heat and passion.
He was enjoying every second of what they were sharing, and the flaming red across his cheeks was proof. She finally pulled away from him, gazing through half-lidded, hazy eyes at his blushing face. Their faces were still inches apart, as the couple caught their breath.
Gaara slowly opened his eyes, his sight being cloudy. He blinked them several times, as he licked his lips.
"Cherry chapstick..?" He murmured.
"..Temari let me borrow it.." She whispered back, blushing.
He nodded quietly, letting his hands gently run up and down her outer thighs.
She then laid her head on his chest, sighing lightly. "I think I can sleep now.." She whispered, a finger tracing circles on his shirt.
Gaara remained silent, feeling sleepy himself. He brought one hand up to her hair, running his fingers through it gently.
xXx
"M-Madara-sama," Pein said, bowing lowly.
"Save it, Pein." The Uchiha waved him away, entering the cave.
Kisame entered behind him, trembling in fear. He cast a look at the orange-headed man, who only glared in return.
"With myself in full command," Madara sat lazily atop one of the large stones about the area, "We'll have all nine demons in no time.."
"…Including… The Kyuubi."
Evil, sinister laughter rang throughout the rocky cavern.
xXx
Temari smiled softly to herself, making her way down the hall. 'I wonder what Sakura-chan's doing today,' She thought.
She brought her hand to the door of the woman's room, opening it slowly.
"Sakura—" She began, but blinked at the sight.
There was the pink-headed beauty… cuddled up to her brother.
Temari was kind of let down; She didn't know why. She was happy for them, she wanted them to be happy.
Then why did she kiss Sakura? She didn't know, but she liked it.
Maybe too much..
She couldn't be developing feelings for the girl; She knew that if she did, her brother…
..There was no telling what he would do.
After gazing at the sleeping pair a while longer, she closed the door back, biting her lip and walking away.
xXx
"Writing your Haiku again?"
The blonde looked up to see her brother, dressed in his usual all-black. He gave her a small, knowing smirk, and she smirked right back.
"Does it matter?" She asked, closing the scroll.
"Well," He said, approaching the small table she sat at. The birds around them squawked. "You only write Haiku when you're… Bored, or… Upset. And there's always missions to do, so you can count out the first one."
Temari frowned, avoiding his gaze. He sat across from her. "What're you upset about?"
"It's nothing." She said, brushing her bangs aside.
"Well, in any case, I need to wake Gaara." Kankuro said, stand and heading for the door.
"He's not in his room," Temari commented. He stopped in his tracks, not looking at her.
"Where is he?" He asked, in a low voice.
"Check Sakura-chan's room," Temari said lowly, voice cracking.
Kankuro looked over his shoulder, giving her an odd look before leaving.
xXx
He peeked his head in the door to the woman's room, and his eyes widened slightly at the sight.
His brother was laying on the bed, Sakura cuddled up to him. It was rather sweet, but Kankuro shook his head, entering the room quietly.
He stood in front of the door, clearing his throat.
"Gaara," He said, in sort of an announcing tone.
The red-head jerked up, causing Sakura to wake, therefore jerking up as well. They both stared at him, eyes wide in horror.
Kankuro smirked at them, leaning casually against the door. "Gaara, it's time to wake up." He said, before leaving the room.
Gaara looked around, wide-eyed. "I slept in here.." He murmured.
He got out of the bed quickly, brushing his clothes off a bit to smooth the wrinkles. His face was painted red in embarrassment.
"…I-I'm sorry.." The woman on the bed murmured, hanging her head in embarrassment.
"Don't be," He said, brushing her words aside. He rushed to the door, casting her a glance before leaving.
Sakura flopped back on the bed, looking at the ceiling.
Tears sprang to her eyes.
"…I love you…"
xXx
Hours became days. Days became weeks.
It'd been about a month since the meet-up with the Akatsuki.
About a month since Sakura's confession to no one in particular.
About a month since they'd really… Spoken.
On a personal level, at least. Sakura went on training him in genjutsu, and by the end of the month, he'd learned four different genjutsu in total. She was impressed; but of course, he HAD been chosen to be Kazekage of Suna.
She looked up at the sky.
They were taking a break, at the moment. Her pupil had taken to trying to replenish his chakra by meditating. It was slow, but it eventually did bring up chakra levels. Sakura was sitting on a rather large rock, knees pulled to her chest as the small breeze cooled her skin.
She gazed at him. His face was contorted into an expression of concentration, black-rimmed eyes closed. His hands were in a sign in front of his face, legs folded as he sat on the ground.
Without thinking, she whispered, "I love you.."
Her eyes widened in horror and she covered her mouth. However, he didn't open an eye, so she figured he didn't hear her.
However, it was quite the contrary.
His mind was racing, pulse quickening. 'Who does she love? Me? Could it be? Or someone else? It'd better not be someone else..'
"Who would that be?" He asked lowly, popping open an eye to peer at her.
Sakura, who'd calmed, freaked out again, falling off the rock. "Ow!" she groaned, face blushing furiously.
"Who do you love, Sakura?" He got onto his knees, crawling towards her.
"N-Noone!" She squeaked, squabbling back, on her back. Her eyes were wide, face red.
"Then why did you say that?" He crawled closer. "You wouldn't say something like that unless you meant it.."
"B-But—"
"Come now..." He smirked a bit, crawling over her. She'd backed up against another rock, biting her lip. "..Don't be shy."
She looked away, blushing more. "Y-You know."
"I want you to say it," He smirked wider, tilting her head for her to look at him. However macho his pose was, his heart was pounding a mile a minute, and he craved to hear those words again.
Sakura cleared her throat, trembling lightly from nervousness.
"Gaara.." She muttered, still looking down.
He stared at her intently.
Her forest-green eyes then switched to his, and they locked gazes.
"Gaara, I…" Her wide eyes watered a bit. "..I love you.."
(A/N: YAY! Another chapter! W00t, I kick ass. Okay, maybe not, but whatever. Uhm, let's see. I leave tomorrow morning, so unless I stay up A LOT longer, this is prolly the last chapter for the week. I'll will rabidly write when I get back, if not tonight.
And, I suggest you listen to "Why Can't I" by Liz Phair while reading all the romantic/fluffy scenes between Gaara and sakura, it's what I listened to to help me write it. xD And it makes sense.
Uhm, let's see. I've decided on a few things on this story. It WILL be GaaraxSakura, number one.
Second thing, I'm planning on making it 16 to 20 chapters.
Third, this story MAY or MAY NOT have a sequel. It totally depends on how this thing ends. If you want this story to have a sequel, you have to comment to let me know. Or else I'll think no one wants a sequel. xD
That is all. Thanks you gaiz, I love you all! GAYMENZ! D8)