Chapter 11: The Festival
"There you guys are, were have you two been, you got me worried like crazy," Temari said jumping off the couch.
"Sorry, I just had to take a walk to think things through and I had to calm myself down," Sakura told Temari, "Because I'll end up taking my anger towards you guys and I didn't want to do that."
"Oh well that's good, Gaara Lady Tsunade said that she wants to speak with you tomorrow if possible," Temari said leaving the room.
"Hn," Gaara said looking at Sakura.
"We must sleep, tomorrow is a big day," Sakura said, "I wonder why Tsunade wants to speak with you…anyhow good night, Gaara." Heading towards her bedroom, but was stopped by Gaara's hand.
"Hey," Gaara said pulling her near him, "You forgot something."
"Huh, what's that?" Sakura asked smiling.
"This," Gaara said lowering his face near hers, and gave her a good night kiss, "A good night kiss."
"Oh, good night then," she said giggling giving him a kiss.
The next day Temari woke Sakura up taking her to the hot springs. "Come on, we have to get a relaxing day before the festival starts," Temari said.
"Okay, but I first have to get some stuff," Sakura said but Temari didn't listen she took her anyways to the hot springs.
"I already got them, don't worry Sakura," Temari said smiling at her, "Look there's your friends and-" She saw Sasuke come out of the entrance, "Umm your right we forgot something lets go to your apartment and get ready instead."
"No that's fine, we could just ignore him," Sakura said, "By the way I don't want to stress about it."
"Are you sure?" Temari asked she receive a nod from Sakura, "Okay then let's go."
They went to the hot springs entrance and since Temari made reservations for Sakura, Ino, Hinata, Tenten, and herself a month before she got here.
"Hey, Sakura come with us its been a while since we haven't' talked don't you think," Ino said waving at her.
"Hey Ino how are you?" Sakura said noticing that Sasuke was staring at her.
"I'm fine! And you how are you? How's Suna?" Ino asked.
"I'm fine and Suna is great, really fun," Sakura said ignoring Sasuke glare.
"Sakura," Sasuke said monotone.
"So Temari I heard that you made reservations, is that true?" Sakura asked ignoring him and wanting to get away from him.
"Yeah but we have to wait, until they open, you see the lady who works here knows me," Temari said noticing that Sasuke was coming near.
"Sakura, I need to speak with you," Sasuke said.
"I don't, now leave. And if you want to say something you could say it in front of my friends," Sakura said.
"Fine," Sasuke said, "I'm sorry for the things I had done to you and I was hoping that you could still be friends."
"Friends? You have to earn it now, that you have betrayed her and left Konoha just so you could become a bit more strong with that bastard of Orochimaru," Ino said noticed that Sakura was getting upset.
"This doesn't concern you," Sasuke said.
"Yes it does she is my friend and I'll help her out in any way, and stay faithful and stay at her side for the many years that she needs," Ino said angrily.
"Ino thank you," Sakura said and looked at Sasuke, "She's right you know, you have to earn to be my friend. Like I said I'm glad that your back, but that doesn't mean I forgive you that easily." She noticed a lady coming from the corner of her eye.
"Anyhow, just don't bother me that much okay and give me some time," Sakura said monotone; she looked away for a moment then looked at him. She saw that he smirked a bit, so she smirked too, "But, don't get your hopes up Sasuke, we might become friends again but my feelings for you will be nothing special, like I said before I already like someone else and he has the same feelings for me." She saw everyone following the lady but Ino and Temari waited for her, "Bye Sasuke...Ino, Temari thank you for everything."
"No problem," Ino said smiling.
"That's what friends do, they stick together," Temari said loud enough for Sasuke to hear.
The girls were talking about what they are going to wear for the festival, and the things that they are planning to do while they are there.
"I know we should all meet at Sakura's place, all of you should take your dates with you okay," Temari said, "Oh but wait, Sakura do you have someone to take you to the festival?"
"You know what, Ino call all the guys, you know who I'm talking about," Temari said, "We could do a game, for those who doesn't have dates. And for those who already have dates will not participate."
"Temari, I already have someone to take me," Sakura said blushing.
"Really, well tell me everything okay once we go back to the house okay," Temari said smiling and continued talking to the girls.
Ino knew who it was, 'I'll wait until she wants to tell me,' she thought.
"To bad I don't have a date, I'm practically the only one who doesn't. You guys are lucky to have someone to take you," Ino said, "Naruto is taking Hinata, Neji is taking Tenten, Shikamaru is taking Temari, and who knows whose taking Sakura, but that only leaves me dateless. And the boys as well, I'll end up having a date with Kiba, Shino, Choji, Lee, and Sasuke."
"Don't worry, ah I got another idea, we should also take some girls for those who doesn't have dates," Temari said.
"I don't think so, it's too late the festival is only six hours to go how on earth are we going to find some other girls to be dateless," Sakura said.
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"Oh man those girls are too loud," Shikamaru said heard everything they were saying.
"Yeah, to think that they are going to make a game for those who don't have dates," Kiba said, "I know for a fact that I rather stay at home than going to that festival, but it will be at least fun to take Akamaru with me."
Crunch, munch, "Yeah, I rather go by myself as well," Choji said.
"How on earth did you bring those chips in here," Kiba said, "Choji take those damn things over there before we get into trouble."
"Fine," Choji said taking the bag of chips with him and put them where his clothes were.
"So Sasuke do you have a date," Naruto asked.
"Hn," Sasuke said, "No."
"Why don't you ask Sakura, I think she will go if you ask her nicely," Naruto said.
"You idiot didn't you hear, she already has someone taking her," Kiba said.
"You guys are too loud, they will end up hearing us," Shino said monotone.
"TOO, LATE WE DID ALREADY," the girls yelled, "STOP HEARING OUR CONVERSATIONS!!! OR ELSE!!"
"Oh, fine, BUT YOU LEFT OUT SAI," Kiba said noticing that Sai looked at him, "What they did."
"Hn," Sai said, "I'm leaving."
"Me too," Sasuke said, "Like I have no other choice, I have to be around with you, all the damn time."
Smiling, "If you don't like it, complain with Lady Tsunade," Sai said annoyed.
"Maybe I will," Sasuke said.
"Good," Sai said smiling.
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"I can't believe they heard our conversation," Tenten said.
"Well I guess we should all go, you know to get ready," Ino said.
"U-Umm, Ino," Hinata said shyly, "May I join you."
"Sure come on," Ino said leaving.
"Well, we should go too," Temari said.
"I agree," Sakura said smiled, "Thank you Temari, I really needed to have this. I was stressing so much, this really calmed me down."
"Your welcome, now let's go," Temari said.
"Okay," Sakura said following Temari.
When they left the hot springs they all left to their homes, except Temari and Sakura.
"I want to go and get something for Shikamaru, before we head home," Temari said.
"I also want to get something for Ga-" Sakura said.
"Your taking my brother that's great, I'm happy," Tamari said, "You guys make a good couple trust me. And, don't worry, I already knew that you and Gaara had feelings in some way, but I wanted you or him to tell me, I didn't want to intrude."
"Oh, then what should I give him," Sakura said blushing.
"Something that comes from your heart, you know something that will mean so much to you," Temari said, "I have a feeling that Ino also knows, you should tell once we meet up at your house."
"Okay, I'm planning on telling everyone today," Sakura said saw Kakashi in front of them.
"Hello Sakura and Temari. Are you two almost ready for the festival?" Kakashi asked.
"Yes, are you going?" Sakura asked.
"I'm afraid I can't," Kakashi said smiling, "Just kidding I am going."
"Oh, okay then I'll see there then," Sakura said smiling.
"Yeah see ya," Kakashi said.
"You think that he's going to get mad that she's going with Gaara," Yamamoto asked.
"I believe so, he still into restoring his clan and he wants her to be the one to help," Kakashi said, "I'm worried."
"Don't be, Neji will be going as well, he said that Tenten told him to meet at Sakura's place, before they leave to the festival," Yamamoto said, "Sasuke is also going."
"At what time are they going to meet there," Kakashi said walking towards his place.
"Don't know but we do have to protect them remember," Yamamoto said, "Lady Tsunade said that Sasuke is not living with Sai anymore, he's going to be living with you."
"What me, why didn't she tell me before she assigned me too," Kakashi said.
"She told me to tell you, just a minute ago, he's waiting for you at your place," Yamamoto said.
"Fine, I'll call you when to meet me at Sakura's place," Kakashi said disappeared.
"Good luck," Yamamoto said.
Five hours has passed and everyone's at Sakura's living room waiting for Temari and Sakura to finish. Everyone was there: Sai, Sasuke, Kakashi, Lee, Shino, Kiba, Neji, Tenten, Naruto, Hinata, Ino, Choji, Shikamaru, Gaara, and Yamamoto.
"Come on already," Kiba said frustrated.
"What a drag, women sure take their time to get ready," Shikamaru complained.
"Be quiet you two! We women has to take their time to look good for our dates," Ino said, "I'll check if their almost ready."
"Anyways did someone find out whose Sakura's date?" Kiba asked.
"No," Shino said.
Gaara heard everything, 'Why are they concern about who is her date?' he thought.
'Haven't you noticed that some of these don't have dates themselves,' Shukaku pointed out.
'I see,' he thought smirking.
Then the door opened, Ino came out first going with Choji, then Temari came out going with Shikamaru, and last Sakura, she stopped looking for her date. She found him, he was at the corner, she went towards him when someone stopped her.
Gaara saw this and he started to walk towards her and the one who was grabbing Sakura's arm.
"Sakura, I want you to be my date for the festival," Sasuke said monotone.
Forcing him to let go of her, "I already have a date, and it isn't you," Sakura said leaving his side noticed that Kakashi was there, "Hello Kakashi-sensei, you look handsome."
"Thanks, and you look beautiful," Kakashi said.
Blushing, "Thank you," Sakura said going with Gaara, she hugged him.
Everyone just looked at them in surprise, Sasuke glaring at Gaara, Ino, Temari, Shikamaru, and Kiba smiled knowing for a fact that it was going to be Gaara who'd she pick. The rest of them surprised, "Aww, what a good couple," Tenten said.
"You look so beautiful Sakura," Lee said crying, he's upset that she didn't pick him.
"He's right you look so good in that kimono," Naruto said, "But Hinata looks good too."
"T-Thank y-you, N-Naruto," Hinata said blushing.
"I don't see what they are saying," Sai said noticing that everyone glaring at him like, you're a dead man if you say something negative to her, "You look hot."
Almost ready to punch him but stopped because she thought that he was going to tell her that she looked ugly, instead she blushed even more. "Thank you Sai, thank you everyone," Sakura said.
"Alright we must go eat," Kakashi said, "Then to the festival."
Everyone with dates left first then those who didn't. Sakura arranged a gift to those who didn't have dates, she smiled.
Kiba, Shino, Sai, Lee, Kakashi, Yamamoto, and even Sasuke had a date now. "Alright, now that everyone has a date let's go," Ino said smiling.
They all went to a restaurant, where Kakashi reserved it just for all of them, everyone sat in tables. Kiba, Shino, and Lee sat at one big table with their dates, Kakashi, Sasuke, and Yamamoto sat at another table with their dates, Tenten, Neji, Naruto, and Hinata sat at a table, Ino and Choji at one table for two, Temari and Shikamaru at a table for two. Gaara and Sakura went to a table for two where it was somewhat quiet but far away from their friends.
"Are you ready to order?" each waiter asked.
"Yes," everyone said.
They ordered and began having their conversation. Kakashi noticed that Sasuke was glaring at the table that Gaara and Sakura was, "I suggest you let it go, Sasuke. If you would of stayed, in Konoha like I told you that day, she would of still be in love with you," Kakashi whispered to Sasuke, "But, you didn't, she learned to forget the love that she had for you, and learned to love someone else."
"I know, I just," Sasuke said, "I just wanted to get my revenge, but I was too blind to see that she really cared for me. Now I don't know what to do."
"You could try to be friends with her, but find someone else to let them fall in love with you," Kakashi said, "She suffered so much, the day that you left."
"Hn," Sasuke said getting up and walked towards Gaara and Sakura.
AN: I was going to stop here but, what the heck I rather end this chapter with a bang. So hope you like it.
"Now what," Sakura said annoyed that Sasuke was coming towards their table.
"Sakura, Gaara, I'm happy that you two are…you know, dating," Sasuke said annoyed because he really didn't know what to say. "Sakura I wanted to say that I'm sorry for the things that I had done, recently. I was mad that you, decided to go with him, but thanks to Kakashi, he explained why."
"What I'm trying to say is that if you could forgive me, little by little if you want," Sasuke said, "And become friends."
Surprised of what he was saying, she looked at Gaara and then to Sasuke. She smiled, "I told you before that I will accept you to be my friend, but," she paused, "It will take me some time to forgive you. You did try to force me to become yours remember."
"But like I said, I do accept the fact that you're at least trying to bring peace, and not cause any fights, because I don't want anybody getting hurt. I'm still going to be your friend Sasuke, but that's all I can be, a friend, nothing more, other than your teammate but that's about it," Sakura said, "Here, I wanted to give you this if me and Naruto would of made you come back to Konoha."
"Now leave, Kakashi and the rest are looking over here," Sakura said.
"Thank you, Sakura," Sasuke said getting the gift that she gave him.
She looked at Gaara, "You know I'm glad, but at the same time I'm going to put my guard up, just to be on the safe side," Sakura told Gaara, "I'm glad that he's trying to get my forgiveness and all. But, somehow I noticed something not right, when he said that he just wanted to be friends."
"Hn," Gaara said, "After the festival do you want to go back to Suna or do you want to stay here?" By that he meant, do you still have feelings for him, if so stay here.
"Huh, what are saying," Sakura said, "Of course I still want to go to Suna, Gaara I told you before that I love you and that feelings that I had for Sasuke their all gone…if you think in anyway that I still have feelings for him, what can I do to show you that I don't."
"You know what…the thing that I gave him, Naruto picked it, I just wrote him a note," Sakura said taking out a small box, "I wrote: Sasuke, if you are reading this, which means that you have came back to Konoha. Meaning you already had finished your revenge ways. Naruto hasn't stopped fighting for you to come back to Konoha, and I only helped him out because I'm his friend, his teammate, and I'll do anything for him. He's like a brother to you, so try to make up things, by staying here in Konoha, don't complain on the punishment that Lady Tsunade gives you, and don't come searching for me to love you again. I'll accept to be friends but that's all."
"That's all," Sakura said looking at the box, and then handed the box to Gaara, "Here, this will show you how much I really care for you." She got up and left the table.
Temari noticed what was going on, she saw Sakura get up from her chair and left outside. She looked at Ino, Ino was already following Sakura. "Shikamaru, I'll be back I have to talk with Gaara for a moment," Temari said, "Excuse me."
"Sure," Shikamaru said understanding how she felt.
Temari sat where Sakura was sitting, "Tell me what happened, Gaara," Temari ordered her little brother to tell her what happened.
After telling her what happened, "Temari, how would I know that she won't go back with that bastard of Sasuke," he asked still playing with the box, he didn't open it.
"You know, Gaara, she told me how she feels for you, and I trust her. She really cares about you, she loves you, Gaara," Temari said, "Open that gift that she gave you, there's the gift and a note. Gaara, I guess I have a feeling that you're somewhat afraid that she won't love you, but she does, you'll see what I mean." She rose from her seat, went towards Gaara, and kissed his forehead, "You're my brother, and I love you, but she, she loves you even more than I do."
He was alone, he opened the box, and there was a note and a chain with a pendent, and a ring. He read the note first:
Gaara,
All I could say is this, getting this mission to be in Suna is the perfect mission. I'm glad I took this mission, it was either me or Ino, thankfully I accepted. And I'm glad, that I accepted because I want to tell you that, the days that I've been at Suna, I was falling in love with you. But I was afraid that you didn't have the same feelings for me so I kept it a secret. When I heard that you also love me, I was so happy.
Gaara these gifts that are in this box, it means so much to me. To me these three things means so much, the chain means our love, the pendant you have my heart and my whole entire soul, and to complete it the ring of unity. Gaara my love for you is so much it hurts me, and I want to have you for all my entire life, I know this isn't what a girl does, but I'm giving you your punishment.
Look for me give me the gifts, and I'll tell you what your punishment is.
Sakura Haruno.
Gaara finished reading the note; he rose from his seat and looked for Sakura. She was outside near the fountain. "Sakura," Gaara said seeing that she rose and walked towards him, putting her hand stretched in front of her, her palm was open.
"If you love me and want to be with me give me back my stuff," Sakura said monotone.
Temari told everyone to go outside but to be quiet.
Gaara gave Sakura the gift that she had given him, he was confused.
"Prove that you love me, by telling it to me," Sakura said, "Then you'll receive your punishment."
"I love you Sakura," Gaara said, "I love you so much that I can't bear it."
"Good," Sakura said smiling, "This is chain with the pendant is the love that we have together, and the pendant means that you have my heart, so take care of it. And this ring…this ring, means that I want to be with you for the rest of my life. I want to marry you Gaara, will you accept." Trying so hard not to cry.
"Aww, this is so romantic," the girls said impressed of what Sakura did, they were all crying.
"That's a beautiful, scene don't you think," Tsunade said.
"Tsunade, when did you," Kakashi said.
"Just now," Tsunade said tears coming down her cheek, "I wouldn't miss this for the whole world."
"Yeah me either, she's like a daughter I never had," Kakashi said smiling almost tearing up.
"And a daughter I never had," Tsunade said, "She's so important to me, it makes me happy that she's happy."
"Yeah," Kakashi said.
"You want…to get…married with…me," Gaara paused surprised.
"Yes, do you accept," Sakura said.
"Hn," Gaara said, "So this is my punishment for kissing you without you knowing, I wonder what would of happen if I didn't," laughing because of the face Sakura was making, "Alright, alright you answer is….yes."
"Yay," Sakura said hugged Gaara and then kissed him, "Oh wait here," she said putting the ring on him.
"Know I'm going to punish you too," Gaara said taking out a box, "Let's do this," kneeling, "Sakura Haruno, will you marry me."
"Duh," Sakura said, "I mean yes."
AN: Hope you all liked it, yeah this chapter is long and well I just wanted to give you all the ending with a big bang…I don't know what its called but I'll make another one or two chapters of their wedding and some other thing that I have to add.
Please review!!! If you want give me some ideas, in my profile there's two e-mails so you could send your ideas, to help me out. Thank you all for reviewing, it really meant so much to me.