A/N: Bonjour, mes amis. Thank you for all your lovely reviews, and yes, Gaara is being rather mean to our poor cherry blossom, no?
Oh see see! I've got my lovely Windows word back, yes!
Red Sand
It must have been at least an hour that Sakura had stood there. Blinking and breathing, she did nothing else. Always have been one to analyze situations; a breakdown of any kind was something she was not used to.
Her worries about Gaara filled her mind. Perhaps he really didn't feel for her like he had made her think. Maybe he really didn't want her for any other reasons other then to satisfy his boredom.
Her long lashes blinked slowly before she sighted someone at her side. Locks of gold flew in the wind, taunting Sakura. She turned her head to face the person.
"What, Tai?" She asked her; exhausted of keeping her cool facade up. Tai smiled coldly, before pulling her sleeves lower down so that the edge was hanging loosely at where her knuckles were.
"I just came to fetch you. You have a message." She said quietly, handing her a crisp new envelope, her bronze skin glowing off the reflection from the paper.
Sakura snatched the paper quickly, and turned around, so that her back was facing Tai.
Ripping off the seal, her eyes scanned the letter.
Dear Sakura,
I am sorry to say, I cannot visit you. I know I said to you that I would, and I'll try my best to find a way around it. The old hag won't let me out of this mission I was just given. When it's over, I promise you that I'll make it over there. I know how horrible it must be, having no one to talk to but Gaara-san. It's truly a wonder you're sane at all.
Anyways, everyone misses you, especially Lee. He isn't quite over the fact you had to leave before the festival but don't worry, I'm sure he will snap out of it soon. Ino and Shikamaru are doing really well. She somehow convinced him to go on a picnic with her.
I have to leave now, but I'll talk to you soon,
Naruto
She sighed. Great. Now her plan was wrecked. She couldn't afford to wait until when Naruto would return. Who knows how long that would take? Sakura put the letter in her pocket and turned around to see that Tai was still there.
"I'm going, I'm going!" The woman said, her hands up defensively, before she giggled madly. Disappearing in a whirlwind of dust, Sakura soon followed shortly.
Arriving outside the Kazekage's building, Sakura braced herself for the worst as she made way for those steps. Her entire body felt heavy and numb, while her arms hung loosely at her side.
Walking in the office, the girl sat down on the couch, relieved that he was not there. Closing her eyes and leaning backward to rest, she tried to relax but was stopped by a voice.
"My my, aren't we suppose to be around Gaara all the time?" Tai asked her, leaning on the doorframe.
Sakura's eyes opened and she looked up, glaring daggers at her.
"You can protect him, can't you? I've done it all day." She hissed out, her anger threatening to explode and attack the girl standing in front of her.
"You've been sulking all day, and I don't know where he is." She replied with a shrug. Sakura's eyes narrowed.
"What? We're supposed to be aware where he is at all times." Sakura nearly shouted at the girl, who in turn only shrugged.
Growling on the inside, Sakura stood up and left the office, asking around to anyone who might have an idea where the boy went.
"Temari!" She shouted, sighting the mass of blonde hair upon a slim figure. Her steps sped up as she ran down the stairs.
The older teen looked up and smiled at the chunin running towards her.
"Oh hey, how are you, Sakura?" She asked her, feeling friendlier then normal. She watched as the other came racing down the hall and in front of her.
"I'm okay. Have you seen Gaara?" She asked her, feeling ashamed that she let her emotions get in the way of her mission, however, it was plain as day that she was worried about him.
"Yeah, actually I have. Went down to train by that old abandoned building I think." She said, scratching her head as the pink haired girl disappeared into thin air.
Sakura soon arrived at the destination, glad to see that red headed boy practicing on some random strangers. Too bad for the strangers though, they looked like they were in a great deal of pain.
"Gaara…" She spoke out, once she was within hearing distance, though he obviously knew she was there, the moment she appeared.
The boy said nothing, but released the sand's grip on the strangers, allowing them to run away to the hospital.
"Gaara…you have to talk to me sometime." She murmured, walking closer to him, and surprised to find him stop her.
"I don't have to do anything. Leave me alone, I'm training." He hissed out.
Sakura glared, not about to back down, "Look, I'm sorry about earlier…I know that you need respect…but Gaara, please don't shove me aside…I don't know what I would do if…" She started to say, stumbling for the right words as she turned a lovely shade of red.
"If what?" Gaara asked, staring intently at her. Sakura winced, and fiddled with her thumbs, hair drooped in front of her face.
"If I couldn't be with you." She finished quietly, looking up to face him. As normal, Gaara held almost no emotion upon his face. Feeling incredibly stupid, she sighed and was about to speak up once more, but got interrupted.
Gaara didn't seem too affected by her confession. However, on the inside, he was just as confused as her. It had been too long since he had felt real trust, someone that actually wanted to be near him, and poor Gaara just didn't know what to do with it.
"Maybe then, you should learn to deal." He hissed out after what seemed like forever, and shoved her aside, walking back to the tower.
Time stood still, as Sakura felt frozen, for the second time in her life watching someone she truly cared about walk away from her.
Suddenly, amongst all the quiet, she let out a sob, before breaking down and crying in the middle of the street, clutching her clothes tightly.
He doesn't want you. That inner voice of hers repeated, shattering what was left of her heart with each word.
Breathing heavily, the girl wiped at her eyes and to no avail, continued to cry.
I really blew it… She thought, before falling to the ground, sitting on the sandy ground.
It was all his fault! Not ours! One part of her fought back, trying to comfort the girl.
If I hadn't pushed him so…She responded to her thought.
No…he is a jerk. Not worth our time! Show him you don't care! Go back with a smile! Inner Sakura shouted.
Sobbing, Sakura shook her head, pushing herself off the ground to stand.
"I can't…I can't do it." She murmured to herself quietly, crying at her own weakness. Well at least there was no need to convince Naruto now. She knew exactly how Gaara felt towards her.
Taking a slow step, the girl advanced toward the direction of the tower, defeat written all over her face.
The sun was starting to set, and she thanked God for that. At least she would get some rest, and maybe sort things out in the morning. How could she have been so foolish to believe that Gaara might have been interested in her? She shook her head once more, before speeding up, hoping nothing more then for the day to end.
Such luck never seemed to stay with Sakura. By the time she had returned to the tower and built up the courage to go back in his office, she had seen something horrible.
There they were, the cleaning lady, sprawled on top of his desk, along with Gaara, leaning over her, in a feverish frenzy of lips on lips, his hands seemed to roam around everywhere on the girl.
Sakura choked back a sob, and did the only thing she could. Shut her eyes, and sprinted for her room up the stairs.
When she felt the cold knob turn, she slammed shut the door and lost it. The girl's tears were free flowing, her voice jagged and coarse, and she seemed to be on a destroying craze, ripping apart pillows and cushions, and punching the floor angrily, causing cracks to form.
Any hope that the girl had before was crushed, any slight rays of light dimmed, and any respect she had for Gaara…gone. Oh, Haruno Sakura was a changed woman now. She had a plan.
Unknown to her…
Gaara sighed heavily. Shit. Fuck. Damn it. A billion swears ran through his head, as he continued to destroy the hell out of a nearby building. Growling at his own stupidity, he stormed back into his building, shortly after Sakura retired into her room.
He tried to convince him self that what he did was okay.
It's for the best…she didn't really care for you. No one does. You're still a monster. No one would love you. She hates your guts. Sakura doesn't…doesn't miss you. She was lying.
However, no matter how many times these thoughts crawled through his head, he couldn't help but feel bad about his actions. Damn the fact he cared.
Pushing the doors open, he saw a lady scramble out of the room, short of breath and red in the face.
"Oh…Gaara-san…how'd you end up here?" She asked him as he past her. Gaara raised a brow. Had she lost it? He ignored her and walked in, relieved that he wouldn't have to face those irresistible green eyes of hers.
Instead, he had a nice empty office all to himself. Peace…for now. Sighing inwardly, he rested his head on his forearms on the desk. His red tresses sprayed around his face and arms.
Hearing steps, he glanced up, expecting it to be Sakura, but instead he found him self staring at that annoying boy, Tye or Tai or what ever his name was.
"What." Gaara said immediately, seeing as the boy was about to say something. He didn't have near enough patience to put up with this loser's speech.
"Gaara-san…I came to tell you news." Tai said, hiding that smile on her face with a very serious frown.
"What." He growled out, dangerously close to throwing him outside the window.
"Sakura-Chan…she has decided to go back to Konoha. Said something about me being able to take over her position…" Tai explained, walking closer to Gaara as she said this.
Gaara raised a non-existent eyebrow and thought over it…that couldn't be true…Sakura wouldn't fail her mission over something as simple as that…
See? She hates you. She doesn't want you. She never wants to talk to you again. His thoughts shouted at him, causing him to flinch slightly.
"Really. Well, you don't need to take care of anything. I will sort this out with the Hokage of Konoha. You are officially relieved of your duty." He commanded Tai, who gasped in shock and glared.
"Wait! It's not for you to decide! The board members," She began to say in a suspiciously high voice that caused Gaara to glare.
"I don't care. Leave now, or I will kill you." He said serious, causing Tai to stumble backward in surprise. She curled her fists together and hid those watery eyes of hers before muttering a small 'fine', and walking out of his office cursing.
Gaara glared, slamming a fist onto his desk, before getting up. Looks like he wasn't going to be sleeping tonight. It didn't matter; he could go weeks without sleep.
Advancing toward his balcony, the boy jumped up and landed on the roof.
That night, as the stars shined, he thought about Sakura, and figured that he almost single-handily ruined it. However, those thoughts of doubt were still in his head.
He sighed, letting himself be drowned in those thoughts.
You're worthless to her...
Gaara groaned, placing his head in his hands,
She hates you...
He tightened his grip on his hair,
You heard that boy…
Releasing one hand, he slammed it against the rooftop,
She is leaving because of you…
Gaara looked back up towards the sky, his face showing emotion for a split of a second.
See how many people you push away…
But as the moment passed, Gaara's face became emotionless once more.
See it Gaara?
Gaara stood up and walked over to the door at the other side of the roof, before walking down the spiral staircase to his room.
He wouldn't let his guards down, no. That was something Gaara couldn't afford to do. Not even for Sakura.
The next morning, Sakura yawned and rubbed at her eyes groggily, before standing and slowly walking over to her bathroom.
Where she rinsed off her face and brushed her teeth before realization hit her. Last day's events poured through her head and she groaned.
But just like that, she sighed and returned to her routine, where she picked up her brush and started to run it through her hair, all the while thinking about how to approach Gaara.
She had an epiphany, or so she'd like to think, last night. Where she promised her self, no matter how much it hurt, she wouldn't let him know it.
She would be strong, continue her job, and ignore that pain in her heart.
With a confident nod, the girl left her room to make way for the office, where the secretary, gave her strange looks, before she stopped her.
"What is it…?" She asked the woman, raising one brow at the lady who sat in a small desk in front of his office.
"Oh…dear, didn't you resign your mission? It's all around the office…that other boy; he told us you had given up your position." The woman explained to her.
"What." She hissed out, her fist tightening…Tai was going down.
"Can you tell me where he is right now?" She asked the woman sweetly, her hands behind her back.
"Yes, actually he was relieved of his duties…I believe that The Kazekage made the decision last night. He should be sorting it out with the board members right now, I would imagine." The woman said with a slight laugh, before returning to her task.
"Thank you." Sakura said to her with a bow before opening the office door anyways and marching in. Her breath stopped short at the sight of Gaara.
Actually, the only thought that came to mind was he and that maid on the desk.
"Good morning Gaara-san." She said politely after gaining her confidence.
Gaara turned to stare at her. She was taking it rather well…
"Morning." He said after a long pause but continued to stare at her.
"I thought you quit." He asked her, eyes not leaving hers for even a moment.
"Oh…well, that was a silly rumor." She responded, making a mental note to kill Tai when she found her.
Gaara nodded and finally looked away, only to take a sip of the coffee on his desk before returning to stare at her.
"What are you staring at?" She asked him, hand reaching up to touch her face.
Do I have something on my face?
Sakura felt around…nothing.
You look beautiful in the mornings.
"Nothing." Gaara said, before looking back down to his paperwork.
He's probably thinking how much prettier that maid was.
Sakura frowned, before sitting down in front of him on the couch.
Why are you frowning...?
Gaara smiled a little, remembering how happy she was before.
Ugh. He probably loves that fact that he can see my anger.
"Is there anything I can do for you?" She asked, trying to be polite.
I miss your smile. Smile for me.
"No. Just keep quiet." He said, waving her off, very good at acting.
He's such a jerk. Why I do miss him? He doesn't care about me.
"All right. What ever you wish." She said with a hint of sadness.
I wish for you to be mine again. Please don't go.
Gaara grunted in response. Why was he having these thoughts?
Forget him. You were just a toy to him. Move on.
Sakura blinked, trying to convey little emotion as possible.
Forget her. She was only being nice. Move on.
Gaara in turn did the same, his eyes on the paper in front of him.
He doesn't like you. He wanted your body. Nothing more.
Sakura stood up, muttered something about coffee, and walked out.
She doesn't like you. She thinks you are a pig. She doesn't care.
Gaara nodded, and watched her leave, letting out that sigh he held in.
He can't tell you're sad.
Sakura got her coffee, and walked back in, her face emotionless.
She isn't sad about this.
Gaara watched as she came and sat back down, sipping her coffee.
You don't love him...
She looked up at him, unable to hide the hurt in her eyes anymore.
You don't love her.
Gaara looked away from her eyes and down to his paper, for once in his life, begging God for courage to speak his mind. But, he couldn't.
A/N: Ta-da! I hope you liked this chapter. I tried to make it a bit sadder then the last. Regarding the thought switches, was that too confusing? I hope not. Anyways, please read and review, cause you know I'd love your thoughts.
P.S- I hope this chapter was longer then the last. I'm trying to add length to each chapter. Besides, this story is far from over.