Blossom in the Wind

Chapter 9: Friendly Interlude…

Hey! I have totally lost it… Nah. Just kidding. So, in this chapter, so you guys won't get confused, it skips about a weeks of Sakura being part of the gang and she's still a nurse at the hospital and there's a reason for that too. Gaara is a less of a downer and he's been more intimate with the gang, doing his share of scouts, unless of course, Sakura is there. Their relationship has increased with the more they are with each other and they feel like nothing can tear them apart. Well, there's your recap and one more thing, DON'T YEL AT ME! My friends were yelling at me to get to the scene and I told them, not yet but they didn't listen to me and just kept forcing me to do this scene. Sorry. But I hope you guys like this chapter. Alright then. Get're Done!

Two weeks later…..

Gaara leaned against the counter in the kitchen, reading, as usual, paying no attention to everyone scattering all over the kitchen and dining room, trying to get breakfast ready. He would never understand the meaning of 'rushing breakfast'. Even if they hit him in the head with that kind of idea.

He knew that Sakura hadn't come down yet, and to be honest, he didn't blame her. After she told him that Ino threatened her, he told her to come down to breakfast around nine, knowing that was when everyone had gone off to take care of things. He wished that he could tell her that it didn't mean anything, but when Ino threatens someone, she means it. He and Shikamaru know all too well.

Shikamaru dated her for 2 years and then broke up with her because he met Temari. He remember him saying that she made him feel happy, unlike with Ino, he felt like crap all the time. Gaara knew that if he could find any way to get Ino to back off Sakura, he would. But, Ino was just so damn determined to prove whatever point she had to prove.

Gaara sighed as he just continued to lean against the counter, just waiting. He knew that if he even tried to eat with them, they would ask never ending questions about him and Sakura, which was one thing he didn't want. More attention.

As he quietly listened into their conversations, he noticed something jet out of the main hall and made their way for front door. Without thinking, Gaara just left his book and quickly headed to the front door. When he finally got outside, he saw Sakura fixing her shoes, obviously fixing to start to walk to work. He smiled. She always wanted to make thing easier on them.

"Sakura." He called out to her. She seemed to have froze for only a minute, before turning to smile at him.

"Gaara, what are you doing? You'll miss breakfast." She said, still trying to fix her shoes. Gaara just sighed and walked over to her. At first, he leaned into her face so closely, their noses were touching, but he just smirked and kneeled down to her feet and fixed her shoes.

When he was finished, he rose back up and took her hand. "Come on. I'll take you to work." He said gently, kissing her forehead. As he opened the garage, he could hear Sakura breathing start to grow heavy.

"Are you alright? You can call in if you want?" He asked, turning back to her again. He seemed to still feel bad even when she shook her head.

"No, Gaara. I've called in so many times already. I have to go. Even if I'm not feeling good." She said, sighing, trying to recompose herself. He just smiled.

"You try too hard." He said as he kissed her forehead. He moved away to push the motorcycle out and held his hand for her.

She smiled as she accepted it and he helped her on. When she was in a comfortable position, she nodded her head. Gaara quickly threw his leg over the bike and started it up. "Hold on." He said, feeling her arms tighten around his form. He smiled as he felt the bike pull forward and out of the driveway.

As they pulled up to the hospital, Gaara could feel that someone was watching him and he didn't like it. As he help Sakura off, he could see one of her friends coming up to her, Matsuri, and he could see another young man walk up them. For some reason, he didn't like this man. Whoever he was, he had these eyes that Gaara knew all too well. But, seemed to have seen how Gaara was glaring at him and turned the other way and walked away.

Something is not right here. Gaara thought. He took hold of Sakura's hand and pulled her aside. "I'm sorry, Matsuri. I need to borrow Sakura for a minute." He said, seeing a confused look on her face, but then it changed to a smirk, knowing all too well what he wanted. Gaara rolled his eyes and pulled Sakura gently back to his motorcycle.

"Gaara, what is it?" He heard her ask. Without hesitation, he pulled her into a sweet embrace and kissed her, his hand gripping the back of her neck to pull her closer. He heard her moan softly, her hand threading through his hair.

As he slowly pulled away, he pecked her lips quickly, then looked into her eyes. He could her face reddened with embarrassment, her eyes shining like the stars. God, did he love those eyes. He pushed back a strand of hair, as she sighed. "What was that for?" He heard her ask as he caressed her cheek.

He just smiled and kissed her forehead. "I didn't get to kiss you this morning. I thought it was very unfair." He said as he pulled her into another embrace, knowing very well that someone was now watching them, Matsuri, to be exact.

"Enough with the lovey dovey crap. Come on, Sakura. We got work to do and it's piling up by the minute. You can make out with him later." She screamed, ruining a perfect goodbye moment for them. Gaara growled inwardly. He hated when he couldn't have one romantic moment with Sakura. Just like last week.

Flashback time…

Gaara leaned against the wall, staring at Sakura as she healed Kiba. This was the third time this week that he was injured. Gaara sighed. He was doing this on purpose. He just knew it.

Sakura sighed as she patched up the last of the wound. "There. You should be fine now, but don't push yourselves. I don't want to be in here again tonight. I got too many files to do." She said as Kiba just chuckled and jumped off the table.

"Yeah, yeah. I know. I better go then. Shino needs me to scout the parks again. See ya!" And with that, he was gone. Gaara closed the door as Sakura sat on her bed. Her bedroom was very modern, just like her old hotel room, but this time she had more pictures.

Pictures of her and the gang, many of them with Temari and TenTen. But there was more pictures of Her and him together than the others. There was one that was taken when they were reading in the park, her leaning against his side, listening intently as he read to her one of Charles Dickens poems.

There was another one where he was looking at her med kit and she was laughing when he was actually picking something else.

But his favorite was when Temari wanted a romantic photo and Sakura was merely wrapping her arms around his neck and looking at Gaara with love in her eyes. And right before Temari took the picture, he leaned forward and kissed her gently. Sure, she seen in coming, but she was surprised that he did it in the first place.

He smiled as he picked up the picture framed and stared lovingly into the picture. He sighed as he, for the first time, felt content and happy. His smile grew even more when he felt her grab his hand and pulled him toward her.

"Now, why are you smiling so much?" He heard her ask as their faces inched closer and closer. He chuckled slightly before capturing her lips in a gentle passionate kiss. He wrapped his arm around her slim waist and dipped his head more, to deepen the kiss. He could hear her moan as he glided his tongue against her bottom lip. He was overjoyed to find her mouth open for him. He tasted her in every way he could, his tongue brushing against hers. He could feel her small hands thread through his red hair, puling at it and pulling him closer.

He groaned as he suddenly felt her tongue trying fight his. He chuckled in the back of his throat. She's got quite a backbone. He thought as his hand slid from her cheek to the back of her neck. They continued this battle until the need for air was too dire and Gaara pulled away, but only to attack her slender neck. He slowly pushed her up against the wall to steady her as he continued to lick and nibble on her neck.

He could hear Sakura breathing in short breaths, trying not to lose control, it seemed. He smiled as he took his attention to the other side of her neck. He continued to suck and lick down from her cheek to her collarbone, feeling the greatest sensation fill him. He could sense Sakura becoming brave as her hands slid down from his hair to his shirt, lifting up the seam, tugging at it, trying to pull it over his head. Gaara pulled away from her throat to tug off the shirt and let her fingers explore his now exposed chest. He groaned as she pressed her fingers against his stomach and as she kiss his chest.

Gaara lifted her face to his and brought his lips to his, this time he let her explore his mouth as she let his hands explore her stomach. Gaara moaned as she roughly brushed her tongue against his. He slowly moved one of his hand s down to her leg and pulled it up against his hip, allowing to push himself closer. He heard her gasp in his mouth, noticing that she could feel his arousal. He smiled as she pulled away for air and then kissed him again.

He slowly stroked her tongue, wanting to be in control again. He was now feeling the last of his control fall as she pulled at him more. He could feel his last restraints of his complete will and control let go.

As he slowly reached for her shirt, feeling her hand guide his, a knock came her door. At first, they just ignored it as Gaara continued to kiss her and slowly inched her shirt over her stomach, but when it came again. Gaara growled as he felt himself. He felt his temper drop as he heard the voice behind the door. "Gaara, come on. We need to get going." Naruto said. How did he know that he was in her room? He must have seen him carry Kiba up the stairs to her room.

He sighed as he pushed himself gently off of Sakura and grabbed his shirt. As he tugged it back on, he turned to see Sakura's saddened face. He walked over to her and kissed her.

"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done I did. I guess you weren't ready. I'll see you later tonight?" He asked, but she shook her head and pulled him into another kiss.

"It's not that, it's just that. I want to. I do, but with everything going on, I don't want to do it and then the next day lose you. I…. I love you too much." She said. She loved him? He smiled as he kissed her again.

"I completely agree. I love you too much to let anything happen to you." He kissed her forehead and brushed away a small strand of hair from her face. "When this whole business blows over and you feel ready, then we will. It's ok. I can wait. Besides, it'll be that much special to wait that precious moment, won't it?" He asked her as she smiled at him and kissed his hand.

He smiled as he caressed her cheek and smoothed away her tears. He took hold of her hand and pulled her to the door. He took one last look at her, making sure she was decent enough, she gave him an assuring smile as he reached for the door and slowly opened the door.

"What is it, Naruto?" Gaara asked pensively calm. He was surprised himself at how fast he was able to calm himself from such a pleasurable moment. He watched as Naruto gave him an evil grin and just snickered to himself. Gaara glared at him.

"Naruto, if we're going to scout tonight, then I'm taking Sakura with me. She needs some fresh air anyway.. So, when you're done being a kid and will grow up and at least kiss Hinata, we'll be in the scouting party on the west side." Gaara said as he could feel Naruto now glaring at him as they hurried down the stairs and out the door..

End of Flashback time…

Not that he didn't mind that Sakura wanted to wait and that he actually felt good to let go and just try and love her, he just wished people would stop interrupting them every time they tried to do something.

He looked down at Sakura and smiled. "I'll pick you up at three, ok?" He asked, seeing her blush and nod her head.

"Sure. Come and see me for lunch?" She asked, still wanting to know if he was still irritated from last night.

Gaara nodded his head and leaned his forehead against hers, feeling her shiver against his hold. "Whatever you want." He said, releasing her finally and watched her run over to Matsuri.

Gaara slowly threw his leg over the bike and turned the engine over, hearing it roar to life. As he was about to pull away, he could see something black from the corner of his eye. He turned his head quickly, reading his sand around him. His eyes scanned over the hospital building, convinced that there was something or someone there. When he found that there was no sign of it, physical wise and chakra wise, he sighed and pulled away, heading back to the hideout.

As Gaara pulled up to the driveway, he could sense something was up. As he flipped the kickstand down and pulled himself off again, he noticed Temari walking out the door, with keys in her hand. "Gaara, I'm going up to the store, you need anything?" Temari asked him

Gaara thought for a moment. From what he could think of, all he needed was some shampoo and soap. Other than that, he was fine. "I need shampoo and some soap." He said, seeing her grin and continued her way to her car.

"Oh, I almost forgot. Naruto and Kakashi are inside waiting to talk to you. They need to talk to you about something." She said, closing the car door and driving off. Gaara sighed as he made his way to the front door and slowly opened the door. Gaara immediately saw Shikamaru standing, more like leaning, against the stair post.

"There you are. Come on. Kakashi's got some news on the Akatsuki. We better hurry. They might start without us." He said as he began to climb up the stairs, with Gaara following behind him closely. Gaara felt like this meeting had something to do with what happened this morning on the news.

Flashback to early this morning…..

Gaara glared at the TV, knowing everyone else was. There was a woman reporting on another huge murder case breaking out.

"We have come by a small note," One of the cops commented. "It's meaning is unknown to us, but all it says is, 'We are not afraid of you. You who protect something that will be ours soon enough. It's just a matter of time. We'll be waiting.' whoever sent this and did this, was only aiming for someone and I have a hunch that it's the group behind the robberies that keep happening all around Konoha. We will do everything in our power to stop these murders and bring then to justice." The cop saying pushing away the cameras and clearing a path for someone in the distance. Someone with blonde hair and what looked like a small purple bindi on.

Before anyone could say a thing, Naruto smashed the TV screen, his red eyes showing through. His hair was beginning to stand up more and the whiskers on his face began to become thicker as his teeth sharpened into fangs.

"Naruto, calm down. Please." Hinata said, running to her lovers side, making him face her. He slowly began to turn back to normal, feeling ashamed that he allowed the Akatsuki to get to him like it did.

"I'm sorry," He began. "I shouldn't of lost control like I did." He sighed, feeling himself to become depressed and harbored, until he felt a hand on his shoulders.

Gaara looked at him with pure confidence. "For what it's worth, I wish that was the Akatsuki instead of the TV. But, now we have another problem." Gaara said, seeing Kakashi nodded his head.

"Gaara is right. Now, the Akatsuki has dragged in Tsunade, it will be even more difficult to track them down and get them out of town. Which means, we can't just flaunter our chakra around town anymore. The slightest sense of chakra pulse will set them off and chase after it." Kakashi said, putting his book aside. Shino sighed, as did Temari.

Gaara released Naruto and looked over at Kakashi. "Then could you do me a favor?" Gaara asked, seeing Kakashi nod.

"Can you go ad see if you can try and persuade Tsunade from looking into this matter. Tell her that the government is already looking into it. The last thing we need is to have one of the great Sanin poking around the Akatsuki, knowing that she might get injured badly." Gaara said, having everyone giving him a shocked look.

"Why would you want that Gaara? She could probably help with this problem." Temari pointed out. True. Her being the other Sanin, she could probably handle herself, but there was a problem.

"Because, Lady Tsunade is Sakura's aunt. Her only family member she has left. You may not understand why I ask but, whatever family Sakura has, is now my family as well. She is part of our family now and whatever family she has, is our family now. Right, Naruto?" Gaara asked, turning toward Naruto, who was smiling and nodding confidently.

"Gaara's right. Tsunade is part of our family now, she just doesn't know it yet. Kakashi, please go ask her to try and reconsider being involved and report back." Naruto said, seeing Kakashi give him a small salute and poof into smoke.

End of Flashback….

As Gaara took his seat in the library, he noticed that there was someone missing. A certain green spandex wearing gentleman with a bowl cut shape haircut. Gaara just sighed and turned his focus back to Kakashi, who was once again, buried in his book as always.

Naruto coughed, gaining everyone's attention, and pulling Kakashi's attention. Shikamaru sighed as he sat down in one of the other chairs, giving no certain type acknowledgement what so ever.

"Ok, we've received word from the police from Kakashi. Ant, Tsunade says that she refuses to back away from this case. Even if the government is involved. So, now we have to deal with Akatsuki and Tsunade. And that's not all." Naruto said, looking over at Kakashi, who was now pulling out the small note that he swiped from the police.

"Looks like we are being called out by other gangs, including the Akatsuki, we have the gang from the northern border, the Earth gangs and the southern borders, the Water gangs who seem to know who we are now. Not to mention that Neji goes on trial in three days and will probably be executed." Kakashi said, looking over at Naruto.

"Well, what are we waiting for? We got to get him out of there before he gets killed!" Kiba said looking at everyone else.

"It's not that simple. To get him out, we'll have to take the computer monitors and the cameras and somehow take out the guards that are guarding him 24/7 and we also need the key to unlock his cell door. Which Tsunade has with her at all times. There is no way we can get it off of her." Kakashi explained. Naruto looked down at the ground, he knew only one person could get in and get the key. One person that was close enough to even get near Tsunade. Naruto looked over and Gaara and by some chance, Gaara understood. But he shook his head.

"No. I refuse to make her do anything that has to do with dealing with her family just so we can get one of our own out." Gaara said, rising to his feet.

"Gaara, think about it. She's the only one who is in any relation close to Tsunade and she is the only one that can get to that key. Sakura is the only one." Naruto explained.

Gaara sighed, but he knew that there was no other way. If there was a chance for Neji, then he'll do whatever he can to help. "Alright, but on one condition." Gaara said, looking at everyone.

Naruto nodded his head. "Of course. What?" He asked.

Gaara pulled his sand gourd around his body and on to his back. "I go with her."

Tada. This is really long, but here you go. Hoped you enjoyed it.