Arranged

Chapter 13: Annoying

Her eyes began to flutter. Once adjusted, she opened them slowly to reveal the dark hospital room. Shades and shadows of black and blue painted the walls softly. Sakura took one good look around before attempting to sit up. With a few grunts and small stumbles, she succeeded. She relaxed until her hand found something unexpected. Skin. Another hand. She stiffened for a moment but slowly she calmed. Accompanied by another soft grunt she managed to turn in order to face the the keeper of the hand. Gaara's head lulled softly to the side while his body slumped comfortably against the wall. Those impressive green eyes were now hidden behind his signature black lids. The kunoichi couldn't help but notice the small smile that graced her lips. However, it was short lived as the pressing question from earlier that day swept over her.

Where's Naruto-kun?

She found it weird that she refered to him as 'kun', even after all that had happened. But she shook the thought from her head as she told herself that what she had clearly saw was the Kyuubi in control of her dear friend's body. Naruto would have never done something like that. They were like brother and sister. But now he was gone and it was up to her to find him. She slowly sat herself upright and away from the support of the Shikaku holder's warm body. She let her feet touch the cold linolium floor for a few seconds before attempting to stand. As she expected she landed softly right back on to the bed. The cherry blossom cursed under her breath in frustration and tried a second time. Her gelatine legs felt incredibly weak, yet they miraculously held her up. She cautiously began to take baby steps until she reached the door way. As soon as she opened it with a soft click, she froze as the voice from behind her shivered up her back.

"Where do you think you're going Sakura?"

She turned slowly to face Gaara. If he was drowzy, it didn't show. His face displayed that often seen cool and blank expression. His seafoam eyes bore into her with lazy curiosity. She sighed in defeat, "I was thinking, Gaara, about looking for Naruto since you so skillfully avoided my question about him this afternoon."

His eyes narrowed slightly which made Sakura inwardly flinch, but she'd dare not show it on the outside. "Why do you want to know?"

She could feel herself becoming annoyed and snorted in quite an unlady-like manner "Is that a trick question?" the kunoichi stared at him intently "My friend attacked me, nearly raped me, and is God-knows where. And you have the gal to ask me why I want to know?!" She could feel herself loosing it but struggled to keep her temper in check. There was silence for a moment before Gaara broke it. "There's no need to look for him in your condition. This isn't the time to..."

She lost it.

"This is the perfect time damn it! And what of my condition? I'm standing, aren't I? I'm perfectly fine." They both knew she was lying through her teeth. She was visibley shaking and her legs looked like they would fold under her at any given moment. She wasn't fine but she refused to let him win. Naruto's where abouts were much more pressing to her than her own health right now. The Kazekage slowly stood and walked towards her. Sakura half expected him to throw her over his shoulder, when he offered her his arm instead. She looked at the offering and then into his eyes. He still showed no emotion what so ever. To this she furrowed her brows and shook her head.

He narrowed his own eyes "Why won't you take my arm?"

"I don't need to be escorted back to bed. I want to see Naruto now."

He closed his eyes in annoyance and dropped the offered arm to his side. "I'm not offering to escort you back to bed."

The pink-haired nin cocked a curious eyebrow "Then where?"

Gaara motioned towards the door which Sakura was currently blocking "We have to get your clothing from the main desk before you can go see Naruto-san."

Her eyes brightened and she smiled softly "Really?" He nodded and she looked down with the light expression still plastered on her face "Arigatou Gaara." She looked up to once again see his arm offered and just as she was about to take it she stopped and softly shook her head. He sighed "What's wrong now?" She turned and walked out the door. Sakura stopped after a few steps with her back still turned towards him "I think I can manage on my own." She looked over her shoulder and smiled "Well, are you coming?" The corner of his mouth quirked up slightly and he nodded.

Two elevator trips later, they arrived at the main desk. The nurse bowed respectfully towards Gaara and gladly handed Sakura the card board box that contained an outfit that she recognized from the shopping spree in Konoha. She looked at it and looked up towards Gaara. "Who got this out for me?"

"Hyuuga-san and Yamanaka-san."

She sighed in relief "Oh ok."

He looked at her "Why? Would it have mattered?"

She shrugged and blushed softly "Well...it would have been kind of embarrasing if you had gone through my things."

"Why?"

She blushed even more "Well, my panties and things were in there."

"So?"

The nin shook her head and looked up at him with a nervous grin "C-could we not talk about this here? If I blush anymore, I'm gonna collapse."

He thought about it for a second then nodded his head. She gratefully nodded in return and turned back to the nurse "Where can I change?"

"Well, there's an empty room right there. Ano...you have to have someone go in with you." Sakura's face went pale as the woman looked up at the rust-haired nin. She chuckled softly "Ma, ma! Y-you can go in with me instead of him right?" Much to Sakura's horror the woman shook her head "Gomen, but hospital rules dictate that it would be inappropriate for staff to accompany that person unless they were acquanted, disabled or under arrest." Before Sakura could stammer out a rebutle, she found herself being dragged into the empty room. Gaara closed the door softly and looked towards her. If she wasn't already dizzy, this would have doubled it.

"Umm..."

"I won't look if you don't want me to" He turned around swiftly "Just tell me if you need help."

She smiled "Arigatou Gaara-sa..." she paused "Gaara."

"Hn."

She slowly began to reach behind her back for the ties to the hospital gown until she gasped in pain and fell to the floor. The doctor had done a bang up job of operating and healing her with chakra but it was utterly apparent that long-reaching was out of the question for now. She hadn't even noticed that Gaara had laid her on to the hospital bed. She looked up at him and couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated as he loomed over her. She banged her head back out of frustration and grunted. It was totally humiliating! Not only could she barely walk, she couldn't even reach behind her freaking back.

"Sakura" he said, while unconciously interrupting her thoughts. Her gaze followed him as he sat at the foot of the bed. "Let me help you."

She looked away.

"You want to see Naruto don't you?"

She looked down at him for a moment but ended up nodding. He moved to sit at her side and began to wrap his arms around her back to pull her forward. She pressed her hands against his chest as she leaned against him. She shivered slightly as he asked her if she was ok. The leaf nin nodded softly and tried her best to hide the cherry color crawling to her cheeks. Sakura's breath came in shaking gasps as she felt his hands cup her back. Air caught in her throat as she felt him pull the two strings which released the gown from her form. The short sleeves loosely slumped down her shoulders. Sakura could feel Gaara pause and look away. Was it out of modesty? She didn't know but she hadn't expected to be naked in front of this man at least until their wedding night. The kunoichi shifted slightly, which seemed to bring Gaara back to Earth.

"Umm, you n-need to slip it off over my legs..."

He paused.

"Gaara?"

"Hn."

He slowly began to pull away the plastic-like gown. As soon as it was discarded, Sakura attempted to hide her upper assets with her arm while the other hand was gentlely placed over her nether regions. They stayed silent and avoided each other's glance until she couldn't take it anymore.

"C-could you pass me my underwear?"

"Hn." The kunoichi became curious when he didn't pass them right away. She turned slightly and soon wished she hadn't. There sat Sabaku no Gaara holding up a piece of very provocative underwear. Sakura's face blushed furiously as she snatched the thong away. She hastely bent low and slipped them on while ignoring the throbbing pain in her shoulder. Fucking Ino! I'm so going to KILL her later. After slipping on the cloth, she turned to find Gaara already holding out her bra. She took it. As she slipped the straps over her shoulders and gentlely adjusted her breasts into the cups, the kunoichi paused. As if he noticed, the Shikaku holder soon asked "What's wrong?" He turned to see that she had shifted so that her back was facing him.

"Could you...close the clasps in the back?"

He nodded and did as requested. "Done."

She nodded and took the pair of bicycling shorts he offered her "Arigatou."

"You have nice skin..."

The sudden comment was almost enough to make Sakura lose her balance. But she collected herself and cleared her throat "Um...thanks."

"Was this a wrong time to mention it?"

"Kind of." she confessed as she slid the the pants up her legs.

"Hn."

"Is there anything else in the box?"

He handed her the remaining red tank top and short white skirt. Releaved that there wasn't anymore embarrasing apparel, Sakura finished by untucking her hair from her shirt and turning towards Gaara. She smiled sweetly at him with remains of a small blush still lighting up her face. He looked at her a bit too hard which made her shift. He shook his head softly and stood. "We should be off."

"H-hai."

He offered her a hand which she once again refused. But much to her surprise he took hers anyways once she was standing. She looked at him. "I told you I don't need assistance."

He returned her stare "I'm not trying to assist you."

"Then why?"

"Like I said before" he ran his thumb over her knuckles "You have nice skin."

She blushed once again before giggling softly. "You have nice eyes." He seemed amused by the comment "What's so special about my eyes?"

She smirked "Well for one, they're an odd color; seafoam green."

"So? Yours sparkle like emeralds."

Sakura blushed prefusely at the compliment. She never expected him to be so sweet, so caring, so...

"You're a bit annoying though."

Silence.

"C-come again?"

He looked at her "You refused my help and made this last longer than it had to. Your pride got in the way of practicality."

She could feel the vein pop in her head "I was trying to show that I'm able to be strong and stand on my own two feet."

He nodded "I understand that. However, there's a big difference between strength and acting so egotistical that you think you don't need anyones help."

She yanked her hand out of his as she fumed.

"How dare you?! I'm certainly not proud or egotistical. And you most definitely don't know me too well or at least not well enough to make comments such as that. I hope for both our sakes that changes in the future!" She slammed the door open and turned towards him "Where the hell is Naruto?"

He blinked at her "The Kazekage's Tower."

She huffed and stormed out of the hospital with the sand demon following close behind her.