Sorry about the long wait, School's been such a killer. It's so much trouble, but I'll try my best to get the chapters out. Also suffering from a huge writers block.

Chapter 21: Recovering

Red eyes glared in annoyance through the window at the girl who stared up at the ceiling. Her pink hair was sprayed all over unevenly over the pillow. He detested being used. His companion stared with gleaming eyes at the helpless female.

"You made me overdid that genjutsu." Itachi growled the other just shrugged. "It was unnecessary."

"We now know how far our jinchuuriki will be pushed to save what is most precious to him." Itachi snorted and looked at the body that had once been a guard of Suna.

"I see no logic in your actions." The other snorted and threw back his head and laughed, his face shone in the moonlight. It wasn't every night that he went out without his puppets. He felt naked without them.

"Sacrifices are necessary when testing this particular jinchuuriki."

"Was it necessary to lure her into the desert during the rainstorm? Why is it so necessary to test jinchuuriki's? We render them useless and helpless then steal the demon inside. There's nothing to test."

"Just because you don't test the jinchuuriki your after. Doesn't mean we don't. You and Kisame go in headfirst. I however think things out and over. I will not be made a fool by some low life jinchuuriki posing as KazeKage." Itachi snorted and returned his gaze towards the girl. "I can't just attack the village. The jinchuuriki has an advantage here on his own land. It would have been foolish to do so."

"You worry me sometimes Sasori." The man smirked as his hair blew in the wind.

"It would be a shame for such a beautiful flower to wilt away and die once her jinchuuriki is gone. She would make a great assessment to the team would she not?" Itachi snorted as the two disappeared it wouldn't be long now.

The pink haired girl stared blankly at the wall, ignorant to anything going on around her. It had been like this ever since they brought her in. The sand siblings had hardly left her side. When Temari and Kankuro weren't there Lee was. Kakashi came by daily. Temari was near tears as she clasped her hand over Sakura's still one.

"Please talk to me Sakura." Temari begged as Kankuro turned his head away looking at the doorway where Gaara stood, refusing to come into the room altogether. "It's been three days, Sakura. Please just open up to us. We're your family." Temari whispered squeezing Sakura's limp hand. Sakura had been cleaned and her wounds has been treated the best that they could, that was three days ago. She refused to let Yuri's robes be taken from her. They were still wrapped around her shoulder. It had been three days and Sakura wasn't responding to anything. The festival had been canceled and wouldn't resume until Gaara saw fit. How in the hell did the council expect him to enjoy his honor festival with his lover in a condition like this?

"Did Yuri hurt you?" Kankuro asked as Sakura's eyes remained fixed on the floor, unblinking and unmoving. The puppet master sighed and looked up at the clock.

"She's not going to respond." Temari said rubbing Sakura's hand with her own. "The doctors say she could remain like this…." Temari glanced at Gaara's still form in the hallway. Kankuro looked at him to and sighed.

"It's shock." Kankuro whispered as Temari nodded and glanced up at the clock. Gaara had at least thirty minutes before having to go back to the Kage Tower. "Temari…" Kankuro whispered and nodded his head in Gaara's direction as Temari sighed and stood up.

"Sakura, all you have to do is open up to us. We're not here to hurt you. Gaara's not going to hurt you. You're all he has. Because of you we've become a real family for once. Sakura please don't take that away. Please just trust us. " She squeezed Sakura's hand and let go. Temari and Kankuro slowly left the room standing out in the hall with Gaara.

"I don't want to see her." Gaara voice whispered as Sakura's hand twitched on the bed. "Not like that….. not like this….." His voice dropped and cracked as a sob was heard.

"It's almost like when Sasuke…." Kankuro started as a smack was heard. Temari had slapped him. Sakura slowly turned her head and stared at the three ninja's standing in the hallway. Gaara was clinging to his sister, as she stroked his back, sobs wracking his small frame. Her eyes blinked as she stared at the red head that was sobbing.

"Gaara…" She whispered looking down at the necklace that was on her neck, "family…" but then the sight of the robes caught her eye, as the pain returned to her. "Yuri-sama." She whispered looking outside. The rain had been going non-stop for at least three days. She heard Temari talking about how it should end soon. She didn't care. Yuri was dead and it was all her fault.

"Where is my son!" The voice roared as Sakura's eyes widen. Gaara looked up from her and found one of the elder council members busting through the double doors. Sakura was still being held by Gaara in the hospital when the elder has forced his way into their room. "Where is my son?" He repeated zeroing in on Sakura. He snatched her from Gaara. Throwing the young Kage into the nearest wall. Sakura's body quivered with the anger being directed at her. Mouth set open screaming out at him to release her. Yuri's father snarled and shook her limp body back and forth. "What did you do to my son! Where is he?" Sakura burst into tears sobbing. Clawing at her hair pulling some of it out. Screaming at Yuri's father. She didn't want Yuri to die. She didn't want him to die for her. The man shook her harder as Sakura threw back her head closing her eyes as tears spilled out.

"I'm sorry!" She howled as he shook her harder. "I'm sorry!" Gaara grabbed Yuri's father robes and threw him away from Sakura into a wall. Gaara hovered in front of the man. Eyes glazed with anger, nostrils flared open. Mouth set in a feral snarl. Yellow eyes flashing. "Don't you EVER touch her again!" Yuri's father was crying staring at Sakura who wore his sons' robes.

"WHERE IS HE YOU BITCH!" His voice roared as Sakura covered her ears. It was all her fault. She'd never be able to forgive herself.

A hand was resting on hers. Black-rimmed eyes staring into her blank ones. "Hey." He whispered smiling weakly at her. His cheeks were puffy from all the crying he had been doing over the last three days. Sakura didn't respond. He didn't expect her to, not after all that had happen to her. "Lee will be here when I leave." Gaara whispered as the other hand tucked some of her pink hair behind her ear, resting on her cheek, stroking the warm skin with his fingers. "Cherry Blossom, did Yuri do something to you? Is that why you refuse to get rid of his robes?" Sakura felt a tear run down her face. Gaara saw it, and of course assumed the worst. "Did he…." Gaara didn't want to know, he didn't need to know, and something burned inside him. He had to know. "Did Yuri… Was it like when Sasuke…." Gaara swallowed the lump in his throat and took a shallow breath. " Did he force himself on you like Sasuke did?" It wasn't the reaction he wanted, but at least she had responded in some form. Tears leaked out of her eyes as her lip wobbled. Gaara let go of her hand and placed his fingers underneath her chin, stroking her wobbling lips lightly. "It will be ok, Blossom. All you have to do is trust me. I won't get mad. "

"Trust me. Sakura! You have to trust me!"

"Gaara…" His eyes became alert as his name came from her parted lips. Her hand was squeezing the sheets. All he had ever wanted her to do was respond to something, having her sit there staring at the wall for three days had been such an unimaginable pain for him. He'd get up early, go to work, and stay at the hospital by her side until dawn and go back to being KazeKage. It was weird not having her warm lying by his side in bed. Even if he couldn't sleep, watching her always made it worthwhile. His hand covered her once more as his fingers left her lips. He leaned forward and pressed his forehead softly against hers. Eyes staring into blank ones, which were rapidly filling up with emotions. "Gaara….I…" His hand laced fingers with hers, as she continued to squeeze.

"Everything will be all right. I promise. Nobody can hurt you here, Blossom. I'll keep you safe and warm. I love you so much, please let me help you."

"I love you, Sakura, never forget me."

"I love…." Gaara squeezed her hand gently back encouraging her to continue. Sakura started sobbing. "Yuri." She whispered before Gaara's eyes widen. It didn't dawn on her that Gaara had pieced those three words together as her sentence. She hadn't meant to say his name, but the imagines flying across her mind wouldn't leave her alone. Yuri was dead.

"You love Yuri…" Gaara voice was so low. He was trying to keep his voice steady but it cracked when he said the young man's name. "Is that why you cry?" Gaara pressed anger flooding him. Had she ever loved him? He shook his head of course she did, but then why would she love Yuri? Gaara's head started throbbing as Shukaku's roared in his mind to rip her to pieces for wounding his heart. Gaara snarled and slowly looked back at her. Sakura's chest was rapidly rising up and down. "Because….Yuri….."

"No…" She whispered, closing her eyes and reopening them, fingers playing with Yuri's robes. "My fault…" She managed to get out, as Gaara turned to look back at her.

"Your fault?" Sakura laid down on her pillows staring up and his face. Slowly she reached out and stroked his cheek, marveling at how soft his skin was.

"My fault." She repeated staring up at the ceiling as her hand fell away from his face, and remained motionless on the white sheets of the bed. Gaara placed his head beside hers on the pillow, breathing into her ear. His body pressed against hers, supplying her with warmth.

"Please…" he rasped, his eyes widen, he was so close to finding out. "Let me in, Sakura." She turned her head to look at him, their noses brushed against one another's.

"Yuri's dead." Gaara already knew that, hell the whole village already knew that, why was she telling him such useless information. Then it clicked. Her not wanting to get rid of the robes, her motionless body lying in the bed day after day. Her refusal to respond to anything or anybody. Gaara blinked before he kissed the side of her cheek softly.

"No." Gaara whispered wrapping his arms around her. "Cherry Blossom, no…it wasn't…." He stroked her cheek with large callous fingers.

"My fault." Sakura repeated over eyes remained unblinking falling back into her blank state of mind.

"No." Gaara voice stricken with something Sakura had never heard. "Sakura." His voice laced with fear. His green eyes widening. Nothing that had happened in the desert had been her fault. He couldn't stand for her to blame herself. It reminded him of what he was as a child. He never wanted Sakura to experience that kind of pain. "It wasn't your fault." Sakura's turned back and looked at him, eyes as cold as ice.

"You weren't there!" Her green orbs narrowed at him with such disgust and hatred that Gaara own eyes widen in shock. "YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPEN! BECAUSE YOU WEREN'T THERE!" she was screaming at him as Gaara sat up and looked down at her sobbing with a pained expression on his face. " YOU DIDN'T SEE HIM DIE! YOU DIDN'T HEAR HIM! YOU DIDN'T KNOW HOW MUCH HE LOVED ME!" Gaara eyes dilated as Shukaku roared in anger up inside him. Suddenly Gaara had Sakura's hands pinned above her head, straddling her waist, eyes yellow, and nostrils flared open.

"Why?" Gaara hissed leaning down and biting her neck, enough for her to cry out in pain. He pulled back lips red with her blood. "Why do you continue to hurt me? You know how much I love you! Do you love Yuri more than me! He died because he was weak! You survived because you were stronger than he was!"

"No!" Sakura muttered eyes meeting Gaara's staring through him. "I am weak." She blinked and spat out blood eyes widening. Gaara had struck her. Her chest heaved rapidly up and down as yellow eyes followed her every move. Tears leaked from her eyes, as her cheek stung like crazy. Her cheek was stinging as Gaara bore down on her still.

"NO! My mate is not weak!" Gaara yelled, choking on his own words when he saw blood running from the corner of his mate.

"Yuri is the only reason why I am alive." Sakura hissed staring at the door, at the eyes that were staring at both of them.

"Gaara!" A flash of green pulling Gaara off of Sakura. Her wrists were bruised. Blood running down her chin, lip quivering slightly as Lee held Gaara down on the floor.

"Lee?" Someone shouted as Sakura watched the colors blend together. Before she could hiss out a cry her eyes closed as darkness claimed her.

"Sakura?" The voice seemed so far away, so very far away. "Sakura." Slowly she cracked open one of her eyes, and all that swam in her vision was green. "Sakura!" Her other eye opened as she remained silent while Lee stared down at her. An ice back was being held against the side of her face, and her neck was bandaged. "He didn't mean it." Lee whispered as movement caught Sakura's eyes. Kakashi was standing in the corner arms crossed glaring through the window. Sakura didn't respond. Her brain playing the memories over and over inside her head. Gaara had attacked her? No, not Gaara. She'd provoked him and awaken Shukaku. "Sakura, Gaara didn't mean any of that." Lee pressed stroking her hair while the other hand held the ice to her cheek.

"That is why he is so dangerous." Kakashi muttered as he looked down at Sakura who couldn't meet his gaze. She winced as Lee removed the ice. Her neck hurt so much. How far did Gaara bite down on it?

"He's back at home. Temari and Kankuro strapped him down to his own bed for now. Until he regains control again." Lee muttered as Sakura stared at his headband, not speaking a word. "Sakura. You need to move on." Lee's voice had been soft up until this point, now it had taken a harsh tone. "You're acting when Sasuke left the village." Something flashed across Sakura's eyes. "Grow up." Lee hissed and marched out the door. Kakashi stared in wonderment at the young ninja and then smiled and followed him. Sakura's mind was racing. Grow up? She needed to grow up?

CHA! How dare fuzzy eyebrows tell us that we need to grow up!

He's right. I'm acting like a child, pouting in bed all day. I've seen plenty of people die before why should Yuri be any different?

Because he died saving you.

Gaara's still loves me and all I have been doing is causing him pain. He's got enough on his mind being the KazeKage. All I did was add to his stress until it overworked him and caused Shukaku to emerge.

Slowly Sakura unplugged the monitors from her arms, sending the machines into a frenzy of beeping noised. She slowly sat up and dangled her feet off the edge of the bed. She could hear feet rushing to her room, as the door flew open.

"If she dies the KazeKage will have our heads!" one nurse shouted as the doctor entered the room staring at Sakura.

"Mrs. Hanuro." Sakura blinked and stared at the doctor.

"I want to leave." Sakura said eyes blinked once more taking in all the sights in front of her. Lee stood outside the door grinning ear to ear as Kakashi nudged him. She stood up and went for her clothing. She was sick of being weak, sick of being helpless. She needed to talk to Gaara and tell him what happened. There's no telling how long he'd been suffering because of her stupidity.

"If you were smart you'd spend less time flirting with me and more time training. Your worse than Naruto."

"Your so annoying."

"It hurt back then." Sakura muttered to herself as she closed the bathroom doors ignoring the shocked faces on the doctors and nurses. Her body had healed the second day she was in the hospital. Her mind however had not, and the chances were that it never would, but that didn't mean she couldn't be strong like Gaara and Naruto had been in their childhood. That didn't mean she couldn't be strong like Lee was before he went into surgery. Sakura winced as she put her clothes on. She was still sore but that wouldn't stop her. Lee was right, as much as she hated to admit it. She needed to grow up. She never wanted to go back to being weak like she had been in her childhood. Losing Gaara wasn't worth it. She had gotten over Sasuke and she could get over this. She glanced at herself in the mirror and gasped in shock. Hair matted with sweat on her head, flat and almost a dull pink. Her eyes had huge bags underneath them, she looked like Gaara, and Yuri's robes hung about her figure. Sakura slowly pulled Yuri's cloth back off of her, She didn't need it. It was too painful. She swallowed her tears and opened the door.

"Mrs. Hanuro please…" Sakura held up her hand.

"I am going home." Sakura said and slowly walked out the door. Lee was beaming as Sakura gave him a small smile.

"Where would I be without you Lee?" Sakura asked as Lee blushed and muttered something.

"Still in that bed." Kakashi said smiling down at his student. "Sakura I am proud of you. Gaara means more to you than I could have ever realized." Tears swelled up in Sakura's eyes as she looked up at her old teacher. "I thought Gaara would be just another obsession like Sasuke, but it seems I was wrong about you. You have grown and matured so much Sakura. It makes me so proud. If Gaara is the one you love, then I give you my blessing." Sakura smiled.

"Thank you Kakashi." He nodded.

"Come on." Lee said grabbing her arm. "We've got a broken KazeKage heart to cure." Sakura smiled. Lee grabbed her hand and laced his fingers with hers. Sakura smiled for the first time in days. Lee flashed one of his dazzling smiles.

"YOSH!"

The room was lit with candles as green eyes narrowed at the two ninja hovering over him. Silvia dripped from the side of his mouth as fangs snapped at the outstretched hand. Sand had quickly covered half of the sand user's face. The tail was now growing out. Arms would soon transform after that. He wasn't lost in the rage yet.

"Gaara you have to calm down." Temari yelled holding him down to the bed. "Kankuro!" The puppet master held down the thrashing legs as sand swirled into them knocking both back.

"She lied to me!" The beast roared as the sand formed Shukaku's ear on Gaara's head, one eyes slowly swirling into yellow. "She never loved me!"

"That's not true!" Temari shouted as she rushed and held him down again. The straps could only hold for so long. It had been three hours since Lee had beat Gaara senseless in the hospital room.

"Gaara! Look what you did to her!" Kankuro roared as Gaara stopped thrashing for a second. "You attacked her in the hospital! What was she suppose to do?" Kankuro yelled as Gaara snarled at his older brother.

" She claims that she hurts because Yuri died for her! He told her that he loved her! She cries for him! I'm still alive! I hurt! What about my pain!" He shriek and a sob escaped his parted lips before snarling throwing his siblings back again.

"Please calm down Gaara. She's been through so much."

"Not like I." He had her there. Gaara had suffered far worse than Sakura ever could imagine.

"Please Gaara. This is part of being a good lover, mate, whatever you call yourself to her. " Gaara stopped trashing and the look of malice turned into one of curiosity.

"Good mate?" Kankuro sighed in relief as he adjusted the straps making them tighter.

"Yes, you have to trust her feelings, Gaara. Even if it's over something stupid and trivial. You have to trust that she has a good reason to why she's sad or upset. It's your job as a mate, to be understanding. To comfort her when she's like this, not pin her down to a bed demanding she get over it." Gaara remained motionless on the bed staring up at the ceilings. The sand cracked and started falling away, going back into the gourd that was leaning against the wall.

"I am…. not fit to be her mate." Gaara hissed closing his eyes, jaw clenching painfully. The tail slowly fell away as Temari and Kankuro glanced at each other.

"You're worse than any girl, Gaara, about mood swings." Kankuro joked to break the silence that had spread over them.

"Gaara, you need to give yourself a chance." Temari said sitting down on the bed beside him as Gaara slowly opened his eyes to looked up at her. "You're new to this. You've never known what it is like to be loved. You don't know how to respond to her. It's different now. Yashamaru gone, father's gone. Kankuro, you, and me are a family now."

"You forgot Sakura." Gaara muttered closing his eyes as Temari smiled and ruffled his red hair.

"Yea, Sakura too." Kankuro smiled and sat down beside his sister.

"We'll one big family now Gaara. We've got to adjust and get use to one another. Sure sometimes we fuss and fight, but in the end we'll always be there for one another." Temari smiled and nodded.

"We'll always love you, Gaara." One eyes opened and glanced at them before closing again as his chest heaved uneasily. He wasn't use to this kind of affection.

"Temari?" The blonde's eyes widen at the voice calling out to her. Kankuro's mouth hung open, as Lee stood beside Sakura grinning ear to ear. Gaara's teal eyes swirled with emotions as he stared at his breath-taking mate.

"Cherry…" Gaara swallowed the lump in his throat. "Blossom?" Lee stood beside her supporting her up on his shoulder, arm wrapped tightly around her waist. Sakura was panting; the labor of walking back to the Kage Mansion had almost been too much for her.

"She's exhausted." Kakashi commented lightly as he stood behind the couple watching the face of the young KazeKage. Sakura muttered something into Lee's ear before her legs gave out as Lee struggled to keep her upright. Kakashi took her from the young ninja and cradled her against his body. "She's been through a lot." Pink hair covering up her closed eyes as her chest rose with sharp painful intakes of breath.

"Release me." Gaara hissed at his siblings who were standing shell shock frozen staring at Sakura. Gaara growled in annoyance. "Release me."

"Kakashi?" Sakura muttered slowly opening her eyes looking up at her former teacher eyes glazed over from exhausted. Gaara didn't take notice. Temari and Kankuro started undoing the straps on the bed. "Put me beside him." Kakashi squeezed her body closer to his and let out a heavy sigh.

"Ok." He muttered nuzzling the top of her head with his nose. His precious student. He was placing his precious student in the hands of one of the most dangerous shinobi in the world. He trusted her though. Temari had just finished with the last strap as Kakashi stood on the other side of the bed, and pulled back the top sheet, revealing black silk underneath. He shakily placed Sakura's body gently on the bed and placed the black silk up to her chin and gently kissed her on the forehead. Lee stood with his arms crossed grinning from ear to ear. Gaara had only managed to sit up with he narrowed his eyes at the older ninja.

"Why?" He hissed teal eyes focusing only on Kakashi as the silver haired ninja met the young KazeKage's gaze without hesitation.

"Because she trusts you." Kakashi slowly walked to the door as Lee followed him. The old ninja turned around and looked once more at his student. "If she trusts you then so can I." He walked through the door heading back to the hotel room where they were staying. Lee smirked as Gaara's eyes widen in shock. Lee flashed the Kage a thumbs up, and a glowing smile.

"Take care of her." Then he waved and was out the door along with Kakashi. Temari motioned her head to the door as Kankuro nodded.

"If you need anything from us Gaara…" Temari whispered as Gaara turned his head and looked at the ninja beside him. Kankuro smiled as he gently pushed Temari though and gently closed the door. Her beautiful eyes were slightly open looking up at him.

"I don't deserve you." Gaara hissed as Sakura smiled slightly up at him. She was so tired that she could barley keep her eyes open.

"I don't deserve you either." She muttered as Gaara's chest soon became her pillow. The lights clicked off as Sakura heard the rushing of sand. "I love you." Sakura muttered as Gaara pulled her body closer to his. Her head was resting right besides his. Two glowing orbs were looking straight at her as she leaned forward and pressed her lips softly against his.

"Blossom." He rasped between kissed as he cupped her bruised cheek and gently stroked it with his fingers. Her eyes started closing as sleep finally came easy to her.

"I love you." She told him again wrapping her arms around his neck and nuzzling her face into his neck. "I love you." She closed her eyes and started to drift off to sleep.

"I love you so much that it hurts." He whispered into her ear kissing the spot underneath it. She smiled and cooed gently at him, stroking whatever skin her hands could reach. She'd give him all the reassurances he would ever need.

"I love you." He nuzzled into her as Sakura feel into a deep and calming sleep.

Sorry about the shortness. I thought it was a cute chapter of fluff. Sakura really can get over things fast huh? I figured if Lee made her mad enough she'd realize the error of her ways. Anyway the KazeKage Honor fest is up next. WOOT!

Schools had been a pain.

Mage Chan

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