I'm going to apologies for the last part...writing those scenes not my strong point!

Tsunade's belongings had been moved from this tent into storage. When Sakura and Ino entered the majority of the space was taken up by a large sand table.

"How on earth did you do that Tsunade-sama?!" Ino asked taking a closer look.

Every tree, every tent was defined in perfect detail, when Ino tried to knock over a tree it refused to budge.

"Courtesy of our favorite sand-man" She replied eyeing Sakura

She had known he'd done it as soon as she walked in; his chakra was sealed into the sand, how badly she wanted to just touch it. Mentally Sakura snorted at herself, stop being so stupid

"if you two can stand over there, Ino you'll be on main medical duty tomorrow, so you'll have to pay attention to where more casualties are likely to be coming from, Sakura...well you know what you do best" Tsunade said quietly

There was a polite rap on the tent post from outside

"Enter!" Tsunade yelled

Shikamaru and Kakashi entered with another man. He wore the uniform of a general in Suna's ANBU his face however was marred by two large scars, one down the left and one across the forehead. His eyes both worked however, and were grim and determined.

"Good afternoon, I am General Drega" He said bowing to all present

"Good afternoon General..." Tsunade rose "This is my strategist Nara, and Sergeant Kakashi, these are my apprentices and two of our head medics"

"A pleasure, the others are just tethering their horses and changing"

"Horses?" Ino asked politely

"Hai, we rode here to look more like civilians, hence the clothing change"

Tsunade nodded "May we offer you refreshment?"

General Drega shook his head, and to everyone's surprise he grinned "I am defiantly looking forward to the karaoke competition this evening though"

Kakashi coughed "You sing Dregna-san?"

"Hai...when I was younger..."

"I apologies for my lateness" Came a calm deep voice. Sakura felt her heart beat increase when he walked in the room. Gaara looked thinner and soul tired. His Kazekage robes were clean and made his semi-grimy hair stand out more. " Ohio Hokage-sama" he greeted bowing, however when he straightened he saw Sakura.

She's here!

I told you she would be!

She looks thinner...tired...

She has many new scars around her arms...

Gaara did indeed notice that Sakura's arms seemed a bit slashed up and made a mental note to ask her about it. Meanwhile they were happy to lock eyes and soak in the sight of one another. Sakura blushed faintly when she realised that everyone was staring at them " Ohio, Kazekage-sama" she said politely the corner of her mouth rising into a smile

" Ohio Sakura-chan" Gaara responded moving to sit opposite Tsunade. Dregna mouthed 'Chan?' to Kankuro who was leaning against a tent pole. He replied with a wink.

"Ru-chan" Sakura said with a warm smile

" Ohio Sakura-sama" Kankuro replied his eyes caught Ino and he winked at her " Ohio Ino-chan"

" Ohio..." Ino said blushing

"When you two are done flirting with my apprentices..."Tsunade said with a meaningful cough "We must begin"

The meeting took 3 hours, with Gaara's unique ability the figures on the sand table moved and scenarios were played out, strategies were suggested and abolished.

"So it is agreed, Iela and most of your medical staff will be based here" Tsunade indicated an outcrop "Where it is easy to defend and far enough back to act as the field hospital - Ino, you will be..."

"With you at all times ready to be sent to an area of heavy casualties or to help Ibiki-san with his ...investigations" Ino said dutifully, but Sakura didn't miss the small shudder she gave, and judging by his concerned look neither did Kankuro

"Gaara you will be hitting that western flank with your daemon friend, unfortunately you won't have Naruto as backup because we're using him to test a surprise for our friends..."

Gaara grinned "I like surprises"

"The rest of the ninjas I want to concentrate on the east..."

"Wait" Dregna said "What about the south? They have about a thousand men there"

"Sakura"

Dregna looked confused "I don't understand"

"I will be taking them Dregna-sama" Sakura said quietly

"I mean no offence...but its suicide to take on that many at once..."

"She has taken more Dregna-sama, please trust my faith in her" Tsunade said "And I believe that is us done?"

There was a chorus of "Hai" Except from Gaara who stared thoughtfully at Sakura

"Everyone is dismissed, could I have a word Gaara please?"

"Hai" he replied casually damn you hag he thought as Sakura exited along with everyone else.

Outside Ino immediately hugged Kankuro who looked both surprised and incredibly pleased. "Ru-chan" she said softly

"Hey Ino…." He replied lifting her and spinning the petite blond around

Shikamaru coughed meaningfully heading into his big brother mode.

Ino sent Shikamaru a glare, and Sakura a look before saying "Ano…Kankuro, will you walk with me?"

He smiled his Cheshire cat grin "Of course"

Sakura rolled her eyes well no karaoke tonight then, sleep…. She waved to everyone as she made her way over to her tent.

Fool! What if Gaara wanted to see you?

He'll come find me, don't worry

Nani?

I'm not the same girl who used to chase a guy, I need my rest.

Hai hai

Sakura undid her tent flap and collapsed onto her bed. She let out a tiny squeal of joy he came!

Her inner self laughed at her.

"How is Suna holding up? Do you need any supplies?" Tsunade asked placing a wooden board across the sand table

"We have much food stored and our water supplies are well guarded"

"Medicine etc?"

"Thanks to you we have enough medics and medical supplies"

Tsunade chuckled "Nothing like a war to speed up training"

"Tsunade…." Gaara began uncomfortably "I wish to know something"

"Hai?" she replied sitting down "What is it?"

"Why are you sending Sakura out? She's a good ninja….but against those odds?"

The woman smiled kindly "Sakura is an exceptional ninja; tomorrow you will see why……I've kept you a while now"

Gaara shrugged, he wanted to go see Sakura but he knew that these meetings were important if not for my people then for the future

"She's in the last tent on row 2, I think she missed you" Tsunade said dismissing him with a wave

Gaara smiled as his sand enveloped him.

-Knock knock-

Sakura dragged herself upright "Come in"

A tall figure entered the dimly lit tent. As he walked forward Sakura recognized the shape, the red hair and the piercing green/blue eyes.

Gaara was almost bowled over when Sakura flung herself at him.

"Kami I missed you" she whispered as she held him tightly

Gaara wrapped his arms around her breathing in the scents that made her up, things that were Sakura. She leant back to look him over "You need a bath coon-kun"

He laughed "Is that an offer?"

Sakura's eyes widened slightly in shock "Coon…..did you just flirt with me?"

Gaara grinned and his sand began to crawl up their torsos, "Yes"

The mixed baths were deserted due to the karaoke competition and Gaara and Sakura were the only occupants.

Both stripped down to their underwear, but it was Sakura who entered the water first.

"Gaara?" she asked seeing him reluctantly eyeing the place

"I…..can't swim…."

Sakura smiled kindly "That's ok….see?" She stood showing that the water only came to her collarbone "You're much taller than me…."

Nice view….He thought seeing the water shining on Sakura's skin. Gaara's image seemed to blur for a moment and then he climbed in.

Sakura blinked "What was that?"

A hand snaked around her waist "That, was my sand armor taking a break" Sakura shivered from the sensation of his hand on her stomach and she sighed in contentment as she was pulled against a very warm chest.

Grinning evilly she turned in his arms and smiled up at him. "Gaara…."

"Hai…?" he asked wondering why she looked so perfectly evil at that moment

"Dunk time!" Sakura yelled hooking his leg with hers and tripping him in the water. He came up moment's later coughing and spluttering water streaming from his hair and torso. "Sakura…" he growled but the pink haired woman was at the other end of the pool.

They spent a few minutes chasing each other until Gaara gave up and pulled the puppy eyes at her.

"I'm sorry…." She said approaching, Gaara smiled and drew her to him.

"It was fun" he replied he seemed to pause before leaning down and capturing her lips.

Sakura almost gasped from the electricity from that kiss, she felt it all the way down to her stomach, her arms around Gaara's neck she almost moaned when he broke it.

"Shall I help you with your hair?" she asked after a few minutes of silence had passed Gaara looked slightly embarrassed. Deciding to give him a minute she went and got some shampoo from the holders nearby. "If you behave" She said as she returned to the warm water "I'll give you a massage…"

Gaara grinned "Now who's flirting…" He pulled her towards him "And if I don't 'behave'?"

"Then I shant talk to you Kazekage-sama" Sakura said with a wink "Care to sit down o' tall one?"

There were seats around the pool; built into the walls they made it easy for another to wash someone's hair. Sakura began to gently massage the shampoo into Gaara's practically filthy locks "Geeze….you've got more blood in here then hair" she muttered

Gaara heard her and sighed "I've become more of a daemon then my people ever dreamed"

"Gaara…" Sakura wrapped her arms around him leaning her head on his back "Shukaku is a daemon….no offense….but you…you are human"

"We are the same, no offense is taken"

Sakura kissed his cheek "You and Shuku-chan are in the same body, and I love you both – though obviously not in the same way" she said running her nose up his neck.

Gaara shivered at the tactile contact I'm not surprised you've had so little these past years Just those damn letters….I feel loved though Shukaku said with a wink Shuku-chan…..hehe

I feel safe

"Ok, now close your eyes" Gaara just managed to close his eyes as warm water was poured over his head rinsing away the shampoo and grime.

"There! Your hairs back to its redness" Sakura said proudly wiping wet bangs from his eyes

"Are you washing yours?" he asked eyeing her pink locks which were still held up in a bun.

"No" She said climbing out of the water "I just wanted to wash some of the grime off myself…..and see you soaking wet naturally"

"You're evil" Gaara replied slowly leaving the warmth, his sand automatically came over to him drying out his body.

"What on earth is it doing?" Sakura asked paused from handing him a towel

"Let me show you" oh this is going to be good

Isn't it me who's supposed to be the pervert here?

Kekeke

Gaara's sand suddenly enveloped Sakura soaking up the water from her dripping body and clothes. The red-head was hit by the sensation of the sand touching her flesh and clinging to her body. Suddenly feeling guilty Gaara pulled his sand away I don't see her for three years and the first thing I do is feel her up?

"Thanks Gaara" Sakura spoke pulling on a clean robe that was hung on the wall "Want me to show you your tent? Everyone here shares with another person…"

There was currently a note in Sakura's voice which clearly indicated she wished this wasn't so.

"Sure it'll be good to know where it is" Gaara replied as he pulled on his gourd. He couldn't resist slipping his arm around her waist as she walked past and keeping it there the whole journey. His tent was plain just like all the others but Sakura recognized one of Kankuro's puppets outside.

"Wait here a moment" Gaara said ducking inside, almost immediately he slowly backed out and closed the flap "Ah"

"Ah?" Sakura asked

"May I stay in your tent tonight" he asked sheepishly

"I can't…Ino…." Sakura replied unhappily

"I don't think Ino will be a problem" Gaara said

"Oh…..she's in there?" Sakura said, at Gaara's nod she grinned "With Kankuro?" Gaara nodded again looking to the Sky

"They're just sleeping, but Kankuro has stolen my bed…"

"He must have assumed you be sleeping with me" Sakura said I can't believe you just said that argh! Sakura turned a light pink

Holding onto his arm Sakura guided them the relatively short distance back to her tent, once inside she turned up the lamp and almost wished she hadn't.

Ino's side of the tent was fairly clean with just some laundry, but her side was very messy. Her bed was rumpled and messy with her filthy lab coat and her bedside table contained a bowl of bloody water and the accompanying bandages and needles for sewing wounds.

"Ano..." she began "I just need to clean up" she indicated a chair and removed the heavy text books that had occupied it.

Silently Gaara sat watching her shuffle about moving and tidying things. The bloodied items on the bed stand worried him she has been getting injured frequently enough to have to treat herself...

She is a ninja; it is the way of your life

Did you ever want to be a ninja Shukaku?

Kekeke I'm a daemon we love only three things, killing, our packs and our mates

So you're enjoying this war then

No.

Gaara raised his eyebrow no?

Shukaku looked slightly abashed not when our pack and mate are getting hurt….

It suddenly struck Gaara and he breathed deep in realisation you consider the people we are Kazekage of as pack? And you accept Sakura as our mate?

Kukuku I would not have saved them from the clay man otherwise…..as for Sakura….need you ask?

Ile…Gaara turned back to watching her pack things away as the daemon fell silent.

He saw her pick up the last thing, a letter and he recognized it as one of his own "I wasn't sure you were getting those" he said standing

Sakura smiled "Hai…and a telling off each time 'Sakura tell your boyfriend to stop sending personal mail with battle reports" she mimicked Tsunade's voice perfectly as she pulled out a small chest from beneath her bed.

"Open" she said. The lock seemed to smile as it clicked open, she placed the letter on a small pile and closed the chest asking it to lock she replaced it. Gaara was looking at her strangely when she turned "What?"

"Was that the lock from your apartment?" he asked why on earth is it here?

"Hai…..didn't you know?"

"Know….?"

Sakura looked upset "the complex got demolished in an attack on Kanoha….I went back and saved Door….but everything else was gone….I meant to write to you but then Tsunade gave out the call for battle…." Sakura sat on the now made bed with a sigh "things just got muddled"

A siren went off causing Gaara to jump and reach for kunai, however Sakura didn't move. "It's the lights out siren" She explained "Tsunade likes us to get our sleep"

"Before the big battle tomorrow" Gaara said grimly

Sakura gritted her teeth "Gaara…..we could die tomorrow, there's always a high chance I will" she met his eyes briefly before turning away "and I don't know when I will next see you"

What does she mean?

She's trying to tell you something...I think

"Don't say that" he said striding over and embracing her so she was safe in his arms "Don't ever tell me you'll die"

"We're ninja Gaara...its something we must face, if tonight is my last night on Earth...I want to spend it with you" She didn't look away but instead looked deep into his cerulean eyes hoping he'd understand

She... Gaara felt his throat constrict slightly

Answer her quickly...otherwise she will think you think poorly her Shukaku said helpfully

Looking down on the woman in his arms Gaara decided. He leant down and kissed her "I'm honored" he said gently

Sakura smiled and released herself from his arms. Heading towards the lamp in the center of room she pulled out the sticks holding her hair. With a faint whisper it cascaded down her back reaching past her waist.

When she reached the lamp Sakura turned it down low. Gaara saw her pause a moment before undoing the belt at her side allowing the robe to fall from and reveal her slender frame.

Damn that's hot Shukaku whispered

….Shukaku...I want to ask a favour

Hai?

Can you shut up for the rest of the night??

Shukaku snorted and retreated completely from Gaara's mind leaving it able to focus on more pressing matters. Such as Sakura undressing him, the feeling of skin on skin contact, their kisses and their needs, her small cry of pain as he entered her, the feeling of euphoria and the happiness he felt when she fell asleep in his arms.