Sakura helped Ayame out of the pond and gave her a big hug even though she was wet. "Wow, it's been years!"

"I know right? How have you been?" Ayame smiled at her and tugged her hair. "Hey! You got rid of those bangs. Now that I can see your forehead, your eyes pop out a lot more."

Sakura laughed. "Stop it Aya! You're gonna make me blush. You're looking good as well. I see you don't have your red hair anymore."

"Nah, I got tired of red so I dyed it. Isn't it cool?" She whipped her head to the side.

"Awesome!"

Sasori cleared his throat bring them back to earth. "So, I'm still confused. When, where, and how do you guys know each other."

Ayame smiled at him. "Sakura and I were childhood friends back when we were young. I guess we met when we were what? Maybe four? We had been best friends ever since."

"Then how come I've never heard you mention Ayame before Sakura?" Gaara asked.

Sakura lowered her eyes. "Well, we lost contact when my mom abandoned me. I moved with my grandmother away from the neighborhood and that was the last time we'd seen each other."

Ayame gave Sakura a pat on the back. "But we're back together again right? This is awesome!"

Before Sakura could answer her Kazuo had stepped beside Gaara and placed a hand on his shoulder.

"So I see you've met Gaara, Ayame."

Ayame blushed and shook her head. "No I didn't. I got caught up in a little reunion with my friend Sakura." She turned her attention Gaara. "Hello Gaara, it's finally nice to meet you."

Gaara nodded his head and said nothing.

"I have arranged for you two to go to the welcoming festival tonight together. You two will get to know each other for the next couple of days and maybe have blossoming feelings towards one another."

Gaara shrugged Kazuo's hand off his shoulder. "Dad! You can't just do that without asking how I felt about it or even how Ayame felt about it!"

"I don't mind at all Gaara." Ayame said quickly. "Actually, I would be honored if you would take me tonight."

Gaara pursed his lips together in a tight thin line. He was thinking although Sakura knew he wouldn't do it. It wasn't like him.

"Gaara, you should think about your family's name." Kazuo added. "At least give it a shot. You need to remember that it wasn't just my decision to arrange this marriage, but it was your mothers. We had both discussed this issue before the both of you were born."

"Alright then." He sighed.

'What?' She gripped the side of her skirt.

"Cool!" Ayame linked arms with him and then blushed. "Oops, I'm sorry. I forgot I was wet."

Gaara chuckled. "Nah, it's cool but we should get you out of those clothes. You wouldn't want to catch a cold and miss out on our date would you?"

"Date?" Sakura and Sasori both squeaked and looked at each other.

"Okay, then lets go." Ayame giggled and pulled him away towards the house.

Once they had left, Sasori turned to Kazekage angrily. "How can you do that? You know Gaara is in love with Sakura!"

Kazuo dismissed it with his hand. "Gaara's love for the child is irrelevant. He was betrothed to Ayame from birth. A little thing that just happened in a mere few months doesn't matter."

"So you're going to force Gaara into marrying someone he doesn't want to marry?" Sakura asked.

Kazuo gave her a smile which made her shuddered. "And what makes you think that he wouldn't marry her? I think the both of them hit it off nicely today and who knows, in a couple of days, Ayame might just win his heart. I mean…" His eyes narrowed. "You did see the way he was talking to her right? It sure didn't look like disinterest to me, did it to you?"

Sakura had nothing to say. He was right about that.

"I thought so." Kazuo turned and left without saying another word.

Sasori placed his hand on Sakura's hand and smiled. "Forget about Gaara. We can have fun at the festival by ourselves. What do you say Sakura?"

"Okay." she knew that all Sasori was trying to do was take her mind off of what Kazuo had said and Gaara and she was happy that he was trying. Somehow this trip seemed like it wasn't going to turn out like she and Gaara had expected it to.

Even though Sakura had a good time with Sasori that night she still couldn't keep her mind off Gaara, especially whenever she saw him with Ayame. He was always smiling or trying to make her laugh. She wondered what he was doing. That wasn't the Gaara she had known for the past few months. He definitely didn't act that way when she was with him so why was he acting that way around Ayame? It made her jealous and angry even though she knew she shouldn't be.

She laid back on her bed and stared up at the huge chandelier hanging from the ceiling.

"Gaara you're a jerk." She mumbled.

"Oh am I?"

Sakura gasped. She sat up quickly and looked around until she found Gaara standing by the door to the balcony with his arms folded across his chest. Her heart almost stopped as she stared at him. There he was leaning in against the door smiling at her. His dark blue eyes glistened in the moonlight and the wind blew though his already untidy hair. His half tucked white shirt gave him the sexy look she knew she wouldn't be able to look away from.

"How did you get in here?"

"I climbed." He said and walked towards her. He sat down beside her and his smell of cinnamon and spice made her swoon. "Solo…I'm a jerk?" He tugged on her hair. "Why is that?"

Sakura pouted and turned her head away. "I'm not talking to you."

She gasped again when he pushed her down on the bed and got on top of her. "That's alright. We can kiss instead."

Her blood began to rise quickly to her face. What was going on? "K-kiss?"

"Yeah." He kissed her nose. "I saw the way you were glaring at me tonight at the festival. You were so jealous."

"So you knew?" She growled.

"Uh-huh" He kissed her neck.

"And you ignored me."

"I thought you were having a good time with my brother." Gaara chuckled.

"But I wanted to be with you."

"You're with me now."

"Yeah, okay." Her words came out more bitter then she expected them to.

"Hey." He met her eyes. "You know you're the only girl for me. You're my first and only girl. So there's nothing to worry about."

"But…" She bit her lip.

Gaara raised an eyebrow. "But?"

"Aya is prettier then me."

That made Gaara laugh.

"It's not funny Gaara!" Sakura blushed.

"You're funny Sakura." He said. "But you also lack confidence in me." His voice dropped an octave and became serious. "Sakura, you should know by now that a girl could be as beautiful as diamonds and rubies and I would still have eyes only for you."

He leaned down and kissed her on the mouth. Sakura locked her fingers in his hair. She hated him so much. The way he could say the sweetest things and make her forget her reasons for being mad at him drove her insane. I guess that was what you called bittersweet love.

She broke away from him to breathe. "Gaara?"

"Hm?" He was still trying to kiss her.

"Aren't you going to get in trouble if you get caught?"

"Yeah, but you're worth it." He kissed her forcefully.

Sakura's head was spinning. All of this kissing and nicety he was giving her just seemed unreal.

She pushed him away again. "Whoa! What's wrong with you?"

He looked confused. "What?"

"Why are you being so nice? That goes against every fiber in your being."

Gaara sighed and flipped to her side. "I guess this mean you don't want to kiss anymore."

"I just want to know why you're being so nice."

"You make me this way Sakura." He replied softly grabbing her hand and kissing every one of her fingers. "You are my light in my dark world, my star in my starless night. I would do anything, be anything to make you happy or to see you smile. You mean everything to me. You're someone who I don't want to lose ever." He looked up at her and flinched. "Why are you crying? Did I say something wrong?"

Sakura shook her head and wiped her tears away. "No, it's just that I'm so lucky to have someone like you Gaara."

Gaara smiled at her. "I love you Sakura."

"And I love you Gaara." She whispered.

When Sakura woke up the next morning Gaara was gone but on her desk was a blue rose lying down by a note from him. She hurriedly picked up the note and began reading it

Sakura,

Sorry for leaving you like this but duty calls. Tonight it will be just the two of us I promise.

Please wear the white dress my most trustworthy maid Yuko will give you and meet me in the garden later on this evening at six o' clock. Tonight will be a night you will never forget…or at least I hope it will.

Love,

Gaara

Sakura smiled to herself and let out a scream as she fell back onto the bed. She lifted the rose up to her nose and sighed. She couldn't wait until tonight. Ayame definitely wasn't going to ruin her day. She wouldn't allow it.

A/N: Ah yes, now my readers i must stop. i'm sorry! but i will post more sooner then you think but until that peace!