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—

Sakura returned home and presented her research to the Hokage and Konoha's medical team.

While the praise and approval that Sakura received was rewarding, the pinkette couldn't help but feel a little…...sad.

Maybe sad wasn't the right word, maybe Sakura was just…...wistful.

Sakura was accustomed to being lonely, it's not that going home every night alone was a problem.

But still, the pinkette couldn't help but wonder….

What if she had stayed another day in Suna?

What if she had even just spent one more night?

What would Gaara have done then?

Across the river, through the forest, and over the vast landscape of arid desert, Gaara found himself wondering similar things during quiet moments.

What if Sakura had stayed longer?

It was an uncomfortable yet exciting thing for Gaar to muse over.

Sakura….

The thought that Gaara wrestled most with though was….what would he do when Sakura returned?

—

Gaara had some time to think.

It was nearly two months later when Sakura came back to Suna, hoping to pin down an exact formula for the antidotes using her new discoveries and the accumulated knowledge of generations that the Sunese medical staff possessed.

Things were a little bit different this time, though.

Unlike her previous trips to Suna, now, Sakura found herself to be Gaara's personal guest.

Upon Sakura's arrival in the village, two Sand Shinobi greeted her at the gate and escorted her directly to the Kage mansion, politely showing her to Temari's old room.

Sakura had to admit, Temari's room was well kept and much nicer than the small lodgings Sakura usually rented at the inn.

Not to mention it was economical and there was also…..

"Hello, Sakura." A raspy voice called from the doorway.

"Oh! G-Gaara…..h-hello!" Sakura said in surprise, whirling around to face the Kazekage.

Gaara's turquoise gaze lingered on Sakura with a warm fondness and a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

Gaara was happy to see Sakura again.

Gaara was so happy, in fact, that he, the Kazekage of Suna, had come to greet a simple medical nin personally.

That wasn't an honor that everyone received...

The pinkette's green eyes were wide but she quickly smiled at her host.

"I'm glad you had a safe journey." Gaara said formally.

"Um, thanks. Me too." Sakura smiled. "It's very kind of you to let me stay here. I hope Temari won't mind."

"No, she won't, she doesn't come home often now." Gaara replied.

Sakura nodded. "I was out of town during her wedding last year. I hope that she and Shikamaru are doing well."

"They are." Gaara said in his low voice, his smokey eyes burned into Sakura as he added, "She told me they're trying to have a baby."

"Aw, that's great!" Sakura smiled.

Gaara seemed to be gauging Sakura's reaction to that statement and the way that he was looking at her made Sakura suddenly feel like her knees would give way…...

"I'm glad that you're here." Gaara said, changing the subject.

"I am too." Sakura replied, smiling happily.

Sakura could tell that Gaara's happiness at her arrival wasn't just about the antidote formulas she had come to calculate.

Gaara looked conflicted for a moment and Sakura's smile faded.

Sakura didn't know what to do…..

Of course, Sakura wasn't going to push anything, but was that what Gaara was silently waiting on?

The Kazekage's brow furrowed as he fell deep into thought.

A silent moment passed between them and Gaara nodded at Sakura, "I'll let you finish unpacking, I have a meeting with my council before dinner."

"Of course." Sakura smiled as Gaara turned and walked away.

Sakura sighed once Gaara was gone.

That was awkward.

Should Sakura have stepped forward and questioned Gaara about what happened last time?

No, that would be…...rude.

Sakura rubbed the bridge of her nose.

Suddenly, Sakura's green eyes snapped open and she looked up as realization took hold.

Dinner.

Dinner?!

Sakura blinked.

The pinkette felt ashamed of herself.

How could she be so silly as to forget basic manners and customs?

As the Kazekage's guest, that meant that Sakura would be expected to have dinner with Gaara every night for the duration of her stay.

It wasn't that Sakura minded, it was just….

Thinking about Gaara's smokey turquoise eyes drifting over her each evening made Sakura's heart race.

Was that the reason why Gaara had invited her to stay in Temari's room?

Because he wanted to see her everyday?

Would he sweep in and steal another kiss from time to time?

There was a possibility that didn't sound so bad~.

Sakura smiled to herself while she rummaged through the clothes in her suitcase.

Gaara didn't seem to care much about anyone's outward appearance, but still, Gaara was a man…..

Sakura's dinner outfit was important.

What was she going to wear?

—

Sakura chose a pink dress, with a simple bracelet, and a red comb in her hair, but it didn't really matter.

Sakura's instincts were right, Gaara was not impressed by the clothing or accessories that a person wore.

During dinner that evening, Sakura was seated directly across from Gaara, with Kankuro and all of Gaara's council members and diplomats lining the sides.

This time, Sakura was certain.

Gaara's eyes did linger on her at times.

And if Sakura hadn't been so mesmerized by the Kazekage's turquoise gaze, then she may have noticed….

Gaara smiled at her.

A small smile, but a smile nevertheless.

Gaara had seen death and tragedy, he had recovered from a horrible fate, dealt daily with the burdens of those he had lost and those he had killed, Gaara carried the weight of Suna on his shoulders, Gaara had served in a bloody and brutal war….

It took a lot to make Gaara smile.

—-

Dinner finished and everyone went their separate ways.

Sakura half-expected Gaara to follow her to her room, or to show up unexpectedly, but he did not.

Gaara was respectful.

However, when Sakura stepped inside her new bedroom and turned on the light, she blinked in surprise.

There was something sitting on the windowsill.

Waking over to the window, Sakura reached out her hands and picked up the object.

It was a small, potted cactus.

The cactus definitely hadn't been there when she unpacked earlier…..

Thinking back, Sakura remembered…

Gaara!

Gaara loved cacti.

Gaara had a large collection of various cacti plants that he cared for and raised himself.

Sakura's cheeks blushed a deep shade of red as she noticed a single, flawless pink blossom in the center of the beautifully green cactus in her hand.

The cactus on Sakura's windowsill wasn't a mistake and it wasn't a decoration…

It was Gaara's gift to Sakura.