Chapter 6: Exposure

A/N: Minna-san tadaima!!! Gomen kudasai for being late. My excuse letter is on my profile page. Here we go… read and review onegaii…

Firecrackers illuminated the barren night sky as still the two held each others gazes not even bothering to blink. Their hands still linked as the lights from above turned into different colors. Their breathes were caught in their throat as their words were swallowed up by the mere reality that the very person they dreamed to find was right in front of their eyes.

Another loud explosion from the sky was all it took to awaken the pink haired photographer from the spell of his gaze. SHIT!!! She immediately withdrew her hand, picked up her sandals "Sorry, I really must go," she said as she ran out of the garden. Gaara was too stunned to talk… instead he just watched her form disappear.

A man with shirt brown hair made his way to his blond sister. "Temari… Temari," he was finally able to break through the crowd. "What?!" his sister replied with a hint of irritation. "She'shereandtheymet," Kankuro said in one breath. Five seconds passed… "WHAT?!" the blond dragged her brother away. "WHERE?!" Temari demanded an answer quick. "The garden," knowing his sister's temper, he answered automatically.

As the two hurriedly made their way to the garden, they failed to notice a certain pink haired photographer making her way to the exit. "WHERE?!" Temari strained to look for the two in the garden but found no one. "But… they were just…here," an empty garden was the answer to all their questions.

"WHAT?! WHEN?! HOW?!" his blond sister was deadly when it came from obtaining details from a certain event. Kankuro swallowed difficultly as Temari held her collar.

A lady in barefoot exited the hall and hailed a cab with a whistle. "To the south district hospital please," she said to the driver as soon as she entered the cab. She watched as the gardens grew out of sight. His face flashed into her head then it hit her. SHIT!!! Just a name… that's all she got. You total idiot!!! She lightly banged her head against the cab window making the driver look at her with confusion in his face.

The door was almost torn open as Temari entered the house followed by Kankuro. "I can't believe it! My plan worked and yet I was not the one who saw it happened!" her thin eyebrow twitched in agitation. "Calm down…" her brother muttered. "How can I calm down when…" the blond expression turned from fuming to conniving.

Kankuro watched quietly as she began dialing some numbers in her cell phone. "I always get what I want," she said as she snapped her phone shut. Her brother merely forced a laugh as he heard all that she plans to do.

A week passed and neither Sakura nor Gaara was able to forget what had happened that night. "It was too wonderful, it felt like a dream," the pink haired photographer said to herself as she leaned on her balcony. Then her phone rang, "Yes? Tenten, what's up?... Dinner sure…" she watched the traffic building on the streets as she listened to her friend babble something about the directions on how to get to the place "Just tell me I can wear MY attire. Other than that I'm fine with anything," she replied casually.

A pink haired lady wearing simple red t-shirt, flared pants and sneakers ran to the location that was described by her friend but upon arriving at its door. No way… she was in front of a very classy looking restaurant. Panting, she saw the waitresses eye her from head to toe. Hell no! Turning around, her senses were immediately plagued by a very familiar cool water scent. Then there he was again right in front of her just like when they first met.

As soon as he got off his car, he immediately took notice of the woman wearing plain t-shirt and jeans that was standing right in front of the restaurant's doorstep. Then his jade eyes widen as he saw her long pink hair and even more when she turned around, there she was again right in front of him just like when they first met.

The lady photographer tried to open her mouth but no words came. "Sakura… I didn't know Gaara invited you," a blond lady appeared out of nowhere. "T…Temari-san," she tore her eyes off him and to the lady that was now clinging on his arm. "Sakura," this time the female voice came from inside the restaurant. "Tenten," she muttered.

"Are… Temari… what a coincidence," both Tenten and Temari's eyes sparkled with mischief. Kankuro and Neji could only sigh at their helplessness. Good lord Sakura raised her eyes to the heaven and began to plead.

Everyone in the restaurant stared at her as if she was some sort of alien. "Great," the lady photographer muttered as she walk passed them. Why do things like this happen to me all the time? What did I do to deserve this? Sighing in disbelief, she surrendered herself to what might happen that night.

"So Gaara, why didn't you pick up Sakura?" Temari began her torture. "I had work," Sakura answered for him. "Work? Oh… you met with Sasuke," Tenten clarified for the group. "Sasuke?" Kankuro repeated. "He's my boss," the pink haired lady could feel her energy being drained from her. "How did it go?" Finally Neji asked something with sense. "He wants me to go to Hawaii," "What?" the blond asked as the red haired man sitting beside her looked at her closely.

"It's only a three day travel. I'll return after I take my shots," she explained as shyly raised her eyes to meet his. "But… he has offered you to permanently work in Paris as a professional photographer right?" her friend inquired as the lady in question only nodded. "Hey Gaara will you let her leave?" the man with short brown hair taunted. "No," Gaara replied automatically making Sakura meet his penetrating gaze.

"Oho, possessive aren't we, little brother?" Tenten and Temari watched as the blushing Sakura tried to avert her eyes from his zealous stare. Brother? So Temari's Gaara's sister?! She felt a little relieved for no reason. "By the way how long have you two been dating?" one asked "Two months…" both Gaara and Sakura replied and soon after they again stared at each other. Yup, it had been already two months when Sakura developed her film and two months when Gaara started painting.

"Shit! The broadcast's been delayed," the blond whispered to her brother. "What are you going to do now?" he said innocently.

Thankfully, their answers to everyone's question complement each other. It was as if they were really a couple. "Well then it's getting late," finally the dinner ended without major dignity damage.

"Well then, you two don't be doing it till morning," Kankuro teased as he got in their car together with Temari. Sakura's emerald eyes immediately grew wide as plates Shit! He HAS to take me home! Mentally panicking, she bid goodbye to Tenten and Neji as they entered their car.

When Gaara opened the door for her, she went rigid almost to the point that her feet won't move. Her heart was beating too fast and her breathing was uneasy as Gaara sat on the driver's seat and began to drive.

To avert her attention, she looked at the side mirror as it reflected the restaurant becoming smaller and smaller. The events that had happened moments ago played in her head and she can't help but laugh.

His strong jade eyes watched her closely as she began chuckling. He himself can't help but smirk thinking the same thing. "I can't believe it. We make one heck of a story," she said in between her laughs. "So you're a painter eh? What do you paint?" she felt at ease with him though she never even wondered why. It was as if she already knew him from the moment she saw him in her picture. "Random things…" it was not in his nature to answer to every question but there was a peaceful feeling he gets whenever she's around.

They started talking comfortably with each other, mostly with Sakura asking and Gaara answering. "Say, mind telling me how I became your boyfriend?" he asked so casually as if he was only asking for the weather. This was the first time he asked her something so she had to answer.

She bit her lower bit, took in a deep breath and began "The truth is it was all a big misunderstanding…" she told her everything she remembered. As she did, her eyes can't seem to remain on the street instead they wander to his handsome face.

"… That's about it. So… can you tell me how I became your dream girl?" it was her turn to ask so Gaara was obliged to answer. "I saw you… in my dream. Or at least I think it was. Your face kept plaguing my head so much I painted you," Gaara kept his eye on the road but he was very aware that she was watching him closely. That fact made him uneasy and yet a bit elated.

"I had to insist. You must come in for a cup of coffee," the pink haired lady smiled at him sweetly. He had not power to refuse. Opening her door, she let him in. the lights automatically turned on. "Take a seat. I'll make a cup of espresso," she offered immediately then disappeared into the kitchen.

As Sakura clumsily managed to make the coffee, "So… this is the picture you're talking about," she heard him said. "What? WHA!!!" she dropped the cup of espresso on the floor as she stared at his picture from her exhibit. Apparently, she forgot that today was the set date wherein that picture was to be delivered to her apartment. Right now, she wished the ground would open up and devour her; she wanted to fake fainting if that would help but right now… the only thing she can do is clean up her mess.

Still hazy from her dilemma, "Ouch," she immediately jerked her finger away from the broken cup. "Let me see," he pulled her hand to him gently then offered to clean it. "There's really no need," she reassured him but he insisted. With his help, they cleaned the broken dishes and made another cup of coffee.

"This is really embarrassing. I'm really sorry," she apologized sincerely as they sat on the couch then her phone rang. "Tenten?" seconds after the call ended. Sakura stared at her phone for seconds looking very confused. "What happened?" the red haired man asked. "She wanted me to watch TV now," with that she grabbed her remote and switched to the channel her friend told her.

Gaara raised the cup to his lips but as soon as he caught sight of the screen, he dropped the cup to the floor. Sakura's eyes widen in surprise to see a painting that look exactly like hers except for the white wings. Temari… he wanted to strangle his sister for interfering with his life but right now he wanted to evaporate like a puddle under the scorching sun.

"Wow, you're really good," she turned to him with the most amazed expression. "A…Arigato," he was so certain that at that moment he was blushing like an idiot.

"I'm sorry for the trouble," he said as they both started cleaning the spilled coffee and broken cup. "Nothing to it. This is what we get when our love life is so controversial," she winked at him playfully and he smirked back in reply.

"But you know… sooner or later… we have to tell them the truth," the two looked at each other for the longest time.

A/N: Minna-san read and review onegai…