Chapter 8: Zooming In

A/N: Lots of update requests sent to me for this story so I have to postpone updating Broken Dawn because I was really moved by your requests… told you I liked getting PM's but not so much about updating my stories though… read and review onegai…

"Sky blue eyes and unruly blond hair?" the pink haired photographer tilted her head as she looked at the person across her. "Loud mouth and lacks commonsense?" the red haired man added to her statement. "Yup, that's him," they simultaneously sighed then chuckled. "How do you know him?" Sakura was so interested to know that she looked like a girl asking for a lollipop. "He's my best friend since high school… and you?" Gaara happily replied as had fun watching her facial expressions. "Oh… we've known each other since kinder garden but I moved to Tokyo, he stayed in our hometown and never really got to talk much…" shaking her head in the impossibility of it all.

"Hey, let's visit him tomorrow. My flight's scheduled for 11 PM so I have plenty of time to waste. Besides, I'm already packed," Gaara smirked hearing her statement, and seeing her puppy-dog eyes makes him want to agree to anything. "Sure, we'll talk tomorrow. I think you need to rest," stroking her cheek with his fingers and brushing a strand of stray hair from her face, Gaara smiled handsomely as he saw her blush. "Thank you…" Sakura looked directly into his jade eyes ignoring her flushing cheeks.

Stepping out of the apartment, "Goodnight then," he bowed slightly. " 'Night," she returned the gesture. Her eyes never left s figure as it walked into the elevator then all rational thoughts disappeared, when she ran up to him and…

When Gaara turned around, he was surprised to see her behind him then his eyes widen in reaction when she tiptoed to kiss his cheeks. The only thing he did was look at her and touch his kissed skin. " 'Night," Sakura stepped out of the elevator before the doors closed. He swallowed with difficulty as his fingers grazed his cheek while a warm feeling spread throughout his body. Everyone waiting for the elevator stared at him as he stepped out… he was wearing a smug smile plus he was red like a tomato.

As the elevator doors closed, Sakura's emerald eyes widen in realization. Instinctively, one of her hands covered her open mouth. I just made the first move!!! This time she was sure that her blush won't go away for the entire night. She ran into her apartment, slammed the door shut and tried to find ways to distract her for the rest of the night. This is not working… plus… I get to see him again… tomorrow!!! Her fading pink tint of the cheeks turned into bright red as she realized that being near him is not exactly going to help her forget the… most aggressive thing she did to a man.

Shit! Shit! Oh my god! She bit her lower lip lightly as she marched to and fro on in her bedroom. The grandfather clock sounded throughout her apartment. Oh my god! He's gonna be here in ten minutes and… damn it!!! I can't bring myself to face him!!! Not like I'm a walking tomato!!!

The doorbell rang, oh my god! "Good morning," she stared at her reflection in her body mirror. Aside from her rapid heart slams and uneasy breathing, her face is all red and she can't bring herself to look- even at herself while imagining him in front of her.

"Morning," she said turned the knob and almost unhinged the door not even knowing who it was but at the sight of the unmistakable red hair, she had to avert her eyes. "Morning," her heart hitched and her breath nearly stopped when at one point she felt his warm fingers against her cheek then it was replaced with the soft texture of his lips.

When Gaara withdrew his face was the same color as hers, "You ready to go?" trying to clear his confusion with a cough, he slowly lifted his eyes to look at her. There a glow in her face that was different from before. "Y-yeah," she looked directly into his eyes and smiled which made him flush more.

The whole situation was just awkward. The two haven't talked to each other since they were at Sakura's doorstep. Each of them can't bring any topic to talk about without being embarrassed. Come on! Why can't I speak another syllable without turning into a stammering idiot! The red haired man licked his lips as he glared at the open road.

"By the way, if you and Naruto are that close… why weren't you in his wedding?" Sakura thanked the random idea that came to her mind. "I was there…" he looked at her truthfully completely forgetting about the event that morning. "Uh… I was their photographer. I got shots of EVERYONE there," she blatantly replied trying to make sure he gets her point.

"I'm not lying," Finally the awkward atmosphere lifted. "Wait… don't tell me… you're the missing best man!" she pointed her finger at him rudely. "Y-yeah," he reluctantly answered. "He almost got angry you know…" she sounded as if she wanted him to apologize.

Flashback…

"Look, look who is that hottie?" almost all he bridesmaid steal glances at him and made those irritating giggles when he passed by them. Then upon remembering that the best man- which happens to be him, is supposed to put some sort of tie around the girl who catches the bouquet, he disappeared out of the picture. Sorry Naruto… not really my thing anyway.

Pulling his tie loose, he wandered in the cherry blossom fields. It was a clear sunny day and the trees provide just enough shade. I'll go greet him when the wedding's done. The red headed best man sat on a strong branch and dozed off.

He did remember slowly opening his eyes to see something pink passed by then he slept again.

End of Flashback…

So that's where I saw her… I thought it was just a dream. "Why are you staring at?" he didn't realize that he was openly gazing at her while the lights turned green.

So that's why he's there… the pink haired photographer stole a glance at her driver and suppressed a laugh.

"Sakura! Gaara! You're finally here!" his blond sister greeted them as they got out of the car. "Temari-san, you know Naruto too?" Sakura inquired politely. "Of course, he and my little brother were like two peas in a pod," Temari hooked her arm around hers and led her some place. Looking back at her companion, Gaara merely nodded his head- more like encouraging her.

"Gaara! Nice of you to finally show up!" without looking back, he knew exactly who that voice belongs to. "Naruto… you finally got laid," he returned his welcome as soon as he caught sight of the whiskered blond. "Hey not so loud," Naruto pulled his neck to whisper. "What? Nobody in here knew you were a virgin?! Please… it's like stating the obvious," Gaara blatantly said making Naruto release him. "Gaara… since when were you this talkative?" the blond statement was like a slam on the gong and the mischievous grin on his friend's face was not helping at all.

"Where is she?" Naruto started looking around. "What the hell are you talking about?" he tried to sound clueless. "No use hiding it… I've seen every mood swing you have and that was not one of it," the blond still playfully looked under the table and in closets to tease his friend. "And what makes you think it's because of woman that I'm acting like this?" the red head rationally tried to reason. "Nothing… just a hunch…" the grin on Naruto's face was just annoying… for Gaara.

Of all the situations, why does he have to have the right hunch now… "Are…Sakura-chan!" Gaara almost froze when Naruto saw her but then he relaxed figuring out he had no clue.

"Naruto," the lady photographer smiled at the sight of her blond friend. "So… what does it feel like to lose your virginity?" she quickly teased him. "Sakura-chan, that's so mean. Really now… am I THAT obvious I mean as a virgin… before…" he looked as her like a lost puppy. "Uh… I don't want to be mean… but yeah… almost everyone knew," she sipped her drink as she stared at his almost crying expression. "NANI!!!" he then exclaimed soon after anime-like tears popped out of his eyes.

"Now that's harsh," a man with short raven black hair handed her another drink. Sakura's eyebrow rose in question as she received his offer. "Uh… Sakura-chan, this is Sai… he's a friend of mine," there was a glint of mischief in the blonde's eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Sakura. "Nice to meet you," likewise, she decided to let it slip. "The pleasure is all mine," she was taken aback however when he took her hand and kissed it.

"Well, I'll leave you two lone then," she wanted to throw something at him… He's setting me up! The nerve! Faking a smile, she desperately prayed to the heavens for an intervention.

"Where were you?" the red head finally found the blond staring at another direction. "Oh… I played matchmaker… they do look good together right?" Naruto tried make a rectangle with his fingers… with Sai and Sakura in the middle. "What are you…," as his jade eyes saw what his friend was pertaining to, without second thought, he walked into the picture.

"Oi, Gaara!" he heard Naruto call but his blood boiled upon seeing that man looked at Sakura as if she was naked. "Sakura," he placed an arm around her waist with almost made her jump. "Gaara, you scared me there," mentally, the pink haired girl sighed. The heaven finally have heard her incessant pleads. "Sakura-san, who is this?" the guy glared at the red head who in turn returned the glare… a hundred times deadlier.

"Gaara, Sakura's boyfriend," Sakura suppressed her incoming blush upon hearing his statement. Never had he introduced himself as her boyfriend that way. His arms wound around her waist and his chin on his head. "You guys… hooked up?! You gotta be kidding me!" the loud blond exclaimed as he pointed his finger at the sweet couple.

A/N: Okay, I don't know about marriage ceremonies but… hey I'm the author… I'm bending the rules… ehehe read and review please…