Gaara's lips brushed against Sakura's cheek as she moved her head away. Her hand found the doorknob and she turned it, moving backwards out of the house, away from Gaara. He frowned and followed her out.
"Sakura." He snapped, "Come back."
"A ceasefire!" Sakura whirled around and faced Gaara, feeling her anger soar at the sight of his mildly annoyed face, "That was all I wanted! An end to all of this! But you just had to take it one step further! It must be so funny, messing with the geeky president! Do you enjoy it? Do you enjoy making me miserable? You've gone too far this time, Gaara! You are just like Sasuke, trying to play with my feelings!"
"I'm nothing like him." Gaara growled, "Sakura, just listen to me for a second."
"No, you listen! I'm sick of this! I quit! Do you hear me? I surrender! I don't care anymore." Sakura shouted.
"I don't accept your surrender." Gaara said calmly, "You aren't thinking straight. Sasuke hurt you and now you think I will too."
"I don't care if you don't accept it. I surrender. That's it. I'm finished."
"Why are you so angry?" Gaara asked curiously, "Is it because I tried to kiss you?"
Sakura flushed, "N-no!" She said defiantly, "'Veni, vidi, vici.' I'm not something you can conquer, Gaara! I'm angry because you just tried to force a kiss on me! It's all a game to you, isn't it? Well, my feelings aren't something you can play with anymore! I'm done with this. I'm going home."
"Do you even know where you are?" Gaara said scornfully.
"No, but I do." Temari said suddenly, pushing past Gaara.
"Temari." Gaara said warningly.
"She wants to go home, Gaara. What are you going to do, kidnap her?" Temari frowned at him.
"Fine." Gaara muttered.
"C'mon, I'll take you in the car." Temari said kindly.
"Thanks." Sakura said, smiling gratefully.
She turned to leave.
"Sakura." Gaara said from behind.
She turned around to yell at him.
Soft lips pressed against hers. A hand curled around the small of her back possessively, pulling her closer. Sakura opened her mouth in shock.
Another hand gripped her arm and yanked her away.
"Gaara." Temari scolded, "She said no!"
She kept her grip on Sakura's arm and pulled her over to the car.
Sakura, in a daze, turned to look at Gaara as she was dragged away.
"Sorry," He said, his eyes oddly dark and intense, "I just wanted to do that."
Temari opened the car door for Sakura. She got in slowly, her mind still wiped blank from the kiss.
Now what was that? Whenever Sasuke had touched her, just his hand on hers or something equally innocent, she hadn't felt anything. But with Gaara… it was a jolt of pure electricity. Clichéd, of course, but true.
Temari got in the car and put the key in the ignition. The engine rumbled to life, and they began to move.
Sakura stared out of the window at Gaara, who was still standing outside his house, staring back at her.
"I'm so sorry about that." Temari shook her head, annoyed, "Gaara promised me he hadn't brought you here to mess with you."
Sakura tore her gaze away from the disappearing figure of Gaara with difficulty.
"Oh that's fine," Sakura said weakly, her lips still tingling from the stolen kiss.
"I asked him to stop this stupid… war thing you and him have got going after you helped Shikamaru out. Thanks for that, by the way." Temari glanced at Sakura and grinned, driving the car so smoothly Sakura stopped worrying about whether or not she was licensed to drive.
"That's fine. I wasn't about to let that idiot get away with beating up Shikamaru!" Sakura said fiercely.
"Well, a lot of people would. Before that I just thought you were a snotty cow. But I'm grateful to you, so thanks."
Sakura returned Temari's smile, trying to force her mind to think about absolutely anything besides that kiss.
Her very first kiss, stolen by her enemy.
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Sakura and Hinata walked down the corridor together, arm in arm. Hinata had put her hair in plaits and looked particularly adorable that day, so it was no surprise that Naruto was hanging around them.
"Sakura-chan," He whined plaintively, "I'm really sorry! Sasuke begged me not to tell you!"
"Oh, that makes it alright then," Sakura said mock-cheerily, "So what if you knew he wanted to make me fall in love with him and then fail everything just so he could be number one? I mean, wow, he begged you. God, how you must have suffered."
Hinata bit her lip, looking torn. On the one hand, Naruto was totally in the wrong. On the other, he was totally adorable and sweet and she couldn't help liking him even now…
"It's not the dobe's fault, Sakura." Sasuke's deep voice came from behind her.
Sakura stiffened in alarm. God, not now, she thought desperately. I can't deal with him today.
Inexplicably, she wished Gaara was here. At least he'd be able to take on Sasuke verbally. The way Sakura was feeling right now she couldn't win an argument with a blind pig.
"Go away, Sasuke." Sakura said shakily, "Just leave me alone."
"No," He said sharply, walking around her and forcing her to look at him, "Not until you listen to me."
"Listen to this." She said, and flipped him the bird.
Sasuke's face darkened with rage. He seized her shoulders and pulled her towards him.
"Sakura, I. Love. You." He said through gritted teeth, "I didn't want to fall in love with you! I admit I was just using you at first, but I really care about you."
"But you cared about your grades more." Sakura said simply, ignoring the pain his fingers digging into her shoulders caused her.
Sasuke scowled, "You don't get it. My brother, Itachi, he's the perfect one. He got grades even better than yours. If I couldn't beat you, then I couldn't beat him. It was nothing personal against you!"
"It was personal, it was against me!" Sakura shouted, pushing him away, "It's over, Sasuke! Accept it!"
"No." Sasuke shook his head, "I won't. You're still my girlfriend, Sakura."
"I'm not your anything, Sasuke. I would have done anything for you. Well, not anymore."
Sasuke grabbed the front of her shirt and yanked her towards him, "For God's sake, Sakura!" He shouted into her face. She glared at him.
"Leave her alone." A quiet voice said.
It wasn't Naruto, who was watching, aghast. It wasn't even Hinata, whose mouth hung open in shock and dismay.
It was Ino, her pale face fierce and angry.
"Ino?" Sakura said in astonishment.
"Get lost, Yamanaka." Sasuke snapped.
"I said, leave her alone!" Ino shouted, and shoved Sasuke away from Sakura.
Sasuke looked violently wrathful, his hands clenched into fists. He went to move towards Ino, who was standing in front of Sakura protectively.
"Hey, hey, Sasuke, c'mon, let's go!" Naruto said hastily, snapping out of his shock long enough to start shoving Sasuke down the corridor.
"I really am sorry, Sakura-chan!" He yelled back at her.
Ino looked uncomfortable, fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
"Thanks, Ino." Sakura said awkwardly.
Ino nodded. Finally, she couldn't seem to keep it in any longer and burst out with, "I hate myself for selling your secrets, Sakura! I'm so sorry! My parents needed the money so badly, the flower shop was failing and Gaara just offered me the money and I just thought of what my parents would say if they knew I'd been offered it and I hadn't taken it and I really am so sorry!" She said, all in one breath.
Sakura breathed in. Four long years of anguish. Until Hinata had come along, she had no friends.
"You picked Sasuke over me too, remember?" Sakura reminded her.
"What can I say? I was twelve. I hated myself for doing that to you." Ino started to cry, "Please forgive me. Please."
Sakura thought about it. By shoving Sasuke away from Sakura, she had chosen her former best friend over her crush.
She pulled Ino into a hug, "I forgive you." She said simply, meaning it.
Ino sobbed in relief, hugging her back fiercely.
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Gaara sat down on the wall outside the school. He wanted to go inside, wanted to see his cute pink-haired president blush at the sight of him, to remember what it felt like to finally kiss her…
He sighed and ran a hand through his spiky hair.
Why had he declared war on her? He'd wanted her to look his way. Little-Miss-Above-Everyone-Else, so holier than thou, she was untouchable. On his first day, he'd seen her smile at her friend, Hinata, and knew he would never be on the receiving end of that angelic smile.
Had Sasuke kissed her first?
"Oi, Gaara." A familiar, drawling voice said.
Gaara looked up warily.
Shikamaru stood in front of him and yawned widely, "Yo," He said lazily, "You not coming in?"
To school? In truth, he hated it. He was only there because he had to be.
Gaara shook his head.
Shikamaru just looked at him knowingly. He threw himself down next to him on the wall, stretching his tired muscles.
"Why don't you want to go in?" He asked.
"I just don't." Gaara said flatly.
"Temari and Kankuro are already in there."
"I don't care."
"So is Sakura."
Gaara looked at him sharply but didn't speak.
"Why are you messing with her?" Shikamaru asked.
"We're at war." Gaara responded, looking down at the ground.
"And yet she's not done a thing against you."
"It isn't my fault she's useless."
"Don't call her useless," Shikamaru said, suddenly angry, "Sakura works harder than anyone."
Gaara laughed mirthlessly and rubbed at his eyes, smearing the eyeliner, making him look feral and dangerous.
"I declared war on her," Gaara began, still not looking at Shikamaru, "because she pissed me off. She pulled at my clothes and yelled at me. I wanted to teach her a lesson. I went too far. I didn't intend to be cruel. Yesterday I took her back to my house so we could talk about ending the war but…"
"But…?" Shikamaru prompted.
"I kissed her instead." Gaara said, trying to sound casual but failing.
Shikamaru whistled, "Wow. So, how hard did she punch you?"
"She didn't punch me. She just stared at me and left."
"And now you don't know what to say to her so you're hiding out here."
Gaara glared at him.
"Just tell her you like her." Shikamaru advised him, "I don't know if she likes you back, but I know she wouldn't –"
"I don't like her." Gaara interrupted.
"What?" Shikamaru stared at him, "But –"
"I don't like her." Gaara repeated stubbornly.
Shikamaru pulled out a cigarette and lit it.
"You're an idiot." Shikamaru said casually.
Gaara grunted in agreement.
"Wanna go inside?" Shikamaru jerked his head towards the school.
"Fine." Gaara said sullenly.
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The cafeteria was packed, as it always was. Gaara sat in the middle of it all, glaring at his burger, wishing the people and the noise would just disappear. The only distinct face in the blur of the crowds belonged to a particularly grumpy Student Body President, who, to Gaara's surprise, was eating with Hinata and Ino, of all people.
Sakura looked as grumpy as ever, picking at her food and squinting at it, but Gaara could see the pretty flush on her cheeks from the cold and the sparkle in her eyes.
Temari was saying something to him. He nodded absently, eyes on Sakura. Hinata said something hesitantly and Ino laughed. Sakura smiled down at her pudding.
She lived in a whole other world, one that operated in rules and restrictions. That was not the world he lived in. His world was filled with violence and freedom and no rules.
Just when his head was beginning to hurt from all of the noise of the cafeteria, it all stopped instantly.
Gaara looked to see what had caused it.
Uchiha Sasuke was marching purposefully towards Sakura's table.
Before Gaara knew it, he was on his feet.
Temari tried to tug him back down, "Gaara, no." She said urgently.
He shook her off and moved to intercept the Uchiha.
Sasuke sneered when Gaara approached, "Still sniffing around for my seconds, are you?" He said cruelly.
Sakura's face registered the pain that comment caused her before she wrestled the expression into submission, replacing it with a more neutral look. But Gaara had seen it, and he was angry.
Gaara kicked a chair at Sasuke, who leapt out of the way just in time, looking stunned.
"Stay away from her," He said in a low voice, too quietly for anyone but Sasuke to hear.
Sasuke's face twisted in rage, "Who the hell do you think you are?" He demanded.
Gaara moved closer to him, "Someone with a history of violence?" He suggested.
"Gaara, stop." Sakura said abruptly, "He isn't worth it."
For a moment Sasuke looked hurt, but then anger washed it away, "Screw you, Sakura." He said heatedly.
Gaara punched him.
Sasuke moved back, blood spilling from his split lip.
Gaara kicked him in the stomach, sending him flying backwards.
He went to go kick him again while he was down, but two arms wrapped around his middle stopped him.
"Stop, Gaara." Sakura murmured, her face pressed against his back.
Gaara turned slightly to look back at Sakura. She looked at him steadily, arms still around his waist.
"Detention." Kakashi said coolly, helping Sasuke up. He had been on his way to the faculty office when he heard the commotion.
Sasuke glowered at Gaara, his mouth red and sore-looking.
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Sakura waited outside the faculty office, sitting on an uncomfortable chair.
The door banged open and Gaara stormed out. He paused and looked at Sakura. She stood up and opened her mouth to speak.
He ignored her and walked away.
She bit her lip, feeling oddly hurt and rejected.
"Sakura?" Kakashi said, popping his head around the door, "You can come in now."
She entered the room, straightening her sash proudly. Not many students were allowed in here.
"I just need you to type up a letter for me." Kakashi said, pointing to one of the computers.
"Why, what do you have to do?" Sakura asked, suspicious.
Kakashi gave her a wounded look, "I'm a very busy man, Sakura! Anko's offered to pay for three rounds of drinks if I can get off early."
"One day you are going to hell for misuse of students." Sakura said sullenly.
Kakashi paused, "Please rephrase that."
"No," Sakura said crisply, "Who's the letter to, what's it about, etc.?"
"It's the expulsion letter for that Gaara kid." Kakashi said nonchalantly.
Sakura froze, hands hovering over the keyboard.
"Gaara's being expelled?" She asked faintly.
"Yup. He had a one-strike deal with the headteacher, any display of violence and he was out of here. His record isn't exactly spotless, Sakura."
"You know what?" Sakura said, her voice sounding to her as though it was coming from far away, "You shouldn't call me Sakura. You shouldn't know me well enough to call me Sakura. If I had been allowed a normal student life, you would call me Haruno-san! But no! I only wanted to help this school and all of the students. And you teachers knew it! So you used me! Made me do all the work you couldn't be arsed to do because you knew I'd never say no! What a stupid idiot I've been! Well, guess what, Kakashi-sensei? I quit! I'm not the Student Body President anymore! I refuse to type up that letter; I refuse to help you expel Gaara. Get some other idiot to do it. Or better yet, do it yourself!"
She ripped off her sash and threw it to the ground, stomping on it for good measure.
Kakashi watched, wide-eyed.
"Holy hell," Genma commented mildly from the back of the room.
"Fuck you all!" Sakura said violently, "I'm leaving!"
She stormed out of the room, leaving the ripped up sash behind.
Kakashi looked at the sash mournfully, "Guess I really do have to start writing my own letters now."
"I'll have to get my own coffee." Anko said, upset.
"Well, I'm pleased for Sakura. I'm glad she finally showed some backbone." Kurenai grinned.
"But writing letters is so boring…" Kakashi complained.
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Sakura ran out past the school gates, searching for Gaara.
He was long gone.
She groaned in frustration, whirling around the school car park in search of a glimpse of the moody student.
She pulled out her phone.
"Shikamaru?" She said desperately, "I just did something drastic. I need to find Gaara."
OK, coming up to the end now, I think.
Yeah, Sakura tried to quit the war but Gaara wouldn't let her.
She really did quit being Student Body President! Le gasp!
Poor Kakashi XD
Sasuke got very angry in this chapter, no? I still hate him in the manga, honestly.
Quick poll for fun: Should Sakura forgive Sasuke for trying to sabotage her grades?
A) Yes, it would show she has matured.
B) Maybe, not sure.
C) HELL NO! HE SHOULD BURN IN HELL FOR ALL ETERNITY –cough-
D) Other! Let me know!