Sakura was just straightening her clothes when someone knocked on the door, an impatient, loud rap. She bit her lip and pulled at her skirt nervously. He was early, of course.

She opened the front door slowly, not wanting to wake her mother on the morning of her first lie-in in weeks.

Gaara stood on her doorstep. Sakura smiled and leant against the doorway, studying her boyfriend. He'd made an effort for their first day of school as a couple, she noticed. His hair was expertly spiked up messily, his eyes were smudged with eyeliner and he was wearing an expensive brand-name ripped shirt and grey jeans.

Sakura was wearing her hair down for once, and had even bothered to wear a heart-shaped hair clip on both sides of her face, the first time she'd ever felt like wearing them. Not liking Ino's 'Deceptively Chaste Cheerleader' makeup style – which involved a lot of dark eye shadow and red lipstick - she'd simply drawn some liquid eyeliner across both eyelids and put some pink lipgloss on.

Her smile slipped when Gaara turned on his heel and headed back up the path.

"Hey – hey, wait, Gaara, damn it, wait!" She dashed back in the house to grab her bag and then chased him.

"What?" He said, frowning at her as she panted next to him.

"Why would you suddenly walk off – you're so weird." Sakura complained, pulling her school bag more securely onto her shoulder.

"I thought we were walking to school together?" Gaara said, confused.

"Yeah, but you don't just walk off, you're supposed to ask me if I'm ready to leave yet."

"Oh," Gaara frowned as he mulled this over. He turned to her with a serious expression, "Are you ready to leave yet?"

Sakura stifled a laugh. Gaara was just adorably awkward at times.

She took his arm and smiled at him, "Yep! Let's go!"

Gaara stiffened at the casual touch – it was so unlike Sakura to initiate any physical contact.

"It's cold." Gaara commented absently as they walked.

Sakura nodded fervently, "Freezing! I have to put up Christmas decorations in the school today, and I'll have to decorate the outside too, so I'm going to freeze to death, probably."

"Hmm, don't do that." Gaara said thoughtfully.

A few other students were walking to school the same way. Sakura noticed they were all staring at her and Gaara.

"Um, should I not hold your arm like this?" Sakura asked.

Gaara looked down at her. "…I don't mind it." He said after a pause.

"I just mean… everyone staring at us!" Sakura said, looking around at all of the students walking near them. She saw one of them do a double take when they caught sight of the Student Body President walking to school with the delinquent, Gaara.

"So?"

"So, it's embarrassing! I've never walked around with a guy before, like, um, holding their arm or anything, so I think, um…" Sakura trailed off, embarrassed. She knew the students viewed her as a celibate monk-like figure who was only interested in disciplining students and getting good grades. Suddenly getting a boyfriend – and a delinquent whom she had previously warred with, at that – was obviously going to catch their attention.

"I just think we shouldn't be so… touchy-feely, we're attracting so much attention…"

She hadn't been with Sasuke that long, and the most affection he ever showed her was opening a door for her.

She suspected not many students believed they actually ever dated, anyway.

"Do you really think so?" Gaara said, perking up slightly.

Sakura nodded again.

Gaara removed her hand from his arm. Sakura laughed, a little relieved, then –

He pulled her into a half-hug, his arm slung around her shoulders.

"G-Gaara!" Sakura squeaked, suddenly pressed up against Gaara as they walked.

"I'm not ashamed of being with you." Gaara said seriously, "But are you ashamed of being with me?"

"No!" Sakura said, horrified he could think that she was embarrassed to be seen with him.

"So, let's not bother hiding." Gaara said, squeezing her tighter.

The students were all openly gawping now.

Sakura stared at Gaara. His cheeks were slightly pink. She thought it might just be the cold but…

She smiled.

xxxxxxxx

"Haruno-sempai…" A boy from the year below Sakura said cautiously, "Are you OK?"

Sakura looked confused, "Huh? I'm fine. Why?"

Gaara's arm was still wrapped around her shoulders. He glared at the younger boy.

He had blonde hair and was ever so slightly adorable. He was blushing furiously, which was probably why Gaara was glaring at him.

"Um, because…" The boy whispered, "That's Sabaku no Gaara! I thought you hated each other?"

"Um," Sakura blushed, "Actually -"

"She's my girlfriend." Gaara cut in, still glaring.

The younger boy blinked, surprised, "Wow, really? I didn't think the President actually dated!"

"What?" Sakura frowned, "Of course I – why do I even bother, honestly."

"I'll spread the word, President-chan!" The boy said with a wide grin before dashing off to join his friends.

Sakura's mouth dropped open, "President-chan? What kind of a nickname is that? How can I command respect from the students if they call me cute names like that?"

"Never mind that," Gaara waved his hand dismissively, "Why did he say he would 'spread the word'?"

They exchanged uneasy glances.

"It's probably nothing." Sakura shrugged.

"Saaaaaaaaaaaakura-chyaaan!" Naruto suddenly yelled from behind her.

"Ah! Naruto, don't scare me like that!" Sakura yelled, pushing him away slightly.

Naruto paused, taking in the sight of Gaara standing next to Sakura peacefully, without any explosions or gunfire.

"What's up with you two?" Naruto asked, pointing to them both, an idiotic expression of exaggerated confusion on his face, "Why aren't you shooting at each other or fighting?"

"She's my gir-" Gaara started to say.

"Naruto, your shirt, it's – um, it's, hanging out! Detention! Right now!" Sakura babbled anxiously, ignoring the death glare Gaara was giving her.

"What?" That's so unfair!" Naruto moaned.

"Yes, yes it is. Now go, shoo." Sakura made flapping motions with her hands.

Naruto stormed off, muttering about evil Presidents with too much power.

"You are ashamed of me, aren't you?" Gaara looked unimpressed.

"No, of course not! But Naruto is Sasuke's best friend, he would tell Sasuke if he found out we were going out!"

"…So?" Gaara didn't seem to understand the issue.

"So, Sasuke would know about us and I don't know how he'd react!"

"Who cares about him?" Gaara shook his head, "He's already seen us kissing. And what's he going to do even if he does find out?"

"Evil things." Sakura said, deadpan, "I don't want to find out what he'd do, so let's make an effort to make sure he doesn't find out, OK?"

"Do you really think you can keep it from him?"

"No, not really." Sakura sighed, "But I'd like to not have to deal with him for a while."

"Che, fine. When are you going to tell your friends? Yamanaka Ino won't stop glaring at me; I would like it to stop."

"I don't know… they'll probably think you're blackmailing me into dating you, or something." Sakura said, laughing.

Gaara studied her for a moment before smirking, "I would never go that far."

"You totally would. It's scarily plausible. I mean, what would you have done if I'd rejected you seriously?"

Gaara ran a hand through his hair as he thought about the question, "…I'd probably keep asking until you said yes."

"That's creepy, Gaara."

"No it isn't."

"It is. You're a creepy creeper."

"I'm not creepy. And you seem oddly carefree."

"I do?" Sakura said, surprised.

"Yes, you keep smiling and making jokes. It's cute." Gaara smirked even wider as Sakura blushed.

"…Shut up," Sakura huffed, red-faced and pouting.

Gaara messed up her hair affectionately.

"Hey, move. You are blocking the hallway."

Sakura turned around.

Hyuuga Neji and his friend Lee were standing behind them. Lee was staring at her, his face uncharacteristically unhappy.

Neji was the one who had spoken and he was glaring at both Gaara and Sakura, arms folded.

"Say please." Sakura scowled at him.

Neji just scowled back at her with deep dislike. Sakura felt confused. Why was he suddenly acting unfriendly once again? Hadn't Naruto beaten some sense into him?

Sakura reluctantly moved out of the way, though Gaara stubbornly stayed in the middle of the hallway so Neji had to edge around him.

Lee suddenly took off, using his athleticism to speed away around the corner before any of them could blink.

Neji went to run after him but turned and looked at Sakura with a serious expression instead.

"…Don't be so careless. You can hurt people without meaning to, you know." He said harshly.

"Careless?" Sakura turned to Gaara, confused.

He just shrugged, though he watched Neji walk off with a frown.

xxxxxxxx

Kurenai was writing something that the class were meant to be copying down, but all Sakura could think about was the fact that Sasuke was only a few seats away. She tried to calm down, but thoughts of his angry face kept flitting across her mind. She hoped he'd be angry rather than hurt. Hurt was so much worse.

She shook herself angrily. She had every right to hurt him like he hurt her! She should be hoping he'd cry remorseful tears the moment he found out, not anxiously trying to keep her relationship from him, for fear of hurting his feelings.

Sakura sighed, chewing her pen. She was such a pushover, despite her bossy personality.

A note slid onto her desk. Sakura looked over at Gaara. He was looking out of the window.

Put your left hand under the table, the note said ominously.

Sakura cautiously slid her hand underneath the table.

She squeaked when it was suddenly seized.

Gaara had grabbed it with his right hand.

"Now we can both write," Gaara said in a low voice, pointing at the blackboard, "and still hold hands."

Sakura blinked. Gaara was left-handed and she was right-handed, so they could both write down the work easily even though they were holding hands.

"W-what if Sasuke sees?" Sakura whispered back, secretly enjoying the feel of Gaara's hand over hers.

"Just shut up and stop thinking about him. It's annoying." Gaara scowled, squeezing her hand tighter.

Sakura suddenly grinned, "You're secretly a big softie, aren't you?"

Gaara didn't reply, frowning even more deeply, his cheeks red.

They spent all of Maths class holding hands under the table.

xxxxxxxx

"That was great!" Sakura cheered, holding her arms up in joy, "No one even suspected anything!"

They were walking home from school. Sakura had finally managed to convince Gaara he didn't need to keep a fierce grip on her at all times as they walked, though he said he'd 'seen it in movies' and assumed it was normal.

"How insulting to have your girlfriend want to keep you a secret." Gaara commented, though he didn't look angry.

"Sorry, I just… don't want Sasuke to…"

"I get it, you're weak when it comes to the Uchiha." Gaara shrugged.

Sakura stopped dead.

"Weak?" She growled.

"Weak," Gaara repeated, "He made you cry a lot, and he manipulated you really easily. You also worry too much about him," He paused, looking down at his shoes, "It pisses me off."

"That's not being weak… He made me cry because he hurt me, not because I was weak! And – I'm not made of stone, I can't help being manipulated by people I care about, or worrying about them." Sakura protested.

Gaara's frown deepened, "That's what people used to say. That you were made of stone, that you couldn't feel anything. And why do you still care about him?"

"They thought I couldn't feel?" Sakura's mouth dropped open, "Those bitches. And I, I don't really care about him, I'm just a nice person!"

Gaara sighed, "I wish you weren't nice. Can't you just ignore him? I want to be able to tell Shikamaru that we're dating. Besides, that younger student knows we're together, so the rest of the school will know soon enough. So you shouldn't bother worrying about him."

"Argh, that's true, isn't it! That damn big-mouthed brat's going to tell everyone!" Sakura panicked, holding her head.

"Calm down," Gaara looked at her oddly, "I won't let the Uchiha hurt you if he gets angry."

Sakura let her arms swing back down by her sides and stared at her boyfriend, "You think I'm worried about Sasuke getting violent? As if! And here I thought I'd be the protector in this relationship!" She laughed.

Gaara didn't laugh. He turned slightly, his usual frown dropping into something a little more serious, "I want to be the one to protect you, not the other way around." He muttered, not looking at her.

Sakura's eyes widened. Gaara actually looked quite bothered, his eyes averted, his mouth downturned.

She smiled and pulled him into a kiss.

"Why don't we protect each other?" She suggested, pulling back from the kiss.

Gaara just stared at her, stunned, his face slowly turning red.

"Hm? What's up?" Sakura asked, tilting her head.

"… that's the first time you've kissed me." Gaara said slowly, still red.

"No, we've kissed like four times now!"

"No, it's the first time you've kissed me." Gaara said, flustered.

Sakura started to blush too, "Oh… it just felt natural to do it…"

"Well… give me a little warning next time." Gaara said, his hand covering his red cheeks.

Sakura grinned, "Softie."

They reached her house quickly after that, Gaara still in a huff about being declared a softie, Sakura still grinning like a maniac.

"Mum?" Sakura called out after opening the front door.

No answer.

"Oh. Guess she's not in." Sakura said, deflated. Alone in the house with Gaara…

Not good.

"OK, bye." Sakura said abruptly, trying to shut the door on him.

He simply slipped through the gap casually, "Rude," He said lightly, "Weren't you going to invite me in?"

He immediately started to head upstairs.

"…No." Sakura said weakly, closing the front door.

By the time she got upstairs Gaara was already snooping through her stuff, picking up some of the framed photographs on the desk and studying them.

"Shikamaru." Gaara pointed at the photo in his hand.

Sakura peered over his shoulder, "Oh yeah, I forgot about that! Ha, he used to be so skinny!"

"This… is Yamanaka?" Gaara frowned, confused.

"Yeah, we used to all be friends together. When Ino broke friends with me, Shikamaru chose me instead of her. Ino was so angry…"

"So, you were twelve in this picture?" Gaara said, gazing at the picture of her looking at the camera with a solemn expression, her fringe too long and in her eyes, clutching a book, "Cute."

Gaara looked around the rest of the photos and froze. He looked at Sakura. "Shikamaru." He repeated again, pointing at a different picture, "And here he is again. And again. And again."

Sakura raised her eyebrows, "Yeah, so? We're friends. He has pictures of me too."

It was the wrong thing to say. Gaara looked even more pissed off.

"Did you kiss him?" Gaara said suddenly, staring at her.

Sakura unwillingly made a horrified face at the thought, "What? No!"

"Why would you even ask me tha –" Sakura started to say, then trailed off when a certain photo of her and Shikamaru caught her eye.

It was the one of her and Shikamaru standing next to each other. Shikamaru was blushing, Sakura just looked confused.

Sakura jolted backwards in shock when she remembered that day perfectly for the first time in years.

It was just after Ino had yelled at her. Shikamaru had consoled her, telling her that Sasuke was no good anyway, and then… then…

Oh good God, it was true.

Sakura's face turned violently red at the memory. Shikamaru had confessed to her and kissed her suddenly. Nothing had ever come of it, partially due to Sakura still being lovesick over Sasuke.

"What, so you really did kiss?" Gaara noticed the blush and looked enraged, "I wasn't your first kiss after all?"

Sakura didn't know how to reply, and just concentrated on willing her blush away.

Gaara stared at her, his fists clenched, "Right," He said, and pulled out his phone, "Shikamaru, when you get this message, flee the country immediately. I am very, very angry with you and I wouldn't like to do something I would regret. I recommend you go somewhere far away. Bye."

He hung up after leaving the message.

"Gaara, call him again and say it was a joke!" Sakura cried.

Gaara turned back to face her, his expression dark, "Why should I? You told me I was your first kiss. You lied to me."

"I didn't lie, I just forgot!"

"How could you forget that? When I heard I was your first kiss, it made me happy. Now…"

"Look, even though Shikamaru and I kissed four years ago, I like you now! I love you, even! So don't worry about a little prepubescent crush! It didn't mean anything."

"What if it meant something to Shikamaru?" Gaara asked.

"Why would it? He loves Temari."

"Do you think so? What if he doesn't? Then I'll have to kill him twice, once for liking my girlfriend and once for hurting my sister."

"Gaara, please don't joke about killing people, it's not good for my heart. I love you, you big moron. Even if Shikamaru liked me, I wouldn't go out with him because I like you now." Sakura said emphatically, getting closer to Gaara.

Gaara's frown lightened slightly, "Oh. I suppose Shikamaru getting rejected by you would be enough punishment. But you'd have to be really harsh about it! Ruthlessly cold. Or he'll think he stands a chance."

"OK." Sakura sighed, knowing Shikamaru only had eyes for Temari and Gaara was just a big, over-protective fool.

Gaara pulled her into a loose hug.

Even though he was all cold and unemotional, maybe Gaara was just as insecure as she was, deep down?

Sakura hugged him back, harder.

xxxxxxxx

"Ino! Wait up! I need to talk to you." Sakura panted, slowing down from a run to a jog.

Ino was in her gym clothes, running on the track field. Her hair was combed back messily and her face was for once free of makeup.

Ino slowed down too, stopping to stretch.

"What is it?" Ino said, not even panting despite the amount of time she'd been running.

"OK, I need to tell you something but you absolutely have to keep it a secret! You can only talk about it to Hinata!" Sakura said fervently.

Ino paused, her face contorting. She was the world's worst secret keeper, and Sakura knew it.

"….'Kay." She said finally, looking wary.

Sakura looked around suspiciously. There were a few people gathered around the field in groups, but none of them were looking their way.

"I'm going out with Gaara." Sakura grinned.

Ino's eyes widened and her mouth gaped open unattractively.

"What the fuck?" She looked horrified.

"Well, I'm glad to see you're so happy for me." Sakura said dryly.

"But you hate him!" Ino protested, still looking absolutely flabbergasted.

"Thin line between love and hate!" Sakura said cheerfully, "He asked me out and I said yes! I really like him, Ino!"

"You really like who?"

Sakura froze. No, not today, God no…

She turned around slowly, already knowing from Ino's shocked expression who was behind her.

Sasuke stood behind her, wearing a tracksuit and an upset expression.

He waited, his expression slowly darkening with every second Sakura failed to reply.

"Um, Gaara." Sakura said timidly, fiddling with the hem of her shirt.

"Oh," Sasuke said, obviously fuming, "I guessed you did, from the way you kissed him…"

"We're dating!" Sakura blurted out.

"What…? You and Gaara?" Sasuke's scowl dropped for a second as he processed the news, "You're dating?"

Sakura nodded, awaiting Sasuke's angry explosion with a wince.

But he didn't explode with rage. He looked back at her, his face icily raging, his fists clenched so tightly they were turning white.

"Right," He said calmly, "Right. I'll go… deal with that."

"What?" Sakura cried, "Go deal with what?"

"I'll go deal with the bastard who forced you into this." Sasuke said coolly, his voice still far more controlled than his facial expression, which was frighteningly dark.

"No one forced me into anything!" Sakura protested.

"I thought he might have, to be honest." Ino agreed, her face pale.

Sasuke seemed to take her words as confirmation and set off across the track field, stomping off angrily.

"No! No one forced me into anything, Sasuke!" Sakura shouted, but Sasuke didn't seem to hear her.

She looked back at Ino helplessly, who simply shrugged.

Still not the end, lol! The ideas just keep flowing, tee hee! XD

Thank you StarKiss666 for the Shikamaru idea, you are an invaluable source of excellent ideas!

I'm having so much fun writing this! :D

Sakura is so much perkier when she finally has her man, huh? XD

Sorry for this short chapter, I thought it was longer than it was and couldn't write anymore, sob sob.

Quick poll for fun: Which is the best fight scene in Naruto?

A) Hinata vs Pein (or Nagato, or… or… the dude with the piercings, OK?)

B) Naruto vs Neji

C) Gaara vs Lee

D) Other! Let me know!