Sakura walked through the entrance of the school, fastening her glittery sash more tightly, her whistle already around her neck. Daddy-Gaara had apparently arranged for her to have her own limo and chauffeur (perhaps an apology for last night?), but she had politely told the driver she would walk and had no real need for a limo. He'd called Gaara's father even before she'd started to walk away, so she assumed she'd get a lecture from him later on.
She was a girl on a mission. She knew she'd have to see Gaara eventually, and deal with that little disaster then, but for now she had work to do.
It was an hour before the first bell was due to ring for classes, so Sakura had enough time to walk casually in the halls, looking around. There were not many students there yet, just the over-eager nerds like her who wanted to spend an hour in the library before class. The school itself was richly decorated, all gleaming floor tiles and tasteful wallpaper, so much so that Sakura, aged eleven, had felt overwhelmed by the obvious wealth that the school had, the very best teachers taught there, the most important people in the country had children there and the headteacher was rich beyond belief, having come from a very affluent family.
She stopped outside Tsunade's office and knocked on the door.
"Come in." The older woman called.
Steeling herself, Sakura entered the room. She'd met Tsunade once or twice, mostly at student council meetings or award ceremonies, but she'd never really spoken more than two words to her.
The headteacher herself sat at her desk, sipping coffee whilst going through some papers.
"Good morning, Tsunade-sama." Sakura said politely with a bow.
The woman looked up, hazel eyes narrowing as she took in the glittery sash and whistle.
"You must be the girl that kicked up a fuss over the Sabaku brat." Tsunade said with a half-grin. She gestured for Sakura to take a seat.
"Anything wrong?" Tsunade asked, tilting her head.
"Yes, miss, I am very sorry that it's come to this but I believe this has been going on for too long. The scholarship students are treated normally, equally, and are punished for wrong-doing, but the students whose parents can afford to bribe the school can do whatever they like. I, as a scholarship student who knows a lot about the school's policies, do not believe it is a fair system. A school can't operate on unfair, unbalanced rules. I think the school would benefit from following my example and treating students equally, even in punishment." Sakura said stiffly, aware that she had come off as rather posh and uptight, but as she began her diatribe, she had felt all of the old indignation sweep through her again.
"How revolutionary of you." The Headteacher said, her smile growing enigmatic, "So, you want us to give out detentions equally to all students that misbehave?"
Sakura nodded.
"What makes you think we don't punish the rich students?" Tsunade drawled.
"Well, I've looked at the detention records for the past –"
"This isn't about detention, Sakura." Tsunade interrupted her, "We teachers figured out a long time ago that detention did nothing to the rich students. This school is one of the best in the country. The Kazekage's son is here. The Uchihas send their children here. Every influential family has a child here. That makes this school a stepping stone for the children, a mere pause in their lives before they go on to take over the family business. They have no need for spotless academic records, no need for low detention levels, because they aren't aiming to get into college. So, how do we punish them? That was what had concerned me and was what my predecessor, Sarutobi-sensei, struggled with. I realised what we needed to do years back. These kids feed off the relationships they cultivate here with other young heirs, and their reputations mean everything to them. So, if word got out that one of the misbehaving students was untrustworthy…? They'd lose whatever precious connections they'd made. It is known, off the record, that if a student misbehaves in this school, they will be punished according to what would actually be a deterrent for future misconduct. Scholarship students need clean records to get into college, the heirs need good reputations to have good businesses."
Sakura had listened to the woman speak, her lip curling in distaste. "So, you spread rumours about the students to punish them…? How… childish. I fail to see how that works, considering the rich students do whatever they want despite your staff-based game of negative Chinese whispers."
Tsunade shrugged, "It works. Don't ask me how or why, but if we didn't punish them somehow, don't you think the school would have descended into chaos by now?"
Sakura had to begrudgingly admit the older woman had a point. Had they not been doing something right, the rich students would be running completely wild by now, and they weren't. Perhaps Sakura merely underestimated the student's value of reputation.
She wondered what had been whispered about Sasuke when he got into fights with Gaara, and if Kakashi had punished him for breaking her heart.
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To her amusement, Shikamaru was exactly where she expected he'd be, smoking on the roof as he did every day.
She sat down beside him and watched the clouds curling around each other for a while, trying not to breathe in Shikamaru's exhaled smoke.
They sat in companionable silence. The sun, despite the wintry season, had broken through the clouds and was warming up Sakura's face nicely as she gazed up into the sky. Shikamaru wordlessly inhaled the smoke and puffed out a few smoke rings that flitted across her vision.
Finally, Shikamaru sighed and put out his cigarette, stubbing it on the roof, "What's up, Sakura?"
"Just a few things." Sakura answered, "Will you tell me what Gaara's afraid of that he inspires?"
Shikamaru gave a ragged chuckle, "You are persistent. You wait all this time and start dating the guy just to get a slice of information? But, I see it like this. When you're a lazy, useless kind of guy, and you do nothing but sleep in class, people stop seeming mysterious or hard to figure out. You look at them like a puzzle, and you work out how to solve them. With Gaara, I knew when I first met him. A guy like that, full of anger, just pissed off at the world for no good reason, isn't hard to work out. Gaara's lonely. Well, he was. He was brought into the world killing the woman who gave him life. That screwed him up a bit, and he was already an outcast in his family, since his dad and his siblings all knew his mother and loved her, and he felt guilty for taking her away. His dad wasn't the type of parent who encourages you to show emotion, so he taught Gaara – indirectly, of course – to be ashamed of his feelings, and he even told him love is weak. So Gaara makes himself stronger by hiding everything he feels. Putting on a tough-guy face, making out that he's violent and unstable, making everyone fear him. But that's it. That's all. The key to Gaara's fear is inspiring fear in others. He's terrified of being a monster, thinks he'll end up like his sad, angry father, and though he can't stop himself acting like a bad guy to make people afraid of him, he hates himself knowing that other people think he's the monster he's terrified of becoming."
Sakura lay back, staring up at the blue, blue sky, musing on the information she'd been given.
"If you'd have told me that, I would have felt sorry for him and ended the war." Sakura said, only the slightest touch of suspicion in her voice.
"Which is exactly what Gaara didn't want." Shikamaru countered.
Sakura grumbled a bit at that, but could understand Shikamaru's motives. He knew the war was important to Gaara – to his stupid pride and his desire to get Sakura's attention – so he didn't push her into surrendering. Understandable, but, after what the war put her through, Sakura was still slightly annoyed.
A particularly fluffy cloud drifted by that Shikamaru seemed fascinated with, so he was unprepared for Sakura asking him, "Do you love me?"
Shikamaru coughed and spluttered, pushing himself into a sitting position so he could stare at her, aghast, "Who told you that?"
"No one, genius. I don't think you love me, but Gaara does. It's pissing him off, so you need to let him know he's wrong."
Shikamaru was silent. He gave a self-deprecating chuckle, "Oh, you don't know anything about me, do you? Why do you think I picked you over Ino? I loved you. I thought the sun shone out of your bloody arse, OK? But then I met Temari and I liked her a lot and I guess… I just stopped loving you."
Sakura was speechless. How did you respond to an impromptu love confession from one of your closest friends?
She blushed and shook her head, embarrassed. She stood up and roughly tugged the cigarette pack from his hand.
"No more of these!" She declared, waving the pack to emphasise her words, "As your President, I demand you give up smoking! It is a filthy habit, likely to shorten your lifespan!"
Shikamaru rolled his eyes at her outburst, but let a lazy smirk spread across his face.
"You're one of my best friends," Sakura said almost tearfully, "I'm sorry I didn't feel the same way about you back when you liked me, but I'm glad we're still friends."
"Alright, don't get mushy on me." Shikamaru grinned, rubbing the back of his head self-consciously.
He stood up and shifted on the spot, eyes still on the sky.
"Awkward friend hug?" Sakura suggested.
"Awkward friend hug." Shikamaru agreed.
They did just that, under the cloud-filled blue sky, just before Sakura ceremonially set Shikamaru's cigarette pack alight.
And then promptly panicked, muttering about fire hazards and doused the pack with Shikamaru's bottled water.
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It was getting close to the time for first class to start and Sakura was busy scanning the halls for troublemakers when she spotted an odd collection of people.
First, Yamanaka Ino, who despised getting to school anything earlier than fashionably late, was leaning against a locker, looking tired enough to require caffeine on drip, wearing a tiny top and minuscule denim shorts, clearly taking advantage of the rare thaw of winter.
Second, Hyuuga Hinata, who usually spent this time slowly riding in her limo watching Naruto and pretending he didn't know she was there – Sakura was fully aware he both knew of and enjoyed the attention – stood next to Ino, wearing a thick purple jumper over her school uniform and an anxious look.
Third, and strangest of all, Uchiha Sasuke. He was standing in front of the two girls, hands on his hips, lips pursed in annoyance. He was wearing sunglasses indoors, clearly to make himself look cooler.
Asswipe.
Sakura, despite largely disapproving of lurkers, cared not for Sasuke's precious privacy, and thus hid behind the corner and shamefully eavesdropped.
"U-Uchiha-san," Hinata began, her hands held up in the 'bunny position' Naruto drooled over, a shy little hand clasp that made her look adorable and terrified at the same time, "Ino-chan and I were worried that you were not handling Sakura's relationship with Gaara-san very well –"
"Yeah," Ino jeered, butting in with a nasty smirk, slinging an arm around Hinata's neck casually, "We thought you should know that you should grow the fuck up and stop making eyes at Sakura."
Sasuke's mouth hardened into a thin, angry line. "I fail to see how anything I do is any of either of your business."
"It is our business, Uchiha-san," Hinata said, without a tremor or stutter in her voice, "Because Sakura is our friend and we do not want her to be hurt. I had to watch her being hurt by you once, and I do not want to sit back anymore when there is a chance you will hurt her all over again. If your claim that you love her is real, then you should step back and give her a chance of happiness."
Ino looked surprised, as though Hinata wasn't sticking to the script they had obviously pre-arranged.
The sunglasses made Sasuke's face unreadable, meaning Sakura couldn't see how Hinata's words had affected him.
Sasuke sighed and ran a hand through his hair, managing to look enviably cool even when being harassed by two girls. "And if I do love her?" He asked, moving his face closer to Hinata's, so much so that Ino tensed, "What's left for me if I just let her go?"
"The knowledge that the one you love is very, very happy." Hinata replied, "You had your chance. You and Sakura were in love, b-but you messed it up. It's your own fault. Why should you be rewarded with love for your mistakes? I feel very sorry for you, Uchiha-san, because I know what it is like to love someone who doesn't look your way. But please, for Sakura's sake. Leave her alone."
Sasuke drew back, moving away from Hinata's face. Ino patted her friend on the shoulder and they both walked away from Sasuke, who was still standing there, unmoving.
Sakura felt touched. Her friends felt the need to stand up for her against Sasuke, even though neither of them had had the fortune of finding their very own Gaara. Sakura felt quite certain that Ino loved Shikamaru. Why else would she have been so angry when Shikamaru took Sakura's side all those years ago? Why had she looked so wistful and sad when talking about love before? And Sakura knew all too well that Hinata suffered through her silent admiration for Naruto.
Sakura was close to tears for the second time that morning. A bloody record, she thought wryly. At the start of the year, she hadn't thought she had any real friends. She had thought Hinata stuck with her because she was so kind, and she hadn't known how much she cared for Shikamaru or he for her, but now she knew and she was so grateful. She'd made loads of new friends this year and was so happy it was dizzying.
She looked at Sasuke, standing in the hallway, gazing at nothing, alone.
She went over to talk to him, maybe console him, make him feel better –
But he saw her coming and backed up, perhaps thinking of Hinata's plea for him to stay away from his ex-girlfriend. She saw him bite his lip and place a hand under his shades to rub at his eyes.
She raised her hands and opened her mouth to talk, but he shook his head and took a step backwards.
"Sasuke-teme!" Naruto suddenly yelled, obnoxiously loud, leaping on his best friend, "C'mon, Kiba's taught Akamaru how to sing! C'mon, let's watch!"
Sasuke wasn't alone, Sakura thought with a small smile. He had one very good friend who'd gladly stuck by him even when everyone else had abandoned him.
She headed for class feeling lighter than before, the tiny smirk on Sasuke's face as he was dragged away had left her unburdened of the stress of Sasuke's anger and hurt, she knew he'd be fine.
More importantly, she knew she and Gaara would be fine.
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Gaara hadn't been in Kurenai's class, leaving Sakura sitting alone again, occasionally giving the empty chair next to her dirty looks.
Her temporary worry was resolved when she received a text.
I'm in the courtyard.
Gaara. X
She was on the way there when her way was suddenly blocked.
"Kakashi-sensei." She said, annoyed, "I'm in a hurry."
"This'll only take a minute." He blinked his single visible eye at her, probably trying to wink and forgetting it worked better with two eyes, "I heard you tried to take on Tsunade to change the system, you little rebel," He chucked her under the chin, ignoring her scowl, "I'm glad you know the truth now, so you don't think us teachers favour the richer students. We don't, by the way, they're all brats. We wanted to tell you, as teachers, we are so grateful to you for helping out whenever you could. I know you worked too hard. We appreciate everything you've done for this school, so we're going to write you the best letters of recommendation to the most prodigious colleges out there, and we're going to make sure you get in."
Sakura's bottom lip wobbled. "Why is everyone trying to make me cry today?" She wailed.
She glared at the amused teacher for a second before giving him a quick hug, "Thank you." She murmured.
She took off running, ignoring his playful, "No running in the halls!"
The courtyard was virtually empty of students since it was lunch time, but a few were sitting on the grass or the stone benches, and in the middle Sakura immediately spotted Gaara standing alone, looking back at her.
"My father told me about his plan." Gaara said the moment she drew near, "And about how I don't have to marry Matsuri, and how he's going to spend some of the money Toru gave him on you as an apology."
Sakura rolled her eyes, "Tell him I don't need his slavery money. And hi to you too."
They stared at each other, Gaara's face a little frustrated; Sakura was smiling, the noise around them faded away until they were the only two people standing in the courtyard.
They were kissing before she knew it.
Her whistle was digging painfully into her chest as he crushed her against his body, one hand on the back of her head, the other comfortably placed in the small of her back. It was awkward and imperfect, but it was so perfect to Sakura that she couldn't hold back the contented sigh or stop herself from wrapping her arms around his waist.
And for once she didn't care that it was inappropriate for the President to be engaging in PDAs in the middle of the school courtyard, she didn't care that they were being watched, she only cared that she and Gaara were finally OK, no obstacles, no misunderstandings, just the two of them and the stupid, inexplicable love they both miraculously had for each other.
They broke apart to a chorus of wolf whistles and giggles from the students around them, but they were only looking at each other.
"So," Sakura said breezily, pretending her cheeks weren't violently red, "You and Matsuri didn't work out, huh?"
Gaara was looking at her with such soft fondness in his eyes, "She wasn't my type. I prefer girls who dress in cardigans and knee-length skirts, who stay up all night studying to maintain that perfect grade score, who hates injustice, sticks up for people and stands up to bullies. In other words, you."
"Softie." Sakura teased him, "But, don't worry. I prefer guys who wear eyeliner and have scraped knuckles and ripped clothes and a love tattoo, who pretend they don't care about anything when they care about everything, who love their family and would do anything to protect them. In other words, softie, you."
Gaara scowled, flushing, "I'm not a softie. I just have a weak spot for you."
"Same here." Sakura grinned, pointing to her heart and laughing at their cheesy lovey-dovey behaviour, "But I've got something to ask. It's something that's been bothering me for a while now. You were almost charged with assaulting someone. What was that about?"
Gaara frowned at the abrupt subject change and Sakura's sudden seriousness.
"There was another student," Gaara began, looking like he really didn't want to tell this story, "In one of my old schools. He was the son of a rich businessman, like me. He hated me. He did everything he could to get me in trouble. He particularly liked to goad me with personal insults. I never showed how much he irritated me, knowing he just wanted me to fight him to get me expelled. But one day, he showed up to school looking smug, as though he knew he'd struck gold. He had found out about my mother, and how she died. He told me to my face that I was a murderer, that I was a monster, that my mother had killed herself the moment she looked at my face. I snapped. I hit him. Again and again. But it was not as bad as the papers made out. He was out of hospital before the trial even began. My father had heard what I had done, and why, and he made sure I wasn't prosecuted. It was my fault, Sakura. I shouldn't have snapped. I shouldn't have attacked him. I don't want to be a monster." His face crumpled for once second before he forced it back to impassive.
Sakura pulled him into a hug, burning with anger that that brat had said that shit to Gaara's face then tried to get him done for assault, "You are not a monster, Gaara," She said fiercely, "Look at me. I'm the queen of rational decisions. I wouldn't date a monster. Ergo, you are not a monster."
Gaara hugged her back.
"Thank you." He said almost inaudibly.
"No problem." Sakura gripped him harder.
The hug was only broken when Sakura's phone vibrated in her pocket.
She fished out her phone and glanced at the new text message.
I've had some of the top wedding planners pick out the flowers and the doves, but I'm going to need your assistance if you want to pick your wedding dress.
Daddy-Gaara.
Sakura blanched at the text. The Kazekage was planning her wedding? Mostly without her?
She wordlessly turned her phone around to show Gaara.
He laughed and shook his head ruefully, "Knowing my father, he is deadly serious."
"It's silly, isn't it?" Sakura giggled, "How did he even get my number?"
Gaara nodded, smiling.
"I mean, we're too young to get married, right?" Sakura put her hands on her hips and pouted, "I guess I better text your dad back, stop him picking out cakes or confetti."
"Sakura." Gaara said casually, "I love you."
Sakura paused, just about to start typing out a text that would advise the Kazekage that making further wedding plans would be very unwise, "Love you too." She said without hesitation.
"Will you marry me?" Gaara asked slowly, staring into her eyes, his gaze intense.
Sakura dropped her phone.
"What?" She screeched, completely shocked. Gaara, the guy who hadn't even wanted to admit he loved her was suddenly proposing?
"Not now," He amended, "When we're older. But I know right now that I only want to be with you for the rest of my life. I know we haven't known each other that long. I know we're too young. But the whole mess with Matsuri and my father, it made me realise that the only girl I'd ever want to marry is you."
Sakura finally gave in to what had been threatening her all day. She burst into tears.
Gaara looked alarmed.
"I love you too, you big idiot," She sniffled, "Making me cry… Of course I love you. I shouldn't… we aren't well-suited, we made each other miserable, we have nothing in common… but I do want to be with you. Yes, when we're older, I'll marry you."
"There's a quote," Sakura said, smiling through the tears, "If we don't end war, war will end us. I think that fits us, don't you think? Our war brought us together but ending it saved us. I'm glad you declared war, Gaara, and I'm glad we surrendered to each other."
They kissed again, ignoring Sakura's phone buzzing as Gaara's father sent her more wedding advice.
The end :)
Well, it was a long, teary war, and I've got to admit, it was great fun to write!
I might write Sakura and Gaara's wedding if I can find the time (I start uni again soon), but I'm not sure how long it'd be and if I'd post it here or make it a one-shot.
This is officially my longest story. Thanks to everyone who stuck with it, even during the shoddy parts XD I love you all, especially those of you who took the time to review every chapter, your comments made my day every time :)
Sakura's quote was by H.G. Wells.
I also found quotes that fit other things…
For GaaSaku in this story, because Sakura was afraid of Gaara hurting her but in the end believed he wouldn't: 'Giving someone the ability to break your heart, but trusting them enough not to.'
For SasuSaku, because he gave her up: 'If you really love something, let it go. If it doesn't come back it was never yours.'
Postbellum apparently means 'after war,' so I thought it was a fitting last chapter name.
I'm going to miss writing about the Student Body President and the delinquent ;(
I hope you all enjoyed the story :)
Quick poll for fun: What is your favourite romance film/book/song/etc?
No more suggestions, sob.