WARNING: Lots of GaaSaku ahead. Don't like don't read. I warned you..

Chapter 9: Why

"So, how are we gonna do that?" Shikamaru asked. "Does anybody have a bottle?"

"Uhm.. I.. I.. h-h-have a bottle.." Hinata shyly said. She brought her half- filled mineral water bottle from her bag.

"Okay! Let's start the game!" Lee exclaimed and spinned the bottle. Its mouth pointed to.. Naruto!

"Naruto, truth or dare?" Lee asked him.

"Hm.. Dare, of course!" He haughtily answered.

"Okay.." said Shikamaru with an evil grin. "No ramen for the rest of your life! Hahaha!"

"Hey, that's too much!" Naruto complained.

"It's a dare!" Shikamaru reminded him.

"Or has the proud, brave, strong Naruto turned into a chicken?" Lee mocked him.

"Who are you calling chicken, you thick eyebrowed dumbass?!" Naruto angrily said. He swallowed hard before speaking again. "O-Okay.. No ramen for.. the.. rest.. of my life."

Oh, poor Naruto! It must have been very hard for him. He should've not accepted the dare. Thanks to his pride he won't have ramen for the rest of his life. But I know Naruto.. Ramen is his passion and he just can't live without it. Sooner or later he will go to Ichiraku and buy lots of his favorite miso ramen.

I don't know why.. I suddenly remembered that bastard, Itachi and my horrible nightmare. It was so scary and it seemed so real. Can he just stay out of my life?!

I smiled inwardly upon seeing Sasuke and Gaara here, with me. I don't know what to do if I lost one of them.. But one thing came into my mind. About that dream.. What if the time comes that I'll have to choose one of them? Sasuke who I love so much but doesn't feel the same for me or Gaara, a.. well, a very close friend of mine? I got more confused when I knew that I can't live without anyone them..

I knew for sure that it was love that I felt for Sasuke.. But for Gaara.. I don't know if I only see him as my friend or.. more than that. I admit that well.. I kind of.. uhm.. like him at times but how can I continue to love a person who loves someone else? And how can I also continue loving a person who can never love me?

I'm so confused..

I looked at my friends. They were smiling, laughing.. They looked very happy.. Can I just be like them? Can I just be happy?

I smiled a little as Naruto dared Neji to show his.. uhm.. underwear to us. That stupid Naruto! But you know, I envy him. Naruto is strong and he always seems to be happy despite all his problems.

I sighed. Oh how I envy him..

Neji unbuttoned his pants and it slipped down up to his knees, revealing to us his erm.. inner strength. Who would have thought that Hyuuga Neji, a genius from Ino's class, quiet type of guy, observant and cunning could be that.. daring. Naruto just can't think of any better, wholesome dare.

Well anyway, its color was white. Neji was kind of cute when he blushed. I chuckled.

-----

"It's Sasuke's turn now!" Naruto exclaimed, sounding kind of like now-I-can- have-my-revenge-on-you. "Okay, here's you're dare, stupid Sasuke! Yo--"

"Hey Naruto you always give the dare!" Ino cut him. Naruto gave lots of stupid ideas for the dare. Maybe Ino doesn't want Sasuke to experience shame and hardship, if that's the right term for it. "Give us a chance!"

"This is between me and Sasuke." Naruto said. "So stay out of it!"

"Sasuke.." Ino called him in a sweet voice. "Kiss the one you could possibly like in this group.."

Ino looked so confident that Sasuke will kiss her. We'll know the answer soon..

He stood up and walked past Ino.. Where's he heading?

I knew the answer when he squatted down in front of me. He gave me a sweet smile before his lips slowly touched mine a--

-----

"Since G-Gaara is our s-special guest today," I heared Ino say.

Was I day dreaming again? I sighed.

"H-He'll have to do the special d-dare.. Uhm.. Neji, explain it t-to him." She continued.

Neji, with his arms crossed across his chest, began explaining what that 'special dare' was.

"It's easy. All you have to do is.." He got a little strawberry from Ino's basket. "put this strawberry into the mouth of the girl you could possibly like in this group and retrieve it by any means you'd like."

Neji passed the strawberry to Gaara. The red-haired guy stood up and walked slowly towards.. my direction.

He squatted down in front of me, his face still emotionless. He suddenly pushed the strawberry into my slightly open mouth. It almost choked me! Now what will he do to get the strawberry fro--

He suddenly pushed me down to the grassy ground and crushed his lips against mine. I felt his tongue move inside my mouth, exploring it, in search for that red fruit..

The strawberry went deeper into my mouth when he pushed me down and because of that, his tongue dived deeper until it touched the fruit..

He crawled away from me and chewed that fruit, my favorite fruit, slowly..

I've never experienced a kiss like that.. I sat back. I was so dumb strucked about that dare thingy.. My mind was on clouds.

"Sakura?" I heared Ino call my name.

"Truth or dare?" She asked me.

I'm not in a mood to do unearthly, stupid or daring things so I chose truth.

"Who was your first kiss?" Ino asked.

I was quite startled by her question. You know that Sasuke was my first kiss.. But I think it's best not to tell them. And besides I think he doesn't want them to know at all. It was just a part of his revenge, anyway..

"Uhm.. Ga-Gaara.." I lied. "Y-You know.. when h-he did th-that special dare.."

I blushed a little upon remembering that incident.

I spun the bottle and it pointed to.. Sasuke. My heart beated faster. I didn't know why I felt so nervous..

"Truth." Sasuke said without me asking him.

I expected that he'll choose dare, like what I had day dreamed. And because of my expectation, I was not prepared to ask him a sensible question.

"H-Have you ever been.. in love?" That question suddenly popped out of my mind. That was the same question I asked Gaara before.. I still clearly remember that rainy night.

Everybody focused their attention to him. Even if he's into showbusiness, his personal life was kept hidden. He's really good in keeping his secrets. That was like interviewing the famous Uchiha Sasuke!

"I don't have time for any serious relationship." He paused. "But of course I've been in love.."

"Oooh.. I didn't know that the super star, Uchiha Sasuke has a heart that could love!" Naruto mocked him. "You and Gaara are almost as cold and as hard as a rock!"

"Stupid Naruto!" Ino said. "Sasuke is different.. He's handsome, a good actor that could almost make me cry, loving person while Gaara is a sch--"

"Hey stop it!" I almost shouted at my best friend.

"Naruto is right, Sakura." Sasuke said. "I'm as cold and hard as a rock, an ice cube--"

"You're wrong!" I cut him. "Why do you let people judge you before they could even get to know you?!" I looked at Gaara. "You know it's not true but then y-you let them judge you! H-How could you tolerate that?"

Gaara stood up and headed to Sasuke's tent.

Everyone fell silent.

"You don't know anything about me.." Sasuke said and walked away.

-----

That night around 11:00, when everyone were in their respective tents and sleeping, I sneaked out of Sasuke's tent and headed to a small river I saw earlier. It was really hot in there so I decided to take a bath. And besides I couldn't sleep with Sasuke and Gaara by my sides..

I slowly took of my clothes and soaked myself to the chilly water. It didn't matter to me if it was cold. I just want the dirt to be washed away and to chill my sweaty body.

I stared at the full moon's reflection on the water. It was really beautiful and it provided me some light. I looked at the starless sky. Cold air touched my skin and it sent shivers to my spine.

Ahh.. Finally a peaceful place without a noisy Naruto. Now I could think clearly..

You don't know anything about me..

I remembered what Sasuke said earlier. I knew he has an older brother that he really hates, a mansion full of servants, he's also smart, handsome and very popular.. But I knew that wasn't what he meant. What's important is what's inside. If you know a person by his heart, that means you truly know him. That's what Sasuke meant.

I soaked my whole body to the water for some seconds. Hmm.. That felt great! I popped my head to the surface and breathed. I leaned against a big rock. I bent my legs slightly so the water could cover my naked chest.

I've been in there for quite a while and finally, I decided to go back. Before I could even stand up, I heared a swish in the water. I thought it was just the wind but suddenly I heared a splash.

I've got company.. The sound was quite faint so maybe he or she was some meters away from me. I listened to the sound of the water and it got louder and clearer. I lowered my body to the water so only my eyes and nose could be seen.

I knew for sure that it was a boy, I saw his upper body with a help from the moonlight. But who could it be?

I looked closer to him. I could only see his naked back. Pale skin.. Uhm.. Let's see.. Red hair.. Gaara!

"What are you looking at?" He asked in his normal tone. I can't believe that he noticed me!

I was startled and was ready to run away. An idea of him hurting then killing me suddenly popped up in my mind. I immediately stood up. I noticed that he suddenly looked away from me. What could be the reason? Am I ugly or what? I decided to see for myself and I immensely blushed upon seeing my naked body flashed before him! Oh, good gods I was saved! The water covered the lower part of my body while my long hair protected my bosoms from his eyes. I dived back down.

"Uhm.. I.. I.. I'm sorry. Erm.. Re-Really I'm sorry.." I apologized to him. I was blushing scarlet and I felt really embarrassed.

"You should always be alert." He answered. He bent his legs a little and leaned on the other side of the big rock.

I leaned against the opposite side of the rock where Gaara leaned. My legs were still shaking in embarrasment. How could I be so.. stupid? Argh! I hate myself!

"Y-You c-can't also sleep?" I asked him, trying to start a nice conversation.

"It's hot." He answered.

"Y-Yeah.. S-Surely y-you're not following me, right?"

"Of course not." He answered. "I just felt like taking a bath.."

"Uhm.. Did you enjoy the camp?" I asked again. I can't think of anything nice to talk about and now I sounded like a mother asking her child about his day.

"No." He replied.

There was silence in the air. The wind grew colder..

"Hey Gaara," I said, breaking the awkward silence. "Do you miss her?"

Oh yeah, I love talking about his love life but when it comes to mine, forget it nothing will interest you.

"Yes.." He sighed. "Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

Here I was again, acting like a brave little girl. Well, all I could do was pretend. No matter how much I try, I can't be as strong as Naruto, Sasuke and Gaara..

I started shed tears.

"Sasuke.. H-He told me th-that he only kissed me to make his brother j- jealous. For him I'm only a tool for his revenge. I.. I was so hurt, Gaara!" I explained to him. "A-And now I realized how lucky I.. I am t-to have you as a.. as a friend. Thank you very much for being with me always.."

"If one day he'll tell you that he loves you for real, are you going back to him?" He asked me.

Yeah, what if that day comes? But will it ever come? Should I go back to him? Will he really love me for real? Lots of questions swirled into my mind.

"I.. I.. d-don't know. I'm getting tired of loving him. He keeps on rejecting me and that really hurts.." I answered him. "I cannot say 'yes' to a thing that is nearly impossible to happen. You know, sometimes I think that were not meant for each other.." I sighed. "Only destiny could tell.."

"But destiny is sometimes wrong." Gaara said. He could be true but.. "You think that you're destined to be with him? Ridiculous.. Sometimes you think that this is the right thing for you then you'll do it. But in the end you will realize that it was a big mistake and you'll wish to the gods to turn back time but that is really impossible. What I'm trying to say is that you should be careful with what you choose to do for you can never change it. Try to open your heart and you will find the answer to your question.."

Was he trying to tell me that Sasuke will be my big mistake in the future? Does he mean that I should love again and that would answer the question that lingers in my heart? Maybe he's right but Gaara, I'm still confused..

"Gaara, why are you telling me this?" I asked him.

He was silent for quite a while but I waited for his answer.

"B-Because I care for you.." He replied in a surprisingly soft tone.

I was quite startled by his answer. He cares for me..

"Why?" I questioned him.

I knew that he stood up because of the sound of the water. I wasn't looking at him but I heared him walking then he stopped. Chilly air once again touched my flesh.

".. Because I loved you.." He answered. There was a big lump on my throat and I found it hard to speak.

"L-Loved? W-Why not love?" I asked him. There's a slight difference between those two words. Loved is the past tense of love. Why?

"I never knew the existence of that thing called love.. So people judge me a lot of times but I don't really give a damn about it. I like it when they just stay away from me. Then she came into my life.. Explained how life would be so beautiful if I open my heart and.. love. I really want to thank her.. I really want to thank her for showing me what love was. I really want to thank.. you, Sakura. I wanted to show you love but you wouldn't let me.. You're too busy with Sasuke. I.. was so afraid that time when I realized that I've fallen in love with you because love was like something new for me a-and I feared that you might reject me.. But like what you had taught me, I became brave and accepted the challenges of love. A-And when I knew that you just can't let him go, I was so disappointed b-but I respected your decision.. b-because I want you to be happy! A-And then the feeling of numbness came back, like love never exists in my life again. I.. I.. forgot how to love.."

My eyes widened upon hearing his answer. Such a long answer for such a short question but that explained all.. I can't give him any answer.

I heared him walking away but then he stopped when I called his name. I stood up, not minding my state of nakedness. I paced towards him and now I'm facing his back.

Now I knew my answer..

I slowly placed my arms around him, my forehead leaning against his back.

"Gaara, thank you for making me so happy. And you know, I think I also forgot how to love.. B-But we c-could learn t-together.." I said. This time, I wasn't crying, I was smiling..

I felt some liquid fall to my arms. For the first time in my life, I saw him cry.. That was new for me. Hmm.. Maybe I was judging him before I could even get to know him. My smile grew bigger.

"Th-Thank you, Sakura.. Let's discover that thing called love.. together." He said.

Now I'm sure. I'm definitely sure about my feelings for him. I'm sure that I like him more than just a friend..

-=-=-=-=-

Uhm.. Yah, I know. Again, sorry if this chapter sucks. If you didn't like it because of the pairing, well I've warned you already. I felt happy for Gaara and Sakura but I felt sad for myself after rereading this chapter. Some parts came from my personal experience (sigh)..

Review people and tell me what you think..