You're my you. Even more no one else I'll adore..

Chapter 11: Miracles Do Happen

I looked around. It was that same playground again. And there, on that same swing, sat Gaara. He looked really happy. He had a beautiful smile on his lips, the one that is as bright as the sunshine.. It was rather unusual for me seeing him smile like that. But it was really beautiful..

You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..

I ran to him and hugged him tightly. It's as if I haven't seen him for a very long time. It felt so wonderful and so warm..

You make me happy when skies turn gray..

"Gaara.." I softly said. "I missed you so much.."

He didn't answer me. He just ran his hand through my long, pink hair. That felt good..

"I thought you'll never come back.." He said.

What was he talking about? I never left him.. Why was he telling me that? So strange..

You'll never know dear how much I love you..

"I'm happy that you're here with me again.." He continued.

Even though I can't understand what he was talking about, I just remained silent. It's enough for me just to feel his touch.. To hear his voice.. Just to be with him. I don't care whatever happened to me as long as I'm back in his arms again.. Oh, I missed him so much..

We were silent for quite a while..

"Sakura.." I heard him say. "If I'm gone will you search for me?"

I smiled at him.

"Of course I will.." I answered. ".. Because I love you.. Why?"

"I'm glad to hear that.." He said with that beautiful smile. "Because I will if I lost you.."

"Why?" I asked him again.

"Because I love you.." He replied then placed a light kiss on my forehead. He hugged me tighter. "I love you very much, Sakura.." He whispered to my ear. I slowly closed my eyes.

/White light/

I opened my eyes. I was shocked when I saw Gaara lying on my arms, with bruises all over his body and lots of blood. Was he..? No! That can't be! Just can't..

I shook him. I was crying so much.

"Gaara? Gaara..?!" I kept on calling his name in the hopes of waking him up. I smiled when his eyes opened a little. He flashed me a weak smile. He held my hand and squeezed it softly.

"I will love you.. f-forever.. Sakura.. I.. promise.." That was his last words before he.. he died in my arms.

"Let him be.." I heard a very familiar voice say. I looked at the speaker.

Sasuke.. Why was he talking like that? It's as if he was so happy seeing Gaara dead. Or was he just happy seeing me so miserable?

"S-Sasuke.. W-Why?" I asked.

He went closer to me.

"I can make you happy, Sakura.." He answered then placed a light kiss on my lips. "Leave him and together we shall experience happiness and love.."

He pulled my arm up, leaving Gaara's lifeless body on the ground. Then it started to rain like before..

Please don't take my sunshine away..

-----

I shivered. The blanket was not enough to warm my body. I slowly opened my eyes. Another sunny morning.. Ahh.. Morning. I love morning.. For I'll get to see my friends again.. My favorite actor, Uchiha Sasuke.. And of course, my Gaara.. I smiled.

Why do I keep on having such horrible dreams? Gaara.. and Sasuke.. Nah, that was just a dream. Dreams doesn't come true, right?

I hope so.. I sighed. I shook those thoughts about my horrible dream.

There's nothing better than to wake up in.. Another person's room?! Oh gods, where the heck am I?! That wasn't my room! That room was too dark and there's a fireplace, a black couch and.. I don't have those!

Oh shit! Itachi's room.. I shivered more..

Was that a dream again? But it felt so real.. I thought dreams doesn't come true..

I looked under the blanket and.. I don't have clothes! Nothing, as in nothing.. Oh gods, what happened to me?!

I sat on the bed and quickly searched for my clothes.. I saw my blouse then my skirt but both were torn in the middle.. How would I be able to wear those? That bastard!

"Oh so you're awake now.." That was Itachi's voice. "Did you sleep well?"

"What did you do to me?!" I snarled at him.

He sat beside me on the bed.

"Oh, so you want me to tell you about our previous activity?" He said with a smirk on his lips. He went closer to me and I backed away.

"You want me to tell you how our lips met? How I touched every part of your beautiful body and how you moaned in pleasure.."

"Oh.. P-Please.. M-More.."

"Touch.. Me.. Th-There.."


I could only remember fragments of it. He's lying! He's lying! That's not true! I kept on telling myself. I can't possibly do that.. That was just a dream and I will wake up soon!

"How I made you scream so loud.. How I made you scream for more.. How I made you experience euphoria?" He went on and on.

"Uh.. D-Don't.. S-Stop.. Please!!"

"How you begged me to continue? How you--"

I covered my ears with both hands. I was crying a lot. I don't want to hear more of his lies..

"Th-That's not true.. Nothing h-happened! You're lying! Liar! Th-This is just a d-dream!" I screamed at him hysterically.

"You don't believe me? Reality sure does hurt a lot sometimes.." His smirk grew bigger.

He cupped my cheek and placed a kiss on my lips. I was too terrified to move.

"You want me to continue?" He spoke.

"N-No.. Please.. Stop." I pleaded him. I was so scared. What will happen to me if Ino, Naruto, Sasuke.. and Gaara knew about this? Are they going to hate me?

"W-Why.. W-Why m-me?" I asked him, almost like a whisper. I was trembling a lot.

"I told you I'm interested with Sasuke's new toy. I'm interested with you.." He slowly licked his blood-red lips.

He stood up and sat on the couch.

"I guess it's time to tell your friends what happened to us.. Especially your boyfriend.."

I stood up and walked in front of him, using the blanket to cover my body.

"Please d-don't.. tell.. them.." I actually begged him. More tears sprang from my eyes. "Please.."

"Okay.. Don't worry, I wouldn't ask for something in return, my Sakura.." He flashed me an evil grin.

He stood up and caressed my cheek before devouring my mouth.

-----

I think he was really prepared for my arrival.. and that.. that you know what. He gave me some expensive girl's clothes to use instead of my old clothes that he tore. Of course I can't possibly use that..

My mind was on clouds.. What if Gaara knew about that? I fear rejection so much.. I don't want to be sad again. Will he still accept me?

Why did Itachi do that to me? Does he want to ruin my life? Well congratulations to him, his plan was almost twenty percent complete.. Damn it! I hate him! I hate myself for being so stupid!

I was crying a lot as I was walking back my apartment. I think I can't face them.. I can't face my friends! I can't face my Gaara.. I'm ashamed of myself..

You want me to tell you how our lips met..

Itachi's voice suddenly rang into my mind. Of all the girls out there, why me? Why..

I was standing in front of my apartment's door when I saw a limousine stop by. It looked so familiar to me.. Sasuke's car..

He disembarked from the limousine and approached me.

"How are you?" He asked me. He's worried about me? Oh, that's a miracle.. That's a damn miracle..

"F-Fine.." I answered.

"You don't look so fine to me."

"You shouldn't have asked me in the first place.." I retorted.

"Anyway, you should be at school right now.." He said. He doesn't sound concerned or worried.

I felt angry. I don't want to be interrogated that time. I just want to rest in my room. Sleep on my bed, hoping that no tomorrow will come for me..

"Why should you care?!" I asked him while crying. "You kept on ignoring me before, right? You kept on rejecting me.. Saying bad things about me.. What's with the sudden change?!"

He was silent. I cried more. He advanced towards me and slowly placed his arms around me, his chin rested on my head.

"I'm sorry.." Sasuke whispered.

I felt angrier that I pushed him away.

"Sorry? Well Uchiha Sasuke, if this is a part of your plan of hurting your brother's feelings, forget about it! I can't understand you! I hope you never came back to ruin my happy life.."

"I'm sorry I'm just not an expressive person.. I was not brave enough to tell you how much I--"

"This is part of your plan, isn't it? Sasuke please be honest with me.. What am I to you?" I asked him. I wanted to know that so much.

He pulled me into an embrace.

"Everything.." He whispered to my ear. "I swear to the gods, that is not a lie.." There was sincerity in his voice. Something rather.. unusual for me..

/Sakura, don't let him fool you! Gods, he's an award winning actor! He was just acting../ My inner self said.

She might be right but.. I don't know.. There was something in him.. And that something was enough for me to trust his words. Well, almost..

My eyes widened upon hearing that. I've longed for him to say those words. But why now? Now that I am happy.. But I knew I've got to be strong. I knew I've got to accept the fact that he can never love me.. That he was lying.. I pushed him away.

"I've longed to hear those words from you, Sasuke.. That you care for me.. You know that.. I'm happy now b-but then you came back and told me that.. that I'm everything to you?! Well, shut the fuck up! Y-You're too late, Sasuke.. I'm happy now.. Happy with Gaara. So please.. s-stop it.." I told him.

It was so hard not to let the tears fall. It hurts a lot.. I wanted to cry but I don't want him to see me like that.. I wanted to be strong in front of him.

I waited for his answer but no reply came so I opened the door and walked away..

"It hurts a lot, right?" I heard him say.

I stopped but didn't look at him.

"To pretend that you are strong but inside.. you're dying.." He continued.

My eyes widened. It's as if he could read me like an open book! I looked back at him.

"W-What are y-you.. talking a-about?" I asked as if what he said wasn't true.

"You went to my house. Tell me what happened that you returned here sad and.. crying.." He said.

I knew I couldn't always please everyone and myself. I tried my best but I can't hold the tears back any longer. I remembered Itachi's smirk. What he said to me.. It felt so disgusting.. So dirty..

"Why sh-should you c-care..?" I angrily asked him.

"Because it hurts me a lot seeing you so sad and crying.." He answered, almost like a whisper.

He paced towards me and gave me a hug. His hand ran through my long hair. I just let him do that to me for it felt so comfortable..

I cried and cried in his arms. I guess I needed someone to talk to.. We went inside my apartment and I told him what happened to me..

-----

Gaara and I met at the playground later that afternoon..

"You worried me to death.." He said. "I thought you'll never come back.."

I thought you'll never come back..

I suddenly remembered my dream that morning. I shuddered.

I held his hand and gave it a squeeze.

"I'll never leave you, Gaara.." I gave him a reassuring smile.

If I'm gone, will you search for me?

Oh, that dream again.. Why does it keep on haunting me? I told Gaara about that..

"That's just a dream.." He said.

"Yes but it scares me a lot.. I don't know.. What if--"

"No matter what happens, I'll still cherish you.." He cut me.

I inwardly smiled. We were silent for a while..

"Gaara, do you believe in miracles?" I asked him, breaking the silence. That question suddenly popped out of my mind.

"You know, I've heard a lot of people asking the gods for miracles-- that they will have more money, success, long life.. I think that was rather absurd. They don't realize that when they wake up another morning is a miracle itself. Life is a miracle. I live another life with you and it makes me feel so happy.. So happy to experience miracle.. Because I have you.. That's why I'll always treasure all the days of my life that I am with you, Sakura.."

Why didn't I think about that? Life is a miracle.. While I was talking to Sasuke earlier I wished that no tomorrow will come to me when I sleep.. How could I be so selfish? I was only thinking of myself. Despite all the hardships of life my friends are still with me.. And my Gaara. They care for me. They are the reason why I wake up every morning and face new challenges that life would offer. They are the reason why I still would want to live this cruel life. And they are the reason why I will still keep on surviving..

Especially him.. He taught me a lot of beautiful things..

Miracles do happen..

"Anyway, where were you yesterday?" He asked me. "I called you in your apartment but there was no answer.."

I knew he would ask that.

"Uhm.. I w-was so tired yesterday th-that I slept early.." I lied. I flashed him a weak grin.

I didn't think that I convinced him. Gaara is smart and he isn't the type of person that you could easily out-smart.

"I understand." He said. Good thing he isn't the type of person who will force you to do or tell him something.

I stared at the ground.

"Th-Thank you.." I answered.

Silence.

"Sasuke's back.. Have you seen him already?" He asked, breaking the long silence.

"Uhm.. Y-Yes.. I met him this morning.."

Again, silence filled the air for quite a long time..

"I'm not a good liar, am I?" I told him with a small smile. He nodded slightly. I slowly closed my eyes, trying to hold the tears back.

"What's been bothering you?" He asked me.

"I tried to hide you the truth.. B-But I can't. I know that after I tell you what's been bothering me, you'll hate me for sure.." I sighed. "Itachi.. I went to Sasuke's house yesterday uhm.. to pay him a visit. I was quite worried about him.. A-And it happened so fast and I woke up a-and Itachi told me.. H-He touched m-me.. A-And I.. I'm sorry!"

I started to cry. I cried so hard.. I can't face him.. I felt so ashamed..

I felt his warm hand touch my shoulder. Mmm.. It felt so nice.

"Why are you telling me that you are sorry?" He finally said.

What the?! I thought he will be so.. angry. I thought he will hate me.. Why Gaara? Why are you so kind and understanding to a girl like me?

"B-Because.. I.. I.." I tried to answer but no more words came out.

He looked at the red-orange mixed with lavender colored sky. He sighed.

"I didn't love you because of your virginity. I love you because you are.. you. I love you for who you are, what you are and that will never change. You're my you, my Sakura.." He looked at me. "I love you just the way you are, Sakura.."

I was touched by his answer. Well, maybe that incident with Itachi was destined to happen. Problems do strengthen a relationship, right? That problem will also help me to determine who really loves and cares for me. Maybe it wasn't so bad after all.. Err.. Maybe..

But wait.. Something was not quite right about what Gaara had said..

"Hey Gaara.." I said with a small grin. "You said you love me just the way I am." I emphasized the word 'love'.

"Yes, I did.."

"Say it again.." I said in my sweetest voice.

"You heard me already.. It's enough." He answered in his normal tone.

I breathed deeply. I guess its time to tell him the truth..

"I love you.." We said in unison.

I blushed.

-=-=-=-=-

I agree with Sakura that problems do strengthen a relationship..Thanks a lot for those who reviewed! You mean a lot to me.. Review please!