Torn between her first crush and the two people who taught her so much…
Hyuuga Neji…
Sabaku no Gaara…
Uchiha Sasuke…
Previously...
>"No! You dope!" Naruto tackled Sasuke and they both fell into the bushes and rolled out onto the other side punching and kicking at each other.
>"Naruto? Sasuke? What are you guys doing?" stopping in mid strife they heard a feminine voice speak their names and they turned to see Sakura along with Neji.
'This is...weird…' Sakura thought as she saw Naruto and Sasuke still in a bunch. She watched them as they tried to untangle themselves.
"…I'll leave now…See you tomorrow…" Neji nodded at her and walked off.
"Bye bye!" she waved him off and returned to watching Naruto and Sasuke in their strange predicament, she couldn't help but smile at their situation.
"Get off me, dope!" Sasuke pushed Naruto's head away.
"Don't touch me! Stop calling me dope!" Naruto's hand was on Sasuke's head and his knee trying to get out of the tangle.
"Ah! Dope! You're hand is on my face!"
"Well, you too! Baka!"
Sakura smiled at her two team mates, they can bring back to many funny memories.
"You guys are so funny to watch." She smiled at them again, folding up her handkerchief and stuffing it into her pocket. They froze and stumbled out of the twist and acted normal again.
"Uh…Right…Ahem…" Sasuke brushed off the dirt on his clothes while Naruto rubbed his head.
"So…What's up?" she continued to smile at them at their embarrassment. Sasuke's blush disappeared to a face of seriousness that didn't faze Sakura like it used to, but Naruto was still blushing away.
"What were doing with Neji and Gaara yesterday? I know it wasn't just an ordinary picnic, and if it were…Why them?" Sasuke watched her intently, looking for signs of hesitation or nervousness but none came.
"Oh them? You know, I decided to take a day off from training and thought that it would be nice to eat outside and since I bumped into those two first, I asked them to come which they didn't mind much at all."
"You're lying…" in truth, Sasuke couldn't sense any tone of dishonesty from her, but it made him wonder more about Sakura and what she had been doing these past few months.
"Why would I lie? It's true, I did end up seeing them first and it's not like you'd like to join me. I did ask you but you refused anyway." Sakura's smile was wavering, but she still spoke in a polite, friendly way. Naruto was no longer blushing, but was now watching the conversation between his two team mates.
"How would you know? I could've just said yes instead." Sasuke was getting impatient but still remained calm.
"I know you Sasuke-Kun. You wouldn't say yes even if I begged for days on end. Don't you remember?" she smiled again at the thought of the memories with team seven.
"Stop smiling like an idiot." His voice was more firm now and it made her jump a little bit.
"Hey! I resent that!" Naruto pouted at Sasuke but he ignored him.
"What's with you Sasuke! It's not like I can't hang out with other people you know!" Sakura's hands were on her hips her pink brows furrowed.
"But why did you hang out with them! Neji nearly killed Hinata once and Gaara's killed more people than we can ever count!" he clenched his hand and his knuckles grew white.
"Why do you even care!" she screamed at him and Naruto jumped at her voice.
"Because I love you!" Sasuke was quiet now, unsure why he just confessed his love to her when he never knew what love was to begin with.
"…!" Sakura was shocked and so was Naruto, he stood there just gaping at him.
"…" Sasuke looked away not wanting to look at her.
"You…"
Sakura walked silently through the streets of Konoha, mind deep in thought going over the things that have just recently happened to her today.
It was just past the sun set but the sky already grew dark. The roads were lit by light posts and as the wind blew, the rustling of leaves could be heard.
Flashback
"You…What do you mean?" she looked at him, she tried to look into his eyes but he avoided her gaze.
"Sasuke…tell me..."she tried again but he continued to look away from her.
Sasuke gritted his teeth and in his confusion and frustration he turned and walked off.
"Sasuke! Wait!" she called out to him but he refused to stop, he refused to look back.
Naruto watched him walk away from them. Growing more and more concern for the raven haired boy and his former crush.
"What just happened? Naruto?" she spoke in a quiet voice, her eyes never left Sasuke's back.
End Flashback
She sighed. Finally deciding to look up, she saw Gaara just some paces away from her. She decided to worry about it later at home.
"Hey Gaara-Kun! What are you doing out here?" she put up her usual smile. It was somewhat forced but always honest.
"…Nothing…" he spoke in a clipped tone, arms crossed and eyes almost leering at her.
"Would you like to join me for dinner? If you haven't eaten yet." She walked up to him knowing full well that he wouldn't walk up to other people even if it was just a shuffle away.
"…Hn…" he made a small nod and she walked in pace with him.
"How was I today? Better? Even just a tiny bit." She made a gesture with her thumb and index finger.
"…Hn…" he closed his eyes but continued to walk.
"I'll take that as a compliment ne?" she smiled at him and started to hum a tune.
"…" he stopped walking, his eyes still closed but his forehead was furrowed in thought.
"What's wrong Gaara-Kun?" she stopped as well tilting her head to the right.
He was starting to relax now, the way his shoulders settled down and his deep breathing exercises.
"Gaara?" she looked worried, and she stepped a little closer to him. He slowly opened his eyes and stared into her jaded orbs.
"Gaara, what is it? What's wrong?" she spoke softly so that it might encourage him talk to her more.
He continued to stare into her eyes, eyes which showed concern and gentleness. Both things that he had not been able to experience after the accident with his uncle Yashamaru.
"Gaara…Say something…please." She reached out for him, but he took a step back. She felt a pang of sadness in her heart, when Gaara moved away from her touch. She slowly lowered her hand.
He watched her, her eyes changing from compassion to hurt. Her eyes glazed over, and she looked away. He couldn't help but feel guilty that he caused that sadness. He opened his mouth to speak but no words came out nor sound.
Feeling too depressed to stay any longer and feeling that she wasn't wanted, she decided to leave.
He saw her retreating figure and began to worry. He reached to her and stepped forward hoping it might grab her attention but when she didn't stop he had to speak.
"Wait! Don't go…" she had stopped walking but she didn't turn around. He took another step forward, hoping it won't end up making her run away.
"Why…won't you tell me? Is it because you don't trust me? I understand…I mean, we've only known each other for no more than 3 months right?" her voice was cracking but she tried to hold it together.
'I refuse to cry again…I can't. I've worked so hard to get this far…' Sakura thought to herself, forcing back the tears that threaten to fall.
"No, it's…I." he stuttered with his words which shocked Sakura as well as himself. It wasn't like him to stumble with his words. He took another step forward, his arm still reaching out to her. She remained motionless, waiting for him to say more. Hoping that the next words he spoke might bring her back from misery.
"Yes? Gaara…" her voice was soft, quiet. A void…
"I…" he began but found it hard to speak the next few words. He took a deep breath and began again.
"I…I'm sorry…" it surprised Sakura, hearing an apology from Gaara.
"I find it hard to trust people…the last one I trusted with my life…I ended up killing instead…" he lowered his hand a little bit. Sakura remained quiet and transfixed in her spot.
"I understand…" feeling somewhat satisfied at his answer, she made her way to her home.
"But I trust you…" she froze, her eyes lit up.
'Am I being accepted by Gaara?' she thought to herself slowly turning around to see his face.
It was sincere, his pale green eyes showed vulnerability.
'He never exposes himself. Not like this. Does that mean…he really trusts me?' she took a step forward.
He wanted to hold something and the closest thing was Sakura. But he didn't want to sacrifice their relationship just because he wanted a hug.
The weird thing was that she actually brought up both of her arms, offering something he was unable to have for so long.
He felt acknowledged. He embraced her as she did to him.
"Thank you…" he whispered into her hair.
"No…thank you." She smiled and cried at the same time.
Jyo-Chan – Well there ya go! It took me a while but I had loads of homework! But you guys come first neh! And also because I better finish this fic before I forget much of the plot which freaking sucks. Thanks much to those who reviewed and sweet as! Laters dudes and dudettes!
Naruto – School's being a drag for her…
Sakura – Yea! Too much homework!
Jyo-Chan – I wish they would give less…(Looks at Neji, Sasuke and Gaara.) Uh….What are they doing?
Naruto – They're in a staring competition…
Sakura – I think it's more like glaring…
Jyo-Chan – I agree…