Chapter 2: Late night visit

"Sakura-san! Thank goodness you're home, I was worried" Shizune always says that every time I walk through the front door. I think she's worried that I'd get rid of her the moment I turn 18. I wouldn't though, she plays too big of a part in my life, and it's true that Tsunande-san loves me as a daughter, and I love her too, it's just that Shizune has been there for me since Tsunande-san was hospitalized. She's a lot like my mother; she'd be my 3rd to be exact.

"I'm fine Shizune, can you prepare the guest room again? Sasuke's spending the night"

"Eh! HAI! Sasuke-san, your father called, he's looking for you. Shall I call him back and tell him you're here, or shall I say you're at the Academy?"

"It's alright Shizune, don't do anything. Let him look for me, I don't want to be found." Sasuke said firmly. He scares me sometimes, he hasn't been the same lately, and I wonder what it is.

Maybe it had something to do with what happened last week…

We were at the karaoke place near the school, Naruto and Hinata-chan's one-month thing. Naruto and Sasuke we're talking about something at the bar getting drinks with Shikamaru. Hinata and I sat at the table waiting for Ino to show up. Out of nowhere Hinata asked "Neh, Sakura,"

"Eh? What is it?"

"You and Sasuke seem really close, you look like a couple. You're always together and know each other better than you know yourselves'"

"Uh…. hum…nope, we're just friends. That's all."

"Are you sure?"

"Hai"

"Hem…okay, if you're sure."

Whatever Hinata was talking about, Naruto and Shikamaru were in it too. When they came back with our drinks, Sasuke didn't seem like my best friend Sasuke; he seemed like Sasuke, just another guy. Don't get me wrong, Sasuke's really, really cute! With his jet-black hair and matching dark handsome eyes…sigh. And I wouldn't mind being with someone like him, but that's just it, someone like him. I can't be with Sasuke! Sasuke's like the brother I never had! It would be so wrong if we got together. Wouldn't it?

12:30 the clock read. Sasuke was in the tiny dojo behind my house, practicing for the big tournament coming up. I sat sipping tea out front on the porch. There it was the former Uchiha residence across from mine. It was a beautiful home. Sasuke's great-grandfather built it, technically it was Sasuke's property, his mother inherited it and she left it to Sasuke. He plans on moving back in on his birthday. "Good times…" I whispered to myself. People were allowed to rent rooms in it, that's where Sasuke got his money from. I saw someone come out he looked familiar. I squinted to make out the face… Gaara! It was Gaara! I'm sure of it! He looked my way. He seemed to recognize me and walked over.

"Evening," he said, "err… I mean morning"

I smiled "Morning"

"You live here?" he asked,

"Yes, yes actually I do, sorry where are my manners? Would you care for some tea?"

"Yes, yes, thank you"

He walked up the stairs and sat down across from me. He looked better now than he did earlier.

"The house I'm renting in, the landlord is my age, did you know him?" he asked,

"Yeah, I do, and still do. Sasuke owns it."

"Sasuke?" he sounded surprised

"Hum, what a beautiful home, how come he doesn't live there?"

"It's complicated…"

"Oh I see. He's not 18 yet?" I shook my head

"17."

"Oh… I just turned 18, my step-mother threw me out, and so I moved here."

"She kicked you out? What about your little brother?"

"He lives with her still, she likes him more than me so she keeps him around, besides he's only 7."

"I see…"

"Yeah, how about you? Where are you're parents?"

"Um… they're in a better place now."

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that."

"It's alright, it's just that everyone around here knows the story of my family and Sasuke's family so they don't ask about it."

"Oh, I'm sorry then. I can be such a nuisances at times" He blushed and smiled, he's so cute!

"It's alright. No harm done. So how long have you been doing Kung Fu?"

"Err, for as long as I can remember. Back home I was the top student, and then I moved here. Sasuke's the top student here, so it looks like I've got competition."

"I guess so…" I muttered.

I wonder what it would be like with a new KF champ in town. Sasuke wouldn't be the same. Sasuke seems to be the hero in this town. Everyone knows him or of him and acknowledge his existence. He's always helping people, putting others' needs and wants before his own.

"Hey Sa-…" Sasuke turned the corner; he stopped himself from speaking once he spotted Gaara and I. "Oh, didn't know we had company," he gave a nod "Souna…"

"Uchiha…" he nodded back.

There were those cold eyes again, those scary cold eyes. Gaara stood up his too were cold. The tension between their glairs clearly stated they were rivals. But for what? KF? Only? Or was there something else?

"Sasuke-san!" Shizune called from inside. "Sasuke-san!" She came out, "Oh am I interrupting something?" She asked. Shizune always had bad timing, and always interrupted something good going on. This time, I was relieved.

"Yes Shizune?" Sasuke's eyes were back to normal, thank goodness. And Gaara snapped out of it too. He sat back down.

"Your room is ready." Shizune bowed and went back inside.

"Thank you." Sasuke replied and went inside to his room without so much as a glance at me…err us.

"He sleeps here?" Gaara asked sounding surprised and disappointed at the same time.

"Not all the time, just occasionally." I assured him with a smile. I wonder if he could tell my smile was fake. I poured myself another cup of tea "would you like some more?" My hand stretched over to his cup.

"No thank you." My hand retreated at Gaara's response. "Hey Sakura?"

"Eh? Yes Gaara-kun?"

"I was wondering, since everyone I've talked too says you're such a great person, err..." He was stuttering. I couldn't help but get excited. Was Gaara going to ask me out? I felt myself blush a bit as I gazed upon him. He looked up at me, and I looked away rather embarrassed.

"Yes?"

"well… umm"

"Yes?"

"I was wondering if you'd l-like to…"

"yes?"

He paused. Looked down. Then up at me again. His green eyes gentle and sweet. If he looked at any girl with those eyes, she'd fall for him. I felt myself falling. "Well… I'd like to get to know you a bit more, so I was wondering if you'd like to hang out some time"

I smiled. It wasn't a date, not really. He asked if we could 'hang out'. That doesn't count as a date. "Sure! I'd love to"

He smiled at me. "Great. How about tomorrow? Say, 5:30?"

I just nodded. "Oh wait. I have work until 6:00."

"Oh… that's ok, I'll pick you up from work then."

"Alright, are you sure?"

"Yeah, where do you work?"

"I work at the animal center near the KF Academy"

"Alright then, see you tomorrow at 6." He then got up, waved goodbye, and disappeared into the early morning mist.

woo i fixed all the typos (blush) so sorry i originally was going to create new characters...but i changed my mind. hehe!