as always i don't own naruto

lady rine says: this story originally had different character names for both Sasuke and gaara's character, heh i was going to make sasuke appear at a different time, but i changed my mind! HEHE!

tehre were alot of original characters that i was going to create, but ...i changed my mind hehehe!

so if you catch anymore typos please let me know! and i'll fix them asap! mmmmkay!

Oh in this story, Gaara and TemariARE NOT RELATED! okay? awsome!

ENJOY!

(heart) always

lady rine

Chapter 3: It's not a date! Right?

"Hey!" I yelled with a laugh. Askasua was a beautiful red-orange-like colored cat with stripes of gold and yellow on her back and legs and tail. She was the prettiest cat I've ever seen and my favorite one at the shelter. She was tickling me as she licked my fingertips playfully. "Aww! Kawaii! (cute)" I smiled, and Akasuka purred.

"Oi! Sakura! Afternoon!" Gaara called walking into the store, making the door top bell ring. I glanced at the clock on the wall. 6:00 pm, right on time.

"Hey Gaara!" I ran over to the front counter where he was standing, Akasuka followed me.

"Well, well… who's this little cutie here?" He asked while picking up Akasuka.

"Be careful, she's not too nice to strangers." It was true though… she wasn't. She's seen Sasuke so many times before, it took her 6 months to get used to him, and even then, she still bites him occasionally.

"Well aren't you a pretty kitty" Gaara said as he nuzzled her nose and brushed her fur with his hand. Akasuka purred. She liked it!

"Wow…" I gasped.

"Eh? What's wrong Sakura?"

"Oh nothing… It's just… I've never seen Akasuka take a liking to anyone so fast. "Not even Sasuke, and he's here almost all the time."

"Oh… well then I guess I'm special." he teased with a smile. He then turned back to Akasuka, who was still purring. I guess she really like Gaara, but then again… I can't really blame her. He's such a sweetie!

"I guess you are." I teased back. I giggled a little bit, and he handed Akasuka back to me, and I took her into my arms.

"You're something special too Sakura" He winked at me. I felt myself blush, how embarrassing! I turned and put Akasuka back in her cage and grabbed my jacket and bag. I turned around and Gaara was right there in front of my face. Where did he come from? He was at the counter just a second ago. I froze. A kiss? Already? And it's only been 10 minutes. I blinked, and he poked my nose, I couldn't help but smile. HEY IT WAS CUTE! In a strange way…

"You ready?" he asked, retreating to a respectful distance.

"Uh huh" I nodded trying to suppress a blush.

"Great! Let's go then" He smiled at me. What a great smile. It made me feel safe and warm and wanted. He took me by the hand and led me gently out the door. I followed him quietly, smiling and blushing. His words rang in my head "You're something special too Sakura" Wink, all the way to a small café.

"Do you like croissants?" He asked while he pulled a chair for me.

"Sure do!" I replied sitting down. Oh wow! What a gentleman! I was stunned. Sasuke doesn't even do that for me, and he's Sasuke!

"Great! Waitress?" He called. The waitress came over.

"Good evening." She said while looking down at her pad.

"Ino?" I looked at her.

Ino looked up. "Sakura?"

"Oh my God! I never knew you worked here."

"I didn't know you'd be here." She looked at Gaara; she seemed surprised. "And on a date too."

Gaara blushed. So did I.

"So what'll it be guys?" Ino asked looking back down at her pad.

"Umm… what's good here?" Gaara asked. I could tell by the tone in his voice that he was nervous now. But why? This wasn't a date? Not really. Or is it? I blushed. Ino noticed. Next to Sasuke, Ino is the one who knows me best.

"Hum…um… the Ramen is pretty good. Did you guys want that?"

"Ramen's great!" I said.

"Yeah… I'll have the chicken one." Gaara requested

"Me too." I smiled at her.

"Alright then. Two Chicken Ramens coming right up. Any drinks?"

"Pepsi" We said at the same time.

We all laughed. I looked at him blushing a bit. And he returned my stair. I smiled at him, and he did the same.

Ino looked back and forth at us; she smirked a little bit and shook her head back and forth. I hate when she does that… it means that the whole school will know about our dinner in less than 12 hours from this very moment. "Whatever you guys want." She said, then walked away leaving Gaara and I to our lonesome.

"That was interesting," he finally said. "The Pepsi thing that is…"

I giggled "Yeah it was." My stomach crumpled into a knot. I was so nervous!

We started talking about school and what school he'd be attending. (Turns out that he'd be going to my school. Score!) We then moved to music. Gaara plays the guitar (bass and acoustics), keys, drums AND knows how to work the board. I've got to say that I was really impressed. After we ate, he invited me over to his place to showcase his talent. How could I resist? I couldn't. So I went, besides, it's right across the street from my house.

I sat on the couch and looked around. Sasuke's former home was still as welcoming as I remembered. It's been two years since I've last been on this couch in this living room. I wondered around the former Uchiha home; everything was still the same, pretty much. I ventured into what used to be Itachi's room. Gaara had taken over it. Posters of guitars, drums, keys, and bands, anything music orientated were plastered evenly around the room. I looked around amazed. A mosaic in the corner of the room caught my eye. I walked over to it to discover that they were black and white photographs, poems and sketches. I examined each one carefully. There were pictures of little smiling kids, happy couples, books, and anything else that people take for granted.

"Wow!" I cried. I glanced over my shoulder at Gaara, "Did you take these?"

"Yup!" he replied. Gaara walked up behind me, his arm extended over my right shoulder and pointed to a photo of a woman holding her (about 7-year-old) son. They were by a frozen lake and in the background there was a log cabin surrounded by trees frosted with snow and ice. It was a beautiful scene and it made me think of my own mother and father. I can't believe they're gone, I'm alone; I'm the last of the Haruno clan. The thought made me cringe; my eyes narrowed as I reminisced memories of my past.

"Looks like we have another thing on common." Gaara placed his right hand on my left shoulder. I looked over my shoulder and into his eyes, puzzled. Gaara took the photo down, his chest pressed against my back and his arms extended over my shoulders, his head hovering by my left ear.

"And what would that be?" I asked in a voice soft enough to be a whisper. My head tilted towards him. His warm, soft breath caressed my neck. He held the photo out in front of me; I looked at it. I was boxed in, in his arms, but I liked it. I didn't feel threatened or scared, I felt… well… safe.

"We're both alone" he whispered in my ear. Alone. His words echoed in my mind. My eyes widened, and then narrowed again. Alone I thought. I decided not to dwell on it. It hurt too much.

"Is this you?" I asked, diverting my attention back to the photo in his hands. I hope I sounded happy enough. Gaara nodded. "Aww, kawaii" I smiled.

"Thanks" He smiled as he put the photo back on the wall. His hands dropped into his pockets; I was no longer a "captive" in his arms. Kind of disappointing. I turned around and faced him. He poked my nose "But you're cuter. Especially when you smile" I blushed. Who wouldn't? How can a girl not blush after hearing that comment, more so since it came from Gaara? He's so sweet!

He picked up his guitar and sat on the bed. I glanced back at the photo. "Is this you mother?" I asked curiously.

"Yeah, was" I turned and faced him, wondering what he meant.

"What happened to her?"

Gaara stayed silent.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry" I backed up and turned away from him; but me being the total idiot I was, backed into his drum set and fell backwards on my rear. Gaara, a bit surprised by my idiocy, got up and walked over to help me up.

"Are you alright?" he looked at me concerned.

"Yeah, I'm okay." I replied. Just my luck; I grabbed Gaara's extended arm and pushed myself up. He pulled at the same time. There must have been too much force because the next thing I knew I was standing there with him, our hands clasped, bodies pressed and lips locked into each other's. My eyes widened in shock, as did his. A kiss. It was and accidental and totally unplanned kiss, but it was a kiss; and what a gentle one at that. Two seconds seemed like two minutes of nothing but pure emotion between us. It got hot. I blushed he did too. We pulled away as if on cue and stood about a meter apart, blushing and staring shyly and the floor away from each other.

"Umm…" He stuttered. I looked up at him. He looked up at me. Our eyes met. Both our heads jolted back down again. Oh man! What and awkward situation!

"I'm sorry," I finally said. Gaara looked up at me surprised.

"No, no! It's my fault. Really, it is." He smiled at me as I lifted my head to look at him. The gentleness in his eyes made everything all right again. Gaara sat back down on the bed; he motioned for me to do the same. I did. He looked up at the photo. What ever he was thinking about chased his smile away.

"My mother died that day at the lake."

"Eh?" I looked at him. The shine in his green eyes were gone and replaced with a still cold loneliness.

"We went up to the lake one winter to go ice fishing. That particular year the ice wasn't frozen as thick as it should have been. My mother warned me not to out onto the lake, but I was too blinded by my desire to skate that I did listen and went out on it anyway. It was fine for the first few minutes, but then the ice started to crack beneath me and I fell into the –30 something degree water. I yelled for help as loud as I possibly could. Mother and Father came running out to me. Since my Father couldn't swim, Mother came in after me. She fished me out quickly and we both crawled on the ice to safety. I was first to reach it. Father wrapped me in a warm towel. Then he went to help mother. He reached out and grabbed her arm. We were almost all safe. Then the ice cracked underneath her and she plunged back into the water. My Father tried his best to hold onto her and get her out, but she kept slipping. I ran back into the cabin and called for an ambulance. It took them two hours to get there since we were so far from the city. The next thing I remember is sitting at home with the nanny and my baby brother Kankuro, waiting for the call from my father. We never did get a call. Father came home the next day heartbroken. She died 2 hours after reaching the hospital. My father blamed himself and his lack of the ability to swim. Kankuro had no idea what happened, he still doesn't; while I blame myself. If I wasn't so arrogant she would have still been alive."

Gaara bowed his head, casting a shadow over his eyes. I could have sworn he had just shed a tear or two. I placed my hand on his, trying to comfort him.

"I know exactly how you feel." I said sincerely. "I feel the same way too." He placed his other hand on top of mine and looked up at me. His green eyes were child-like and sweet. My heart melted just looking at them. I put on a fake smile; hopping that it would cheer him up a little bit. A half smile slowly crept upon his face. He hugged me. Holding me close to him. I was shocked by the sudden outburst of emotion. My body seemed to react on it's own; my arms swung around him pulling him closer to me. My head found the perfect spot to rest between his neck and shoulder. Oh damn did he smell good! He held me tighter. We stayed that way for… I don't know how long, nor did I care. All I wanted was for it never to end, but alas, all good things come to an end. Gaara jolted up letting me go so suddenly. His eyes angry and disturbed.

"Did you hear that?" He said sharply.

"Hear what?" I asked confused. He placed a finger on my lips and I listened. I heard footsteps, we weren't alone after all. They were heavy, as if that someone was carrying something. A thief? I thought. A murderer? I felt my heart race as I followed Gaara out into the hall.

"Shh…" he hissed, covering my mouth. I nodded and he let go, took my hand, and led me down the hallway to the living room where the noise was coming from. I spotted the silhouette of what seemed to be a woman's body.

"Stay here" Gaara whispered and he crept to the other end of the living room. "GOT YA!" he yelled as he turned on the lights.

"AHHH!" The strange girl cried startled. She dropped her bag and turned and faced me.

"AHHH!" we both screamed.

"Temari?"