Title: From Winter To Spring
Disclaimer: I don't own any characters from the anime, Naruto, but they are superb story fodder, aren't they now?
Summary: After the first time Sakura took part in the chuunin selection exams and failed, she tried once more before undergoing intensive training to better herself, while Naruto and Sasuke both passed and moved on. Their team split, but now that Sakura's all alone an unlikely antihero steps up to make her exam taking team complete: Gaara of the Desert. (GaaraSakura as best as I am able, which may not be very promising, because it is my first fanfiction piece ever.)
Author's Note: Okay, so don't maim me, I just finished this chapter. I had most of it written a long while ago, but then stuff popped up and romance was the last thing from my mind. Oh and my computer had to be reformatted so I had to remember what I had for this chapter as best as I could.
Chapter 4: A Calm Between
Rubbing her neck where the sand had wrapped dangerously tight around her skin, Sakura slowly stood from the spot she had fallen to on the ground. The incessant knocking at her bedroom door continued, spaced at intervals of a few seconds for Lee to demand, "Sakura-chan? Are you okay? It sounded like you fell down. Do you need help?"
After a wordless squeak and a series of gasping coughs, Sakura managed to reply, "I'm alright, Lee-san. I'll be out in a few minutes. I just stubbed my toe."
"Alright, do you want me to take care of the tea? It's no problem at all."
Tears suddenly welled up in her eyes, nearly spilling over with their intensity. Compared to the harshness of Gaara's words and unstable actions, Lee was one of the few solid, dependable figures in her life. Unlike Naruto or Sasuke, he had stayed as close to her as he could manage, even if he had already become a Chuunin. But Lee could not save her from Gaara, not when she was so securely caught in the web of lies the demon-possessed boy had already woven around her life. If anyone was to attempt to save her, they would suffer mentally and physically as a result. Only she could protect herself. "Thank you. Please take the kettle off the stove and I'll be right in."
Brushing her short, pink hair back from her face, Sakura picked up her dark blue bandana and tied it securely around her head so that it held back her hair. The silver center piece attached to the navy blue fabric glinted in the morning sunlight, the swirly symbol leaf of Konoha etched deep into the metal like the resolve burnt into her heart and mind. She would deal with Gaara, she would meet his threats and violence with her own powerful willpower... and as was her mission, she would make sure the both of them passed the upcoming exam.
After a quick scan of the room to make sure there were no uninvited guests, Sakura removed her pajamas and slipped into the bathroom attached to her bedroom. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and applied the necessary deodorants before throwing her clean clothes on.
When she entered the kitchen, fully clothed and as clean as she wanted to be, Sakura discovered a small situation. Lee was struggling with the knobs on the stove blindly, the kettle still shrieking madly, while the bowl of sugar had been upturned and on the floor. "Lee! What the?"
Grabbing the dry dish towel off the counter, she moved the kettle to an unheated surface, flipping the switch that turned off the stove easily. Then she spun on her heel to retrieve the dustpan and broom, shaking her head at Lee's lack of capability in the kitchen. A similar scenario had occurred a few months ago involving the electric rice cooker, some kiwis, and a ladle. She barely got away that time with her life.
Lee took a step back, laughing at his mistakes while Sakura hyperventaliated, making sure that nothing in the kitchen had spontaneously combusted from the episode. "Sorry about that. I thought I had it all under control until I lost my grip on the sugar..."
Clutching her chest as her heart pounded ceaselessly, Sakura turned to Lee and commanded, "Please... just go sit with Sasuke and Naruto... I'll take care of the tea."
"Are you sure?" Lee inquired worriedly. "I know I can help if I try-"
Gulping back her annoyance, she forced a smile at him. "I'll be fine. Keep Naruto out of my stuff, okay? That'll be very helpful, Lee-san. You know he tends to roam and get into things that aren't his."
"Osu!" Lee barked in reply, saluting her much like he would his sensei, Gai, before hurrying out of the kitchen and into the living room where Naruto and Sasuke were waiting.
Sakura grabbed the tea pot and placed a satchel of dried tea in the bottom before pouring the water from the kettle into the pot. Setting up the small, circular serving tray with four cups on saucers, the tea pot, and the honey container, she balanced the tray as she left the kitchen for the living room. Lee had cleaned off a space on the coffee table big enough to set the tray down.
As she took her seat on the couch beside Lee, Sakura was met with a barrage of questions. Naruto demanded, "Why was Gaara here? Where is he now? He just disappeared while we were waiting for you."
Sighing at the blonde boy's always excited demeanor, she rubbed her eyes and stated, "Gaara is my teammate. I'm taking the Chuunin Exams again, and this time I'm paired with him. Apparently it was a request by the village of Sand for Konoha to provide Gaara with a partner, just one this time. So I got lucky."
"Lucky!" Naruto laughed, slapping his knee. "So who's your other teammate?"
"No one. It's completely unconventional that the village would allow a group of two to take the exam, but here I am. Stuck on a team with a crazy guy and no one to back me up," Sakura informed them with a shrug of her shoulders. "Where have you guys been these past months?"
Sasuke cleared his throat and replied, "Missions. Nothing too complex, just time consuming."
"Yeah, but we come back and everything has changed!" Naruto exclaimed, grabbing her hands. "You've gotten even prettier since I last saw you, Sakura-chan!"
Rolling her eyes at his stupidity, Sakura pried her hands free from his grip before glancing at her watch. "I have to get ready to meet Kakashi-sensei and Gaara. We have training."
Confused, Lee asked, "Why would Gaara need to train? He's one of the strongest shinobi in any of the villages."
"Well, even though I've seen his combat style, I've never actually practiced with him. We're at a disadvantage compared to the teams that have been together since before the exam, because we don't know how to cooperate with one another. So, as you can see, I have work to do getting used to being Gaara's partner," Sakura stood from her seat and smiled at her friends. "If you'll excuse me. Lee, would you please lock up when you guys leave?"
Nodding, Lee watched as the pink haired girl he had tried so hard to develop a relationship with walked to the front door without so much as a backward glance. She seemed very distant and preoccupied lately, today especially. He continued to talk with Naruto and Sasuke and catch up with their lives, all the while making a mental note to check up on her later in the day.