A/N: Thanks for all the reviews! I'm so glad that my story is going so well!

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the other characters.

Summary: Sakura is sent to Sunagakure on a mission to train the medic ninja there. Yet, there is one little problem…She'll be living with the Kazekage and his family. Will she survive long enough to complete her task?

Chapter 5

Sakura sat at the dinner table, staring down at her food. The others were eating, content with the silence. But the pink haired kunoichi couldn't stand the silence. She had endured it for years and she wasn't about to start getting used to it again.

It also didn't help that she ate with Naruto, Konoha's loudmouth, almost every day.

"So..." She began, tapping on the table lightly. "Where will I be teaching?"

"Hmm?" Temari looked up from her food, a confused look on her face. "Teach?"

"She came here to teach our medics," Said Gaara. "Since they don't really know what they're doing."

Kankuro snorted. "They couldn't heal a cut. I almost bled to death that day waiting for one of them to find the right scroll."

Temari rolled her eyes. "Couldn't you have healed it yourself?"

The puppeteer had no answer. He just resumed eating as though the conversation had never happened.

"I think you'll have to teach him also." Whispered Temari to Sakura, her green eyes sparkling. She was clearly teasing her brother and enjoying it.

Sakura grinned. Maybe she could get to know the sand nin better. She was obviously more carefree than she let on. She decided to join in.

"What about you-" She hesitated. She had no idea what to call him. "-Kazekage-sama? Do you need to be taught too?"

Gaara stood up suddenly, the wooden chair he had been sitting on making a horrible screeching sound as it scrapped back on the floor. "I have no need for such skills." He said coldly. "Or have you forgotten already?"

With those dark words, he spun around and left, leaving a half full plate of food behind. A thick silence filled the room. Temari coughed and proceeded to clean up her plate and Gaara's. "I'm finished." She mumbled, more to herself than anyone else.

Sakura stared at the spot where he had been sitting with wide eyes. What had she—

"I have no need for such skills. Or have you forgotten already?"

She cringed inwardly. How could she have been so careless? She had just reminded him of the very thing that he probably tried to forget.

She had reminded him that he wasn't like the rest of them.

Sakura stood up and handed her plate to Temari, who took it without comment. She wanted to find him and apologize even if he might turn her away.

&&&&&&&

Gaara stomped out of the dining room and resisted the urge to slam the door like a child. He didn't know why he had lashed out at her like that. But she had just seemed to be asking for it, with her smile and sparkling eyes.

All it had taken her was one innocent question for him to lose it.

He sighed and stopped in his tracks, leaning against the wall. He ran a hand through his hair, fingers stopping briefly on the blood red kanji engraved on his forehead.

He straightened and made his way upstairs. He opened a window and stealthily climbed out and onto the roof. He sat down cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Maybe the fresh air would calm him.

&&&&&&&

Sakura turned another corner and sighed dejectedly. It was just another empty corridor. She had been searching for the Kazekage for the past ten minutes or so and still no results. She silently berated herself.

Did she really expect less from the Kazekage? If he didn't want to be found, he simply wouldn't be found.

She continued walking and passed by an open window. A ray of moonlight streamed in, lighting up part of the corridor. She could see particles gently moving in it.

She admired the sight before continuing on her way. Then she realized something. Why would there be an open window in the Kazekage's house? Anyone could get in.

Aha! Maybe he was on the roof? An odd place to be but it was possible. Sakura climbed out and onto the roof with difficulty. That is what working in a hospital all summer did to you; your basic skills got rusty.

She was surprised by the sight that met her eyes. Gaara sat cross-legged with his face upturned towards the moon, his eyes closed. He was outlined by the white light of the moon, looking surreal.

Sakura sighed inwardly and made her way back inside, leaving the window in the position it was. She didn't want to disturb him; he looked too peaceful.

Tomorrow would be another day and things would probably be resolved by then. Or so she hoped.

"That's unlikely." Said Inner Sakura. "He seems to be as stubborn as you."

"Thank you for the encouragement."

"You're very welcome!"

The kunoichi trudged to her room and slipped inside, into the darkness, not bothering to turn off the lights. She threw herself onto the bed, stifling a giggle as it bounced up and down several times.

She sighed for the nth time that night and glanced out the window. She could see the desert in the distance. Konoha was somewhere beyond that sea.

Only 179 more days to go.

&&&&&&&

Haruno Sakura was not very pretty in the morning. Especially if she was woken up at an ungodly hour before the sun was even out.

Her eyes fluttered open and she found herself staring into a pair of green ones. For a split second she thought, with horror, that it was the Kazekage himself. But the person's face came into focus and she realized it was Temari, dressed in her purple outfit, hair looking impeccable. Sakura pulled the covers up higher, feeling embarrassed by the state she was in.

"Ohayo," She mumbled, stifling a yawn.

Temari smiled. "Ohayo! Breakfast is ready so you can come eat when you're dressed."

"How can she be so cheerful this early in the day!" Said Inner Sakura, awakening from her own slumber. (If she even slept…)

"I really have no idea…But I think it's contagious."

"I'll be down in a few minutes." Said Sakura. A small smile appeared on her face in place of the usual morning frown.

Temari nodded and left, probably going to wake Kankuro or something.

Sakura stretched and got out of bed, a shiver running through her as her feet came into contact with the floor. She trudged into the bathroom and glanced in the mirror. It was not a pretty sight.

The kunoichi quickly washed herself. She rushed back to her room and pulled out her clothes: a pale pink shirt and black pants. After getting basically dressed, she exited the room, running a comb through her hair, trying to make it flat.

She made her way downstairs and entered the dining room. She was surprised to see Gaara sitting at the table, calmly chewing on a piece of toast.

Temari was no where in sight.

"She left us alone with Sand Boy!" Shrieked Inner Sakura.

"We'll be fine." Said Sakura, trying to feel as confident as she sounded. "I doubt he'll kill us this early."

Inner Sakura scoffed before falling silent.

Sakura approached him and sat down. Just as she was bringing a piece of toast towards her plate, he spoke, causing her to drop the bread into her water.

"I'll be taking you to the building designated to the medics." Said Gaara. He was trying to hide his amusement as he watched Sakura fish her toast out of her water. She dropped on her plate with a disgusted look. Soggy toast was not her idea of breakfast.

Suddenly, the meaning of his words sunk in. "Now?" She looked up in dismay.

"Yes." He replied shortly, standing up.

Her eyes widened.

"The bastard! He's doing this on purpose!"

She shoved a piece of toast in her mouth and gulped it down with water. Throwing her napkin onto the table, she sped out of the room, going after Gaara. He had left the kitchen before she could blink.

Following her instincts, she found him waiting outside the house, leaning against the wall with a bored look on his face. He spotted her and began walking.

Sakura frowned and followed him. His communication skills needed improvement. It was a wonder his siblings understood him. The only reason she understood was because of the time she had spent as Sasuke's teammate.

Sasuke…

She shook her head furiously, tossing the name away. She wasn't going to think about him now and ruin her day. She had long since moved on.

She frowned and quickened her pace, catching up to Gaara.

"So, this place…will it be all mine to use to teach and stuff?" She asked.

"Yes," He replied. "Adjust it to your liking. You start teaching in three days."

Hmm…a little too soon for her liking but it would have to do.

"I'll be reporting your progress to your Hokage."

"Sure, whatever,"

Gaara glanced sharply at her. She was insolent. She had obviously forgotten she was speaking to the Kazekage. Wait, why did he care?

He felt a weird feeling in his stomach as she walked ahead and almost shrieked when she saw the size of the building.

"This is almost bigger than Konoha's hospital! I'll have so much work space!" She said happily, practically jumping up and down in her excitement.

"I leave you now." Said Gaara.

She looked at him, smiling brightly. "Sure! See you for lunch or something!"

Waving, she sprinted to the building and went inside. She sure didn't waste any time getting started.

He stood there for a second. See her for lunch? Stupid girl.

Gaara disappeared in a whirlwind of sand.

A/N2: Well, Gaara spoke appeared more and he's as cold towards others as ever... Remember to review!