A/N: I've had major writer's block so that explains the delay. I'm also typing up my friend's story because she got in trouble. I have tests coming up so I might not have time to write. It's a busy month. Just bear with me and don't forget to leave a review!

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 6

Two weeks later—165 days left…

Sakura sighed and glanced out a window, gazing with longing at the slow moving clouds outside. She was getting tired of sitting in a chair for endless hours. She could swear her backside was getting numb!

The pink haired kunoichi tore her gaze away from the window and analyzed the medic nin assembled before her. They each had intense looks on their faces, studying the books before them. They were researching, trying to learn more about the human body.

She had told them they had to learn the body parts, their functions, and other similar things before she would start teaching them more advanced jutsu. Thankfully, the group knew how to control their chakra really well and could accomplish simple healing jutsu.

Sakura remembered with a grimace the day she had walked into the building. It had been in chaos. Most of the medics had been dozing while others played games.

To put it simple, these people had been of no help to Suna so they had been rotting away.

That was how it had been until Sakura had taken control.

They had taken to calling her sensei after the first day.

Sakura sensed a presence standing at her desk and emerged from her thoughts. A young girl with dark red hair stood in front of the desk, fidgeting. "Yes, Aiko?"

"Um, it's time for us to go home, sensei," Said the girl.

Sakura glanced at the clock. Wow, time did fly by when you were too busy to notice.

She smiled at the girl and said, "Tell the others to pick up and then head on home. We'll meet here again two days from now. Just research at home."

Aiko nodded. "I'll tell them. See you later!" She waved and walked away, eager to tell her friends about the unexpected break.

Sakura watched as they cleaned up and left, telling her to have a good weekend. They almost reminded her of her class back in Konoha, the only difference being that these people actually knew a bit about what they were doing.

She sighed and stood up, stretching her arms above her head. She grabbed the keys to the building and made her way to the entrance, turning off lights as she went.

Stopping at the doors, Sakura glanced behind her to make sure she hadn't missed any lights. The darkness loomed, butterflies appeared in her stomach. She quickly turned back to face the door, trying to get her heart to slow down. She hated the dark like that. Her imagination always got the better of her.

Suddenly, she felt a blast of air hit the back of her neck. Reflexively, she whipped out a kunai and turned round. She found herself face to face with the Kazekage, her kunai inches away from his throat.

"Aggressive, aren't we?" Remarked Gaara.

"I'm sorry, Kazekage-sama," Said Sakura. She stepped away and slid the kunai into the holster on her thigh. "My imagination…" She trailed off, too embarrassed to say anything more.

"Were you scared?" He asked, closing the distance between them.

Sakura's cheeks turned red at their proximity. "No…not really,"

"Your voice faltered." Gaara raised a hand and placed it gently on her cheek. If she could've turned any redder, she would have.

He moved closer…

Sakura literally felt her heart stop.

His lips were inches away from hers when there was a loud 'poof' and the area filled with smoke. It was the effects of a Henge no Jutsu being released.

She found herself staring into the amused, painted face of Kankuro. An equally amused Temari stood next to him.

The kunoichi went blind with rage. She was about to strangle the puppeteer when Temari jumped in to hold her back.

"Let me at him!" Yelled Sakura. "He deserves pain!"

"It was a joke, Sakura!" Said Temari. Her laughter, however, didn't make things better.

She stopped struggling against Temari's hold and crossed her arms, facing away from the both of them, a frown on her face. "It wasn't funny. I swear I thought it was your brother."

"We're sorry, Sakura." Said Kankuro. "But we couldn't help it."

Sakura let out a huff, her frown deepening. "Can I ask why you were here?"

"We came to get you so we could take you to a hot spring and to dinner after." Replied Temari. She placed an arm around Sakura's shoulders. "Will you come?"

There was silence as she thought. With a sigh, Sakura admitted defeat and forgave the two sand nin. "I'll go."

"Good." Temari began walking out, dragging Sakura with her. Kankuro closed up the building and followed them.

"Go ahead to the spring, Kankuro." Said Temari. "I'll take Sakura to the house and meet up with you there."

The two siblings exchanged a look before heading separate ways. Sakura saw it all.

"Can I trust you two?"

The other girl laughed. "Of course!"

For some reason, Sakura couldn't shake off the feeling that Temari and Kankuro were planning something and that this trip to the onsen was all part of it.

&&&&&&&&&

Sakura slipped into the water with a sigh. Night had already fallen. The area was lit with small torches, the fire casting shadows on the floor. She heard the sound of a sliding door and looked up. Temari was walking towards the hot spring, clad in only a towel. The two girls exchanged a smile.

The sand nin walked into the water and sighed contently. "Isn't this nice?" Asked Temari.

"Yes," Sakura replied. "I assume it's not very common to have hot springs in the middle of the desert."

"Nope, and it sucks."

They both laughed. A comfortable silence fell over them as they relaxed in the warm water.

After about half an hour, the girls got out and changed into comfortable clothes. They were going to eat dinner with Kankuro, who had also been in the hot springs but in another section.

They walked into a private room in the onsen inn and were surprised by the table set with food. It all looked so delicious! Sakura sat down on one side, Temari across from her. After saying 'Itadakimasu' both girls began eating. Half way through the meal, the door opened and in walked Kankuro. His hair was damp, and his face was devoid of paint.

Sakura froze, her chopsticks stopped in the air. He looked so different…less intimidating too.

"You're late, Kankuro," Said Temari, playfully throwing a roll of bread at him. He easily caught it and took a bite, grinning.

"I had to drag a certain someone here." He replied. "It wasn't easy."

He walked further into the room, revealing the person who had been standing behind him. It was Gaara. He had a frown on his face, his eyes narrowed in annoyance, though he did look less menacing than usual, too. His hair was also damp, stray strands sticking to his forehead, giving him an innocent look.

He stomped to the table and sat down, pushing away his plate. "I'm not hungry,"

Temari rolled her eyes, obviously used to this behavior from her brother. She was reaching for some onigiri when she seemed to remember something. Catching Kankuro's eye, she stood up, wiping her hands on a napkin.

"I just remembered that I have an important meeting with a shinobi from Konoha tomorrow." She began. "I still haven't prepared the documents he needs to take back to Tsunade-sama. Sorry to have to leave so early."

Temari grinned nervously before walking hurriedly to the door, pausing briefly to motion for Kankuro to follow her. The puppeteer nodded and caught up to her. Just as Sakura was about to protest, the door closed with a loud slam. The sound of their footsteps died away, leaving the room in an uncomfortable silence.

The kunoichi sighed and glanced at Gaara. He was staring at the wall, his face betraying no emotion. She stared at him, willing him to speak. Her wishes were not granted. The young Kazekage continued gazing at the wall.

"Can you say something already!" Her words echoed in the silent room. A slight blush rose to her cheeks.

His cold eyes strayed to her. "What do you want me to say?" Asked Gaara. He turned to face her. "Can't you stand a little silence? Or is it that you need attention?"

Her eyes narrowed. "It isn't nice to ignore others so obviously, Kazekage-sama."

"Why should I care what you think?" He stood up and began making his way to the door.

"Because a little constructive criticism might make you a better person, or Kazekage."

He stopped on the threshold to look back at her. His eyes held some emotion but she couldn't identify it. He spoke.

"You're annoying."

Sakura flinched unwillingly. His words cut deep. She felt tears pool in her eyes, but she held them back. She would not cry in front of him.

Who had she heard say those same words to her? They were the same words which had torn her heart into little pieces. It was irony to hear them coming from Gaara.

The closing of the door seemed to echo in her mind. He had turned his back on her when she was hurt…just like what Sasuke had done. Her vision blurred and she felt hot tears run down her cheeks. Why was he the first person to make her cry in so many years?

Angry with herself, Sakura wiped away the tears and stood up. She marched out of the room and outside. The place was deserted and silent, except for the soft music and laughter coming from another occupied room.

"I don't think Temari and Kankuro expected this to happen."

"What else did they expect?" Said Inner Sakura. "For him to fall in love with you? Hell will freeze over when that happens."

"I completely agree with you. I could never love such an emotionless person."

She was contradicting herself. Memories replayed in her head.

How she had tried so hard to impress the Uchiha prodigy. The same person who had been known as the human ice cube, no emotions whatsoever. That word probably hadn't even been part of his vocabulary.

She sighed and glanced up at the sky, the bright round moon catching her eye.

"I'll show him." She thought fiercely. "He'll have to acknowledge how good a shinobi I am by the time I have to leave, or I'll stop being a ninja."

"That's risky, isn't it?"

"This is one thing I won't mess up."

Sakura made her way to her temporary home, content with her promise. Oh, he would learn.