Chapter III: The Beginnings of Tenderness

AN: I do not own the rights to Naruto. Blahblah. Enjoy!

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"Aa…then you already know that Sakura is not truly Hideki's daughter."

"Yes, I have suspected for quite some time now. I have only a few questions…"

Tomoe took in a breath. This would take all her courage.

"Does Sakura know?" Tomoe shook her head.

"Little bits and pieces. She suspects because she looks nothing like Hideki. But she takes it quite calmly. I was surprised when she asked me out in the open. But I could not answer her. It was too risky. I felt that she had to develop first, as both a woman and a ninja. Then I felt that she could handle the truth. Until then, I had thought she was too young to do so."

Kakashi murmured his approval, as Tomoe sipped her tea. A tense silence filled the room and choked all conversation for a while. Kakashi contented himself by looking out the window. After the last sparrow had cleared from the garden, Tomoe cleared her throat and began to speak again.

"Kakashi-sensei. I'm not of this village. You know this. I fled my own village and eventually came to Konoha, seeking asylum. To be honest, sensei, I was not raised as a ninja, but as a noblewoman. I had never known my parents, but my adoptive family was kind and took me in as their own."

Kakashi raised an eyebrow. If her family was kind…then why did she flee? He beckoned her to continue.

"One day, I was bathing in a lake when I felt a change come over me. It is difficult to describe, this feeling, even after 34 years. The best way I could describe it was that it felt like… it felt like a breath of crisp icy mist filling my core and traveling throughout my entire being. It was… the most exquisite feeling."

Kakashi cleared his throat. The woman's ethereal expression was quite …intriguing, to say the least, but oh so very uncomfortable.

"I knew then that something spectacular had changed. Something was different about me, yet I wasn't sure what. I would find out a few days later…"

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Tomoe's Flashback

It was difficult to resist going back to that lake. Nothing in the world had made her feel this way. But she was a noblewoman. Noblewomen do not abandon their duties for a moment of ecstasy.

…It did not take her long to go back.

Stripping herself of her kimono, she shivered as she slowly stepped into the lake. Almost immediately, that beautiful feeling came back.

What are you doing here.

Tomoe's eyes widened in shock. Instinctively, her arms crossed to cover her breasts.

"Who is it? Who's there!" she barked, anger and embarrassment lightly dusting her cheeks.

Tsk onna. You are afraid?

"Show yourself!" she hissed.

We answer to no one. You have stepped into these waters of your own accord, and you will understand why they have drawn you so.

Tomoe shivered. How did this voice find itself into her mind? Was a trick, or was it something more? More sinister, or more ancient… And was there no way to cover herself at all?

Exquisite beauty. You truly belong to us..

"Never." She breathed, tilting her chin in defiance.

It is too late. You have come back twice. That is enough proof that you have come here to claim your birthright, and cement your place with us.

Tomoe whispered, shaken by the words resonating within her mind. "I belong to no one."

Naïve onna. Have you never wondered about your true heritage? Your background is as prestige as they come. Even higher than your current status as 'noblewoman.'

"…What do you mean?"

Dive, and we shall show you. Swim back to shore, and this opportunity will never rise again. Decide wisely.

Should she do it? Obviously there must be reason for this person(s?) to warn her. Could she risk everything for this knowledge? Everything she held stable and dear…?

Yes.

And then she dived.

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Sakura couldn't stop herself from glancing in Gaara's direction every once in a while. What caused him to act so oddly?

She closed her eyes. That feeling… what was that feeling? I never felt so… heated in my life, that's the best way I can put it.

She chuckled and ran her fingers loosely through her hair. Oh Sakura, you really are a fool. Is this lust?

Briefly, her mind recalled a conversation between her mother and herself regarding the difference between lust and love. Sakura had argued that one would easily recognize the difference. Her mother argued that one's lust could cloud one's perception of love.

"Only when lust and love are combined will any relationship be effective, Sakura. Above all know this: Love must rank above your passion for the man's body. You must respect his mind, his heart, his soul and in turn, he must respect yours. Otherwise you are only a toy for the man and therefore, a fool." Her mother had said while brushing Sakura's hair.

Mama… Sakura thought sadly. Too soon was life taken from you. I swear on your blood you will get your vengeance.

She stole another glance at Gaara, relaxing slightly when she observed that he appeared to be sleeping. Or at least, she hoped so. His eyes were closed and his breathing rhythm was even. Sakura watched him for several minutes in order to discern whether or not he was feigning sleep.

Nope, no change.

She rose quietly and softly crept towards him.

I am going to figure you out, Gaara of the Desert. Just you wait and see.

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Kakashi's flashback continued

Kakashi was a little uncomfortable. Who wouldn't be? After all, the mother of his student was telling him intimate details of her past. Tomoe noticed his slight discomfort.

"Aa, I apologize, Kakashi-sensei. I must have been carried away." Tomoe bowed her head slightly in apology.

Kakashi returned it with a slight bow of his own. "It was of no consequence Tomoe-san. If you could please continue…?"

"Ah, yes. Well, as soon as I dived in, images started to rush into my head. They didn't make much sense. A spark. A cry. Various women laughing. Someone swinging me up in the air. Leaves. Mist. A scream. A feather. The end of a crane-patterned shawl. Someone screaming my name. A flash of white. Then that was all. "

Tomoe's eyes strayed towards the window, which faced the Haruno's elaborate garden.

"It was all too much to take in. My eyes flew open and I breathed in the water. Panic clouded my mind, my body. I couldn't find my sense of direction. I didn't know which way the surface was. I knew I was drowning."

Her brow creased in recollection of her near-death experience. Her hands grasped the teacup a little tighter.

"I most certainly would have drowned in that water… but something clicked in my mind. It was like that feeling one receives as soon as they fit in that last piece of the puzzle. It was …Fulfillment. Have you ever experienced a feeling like that, Kakashi-sensei?"

Kakashi frowned. He too directed his gaze to the window. Inhaling deeply, he caught the faint whiff of peach blossoms.

"Aa… once Tomoe-san. Just once."

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Gaara felt her restlessness. Annoying brat. Still, she brought about a refreshing change. No one had ever talked back to him. He smirked as he heard the soft padding of her feet. She was coming. She must have thought he was asleep.

As if Shukaku would allow me to.

She was hesitant, he could feel it. Stay still…

Eventually she was close enough for him to feel her warmth radiating from her body.

How long has it been since anyone has voluntarily come this close to me? Not since…

Unconsciously, his brow furrowed and Sakura stepped back.

Kuso, keep still. I want to see what this girl is up to.

Gaara relaxed his brow and did not stir again. Sakura exhaled softly. She crept towards him again, closer than before.

What is she…

He stiffened inwardly. What was this feeling? Her hand… her hand had brushed his bangs away…! It followed the broad arch of his forehead, the feather-light touch stopping at the mark of the tattoo. The area that her fingertips rested on was burning. She brushed a few of his baby hairs back gently. Then her fingers skimmed their way backed to the tattoo. Gaara felt …nervous. For the first time in his life. What was she doing?

Her fingers drifted to other parts of his face. Tucking a few stray hairs behind his ear. Tickling his nose with her fragrance. But eventually, those damnable fingers would glide back to his tattoo.

"Love…" she whispered.

Then softly, oh so softly, she traced the brushstrokes of the character. The fingers danced along the contour of his face before reaching his lips. Gaara could swear that he could feel her smile.

"You…are an odd one, Gaara of the Desert." She said softly. Then she slowly withdrew her hand and treaded back to her corner. Gaara released a breath he didn't know he was holding in.

How long…how long has it been since someone has shown me such tenderness…?

Gaara watched Sakura curl up before sleep claimed her, and took her consciousness to another plane. Although there was hardly any light, he could see that the hue of her hair softened her features and highlighted her feminine form. He shook his head.

Remember Gaara, tenderness will lead to love… And love will only lead to betrayal.

Gaara breathed heavily and his glance turned to Sakura's sleeping form again. Would he risk it again?

You fool. Have you learned nothing? A voice hissed in his mind. Will you suffer the pains of betrayal again? Hell boy, you hardly know her.

But there was time to learn, wasn't there? She had some interest in him, didn't she? The voice in his mind snorted.

She was only satisfying some urge that she got close to the great Gaara and lived to tell the tale.

Gaara stiffened. He had not considered that possibility. But…

Then why would she have shown such tenderness in her action?

The voice was silent. Seconds turned into minutes. Minutes melded into hours. Gaara watched Sakura toss and turn in her sleep. Occasionally, she would cry 'Mama!'.

It was those cries that began the chiseling of Gaara's stone heart.