More Than a New Friendship

Please Read and Review

Warning

Me: I don't own Naruto

Sasuke: …..

Gaara: ……

Me: What no comment?

Sasuke: Nope

Gaara: Just start writing already

Me: Are you actually too tired to fight?

Sasuke: No, I am just giving you a break

Gaara: You're not worth my time arguing

Me: Thanks, I feel loved

Sasuke & Gaara: You're welcome

Me: whatever

Hi- normal speaking

Hi- thoughts

Hi- demon or inner self speaking

Chapter IV Just Friends?

Two Weeks Later

"Did you want to see me Kazekage?" Sakura asked after coming from her shift at the hospital. "Yes I did, but please don't call me that it makes me feel old. Anyway, I was wondering if you'd consider joining me, Temari, and Kankuro for dinner." "Of course, I'd be delighted. I'll just go home and change first…." "Temari has something that will fit you." he said. "Thank you Gaara. I'll be there shortly." She said flashing him a smile.

She walked upstairs to Temari's room. She was waiting for her when she got there. "Hello Sakura, I take it you accepted the dinner invitation." She said "Yes, Gaara said you had something for me to wear?" Sakura said politely. "Yes, here it is. I hope you like it; you can keep it. I picked it out but it was his idea." Indicating the kimono, winking at Sakura as she blushed.

She took the kimono and changed out of her medic uniform. The kimono was red with pink sakura cherry blossoms on it with the same shade of green embroidery as her eyes. It fit her as if it were made especially for her. It was long and elegant looking, hanging only a few inches off the ground, showing her feet and ankles. The kimono had a slit going from the bottom up to about her lower thigh. Temari provided her with shoes that matched, also new, and then helped her with her hair. "Sakura, you look beautiful!" Tamari said overly satisfied with her work.

They walked down stairs together after Temari changed into her blue kimono. Gaara and Kankuro were both there waiting for them, and stood as they walked in. They both took their seats, Sakura the closest person on his right, Temari the closest person to his left with Kankuro on the other side of his sister. The meal was served in different courses.

They worked their way, eating little from each of the five course meal. Everything was prepared perfectly and it tasted marvelous. They carried out various conversations, in between courses, of various topics. Both Kankuro and Gaara were marveling at the sight of Sakura, both as Sakura would say "oogled" her, while eating.

I think that changing her look is making Gaara become less guarded. He seems to be enjoying the view. I just wish he'd make a move before Kankuro does. Temari said to herself. She certainly is lovely tonight. I hope Temari was telling the truth about Sakura. Gaara thought to himself. Gaara is a lucky ass. She's right there in front of him and he hasn't even made a move yet. I'll give him another week, then Sakura will officially up for grabs. First come, first serve Gaara. Kankuro plotted in his head. Oh gosh, this kimono is too flashy; I should have gone home to change, both of them are staring at me like I'm a piece of meat. I hope I can get through this meal before being hit on by one of the two. You know you like Gaara's attention. So what. Hurry up and makeup your mind about him already. I already have. Then what is it? Fine, I like him, are you happy? Sakura argued in her head until the last course was over.

After they finished, Temari and Kankuro both left the table, leaving Gaara and Sakura alone together. "Thank you for the kimono, it's lovely." She said. "I'm glad you like it. Thank Temari, she picked it, I don't have good taste." He said now smiling a little. "Let's go outside, I want to show you something." He said and she stood up. He led her out the back entrance to the mansion. They stepped out into a garden full of trees and various flowers. The sight took her breath away. "How can you grow these here, it's a desert?" "The same way the people survive here, the city is one big oasis." He said happy she liked it.

He led her down through the garden to a spot with a sakura tree. There was a ring of soft, fine sand all around it. He sat down with his back against the tree. She sat down beside him as they both looked up at the stars in the dark evening sky. "Are you enjoying your stay?" he said calmly.

"Yes, your city is beautiful and the company is wonderful." She said in reply. "You can see the stars some much better in the darkness of the desert." She said after a while. "Yes I love the stars, I come out here every night to look at them. They are never changing and without faults. Their calming in someway." He said leaning back against the tree. Listening to him speak was calming to her. She eventually, unaware of her actions, leaned against his shoulder.

"You remember the day on the bridge?" she said still gazing at the stars. "Like it was yesterday." He said. She looked up at him with gentle eyes, they were close together. The warmth of each other was soothing to one another. "Are you going to leave eventually?" he said frowning. "Not unless you want me to." She said. He bent down at his lovely little kunoichi. "Stay……with me?" he said. "For always and eternity." she answered. She reached up to him and leaned into a kiss, their second kiss, under the stars.

After a while of sitting in each other's company, Sakura fell asleep in his arms. For once in Gaara's, life he was happy just to be alone with her. He picked her up bridal style and carried her to a room that would have been hers had she accepted his suggestion when she arrived. He laid her down on the silk sheets, on the soft bed. He watched her sleep for a few minutes, before leaving her to sleep.

He walked out of the room, closing the door lightly. He turned around to find Temari and Kankuro staring at him, leaning against the wall. "It's about time you made a move." Temari said. His brother said nothing but had a smirk on his face. "Well done little brother. I was beginning to think you were stupid, not taking a chance like that. So how'd it go?" he said. "Well, she said she's staying…. 'cause I asked her to. See you in the morning." he said with a defiant grin on his face, walking past them to his room. "Finally!" Temari said walking away.

With Sasuke 6 months later

"Maybe I should have listened to Kakashi. I don't even know where to find her. I hope she's safe." He said almost back to the gate of Konoha. "Hey Kakashi, isn't that Sasuke over there?" Naruto said pointing to the gate. "It sure is." Kakashi said walking toward the gate with Naruto following him. "Hey Kakashi, hi dobe." Sasuke said seeing them there waiting for him. "You didn't find her I take it." Kakashi said looking down to Sasuke. "Hn." Was all he said. "Well, welcome back I suppose." Naruto said. "You look tired. Let's get some ramen, my treat." "Whatever." Sasuke said half heartedly. "I'll see you guys later, I have to see Tsunade." Kakashi said before poofing away.

With Kakashi

"Come in." Tsunade said as Kakashi knocked. "Tsunade, Sasuke has returned without any knowledge of Sakura." He said. "As I expected, she covered her tracks well. However, I know exactly where she is." She said calmly. "How do you know?" "Because she told me who she was looking for and I know where he is. Gaara of the desert is whom she seeks, and since she is smart as she is, since you and I trained her, then she has already found him. I have a mission for you. Go to Suna and check on her for me. I'm worried; she's been gone for six months. Gaara is now the Kazekage there." She said over the top of her paper work. "I'll leave tomorrow." He said, exiting out the door.

In Suna

Sakura had moved out of her apartment and into the Kazekage's mansion. She and Temari had become close friends and Kankuro backed off from Sakura. Gaara and Sakura spent much time together when they weren't working. Every night, they'd sit under the same tree in the sand, and gaze at the stars. They now had a private dinner with the exclusion of his siblings, who were secretly taking bets on when he'd pop the question.

Flashback

"Gaara don't you think that you and Sakura should you know…. get married. This is the happiest I've seen you ever. You better ask fast before I have to interfere again like the night of the dinner. I'm giving you a week!" she said, which she had been saying all week. He had thought about it for some time. They both were happy and it was about time for him to take a wife, him being twenty one and her being nineteen. "I'll think about it."

End Flashback

Apparently, he thought about it too long, two days after, Temari had taken control of the night's events. She forced Gaara to pick a ring for Sakura and she helped pick a new kimono (okay she picked both, but he helped).

Sakura was again instructed to go to Temari's room to get ready for dinner. This time the kimono was black silk with silver stars embroidered in the pattern. This kimono also had about the same slit length. She had her hair up in a messy bun. She wore black shoes that Temari bought for the occasion. She was walked down to dinner by Temari, who was complementing her work the whole way there.

This time, it was just the two of them dinning. She took her usual seat next to Gaara. The usual five course meal came by, course by course. They had talked about many things including their thoughts of the future. Once the meal ended, he led her to the usual sand patch under the sakura tree. They sat there together, her in his arms. They were talking about the stars when Gaara started thinking to himself. I've got to be the luckiest man on earth. She's beautiful and smart and funny. I can do this, she'll say yes.

Sitting together was comforting. "Sakura, I want to ask you some thing." He said. "Ask away." She said still leaning against his warm shoulder. He commanded his sand and found the ring he placed in the sand earlier, and held it up to the moon light so she could see. Shocked, she just looked at it. "Will you marry me, Sakura?" he said after taking a deep breath. "Nothing could make me happier!" she said smiling at him and gave him a kiss. He kissed her back and slid the ring onto her left ring finger. They kissed again and eventually she fell asleep in his arms.

Again, he picked her up bridal style and carried her to her bedroom. He laid her in the same sheets he had put her in six months ago, gave her another kiss and let her sleep. Again his brother and sister were there waiting for him naturally. "So …?" Temari said. "She said yes." He said as she hugged him. Once they were through the congratulations routine, he walked to his room and went to sleep after an hour of thinking of her.

End Chapter IV

I hope you liked it as much as I liked writing it. R&R.

Preview

Chapter V Sasuke Knows

Kakashi arrived early in the morning in Suna. He walked slowly through the city, enjoying the sights. He arrived at the gate to The Kazekage's Mansion. "Do you have an appointment?" the guard asked. He handed him the mission scroll, which he read then let him through the gate. He walked into the main study and found Gaara Working on some paper work. "Hello." Gaara said offering him a seat. Kakashi sat down. "I'm looking for Sakura." He said blankly.