Chapter 5. Why? How? And What?

Sakura curled up into a tight ball. Her eyes clenched shut. "Why?" she whispered quietly into the mattress. She rubbed her red and puffy eyes and sat up. The morning rays shown into her bedroom. I must have cried myself to sleep sakura thought sadly. The floor creaked. Sakura suddenly became alert. The unknown ninja that broke in was still fresh in her mind. Something squeaked behind her. Sakura whipped around. A small mouse sat in the corner of the room. Sakura sighed. Just a mouse…. She shakily stood up. She had to face Lee. Everything made sense now. Gaara, his disappearances, his past, and his life in all. Sakura felt bad for judging him harshly when she first met him. He was just like a dog. Beaten until all it knew was hurt and pain. Sakura shivered slightly. She had to face Lee. She had to look him directly in the eyes. And in that look she knew she would know if it was Lee or Gaara. Sakura pushed the mattress back into the closet. She combed her short pink hair then walked out of the room.

She peered around, looking for Lee. A loud snore alerted her to his whereabouts. She wandered out into the front room. Asleep on her light green sofa was Lee, his mouth open, eyes close, and one leg hanging off the sofa. A light gray blanket lay draped over his unmoving form. Sakura smiled slightly. It wasn't Lee who had put Gaara through his torture, it was Lee's father. Sakura felt anger bubble through her. Inner sakura finally and suddenly popped up. "He may not be as cute as Gaara or that drunken idiot Sasuke but he's better than Naruto." Sakura shook her head. She suddenly froze. How had Sasuke found out about Gaara? According to Lee, Gaara was kept secret. Sakura sat down in a chair, right outside the kitchen, waiting for lee to wake up, and to think about this new revelation. If Gaara was in a whole other nation, how had Sasuke found out about him? A small groan told sakura that Lee was awake. Sakura quietly walked over to the sofa. Lee wiped some drool from his mouth then blinked. He suddenly jolted awake, looking at Sakura. He looked away for a second, and then looked back at her. His eyes filled with uncertainty, and confusion.

Sakura smiled. "It's ok", she said. "It wasn't your fault that Gaara had a bad life." Lee looked slightly comforted. Sakura sat down on the sofa beside him. She rested her head on his shoulder. She felt his arm wrap around her. She closed her eyes, letting peace rush over her. Her little inner voice was right. Gaara couldn't giver her some things that Lee could giver her, but Gaara also had some things that Lee couldn't give her… Sakura opened her eyes at the ringing of the doorbell. She got up and walked over to the door. She smiled as she heard Lee stand up from the couch. His footsteps came toward her. She opened the door, and stifled a gasp.

There he was. Gaara. Standing there. Arms folded, gourd on his back, and an expressionless look on his face. Sakura almost leapt into his arms. She stiffened suddenly. She hadn't noticed the man standing next to him. Gai, Lee's father, and Gaara's torturer. Sakura was stunned. Noo…. She felt Lee's hand squeezed her shoulder. He moved in front of her protectively. Sakura felt fear. Not just for herself but for Lee. What would Gaara do? Don't kill him, don't kill him, she silently prayed to Gaara. Gaara didn't move. Sakura felt slightly hurt. Should Gaara be at least slightly curious why Lee was at her home, why he had his hand on her shoulder? Shouldn't Gaara be mad at Lee for being close to her? Gaara had always been possessive of her. What was wrong with him?

Gai smiled at Lee. Sakura shivered. "Aren't you going to welcome us in?" he asked Lee. Sakura felt Lee stiffen. "Fine" he said after a few moments. Sakura glared at Lee, Inner sakura flared up. How dare he invite that Jackass into our house! Sakura sat down in a chair, glaring at Gai. Gai walked casually over to her sofa and sat down. Gaara stood behind Gai. Still as a stone. Sakura kept stealing glances at him. Her glances were never returned. Gai sat for a few minutes before looking at her. "You are the reason that I am still in business" He said. "You cured my assassin. He's healthy as a horse. And I would like to keep it that way. You have met my son, Lee. He will take over my job when I die. Unfortunately Gaara won't be alive, or won't be young enough to serve Lee's purposes. I would like to continue Gaara's bloodlines. Unfortunately, all of the girls I have hired for him to be with haven't worked out. You are the only one that has worked out. I would like you to marry Gaara, and bare his children so that Gaara's special gift will never cease to exist. His Children will hopefully have his powers over his sand. They will be Lee's assassins when they are old enough. We all win. Gaara and you will be together, my job will continue to be a success, and Lee won't have to worry about finding another assassin."

Sakura sat there stunned after Gai's speech. Lee had fainted somewhere in Gai's talk, Gaara stood there impassively. Gai smiled and stood up. "I'll be back in 2 weeks for your decision." He walked toward the door. Gaara followed him. Gaara walked right past her without a single glance. Sakura felt her heart drop. Gai walked over and put a small note in Lee's pockets and put a small bottle in his hand. Gai then walked out the door. Gaara followed like a puppy dog. Gai turned and put his hand on Gaara's shoulder. "Protect lee, stay here" he said sternly. Gaara gave a small nod then closed the door. He walked over to lee's side and stood there. Sakura walked into her room. It was all too much. She made it halfway to her bed before she fainted, out of exhaustion, and being overwhelmed.