A/N: Beta'd by Errihu.
Chapter Three
Rising from the boy's side, she turned to the Kazekage. She no longer cared if he would question what knowledge she had after, or how threatening he would perceive her now, she just couldn't hold back her tongue from speaking.
"Gaara will not die. I won't allow it. He will be needed by many someday."
As expected, Rasa's curiosity grew to her words, yet his stare on her was as cold as ever. He, too, said nothing while he watched Sakura reach for an IV pump. Though old, the basic principal of it was the same, and she worked quickly settling a saline bag, line, and needle in place. She cleaned the skin around Gaara's arm before bringing the needle towards it. To get the saline in him was a means to get him feeling better quickly, and she had every intention of helping him. His sand, his defense, however thought otherwise.
Before the needle could even graze his skin, a small block of grains appeared. It was as big as the needles point, but even Sakura knew she wouldn't be able to breakthrough the small barrier. Unfortunately, as she stood back up, her eyes turned and went back to Rasa, who wore an amused look on him.
"What will you do now, medic? His sand protects him," he mocked.
Sakura grimaced and turned back to Gaara. To get saline in him was of the most importance right now, and she tried to think hard on what step to now take. She wondered if her incredible strength would be enough for her to push the needle through his block of sand.
'The needle wouldn't be sterile after that,' the medical side of her mind argued.
Sakura bit her lip, contemplating her options.
'Sterile or not. His struggle to survive will be worse if I can't get the needle in him.'
Bending towards his arm once more, Sakura brought the sharp point as close to his arm as his sand would allow. When the tiny blockade appeared once again, she began focusing her chakra to her fingertips. It was a struggle, for she feared too much of her strength would be dangerous.
'Just enough to break through,' she pleaded in her mind. 'I don't want to damage his arm.'
When she felt his sand beginning to give way, she pressed her thumb against his arm, hoping for the vein to protrude out more. With her strength, she was happy to see Gaara's sand crack, and break as she dug the needle through it. The second she broke the barrier, she slowed down her hand as fast as she could. Her delicacy and determination paid off when the needle entered his skin, and a flash of blood presented itself. Success, she had wanted to beam, but only let a small smile etch on her face as she worked on the pump to begin its saline drip.
The most important task was done, and as she scrambled around the room for a thermometer, stethoscope and blood pressure cuff, she could feel Rasa's shocked stare settle intently on her. When she was young, and entered the exams Gaara was taking place in as well, his defense of sand was praised by so many around her. No doubt she was now one of the small group of few that had broken through Gaara's absolute defense.
However, as Sakura began taking in Gaara's vitals, it dawned on her how dangerous her situation was becoming. Again, she was a stranger with too much knowledge, and now an unknown who had a strength to take down what Rasa probably thought was impossible of Gaara's. She was letting him learn too much of her, and unsure if this was a bad or good thing. Again, she allowed many questions to surface back in her mind. Rasa called himself Kazekage, the fourth, and Gaara's father. That itself was baffling, and unsettling for her. Yet, Suna and Konoha were allies, there was really nothing she had to fear, right?
"His vitals are stabilizing," Sakura spoke, caring not if Rasa could hear or not. "He is going to be alright."
Basic, simple. Though Gaara's sand had brought a small obstacle into play, Sakura knew this was a situation she was more than capable of handling. Turning to a fridge, she took out some ice packs and laid them on top of Gaara's torso, hoping to cool him off at a quicker rate. That's when she noticed the patches of burnt skin on the child. She grimaced at the sight, imagining he had walked through the sun's cruel heat for days.
'Two weeks in the desert,' she thought. 'Why? Were you trying to run away?'
As she turned, looking for ointment to help with the red flesh, her eyes flashed with Rasa's for a brief second.
'I wouldn't blame you. Something seems off about your father.'
As Sakura returned to Gaara, gloves on her hand and ready to rub the cream onto the marks of burnt skin, she noticed the boy suddenly stirring. She could see him trying to force his eyes open, attempting to move his body, and yet his full strength still had not return. However, the longer she stared, the more a familiar scene came into play. Familiar, she called it, yet she had only seen it once in her lifetime. Still, the unusual act had been so captivating and perplexing that, when it had happened to Naruto, she had never forgotten it.
She could see a red cloak begin bubbling on the patches of cooked skin. Though they were many, she understood what self-healing the Ichibi was now aiding Gaara with. She had been wise to use the IV pump right away, and yet, she worried that with strength returning to Shukaku, so too would his strong will to escape. She contemplated explaining this to Rasa, for again she feared how much knowledge he would learn of her having. However, she would realize then his thoughts matched alongside hers.
Rasa called for his men, addressing them to find the doctors and nurses now to keep Gaara awake.
"Once he can manage staying awake on his own, bring him home," Rasa ordered of his men.
Sakura peeked an eye towards the ninja when Rasa asked them of this task, curiosity getting the best of her. She couldn't help but smirk when she saw the nervousness behind their eyes.
'Pathetic,' she thought before turning to look down at Gaara once more.
She could sense him still struggling to awake fully, but to her touch, his body seemed to relax.
"I told you I wouldn't let you die," she whispered at the boy.
Her attention was only stolen from Gaara when Rasa spoke again.
"Gather the councilmen to the meeting chamber now. I have something important to discuss with them." Rasa's voice was laced with urgency.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama."
Like the men who were to fetch the nurse and doctors for Gaara, these next men were sent to gather what Rasa requested, and a next group of ninja presented itself in front of their lord.
"Get her something to eat, and drink."
Though her back was to them, she knew that he spoke of her.
"Have her wait by my office."
She listened to Rasa shuffle behind her, looking towards her now. He addressed her as if she was one of the men behind her, who were ready to beckon to his call and obey his order.
'I do not belong to you,' she thought bitterly, yet listened still.
"Eat. Rest. Wait for me and I will speak to you after my meeting with the council."
He did not wait for her agreement, instead turning and leaving the room. Sakura meanwhile contemplated her options while brushing a hand against Gaara's dirty hair.
'Should I run?' she thought. 'Should I run back to Konoha?'
For what reason, another part of her mind asked. Suna and Konoha are allies, I shouldn't feel hostile towards him.
'His eyes were on me the whole time. I've gotten his attention.'
Sakura's eyes narrowed to this. She knew she shouldn't feel threatened, or like a prisoner to him, but suddenly feared what is was Rasa was so set on speaking to his council about. He had heard her words, she had said and shown too much, he would surely wring her out for all she knew.
'Perhaps, it's just my medical knowledge he is after,' she thought.
Fool, her mind called her to that thinking. However, she knew there was an even more plaguing question that should be bothering her. Rasa claimed this was Suna, but was it really, she wondered. She had never heard of such a technique, but now the idea of time going backwards presented itself.
"Am I in the past?" she whispered, stroking Gaara's hair more, for it brought some sort of comfort.
If this was true. What was she to do? Should she explain this to Rasa? Ask for his aid? Or would she keep it secret and figure this out on her own back home in Konoha? Maybe, if she was lucky, this was just some odd nightmare. Maybe she was still out in the desert, taken by someone who manipulated her mind. Or maybe, even genjutsu.
Before she could even elaborate on that idea, for she herself mostly immune to the technique, a heavy hand found her shoulder.
"Kazekage-sama has requested we keep you nearby his office. He will speak to you once his meeting with the councilmen is concluded."
Sakura wanted to scoff at this man, for she had heard everything Rasa had said. However, she held her tongue. It wasn't this man's fault that his duty required him to elaborate, and slowly she turned and nodded at him. As one man led her, another following closely behind, the opportunity of running away presented itself once more in her mind. Especially when they led her through the broken down village. She fought the urge however, worried of the repercussions that could follow.
Not to mention, a part of her deep down, a small part, wanted to be sure Gaara would be alright. She hoped no internal injury had happened, and would wait anxiously to hear of his condition. Turning to the man in front of her, she requested one thing before deciding she would keep silent until she spoke with Rasa again.
"Can you get me a pocket calendar?"
Sakura sipped on her water bottle for what felt like the hundredth time. She wasn't thirsty anymore in the slightest, simply frustrated and anxious in her spot. Her nerves rattled her, and placing her lips on the bottle became a sudden tic for her. Her eyes hadn't left the little calendar in her hand, and as she sat there in silence, two ninja standing guard beside her, she knew she was meant to be more flustered than she was currently allowing.
Like the world around her predicted for her, the date she was reading was far back into the past.
She rubbed her temple while trying to contemplate the situation. The last thing she remembered before the world went back in time was her courier mission of the scroll. At the oasis, she had lost the parcel in the water. While she was struggling to retrieve it, had someone used a powerful technique on her?
"Bastard," she whispered before taking another sip of her water.
Though the illusion to create an old world was possible, never before had she heard of such a technique to send one back to the past. Yet, in her ninja world, impossible to her sometimes became achievable the more she saw the world. So surprisingly, she was calm while staring at the calendar, trying to decide her next course of action.
It had been two hours now as she sat waiting for Rasa, but she still felt an unsettling uneasiness in her stomach at the thought. Konoha and Suna were allies at this time, yes, but there were still...quarrels between the two villages she could say. She didn't know much of it; just little tidbits she had learned in time. However, she wondered if revealing this information, that she was from Konoha, to Rasa would be met with good or bad intent on his part.
She scratched at her head lightly, where her forehead protector would be had she not lost it in all the chaos.
'Perhaps it's a sign,' she thought. 'Maybe it's a good thing they don't know where I'm from.'
Sakura sighed, placing the calendar back into her pocket. She pulled out a bar of dark chocolate the men had offered her, opening it up and breaking off a piece of the bark to eat. The taste was bitter, but she relished in the flavor. It had been some time since she had eaten chocolate, and she sat in her seat in silence, waiting for Rasa's return.
The men next to her would not speak, nor did she look for conversation in them. In a way, she felt lost and confused. There were so many things she should preoccupy her mind with at the moment. Like thinking of a way back home to her time, yet, she sat there with blank thoughts. Where she knew she should be taking charge, a lead, the situation was so perplexing to her, that she instead allowed another to shed some light on her situation. She waited for this Rasa guy, hoping answers she was looking for would suddenly become all the more clearer at his return.
'Fool,' her mind called her again that day.
Her peripheral vision caught a swift movement to the entryway just a few feet from her. Turning her head to the side, she leaned on the edge of her chair to get a better view past one of the men watching her. She blinked rapidly when two small children met with her eyes. They took her in as curiously as she did them, yet they hid their bodies still behind the wall. Their eyes stayed with her for they were simply curious children, wondering who this new stranger was. Her eyes stayed on them, because despite their age, she recognized them without difficulty, and even knew their names.
'Temari. Kankuro.'
She wasn't sure why, perhaps they were actually people who she recognized aside from Gaara, maybe she wanted to be sure they were the children, or because an instinct to nourish them came to her suddenly, but immediately she broke a piece of her chocolate. She nudged the food towards the kids, whose eyes widened from her offer.
The young boy's gaze swept to his sister, as if she spoke for the both of them. Temari's eyes shifted to the sides of her, as if sensing someone who would be opposed of them may come quickly by. However, she rose her nose into the air while strolling over so casually towards Sakura when no one presented themselves to stop her. The boy lingered behind however, watching his sister with worried eyes as he hid further behind the wall.
Sakura smiled at Temari's smug look. Her chin was held high as if she was queen of this land, and the rosette couldn't help but snicker inside her mind at this snobby display. The young girl said nothing as she offered her hand, and Sakura obliged to her silent request by dropping a piece of chocolate into her fingers. It was then the Konoha woman noticed Temari's long hair, surprised her familiar known pig-tails did not start at this young of age.
"I like your hair," Sakura complimented.
The child froze mid-bite, as if Sakura's words were taboo. However, the young girl shook off the uneasiness to enjoy the chocolate and eyed Sakura peculiarly.
"You have pink hair," Temari commented back, and Sakura wondered if this was looked at by Temari as ridicule, or if she simply stated a fact.
Sakura forced a warm smile, brushing her pink strands back some before asking.
"What is your name?"
Despite knowing the answer, Sakura asked to keep up her facade and in small hopes the child in front of her would grow a fondness towards her. Though, she wasn't sure why she felt the need. Temari in her future already held her in high regards. Perhaps, Sakura feared to lose that in this past.
"Temari."
The blonde's lips grew a sudden grin, as if something mischievous suddenly came to her mind.
"I am the Kazekage's first born."
Sakura knew Temari looked at her now in hopes of the usual, exuberant awe she was usually given after this announcement, and pouted lightly when the rosette did not compel. Instead, Sakura traced a finger towards Kankuro, and the young boy flinched and hid when Sakura and Temari's look met with his.
"Who is that?" Sakura asked. "Your boyfriend?"
Temari's face fell to that question, yet a giggle erupted from her too.
"No! Ew!" the blonde cried, her chocolate almost falling from her hand. "That's Kankuro. He's my brother."
Sakura nodded.
"My name is Sakura."
The blonde said nothing, taking another bite of her treat before Sakura asked another question.
"Do you have any other siblings?"
Sakura noted how the tan color of the young girl's face suddenly paled. She eyed Sakura carefully before her eyes swept to the guards next to the rosette. Temari looked extremely fearful, as if Sakura had spoken yet another taboo.
"Gaara," Temari answered, voice shaking lightly before she continued. "I have another brother named Gaara. I don't get to see him that much though."
"Why not?"
Again, Temari eyed the guards and back to where Kankuro stood, who was still watching the ordeal with eyes of worry.
"Father doesn't let us," she whispered closer to Sakura. "He killed our mother. He kills whoever he wants. Father says he would kill us too. There's a monster inside his head."
Sakura couldn't help but let her mouth fall slightly, for she had never known this of Gaara.
'He killed his...mother?' she wondered in bewilderment.
Surely this rumor wasn't true. This was probably just another lie Rasa had spoke to his children. That, or Temari's mischievous smile and glint from before exaggerated all the more in her speech. However, the wariness the young girl held in her eyes made Sakura second guess all this.
"Gaara ran away," Temari spoke again, throwing off Sakura's thoughts. "But I heard he came back."
Nodding towards her, Sakura spoke.
"He has. He's at the hospital right now."
Temari said nothing as she eyed the last bit of her chocolate. Before plopping the piece onto her tongue, she spoke to the food with a passive look.
"I wish he didn't come back. I wish he would have died, then I could be father's favorite."
'Father's favorite?' Sakura sat in wonder.
Surely she was not referring to Gaara being Rasa's favorite child. What parent would favor one over their siblings? Let alone, how cold Rasa acted towards Gaara, for the redhead to be deemed the favored would mean Temari and Kankuro were probably cast more off to the side than Gaara.
"Temari!"
A booming voice entered the hallway, making both females jump in their spots. Their eyes met with Rasa as he strolled over to the young girl, his face all the scolding.
"What are you doing here?" he asked, and before even given an answer he continued. "Go home. Now."
He studied Temari a little more before continuing.
"And put your hair up."
Temari hastily nodded towards the older man, and as her eyes returned to Sakura, the rosette took a moment to shove the rest of the bar of chocolate into her hands.
"Share it with your brother," Sakura commented.
"Bye, bye, Sakura," Temari whispered before running off.
Sakura was surprised Rasa did not protest, or perceive her still as danger, for he let the young girl scurry away with the chocolate. What shocked her even more was Rasa's next comment while Sakura stood herself.
"You've made a grave mistake."
"How so?" Sakura retorted, cautious of his words.
"She will come back to you begging for the world once she's done with that chocolate."
To hear something so lighthearted, and casual from this strange man made Sakura unusually comfortable suddenly. Though, she knew deep down her ease was severely misplaced. A different time, a strange Kazekage, one who thought little of Gaara's life, she should be hissing at the man, not following him as he beckoned her into his office. However, she did exactly just that. Sitting down at the chair Rasa offered her at the other side of his desk.
"Sakura, where do you come from?" he asked the second her bottom found the seat.
Sakura flinched to the use of her name. How did he manage to learn of her? Yet, as soon as she asked that question in her mind, she realized the second mistake she had made with Temari. Of course the older man had heard his daughter utter Sakura's name.
"Sakura?" he asked again when she fell silent. "I asked you where you came from."
'Of course,' Sakura thought, eying the familiar yet different Kazekage office. 'Interrogation time. I know too much for someone outside from these walls.'
She feared how more ill Konoha would be perceived by Rasa had she told him she was from there, despite the alliance. Would he claim spies from her home? Seek a war against her Hokage for learning his secrets? These questions came to her fast, so instead, she shook her head.
"I come from nowhere. I simply travel village to village."
Her pose was straight, her face was apathetic, and her tone was professional. She was an expert at lying at this age, yet Rasa's eyes narrowed coldly towards her. In time, his fingers laced together, studying the girl in front of him.
"Your home then? Where were you were born?"
"I cannot remember. Since I was young, my parents and I traveled the world. They said I was born outside of any village."
"Perhaps, they were hiding for some reason?"
Sakura kept quiet, studying Rasa just as much. Her lies were small, but they were thought up on the spot, and the rosette worried he had already seen through them easily.
"I was still young when they passed. Whatever secrets they kept, they kept hidden from me and took to their graves."
She was surprised to see the brunette smirk lightly. He seemed so serious and cold that it felt untypical for him, despite her only knowing him for a day.
"It's interesting to meet someone who travels my desert so unprepared. I imagine you would at least be carrying a bag. Right, traveler?"
Sakura clenched her fist, she was grateful how fast, and sharp her mind was.
"I lost it while bringing your son back to you."
Her words ended with a hiss of venom. Even though she knew Rasa cared little for Gaara's life, she tried to imply all she had done for this Kazekage today. Who was he to treat her so coldly when she saved his child? However, deep down she knew he was justified. This was the ninja world after all, and he was Kazekage. People relied on him.
"Let me guess, your skills and knowledge are of something you learned during your travels as well? Do rumors of my son also whisper out of the mouths of outsiders? Is that where you learned of Gaara?"
Sakura tensed lightly, his tone matched hers, but she understood the underlying sarcasm. He didn't believe her lies. Her story was false in his mind. However, she nodded to answer him yes, refusing to crack under him. He nodded to her answer, though eyes still skeptical. What knowledge do you hide from me, he had wanted to ask again. Rasa held this back, though.
"It's quite impressive you've learned so much jumping from village to village. You really should be careful who you show your skills off to," Rasa said, a smirk once again appearing. "Someone may try to keep you to themselves."
Before Sakura could retort, a little black book was plopped onto the desk by him. He sighed while crossing his arms, leaning more comfortably back into his chair. She recognized the old book with ease.
'Bingo Book,' she thought.
"I did not find you in this book. Though, I only have the ones of the regions close by."
"I am not a runaway!" Sakura exclaimed, anger getting the better of her suddenly.
It was evident all the more to her now that Rasa tried to find fault in her. A reason to keep her locked up, and behind bars. As twisted as it sounded, she began regretting bringing Gaara back here. She needed a way to be free outside of these walls.
"Whether you are or you are not, doesn't matter to me at the moment. If you give me a reason, I can dig deeper for information on you. It's only a message away to other villages, asking if they're missing a pink-haired woman."
'A reason?' Sakura wondered.
"However, I think you would make a proper citizen here, and my council has agreed to my proposal with you."
As Rasa's stoic gaze met with her confused look, Sakura suddenly had a sinking feeling.
"...And I've already talked to the boy about it."
That sinking feeling grew, and Sakura's gaze suddenly looked passed him as she realized how he was beating around the bush with his words.
"Never have I met another, besides myself, able to break through Gaara's defenses. Again, I question where your skills were taught through your travels."
Sakura gulped, shock kept her from speaking out, but she listened closely. For her, she already knew what he was going to say to her.
'He won't let you go,' her mind whispered.
He gave her a moment, poring over her aghast expression, and giving her an opportunity to elaborate more on where her teachings came from, or where she herself was truly from. He decided it did not matter at the moment when no words came from her. He had so much other business to take care of.
"But I find you much too valuable to let you go just yet. With everyone all the more fearful of the boy, I don't feel obligated to force anyone from here to become his new caretaker."
A fear from long ago suddenly resurfaced inside the rosette. Not one of being kept against her will, or being ask of something she did not want, but instead of one when she first looked at Gaara's cold eyes. The young man of her past, the one who threatened her as she stood against him for Sasuke suddenly came to mind. The fear she had of him then, of his sand tearing her limb from limb, was suddenly back. Though she feared nothing of the older Gaara she knew now, only his reprimand as Kazekage, his young self was a different story.
Now, here she was again, thrown back into what felt like the almost same scenario. She was stronger now, yes. She could break his sand with her fists now, probably. He was still just a child, indeed. Yet, something inside of her cried against this.
'This can't even be an option for me,' Sakura thought. 'I have to find a way back home. I have to…'
Her thoughts came to an abrupt stop. She had to what, exactly? What direction was she suppose to take now to getting back home? With time, she had hoped an answer would come to her, yet she again searched for someone to give her direction like others had done in the past. Strong, and independent as she wanted to be, she still had trouble taking the lead. Her eyes slowly trailed from his desk and back up to Rasa's eyes where he took in her dismayed state. He looked at her ever so curiously, like he was unsure whether she was a gift, or a trap to him.
"You want me to be Gaara's new caretaker?" she whispered.
Rasa nodded once.
'New?' she thought.
"His old one…? she asked.
"Dead."
Again, that fear built up inside of her. Those dangerous eyes appeared in her mind. Eyes of the Ichibi.
'He is a child,' she tried to reason with herself. 'I know Gaara! He is not the monster everyone claims. He will be a great leader someday!'
Still, a forbidden question came from her lips.
"How?"
When no answer came, and silence filled the room, her eyes went back again to Rasa's. His cold stare said it all, and Sakura felt her breath leave her. The rosette thought of herself naive, thinking the answer could be anything else besides Gaara. That's when she stood, shoving her hands against the Kazekage's desk.
"No!" she cried, trying to hold back her uneasiness. "I cannot. I will not stay here just so it pleases you! I have-!"
Cutting her off, Rasa's voice grew alongside hers. Again, his eyes lit up curiously towards her.
"You have what, traveler? Is there something you seek in another village? Are you searching for something, or someone? Is this why you claim to travel the world?"
She looked at him, understanding why his eyes lit up every time she threatened to say more. Not only was he anxious to call her out on her lie, he also wanted to hear all the information she had. Just like his son's secret to the outside, perhaps she had learned much more during her travels. Maybe she could in time become an ace up his sleeve so to speak, and as she realized this, she quickly fell silent.
"I can help you," Rasa tried to usher her to speak again. "If you stay here, become Gaara's caretaker, I can help you with whatever it is you're looking for."
Now, here was the chance she was hoping for. However, could this Kazekage truly help her find a way back home to her time, or was he just saying what she wanted to hear?
"Help me, and down the line I can help you."
Sakura's eyes wavered in front of her. Could he? Did she really have any other options?
"What if I refuse? Why do people treat your son like he is dangerous?" Sakura whispered.
Rasa stared at her for some time, pondering what to tell her. With her knowledge of the Ichibi inside of Gaara, the Fourth assumed her to already know of the boy's erratic mood swings. However, he found it foolish of himself to assume such a thing, and was happy some rumors did not find the cracks in his walls.
"Because he is dangerous," Rasa said. "But with you watching him, there's an opportunity of stopping his sand from hurting others. Something his last caretaker could not even do."
Sakura blinked rapidly, trying to understand this new, and young Gaara.
'He attacks at random?' Sakura thought, a little unbelieving he would do that much at this young age.
Her eyes went down to her fists, and she clenched them hard. Would her hands really be enough if Gaara suddenly decided to lash out?
"Sakura." Rasa spoke, earning to young woman's look. "You know I won't let you leave. Not anytime soon at least."
Sakura felt herself wanting to fume at his words, to explain to him he had very little power over her to say such a thing. And yet, her anger did not rise. He was right with his words; she knew since earlier that he wasn't about to let her leave his village. She at least had to be grateful for his blunt, and honest speech.
"You can either stay as a prisoner, or as a temporary citizen," Rasa continued, his voice still stoic. "Become the boy's caretaker, and all your needs and requirements will be met by me. Make sure Gaara doesn't hurt others and, in time, I will help you."
Sakura blinked at him, taking in his words while battling what to do in her mind. When Rasa recognized her pride trying to get the best of her, he spoke again.
"Help me, and I will help you."
Sakura bit her lip, did she really have a choice? Besides, the promise of him helping her in the end was the only thing she could go by at the moment to get herself back home.
'It's temporary,' she reminded herself. 'Taking care of Gaara means your freedom inside these walls. You'll have time now to think of another plan if you need to. There has to be information you can get your hands on somewhere...'
Sakura's sigh was heavy, for she hated to accept his offer, but found no other way at the moment. Before she could even agree to him, he rose from his spot, and strolled over towards his office door.
"I'll take you to him, now."
'All business,' Sakura thought, picking up her feet to catch up with him.
In a sense, she liked that this Kazekage was no time waster. However, as he showed her through the village, destruction all around her, she had to remember deep down that she was his prisoner.
'He cares nothing for my sake,' she reminded herself. 'He is not a good man.'
They walked on in silence, to which Sakura was grateful for. It gave her time to take in the debris around her, to once again witness and try to understand the Ichibi's power. The sun had set, and twinkling stars were beginning to appear. She also took the moment to think of a new plan, to consider even running from him now. Yet somehow, as the two continued their brisk walk to his home, she knew there were many eyes on the two of them. His men had to be on guard with her so close by.
After all, she was still a mystery to them.
Silence was all the welcoming for her until they actually entered his home. The giant, mansion-like home was outwardly the same as she knew it from her time. Never being inside though, she wondered what changes there were between then, and now. It was also that moment, as he beckoned her up many flights of stairs, did she remember what she was appointed to be.
'Gaara's caretaker.'
Rasa had mentioned speaking already to Gaara about this. Did this mean Gaara would behave? She wasn't sure what to expect. She kept on thinking of all the Gaaras she knew. He was a calm, collected leader who, as a teenager, threatened to kill her, with predatory eyes. Which Gaara would this child be like? That question made her panic on the inside.
Rasa's silence this whole time taught her nothing. All he had said to her was to make sure Gaara did not harm others. Was that really all she was asked to do? Somehow she doubted that. And what of Gaara's life? Rasa had mentioned nothing of making sure that no harm came Gaara's way.
She suddenly opened her mouth once they reached the top floor, wanting to ask Rasa what more of her duties there was. As they walked through the long hallway, towards the only door at the end, she found herself voiceless, her heart racing suddenly.
'I don't think I can do this,' she thought, but still followed his steps.
"Do not run from him. Ever," Rasa spoke as he reached for the door. "If you run, he will chase you."
Sakura wasn't even given a second to dwell on that thought or ask the Fourth what he meant before he opened the door. Leading the way in, the rosette stepped into the bright, yellow room with one last thought to herself.
'I don't know how to care for a child.'
She was blinded by the brightness in the room. Everything was quiet as she stepped next to the Kazekage's frame, trying to refocus her vision. When that came to, her eyes immediately swept over the contrast of the boy's red hair against the bright yellow that was the room. From his hair, her eyes found his, and he stared at her so strongly and coldly that Sakura instinctively took a step back.
"Do not run," Rasa reminded her.
Sakura gulped, unable to tear away from his eyes that seemed to burn deep into her soul. It was fear she was suddenly experiencing, yet she couldn't properly place why she felt this way. Did Gaara suddenly frighten her? His eyes were as she remembered when they were young. Or was this just all the more proof she saw that she was indeed not in her right time? A young Gaara, not the one she knew, had fate decided she had no future in her own time? Was she really about to relive the past again? With these questions, she was quiet.
Perhaps Rasa thought that she was going to speak, to introduce herself to Gaara, for he said nothing for some time as well. He simply studied his son's gaze that was set on this new stranger in both their lives. Innocently enough, he sat on the only bed provided in this very large room, a teddy bear in hand. New, of course, it had been one of the first things Gaara had asked the nurse for once he was able to. And like always, father had provided. Of course he had already discussed the new caregiver to his son. Gaara had been quiet about it the whole time, and still he had yet to speak or say anything to Rasa since his return. Not that Rasa needed the boy's approval anyway. However, a smirk found Rasa at the image that would come to be as soon as Gaara would learn that Sakura had the strength to break through his defenses.
When minutes came and went, Rasa finally broke the silence.
"Behave yourself, boy."
With that, he turned and left his son, and new villager, alone. He had so many important things to plan on, that the two never crossed his mind again that night.
Long minutes, and Sakura knew she still had so much more to ask of the Kazekage. Where was she expected to sleep? Was Gaara's room to accommodate her as well? Though big enough, she shivered at the idea of being alone with this child, and his deadly stare. How was she to watch a child who never slept? Just because he didn't did not mean Sakura could do the same.
Yet, Rasa left her before she could find the strength to ask, still stuck inside Gaara's gaze while many questions piled on. It didn't take long for her head to suddenly pound, her then knees trembled, and eyes became hot the more she thought how her life was going to be from this point on.
'I have to find a way home!' she screamed in her mind. 'This cannot be real! This can't be! This has to be some sort of nightmare!'
Her eyes never left his, but as Sakura slowly brought her hands up, forming a seal, Gaara's eyes immediately left hers to stare at her fingers. The cold stare he had was now gone, and instead his eyes went round to her notion. His nose flared dangerously, and his breath became loud. It was his turn to fear her for he was still too young, and still too unsure of this stranger, to understand what she was doing, or if it was a means to harm him.
"Kai," Sakura whispered.
When Gaara's anxious, and confused face was what she continued to see, she felt her eyes burn all the more. She could taste her tears as she spoke a little more loudly.
"Kai."
Still nothing. It dawned on the rosette now, how far Konoha truly was from her. Her friends, her family, while still here and still alive, were not the ones she was familiar with. She found herself alone in this confusing situation, scared that she may remain this way the rest of her life.
"Kai!" she cried.
Gaara still had not moved from his spot, instead he clutched his bear a little more tightly as he tried to silently understand Sakura's seal. Through her tears, she could still see his back heaving from his loud breaths, and his nose flaring. His eyes swam around her, anxiety and confusion pooling inside of them. In his mind, a voice was telling him to lash out, to stop her, that she was there to harm him just like the last.
When Sakura's vision became blurry because of her tears, not her technique, she slowly slid her knees to the cold floor. The events of all that transpired today finally catching up with her. She no longer cared who she shared this room with tonight, instead she spent it laying on the cold, hard ground while tears painted her face.
She felt sorry for no one but herself.
