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Chapter Fourteen
"Are you awake yet?"
With familiarity came both rewards and consequences. While Sakura was always trying to look past and see the positive side of any given situation, she did have to admit her early wake up calls were not as appreciated as she let the boy think they were early on. To his question she fluttered her eyes open to glance at the time. Yet, when she saw dawn barely breaking into the sky she turned her back to the little boy and buried her head deeper into her pillow. She tried to mumble to Gaara to give her a little more time, but was pretty sure she lost the sentence midway through falling back asleep. He was unable interpret her words; that, or he simply did not care, for he began to poke her back lightly for a response.
"Sakura?" he asked quietly with each poke.
She still hadn't given him any indication she was awake, and before long his touch became keen and the call of her name grew louder in his voice.
"Sakura!" he managed out with his tenth poke.
The young woman groaned then, finally turning to face him and bringing her body slightly upright.
"What?!" she barked.
She didn't regret her tone in the slightest; if the boy was brave enough to poke the sleeping dragon, she was going to show off her flame and fangs to him. Yet, even to her brash tone the boy looked up at her with a small smile, unfazed by her temper.
"I'm hungry," he replied with a soft tone, opposite of hers.
To this, Sakura sighed. Where she was the dragon, Gaara was the sheep, and his soft voice had the young woman's temper sliding away. She stared at the little boy for some time in silence, debating whether his food would be made this early, or not. Yet, when a cool breeze hit her neck, she turned and eyed the open window next to her. It didn't take her long to realize the window next to that one was open as well, the one next to that one too. Soon enough, Sakura was turning her head all around the room, trying to spot a window that wasn't open. While this wasn't the first time Gaara had opened all the windows, it was the first she had woken up to them like so this early. It made her wonder slightly until the boy called for her attention again, and he did so by placing his hands onto her knee. Pushing her playfully.
"Sakura," he whined again, "wake up. I'm hungry!"
Maybe it was because she was still half-asleep, but the young woman couldn't help but frown at Gaara's sudden forwardness. Rarely did he touch her, hardly ever did he call her name, and normally did he strive for her attention like he was now. He was the lonely boy who was normally mute, only accepting Sakura's recognition on his good days. For him to wake her like he was now, focus solely on her, and with a happy smile, made Sakura feel slightly uneasy. Yet, she tried to shake it off, she should be happy the boy was in such a good mood! Even if this was quite a long stretch, she knew progress was always happening between her and Gaara's relationship.
The rosette's thoughts were lost when she felt grains suddenly snake around her ankles, and she shot up from her bed in a flash.
"Alright! I'm up!" Sakura said, turning to look at the little boy.
She was wide-eyed as he chuckled at the scenario. Laughs from him were extremely rare. Still, she tried to shake off the growing uncertainty.
"Gaara," she called to him, kneeling to her knee, "want to come down with me to get your breakfast?"
Now it was his turn to look up at Sakura with round eyes, surprised that offer even came to him. Tied to his room during the day, a chance like this never even crossed his mind.
"Remember when I mentioned that there's someone name Annaisha who makes your breakfast? I bet she'd be happy to hear you thank her for it," Sakura said with a smile.
The Gaara she was familiar with suddenly returned, and his eyes wavered slightly at Sakura's words.
"People don't like me..." he whispered with some time.
Hesitation in his voice, but there was also curiosity, and Sakura honed in on it.
"She'll be nice to you. I promise," Sakura whispered, bringing her hand to gently pat the boy's head.
Again, Gaara did something surprising, and brought his body closer to Sakura's touch. He leaned his head against her knee, letting her hand stroke his red locks. The act was so touching in Sakura's eyes that she didn't even second think this interaction, but instead studied his troubled frown. He was torn, she could tell, and she spoke to convince him once more.
"She's just like me."
But even those words weren't enough for Gaara, and Sakura eventually pulled her hand away. With her warm touch disappearing, Gaara turned to look back up at Sakura and watched as the rosette poked him playfully in the stomach.
"If it weren't for her, you'd have gone hungry long ago with your crazy appetite," Sakura said, her smile growing when Gaara giggled to her playful teasing.
And just like that, the dragon was able to convince the small sheep to follow her to the kitchen. He moved closely behind her, eying the plastic bag she brought along and stopping in his tracks only when Sakura did in front of the kitchen's entryway. Gaara watched as Sakura poked her head in curiously, her smile forming when she spotted the exact person she wanted Gaara to meet before she turned that smile to the boy below her. It was a reassuring grin, and one that followed Sakura into the kitchen.
"Annaisha, good morning," Sakura said.
The brunette had her back turned to Sakura, cooking on the stove, but began to turn upon hearing Sakura's voice.
"Sakura-sama!" the young woman beamed in her usual cheery tone. "Good morning to you too! You're up quite early. I honestly didn't expect you for another hour...or...two…"
Annaisha's voice slowed to a complete stop while her eyes grew wide to the sight of the redheaded boy who walked in casually behind the rosette. Gaara returned Annaisha's long stare with unmindful eyes, and Sakura could only stand back watching the two, hoping she had made a wise decision. When quiet seconds became minutes of growing tension, Sakura took the opportunity to walk next to Annaisha and placed her hand on the young woman's shoulder. Annaisha jumped high into the air at Sakura's touch, but the rosette was quick to try to settle her back down with words.
"Gaara," Sakura began, squeezing Annaisha's shoulder hard to stop her light shaking, "this is Annaisha. She is the one who makes our food here. She is the one I was telling you about, remember?"
"You told him about me?!" Annaisha hissed through her teeth, turning towards Sakura with angry eyes.
Yet, the brunette stopped short upon catching Sakura's warning gaze. Annaisha could see then that the most dangerous person in the room wasn't necessarily Gaara at this point, but in fact Sakura who gripped her shoulder hard still.
"Mess this up, and I'll mess you up," Sakura was silently telling her.
'Why me?' Annaisha mumbled, pouting to the ground before forcing her eyes back towards the little kid.
The brunette swallowed hard at the sight of Gaara again, but forced a trembling hand up before waving slightly to the boy with a strained smile.
"Good morning, G-G-Gaara-sama," Annaisha forced a laugh.
Despite the warm greeting, Gaara's eyes shrank to a narrow slit, and he glared at the woman with so much disfavor that it made Annaisha step back and turn once again towards Sakura.
"Sakura-sama! I can't do this! If-you-don't-take-him-now-I-am-going-to-run-and-then-he-is-going-to-chase-me-and-then-he-is-going-to-kill-me-and-then-you're-going-to-need-a-new-cook-and-then-!
Sakura practically slapped her palm against the anxious woman's mouth. Sakura halted Annaisha's voice, and tried once again to calm her.
"If you panic like this then, yes, he is going to get upset," Sakura whispered at the other woman. "Don't greet him like he's some kind of wild animal. He's a child, talk to him like one!"
Though her mouth was still covered, Annaisha's eyes betrayed her uncertainty still as they wavered looking back at Sakura's strong, emerald gaze. Yet, with time, the brunette nodded in understanding.
"Alright," she whispered back as Sakura pulled her hand away. "I trust you."
Another hard swallow, and another glance at Sakura before Annaisha built up her courage and took a step closer towards Gaara. His glare was still on her, watching her as she knelt down to his level and brought a small smile. She opened her palm towards him, as if offering him an invisible treat. To her approach, Gaara's eyes let up some while he now curiously focused on her open hand.
"We've crossed paths a few times before," Annaisha began speaking, earning Gaara's eyes back on her. "Yet, I don't think I've ever said one thing to you."
Silence filled the room as the two stared at one another while Sakura watched. Annaisha's face fell for a moment, eyes and lips contorting as if she was suddenly in pain, and Sakura had to wonder if the girl was struggling to apologize for not introducing herself sooner, or thinking of the right words to say. Yet, with time, came her decision and voice.
"My name is Annaisha. Your father brought me here this household to serve his children, including you..." she was quiet again, and the boy only looked up at her still with a little uncertainty while a soft smile began painting Annaisha's face. "...but, maybe we can be friends too one day."
Both Gaara's, and Sakura, eyes widened briefly to Annaisha's words. They had sounded so heartfelt, and even the rosette didn't think Annaisha could offer Gaara so much seeing how she feared the boy. Yet, the brunette kept her smile and eyes strong on the boy still, and even offered her palm to Gaara once more.
Maybe it was because Sakura had awoken to Gaara being an extremely good mood, or perhaps Annaisha's words touched his soul in a new way; Perhaps the rosette's words still rang in his mind to truth of this new girl, or it could have been because there was a chance someone caring wanted to be a part of his lonely life, a new friend. Whatever reason, Gaara slowly reached out towards Annaisha's hand, placing his small fingers into her palm. He let the brunette hug his fingers within her own hand, and watched her still, empty face, as she smiled gently down at him. It was his silent agreement to her, that yes, maybe one day. Though it would be a long journey, as Sakura knew it best, for as long as she had been there the boy only trusted her to some degree.
Sakura's thought vanished when she watched Annaisha drop her hold on Gaara and turn instead towards her. Though the young woman put up a standing, brave performance in the eyes of Gaara, the rosette could still see Annaisha's eyes shake some while looking at her. She was still uncomfortable, but willing to try, and the same could probably be said for Gaara, and that was all Sakura was asking of the brunette today. Sakura nodded as Annaisha stood back up, trying to show her appreciation to the young cook.
"Gaara and I were hungry for breakfast," Sakura said, strolling once more to the boy. "Is breakfast-"
"Done? Of course it is!" Annaisha beamed, trying to bring back her usual chipper self.
The girl began to babble on while turning back to the stove, her attention away from the two, and at that instant Sakura knelt down to Gaara.
"I told you she was nice," Sakura whispered towards him.
Yet, Gaara didn't reply, his eyes and concentration were set on the hand that had been held so warmly just moments ago.
"Want to eat breakfast in here instead of your room?" Sakura asked him.
She caught his attention then, He blinked a few more times in thought before turning his curious gaze towards the rosette.
"I'm not allowed..." he reminded her, but his voice was still hopeful.
"Who says?" Sakura asked.
The boy tore his eyes away then, a heavy frown on his face as he looked down at the floor. Even if he refused to utter who that man was, Sakura was very aware that the rule came from his father. So, she slowly brought her head lower to whisper to the boy, though a quiet voice was hardly needed over Annaisha's loud ramblings.
"I'm the one taking care of you, so I say you can eat here if you want," Sakura said.
Her smile was light as the boy turned back to look at her in surprise.
"Just remember, you have to behave and be nice."
Simple task, yet the boy was self-aware, even more so today, and once again looked below him in uncertainty. Recognizing his self doubt, Sakura quickly poked his stomach playfully to nab his attention once more.
"Hey now," she began, "don't make that face after I say that. It's really not that hard to do all that, is it?"
Again he didn't answer, instead gripping at his stomach where Sakura had poked him earlier while his gaze looked ahead of her. It was then the rosette glanced once more at Annaisha, making sure the brunette's attention was on the food at the stove before turning back towards Gaara. Sakura gently cupped his cheeks into her hands, bringing back the boy's attention as his eyes went round with shock to her touch. He didn't pull back as Sakura brought her forehead against his, her warm smile once again planted in front of him.
"I know how nice you are," she whispered, "let's show Annaisha too."
He was still quiet, still a little doubtful, but he did not tear away from Sakura or move his gaze away from her smile.
"Besides, it's nice to get out of that room sometimes. Right?" Sakura asked.
The boy was quiet for a few moments later, but soon enough nodded against Sakura's head in agreement, and the young woman was happy to see a small smirk appear on him. Definitely a good day for him, she decided then. She pulled back slowly away from Gaara before turning to Annaisha.
"Would it be alright if we ate in here?" Sakura asked over the brunette's bubbling voice.
Sakura's question caused Annaisha to finally quiet and turn to the rosette in surprise. Still a little wary, she glanced between Gaara and Sakura while quiet in though. Soon enough, she forced a small smile.
"I suppose it will be a while before anyone else shows up..." Annaisha mumbled, before turning her gaze to Gaara. "If that's what the young lord would like, it's not my place to say no."
Sakura had to literally usher the redhead to the kitchen seat and table, for he was still a little uncertain that it made his feet freeze on the spot. Yet, soon enough, Sakura was able to convince him to climb up into his seat while she sat across from him. Waiting for their meal was when Sakura began opening the small bag she had brought down. Fabric, threads, a needle, it was all that was in Sakura's bag, what she had bought from the store, and she began working on sewing together some light blue fabric while conversing with Annaisha behind her as Gaara watched on in silence. It wasn't until Annaisha brought over their food was Sakura's work acknowledged.
"Ah!" the brunette beamed as soon as she caught sight of Sakura working. "I recognize what you're doing there!"
Gaara picked his head up to meet Annaisha's smile as she looked down at him before turning back to Sakura's stitching.
"You're very kind, Sakura-sama," Annaisha finished.
Sakura brought a finger up to her lips, signaling to the young woman to stay quiet about it in front Gaara. To this, the younger woman gently placed her hand on Sakura's shoulder, recognizing that the rosette didn't entirely have a grasp on what it was she was working on.
"If you ever need help with it, let me know! I've made a few before," Annaisha proudly whispered before turning from the two to continue cooking.
Pushing her work to the side, Sakura and Gaara began eating in silence while Annaisha entertained them with a small hum.
"Annaisha is a pretty good cook, isn't she?" Sakura asked the little boy across from her through her bites.
A few more bites from him, before he nodded in agreement.
"It's getting better, isn't it?" Annaisha laughed hearing Sakura's compliment. "I like it when things progress positively."
Sakura's face contorted upon hearing Annaisha's words, and her head and eyes even turned to look at the brunette's back suspiciously. Sakura opened her mouth, about to ask what the younger woman was actually speaking about, but stopped short when the patter of footsteps entered the kitchen. Yet, their steps had frozen, no doubt because of Gaara's presence, before Sakura even turned to see who had joined them. As soon as the rosette saw the three her body tensed just as much as theirs, and even Gaara had forsaken taking another bite of his meal as his eyes glanced over each one of them.
Baki, Temari and Kankuro had decided to join them, and while Sakura didn't mind the older man's presence since he had shown her before the Gaara's existence was tolerable on his part, the children behind him were staring wide-eyed, and fear-stricken at their youngest brother. The air suddenly grew thick while everyone refused to make a noise or move. Soon enough, Gaara's cold glare began morphing his small face as his eyes locked with his siblings, and before Sakura could diffuse the situation, the two older children ran from the room crying out.
Harmless, Sakura thought, until Baki hollered at the two children.
"Fools!" he cried, "Don't run!"
Before Baki even finished his last word, the air once again changed, and both him and Sakura were quick recognizing the suddenly, dangerous aura. Where the two older children had ran, Gaara had jumped out of his seat, wide eyed and nose flaring as he watched his siblings run off and was about to give chase. Yet, it was Baki who placed himself in front of Gaara, stopping him. Sakura too had managed to jump over the table to reach and take Gaara's arm, holding him back, and even Annaisha put a brave front, stepping in closer and analyzing the situation, seeing what part she could do at the moment.
The room was quiet and tense, and all three adults dared not lax given Gaara's intense look. Even if Baki was in front of him, Gaara's eyes were looking past him, thoughts probably on his siblings while his breathing suddenly grew heavy. Dangerous, the three could all silently label him at the moment, which made Sakura grip his arm harder. At first glance, she wondered what had suddenly triggered Gaara, but soon enough she began remember words everyone told her when she first came here.
"Do not run," they had all said, "if you run, he will chase you."
Gaara pulled against her hold lightly, and Sakura realized then she was going to have to diffuse this situation. Yet, it felt as if the stillness in the air was keeping the boy back, and Sakura was wary voicing herself, worried the noise in turn would make Gaara unhinge. However, as he began pulling himself harder from her tight grip, she realized doing nothing was just as bad, and it also struck her then that the Ichibi in his mind was probably growing hungry at situation, and heralding the boy to snatch up his siblings to feed his voracious appetite of destruction.
"Don't," Sakura whispered, testing the waters with a soft voice.
Yet, his response was to try once again to pull his arm away from his hold. Her voice was going to have to be heard over Shukaku's if she wanted to calm the confused boy.
"Let go of me," he hissed.
His words made Annaisha step back while Baki looked down at him with doubt that words could win him over, but waited still on Sakura before making a move. It was all he could do anyway.
"I won't," Sakura said, voice growing a little more loudly. "Not until you calm down."
"Let go," Gaara said, his responses sharp and quick.
For Sakura, it no longer felt like she was speaking to a child like it had felt moments ago.
"Gaara," she whispered again, "remember what I've been telling you. Don't listen to it."
To her words Gaara turned to face her then, and with her hold still on him he glared face to face with her, seething with distaste.
"Let go of me!" he barked, once again trying to pull away. "If you don't I'll-! I'll… I'll..."
Sakura sighed as his voice began to break before he silenced himself. His threat went unspoken. With wavering eyes looking past the rosette, he didn't see her as she nodded towards Baki and mouthed at him.
"It's alright now."
Yet, as Baki's body relaxed and he took a few steps back, his movement had Gaara once again seething and glaring at the situation.
"Stop!" he suddenly cried in the room, once again trying to pull back from her hold.
Yet, he said these words with hesitation in his voice, and his eyes once again shook while staring at Sakura. For the rosette, she was able to read when the boy's demeanor changed back, and didn't even bat an eye to his threats. He was torn. Between her and the Ichibi, Gaara was unsure who to listen to then.. For Sakura, it made her realize what sort of bond was forming between them if Gaara even considered her words over the Ichibi's. So, even if she had to drag his feet towards her, even when his other hand gripped her arm, clawing her skin to try desperately to get her to let him go, she pulled him once again into a tight embrace where he let his tense body relax.
"Don't let him plague your mind," Sakura whispered into him.
It was then he retaliated against her hold, doing his best to squirm away and even trying to strike at Sakura who would just pull him back into a tight hug. Gaara did this not because her touch scared him, or her words angered him, but because the monster in his mind poured doubts into him once more, reminding him of the past, that his existence did not matter to anyone, that Sakura was just like his uncle, bound to hurt the child in the same way. Shukaku's echoes were growing more dark, trying to paint Sakura in a bad light to the little boy.
"Let my whispers become your strength," Sakura finished, holding him tighter.
A mental battle of words between Sakura and Shukaku, and it was poor Gaara's mind that served as the savage battlefield. Once again torn on who to listen to, he could only quake in the spot Sakura held him in while he struggled in his mind. For the young woman, even if the child was silent and only shook lightly, she knew when the little boy needed to hear her reassuring voice.
"You're not a monster," she reminded him, "You are Gaara."
Sakura won then, and even if the Ichibi in his mind growled back and murmured how she was a liar too, his voice went ignored as Gaara slowly brought his arms up to embrace Sakura as well, and he even buried his head into her body. She stroked his back lightly, reassuring him still with light words of comfort, and only stopped when Annaisha murmured towards her.
"Wow, Sakura-sama," she tried to whisper so that the boy may have his peace within the embrace. "You really are good with children. This is quite the sight!"
Before Sakura could reply, Baki cleared his throat for her attention.
"May I have a word with you?" he asked as her eyes settled on him.
Sakura nodded, reluctantly pulling her body away from the now quiet boy. Looking down at him, Sakura could see his frown heavy, so she shuffled his hair lightly.
"Are you alright?" she asked him.
She was met with silence, and his heavy frown turned towards the floor.
"Hey now," Sakura said, "you should go finish your breakfast. It'll be gross if it gets cold."
Though she stuck her tongue out playfully, the boy's frown was still heavy and his eyes kept to the floor. He was like a sad puppy now, who turned away knowing he had done wrong. Yet, Sakura cupped his cheek then and brought his eyes back to meet hers.
"Don't make that face," she told him with a soft smile. "It may not seem like much, but just now… I'm very proud of you, Gaara."
His face went unmoved, but Sakura could see a small spark in his eyes before he tore away from her and went back to the table. Sakura studied him for awhile, amazed that the over-joyous morning he had could suddenly change to him wanting to attack another.
"I'm sorry, I didn't expect you three this early," Annaisha could be heard whispering to Baki.
All Baki could do was acknowledge Annaisha before glancing between her and Sakura.
"You'll be alright with him?" he suddenly asked Annaisha.
To that question, Sakura turned the two. And as highly placed as Baki was, his question to the young woman was with worry and doubt. Though others wouldn't catch on, given what Sakura had seen from the two before, it was evident more so now than ever that Baki held feelings for the brunette.
'They love one another...' Sakura thought while watching the smiling brunette glance at Gaara.
"He seems docile now. It'll be fine," Annaisha replied before looking back at Sakura. "Right?"
Hesitation in the younger woman's voice still, but Sakura was grateful that Annaisha had done so much already for Gaara that she nodded.
"He should be alright," Sakura said, turning to Baki after. "We won't be long anyway, right?"
"Yes, we'll make this quick," he said, gesturing Sakura to follow him out of the kitchen.
Before the rosette could exit, she could sense another pair of eyes on her suddenly, and she turned just in time to catch Gaara watching her make an exit. He suddenly looked rattled at her vague departure, and had even began descending from his seat to follow. She was quick to wave at him with a reassuring gesture.
"I'll be back in a minute," she said to make Gaara stop. "Be good for Annaisha."
He obeyed, but his stare was long, and it followed Sakura all the way out of the kitchen as she tread behind Baki towards another room. The older man stopped her when marble floor met carpet, and Sakura glanced around this study like room, her eyes falling to an old looking piano before Baki caught her attention with a low, echoing whistle. Sakura raised her eyebrow up at him when his gaze met with hers.
"Just calling Temari and Kankuro out," he offered her an answer.
"Ah, training today?"
Baki gave her a single nod, and Sakura couldn't stop herself from asking.
"What about Gaara?"
"Gaara's training is only done by Kazekage-sama."
"Which will be…?" Sakura trailed off, hoping the older man to answer.
However, Baki's frown was heavy and his lips were tight. He didn't have an answer for her, and Sakura sighed in defeat.
"Can't be helped then..." Sakura mumbled to herself, not even sure if she liked the idea of Rasa training Gaara.
"Sakura, there's something else I've been addressed to speak to you with."
To his serious tone, Sakura's eyes were caught up by Baki, yet her mind was suddenly riddled with questions. The word "addressed" made her suddenly wary of what Baki was going to tell her, for no doubt the addressee was the very man she felt hostile towards. Nonetheless, Baki continued without Sakura saying anything.
"Have you noticed Gaara acting out of the ordinary today?" Baki asked her.
This question caused Sakura to put up her defensive walls, protecting Gaara's name.
"If you're talking about what just happened I'd like to think him being able to stop himself isn't…" her voice came to a stop when Baki shook his head.
"I'm not talking about what just occurred or any past incident," he said, still stern. "I'm just talking about today in general. Earlier, maybe even this morning. His mannerisms, his speech, his requests...anything. Perhaps he was more energetic today? You've spent enough time with the child to know how quiet he often is."
Sakura said nothing as her eyes widened to Baki's question. The whole morning leading them to the kitchen had felt a little off, and her silence was the answer Baki was searching for.
"I see," he said, his voice breaking Sakura's thoughts.
She glared at Baki then, unsure how Rasa was aware of this small detail that had even Sakura confused this morning. Yet, whatever reason for Gaara's happier mood, Sakura only had doubt in her now that Rasa saw it in good light. Then again, she didn't fully grasp either that Gaara's sudden chipper mood was properly placed. She could admit, silently to herself, it felt off.
Baki caught her attention once again while he reached into his pouch and pulled out a small vial, full of red thick liquid, and held it up for Sakura to examine. It only took Sakura a few seconds to figure out what the red goo was.
"Blood?" she asked Baki, baffled at the vial he was showing her.
"Sakura," Baki said gravely, nabbing her full attention. "I tell you this, not because Kazekage-sama asked me to, but because I feel the need to warn you."
The rosette was again struck to silence, but eventually nodded for Baki to continue.
"These next few days may be your most ambiguous times yet with Gaara," Baki whispered.
The rosette was silent still, in shock to Baki's words. How could he be aware when Gaara would act out, or not? Did they have a secret calendar she wasn't aware of that dated the boy's mood?
"Kazekage-sama only asked me to remind you to be on your guard, and to be sure to watch him intently at night. Keep him busy, try to wear down his extra energy."
To these suggestions, Sakura could feel the anger that came as Baki, and everyone else, were once again misjudging Gaara. She had been watching, she had been making sure he listened and obeyed her, and she had been damn sure he hadn't harmed anyone since her watch on the boy.
"What does he know?" Sakura sneered. "Gaara has been doing just fine, and now all of a sudden you're telling me he is going to suddenly act different? Why?"
"Because there will be a full moon soon," Baki said with a steady gaze.
Sakura's jaw hung slightly, lost for words. Something inside of her was telling her to speak up in Gaara's defense, that a certain phase of the moon wouldn't attribute to anything. Yet, something in the back of her mind was nit-picking her again. Like other instances before, the story of a full moon rousing the Ichibi sounded like a familiar one to her that it made her voice lost, and mind wonder who, and where, exactly that story came from. Baki took her silence as understanding, and he offered the small vial to Sakura.
"Take this," he said, "for if he grows anxious. There's additives in it to keep it from clotting."
Still somewhat lost in her thoughts, Sakura reached for the small tube filled with crimson without question. Yet, when she studied the blood a little more closely, she gasped realizing exactly what Baki just told her.
"Anxious?" she questioned. "Anxious of what?"
Baki only stared hard into Sakura's concern look, realizing then just how unfamiliar the rosette was to this situation. It made him question only for a second where Rasa could have possibly rounded up Sakura before she tore him once more from his thoughts.
"And what is this suppose to do?" Sakura asked, shaking the small tube. "How is blood suppose to help with anything?"
"The Ichibi is a terrible beast with a thirst for blood, and a need to kill, and Gaara's is its only way out into the world. The smell, or even the feel, of that blood may help to calm him down some."
When Sakura's eyes narrowed to the man, Baki sighed lightly.
"There's a reason why people fear Gaara, Sakura," Baki said, continuing even when he saw her open her mouth to protest. "There is a reason Kazekage-sama had to force you to watch Gaara. There is a reason the streets clear out at night. There is a reason Temari and Kankuro ran this morning. Gaara is unpredictable, and dangerous. As much as you may think otherwise, or doubt what everyone is telling you, tonight, tomorrow, or even the day after may have you second guessing your initial thoughts."
"Gaara may look dangerous to you, and everyone else, but not to me!" Sakura hollered, temper getting the better of me. "I've seen the good in him, I know the kind person he will become! You all treat him like some sort of monster, but he's not!"
She breathed heavily after her vent, and Baki stood there unmoved, simply staring at the vial she gripped on tightly, and praying for it not to shatter then on her palms. Baki opened his mouth to speak, but Sakura was hearing no more of it, instead storming out of the room and back to the kitchen. The tube of blood still in her hand.
"There's a reason you reached out to stop him earlier, Sakura," Baki called out, knowing her trudging form had heard him well.
Yet, for Sakura, as true as his words were then, denied the possibility even as the evidenced stacked inside of her mind.
'He's a good person,' she kept reminding herself. 'He will be a good Kazekage one day.'
He woke her up early simply because he was hungry, he was affectionate towards her more so today because she was the only one who showed him kindness, and he was only on edge earlier because he was excited meeting Annaisha. Possibilities to his random slightly different mood, and Sakura poured these ideas more into her head than she tried to remember Baki's warning.
"These next few days will not be any different," Sakura told herself through her march, only stopping when a sudden voice echoed in her direction.
"Gaara is going to kill you."
