.


Chapter Eighteen


Gaara had kept his promise to Sakura. No one could be sure if he did this because she had kept her word to him, or if her kindness thus far to the little boy was rewarded with obedience. Perhaps it was simply because the call to go outside wasn't as prominent with the passing hours. Regardless of the reason why, the boy sat in his corner, whispering, giggling, mumbling, and speaking to his gourd. It baffled the young woman as to why he did this and how he could possibly converse with the inanimate object for such a long time. Since it seemed not many before had paid the little boy any mind, it was possible Gaara sought some sort of communication; even if it was all in his mind. Maybe the idea of having a conversation with his belongings put Gaara more at ease than the idea of living the rest of his life with little to no communication. For Sakura's curious mind though, she had to wonder if this were truly the case since they both knew by now that Gaara could come speak with her at anytime. It bothered her somewhat that he would refer to his gourd as mother.

Yet, despite her thoughts, Sakura slowly returned to her books and scrolls as Gaara returned to his gourd. She spent the entire night reading, and searching for clues or ideas as to what was happening to her right now. Time manipulation had been something she never even heard of. The closest idea to such a thing was genjutsu, the illusion that she was stuck in the past. As possible as the idea had always been, the thought of it now made her stomach turn and tighten. She didn't want to come to the conclusion that Gaara in front of her, everyone who had been kind to her so far, was not real. She didn't want to believe this time...

'You have to,' she reminded herself. 'it very well could be.'

Still, who would it be that could be this powerful to put her under such a spell? If it really was genjutsu, what means could she do at this point to break it? Perhaps her search now would need to be broadened even more, seeing as the books and scrolls at hand offered her nothing valuable. At best she would find reports or stories of others like her experiencing the past. Most were claimed false, or their experience differed greatly from hers. It seemed if someone had fallen victim to some type of jutsu like this, they would ordeal a familiar life; where they grew up in, who they had growing up, experiences that had all happened before. Whereas for Sakura, she was re-living a new past.

She didn't know Gaara at a young age, or even been to Suna until her teen years. It just seemed to raise more questions as to why it was Gaara's young life she was sent to. Did someone do this to her for a reason? Was it fate, or just a big coincidence? It also made her rethink her position now. What was she doing just sitting here in a village she was barely familiar with? Why did she do as Rasa asked when she should just run back to Konoha where certainly her family and friends would help her? Was it truly her that held her own self back, or was someone else manipulating her mind into thinking she had to stay? Was she being brainwashed?

Sakura groaned then, planting her face forward against the table.

'No wonder some people go mad,' she thought. 'I can't let myself become one of them.'

Despite her reassurance she kept her face down, the young woman was tired. Not so much physically, but emotionally this night had been a long one for her. Now that the morning sun was slowly creeping in, its light warming her neck, the rosette welcomed that bright, burning orb. Even if she would complain later of its heat, she would prefer it now than the giant moon.

"Are you awake?"

Sakura quickly turned her head to the side of her, eyes falling to the little boy standing next to her. Despite what had happened only hours ago, regardless of the hungry monster Baki claimed would come out at night, and although Gaara sought only the lonely company of his gourd than anyone else, the boy had a small smile on his face as soon as their eyes locked. For him, it was another hopeful day. Because of that knowledge, Sakura couldn't bring herself to crush the boy's happy mood. She would treat him no differently today than she did day's past.

'He will be a great leader one day,' she reminded herself. 'He will be Naruto's friend.'

She stuck her tongue out playfully at him before turning her head to face away from him.

'"No," she teasingly said. "I am not awake."

A small giggle escaped him before he ran to the other side of Sakura to catch her face.

"Liar!" he called out boastfully when he was met by her smiling face this time.

He laughed again as Sakura groaned and straightened herself back into her chair. She was still tired, but forced herself to try to least match Gaara's enthusiasm.

"What are you doing?" he asked, peeking above the table at Sakura's papers.

Sakura rubbed her eyes, only paying Gaara's questions with half a mind.

"Wondering if I'm existing somewhere with you right by my side still," she answered with the thought of Gaara from her time.

Only when she turned back to see Gaara's puzzled stare did she realize what unclear words she had just told this little boy.

"Ah," she mused for a moment. "Nothing. Just reading some boring stories."

He glanced at Sakura skeptically before eyeing the papers once again. Fortunately for her he believed her, for she hadn't lied to him before, and he looked back up at her with a soft smile returning.

"I'm happy," he claimed with a growing grin.

Sakura nodded at him.

"I can see that," she chuckled. "You're nothing but smiles this morning."

His eyes fell to the side of him then, his smile still strong but a distant gaze clouding his eyes. He was deep in thought, and eventually his unusual smile fell with time. It made Sakura watch him curiously, since she had never seen the little boy lose himself in his mind like this before.

"What are you thinking?" she eventually asked.

Definitely deep in thought, for his eyes cleared and widened to her voice, and his head whipped fast to her. He opened his mouth before shutting it, uncertain how Sakura would perceive his thoughts. He was usually a quiet child, making sure to keep his own thoughts in check and to himself. Typically when he shared something before, it was met with hostility or disgust, and it didn't take him long to learn that his thoughts were much more different than everyone else; much more darker. Yet, giving it another thought, Gaara was certain Sakura would not sneer at him if he shared what was on his mind. She hadn't so far anyway, and besides the thoughts now were innocent enough.

"My uncle," he eventually mumbled, turning his eyes and head away again.

Sakura was surprised at Gaara's openness. Did this mean he trusted her fully now, or was she just someone he could easily turn to in troubled times? She was sure the little boy could easily see what a huge turn their relationship had taken, and probably wondered just as much as her at what point had that happened. It seemed both long ago, and yet not so long, that she was sitting by his side in the bathroom trying to convince him just to drink a glass of water, and sharing with him her name. Of course, this wasn't the first he had mentioned of his uncle, but surprisingly his tone was a lot more open than it had been in the past. Sakura decided then to act on the temptation that was now building within her to the boy's distant stare and contemplating tone.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

Gaara's eyes widened again for a brief moment, and they stayed round as he slowly turned his gaze back at Sakura. He was surprised, not because this was the first time the young woman asked him such a thing, but because this was the first time an opportunity presented itself. It confused him to say the least, especially when a part of him did indeed consider sharing his uncle with Sakura. It made him wonder how she would perceive the man. Would it change her thoughts on him knowing he had killed Yashamaru? Would she sympathize with him in any way? No one ever did before. Would she agree with him that she was just like his uncle? He knew he wouldn't handle well the idea of Sakura sealing the thought in his mind that she and Yashamaru were just alike. Especially when, even without him saying a word, it was so evident to Gaara how much the two resembled the other.

It was a frightening thought.

"Why?" he asked Sakura curiously, still analyzing her offer.

Sakura shrugged.

"Sometimes people like to talk about what it is that's bothering them. Makes them feel better," she offered.

All too quickly the boy's eyes narrowed towards Sakura. She had used the wrong words, and abstractedly revealed once more to the boy that she understood his silent dilemmas. It bothered him that she figured, on her own, that thoughts of his uncle bothered him. He did not want to accept that she had knowledge over him over things he had yet revealed to her. That thought to him was dangerous. Sakura was dangerous.

Just like his uncle had secretly been.

To his angry stare, Sakura offered back an atoning nod fast.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "I didn't mean to upset you. I just thought it would make you feel better."

His eyes softened a bit to her apology, because despite Gaara labeling Sakura as someone both dangerous and frightening, her kindness and caring nature was something he desired much more than the small fear and doubt he had of her.

"If you ever want to talk, about anything bothering you, I'll listen," Sakura offered.

He looked back to her emerald gaze, easily spotting the sincerity in them before he turned his own eyes away from her stare. Her words and look had invoke another emotion in him, guilt. It rarely ever came, but it still morphed the boy's face to sad eyes and a frown. He was silent again, staring at hard floor while thoughts flooded his mind.

He didn't deserve that now, Sakura decided.

"Hey," she called to him. "Where did your smile go?"

By the time Gaara turned to look back at her, Sakura was already reaching for him and picking him up. He let her, and curiously watched her as she began tilting his head back and forth within her grasp.

"Hmm..." she thoughtfully hummed. "I still don't see it."

That's when she gave him a playful smirk.

"Did you hide it in your pockets?"

She tilted him upside down, holding tightly onto his waist. She shook him lightly, earning a loud laugh from the boy.

"Where is it?" she continued to tease him, "It's not falling out of your pockets. Where did you hide your smile?"

"Here!" he cried through his laughs.

Still upside down in her hold, she brought Gaara forward so she could glance at his face. It made her smile seeing his laughing grin, and his eyes twinkled in amusement as their eyes locked.

"Where?" she asked him.

He quickly pointed to his grin, amused that she still held him upside down. Sakura grimaced as an act to his smile.

"Nope," she shook her head. "That looks more like a frown to me."

Before the boy could counter in any way, she shook him lightly again and he erupted with laughter.

"Let's go down find it," Sakura said with a small chuckle of her own. "Maybe it's in the kitchen."

Gaara expected Sakura to put him down then, but continued to laugh in delight as she carried him upside down still. She grabbed her small bag off the table as well before she marched through the hall and down the stairs with Gaara in arms. His loud laughs, and cries of delight, echoed throughout the home. An unfamiliar noise to those who had worked in the home for a long time, and a sound that did not mimic Gaara's cry from last night. Still, his sounds of joy did not urge anyone to draw near, and the two laughing figures only found the company of another once they were in the kitchen.

As if this room defined her, Annaisha had her back turned to the two, preparing meals without the slightest indication she was aware of Sakura and Gaara walking in. It was surprisingly Gaara who wriggled desperately out of Sakura's hold once he spotted the brunette.

"Stop," Sakura told him, "or I'll drop you."

The boy did not reply as Sakura lowered him to the ground, instead his sights and smile were on Annaisha, and he carried that grin all the way as he ran to her side. He looked up at her, eyes and smile still big from the small fun he had just had with Sakura, and he looked up to the woman in hopes of another new friend. Yet, when the young woman caught sight of him, she jumped hesitantly away from him and eyes of worry went from him to Sakura.

Sakura winced at the scenario, for surely that wasn't the result Gaara had wanted. Sure enough, a quick glance to Gaara, from Sakura, just cemented her thoughts. Annaisha's response made Gaara's smile drop to a frown, and his eyes held an icy perception. No doubt behind that animosity was also a grave ache in his heart at her reaction. It wasn't what he had expected, yet he should have. Who was he to think Annaisha was different? Why did he let himself have any hope that she could be just like Sakura?

To Sakura's hard stare Annaisha's eyes widened with understanding. She understood her mistake instantly, and her mouth dropped, glancing once more between Gaara's cold look and Sakura's dour frown.

"Gaara-sama," she cried. "Forgive me. You surprised me was all."

She bowed towards Gaara, whose narrowed eyes did not let up to her display. As if sensing this without looking at him, Annaisha glanced at the table in front of her as soon as she stood herself back up tall, and picked up a red fruit from the table.

"Here," she exclaimed, offering Gaara a small peach. "It's no cookie, but it certainly is sweet."

Sakura was the only surprised one to see Gaara's demeaning gaze let up and instead his eyes fell curiously to the peach in front of him. Usually it took the boy a lot more convincing that whatever it was before that upset him wasn't worth staying mad over. Even if Annaisha's response earlier had been one the redheaded boy was use to with others, one that made his mind frazzled and heart ache, his hand still reached out to grasp what the brunette was offering. It had to make Sakura wonder, did he do this in hopes a friendship could form? Despite her stepping away from him, did he dawdle on the idea she would accept him one day? Was he that desperate for companionship that he would allow pain in his life for a chance of recognition later on? Or was he beginning to understand sincerity and put trust back in other people's words? Annaisha had said Gaara merely surprised her. Despite the lies in his life, was Gaara willing to accept what she told him was different?

It made Sakura wonder many things. Was Gaara becoming more accepting, more open to what others told him, or was he just desperate? Were her own teachings influencing him in any way, or was this behavior something he grasped on his own?

"It's good, isn't it?"

Sakura was only torn from her thoughts when she heard Annaisha's bright voice. Sakura watched the two in front of her, noticing Gaara had taken a bite out of the fruit and was mimicking a smile up towards the brunette that she was giving him as well. He nodded towards her, answering her silently before taking another bite of the sweet fruit.

"I have a loose tooth," he explained to Annaisha through his bites.

"Do you? Can I see? How exciting," Annaisha beamed.

Sakura smiled at the two before settling herself down at the table.

'Lucky for her,' Sakura thought. 'Gaara's more willing to become her friend than he was becoming mine.'

By the time Sakura had settled herself into the chair, opening her bag up and pouring out a needle and fabric, Annaisha had Gaara standing on top of a chair and stirring a pot. Definitely one willing helper, but it warmed the rosette's heart to see Gaara smiling and conversing slightly with the brunette. Knowing he was in good hands, Sakura began once more fiddling with the needle, pulling out small beads this time from her bag and placing them on the blue. Time again went past her without a care or knowledge of how long. The conversation between Annaisha and Gaara was also lost to Sakura's concentration, and only when the brunette came over, placing a bowl under Sakura, did the two finally greet.

"How are you today, Sakura-sama?"

Despite Annaisha's smile, Sakura wore a frown. It was now that the rosette could see how dark the bags under Annaisha's eyes were. Her smile too, which was usually big, sunk some.

"I should be asking you that. You look like you didn't get a wink of sleep last night," Sakura murmured.

Annaisha shrugged, chuckling lightly.

"It was a full moon last night," Annaisha replied, turning her eyes towards Gaara. "The village doesn't sleep well with the moon out."

Turning back to Sakura, Annaisha's eyes were away from Sakura's emerald gaze, her smile now a heavy frown.

"Some parents scare the kids now with stories. To make sure they don't sneak out at night," Annaisha said before tilting her eyes up to recollect the story. "Under the glowing moon, fear is his only warning. Lock your doors, Child. His hunger is not far away."

Annaisha hummed for a moment, tapping her chin in thought.

"It goes something like that. I don't really recall, I've only heard it a handful of times."

Before the brunette had even finished Sakura hung her jaw in distaste. She narrowed her eyes at a growing anger inside of her. How dare they speak about Gaara like that, teaching young ones to judge him before even meeting him. She was disgusted by it, and a little at herself, for this scenario seemed familiar to her. She remembered being told stories about Naruto when she was just a child. She was blindly misled in believing that the young man, who was like a brother to her, was someone she had to avoid as a child.

The world was trying its best not to give these children even the slightest chance.

"I was thinking about my mother a lot last night too," the brunette whispered. "I lost her at the last full moon."

Sakura flinched hearing that, and looking back at up at the brunette her eyes narrowed in dubious thought.

'Is she saying her mother was killed by...' Sakura began to wonder, though couldn't bring herself to name to culprit.

Yet, if Sakura's thoughts were true, that would make Annaisha probably one the most warmhearted person she ever met. Here was a young woman who had lost someone so dear to her by the hands of the very same child who she now asked to help her with simple cooking tasks. It made the rosette swallow hard, for Annaisha had every reason to hate him, but instead was here now and willing to accept Gaara for who he was. She was undoubtedly one of the first to give the redheaded boy a chance without knowing what sort of outcome would become of him. Sakura knew Gaara would become a good person one day, Annaisha meanwhile was going out on a whim.

"When are you going to give it to him?"

Again, Sakura's thoughts vanished as Annaisha called for attention.

"Give it to him?" Sakura mouthed, repeating her words trying to understand.

Only when Annaisha nudged her chin towards the spot under Sakura did the rosette finally comprehend.

"Oh, this?" Sakura said, trying to keep her voice low.

She picked up her small work in her hands, examining it back and forth with a growing grimace.

"I don't know..." Sakura eventually answered. "It's my first time making one of these. I think I made it too small. Maybe I'll keep practicing with this one, and make another later."

Annaisha shrugged, offering Sakura a sympathetic smile.

"Small isn't a bad thing. It looks fine to me, but you should do whatever makes you happy. Practice does make perfect, the next one will be better."

Sakura sighed in defeat, staring down at the blue fabric next to her. Performing surgery on another was easier than creating this small, blue thing. The more she looked down at her creation, the more defeated she felt. Eventually she shoved everything back in the bag before standing back up.

"Can you keep an eye on him for a minute?" Sakura asked Annaisha with a smile. "I'm going to go toss this back into the room. The more I look at it, the more disappointed I feel."

There was hesitance in the brunette's eyes once again. An uncertainty Sakura could understand, but also knew was aimless. It seemed the brunette eventually understood this as well, and nodded in agreement.

"Sure," she said with a smile. "Don't be too long."

Her added words made Sakura frown. She had no reason to be afraid.

"It will be alright. He won't-"

"I know, I know," Annaisha cut Sakura off, waving her hand dismissively. "I don't say to be quick because I'm afraid. I say it because he will ask for you. He will miss you if you make him wait."

Sakura sighed with a smile and eyes filled with confusion.

"What are you saying, Annaisha?" Sakura murmured. "You say the oddest things sometimes. I won't be long enough for him to miss me."

"As long as it isn't years," Annaisha joked before turning and making her way back to Gaara.

Meanwhile Sakura turned and walked out of the kitchen, shaking her head in confusion from the brunette's words. The younger woman was warm, even gave Sakura many words of encouragement, yet also spoke in the oddest of terms. Still, those thoughts of the other girl left Sakura as soon as she was back in the room, settling down the bag and making her way back towards the kitchen.

It was small murmurs that caught her attention. Voices she recognized coming out of a hallway she had never traveled down to, and even if she had told Annaisha she would only be a few minutes, she couldn't stop herself from searching for those voices.

She peeked her head around the corner, spotting the two older sand siblings. They were a mischievous duo. Temari especially, Sakura had learned, and the sight now would illuminate that idea to even the most blind, naive person. Sakura watched quietly as Temari was fiddling with the lock on the door while Kankuro watched on before he gave his input.

"It won't open. Let's go before someone comes," Kankuro whispered.

Temari ignored his comment, simply growing more agitated when the knob didn't move to her strength.

"Come on, Temari! We can just ask Father ourselves."

"Don't be stupid," Temari hissed, face growing red the harder she pulled on the door. "I've asked him already. He always says there's nothing in there, and that it doesn't exist. It does exist though, I remember it! Stop standing there and help me."

The two were quiet again, yet Temari continued to struggle with the door as Kankuro stood idly by and watched. She was desperate to get inside.

"Maybe he's right. I don't remember it..." Kankuro whispered.

Sakura's eyes went round as she watched Temari draw back from the door and, in a quick flash, slap Kankuro across of the face. The boy cried out, falling back onto his bottom as he cupped his stinging cheek. Temari hovered over him, teeth flashing and eyes glistening.

"Don't say that!" she cried. "Don't you dare ever say that! It does too exist!"

The young girl's eyes began to sparkle with tears she was trying to hold back, and her fists only tightened the harder she tried.

"It's true I don't remember how it goes, or how it sounded, but I do remember she would sing to us every night..." Temari seethed.

Temari stood frozen then, lost in her thoughts, while Kankuro sat under her still while watching and waiting on his sister. When Temari's tears broke through was when the young boy flinched and began reaching up to his sister.

"Don't cry Tem-!" he began to say, but stopped when Temari's resentful stare flashed towards him in an instant.

"Kankuro, you idiot!" she cried before launching herself at the boy.

Sakura's eyes widened as soon as she saw the little girl pin her brother down before her small fists began to light his face red. She was crying freely now, and was relentless striking Kankuro while the boy only brought up his hands up to protect himself.

"Take it back!" Temari began screaming at her brother. "Say you remember it! She sang it to us every night, it does exist! I'm not a liar! It does exist!"

The young girl's scream to those last words would give Gaara's own cry, from last night, a run for its money in Sakura's ears. Yet, it was also at that moment the young woman rushed over to pull Temari off of Kankuro. Sakura fell to her knees the second she picked up Temari and forced the young girl to face her while holding down her flailing arms.

"Stop!" Sakura ordered when she felt Temari trying to struggle against her.

Eventually, the blonde girl tightened her fists and held them still. Yet, she was still tense in Sakura's grasp and met the rosette's authoritative look with a cold, defiant glare. For a moment, Sakura felt as though she was staring into the angry eyes of Gaara. It certainly seemed that built-up rage wasn't lost in Gaara's siblings, and it made Sakura realize then that they, Temari at least, had some pent up anger just like her youngest brother.

"What is the matter with you?!" Sakura asked Temari.

The girl was impudent, and only remained quiet while staring at the same level with Sakura.

"Answer me!" Sakura demanded, shaking Temari lightly.

Temari's eyes fell then, and she scowled. No matter how important, or superior, Temari put herself at this young age, she still broke under Sakura's disapproving stare.

"He's an idiot..." Temari mumbled.

Sakura sighed before taking a glance back at the boy who was sitting up now and watching his sister and Sakura.

"Are you alright?" Sakura asked him.

Kankuro nodded slowly before staring at his sister's back, rubbing his cheek where she had struck him.

"Temari," he quietly called to her. "I'm sorry. Please don't be mad at me."

Sakura's eyes widened then. Never did it cross her mind that the boy was at fault in this situation, nor was she going to ask him to apologize, yet he did so on his own accord. It made Sakura question and wonder about this little boy. Out of all the siblings, Kankuro was surprisingly the only one Sakura could not see his older self in. Granted, she barely knew Kankuro in her own time, maybe he had a much more gentle side to him behind closed doors than Sakura was aware of. Even his speech, the way the boy talked, was much more polite than she knew it to be. Why was he so different now, Sakura wondered.

"Temari?" he called to her again.

Sakura looked back at the young girl. The rosette felt Temari's tense body now relax, yet she still held an angry gaze aimed towards the ground. The hallway was quiet for some time, and it seemed Temari was going to refuse her brother's apology.

"I don't care," she eventually answered. "You can say what you want, but I know it's in there."

Sakura glared at the girl, about to reprimand her and remind her that she was the one that needed to apologize. Yet, Sakura said nothing as she watched Kankuro pick himself up and sprint towards his sister. Sakura let go of Temari the second Kankuro embraced her in a tight hug from behind. The sight shocked Sakura again, and Temari only stood still while Kankuro hugged her tighter.

"I love you," he whispered into her back.

It was then Sakura realized the much deeper bond these two siblings had. They were somewhat dependent of each other, and for the young woman she knew the reason behind that perfectly, for it was the same for their youngest brother.

'They're lonely,' Sakura thought, watching Kankuro break off the hug and reach to hold his sister's hand.

Sakura's eyes narrowed. How could Rasa have let his children feel this way, she wondered. Temari's face was still away with a frown, but she locked hands with her brother who smiled at her.

"Whose watching you two today?" Sakura asked. "Aren't you two suppose to be with someone?"

"Sensei brought us down for breakfast, but went to talk to Father. He looked upset," Kankuro answered.

"Who? Baki-san?" Sakura asked, genuinely wondering what had happened.

Kankuro nodded.

"Do you know why?" Sakura asked, and Kankuro shook his head this time.

It was then Temari finally spoke up.

"Annaisha told him something. He got mad at her, and left."

Sakura pursed her lips, nodding.

'Something must have happened between Baki and Annaisha. Maybe trouble in the relationship,' Sakura thought while standing herself back up.

"You two should go wait for him then," Sakura said, eyeing the two of them.

At this point Kankuro had let go of his sister's hand, yet eyed Temari in concern. To Sakura's words, Temari finally glanced up and back to the door she had been trying to open.

"Sakura," Temari whispered.

The rosette's attention fell to the girl, but Temari's eyes were still on the door and she seemed be contemplating something hard. The blonde was quiet for a few moments before she whipped her head back to Sakura, her eyes now desperate and pleading.

"Please, Sakura. Can you help me?" Temari asked, a hint of urgency in her voice.

"Don't," Kankuro whispered, wrapping his fingers around Temari's sleeve. "We'll get in trouble."

Temari fell silent to her brother's warnings, and eyes fell once more to her feet as she sealed her lips. Sakura gave the two a sympathetic smile then.

"Don't be afraid of me," she told them. "I'm a friend, remember?"

Sakura placed a gentle hand on Temari's head, earning back her eyes. Sakura's smile only grew, trying to show them that she truly did hold these two children in high regards.

"I can help, but you have to promise me you'll stop hitting your brother," Sakura added.

"I-I promise!" Temari practically cried not a second later.

Her agreement came so quickly that Sakura imagined the girl would have given up pretty much anything asked at that moment just for the rosette's help. Sakura eyed Kankuro for a moment, whose worry was washed away now with curiosity. Before the young woman could even ask what it was Temari needed from her, the blonde pointed towards the door next to them.

"Can you help me get into Father's room?" Temari questioned before trying the knob herself once more.

"Your father's room?!" Sakura cried, glancing at the door.

Very mischievous children the rosette decided then. Sakura's face must have let up her doubt on the situation for Temari mimicked her.

"You said you would if I promised," Temari huffed, hands on hips.

"That was before I knew this was your Father's room… What is it you want to do in there?" Sakura asked.

It was Kankuro this time that answered for his sister.

"She says there's something of Mother's, but I don't remember-"

Kankuro stopped his voice, and smiled apologetically as Temari turned to him with warning groan.

"It's not something dangerous, is it? Your dad must have hid it for a reason," Sakura spoke, trying to reason with the girl.

Sakura was unsure now of this whole idea. Not that she feared Rasa, but the idea of helping the two children get their hands onto something valuable, or dangerous, made her feel uneasy. She wanted to help them, not hurt her friends, or get them in trouble.

"He took everything of Mother's," Temari explained, her voice desperate to convince Sakura. "It's not dangerous. Mother said it was for us."

Sounded innocent enough, hopefully. Yet Sakura stared at the door still pondering. If someone were to walk by and see them, or when someone finally took notice that the Kazekage's room had been broken into, it surely wasn't going to pan over well with Rasa one bit.

"Sakura, please..." Temari whispered, as if knowing her silent dilemma. "Father will never know. He rarely comes home."

Sakura sighed, defeated. It was becoming a lot more hard for her saying no to these children. She eyed Temari and Kankuro once more, both of them looking up at her, unsure what to expect. When Sakura reached for the knob, giving it one hard twist and hearing the lock break, both children looked up at her with grins so wide. Pushing the door slowly open, the rosette literally had to grab Temari as the young girl was now scrambling to get inside.

"Wait," Sakura whispered, trying to sense anything abnormal in the room, or if anything was there that would signal Rasa or someone else that they were in there.

Eventually Sakura realized this was just another room within the home, nothing special about it except the name. The room was kept and cool that it made the woman wonder when was the last time Rasa had been in here.

"Alright," Sakura said, letting Temari go. "Let's see if we can find it."

It wouldn't be until many minutes later that the three would realize the hardest part in all of this wasn't getting inside the room, but instead going through closets and drawers of papers.

"What does it look like?" Sakura asked, trying her best to help search for something that wasn't a document.

"Mother wrote it," was all Temari would offer. "It will have her handwriting."

"That doesn't help me much..." Sakura mumbled under her breath, but nonetheless looked for a paper that looked differently written than the others.

Time continued to pass, and as their search hit the hour mark, Sakura was about to call it. Hadn't Kankuro mentioned it might not even exist? Glancing at Temari, the young girl was as feverish still as when they had first started in searching.

"Sakura, look."

It was Kankuro who called for her attention, making the young woman stop for a moment to glance at the picture Kankuro was holding up. It was a blonde woman holding up a baby Kankuro who hugged her shoulder while a young Temari locked hands with her. Her smile was huge, and her belly swollen. It didn't take a genius to know who this woman was.

"Ah, your mother?" Sakura smiled, and watched Kankuro nod his head excitedly with a huge smile. "She's beautiful."

She watched as Kankuro pointed to himself and Temari, explaining that that was them. Yet, for Sakura, his voice was drowned out with the rosette's own questioning thoughts the longer she stared at the picture.

'She looks so happy with her children,' Sakura mused. 'This is really the woman who would hate the village and curse it because of Gaara?'

Sakura continued to ponder while glancing back and forth between this woman's happy, bright smile and pregnant stomach.

'Did she really have no love for Gaara?'

"I found it!"

It was Temari's exploded cry that interrupted her thoughts. She watched with wide eyes as Temari began hopping up and down while holding up a piece of paper, her laughs echoing.

"I found it! I found it! I found it!" she would exclaim through her laughter.

Kankuro was the first to Temari's side, trying to calm the young girl so that he could see the paper himself.

"Let me see," he kept requesting, though he soon got caught by Temari's infectious laugh, and chuckled happily alongside her.

Sakura too was caught in the moment, and scooted herself towards the two children, anxious to see what it was they had gone through this trouble for. Eventually she was able to calm the children down, and glanced over both of them to look at the paper. There were notes on it she barely recognized, along with words she couldn't quite make out as the paper trembled from Temari's enthusiasm.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, glancing between the two children.

Temari lifted her head back with teal-green meeting emerald, and a toothy grin that Sakura wasn't aware Temari had. Finally the young girl answered what Sakura had been asking since the start of the search.

"Mother's song."