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Chapter Twenty-two


Dawn illuminated the room in a bright orange, and pink glow. With it came the ascending heat, and a silent beckon for those able to roll out of their sleep and embrace the day. To many, it was simply routine; to a few more appreciative others, the rising sun gave silent promise that another day was given. As some would learn eventually, not everyone had made it through the night to welcome the sun. It was a reminder too that life could sometimes be short-lived, especially in their dangerous world. Inside this struggling village was also a child they all thought as a monster. Surely, they thought, luck came outside these walls.

One girl would not see the morning glow, nor tomorrow, nor the following days. Her ambitions, her dreams, her hopes, her life, stolen by the sand.

One father, sat in his office, preferring his warm tea over his tedious paperwork for the moment. He sat watching the morning sun shed light onto his crumbling village, but he watched with a blank stare, his mind brimming with conflicting thoughts while staring at the sand.

One man was sitting on his bed, shunning off the light and instead welcoming what darkness he could keep in. Always professional, never questioning his leader, and sacrificing so much for his village, this was the first time in his life he asked with a why. He couldn't find the answer, so he continued to simply sit there while hoping the answer would find him. He was a ninja, forgetting his duties while wallowing in emotional despair. He cursed the sand.

Two children sat alone together. Mornings brought their youthful selves peace, whereas they were taught to fear the night. With the new day came guidance; Someone much older, and more experienced, would typically greet them along with the sun. Today was different however, and they sat patiently and silently, but not without wondering if they are alone today because of the sand.

One young woman did not greet the morning when it first came, instead burying herself deeper into her pillow when its brightness threatened to pull her away from sleep. Instead of the warmth from the sun, she indulged herself in the comfort her pillow and blanket brought. There is also something warm she holds in her arms, close against her chest. It rises along with her breaths, but is otherwise silent and still. It brings the young woman another sense of comfort and warmth, and she is reluctant to let it go. It is only when morning turns into early afternoon does she begin to stir awake. Grains from the night before begin to pick and itch at her skin, and eventually she is awoken by the sand.

Sakura groaned lightly as her mind began to awake. Like times before, she glances at the bed and wall in front of her, still adjusting to the idea of where she is. And yet…even when the revelation hits her, she frowns heavily, for what has happened the night before comes fresh to her mind. She sighed heavily then, remembering the brunette.

'Annaisha...' she thinks dreadfully.

Still, the thought on the brunette is short-lived when Sakura suddenly feels something shuffle in her arms. She freezes, staring down at the blanket that is covering her. She is in disbelief to what thought comes to her mind suddenly, and yet, she can feel his soft breathing and warm body against her, as well as his hand resting against her arm. She draws back the blanket, jaw dropping the second she spots his red hair. It's then Sakura tries to recollect when this would have happened. Did she place him on the bed last night, had he placed himself there while she slept? Why did he put himself next to her sleeping form when he didn't even need rest? Never, did she expect him to be this close to her without drawing back.

Before Sakura could even draw the blanket all the way down, Gaara shook his head, tossing the fabric off his face before tilting his head slowly up. Sakura said nothing as his stoic, teal gaze met with her surprised, emerald one. They remained like that for some time, silently waiting for the other to speak. For Sakura, she was sure the boy was going to cast his distaste being so close to her, but he simply just kept his face firm while looking at her. Yet, with time, his face did begin to contort, and Sakura was again taken aback as she watched his lips curl to a tight, thin line and his eyes wince with moisture.

'He's...crying?' Sakura thought to herself, stunned in disbelief.

The rosette had never seen Gaara cry. Not his younger self, not his older self. She was flabbergasted to finally witness such a raw emotion on the usually stoic redhead, and for a moment, was glad to see the emotions that led to these sort of tears hadn't been completely cast away by the boy. Eventually Gaara shook hard, and he mumbled out a whisper Sakura couldn't make out. She opened her mouth to ask what he had just said, but he beat her by repeating his words more loudly and locking his eyes with hers

"I'm sorry!" he cried.

His words silenced her, and his crying suddenly became more blustering. He let his tears pour freely now, he no longer tried to bite back his whimpers, and he was quick gripping Sakura's shirt before burying his wet face above Sakura's chest. Gaara sought for the comfort that only she had brought him, yet even then she would learn he was afraid she viewed him differently after last night.

"I'm sorry," he did his best to speak through his tears, sounding like a hoarse toad. "Please don't hate me too. I'll try really hard not to hurt anyone ever again. I'll be good. I'll be good..."

His crying halted for a brief second as Sakura wrapped her arms around the small boy, holding him closer against her. She rubbed his back to comfort him while coaxing him to hush.

"It will be alright," she whispered back to him. "I could never hate you. Don't worry Gaara, nothing you do would ever make me hate you."

Her words had stifled his cries some, yet his tears still flowed out of him silently. She held tightly onto Gaara the whole time he cried, not at all minding the blubbering mess he was leaving on her clothes. She wondered how traumatized he must have been to be crying for so long when an hour came and went, and yet began to imagine these tears were long overdue. Maybe these emotions weren't all just from last night, but through many hard days and nights the boy had been going through. Pent up tears, Sakura decided, and even when Gaara's crying ceased, he held onto her still for comfort while she stroked his hair soothingly. It wasn't until she could feel him tapping his thumb softly against her arm did Sakura pull back and lift the boy's head to look at her. She couldn't help but smile sympathetically to his now swollen, red eyes.

"Are you going to be alright?" she asked him.

He took a moment to consider her question, but slowly nodded when he soon found his answer. For Sakura had dissolved his current fear; her hating him like everyone else.

"Good," Sakura murmured, her smile softening as she brushed some of his red hair out of his face. "Sometimes it helps to cry."

He blinked rapidly to her statement, eyes still watching her intently while Sakura continued to play with his red strands.

"Really?" he questioned with a small croak.

"Of course," Sakura murmured, eyes falling back onto the boy. "Crying is your body's way of getting rid of the bad, hurtful things inside of you. That's why you feel a little better after."

Gaara widened his eyes, surprised by Sakura's definition and how suddenly true it felt. Yet, he grimaced and lowered his head before admitting more.

"It still hurts," he commented before scratching his chest. "Right here."

Sakura embraced Gaara upon hearing that, pulling him once more against her before drowning him in a tight hug. Something the boy did not protest against, instead maneuvering his arms and body and burying himself within Sakura. Despite the pain he claimed, how much Sakura wanted to be rid of his terrible distress, his words offered some insight about the boy's inmost emotions. He had pain, he told Sakura, which made her wonder if all of that hurt was subject entirely from others. Certainly the majority of it came from how he had been treated, but Sakura was curious to learn if some possibly came from guilt, or remorse. Did the tears he spilled earlier hold pain knowing he had killed another yesterday? Killed someone who treated him once with kindness?

'Annaisha...' Sakura moaned in her mind.

She thought this with discontent, and it was not because Gaara did it without reason. Overall, the boy had defended himself, but to an extreme that Sakura had told him was not right. Sakura was most disappointed in this situation for what the brunette had done than what Gaara had. Annaisha smiled at Gaara without falter whilst despising him inside her mind. Why had Annaisha forced such a facade in the kitchen?

'Maybe deep down…she wanted to forgive him...'

Sakura again sighed at the thought. There would be no reason to linger on the if now. Annaisha was dead, that door was closed. It was Gaara who needed her guidance. It was his future she was hoping to pave just a tad bit earlier now. Despite what had happened yesterday, he could still be the hero.

'No,' Sakura reminded herself. 'He will be a hero.'

Even without her, Gaara had found a way. The title and respect he was certain to gain in the future did not crumble because of what had transpired last night.

"Don't worry," she whispered to the boy, pulling him tighter. "That takes time. It will go away eventually, I promise."

Gaara slipped his face back, looking up towards Sakura.

"It's been so long," he mumbled. "How much longer?"

Sakura gave him an apologetic smile.

'Sometimes never,' was what she knew was the truth, but didn't have the heart to discourage him.

"With time...you'll see. It will either go away, or you will learn to cope."

Gaara only stared at her. It hadn't been the reassuring, or happiest, answer he was looking for. Still, he was content with Sakura's promise.

The two after that were silent some time, studying one another. Only when Sakura noticed the damp tear stains on Gaara's cheeks, and eyes, did she bring her thumbs up to his face. She picked his head up slightly towards her, brushing the remaining tears from his cheeks slowly with her thumb. She remained on guard however, intently studying his eyes every so often, and his aura, just to be sure this skinship didn't provoke anything unwanted by the boy. Instead, she was surprised to feel him leaning his head to whichever thumb was brushing his cheek. She could see, and feel, tranquility on him. He did not shake to her touch, nor did he slap her hand or pull back away in distaste.

She brought her thumbs closer to his eyes, brushing away the dewy drops that lingered behind. He closed his eyes when Sakura's thumb was near, and given his now trusting state, the rosette had grown bold enough to sweep her thumb gently across Gaara's black eyelid.

"You poor thing," Sakura murmured, brushing his eyelids over and over. "Your eyes are so swollen now. It must hurt. How's your head feel?"

"It like...thumping," Gaara replied, opening his eyes open to look at Sakura, "but it feels better when you do that."

Sakura smiled at the boy, taking his words as a silent invitation that she could continue her ministrations. He closed his eyes, relaxing as her thumbs brushed against his lids and rubbed his eyes gently.

'So black...' Sakura silently thought staring at his dark folds. 'I use to think it was because of his insomnia. It looks more likely to be a physical trait that comes from hosting the Ichibi. Just like Naruto's whiskers...'

Gaara sighed and relaxed more as soon as Sakura began rubbing the outer sides of his eyes and up towards his temples. His tranquility to the feel, the comfort it brought, and the thought of it coming from Sakura so willingly made the boy relax entirely that he sank back down to lay on the bed. He turned his head up for Sakura to continue which made the rosette chuckle lightly.

"You are spoiled," she commented while looking down at him.

His response.

"Please, don't stop."

Sakura shrugged, bringing her fingers to rub his head again.

"Since you said please," she murmured.

She continued her actions for quite some time, finding Gaara's relax state reward enough to keep up her ministrations. He kept his eyes closed, and his breaths soon came out in an even pace that had Sakura mildly wondering if he was slipping into sleep. When uncertainty hit her to whether the redhead was awake or not, she froze her fingers to stare at him.

"Gaara?" she whispered.

To her relief, he shifted a little to her call, though he kept his eyes closed.

"Don't stop," he slightly whined.

Sakura chuckled, picking the boy up from under his shoulders and sitting him upright. To this action, he groaned in displeasure, and brought lazy eyes up to Sakura.

"I think you were falling asleep," Sakura commented. "No more for now."

Gaara yawned, rubbing his eye as he mumbled back to Sakura.

"I was not."

He argued, but the evidence was clear as day on his face. From his tired eyes, and wide yawn, Sakura could see drops again form in the corner of his eyes. She brought her thumbs back up, wiping away his sleepy tears. Gaara, thinking Sakura had reconsidered, leaned his face towards her hands once more, inviting back her little massage. Again, the rosette took a moment to study Gaara's black eyes before drawing her hands back.

"Your eyes are so black," Sakura commented quietly.

Gaara opened his eyes to Sakura's words, stoically he stared at the young woman to understand her underlying message to his physique. Yet, all he could see in her was curiosity, and he brushed some fingers over one of his own black eyes before asking her.

"Is that bad?"

His shoulders sagged a little to his question, wary of what Sakura would tell him. The rosette only shook her head and reassured him with a smile.

"Not at all, it's unique," she said. "It's what makes Gaara Gaara."

The child seemed to appreciate her light words, for he beamed at her with a small smile.

"Just like your hair?" he asked.

To his question, Sakura turned her head back some and took a few strands of her pink locks and studied them.

"I suppose so..." Sakura murmured, eyeing her hair still. "It's fitting for my name at least. I have my parents to thank for that."

The young woman was rambling lightly, transfixed instead on how much longer her hair was looking. It was Gaara's words who drew her attention back on him.

"Because you're beautiful."

She wasn't sure whether his words were a statement, or question. Nonetheless, what he said warmed her heart a little and she turned to him, surprised Gaara would say such a thing.

"Ah?" she questioned, a little hesitant. "You think so? That's so sweet of you, thank you!"

Gaara studied Sakura for a moment, apathetically, before shaking his head.

"You told me, your parents named you Sakura because you're beautiful."

"Oh," Sakura murmured with eyes falling.

Yet, when she repeated his words in her mind, her eyes widened in surprise and she stared back at the boy in awe.

"Oh! You remember that?" she asked.

He nodded, causing Sakura's smile to grow before she let out a small, amused chuckle.

"I guess you were listening to me that day..." Sakura whispered to herself.

Silence filled the two after that, Sakura losing herself in her thoughts as Gaara sat and watched her curiously. He was unsure how to keep conversation, but was reluctant to leave the situation entirely. Before, he had very little care for the words of others. As much as he sought someone to talk to, he quickly learned those that spoke to him had venomous words that poisoned his soul. Yet now… Now that he was certain the young woman in front of him considered him in high regards, her actions and words now were soothing to his broken spirit. He did not want this moment to ever end. He wanted to learn and experience from her what a friend could mean. So, he pressed on in their conversation.

"Mother named me," Gaara broke the silence.

Sakura looked back up at Gaara with a smile. She was right in thinking Gaara was enthusiastic speaking to her like a friend. He may not convey it entirely emotionally, but she was beginning to learn how to read Gaara. Her eyes encouraged him to press on.

"She named me that because I'm a demon whose only suppose to love himself. A self-loving demon."

Sakura's eyes nearly bulged. Not because the information was new to her, but because she never thought the child to say something so openly to her. He also could not have said to any more nonchalant than he did now. It was like he was relaying to her the weather outside, without a skeptic thought in his mind. He even looked at her with some enthusiasm shining in his eyes; he was probably more proud of himself keeping up the conversation than realizing what he had just told her.

Before she could think of what to say, Gaara curved his eyes to the ceiling in thought and spoke again.

"Yashamaru told me Mother never loved me, and that she hated the village."

His eyes fell back to Sakura, and he did not acknowledge her surprised eyes and fallen jaw. As silence continued, Gaara tilted his head slightly, looking towards his gourd in the corner of the room.

"Mother's are strange," he added.

Sakura couldn't keep her voice quiet any longer.

"You know that's not true," Sakura began. "About your name I mean."

Gaara whipped his eyes fast towards Sakura, uncertain what she meant.

"The meaning of it," Sakura continued. "The demon, and self-loving part..."

Gaara was quiet, staring at Sakura solemnly. Sakura waited on his answer, and before long, the redheaded finally murmured in a whisper.

"Gaara is Gaara."

His words were an underlying message, to Sakura, that he didn't try to deny what it was his mother claimed him to be. Why would he? The village gave him no acknowledgment these past years, why would he have any doubt in thinking that he was the only one capable of loving himself? Gaara thought himself as just that, a demon who only cared for himself. However, Sakura would try to deny him that thinking.

"Gaara is Gaara," she repeated to him. "Gaara is my friend."

She watched the boy scan the blankets under him, deep in thought. A child he was, but he was quick in understanding when Sakura was trying to relay something meaningful to him. The way she spoke, by her tone alone, he knew Sakura was trying to tell him something much deeper, and he took his careful time trying to figure it out.

"Like time, people change," Sakura continued.

The boy lifted his eyes back up to here. She smiled to him then with a nod of her head.

"If you had asked me before I found you, I wouldn't think I would be making a new friend with time."

Gaara's eyes briefly widened then, falling back to the bed under him. He understood now what it was Sakura was trying to convey. The future was uncertain. Gaara had doubts before that anyone, besides his uncle, would ever converse with him. From Yashamaru's betrayal, came a certainty in the little boy that the blinding pain in his heart could not be fixed by anyone. He would just have to strive to live on only for himself, learning to numb that pain and casting aside the thought of another accepting him. Yet, here he was, sitting and conversing with a pink-haired woman that smiled his way and did not flinch to his presence. She pressured to get to know him as he did his best to push and scare her away. Instead of finding her presence frightful, he now drew to her unconditionally. Time, and her, were changing him. For Gaara, Sakura suddenly became all the more magical.

"Promise you'll always be my friend," the boy whispered, eyes turning to her before shying away.

The silence that followed began to irk him some, but the feeling was quickly forgotten as Sakura gently brushed the underside of his chin with her fingertips. She drew his face and eyes to look back up at her. His eyes widened to drown in the heartwarming grin she had for him as he silently gasped. Without a second thought, or falter in her voice, she spoke clearly.

"I promise."

Her head tilted then, grin falling and eyes turning as she hummed in thought. Despite this, she still lifted Gaara's chin gently. Eventually she turned to look back at him with a small smile of her own.

"But," she began playfully. "You have to promise me the same."

In his mind, he thought her slightly crazy. Why even ask for that promise, she was the only one who was giving him acknowledgment. She was the only one now who showed concern over his well-being. It was her who offered support and guidance whereas everyone else feared him. It was her who was changing him, making him rethink the cruel world around him. It was her, who promised first. It was Sakura, who became his friend. How could she even think she had to make him promise? Was it not already a given what she meant to him?

"Of course!" he cried to her before swallowing hard, his words next came softly like a wind's whisper. "I promise."

It was then, Sakura thought back to his older self. Would this promise carry on? Something that would be in an older Gaara's mind?

'I should promise him not to be upset with me either for dropping that scroll...'

The thought was merely playful, and she rid of it before grinning at Gaara.

"That makes me so happy," she claimed. "I'm glad will be friends forever. No matter what, I'll always be proud of you."

His older self as Kazekage appeared in her mind, and she whispered to the boy before drawing her hand back.

"Always."

Her words must have sparked such strong emotion in the boy, for that rare grin he had only showed off once to her suddenly reappeared. The big smile made Sakura's chest tighten with elation. He could be the cutest boy in the world, and possibly win everything over, if he showed off such a strong smile on more frequent occasions. And yet, as she stared into his once toothy smile, she realized something was different this time.

"You lost your tooth?!" Sakura exclaimed excitedly.

Gaara didn't protest as Sakura made a reach for his face, pulling him closer to her and bringing her face down to examine the small, open gap in his gums. She watched as Gaara pressed against the opening with his tongue, studying it in wonder too.

"I lost it yesterday," he replied with a few smacks of his mouth.

Sakura stared at him silently, for the topic of last night felt like taboo to speak now. He must have lost it during his fight, and the chaos that happened yesterday, Sakura figured. A little sad to hear, for the young woman had wanted to show Gaara the tradition that came with loosing a tooth.

'Ah well,' she thought with a shrug. 'It's not like he won't lose more.'

She giggled silently while she watched Gaara play with the opening still with his tongue. Her small laugh earning back his eyes.

"What?" he mumbled, somewhat bashfully.

Sakura just shook her head before replying.

"Nothing. Just surprised at how fast you're growing."

His eyes widened slightly again, studying Sakura's smile still.

"Also," she began to add. "You look so cute now with that missing tooth."

Shy to her words, he turned and narrowed his eyes away from her. Cute was not the definition this little boy had wanted to hear of himself. Despite the word's complimenting meaning, it didn't speak for the strength he hoped the rosette could see in him

"I'm not cute," he mumbled under his breath.

He made Sakura chortle again, and she sat thoughtful while staring at the pouting boy, her smile never faltering. Eventually, Gaara had turned back to her, taking in her look and smile before gracing her warmly with a small smirk of his own.

'He is happy,' was all Sakura could think while staring at his smile.

He needn't endure too many hardships here on out, for she was here now, Sakura thought to herself. Her hand returned to his face then, and Gaara leaned in to her hand as it cupped his cheek affectionately. They did not speak, instead their eyes locked on each other.

'You've done good,' Sakura told herself. 'At least someone with a troubled past has taken you to heart.'

Sakura was proud of herself then, but more importantly, enthralled that Gaara's happiness and kindness could now shine this early on. Maybe the love she always carried for her friends was exactly the medicine Gaara had needed. Too immersed in Sasuke at a young age, where he gave her love no implication that it would heal his hurting soul, she realized now the boy next to her was exactly seeking what she had to offer.

Love.

To that thought, Sakura smirked.

'Could I have helped you when we were younger?' she thought. 'Maybe if I had lived here instead. Maybe if I had been willing to care for others like I did Sasuke-kun...'

Sakura didn't dawdle on the idea long, for that past of her had changed. She had eventually learned to care and love others, and she had helped so so many. There was nothing wrong in her future, nor Gaara's. There was no reason to think of the if's, when everything had turned out just fine for the both of them. So instead, she went back to wondering what the near future had in store for the small child in front of her who now gladly soaked in the kindness she offered him. No doubt a nurturing side to him would bloom a lot more quickly now, and the thought of becoming the next Kazekage would present itself a lot more earlier.

"You'll be a great leader," she whispered to the boy.

Encouraging words that made Gaara's heart beat more quickly, though, that sentence was still mind-boggling in his head then the first time she had said it. He knew what a leader was, what their role entitled, but she couldn't possibly be hinting to him that he would become one. After all, nobody but her seemed to give an accepting glance his way. How could he be what she claimed when it was only her who liked him? He rested his head against her hand now before opening his mouth to ask what she meant.

Sakura watched as Gaara's curious eyes lit up, and he opened his mouth to speak. Yet, before a word could be uttered, he whipped his head quickly out of her hand and turned his gaze to the side of him. His eyes widened and flashed as he stared intently towards his bedroom door.

"What is it?" Sakura asked, concerned by Gaara's sudden tense state.

Yet, the boy did not answer her, did not move, and he only continued to keep his attention entirely at the wooden entryway. Sakura had seen this look on him once before, and couldn't help but turn her attention towards the door. Last time Gaara had tensed like this, he had noticed before her that Baki was making his way towards the room. So, she waited, anticipating a knock while wondering which soul was brave enough to come to Gaara's quarters.

'Baki again?' she wondered.

Maybe someone new, or maybe even his father. Sakura tensed at the thought of Rasa asking for Gaara again. Yet, while she had these rushing thoughts while waiting for a knock, no noise ever came with the passing minutes. Still, Gaara was tense staring at the door.

'Maybe he is mistaken,' Sakura thought.

The rosette made her way to the door then, hoping to put Gaara's mind at east. Yet, the unexpected happened as soon as she opened the doorway.