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Chapter Fifty-five


The moment Sakura steps out from the home, to the outside, is the same second she stares up towards the clouds. Gaara leads, but stops himself when he notices Sakura lingers behind. He catches her eyes staring up towards the heavens in silence. For a minute, the scene in front of him is almost too spectacle for him to break. Her smile, the one she has hid well from him all this time, suddenly spreads on her face. An ache long forgotten tries to rattle inside his chest. Alas, his body is numb to such feeling; trained throughout dedicated years to himself. The ache goes as soon as it came while he first caught that smile. Still, he remains quiet as he watches her smile turn into a gentle grin. Fight it as much his mind tells him to, he tries to recollect the last time he saw such a smile on her.

It's a certain snowy, cold night plays in his mind. Words Sakura is sure Gaara has forsaken ring in his mind now.

"I love you, Gaara."

For him, the sentence, is as fresh in his mind as much as her abandonment is. He teeters on which scenario to fall back on when it comes to replicating his feelings now. For the moment though, looking at her, one feeling is all Gaara can convey.

"You too, Sakura," he whispers.

His voice is caught but his words are not. Sakura looks back at the redhead with a lift of her brow.

"What did you say?" she asks.

Gaara returns a blank stare before his eyes travel upwards to where the rosette's had been.

"What do you look for?" he asks instead.

Sakura draws closer and returns her eyes to the sky. Above them is nothing but darkness. A billow of dark cloud blankets the night sky, including the twinkling stars and bright moon. In the distance, as the clouds begin to accumulate towards the island closer, does a brightness flash a distance away.

"Rain," Sakura murmurs with another gentle smile as she looks off in the distance.

As her eyes return to Gaara, she offers a vague explanation for her smiles.

"Just reminds me of something. A nice memory," she tells him

Gaara opens his mouth to ask if she speaks about a time with him but stops himself as her eyes and smile fall looking back at him. Instead, silence follows as they stare at one another. One of them is trying to figure out the mystery in front of him, and how he should feels towards, and about, her. The other…

"Where are we going, exactly?" Sakura grimaces. "That rain will come down on us soon."

As if to remind Sakura that she follows him on her own accord, Gaara flashes her his dark arm once more while turning towards the jungle.

"A place I like to meditate once in a while. A place where only I am allowed," he tells her.

Their steps begin and side by side Gaara leads her into the dark jungle.

"Then why bring me?" Sakura asks, still skeptical of where Gaara leads her.

Gaara grins to her question.

"A lover should not stray far from her-"

Sakura stops her steps then and narrows her eyes towards Gaara before cutting him off.

"You were serious then?" she asks, surprise still in her voice.

As soon as Gaara turns to face her, Sakura speaks again and shakes her head.

"Those few days ago, you meant it when you said friendships can grow to…"

Sakura stops her voice. She is unable to continue now that Gaara gives her a gaze with an answer that solidifies her question.

"Is that not how lovers begin? As friends? I believe that is a lesson taught to me by none other than my only friend," Gaara states, as if their conversation now is dull and obvious.

This time, Sakura manages her composure better and keeps in mind that Gaara's mentality and line of thinking is not as stable as her own.

"It's wrong," she tells him instead, and with reason. "I knew you when you were just a child."

"Which I'm clearly not anymore," Gaara adds, retaliating against her reasons.

Yet, his words shake something deeper in Sakura, and the conversation is forsaken for the moment as she recollects herself and whispers.

"Clearly..."

Her eyes shut, and she takes in a few deep breaths as Gaara watches her before continuing down the list.

"We are years apart in age," Sakura adds.

Gaara quickly counters back.

"Means nothing to me. Our intellect remains on the same level now, therefore sharing with one another would never grow boring with you. Your appearance, as well, would have others questioning the truth of your age."

She isn't sure why, but she thinks Gaara has tried a shot at complimenting her with that last sentence. Neglecting the thought, Sakura continues.

"Do you not grasp how I am here now not because I support you but to instead show and convince you that this fighting is all wrong? Your end, needs to stop. I will never see you as a ruler of this world."

Sakura sneers as Gaara's grin grows as her sentence does.

"Nothing glorified gained comes easy or is handed to you. I fight for what I want. I push a war, because others keep what I wish to achieve in my life. Having you by my side when it all over is another battle I will win."

"I would never stand by your side willingly," Sakura spits back at him with venom.

"Is that right?" Gaara asks with his grin still. "Right now, you are eager to do just that while I lead you into this jungle with no one else. Just me. Alone. In the middle of the night..."

His snarky comments make Sakura grind her teeth.

"I do it because-! Because..." Sakura begins, but slowly stops herself as she thinks hard on the reason.

She's spouted it so many times. Claimed the reason she is here now to so many, that Gaara, who has heard it countless times, begins to grow restless when she chooses silence this time around. She does this, now, because she knows exactly where her words will lead. Gaara, she realizes as he quickly approaches her more closely now, knows this just as well.

As soon as he draws up to her, looming over her, his harsh whisper is directed at her.

"Say it," he orders her. "Tell me why you're here and why you are doing all of this."

She looks up at him with worried eyes, and drops her mouth some when she sees Gaara's chaotic expression swimming through his wide gaze. He hangs on her words now, knowing that anything else she says besides what she has been saying up until now, will be a lie. She has put herself in a corner, one Gaara cleverly led her into. Now that she is there, he towers over her like a hungry predator. They both know, the only thing stopping him from jumping his prey, is Sakura's silence. The rosette swallows hard as Gaara's dark arm twitches lightly in anticipation.

"You do it because-" Gaara begins for her.

Sakura still refuses and bites her bottom lip in retaliation. Seeing this, Gaara grows even more anxious.

"Say it!" he demands out of her with a small cry.

"Because you were my friend!" Sakura hollers back.

Despite how he will twist and manipulate her words, she pledges now what she has been since the beginning. It isn't realization he is dawning on her like he hopes, but her determination grows instead that she can save him and this world.

"I do this because you were my friend," she repeats.

"And?!" he practically bellows in her ears.

Sakura, this time, tears her eyes away. She cannot look at the mocking grin that is sure to come with her next set of words.

"And because…I loved you," she whispers.

She is surprised to feel him simply staring at her in silence after her words. His cold, hard face has returned while Sakura refuses to look him in the eye. She also refuses to move from her spot. He stays quiet so as to let Sakura's words sink in and Sakura stays quiet while letting just that happen. Just as Gaara wishes. The young boy appears in her mind, and Gaara, next to her, eventually calls out to her as minutes pass with no sound.

"It can work," he gently offers.

Sakura spits at Gaara with her angry words.

"It's disgusting..." she seethes.

She is surprised to see Gaara keep his cold stare, and he even steps back from Sakura once she says this. Nonetheless, as she looks back into his eyes he speaks to her softly.

"Friendship and love is all that is needed for romance, and we once had both."

The idea and reassurance he presses onto her now will forever swim her mind. It is exactly what he wants by making her speak about the reasons she is here now. The damage is done, he has put the idea into her mind to fall back on. Yet, even if the idea may arise from time to time, Sakura wants nothing to do with it.

"Whether we build our friendship back up again or not, I will never, never, love you like you wish me to right now," Sakura hisses.

Her tone is warning while his eyes convey the seriousness of the situation. His face does not change despite her words, instead he delves into his mind as silence settles between them.

"Time," he suddenly mouths at her.

He emphasizes on that single word and Sakura is taken aback for the moment. Her life, recently, has been revolving around nothing but time that she almost shakes once he uses such a peculiar word.

"Does he know…?" is her immediate, fretting thought before-

"Time is also needed," he rephrases. "Friendship, love, and time."

Sakura blinks rapidly. Lost for the moment; she regains her composure as he references the word for their current conversation.

Gaara waits on Sakura for an answer, but realizes then that something he has said has off-put the woman entirely. Sakura merely shakes her head while looking away, a feat that tells him that she doesn't even pay his words of wisdom mind now. As much consideration Gaara has put into this thought all while sorting out his feelings for Sakura, the woman seems to care less.

...No amount of numbing can stop the pain in his chest then.

'Time,' he reminds himself so as not to let that pain boil into something more malicious.

Instead, he makes a motion towards Sakura to steal her gaze back.

"Let's go," he tells her instead, adding in more so that she will follow his call. "This arm of mine grows heavy."

Curiosity draws her in, Gaara has learned. She yearns for answers to secrets just as much as him. A trait he can easily use against her. What he fails to realize is that as he learns of ways to exploit her to heed his call, she too learns of ways to influence Gaara with. He may draw her in deep into the dark, dangerous jungle with the mystery of his arm, but she is learning that she could probably have him follow her to the ends of the earth if she offered a possibility to share that romantic relationship he now seeks with her.

'That would be cruel to pretend,' Sakura tells herself though.

After all, she aware of how cruel one can torture another with when to comes to love. Unbeknownst to Sasuke, Sakura has learned through him what the worst part about falling in love is.

'A one-sided love,' Sakura continues to think, staring at Gaara's back.

Her eyes narrow as she thinks harder on the pain she went through for a certain Uchiha.

'If Gaara truly loves me like he says he does and I don't reciprocate those feelings...'

She downcast her eyes to her feet. Rejection never feels good, and seeing as she is the one conveying the feeling to another now, Sakura does what she wishes Sasuke could have at least done with her all those years ago. Instead of turning her back to Gaara, she races to his side.

Once, by his side, is when Gaara looks down at her curiously, their stride never breaking. Sakura keeps her eyes in front of her, but offers an explanation when Gaara's stare never breaks from her frame.

"...I still want to become friends again though," she mumbles.

Though she may not see, to her words, does a surprise look find Gaara before a small smile begins to form on his face.

"Aa," he agrees before his eyes turn back to the dark jungle ahead of them.

The farther in they travel, the more grateful Sakura becomes that she took up to Gaara's side. With no stars or moon, the tall trees hide any sort of light, and the rosette relies entirely on the redhead.

"How can you see?" she asks at one point, jumping lightly when she feels Gaara take a hold of her shoulder to guide her in the right direction.

"Have you forgotten that I am a bijuu?" he asks.

Sakura blinks to that comment. She isn't sure if Gaara implies traits from Shukaku fall onto him or if excessive chakra power helps in some way. After all, she doesn't recall a time Naruto could see through the dark like Gaara can.

"Take a hold of my hand and I'll lead you," Gaara speaks, cutting her line thinking.

"Hell no!" Sakura scoffs, thinking his offer another attempt at flirting.

Yet, his tone next, says otherwise.

"Sakura..." he mumbles. "I'm not trying to-"

"Touch my hand and I'll punch your face in," Sakura snaps back.

Despite her hostility, she actually garners a light chuckle from Gaara.

"You're an interesting character, Sakura," he says. "You've kept that fiery spirit I remember."

She allows Gaara to lead her by the shoulder still and only stops to make a comment when she feels a drop slide down her neck. Despite the darkness, she looks upwards.

"I told you it was going to rain on us," Sakura mumbles.

"Where we're going it matters not," Gaara tells her instead.

She can feel his hand on her shoulder once more, guiding her a different direction. Yet, despite his touch, Sakura keeps rooted in her spot as she continues to look at the dark sky. At times, a flash of light illuminates the area vaguely.

"Let's go, Sakura," Gaara tries to usher her along.

Yet, it is a fresh thought that keeps Sakura still and silent, and she continues looking up despite Gaara's hand on her and his ushering.

"Hey Gaara," she suddenly asks, a happier tone in her voice. "Do you remember?"

To her question does Gaara look down at the rosette. In her eyes, he is hidden, his presence known to her only by the hold on her shoulder he has. For him, he can see Sakura clearly despite the darkness, and he watches as her eyes begin to dance at the nothing above him.

"Remember what?" he asks with a tilt of his head.

His eyes widen when a smile widens on her face suddenly. Even if some droplets break through the jungles thick leaves and land themselves on her face, Sakura continues to glance upwards.

"About the smiling sky! Do you remember?"

Sakura can feel the hold Gaara has on her shoulder suddenly tighten and she realizes she has probably resurfaced an impacting memory in his mind. Even if he knows he looks up to see nothing, his eyes follow the direction of hers. Staring up towards the swimming, dark clouds the account she speaks of plays in his mind.

"Kakigori," he only murmurs.

Yet, the attempt he set out to do is accomplished once Sakura brings her head down and tries to hide her laughter behind her hand. They both realize then that some humor still hangs on to the young man, and Gaara can't help himself but smile at Sakura's bright grin and laughter. Sadly, his face hides behind shadow that Sakura can't see, and even Gaara wonders if it is his concealed form now that makes the woman converse, and laugh, with much more ease now than the past few days.

'Time,' he thinks again, realizing the word itself is already helping him strengthen the weak bond him and Sakura now share.

His smile turns arrogant then.

"You remember the story too though, right?" Sakura asks into the night.

Her head snaps in the direction Gaara stands as soon as he answers her.

"I remember it just the same as that night."

Sakura smiles lightly to that thought and can't help but look up again towards the dark clouds.

"You made a friend," she whispers.

Again, she knows nothing of where Gaara's eyes lay. For him, his gaze is stolen entirely by her gentle smile and he realizes how significant those moments are to Sakura. The impact on him, done by her, hits her just as hard when she reminiscences. Yet, that knowledge gives him an advantage once again in this game he thinks of them. He knows how to grow her sentimental. He has also learnt, long ago, that when a woman is emotional; is led forward by her heart instead of mind, that his best time to strike would be-

"If we could see behind those clouds, there would be another smile."

Gaara can already see the twinkle in Sakura's eyes to his words, and it comes as no surprise to him then that his arm is easy is sweep down her shoulder and take a hold of her hand.

Her eyes look past him, but her smile still lingers from his words. He has given her hope, a sense of peace between them for the moment, a recollection that he remembers some of her teachings and therefore can remember, or relearn, more. The only thing that would have her doubt his words is currently hidden by darkness.

His grin is vile and eyes glow with morbid desire.

His eyes stay entirely on her while he begins to lead her, hand in hand, deeper into the jungle, through a hollow hole within a large tree that leads into a grove that holds small cave. Once they enter, Sakura's eyes are immediately called upwards towards the top of the glowing cave. Thousands of green lights seem to dim and brighten back and forth, and they illuminate the small cave enough for Sakura to see Gaara's silhouette. If close enough, she would easily see his face. Just as she spots the redhead still holding her hand, arm out towards him, she pulls gently away and speaks before Gaara can.

"Fireflies?" she asks, unfamiliar with the creatures above her.

"Glow worms," Gaara corrects her while gazing upwards.

Sakura instantly shivers and wrinkles her nose. There's beauty seen through fireflies, worms on the other hand…

"Cold?" Gaara asks, mistaking Sakura as she begins to rub her arms up and down.

"I can't stay in here," she begins to whine. "What if one falls on me?!"

"Huh?" Gaara asks, taken aback by Sakura's frightened display.

The woman was the definition of strength in Gaara's eyes. Their agreements may never settle, and the bickering and fighting will continue on for quite some time as he is aware, but there was respect for Sakura for what she did for him in the past. That respect is beginning to grow again as she continuously stands up to him like no other has ever dared. Yet, the more he watches her, the more he realizes he likes the display she shows him now. It tells him that she is comfortable around him to some degree. Not to mention, he isn't sure how to place it or what the correct word would be. Even if he can't figure it out, if only he could ask, people would tell him that he finds her display adorable, cute, innocent.

So, his quizzical looks turn quickly into a smile as a light chuckle finds him. Testing the waters of just how open and comfortable she is with him right now, he strolls near her and places his hand once again on her shoulder. Though her gaze turns angry to his touch, and she even narrows her eyes towards his dimly-lit face, she doesn't shrug him off or push him away. That itself speaks so much to Gaara and an appetite begins to grow inside of him.

"I should have remembered. You never did well with desert creatures either," Gaara comments, recollecting all the scorpion incidents. "Do not worry. They won't fall on you as long as you don't reach for them."

Sakura merely shakes her head.

"What is it you were going to show me?" Sakura asks instead, trying to push Gaara into quickly finishing whatever it is he set them out to do.

Gaara's face falls, hard and cold. Yet, his gaze doesn't hold her own for long once he brings his dark, claw-like appendage up towards his chest. He quickly pulls the sleeve of his shirt up, showing off more to Sakura how far the dark markings are closing in on his entire body; threatening to dye the entire appendage a dark shade.

'It's like Sasuke-kun's curse mark when we were younger,' Sakura thinks.

Yet, the more closely she looks, the more of the etchings there are on Gaara than from Sasuke's own. She grimaces when she realizes the lighting in the cave will help her none if inspecting his arm is what Gaara wishes from her. Yet, before she can ask or propose they go somewhere better lit, the arm Gaara brought up settles back on his own chest. Sakura's eyes widen when she spots the young man unbuttoning his top.

"Seriously?" Sakura snaps with scoff.

Despite her appall, Gaara continues to undress as his hard stare lingers on Sakura.

"Pervert," she labels him before turning away. "I should have known this was all some stupid-"

"Sakura," Gaara calls back her attention.

At the sight of his shirt sliding down his arms, Sakura is tempted to turn right back around. Yet, it is the sight of his bare chest, laced in the same black markings, that keeps her eyes settled on his frame.

'What the hell is that?' her medical mind asks.

Despite his nakedness, she this time approaches him closer and inspects him so as to put a label on what it is she is looking at now.

"A rash?" she mumbles more to herself, her face dropping to look at Gaara's skin more closely. "An infected one?"

No, her medical mind tells her immediately. This is a jutsu of sorts, maybe someone, somewhere was able to…

"Did someone do this to you?"

It's like a seal, a mark, a curse. Yet, looking back at him, Gaara only smirks once Sakura's eyes meet his. She instantly backs away once he begins unbuttoning his pants.

"No," she quickly tells him to stop his actions. "I won't assess you if that's what it is you're wanting. Find someone else."

She is a professional. The area Gaara threatens to show her is nothing new in her eyes and she has treated many naked men. Still, from his deplorable acts from before does she find herself incapable of drawing near. Gaara, meanwhile, begins to shake his head before speaking.

"No," he tells her this time. "My purpose for bringing you here wasn't this."

He lifts his arm somewhat towards Sakura's direction, and the rosette narrows her eyes angrily towards Gaara. He has tricked her, she thinks. Yet, the redhead keeps a calmness about him that doesn't make Sakura feel threatened in the slightest. For that reason, she doesn't run.

"This," he speaks again while shaking his dark arm. "This is a gift."

Sakura's eyes widen with curiosity.

'Gift?' she thinks.

Her eyes follow as Gaara motions his arm towards a small pool of water within the cave.

"You first," he tells her.

From the pool of water does Sakura stare for a moment, possibly wondering what Gaara is telling her. But from his bare chest, pants hanging unbuttoned, to the pool he offers her does Sakura's mind come to the conclusion. Instantly, she crosses her arms.

"No," she spits. "Especially because I know you'll follow."

Yet, if she looked, she would see Gaara's frown fall more and a look of dishearten riddle his eyes.

"I worry for you," he tries instead. "You spat up quite a bit of blood that-"

"I'm fine," she tells him. "Besides, what will this do to help that situation?"

Gaara sighs, but he can understand Sakura's misunderstanding in this scenario.

"Then hide your eyes," he tells her instead. "Or watch if you wish. I do not care."

Again, Sakura's narrow eyes meet with Gaara's. She is about to refuse once more, to remind him he has no control over her like others, but decides to silently obey this time once she spots his hands reaching for his pants once more. A blush spreads on her face and she whips her back around with angry eyes settled on the glow worms instead.

"I'll just go," she tells him instead. "If you were just wanting to take a swim, I don't need to stay I-"

Sakura scowls and ends her voice when she hears body and water meeting. For some reason, she feels Gaara has ignored her completely, and only does she turn around when she hears the light ripples and splashes. She watches as Gaara closes his eyes and draws in a relaxed breath before opening them back up towards Sakura. She waits on the young man, to listen to his explanation or his mockery for her to join him. Instead, his eyes linger on her and he is quiet as he slowly makes his way back towards the edge of the pool. As he rests his hands out on the edge, and even relaxes his head against his arms, he answers Sakura.

"Stay," he orders. "Usually I bring another here when I do this."

"Why?" Sakura asks, curiosity beginning to get the better of her this time.

He gives his dark arm a long stare before answering the rosette.

"My life is in your hands now, Sakura," he tells her.

'An opportunity,' her mind tells her.

His sentence leads down many different paths with many different outcomes, but the one that sticks out more is that his life is now held by her.

And she could end it and all this fighting.

For some reason, to that thought, the kunai strapped to her thigh burns at her skin. Yet, in her heart, is an argument. He depends on you once again, her heart is quick to say. Fail him now, and he will never trust you again and you will lose. Succeed, and you will be one step closer to being…

'What exactly?' she wonders. 'What does I want with this man? Even being his friend seems too generous.'

His trust in her speaks exceptionally once he suddenly places her in a position to overwatch him.

The war her heart and mind wage is suddenly put on hold when Gaara draws in deep, calm breaths. He is deeply meditating suddenly, Sakura can easy see, and he stands perfectly still in the pool of water, hands clutching the edge of rock as he lifts his head high up towards the top of the cave. With eyes closed, his long, deep breaths are what keeps his body moving as his chest rises slowly.

Sakura opens her mouth, to ask what he is doing, but stops when an aura suddenly fills the cave. It's light at first, but just enough to make Sakura remain quiet and instead watch Gaara intrigued.

'This feels...familiar,' she thinks.

Deep in his meditation, Sakura takes a glance behind her. The exit beckons for her, she could run if she'd like. Yet, curiosity holds her in place. When five minutes come and go, with Gaara showing no signs of letting up with his personal exercises, Sakura realizes why he had brought her and mentions to always bring someone.

'He could be taken out right now,' she thinks.

The kunai on her thigh burns her skin more and her mind tries to force the idea.

Seven minutes in, and the aura in the cave suddenly grows and bursts significantly, making Sakura's eyes widen and jaw drop in shock.

Eight minutes in, and the glow worms above them glow brighter and more frantically, lighting up of the cave in waves of light and patterns.

Nine minutes in, and Sakura watches as the darkness on Gaara's arm spreads throughout his entire body. Instead of darkening his pale skin, it swims in patterns much like Shukaku's own and wraps around every part of his bare body. Not only that, but the paleness that his flesh looks hard to the touch, and the glow that radiates in the cave reflects off his skin, giving him shine.

Ten minutes in, and Sakura can no longer hold in her voice even if she knows it will threaten exactly what Gaara wishes to accomplish now. She knows exactly what it is that is happening.

Most people have the drive to win. Yet, only a few have the will to prepare to win. For Gaara, Sakura realizes the young man has put himself through a rigorous trial just to achieve what he is doing now, That immense power in him now she knows him to have makes her dread that, Gaara, through all this madness, may just win this war with the ease he claims it will be.

"Gaara," she murmurs, breath almost lost. "You can use sage power."

To her words, Gaara's eyes suddenly whip open and Sakura's eyes shake when instead of a teal, human gaze she is met with eyes shaped like a snakes, and they stare into her soul, freezing her bones at his cold stare.