.
Chapter Sixty-eight
'You've never handled Gaara like this.'
Sakura won't argue with that thought as she stands in the quiet darkness. She will swallow her pride as her eyes widen to swift, sudden movements hidden behind shadow. She will sometimes admit when she is wrong, just as long as she survives the ordeal to say it. She is a smart enough woman to understand when to turn around and retreat; especially when a silent warning is going off in her head.
That moment, for Sakura, is when Gaara's glowing eyes hue an aqua tint despite the darkness enveloping the room. His and Sakura's eyes lock for a brief second. A florid, yellow flash crosses his eyes before they are lost into shadow, and Sakura inwardly gasps as his body moves from the bed he was resting on. The kettles and teapots behind her, and Naruto's request, are completely forgotten.
She has stirred a creature awake.
'Run,' her mind beats into her.
Sakura finally yields to that advice and makes a quick reach for the door to get out of this sinister feeling room. Her fingers feel shifting grains, and she pulls her hand back when she realizes the entryway she came in is suddenly lost behind a wall of sand. Sakura takes a step back and watches in horror as sand slithers down each and every wall of Gaara's room. Grains pour from cracks in the wall like flowing water. Below her, sand is starting to crawl over more sand and spread across the floor towards Sakura. The walls and floor become encase in Gaara's element, and the roseate holds her breath expecting the sand to bury her deep within this room. Her eyes only catch the moment the sand stops, around her, giving her a circumference of bare, wooden floor to stand on.
Sand is not what Sakura fears now but instead its wielder, and so her eyes search for him in the void. She refuses to leave her spot, refuses to touch her bare feet against the unnatural earth inside the home. She is trapped into a small circle of a space and grows nervous the longer she goes without seeing Gaara's glowing eyes. Her hearts thumps louder when his silhouette is missing completely from her vision.
Her hearing is catching the faintest of sounds. There is a light crunch of weight being pressed against sand and she can also make out his breath heavier than normal as it bounces from sandy wall to the next all around her; circling around her in all sorts of directions and changing patterns. The more she focuses on the noises, the more deluded her mind begins to feel.
Soon, Sakura's breath becomes fast, shaky, and she has trouble swallowing her panic away when new, smaller sounds begin tickling at her ear and teasing her into dread. All of it is enough to make her mind go panic madly, and she struggles trying to push away that unfamiliar feeling of anxiety.
"Stop..." she croaks out so quietly, feebly, and desperate.
She isn't even sure if her helpless call was even loud enough for the silent, ominous room. There is too much darkness around her, metaphorically and literal. She can sense an evil, familiar, aura encasing around her. The same small darkness that she noticed inside Gaara in his young age has grown along with him. It's almost suffocating as her eyes dart for any sense of direction Gaara might be in while searching for his gaze. She is blinded by all senses to recognize the vile being that looms in front of her like a growing shadow, watching her so closely while she stands there unaware and helpless.
'To be killed by a Gaara,' her minds thinks as time in absolute silence passes.
And if these are her final thoughts she lets one selfish one come to mind. She reminds herself of her own sacrifice for a little boy who, as a man, would destroy her.
'I loved him...' she thinks bitterly. 'I did what I thought was right.'
Why does love punish her cruelly?
There is that weak drop from her eye again; just one tear. So small that she doesn't even realize it is rolling down her cheek. Sakura jumps lightly in her place when she feels a tentacle of sand press against her back, ushering her to move forward. The shove is surprisingly gentle and Sakura takes a few steps ahead of her. The sand shifts to her steps, moving to allow her to step on actual, wooden floor before scrambling to cover it back up the moment she steps away.
Sakura takes only a few steps, stopping and tensing immediately when she walks into a hand reaching to cup her face. Sakura is frozen in her place and stares out in front of her trying to catch Gaara's eyes in the darkness as he begins to stroke her cheek; brushing away the wet her tear left behind. The glow in his eyes is missing and Sakura grimaces to his touch.
'His nails feels like sharp claws,' Sakura thinks to herself as her heart races.
As if he can read her thoughts, it's at this moment the redhead adds pressure to the nail under her eye, sliding it slowly across.
"Oh," Gaara breathes out, amused, watching his own nail graze across Sakura's skin. "Such a mouthwatering snack. How kind of you to bring it to me."
His voice is deeper, raspy. The sound of him makes Sakura's eyes widen in horror. The moon has done this to him, she wonders. Or is it his injury as well? The medicine? She steps away from Gaara's touch. It is then his eyes light up in front of her, and Sakura freezes once she realizes just how close their faces are to one another and she hadn't even realized it.
Despite not hurting her, yet, she is slightly wary. She remembers she was warned even by him, along with everyone, not to be here tonight. She isn't sure what to expect from the Gaara in front of her. Madden by his mind, weakened with a hole in his body, tempted by the full moon's presence; she isn't sure what is to come next from him. She came on Naruto's behalf, but convincing the blonde to cease his search tonight was probably the easier choice than her trying to manage Gaara in his state now.
"Let me go," she chooses her words quick. "I made a mistake. I didn't mean to wake you."
Gaara's eyes widen, surprised how spiritless her words are. There is no flame in her voice. Her eyes stray away from his like a scared lamb. He studies her demeanor a little more closely before his eyes narrow with secret elation.
"No mistake made," he murmurs with small amusement. "You want to go? You want to leave? Why?"
Sakura bites her lower lip while her eyes linger on Gaara's glowing, aqua gaze. His questions come out demanding, and guilt her heart some. Her heads scoots back when he brings his face closer to hers again. His eyes lock with hers.
"You want to rip my heart apart tonight?" he hitches his last word, attempting to feign a hurt voice. "Again?"
"Moron," she can't help but snap back lightly at him, upset he attempts to guilt her at a time like this. Her quick, snappy answer amuses him and his eyes shine again to the emotions he sparks in her. "I just want to leave this room."
Gaara had sounded tired, but his words don't convince her to stay. If anything, he sounds like he is in a playful, flirtatious mood. At least, that is what she thinks until she hears the slither of sand move around her again. She watches Gaara's eyes begin to circle around her once again, his body towering taller and taller above her until she is looking up to catch his gaze. Gaara uses his sand to place platforms for him to step onto to climb and pace around Sakura more for his leisure to watch her.
"But wait!" Gaara speaks, feigning surprise and amusement. "You cannot leave yet. You were crying! Sakura, My Blossom, tell me, what makes you cry? What makes you feel like you have no one by your side?"
Sakura's eyes narrow to this question. Her spirit to live ignites, and anger is directed towards Gaara who stills his movements to take in Sakura's look.
"You can admit it to me," gleeful, prey-like eyes smile down at her. "Tell me what makes your heart ache?"
Sakura scowls in thought; silent to Gaara's questions and longing stare. In her mind, Sakura is recalling the last time she had seen Gaara during a full moon; back when he was a child and she was given blood to appease his erratic, anxious self. The similarities to that night and tonight suddenly seem a little more apparent to Sakura as she recalls his questions back then too.
"You're crying?" he had asked back then as a kid. "Did you hurt yourself?"
"Are you crying because of me?" Sakura blinks as she hears in unison Gaara's young voice and older voice asking her that question. "Are you crying because of me?" the unison repeats.
The moment is so familiar and fresh in her heart still; when a young Gaara asked her the very same question under a full moon. Thinking on that child makes her eyes burn with warm water.
"Are you crying because of me?" Gaara's voice comes out more clearly.
Sakura only hears the Gaara above her now, and his deep, demanding voice that rocks her thoughts. She realizes she has tears again on her face, and Gaara has been watching her dazedly weep in her spot with accusing, angry eyes. The roseate wonders why he harbors such a hateful look towards her now. Have her tears really upset him that much? The answer to that is an obvious yes but not for the reason why she imagines.
Gaara's sand lowers him from towering above Sakura, bringing himself closer to her. He tells her something she has never taken into consideration before.
"I want it to be because of me, Sakura," he admits to her a desire. I want to be a the friend you cry for this time around."
Surprised eyes look back up at Gaara, he stops her tears, and his angry eyes are now curious as they study her wet face.
"I like to think you cry for my sake only," Gaara says with fervor. "I want to be the center of your world again. Like you made me feel...back then."
His eyes are beginning to shine more brightly in Sakura's direction, especially when she looks at him with such shock and silence. The young woman can see the kind of desire Gaara searches in her tonight.
'Vulnerable,' a voice speaks in Sakura's mind.
It's really all he has been wanting from her this entire time once he realized she was his Sakura, but the desire in his eyes for her tonight has her glowing in his gaze. She excites him in many, mysterious and loving ways, and the energy flowing through him tonight makes his heart simply beat fast just watching her beauty.
"I don't know why I'm crying," Sakura admits truthfully. "It probably is because of you."
Gaara remains quiet to her statement.
"I wasn't expecting you to act so casually," Sakura murmurs, softly. Before Gaara can ask, she continues. "Everyone, warned me not to be with you tonight. You don't seem dangerous though."
Her eyes pick back up when Gaara chuckles deep in his throat. His eyes glow at Sakura's dropped face, and his chuckle grows into a dark laughter as he spreads his arms out towards Sakura. There is a crazed look in his expression now. His gesture looks as though he wants to embrace Sakura and it is then she notices Gaara's naked chest.
"You think you are safe right now?" he asks through his laughter, taking a small step closer to Sakura. "You really thought you would be safe tonight?" Gaara's voice grows along with his glowing eyes.
Sakura cries out when Gaara's hand grips her arm hard, attempting to bring her closer to his body.
"You come in here, provoke me with your beauty and words, and then think you are safe from me?!" he asks with a gold lighting up his eyes bright enough for Sakura to spot that familiar, crazed grin.
Mischief grows his smile as the roseate trembles under his hard hold. Yet, he begins to scowl when Sakura's attempt to break away from him are just too-
"Why do you feign being so weak?" he asks angrily.
Sakura sighs heavily to his question, her eyes shying away from him. He holds her but her struggles cease as she delves into her mind. With her free hand, she clutches her thin, black robe closer to her body as to make sure the seal on her back continues to remain hidden. Her garment has loosened down to her shoulders through Gaara's rough tug.
'Because I am dying,' she numbly thinks.
The idea is no longer frightening or worrying her. She has acceptance for what is starting to feel like the inevitable. She has saved Konoha after all, right? She has accomplished something amazing in this world. Maybe it is enough for a life, she is beginning to think.
Yet, her mind is trying to call out to Sakura, to remind her there is much more she is meant for. She is suppose to keep fighting; she has to save Gaara still. She has to return to her own world. She has to see her friends and family. She has to find her happiness again, her desires, her wants, she has yet to even-
"Love," Sakura dully whispers with a gaze that looks beyond and past Gaara.
Sakura's heart, however, is breaking. She grows exhausted at the thought of attempting any more. She has done enough, her heart tells her. She may not be with the man she is in love with, but she is with a man she loves. A man who is obsessed with her. As long as Gaara looks at her in the same way she has looked at Sasuke, maybe it could work. Maybe she could learn. Just like she hoped Sasuke would come to realize with her.
Her overzealous thoughts take her mind somewhere far as Gaara continues to hold onto her. His eyes remain steady on her, watching her dull expression dance ever so lightly to her overthinking. He knows her breathy whisper is a thought. In an odd sense, she is beautiful and captivating to watch when her mind is so comfortable around him that it's willing to leave the moment behind. Gaara can't explain why, but he is always willing to accept that Sakura hypnotizes every one of his senses in new different ways. There is beauty in her fiery spirit when she spits and snarls at him. He knows it is probably wrong in thought, but she is simply celestial looking so tragic and vulnerable in front of him right now too.
Somewhere, in the back of Gaara's mind, is a warning trying to reach to him.
'She really is not safe. Let her go. You will regret hurting her.'
And it's as if his other senses suddenly all realize this as well; yet their influence is cored from Gaara's heart. Primal and archaic ways pulse through him tonight. His mind attempts to warn him, but his chest aches for Sakura in such a more intimate way. The young man had teased Sakura earlier, calling her a snack. Little does Sakura know how much truth was into Gaara's mockery then.
'I can smell her blood,' Gaara growls in his mind with his eyes glowing brighter at a sinister, tantalizing thought involving his blossom. 'She would smell this delicious…'
His mind is beginning to spin and his heartbeat grows louder in his ears.
"I am tired," Sakura speaks, breaking free of her thoughts and breaking Gaara's too. "I am not weak. I am tired."
Gaara blinks. His question and attitude towards her debility had been cast aside in such a quick instance that he doesn't even care for her answer now.
'All because of her,' the thought bleeds into his mind.
His hand no longer grips her tight, but she doesn't attempt to pull away. Instead, she surprises him by stepping towards him. Sakura shows no fear, no feeling, when she closes the proximity between she and him. He even inwardly gasps, surprised, when Sakura presses her hand and head against his chest. His blossom chooses his touch, chooses to place her warm head against his bare chest to feel him. She chooses this skin to skin contact. It almost overwhelming for him, and even his mind is too concentrated on Sakura for him to recognize the danger he is to her now once she places herself against him.
Sakura is easily able to slide her other arm out of Gaara's hold while he stands in a sudden stupor. Her smooth arm slowly, delicately snakes through his warm, rough fingers. Making the two shiver at the feeling of the other. In the instance her other hands comes to his chest, Gaara desperately wraps his hands into her hair, cradling her head softly in them. The intimacy, her choice of closing the gap between them, it's almost enough to make Gaara's heart burst.
Meanwhile, Sakura relaxes under his hold. She actually sighs in content when she feels pressure relieve from her scalp as Gaara tugs his fingers through her pink locks. She doesn't realize just how cold her body is until she feels the heat of Gaara's skin against her. His touch is actually inviting, warm, but Sakura lingers longer than she knows she should. Through the darkness do her eyes blink at the bandage covering Gaara's stomach muscles.
"Gaara," she mewls quietly. It's then the pair can both sense Sakura's small tears.
A sense of dread suddenly washes over Gaara and his heart races into a small panic. What has he done now, he wonders. What has he done to make her cry now? He is doing his best to show her affection; to return the favor she once so graciously bestowed upon him. Still does! How has he ruined such a beautiful moment, again. Gaara panics, for her sake. Gaara worries, for her sake. Why is it her patience with him now is so short compared to how it was years ago? She gives up on him so quickly, her tears always ready to fall at the sight of him. She doesn't realize how much it pains his heart to see her broken all at time.
Just because of him…
How could she be so cruel?
In turn, his confused panic turns into burning anger. Just like when he was a child, everybody's turmoil is caused by his existence. His fingers dig harder into Sakura's hair and head as his mind screams at him to just let her go before he acts on irate impulse. Whether or not Sakura senses Gaara's sudden change in demeanor, the danger she is suddenly in, she does not show it. Instead, she continues to speak.
"Is it my fault you're hurt? Is this because I asked you to leave Konoha alone?" Sakura asks through her tears, her hand brushing up Gaara's bandage.
Gaara's eyes widen and all his frustration and anger built leaves on a breath stolen by Sakura's concern. His fingers relax again in her hair, and Gaara brings Sakura's wet eyes closer to his body. Sakura's love and concern always heals his heart. His claw like hands slide to cradle her head closer as he brings his face closer to hers.
"I do not want to talk about that tonight," he murmurs to her, as if she has caused him some sort of pain. "Let us not speak about it until a time my mind is more clear. But-"
Sakura's eyes widen when Gaara's cradling hands pick Sakura's head up to look at him. Her emerald gaze makes his aqua gaze glow brighter in their dark.
"Do not blame yourself for this," Gaara attempts to soothe.
For a second, Gaara's voice pauses and Sakura watches, wide-eyed, as his gaze seems to dull the longer he looks at her. She parts her lips to speak, to bring him back to her, but her small movement has him continuing.
"I told you I would give you the world, if you asked. You asked for your home so now Konoha is safe."
Konoha is safe; all Sakura has been wanting to hear.
Sakura sniffs and doesn't pull away as Gaara's thumbs wipe under her eyes. Instead, she allows her heart to be grateful to the man in front of her. Perhaps her kindness to him was never in vain; It did save Konoha after all. Yet, her heart aches the most thinking she could have lost Gaara in front of her, and her mind is telling her-
'You need to let Gaara know that.'
Sakura sniffs again and steadies her eyes at Gaara. She struggles to be vulnerable with him even though she is realizing that is all Gaara is looking for in her. She is grateful, she appreciates what he has done. Though he does harm onto others he keeps speaking how he keeps Sakura's best interest, her wants, her desires, all of her, in his heart. There is a want in her to let Gaara know how much more meaningful he is to her now. Looking at his eyes now, the way he cradles her head looking down at her, Sakura can feel heat returning to her cheeks. It's as if Gaara senses Sakura's mood swing, and his eyes widen the same second her heart gives off a strong beat.
It's a little different, but Sakura can recognize this heated feeling growing in her suddenly. It certainly has been some time since she felt desire in her.
"It would have been heartbreaking loosing you though," Sakura admits while keeping her eyes steady on Gaara's own. "Please, don't scare me like that again."
Surprised eyes stare down at Sakura. It's as if she has delivered a blow to him and he is slowly reacting, contemplating, exactly what it is she is trying to convey to him with her face heated up with dewy, emerald eyes staring lovingly towards him.
'Her gaze is different,' his mind growls with excitement.
Never has she looked at him with a newfound desire in her eyes than she does now. Of all the nights she chooses to act this way she chooses tonight, the most dangerous one, to tempt him? Her compassionate demeanor will only harbor more danger, he thinks, even if she assumes the opposite. How could he hurt someone he holds so gently, Sakura assumes; naive to an entirely different kind of danger she is in; especially when she asks her next question.
"Do you love me? Exactly as you say you do?" she asks Gaara. "Are you even capable of such a close bond?"
In the dark, they hold and continue to stare at one another, trying to decipher the others motive and feelings. Sakura doesn't flinch, doesn't pull away when Gaara lowers his face to Sakura. She doesn't shy away when he places a kiss on her cheek-bone. He can already sense the direction of Sakura's conversation and he attempts to brace his excitement for what might come next. Refusing this moment entirely, though, would be moronic on his part...even if his mind was sensible enough to think that now.
'Control yourself,' his thoughts remind him. Yet, his heart is erratic and races with want.
His hand comes to cradle her cheek before brushing under to her chin while he purrs into her ear.
"Exactly as I say," he mimics her. "I will be anything you want me to be."
Sakura sighs to his words and shivers at his touch. She knows he can feel just how nervous she actually is; he has already learned how new she is with affection and intimacy like this. A sudden quietness falls the two of them as the other waits on the other. Their thoughts racing and their wants aching. Why deny the only love you may have in a world that may or may not matter in the end? Sakura has those dark thoughts constantly now, and for the first time tonight, even she is having a hard time standing guard against Gaara's flirting. Deep down, she also understands that Gaara is waiting on her.
Maybe she is meant for this world after all. Maybe her love was meant to tame a monster.
It's her turn, she decides then. She will make an attempt at understanding this dark, twisted love this man offers her. Still, her approach will be at her own pace and she will withdrawal the second she decides she has made another mistake in him, or if she finds a miraculous way home.
Sakura turns her head in Gaara's hands. She holds onto his wrists while turnings her lips towards his own face. Before she can convince herself otherwise, she places a soft, kiss against Gaara's cheek. She keeps her face steady in place the moment she feels Gaara's eyes shake and study her. She blushes at her bold move and his intense stare, but he sighs contentedly at her gesture. He does not beg for more even though his entire being aches for it. He refuses to push her more when Sakura told him she was tired. Yet, he notices that she is hesitating to act.
"If I wanted, you would marry me? Give me a child? Give me a family, if I asked for it all?" Sakura whispers, her eyes turned away from his.
When it came to love, those were the things Sakura desired. She knows deep down all of those wants are impossible as she is now. She would perish before their child even came.
Again, Gaara's breath is stolen. Her words, her questions, her timidness tonight. It's all different for him, and he adores every aspect of it. She is mysterious and captivating even moreso with this new side to her. The things she is asking, possibly requesting of him, is making his mind fog as he greedily takes in her implied requests. All he ever desired was Sakura and now she is tantalizing him with the idea of her mothering his child.
"I am yours, Sakura. I have always been yours!" Gaara mutters with need, as if that is answer enough to all her questions.
And it is, because without saying more Sakura understands what Gaara conveys. She has learned to understand how this broken man ticks where he would allow no other the time to learn. He is hers, and he would give whatever she asks of him. Sakura blushes at the idea of her and Gaara, of her world. Would he have seen her this way had she just attempted to get to know him better? Is the Kazekage of her world this passionate?
'Why wonder?' her mind tells her. 'Experience it.'
How broken is she, that she finds comfort in thoughts like that now. How broken is she, that she even wonders if she is just toying with the man that holds her now. How broken is she, that she wants to experience a different kind of love before her time comes.
"Come closer to me," she tells Gaara suddenly; her hands reaching for his face this time.
Gaara quickly complies; uncertain at what she will do with him but allowing his eyes to meet Sakura's own as she cradles his face into her palms. He stares into her face, and his thoughts go numb as her eyes convey new emotion in his direction. The look is almost recognizable. Women have looked at him this way before, but Sakura's bewitching eyes have him under an entirely different spell; one he has never been enchanted with before, and one that makes even him tremble nervously under her touch.
Gaara should warn her, when he spots her lick and purse her lips in his direction; she brings danger onto herself by exciting him. Yet also, he is suddenly frightened by the strong, fragile woman that holds him; scared that she holds so much power over him; it's a feeling he experiences in the moment now that will be forgotten in the next. And this is why, at a young age, his mind and heart warned him to protect himself against passion and affection. Gaara realizes then just how dangerous Sakura is to him; and recognizes her as someone who could be his downfall. His absolute demise as his heart yearns for her despite the risks.
The way her lips are reaching for him now, even though his mind and hearing goes blank, has him speaking without thought.
"Whatever you want," he chants, encouraging her lips to come closer. "Yours. Whichever way you want me, I am yours. Have me."
Sakura brings her face close to Gaara's and both their breath is frozen when Sakura closes her eyes and brings her lips closer to Gaara's own. Gaara's eyes grow desperate watching her move so teasingly slow.
"Just let me love you," he begs, pleas in such a fragile, spooked whisper.
Gaara realizes what is to come, and a part of him is frightened for so many reasons. Joyous, primitive desire makes his heart beat everyday for the woman who holds him in her hands. There is desire in him to break and mold her into loving him, yet, he knows deep down it is her who could shatter him so easily. She would also be the only one willing to pick back up every piece of him.
She is so dangerous and beautiful.
That worry, all worries in his mind, is forgotten when Sakura presses her soft, lips against his. Her kiss is gentle, fresh, but it is enough to freeze Gaara in his place, letting them both savor the moment as time seems to freeze; just for the two of them. Finally the clock is kind to them. There is a stillness in the air, a calmness in the room, as the two intertwine in a new, delicate way. It's like a silent hum sings and harmonizes in their ears despite the silence on the beautiful night. In the moment, it really is just the two of them and only about the two of them; and their hearts agree and instantly sync.
Oh, how she has teased him with this kiss for so long. Longer than she would be willing to admit were the redhead to speak his thoughts. When Gaara watched Sakura's lips press against Kankruo's cheek, all those years ago, he recognized his own burning jealousy then.
"It's an indirect kiss," she teased him later when they shared a coffee once in Konoha. "Still, you're my first kiss." All innocent acts on Sakura's end, but they are tied to strong emotions that help Gaara to hold on to those moments in memory. Affections and feelings that only grew along with him over the years. Gaara almost wants to boldly curse Sakura for her enticing torment but how can he when she blesses him tonight with the most she ever has; her own enrapturing kiss.
'Sakura…' Gaara purrs in his mind.
Gaara is quick to clasp his hand over Sakura's own that holds his face. It is silent way of begging her not to retreat, that he wishes to luxuriate in this moment. Lucky for him, Sakura has no desire to back away from him now.
'She is sweet,' Gaara sings in his mind. He knew she would be. From his first, quick peck of her in the shower all his senses told him she would be. 'Her blood probably tastes like honey…'
There is a new wetness in Sakura's eyes as a wave of tingles begin forming at where their lips meet raining down from her neck to her chest before the sensation rests and builds in her stomach. Sakura cradles Gaara's face more when she feels his hand on hers. It's a reassurance that he is enjoying what is really her, first, curious kiss.
'Our first kiss…' she thinks in her mind as does Gaara.
The act feels so intimate, so much more so than any other small pecks they have shared then. Sakura is instantly hooked. A newfound adrenaline courses through her as she feels Gaara slightly tremble to her touch and taste. There is a new power she is unleashing, seduction; and what an ego boost to feel she is doing the job right on the first try. Could her love really fall a powerful and intelligent man like Gaara?
As if to answer her own question, Gaara pulls away hastily from the kiss. The young man acts pained, and he groans and strains to pull his face away from Sakura. The roseate relaxes her hands and weight onto his body again. She looks at him dreamily, dozily, her mind mystified from the kiss still. She has no regrets in her heart.
It's in an instant. The second their gaze locks on the other. Suddenly, Sakura's heart is swelling bigger. The serotonin, dopamine, oxy, every chemical that eases her mind and gives pleasure is suddenly released from her mind into her body. It's a new high, and a natural high she has been needing since first meeting older Gaara. Euphoria and peace sweep her thoughts for the first time in such a long, long time.
'Oh,' Sakura thinks as she watches Gaara's gaze hide away from her. 'I really like this.'
In the instant too, there is a newfound connection in the redhead. A new bond between the pair has ignited, a connection that Sakura knows would be so much more hard to sever now should she choose to. There is a better sense of understanding, and shared emotions, between them now. Something Sakura can also recognize as being dangerous if she lets those feelings grow.
'Could I really love him?' she wonders in her mind before another voice answers for her. 'You already do.'
Sakura wants to reach for Gaara's lips again. She wants the high and rush to continue and grow, and if she feels this way she knows damn well Gaara feels even more elated than her. Yet, his eyes are timid and shy, and it feeds on Sakura's newfound, power high. He had a right to be worried earlier, but tonight...
"Isn't this what you wanted?" Sakura whispers, pressing her body closer to Gaara's now. "Don't be shy."
Despite her assertiveness, Gaara restrains her wrists and stops Sakura from pressing her body fully on him. She looks up at him in wonder, eyes shining and growing when she spots his nervous, glowing gaze bashfully shying away from her look. He holds her back but he trembles with anticipation.
"You made me wait years for you, for this, but could not wait just one more night?" he mumbles so sheepishly, making Sakura's heart race more. "This might be too much tonight. Do not...You are too beautful."
She takes a step in an attempt to bring their chests together. Her face looks up at him, a smile spreading from ear to ear as she tries to spot the blush she knows Gaara has. In doing so, she feels the growing desire Gaara has for her in his loose pants. Gaara hisses at her feel, his eyes diffident when Sakura's grin grows. It's odd, but if anyone is acting differently or in effect by the moon's energy, then it is Sakura who visibly shows it now. She giggles lightly, a light flirtatious laughter Gaara has never heard from Sakura. The noise makes him to go wide eyed and he turns to watch her. It is only now he can relish somewhat on Sakura's reaction to their kiss. His heart grows more knowing she is enjoying his actual presence than despising him.
The young woman uses his shock as an opportunity to pull her hands out from his wrists and again she cradles Gaara's face to look at her.
"I don't want to stop though," her lips admit before reaching for Gaara's. "I want to do it again."
And how can he resist her then? He has promised her anything she wants, and how can he refuse her him? The audacity of even thinking that he would never give himself up to her when she asked is just mind-boggling. Instead of stopping her, like his mind is trying to tell him, he allows his neck to be wrapped into her hands. His glowing eyes stare at her as if he is suddenly bewitched and instantly this astute man is at a lost, and he melts like putty to Sakura's touch. He will not fight.
"Okay," he agrees absentmindedly as if drunk off of her.
Gaara nudges his head in her direction as Sakura reaches for his lips with a proud smile. Her pink buds are on his again and the two interestingly watch the other dreamily. The other admiring in their mind just how beautiful, and hypnotizing the other's eyes are. Eventually, as Sakura presses her lips harder against Gaara, it is him who purrs in delight and closes his eyes to relish in the moment. The roseate follows suit and shuts her eyes. Letting her body grow warm from the feel of another person desiring her. She can't help but smile through the kiss, ticklish somewhat as Gaara's fingers begin to gently brush the bare skin of her shoulders. She ends the kiss with a small chuckle as Gaara's fingers venture more around her neck and shoulders.
"I'm not use to being touched like this," she explains the reasoning behind her small laughs and slight shivers.
Oh, but how Gaara already knows this tidbit and has been keeping that information in the back of his mind. He knows exactly how new Sakura is to all this when she told him about her zero sexual experiences yesterday. He remembers her whispers from the past when she explained she was waiting. It waters that selfish plant growing inside of him. He has wanted to see his blossom at her most vulnerable and to bless her, for many years, in one of the most pleasurable ways he can. And now it finally feels like that fantasy is just laid out all before him and how could it be any better for him than knowing he will be Sakura's first?
'And only…' his heart greedily beats into him. 'I will be the only one to see My Blossom bloom.'
That avarice seed seems to only grow the more he feels Sakura's skin on his and listens to her sound happy for the first time in a very long, long time. For so long has he heard only her tears, and angry yells that he had almost forgotten the sound of her genuine laughter completely. Best of all, he is the reason she smiles again. Her smile and genuine happiness is just as he remembers it was years ago.
Oh, his heart could just burst.
Yet, on a dangerous night like this, his emotions are growing erratic, impatient, and hungrier for the woman who cradles him gently.
"You smell good, Sakura," Gaara growls quietly.
Gaara clasps his palms to take a hold of each side of Sakura's scalp and hair. A strong desire to control the roseate and the situation suddenly unleashes in Gaara's mind. A primal urge in him, archaic desire, that centers on the young woman in his hands.
Meanwhile, Sakura moans lightly at the small tug Gaara does to her scalp. He knows just the right way to make her melt at the moment so she allows him to mold her by arching her head and neck back. She moans in pleasure, oblivious to Gaara's changing demeanor.
The redhead stares lovingly at the woman who cranes her head back to relax against his palms. Gaara holds her possessively as she shows off her beckoning neck to him. He doesn't, nor can he, stop himself from burying his face and nose into the crook of Sakura's neck. He inhales her scent deeply while she giggles and squirms at the sensation of his breath and hot skin so close against her.
"You smell like your namesake, Sakura," he huffs into her neck before gently kissing the same spot. "Sweet cherries, and honey from a powerful floret."
"Ah," Sakura murmurs to such a praise. "Is that really how I smell?"
Her eyes water while staring above her. Pleasure drives her mind to that euphoric high, and though she not admit it loudly; she is beyond turned on right now with the way Gaara holds onto her, kisses her, and worships her. And while the ride is a joyous one that Sakura thinks she is ready to experience over and over again, she is not realizing the actual danger that Gaara is beginning to lose himself in. A clouded mind with desire leading an overpowering body; Gaara is almost like the moon's puppet. Again, he litters her neck with kisses and inhales her scent. In turn, Sakura giggles at her blissful elation; a dangerous high that is naive, pure love.
Light laughter fills the room. Sakura's small cries make the aura around her feel like a small, gentle glow. A soft light envelops her in a room full of so much darkness. To anyone who could see, especially to Gaara right now, Sakura's glow is the most beautiful thing to stumble upon. All of him wants her now, as he always has. But that includes even the darkness that makes him who he is tonight. The shadow that is a huge part of his soul, this one that stirs awake during the full moon, wants to envelop Sakura's warm light. To make her all of his is just too irresistible a thought right now.
"Yes," Gaara growls, before dragging his tongue up the crook of her neck. "Especially your blood."
From his words does Sakura's dream start to fade. Her smile slowly falls to a concerned frown. She blinks rapidly at his choice words.
"Blood?" she asks him as she suddenly feels his kisses more rough and intrusive on her.
An answer never comes, instead Gaara groans loudly, painfully, like a hurt animal into Sakura's neck. She squirms against his hold as suddenly his lips on her skin become a wet, tongue tasting her skin. She can feel a dark shift in Gaara suddenly and in the grip of his hands does Sakura's mind slightly panic once she remembers…
'The full moon.'
The child's fascination of blood resurfaces in her mind. She recalls the night she took care of him during a full moon.
'He couldn't possibly…'
Gaara groans loudly again, his pelvis crushing against Sakura hard in an attempt to show her even though he doesn't shy away from snarling it into her ear-
"I want to taste more of you," Gaara speaks, urgently. "I want to know every part of you, inside and out."
His kisses return roughly on her neck. Given any other night, perhaps Sakura would relish on this untamed desire Gaara has for her as he forcibly pushes himself against her and buries his face deep into her neck and hair. But tonight, suddenly these actions have Sakura's mind and heart speaking in unison to her.
'Run!'
Danger is hitting her senses, and the odd sense of darkness and evil within the man is suddenly showing. Sakura squirms when Gaara begins tracing his claws after he kisses onto her neck.
"I want more of you," Gaara admits to her a dark desire that slips out of him as he begins to crack.
"Don't," Sakura gulps and tries to wriggle from his grip as he tightens his hold. "You're scaring me."
Emerald eyes widen when she hears the dark chuckle echo into the sand-filled cage of a room. That deep voice returns, and Gaara's gaze is glowing once more at the sight of her. His eyes are no longer the shy, timid man she awoke earlier.
'Run!'
"Hush, My Blossom," Gaara purrs before his teeth drag across the skin of her neck. "I only want a little taste. The pain is fleeting. I will be as gentle as I can be."
Sakura cries to Gaara's words, fear has returned and she hopes her small wail will be enough to awaken Gaara back to his senses. Yet, his eyes only glow more to Sakura's anguished face. Her fear is only heightened as Gaara uses an unknown element against her. She is inexperienced with sex unlike him, and she panics at the thought of something so dark, and twisted being fetishize by the redhead.
'Run!'
Gaara drags his tongue once more up Sakura's neck as he holds her hair. He tongue stops at the crook up her neck, where, he gently places a warm kiss against her skin, making the roseate shiver.
"You know I would never hurt you," Gaara whispers to Sakura; his gaze staring at the small spot on her neck that he had just kissed.
There is a silent, stillness suddenly as Sakura waits on Gaara's next move. Seconds drag on her bated breath as her heart still beats into her to run fast and far. Suddenly, a sharp pain spasms across Sakura's neck. The roseate cries out loudly when the spot Gaara had kissed before stings from an unknown source.
"Ah!" Gaara chimes excitedly with a spreading, mad smile while attempting to feign concern in his words. "I am sorry. I am so sorry!" Gaara coos into Sakura's ear as his eyes stare longingly at Sakura's neck. "It was just my sand. It is only a scratch."
Gaara crushes his lips against Sakura's cheek seeking her forgiveness. There is water from pain in the young woman's eyes even while hearing Gaara's apologies and explanation. She sniffles when the redhead places light kisses against the side of her eye in an attempt to catch any tears that may fall.
"Forgive me," he speaks through his kisses. "I just cannot resist any part of you, but it pains me to hear you cry out like that."
Sakura, meanwhile, has a frantic heart and frightened eyes now searching for an escape before Gaara leans in to whisper hoarsely into her ear.
"Your blood is so crimson, so beautiful."
'Run!'
"It's like a rare, beauteous, ruby is melting down your neck!" Gaara praises Sakura with glee shining up his eyes.
Sakura struggles against Gaara's hold once more once his lips part and begin to move towards Sakura's cut.
"Stop it," Sakura hisses at Gaara before his tongue can taste her. "This isn't what I want."
"It is not something I can help…" Gaara confesses in a playful tone. "Especially when it comes to you."
Beautiful, praising words spill forth from Gaara, but all Sakura hears is disgusting, selfish drivel. Suddenly, the woman who hurt both Sakura and Gaara comes into her mind.
"Under the glowing moon fear is his only warning. Lock your doors, Child. His hunger is not far away."
Fear inducing, spew, Sakura thought of it then. Yet now, as the roseate struggles against Gaara's hold, watching his eyes glow brighter looking down at her struggle, with sand and shadow circling all around her, and her own warm, blood dripping from her neck with every fast beat of her heart, she understands Annaisha's warning completely.
Gaara frightens her like this and she is realizing now this may be her most costly mistake yet.
'Run!'
"Let me go!" Sakura cries hysterically and attempts to pull hard against Gaara's tight hold.
Sakura's struggles are desperate, but Gaara's stance is solid. He only watches her ammusingly try to break free as she panics against his hold. It really is like a lamb caught by the wolf who enjoys playing with his food first. A loud, arrogant laugh escapes Gaara, and he chortles all the while Sakura attempts to untangle his fingers out of her hair.
"Let me show you every side of me, Sakura," Gaara teases the roseate. "Every side of me you are going to love."
'Run!'
As Gaara continues to watch Sakura struggle, in fear; her attempts at breaking free despite, what seems to him, a tired spirit, his cocky smirk slowly sours into an irritated scowl. He despises her repulse of him. This time, he speaks out his inner thoughts and emotional turmoils Sakura puts him in.
"It is only blood…" he murmurs.
His words are drowned out by Sakura's struggles and flight response. She pays Gaara no notice or mind at that moment. Frustration at being misunderstood, by the person you love most, Gaara can't help but grow angry at the sight. She accepted him and his mistakes so much more easily as a child. At this point he should just…
"Am I truly that frightening to you?!" Gaara cries out angrily to Sakura. "Are you so repulsed by me that this is how you want to act after kissing me?!"
His voice is the loudest Sakura has ever heard. It shakes her to her very core. The roseate can easily spot an angry man growing unhinged with rage, and it's frightening to think the one she sees now has her entirely in his grip. Can he not understand her situation? Of course she would be frightened into running away from this. Can he not accept his wrongdoing, sympathize with her fear now and just let her go?
'Run!'
Her struggles subside for the moment. Gaara's fingers hold Sakura's hair, but she keeps her eyes down and away from Gaara's own. At that moment she feels the blood on her neck form a new trail down her skin. The cut still stings, the blood is warm, and Sakura knows she is still bleeding fresh when she hears Gaara smell the air before sighing heavily the next in what sounds like some sort defeat.
"I do not think I can wait on you any longer..." Gaara confesses darkly.
Sakura's eyes widen in horror. She knows exactly what sickly desire Gaara implies with his words. She knows he won't move next until she answers him, but as his claws grip her pink locks harder she knows he will also not be letting her leave tonight.
'Run!'
How horrific, Sakura realizes. How has he become like this with her? Who is to blame for the beast holding onto her telling her such a revolting want? Can she really blame a full moon for this? Was everyone in Suna who warned her about Gaara actually right? Was this the horror they all spoke of? Had they been right all along shunning a child while she was actually the wrong one for embracing Gaara? Through Sakura's desperation and frustration at the moment, do rightful, hurtful words spill next from Sakura's mouth.
She makes a hurtful claim that many others before have. Sakura dare utters a name that destroyed a child's heart in the past and drove him to heartbreaking isolation; a cry she promised with a loving smile to never say to the man in front of her fifteen years ago.
"Monster!" Sakura screams with annoyed desperation. "You're nothing but some sick freak!"
Sakura understands her error immediately when a silent hum feels the entire room. Though she cannot hear it, she can sense the sand around the room suddenly shifting. It's almost as if it retreats from the walls from Sakura's own words. Silently, hurriedly, the grains fall behind Gaara mimicking an attempt to hide from the dark aura that now makes the room feel heavy. Sakura remains frozen in silence, waiting for a noise or movement to come. It's only when she realizes the grip in her hair is loosened does she begin to slowly raise to head up and remove herself from Gaara's hold. Through her disheveled hair does she catch sight of Gaara's frozen, shocked stance staring back at her in horror.
Sakura's eyes widen when that agonizing hurt that drops his jaw and gaze is suddenly so recognizable on Gaara's face, even in the dark. His sad eyes are still the same in her heart from when she watched him struggle with the same insult years ago.
"You think me as a…?" he doesn't even finish his question as his voice breaks with a dry sob.
The second that sob is choked back down is the same moment rage flashes across Gaara's eyes in a yellow glow and it is all directed towards Sakura. What turmoil Sakura has brought upon a heart so bent on loving her and desperate to be loved by her. Sakura would relate were it not for the feeling of dread now crashing down on her like a heavy, strong wave that Gaara stands behind. Of all the things to say, of all the names to give Gaara, she whispered a word she should have known would hurt the redhead's already fragile, broken heart. If there is the child she helped to take care of still inside of Gaara, he is lost to the burning anger that is lighting up his eyes dangerously now.
'Run,' her mind repeats.
That idea sounds best once Gaara grounds his, sharp teeth angrily in her direction and his claws fidget ravenously. A shift of his head is what makes Sakura force herself to back away from Gaara's forbidding silhouette. The sand behind him continues to ripple in anticipation.
"I'm sorry," Sakura quickly relents.
Yet, his appearance has her staggering backwards when her apology doesn't calm him down. He takes a small movement towards Sakura and his looming silence only makes her speak up again.
"I didn't mean what I said," she tries again. "I-"
"You want me to be a monster that bad, Sakura?!" Gaara cuts her off and questions with a deep, dangerous voice. "Are you that interested in provoking that side of me? Tonight?!"
Sakura begins backing up in small steps when Gaara moves his foot towards her.
"No!" Sakura cries out. "The word just slipped out. I was scared..."
Her apologies and excuses seem to fall on deaf ears as sand begins covering the floor once more. The grains slither fast, dangerous, and have a dark aura around it mimicking the one Gaara is now sending off of him.
"Maybe you should be," he suddenly boasts like a maddingly hungry. "Scared of me!"
His eyes flash and widen when he tells her she should be frightened by him.
"Maybe I should show you what everyone has been warning you about," Gaara begins to cackle darkly. "Maybe my father had been right about me this whole time!"
Sakura jumps on her spot when Gaara slams a fist of his against his backboard of his bed. Sakura draws in a breath, shocked by his strength alone with the frame wood cracks and breaks. Sakura recognizes that he used his strength alone, not his sand to destroy the bed.
'Even with his wound. He is capable of that…' she thinks with heavy worry.
He is a looming beast in comparison to her weak state now. She doesn't even bother making an attempt to use her chakra. From his distant, glowing eyes, to his tense stance approaching her, slowly and menacingly, does Sakura recognize that her words are not speaking or getting through to him. The consequences to her actions are now in the hands of Gaara and his decisions, and Sakura fears now what his mind is justifying as his heart aches rage towards her.
Gaara suddenly takes another step towards Sakura and slowly he lifts his arm up to reach and nab her. His claw stretches to make claim of her in an eerily slow way, as if Gaara depends on the idea that Sakura is too frightened to move. Which looks that way as she shivers and stares at Gaara stretching for her. Behind him his sand follows closely, staying by his heel's side.
'Run!'
She is truly cornered, and where that advice from so many has gone ignored, Sakura realizes that it may be her only option now as Gaara's eyes shine something maddening and desiring while looking towards her. In the dark, his silhouette appears almost something feral. His teeth are like fangs, his nails are like claws, his eyes shine like the moon, the his grunts and growls are like a predators.
Sakura begins to back up slowly, her eyes locked on Gaara's own as he approaches, and she reaches behind her until she feels the knob to the door leading out into the hallway.
Gaara spots her hand and stifles his steps and sand for a moment.
"What?" he questions Sakura with a scowl but an amused tone. "You know better than that. Did others not warn you to-"
Sakura turns the knob and immediately backs into the door behind her to open it. The frame opens and the roseate spills out into the hallway in a desperate manner before Gaara can even finish his sentence. Yet, as Sakura takes in that first, deep breath before beginning her sprint, she can hear Gaara screaming, crying, calling out to her in bellowing, irked, fury.
"Do not run away from me again, Sakura-aaa!"
Sakura's heart aches for a moment to Gaara's loud, upset, anguished plea. She feels as though she is leaving a child behind who is calling and reaching out for her. Still. Behind his call is a dark passion directed entirely towards devouring her. His desire of her tonight is too much for her to handle and comprehend when he bares his fangs and begs for her blood. She swallows hard at the thought at how far she allowed herself to do back there. She is also trying to run away from that frightening side of her that was urging her to kiss Gaara back.
Sakura races down the stairs, ignoring the destruction she can hear Gaara beginning behind her. She doesn't know if he is ripping his room apart, crying out his frustration as he breaks everything his claw can reach then. Or, if the loudness that escapes him now comes from behind her as he gives chase. She can only focus on herself, and she does so by running out of the cramped house and outside into the open night.
The moon shines down brightly on Sakura as her bare feet meet with the cool dirt of the island. There is an odd, tranquil serenity around the empty land Sakura would recognize were it not for the hungry beast bent on snatching her up for his meal now. Under the moon's glow, the creatures in the jungle choose to be silent. In turn, that makes Sakura stand out all the more. In her mind now is all the echoes of the past, from strangers, to villagers, from Annaisha to even Kankuro as a young boy, and from Rasa the first night Sakura and Gaara shared together in that playroom; they speak in Sakura's mind a warning she still hasn't forgotten.
"Do not run from him. Ever. If you run, he will chase you."
And as Sakura makes a dash towards the lush jungle, its dark void inviting the roseate to attempt to hide within, it's Gaara himself who adds on to the very warning people place against him.
"I will catch you, Sakura!" his roar echoes from the home and all the way into the darkness of the jungle Sakura begins to hide herself in.
It's a warning that Sakura has no option but to forsake. What other choice does she have? Just to let Gaara overpower her and do as he please? She understands her mistake in drawing up sexual tension when everyone warned her to stay away tonight, but the moment shared hadn't been ruined by her. It was Gaara who kept twisting his dark love onto her. She knows though this qualm better left spoken tomorrow when the sun is high in the sky instead of the moon.
Sakura has to be fast. She has to be stealthy, and she has to mask anything that would give her away to the redhead. The vast, dark jungle is her best option, and she continues to race past vegetation and giant, thick leaves even when her body begins to beg her to stop for rest. Can she really outsmart the young man without her chakra?
The tension in the air feels unbearably evil, weighty, and chokes her as she quickly hides herself deeper in the black jungle. Fear of the unknown catches her heart though, and Sakura dreads how truly blind she is in the dark. Eventually her steps do have to slow but she is well aware of the danger following her. Anxiety sits on her chest heavy when she recognizes the eerie silence plaguing the fog covered ground in the jungle.
'Don't find me,' she pleads in her mind.
...Even when there is doubt suddenly that he won't.
She reaches for flowers from bushes, rubbing the petals and their scent all over the cut on her neck in an attempt to hide her smelling blood. She is slightly bewildered at even her own thought that Gaara can smell her out. The deeper into the jungle Sakura goes, the more she also realizes how out of her element she really is whereas darkness is everything about Gaara. He is powerful enough to sense her, to see her, to follow her, and all of that makes Sakura heart pick up in fear. It's beginning to dawn on her that this situation is not what if Gaara finds her, but instead when will he find her? Her breathing picks up when small sounds begin to tickle at her ear. Is Gaara sinister enough to toy with her, she wonders. Will he let Sakura loose herself in the empty, dark jungle all night just for his amusement? Sakura stills herself as a shrill, quick cry echoes across the island before it is silenced instantly.
'Run…' her mind is telling her again.
She is better off staying on the move until she can find a place to hide or figure out a new plan. Sakura groans when the uneven ground begins to twist her foot at times into a stumble. In the dark, her eyes do not catch the branches that scratch at her skin and attempt to snatch her robe. She holds onto her garment now as the sash for the short, silk garment was lost long ago. Her bare feet at times sink into the puddles or deep mud, causing her to slow her pace. Despite this, her legs pick back up and she continues, and nothing else slows her down until, minutes later, a voice above her suddenly speaks.
"Sakura-chan," he calls quietly.
The roseate immediately gasps but does not slow her steps. The being above keeps up with her easy pace as the two race away. Sakura shakes her head in despair when she recognizes his voice too easily. He cannot be near her now.
'Gaara absolutely cannot find him,' she morbidly thinks of what outcome would ensue.
"Keep running straight," Naruto tells her quickly and quietly. "It will lead you out and you can follow the shore to the other end of the island. I'll distract him for you."
Sakura shakes her head in disagreement. Gaara absolutely cannot catch Naruto by any means. Especially for her sake. At least if Gaara catches her she still has a means to reason with him.
"Don't," Sakura tells him instead while shaking her head. "Don't use your chakra. You can't let him know you're here. He might kill you!"
This whole mess had started just for him and damn him if he thinks he can forsake it all now. She doesn't need Naruto to sacrifice himself for a foolish word she stupidly whispered. She dare not let her silly friend fall tonight because she failed to teach Gaara how to keep his emotions in check.
"Don't stop. Keep running," Naruto tells her instead before leaping higher back up into the trees and disappearing.
A moment later, she hears a shrill cry out some distance away. The animal's dying cry ricochets loudly without any other sound to drown it out. The young woman can only speculate if that was Naruto's distraction or if something else has come into Gaara's hungry claws.
Sakura steadies her breath, her eyes frantic as she tries to come to terms with what Naruto tells her versus her conscious to save the blonde from Gaara. Her options are few and not at all what she desires. There is the threat of Naruto now being caught. There is also the possibility of Gaara falling if he and Naruto clash. Both losses tug at her heart in despair. Yet also, another idea comes to her mind, one that would save both young men from Sakura's rashness tonight.
But the thought is an incredibly frightening one, for she has no idea what will happen next. She understands she may lose control in the next few minutes should she decide to do what her mind is telling her to. The very thought, of all the possibilities that may come next, make Sakura swallow hard and tremble lightly in her sprint.
What should she do?
She runs. She does like Naruto asks and attempts to run through the darkness and silence of the night. Somewhere in the dark lurks a monster just waiting to snatch her up and that should be frightening enough to keep her heart beating and legs racing.
But she knows instead what she must do.
Before Naruto can become the distraction, Sakura lifts head up and cries out softly into the air. Her voice doesn't even need to be yelled, she understands his keen ears search for her breaths.
"This way," she first says. "If you can catch me..."
She continues her run, breathing in deep to speak once more. Yet, instantaneously, as if he has morphed there to her very call she can sense Gaara's approach suddenly behind her.
She offered up her hand for him to catch years and years ago. Tonight, she will tempt his attention with more.
"Then you can have me," she whispers to herself.
She can hear him growl loudly, angrily and she senses sharp claws reaching so tantalizingly and desperately for her; about to scoop her up into an embrace she will never be able to escape from. They had warned her not to run from the monster picking up his pace. Echoes once again race in Sakura's mind once a clearing out of the jungle suddenly lights up in front of her.
"Sakura!" Gaara screams, his voice cracking through the island like thunder and with an array of heavy emotions. Behind him does his sand follow while swimming though the air to keep up.
Sakura closes her eyes as her steps bring her closer to the opening; where she can hear waves crashing along with Gaara's huffs as his breaths come out closer towards her neck. In her mind, she is forsaking the idea ever again of seeing her loved ones and her old home.
Because surely her mistake tonight, this one that has a monster chasing after her love, will certainly be the end of her.
It's like Gaara's claw-like hands etch around her head without actually grabbing her. He halos her appearance with his sharp fingers even when Sakura continues to run.
Her body senses danger literally on top of her, but her mind only returns to the moment her and Gaara shared at the same beach she now runs toward.
"Sakura," he told her not long ago. "I am no longer a child."
As that sentence from Gaara hits her, it's like waterfall of his voice echoes in her mind. Not even the waves ahead of her can drown out her ever thinking thoughts.
"Let me show you, Sakura. I just want to love you."
She was not shy showing her disgust to the idea of it back then. How twisted his thoughts are, how twisted is he, Sakura can still conclude of him as he attempts to catch her like predator to prey. Yet, she, even now, when she kissed him, she is unsure what her emotions are trying to explain to her.
'Gaara loves you,' a voice in her mind keeps beating into her. 'Because you love him.' it tries to reason.
'Fine,' her heart beats in agreement, almost as if it has been defeated.
Because really, she knows if Gaara catches her now, it will feel as though she has lost.
Once Sakura races out of the jungle, and back under the moons hard, silver glow, her eyes open to stare out towards the ocean and its crashing, large waves. And she just hopes that her love has been enough-
Sakura cries out lightly when Gaara finally leaps for her and his tight hold finally sinks down on her, small waist. His nails dig deep into skin as he clutches Sakura and crashes into her. The pair trip, fall and tumble across the sandy beach.
-enough to keep even her alive tonight from him.
Sakura groans, dizzy from the hard impact her head took against the ground. The being who still holds her though is completely unaffected albeit slightly frantic, and he quickly grabs Sakura's wrist before twisting and pinning her on her back. Gaara uses Sakura's confusion to sit on top of her waist, holding her down with his weight. The redhead heaves hard, angrily while staring down at Sakura who keeps her eyes shut while she attempts to shake away the pain in her head and the breath stolen from her chest.
"Open your eyes," Gaara orders Sakura in a low tone. "Look up at the monster you help create."
Sakura's eyes widen as Gaara's words stir her mind back awake. She does as he tells her, through her own morbid curiosity, but trembles looking up at the man who holds her down with most hate-filled eyes she has ever been met with. His look alone is enough to steal her breath again in a gasp. She can see Shukaku's dark markings engraved all over Gaara's skin. In his displeased, aqua eyes, his white scleras are pitch black. This dark gaze looks down at her with a sickly, golden hue in them. Sakura can't comprehend this transformation in front of her. The bandages wrapped around his torso have ripped and loosened through the ordeals of tonight, but what Sakura sees is not a wound but healed skin. The Ichibi's healing power no doubt.
Sakura isn't even given a second to grasp the look of the person sitting on top of her before his hands tighten against her wrists harder and he brings his irked face closer to her pinned one. Her frightened gaze seems to resurface Gaara's rage from before.
"Why did you run?!" he yells at her, demanding of her, as if she is to blame for this entirely. "I told you not to run!"
Sakura is silent, unsure what to say next to quake the beast while trying to come to terms to his appearance that still spooks her. Her shocked eyes looks up into his, her gaze trembling and frightened for the uncertainty that is surely to follow. The look alone is enough to make Gaara's own gaze fall before he shakes his head in defiance. He won't let her sad eyes trick him anymore tonight.
Sakura tries to speak, "I-" she begins as her eyes stay with his.
Instantly Gaara's lips come crashing down onto hers. His eyes remain shut as Sakura's pupils widen in shock. She even cries out against his aggressive lips in protest, and against his strong hold she tries to twist and turn away from him. Her squirming only makes Gaara open his own eyes to look at her as he presses his lips deeper into hers, making sure to follow her head so as not to let her breakaway from their kiss. As a minute passes, the redhead begins to smirk against Sakura's lips when her struggles begin to slow to a stop. Most of her erratic breathing is stolen by Gaara's long kiss, and she begins to turn hot and red, before she moans in desperation for Gaara to let her loose to breathe better.
He does, his frown returning before he pulls back up to look down at Sakura's flustered face staring back at him. His kiss dissipates his outer rage, but inside does a beast still stir with gnarls. Sakura's sad eyes are now gone, her pity hidden behind by lustful desire he has pulled forth from her. His gaze won't be fooled by her dreamy stare now and his heart is strong enough to look down at her with a hard, scorn face.
"It feels like I have loved you since the day you told me about your beautiful name," Gaara confesses with an apathetic tone. "I know we are destined to one another."
Sakura is silent while she listens to Gaara speak. Is what he says possibly true, she wonders. Has her fate always been tied to end with him? Her eyes do trail and she gasps lightly when Gaara brings a knee between her legs, forcing her to spread open slightly to him. Sakura squirms again against the hold he has on her arms above her head when her short robe opens more.
"You promised to always be my side, Sakura," Gaara murmurs before his eyes trail away from Sakura's look and down to where his knee parts her. "You promised to always be my best friend."
Sakura gasps loudly when she feels Gaara's free hand begin to brush the outside of her leg. The sensation tickles her, but not in a way she would laugh or cry out in pain. It's a sensation she can't quite explain. It's both good and bad; she can't decide if she likes his touch or not. Unsure if he will hurt or cherish her.
Somewhere, deep in her breaking heart, she knows she shouldn't even be considering those options. Yet, her lonely, desperate mind continues to feel differently.
"Stop," Sakura is finally able to voice out. "I don't like this."
The roseate's eyes widen in horror when Gaara's response is merely silence. Instead of answering her he continues to brush Sakura's legs while staring down at the bare skin of her legs. Legs that lead up to the short hem of her robe that barely covers her most sacred of spots. She sees no amusement in his face.
"You should not have run from me," he suddenly explains, angrily, before his hand grips Sakura's thigh and he squeezes her flesh hard. His thumb sinks deep into her inner thigh muscle and digs hard into her bone.
Sakura cries out, but despite her wails calling out into a moonlit night, Gaara does not let his hold up. Nor does any being heed to her call, Sakura instead endures until she is able to subside herself before her wincing eyes try to meet with Gaara's. His glowing gaze remains on her exposed flesh.
'He won't meet my gaze,' Sakura thinks.
Desire is still strong though, and Gaara's look may only choose her flesh now just because it is so temptingly close within his reach now. Eyes on the prize; his blossom.
"You think after losing you for fifteen years, and you finally coming back to me, that I would ever let you just run away?" Gaara asks in a drawl. "This easily?"
His eyes finally look up at Sakura, and her own gaze widens as his stare is so intense and resolved looking at her. For a moment, her heart flutters under his look, from his passionate words, and maybe even from his fingers slowly, gently brushing up her inner thigh.
"Why is it you always want to leave me…" his voice breaks slightly. "Just when you make everything better, you run and and ruin it."
Gaara stops his fingers just as they venture past her black, robe and stop just before the fabric of her underpants. His cheeks even heat up looking at Sakura's blush spread across her face when she feels his fingers on her. He tries not to lose himself at the feel of how warm Sakura's skin is where his fingers rest. His mind only refocuses when the woman is able to find her voice.
"Gaara," she attempts to call to him, to break his mind free from the moon's impulse and his own angry, sexual drive for her. "This isn't how I want it to be."
Usually her voice works. Usually her gentle whispers, concerned eyes, and love-fueled heart moves Gaara to do Sakura's bidding. A loyal pup that was once inside of Gaara has turned into a hungry wolf for the roseate he pins under him. Sakura's eyes widen in horror when his stare is long and his voice is silent to her begs and whimpers. His look makes Sakura tremble and heart shake in worry.
'He's not listening to me…' she dreadfully thinks.
A dire consequence indeed. Her biggest ally in this world, her best friend, isn't listening to her voice of reason anymore. What more can she do? What all will Gaara take from her tonight? Her life included? It's like the hand that pins Sakura's wrists back suddenly burn. So, too, does the seal on her back feel as if its branding itself deeper into her back. All reminders of how helpless Sakura is in this situation. And even though Gaara may not understand Sakura's physical weakness from the seal, he takes advantage of it while trying to dominate her mentally now.
Gaara brings his face close to Sakura's. His gaze is drawn to the close proximity of her lips before his gaze locks on hers. He dare not miss her expression for what he will do next, and he isn't disappointed when Sakura's eyes widen and she gasps once Gaara begins rubbing her gently though her underpants. Sakura attempts to squirm against his touch, but blushes when the biggest burn she has felt tonight comes from the redhead's fingers sliding up and down her fabric.
She is mad at herself when she can sense Gaara's arrogant smile spreading across his face as a hard blush paints her cheeks red. Her body betrays her when instead of voicing out her distaste, she is quiet and focusing on the way Gaara fingers caress her in a whole new experience for her.
"Then you should not have ran from me," Gaara murmurs to her, and as if to exemplify his meaning even more, he digs his hips against Sakura's body, his own, swelling desire digging hard against her. "...it only makes me more excited to hunt you down."
Sakura gasps against Gaara's boldness, and the redhead's eyes widen excitedly at Sakura's reaction to what should be newfound pleasure for her. As soon as her lazy eyes are back on his he presses his lips roughly against her lips. He forces his tongue into her mouth, savoring her all the more in an attempt to quench his greedy desire of her. He drags his tongue out slowly from her mouth, his smirk and eyes growing as they remain on Sakura's shocked look, before speaking to her again.
"Relax," he tells her.
Before she can process anything she has told him, Sakura's eyes widen when she feels Gaara's fingers slide pass the fabric of her underwear. Her breath is stolen when Gaara's digits intrude, and begin sliding up and down the folds of her hot flesh. She looks down at where Gaara is rubbing her under her robe, and her mind scrambles at the sensation. The pleasure she is experiencing now is also resurfacing that euphoric high she felt earlier with Gaara during their kiss in the room.
'With Gaara?' her mind tries to wrap around this new pleasure.
As her eyes pick up to look at his gaze she can see his eyes are entirely set on her and her expression. He too looks as if he is loosing himself just to mere touch of Sakura's bare flesh while also curiously watching her reaction to his touching. How can he get this so worked up over her, she wonders. It's complimenting, it makes her heart race, and mind wonder with thoughts of the redhead. He even sighs heavily, pleased with her, when a small moan of uncertainty and bliss shakes in her throat.
"Sakura," Gaara's voice breaks as his fingers continue to explore her folds. "You are so wet."
It's Gaara who blushes hard this time around, despite his dominant nature right now, and he explains why this is with his next words.
"I bet you feel amazing inside."
There is no warning, Gaara instantly slides a finger inside of Sakura at his words. His eyes are wide, ecstatic, heart excitedly racing, and his smile is joyous watching Sakura's reaction. The rosette cries out from the unexpected intrusion. Her head flies back instantly, hair falling back onto the sand, and she hollers out in a new, raw way she has never expected Gaara to get out of her. She shuts her eyes tight when she can feel Gaara's finger exploring her insides, stretching and exploring inside of her, before he begins pumping his finger in and out of her slowly. All the while, his eyes never stray from watching her expression, and he even laughs darkly, triumphantly, at Sakura's lame squirming to break away.
"You are so warm inside, Sakura," Gaara praises her obsessively. "You are clinging on to my finger so tight. You must love it too…"
Gaara's words begin to come out drunkenly from his mouth. He romanticizes this situation Sakura has no control over, and she keeps her eyes shut so as to hide away from Gaara's stare. She isn't sure if what he says is true or not. Is her body really responding because it's him?
'It doesn't hurt that bad,' she thinks to herself, her squirming growing less and less.
She knows she hates the situation. Knows that this position entirely is so, so wrong… Hell, Gaara may even kill her after all of this just from running away from him. She still doesn't understand where his mindset is. Why does danger with him somehow always lead to these sexual situations?
'You love him,' her mind keeps telling her.
But this isn't love, her heart will argue back, and always a battle between love and logic ensues. And Sakura has grown worn, tired, broken from it all. Even more broken now with Gaara's finger delicately pumping back and forth into her while worshiping her. She can feel the wetness sliding down onto her thigh now, and she can sense Gaara growing hungrier and hungrier sitting, watching, feeling her.
"Whether you do or not..." Gaara suddenly breaks the silence. "You have no right to complain now."
As he speaks, Sakura opens her eyes back to look at him. His gaze is away from hers, staring once again where Sakura's legs spread and his finger disappears into. Her eyes widen in horror when Gaara pulls both his hands back and away from Sakura. His weight still pins her down, but his fingers find the opening to her robe. Sakura's skin is tinted red with heat, and Gaara's eyes stare hungrily at the bare flesh of her stomach that teasingly shows through the slit.
"I have told you countless times to let me love you," Gaara continues to tell her as his fingers reach down to touch her stomach.
Sakura murmurs and shivers when Gaara's fingers slowly trail up her skin. He stops short of cupping one of her breasts; freezing his touch Gaara looks back up at Sakura's face. Her frightened eyes do not sway his frown.
"Please…" Sakura finds her voice, unsure what she is pleading for.
Yet, Gaara's face goes unmoved. Despite her call, he has given her countless of chances. He gives her one hard stare before sighing and pulling his hands off of her. Sakura breathes in with relief one second only to watch in horror as Gaara's hands begin working at the strings of his pants the next. The direction this is heading is evident.
"If this is only time I can have you then let me pour all of my love into you tonight," he tells her darkly, his temperament never swaying even when Sakura emits horror from his words.
"Stop," she tells him in such a hushed, shocked tone while shaking her head.
She doesn't try to reason with him any longer with her logic and feelings. Instead, she tries to make him understand in the same light he keeps painting her in
"If it's all of your feelings and emotions that you have for me, this one time, then you will break me. Your love will break me tonight," she confesses.
And she is absolutely right, the redhead will not contest what she says. His heart only swells more at the knowledge that Sakura can recognize that desire in him; understand that his feelings are like an endless ocean that would all come crashing down on her in one giant, deadly wave if he is only given this one moment. It's as if her understanding of him is an excuse enough for his bizarre actions. Excitement stirs again and he stops undressing himself to bring his face close to Sakura's. Radiating, mad, famished eyes quake her stunned own as he smiles in a way that would cross fear onto others seeing him.
"I will mess you up!" he speaks his promise then, as if it's a longing he shares that he mistakes Sakura to have for him as well.
What a freakish, twisted, love she has been thrown into, and Sakura's lip quivers back at Gaara's strong, berserk stare. She needs to show him gentleness once again...
'Fine,' her heart agrees once more.
She will be the teacher over and over again if she must. If it has to be her, if this her fate until her death, if this is the only kind of love she will be given in this lifetime then she learn to embrace what she can stomach. What other choice does she have? Him raping her and shaping it into his definition of love?
No.
She understood what love he wanted and needed when he was a child, and she was able to give him that. She understands now what love he desires and needs as a man. If Gaara wants it taught to him again then fine, so be it, but Sakura knows what he does right now will lead him far astray from any reforming path; forcing himself onto her with a promise of breaking her cannot be his last resolve with her.
'He needs to know what love is again,' she thinks.
He was right. They are destined to one another. Sakura steadies her eyes and braces them as she speaks to him.
"I love you," she tells him, sternly.
Because it isn't the first time she has told him this, and time willing if she convinces him, she knows this won't be the last. She doesn't need to lace her words with too much emotion. Still, his eyes widen and Gaara freezes as if she has told him something shockingly revelation. Her grounded eyes on his make his heart beat faster with anticipation which lights up his cheeks.
"You caught me. You win," she murmurs with small distaste to appease him.
Sakura scoots and picks herself slowly up, and the redhead doesn't stop her. Gaara moves his head up as she does hers, but his eyes and open jaw remain transfixed solely on her now. The beast within him still stirs, is still wary of Sakura's teasing and lies. Yet, he can't bring himself to pull away when Sakura scoots closer towards him. Her frown is heavy, and tired. She holds her robe close to her body before she sinks her body into Gaara's own. The dark markings do not deter her away from placing her head gently against his shoulder. Her eyes blink when she can listen to Gaara's heart race.
He is human, she reminds herself. She had to teach him that once. That he is human and not a monster.
'I have no reason to be afraid of him...or his love,' she thinks.
He is as human as her when it comes to making mistakes.
Gaara huffs, but for what reason Sakura does not understand nor does it scare her away. She knows how to deal with him, understand how to work him...more so than she has led him to believe.
"I'm sorry I ran. I didn't mean what I said. I got scared," Sakura whispers to him, rubbing her head more against him. "Let's just go back home now."
She allows herself to be overtaken in a sudden embrace by Gaara. His arms crane around her desperately in appreciation and desire. He warned her, his mind teeters with primal desire and obsession over the woman who lets herself be held by him. He chased her, threatened her, promised her she would not fool him again, and yet…
He still is unable to refuse her apologies, excuses and requests, even when he is upset at her.
Gaara growls possessively as his hands and arms slide to hold Sakura close to chest. He picks and lifts her up with ease, holding her tightly to him before he trudges slowly back to the home with Sakura in his arms.
Under the moon's glow again, Sakura is quiet and stares lazily up past Gaara's face and eyes; towards his kanji marking on his head. With time, she places a hand in the middle of his skin and rests her head back on his shoulder. She counts his heartbeats as he finally speaks to her touch.
"Do not run away from me again. Ever," he warns her with determined, triumphant eyes staring ahead of him.
Sakura is quiet, still lost in her own thoughts as she prepares herself for what will certainly be a tiring and confusing rest of the night with her soon to be lover.
Gaara understands Sakura's nervous muteness now, but continues his words on a hoarse breath, knowing she is listening.
"Losing you… Terrifies me more than anything else."
Sakura closes her eyes refusing to look up at him but sighs as she admits her mistake again.
"I won't run," she tells him. "You don't have to worry. I'll stay by your side. I promise."
Quietness. Gaara's steps against the ground fills their ears instead while he takes in Sakura's words; a new swear from her to never leave his side. He wants to believe she will keep her promise, this time, but her actions are what speak loudest to him. She is given yet another chance, and Gaara says more in hopes she will understand just how important her entire being is to him.
"I would lose myself if I ever lost you again."
