"'Dear Gaara,
I heard you guys opened up a school back in Suna! How are your students? Are they anything like the ones you had here in Konoha? Those little girls miss you by the way, they wont stop talking about the teacher with 'pretty tanuki eyes'! I just about died laughing at their description of you!
There's been no news of Sasuke, and to be honest I don't think I want to know what happened to him. I still cry about him a lot, and if I find out something terrible has happened to him I know I'll go off the deep end. You're the only one who's seen me totally lose it, and with everything that's happened I wish that you lived closer to me. You really helped me that night, I was on the brink of doing something very stupid but then you just showed up out of nowhere. It was like magic!
Are you going to come visit anytime soon? My parents keep asking about you, and my dad is pestering me! I think he likes you more than my mom does, which yeah I know that's weird since he was freaking out about you when you were here, but HE WON'T STOP TALKING ABOUT YOU, IT'S WEIRD! Haha, oh, also Naruto is curious too! He misses you a whole lot, and keeps calling you his 'brother from another mother'. I think it sounds dorky, but it's sweet that you guys have this sort of cute family bond.
Anyways I miss you, do you miss me? Write back soon!
Your friend,
Sakura '"
The piece of paper held her fragrance, and he could tell that it was probably either spritzed with her perfume or it just happened to be in her room for a long time. Either way, he still inhaled the scent greedily before placing the letter back in it's envelope.
He put the letter in his desk drawer with several others he had recieved from her. Funnily enough he had been collecting them, and would sometimes take them out to read or just to smell her scent lingering on the papers.
Gaara did miss her, and when he would receive a new letter he would practically drop everything to go write back to her. He would use his best pens, parchments, and inks for his letters. He didn't really have a cologne for his pages, but he did store the parchment in the same drawer he kept his favorite incense in. The pages took the scent as their own, and he had to admit that it was a clever idea on his part.
He was so fond of the idea that he would store boxes of incense in all of his clothes drawers now, and so the relaxing yet heady fragrances soon became his own signature scent. However, he much preferred her fragrance to his own.
"'Dear Sakura,
The school is doing quite well, although I only have one student as the others are still quite frightened of me unfortunately. She is around our age funnily enough, and she hates using weapons to fight. Her name is Matsuri, and she is a gentle soul. I'm afraid she might not make it as a kunoichi, but I am living proof that people can change.
I would love to visit Konoha, but unfortunately my duties as a teacher have taken up my time considerably. Please give Naruto, and your parents my condolences.
Perhaps you could come visit Suna? A lot of plants are blooming due to the spring rains, some are even flowering with the most beautiful blossoms. The cacti are especially green, and growing to a healthy fullness.
By the way, I know it's late, but I wish you a happy birthday. Thirteen is an interesting age, or at least it was for me, but every year seems to mature me a little bit more as I'm sure it does for you as well. I'm afraid that when I see you again you'll already be a grown woman, and I a grown man, but I hope that we can see each other before that point. Although, I'm sure our friendship will remain strong no matter the age.
As for missing you I'm sure you already know that answer, but I know that hearing it repeatedly can be very comforting.
Yes, I miss you, and I am flattered that you miss me too. Hopefully we can be in each other's company soon. Wishing you the best, my friend.
Sincerely,
Gaara of the Sand '"
Gaara sealed the envelope with wax, and attached it to a hawk that would bring it to the post on the border. The hawk flew effortlessly, and the redhead watched it soar almost enviously.
- ... - ... - ...
Gaara was exhausted, and felt his chakra waning. Laying in a pile of sand with his armor now weighing him down, he felt his end coming quite quickly.
He was filled with many regrets, but the main ones were the fact that he could not save Matsuri, and he would not see Sakura and Naruto again.
The burly ninja he was fighting swung his strange weapon towards him for a final blow, and Gaara accepted his fate as he was unable to move.
A loud clang resounded, and a flash of green flew in front of him to kick away the offending chained weapon. Rock Lee had come to his aid, with Naruto kicking down the enemy as well. The gods had finally blessed the redhead, and he thanked them with a silent prayer.
"Sorry we're late! But don't worry, we're here to return the favor! Go save your student!" Naruto grinned ear to ear as he readied himself to continue his fight.
Attempting to stand proved futile, as he started to fall the second he got on his feet. Lee caught him in time, but his head was reeling from how much energy had been forcibly drained from him.
"They really got to you..." Lee set Gaara back down gently, but before he could say anything else a chiming voice called from behind him.
"Lee, leave Gaara to me! I'll take care of him." Sakura appeared like an angel, and the redhead felt doubly blessed. She instantly put her hands on his chest, and they flowed with an energy that warmed him all over. Lee left quickly to return to the fight, leaving the two alone off to the side of the action. "Your chakra is almost completely depleted, I'm not going to be able to restore all of it but I'll give you as much as I can-"
"It's nice to see you too, Sakura." Gaara grimaced as his limbs strangely fell asleep. His body felt far too heavy. Suddenly she unbuttoned his shirt halfway, and placed her hands inside onto his net covered chest. The chakra flow tingled through him pleasantly, and he gave a sigh of relief as his energy started to return.
"While it's good to see you again, I'm not happy about the circumstances." The kunoichi narrowed her eyes at him with displeasure. He smirked slightly at her worried nature, appreciating it more than disliking it. "Why are you smiling?! This is a horrible situation you're in, do you understand that?!"
"Yes, I do. I'm just glad that I got to see you one last time. I was worried that I wouldn't have that chance." He looked on at the battle as his two friends fought bravely in his stead.
"You make it sound like you're going to die-"
"I just might if they pull any more tricks like that. That, or I'll transform which will probably kill everyone here." Gaara closed his eyes for a moment, finding them heavier than usual. "Sometimes I wonder how I'm still alive-"
"Stop saying such morbid things! You are going to live through this, and for many years to come! You hear me?!" Sakura smacked at his chest making it sting. He winced in discomfort, and she immediately went back into healing him. "Live through this, save your student, and I'll take you out on another fake date. Is that a good enough bargain?"
The redhead widened his eyes at her as she flushed under his scrutiny. She looked only at her hands, but it was obvious that she was embarassed. However, it was something that he had been thinking about for a while. He had a very memorable time with her on their 'fake' date, and he wished for nothing more than to go out on another one.
Well he had more than a few reasons to fight as hard as possible, and now he had another reason to live through the battle too.
"Okay, but I'll arrange it this time." Gaara smiled gently at her, and her blush deepened.
Some insects formed a cloud in the sky that spelled out something. As he looked closer he could see it was about that blonde girl, Ino.
"Your friend, Ino, has been injured-"
"Ino's hurt?!" Sakura looked at the bugs with a worried expression, and in her distraction Gaara rose up to stand confidently.
"Sakura, go to her." He crossed his arms proudly even though they still ached. She looked at him in disbelief before standing to challenge him.
"But you're not even halfway healed-!"
"I'll be fine, I swear it. You did promise to spend time with me after this, and I don't want to miss that." The redhead smirked before looking back at the insects. "Go now. I will finish this, and meet up with you later."
With a nod she was off, letting him know that she trusted him a great deal in able to take his word completely.
"Sakura, if I don't make it... I'm sorry." He said quietly to himself before looking over at the ninja he had been fighting with before. The man was successful in keeping his friends at bay, and he had just about enough of this ridiculous display. "I have some business to attend to first..."
He approached the group with new resolve, and Sakura's pure energy running through him
- ... - ... -
He had fought, he had been injured, had almost transformed, and he had passed out.
It was rare, but all these things had happened in a single day. Hell, they happened in a single fight with the resurrected ninja who had originally formed the artisan village. However, Gaara had apparently lived when he was sure that he had used far too much chakra.
Waking up felt odd, as he was not used to resting, but it seemed that Shukaku couldn't function without chakra which was a godsend.
Gaara had overheard some business between Naruto and Jiraiya, the boy's mentor. The blonde would be leaving the village soon to go train. It made the redhead a bit sad, as he knew he probably wouldn't be able to see his friend for a long time.
Naruto had healed up faster than Gaara, so he was full of energy in the small hospital room. The redhead pulled back the curtain to find the blonde chowing down on some instant ramen.
"Eh?! I didn't even know you were in here!" Naruto screeched through a mouthful of ramen, and it was a rather hysterical sight. Gaara couldn't help but smile at the boy's goofy personality.
"It's good to see your almost at full health." The redhead spoke warmly to his friend. "Unfortunately I haven't been able to heal properly yet, it will be a while since my chakra is still low."
"That sand tsunami was ridiculous, you could have died!" The blonde frowned making Gaara feel slightly guilty.
"I'm fine, I'm just a bit sore. There's no need for concern-"
"Well I'm concerned! Sue me! You got Sakura all worked up too. I've never seen her run so fast when you fainted!" Naruto began bouncing on his bed with excitement. "She grabbed your face and was all like 'oh thank goodness, he's not dead'!"
The redhead felt a blush coming on, so he pulled his knees up to hide his face in. The blonde began to laugh rather hysterically at the display.
"She's been playing nurse too. I didn't know it was you on the other side, but apparently she's been in here checking on both of us. You'll have to thank her when you see her, she totally saved your ass." Naruto hurriedly drank the rest of his broth before slamming the instant cup down. He practically ripped off his bandages revealing a healthy body underneath. "I need to go home, and pack for the journey. Will you be okay by yourself?"
"I should be fine, thank you." Gaara lifted his head to smile at his friend, and felt the weight of his absence already starting to burden him.
"Okay, well..." The blonde jumped off the bed, and snatched up his clothes which were folded nicely on a chair. He turned towards the teen with a grin. "I'll see you when we're much stronger, you keep doing your sand stuff... and we can spar when I get back."
"Be safe, Naruto." The redhead smiled, even though he felt rather sad inside.
"You too, Gaara." Naruto nodded to him, and took off without another word.
Gaara hadn't felt lonely in a long while, and it stung rather bad at the moment. He grabbed at his chest, feeling his pounding heart underneath. The action alone made him feel much worse.
- ... - ... - ...
"Hey! I'm here to check you out!" Sakura suddenly pulled back the curtain with a bright smile. He had heard her come in, but he didn't expect her to rip back the curtain so fast, he nearly dropped the book he was reading- "Oh my god... you're not... into THOSE books now are you?"
Gaara blinked at her before looking at the cover of the Makeout Paradise book that Jiraiya had kindly left on his night stand.
"It was left here for me, so I decided to read it since it was the only material available. However, it's rather interesting-"
"Gaara, its porn." Sakura withered while putting a frustrated hand to her eyes. He managed to blush almost immediately.
"I... hadn't gotten that far yet..." He started to file quickly through the pages to see what she was talking about when she snatched the book away with a scoff.
"Control yourself! God! I never knew you were such a pervert-! Wait no, I knew... I just didn't want to believe it." The kunoichi groaned before sitting on his bed, he had to move his legs quickly in able to make room for her.
"It's not like that! The only girl I've ever seen naked in person is you-"
"Keep your voice down! I try very hard to pretend that didn't happen, and I would appreciate it if you didn't speak of it! Especially in a public place!" Sakura hissed before opening the book she had stolen away from him. She read an excerpt to herself before cringing. "Oh yuck... how could that man write such disgusting crap? 'She cried out his name to the heavens as he thrusted his'- Oh gross!"
"If you don't like it, then give it back. I don't need you to read it to me." Gaara tried to act mature, but the visual he just got of the characters he had been reading about was a bit too much. The kunoichi raised an eyebrow at his mixed expression, making him even more nervous. "What?"
"'Oh Hana-chan! Kotaru moaned, feeling her hot sheath pulsing around him as they sensually moved. 'Hana-chan, it feels so good'-!"
"Sakura stop, give it back!" The redhead lunged for the book, but she pulled it away with a cheeky laugh.
"'Kotaru-senpai, you're so hard'-"
"Sakura! Stop!" He wrestled with her futilely.
"'Oh it feels so good, please go deeper, senpai! I want to feel you in my womb'-!"
Suddenly the door slammed open, making the two teens jump out of their skin.
"What in the hell are you two doing?!" Temari stomped into the room with a curious Shikamaru close behind. Sakura shoved the book into Gaara's chest before standing up ramrod straight.
"Nothing! Just joking around Ha Ha Ha." The medic tried to play it off, making Shikamaru immediately go for the book.
"You read this... to your patients?" The chunin turned through a few pages, blinking here and there at the book's content. "I haven't read this one yet, Jiraiya makes them raunchier with every installment-"
"I just found it in here today, I was making fun of him for reading it-!"
"I hadn't gotten to those parts yet, and I didn't realize it had pornographic material in it." Gaara was as calm as a cucumber, and bowed slightly. "I'll take full responsibility for the book. As I am under age I'm assuming I'll receive some sort of punishment-"
"Heh, whatever it's cool." Shikamaru tossed the book back to the redhead with a smirk. The teen just barely caught it in surprise. "They aren't bad stories, but they can get really explicit. So be prepared for that."
"Did you really just give that smutty book back to my baby brother?" Temari withered, and Gaara had to control himself from flushing at the term she had used for him.
"Why not? He's older than me, and if I can read them without an issue so should he-"
"I cannot believe you just admitted to reading that crap!" The blonde barked, but he shrugged apathetically.
"Alright, well, I need to change the patient's bandages now... you two can go back to guarding or flirting-" Sakura interjected, but recieved a scoff from the genius.
"Wow! Pot calling the kettle black! At least I'm not reading saucy novels to her!" Shikamaru got surprisingly defensive over the accusation, making everyone in the room blink at him. "What a drag, I'm out of here. You can guard yourself."
"Hey wait a minute!" Temari was quickly following him out the door, and both could be heard bickering down the hall.
Sakura and Gaara stared at the door, but as he pulled away to look at her he could see she was sporting the most vivid blush.
"So... bandages?" He queried gently, making her jolt into action.
"Yeah! Right on it!" Her blush stayed, but she tried to play it off as if nothing happened; much like with anything 'sex related' that would happen between them.
He almost wanted to open her eyes somehow, however he was a bit shy over it too. Perhaps it was best if he waited a while before making any new moves. Maybe a few years. Or never. Never was safe.
"I apologize... if my reading of that book bothered you-"
"Why would it bother me? It's not like you're my boyfriend or anything." Sakura huffed, obviously a bit bitter over the ordeal. He was curious though...
"So, it would only be a problem if we were together? Why is that?" Gaara asked gently, and as he did so the delicate hand unbandaging his neck paused with hesitation.
"Because its perverted-"
"I understand that part, but why would perversion be an issue if I were only dedicated to you?" He pressed further, and another flush came to her cheeks.
"Because you'd be imagining this guy railing this girl, who's obviously too young for him by the way. 'Oh Kotaru-senpai~' Yuck, she sounds like a middle schooler." The kunoichi finished removing the bandages with a scowl before thumbing at the skin around his neck, and shoulders.
"High school, actually. So that would make her older than you. You are also younger than me." His eyes were transfixed on hers, but she was trying avidly to avoid his gaze. However, she gave a kind of snort when she fully ingested what he has said.
"Yeah, I am younger than you, what of it? You want me to start calling you Gaara-senpai?" At that her eyes flicked up to meet his almost teasingly, and he couldn't stand to keep looking at her less she figure out that the endearing term actually had an effect on him. Positive affirmations did something to him, and he was quickly finding out that language was key in making him feel certain things. "Eh? Uh-oh, I think I figured out your kink-"
"I've never had sex so I have no kinks, thank you very much-"
"Oh? But, you're so obvious, Gaara-senpai." Sakura looked over his throat carefully before dragging her fingertips down in a feather soft touch. He swallowed by accident when her thumb gingerly slid over his Adam's apple. "So nervous, Gaara-senpai. Am I really so formidable?"
"No, I'm just trying very hard not to bite-" In his frustration Gaara blurted out some key information, and almost instantly regretted it. She paused again, and her eyes widened for a moment as she stared at his neck. He could practically see the memories flittering past her lenses in a new glaring light.
"Oh. Oh, I see. Forgive me Gaara-senp- I mean Gaara!... sorry..." The kunoichi ran a nervous hand through her pink hair as she looked off to the side incredulously. As if she were questioning herself for the use of the term. However, it made her throat incredibly visible, and his insides tightened anxiously.
'Bite her. You want to do it. Just do it. Sink your teeth in, and suck hard-'
The redhead blinked at his own thoughts. He wanted to blame Shukaku for them, but quickly found out that it was his own voice in his head. Then he wondered if he could just... ask her permission. Was that so wrong?
"Sakura..." Gaara stayed fixed on her neck, and watched her pulse quicken at the call of her name.
"What?" Sakura answered back tightly, and he felt like jumping back it was so defensive. Yet he inched closer to her, and she stiffened.
"Could I... would you let me... um... bite your neck-?"
"Are you crazy?!" She whipped her head back around to face him, and recoiled at how close he had leaned. It made him want to grab her, and maybe hold her down. "Don't look at me that way either! I'm not food-!"
"And I'm not actually hungry. It feels like hunger... but it's different... I want to eat you, but I don't want to hurt you. Quite the opposite actually-"
"That's... inappropriate..." The kunoichi went to stand but he quickly pulled her back down next to him by her wrist. "Gaara, let go of me."
"No." The redhead responded in a rasped voice, causing her to balk at his behavior. His other hand pulled her over to him by her waist, making her squeak.
"Gaara!" Sakura smacked at his chest, but he remained unphased.
He had a target in his sights, and he took the initiative once he pulled down her collar with his free hand. He leaned in, and licked at her jugular lasciviously, revelling in the full bodied shiver he recieved for his effort.
"You taste so nice..." The husky voice that came out surprised him just as much as it surprised her, but he couldn't stop himself from doing the action again. She whimpered, but as to whether it was in fear or want was left to be discovered. He started to pur. "Sakura-"
"Don't say my name like that!" She bristled before wriggling in his grip. With strong arms he held her to him, and began scraping his teeth along her neck before sucking at the area greedily. She jolted once or twice before a moan finally escaped her lips. He paused for a moment before whispering against her skin.
"You actually... like it... don't you?" Gaara panted excitedly at the new discovery, and grew even more intrigued as she started to fight him for freedom.
"I do not! It's weird-!"
"But it feels good, doesn't it?" The redhead rasped huskily, almost unable to contain himself as he sucked once more on her soft creamy skin. A whine slipped out now, and it made his skin crawl with electricity that also shot through him. He breathed sharply against her neck as she shivered. "I like that sound you just made-"
"STOP! This is embarassing!" The kunoichi squirmed until she could properly turn in his arms. He looked in her eyes needily, trying to convey that he wanted to try so much more from her, but she merely glared at him. "You want to know how it feels?! Here!"
Sakura lunged at his throat, and immediately dragged her teeth as hard as she could. The redhead felt the sensation shoot through his body like a lightening bolt. He jolted, and gripped her firmly around the waist while gritting his teeth. It was so intense straight out the gate, and it had him gasping for air. A drag of her tongue, and a hard sucking of her mouth had him groaning needily with hands searching desperately for her curves. He felt strangely stiff-
"Sakura... stop..." Gaara pleaded, but her response was to drag her tongue up to his ear before licking the outer shell. He shuddered pleasantly at the sensation with an audible needy moan. She bit at his ear lobe, and breathed hotly against his skin. "Please stop-"
"But you were so invested before, Gaara-senpai. Is it too much for you to handle-?"
"Sakura, if you don't stop we are going to have a problem." The redhead warned, but her fingers still ran up into his hair to tug roughly.
"How do you like getting your hair pulled, hmm? Isn't it such a loving and nice feeling?" Her sarcasm was thick, making him realize that this was all just a way to show him that what he had done to her was wrong. Only it wasn't having the effect that she desired, he only felt more gasoline poured onto the fire.
He was desperate, and knew that he was going to make a major mistake sooner rather than later.
"Sakura-"
"Gaara-senpai, you sound so nervous." She kissed at his neck once more until he had successfully grabbed her hand only to shove it down between them. "What are you doing?"
"Showing you what you are actually doing to me-" Gaara placed her lithe palm over his groin, and she gasped.
"What the hell are you-!?" Sakura's hand molded to the area before she realized what she was really grabbing at. By the time it hit her a fierce blush had warmed her cheeks. "Let go of me. Gaara, let go!"
The redhead truly did not want to let go of her, if anything he wanted her to grab hold of him tightly, and milk him for everything that he had. However, he realized that just by doing this he had probably jeopardized their whole relationship, and keeping her there would only do much worse. So with a sharp inhale, he let go.
Her hand drew back like snapping a rubberband, and she held it to her chest protectively. With a wary expression she looked at him, and he felt truly guilty over what he had done, but it was necessary.
"Why did you do that-?" She began with an accusing tone, making him immediately defensive.
"Why would you climb all over me? And why didn't you stop when I asked you to? That wasn't a game, Sakura, that was torture!" His voice grew louder than he had initially wanted it to, and she began to recoil, but he couldn't stop. "Torture because I know it can't go further, and if you kept toying with me I was going to lose all of that careful control I've built up-!"
"Then why did you start it? In my book you did so much worse than what I just did. I told you no so many times, and when I push your buttons just the slightest you can't handle the heat?! That's not fair!" Sakura glared before poking a finger at his chest. "If I were stronger physically this wouldn't happen. Ever. You forced my hand-!"
"But you're not stronger than me, and that's why I can't have you doing that. Unless you want something more from me, I can't control myself when you're just so tempting-"
"Well it looks like you can't control yourself AT ALL. Look at how many times you attacked, and touched me! Oh yes, you have such wonderful control of your hormones, Gaara-!"
"I never forced you to have sex with me-!"
"No! You didn't! But that's what makes you so dangerous, is that I don't know what the hell is acceptable behavior, or if I'm just being paranoid!" She began to scream at him, and he felt like lunging at her.
"How about you just do whatever you want to do instead of doing what is socially acceptable! I know you like me, so what is the problem?!" He yelled, and he didn't like yelling at people, but there was something about this that did not seem to be communicating between them. Why couldn't it just translate?
"I have never approached you willingly, and I only roll over because I have no more strength left to fight with you." Sakura's tone was cold, and heartless. It flooded through his ears like liquid ice chilling his entire body. He looked at the floor beneath him, wishing he could just be burried underneath it.
"You held my hand once, and you embraced me... just now you had bit my neck... those are advances too." Gaara looked off to the side bitterly, and knew that everything they had between them was probably over. "I didn't understand what it was at first, and recently I've been seeing it more and more. I like you... but I like you far more than what is 'appropriate'."
"Yeah, I have always known that." The kunoichi sighed as she shook her head. "But there was a time when you had seen me at my most vulnerable, and did absolutely nothing to hurt me-"
"And I never will. At least not on purpose." The redhead interjected instantly, but she rose her hand up to silence him.
"I can't take that chance anymore, unfortunately I don't like you that way. I'm sorry." Sakura quickly cut off the conversation, and stood up to cross the room. He clenched at his bedding, hating himself for every single minor mistake he had made. "You're fine to leave, I'll sign you out. Go ahead and grab your things, Shikamaru will escort you out."
It was cold, and empty. No well wishes, or fond farewells. How did it turn out like this?!
Why couldn't he have just sat there, and let this girl kiss his neck like he had dreamed about instead of becoming greedy for more?
"Sakura..." Gaara spoke up, and she paused in the doorway. "I'm sorry-"
"No, you're not. You're just sorry that I'm not more compliant."
That was like a sword to the gut, completely invalidated in a single sentence as well as insulted. Her wrath was cruel, and he wondered how she had ever turned out so hateful. Was it his fault?
He couldn't say anything further as she left, and it made him feel like a complete fool.
AN: Here we go, that bit of drama I tend to love throwing in. How are we feeling about this current change of events? Let me know in the reviews ;)