Chapter 5

"Speaking in Japanese"

Thoughts

"Speaking in English"

Inner Sakura/Gaara/Sasuke

(A/N Thank you every one who reviewed! I'll post news chapters soon! Love ya –Shinko)

After Sakura's Science class with Hinata she went to her locker to put away some of her textbooks before she went to her next class.

Thank goodness the day's almost over! I just wanna go home and jump in bed.

She closed her locker's door and gasped when she saw Deidara leaning against the locker next to hers. He laughed when he saw how startled she was.

"Hey Pinkie," he said.

Sakura felt her eyebrow twitch in annoyance. Did she mention she HATED it when people teased her about her hair?

"What do you want Deidara?" she asked, crossing her arms and glaring at him.

"Whoa calm down Pinkie, and that's Deidara-senpai to you," he scolded her mockingly

"Anyway," he continued "I heard you're going to my party on Friday?"

Sakura was confused, Ino had invited her not this idiot. "What the hell do you mean? Ino's the one who invited me."

The blond by rolled his blue eyes "Well duh, Ino's my cousin, we live together so technically since I'm the older one, it's MY party."

Sakura laughed at how childish Deidara was being. "Whatever you say Dei," she said still giggling.

"H-Hey don't laugh at me!" Deidara pouted crossing his arms on his chest as his cheeks became hot. Why the hell am I blushing?! He thought.

"Well I don't wanna be late, you should get to class too," Sakura said as she began walking down the hall.

"Whatever Pinkie!" Deidara shouted and walked in the opposite direction. As he was making his way to his own class, he almost bumped shoulders with Gaara. The younger of the two looked at Deidara saying "Don't get any ideas," in a low voice. "She's mine." He glared at the blond before walking off to class

Deidara wasn't that stupid that he would get on Gaara's bad side. That kid was an animal. No, he was a monster. The first time Deidara saw Gaara he had beaten 15 guys twice his size unconscious. He was the youngest person ever to join the Akatsuki at age 12.

His father, who was Sasori's uncle sent Gaara to live with Sasori to go to Konoha High. But Deidara thought his father sent him away because his dad didn't know how to deal with the delinquent. It wasn't long before Gaara made a name for himself as the most feared fighter in that part of town.

Gaara walked into his last class of the day. He saw Sakura sitting by the window, and empty seat next to her. Hinata was in front of her, sitting next to Naruto.

How come she didn't sit with Hinata? Gaara wondered

Maybe she was waiting for us His inner replied.

Well after what you did when Sasori was around and forcing me to ask her out I guess she thinks we're friends now.

I think she wants to be a little more than friends. And that's exactly what we want her to think.

Hn whatever, as long as she chooses me over that bastard Sasuke.

Getting jealous?

You saw the way he harassed her at lunch!

Hmm don't worry we'll pay him a little visit afterschool, he'll learn not to mess with what's ours.

"Hey Gaara, sit here." Sakura called him. The whole class looked at her like she'd gone mad.

"What the hell's wrong with her?"

"Who would want to be near that freak."

"They're both freaks have you seen her hair?"

Sakura glared at the red haired girl that made the last comment. "You better shut your mouth before I snap your jaw you trash talking tramp." Sakura growled.

Never. Mention. The. Hair!

Gaara smirked at her little outburst and the amusing face of terror on the other girl Karin's face. He never liked her, she was the leader of Sasuke's fan club and the biggest annoyance of all.

He plopped down in the chair next to Sakura and she smiled at him, he nodded back at her.

Their Teacher was an old man named Jiraiya, his hair was long white and messy. He spoke loudly and Gaara felt like he was looking at the older version of Naruto. Class consisted of taking notes off of Jiraiya's lecture. Finally the bell rang.

"Hinata I'll meet you at Ino's locker, I'll just get my stuff," Sakura said to the purple haired girl.

"I'll go with you then, I already have everything." she replied

"See you later Gaara," Sakura smiled and walked out of the classroom behind Hinata.

Gaara's eyes followed her until she was out of sight. Or more accurately he was watching the sway of her hips as she walked.

Gaara felt Naruto nudge him "I saw that Gaara," he said with a sly smirk. "You were looking at Sakura-chan's ass!" He practically shouted pointing a finger at the red head.

"You like Sakura-chan!" He shouted once again

"Shut the hell up you idiot!" Gaara slapped his hand over Naruto's loud mouth. "I don't like her alright!"

"Suuuuure you don't" Naruto mocked him.

Gaara just walked away and went to look for a certain chicken haired bastard.

"Oi Uchiha," Gaara called Sasuke when he spotted him in the courtyard.

"What do you want Sabaku?" Sasuke asked disgust evident in his tone.

Without warning Gaara pulled back his right fist and slammed it into Sasuke's face, knocking him to the side.

"I wanted to do that," Gaara smirked as he watched Sasuke wiped some blood from the side of his mouth.

"I've been waiting for a rematch for years,"

Sakura grabbed her skateboard from her locker and hopped on it weaving in between students in the hallways. Her phone buzzed and saw it was a call from Ino.

"Yo Saku! You'll never guess what's happening outside in the courtyard right now!"

"What is it Ino?" Sakura asked as she hopped her board onto the stairwell's railing, grinding all the way down as people looked at her like she was a madwoman. Which she was in a way.

"Gaara and Sasuke are fighting!" Sakura nearly dropped her phone in shock

"I'll be right there Ino!" she hung up and leaned forward, forcing her board to slide faster down the railing.

She finally reached the last floor and jumped off the railing and landed on the tiled floor. Sakura kicked her foot to making her go faster, as she weaved through the crowds of students leaving the school and looked for Ino. She spotted the blonde and Hinata on the outside of a large crowd that was gathered in the center of the courtyard. She skidded to a halt grabbing her skateboard with her right hand.

"Oh you're here!" Ino exclaimed seeing Sakura arrive. She latched onto Sakura's left arm and pulled her through the crowd until they were at the front.

Then she saw Sasuke and Gaara. They were throwing punches, kicks and blocking like a pair of professional martial artists.

What the hell is going on?! Sakura thought.

"Gaara what are you doing!" she yelled at her red haired friend.

Gaara head Sakura called him and looked over. She was standing there she looked furious. She handed Ino her bag and board and ran at him.

What the hell is she doing?! He thought.

Gaara saw something move out of the corner of his eyes and turned, before he could react to Sasuke's fist, Sakura had grabbed it and stopped his punch. Both boys froze. Everyone was still, holding their breath.

Boys and girls squealed "Ah~ Sakura's so cool~!"

The rosette ignored her new fanbase and looked between the Uchiha and Sabaku.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Her question was directed to both of them but she was glaring right into Gaara's jade eyes when she said it.

"Payback, for what he did to you at lunch, and because I can't stand this bastard's face." Gaara replied glaring back at Sakura then looking pointedly at his opponent.

Sakura was taken aback He saw what happened at lunch? And he cares so much to pick a fight with Sasuke?! She shook her head keeping her thoughts at bay. She dropped Sasuke's hand and he smirked at her wiping some dirt off his face.

"Looks like she's choosing me Sabaku," Sasuke taunted.

Sakura cocked a brow at him "Excuse me? I'm not choosing anyone!" she shouted glaring at the Uchiha. "You need to learn some manners, cocky guys like you are what annoy me the most!" she heard Gaara snicker as she yelled at Sasuke. The rosette then turned to Gaara "And you! This is my problem with Sasuke I don't need you to defend me!"

With that she turned back to the Uchiha whose smirk faltered "What wha-" before he could finish his sentence Sakura slammed her fist into his chin in a swift uppercut. He stumbled backwards and fell.

"This fight is over." She stated glaring out into the crowd which quickly began to disperse, afraid that she might turn and hit them too.

Sasuke stood and walked away, but not without giving Gaara a look that said:

This isn't over

"I can fight my own battles." Sakura said to Gaara, her tone now softer "I've done it before and I'll do it again. Don't be an idiot and get yourself hurt for me for no reason."

She put her hand on Gaara's cheek, looking at his face and assessing the damage.

"C'mon, you should get cleaned up."

"Alright," he agreed.

"Ino, Hina, you're still coming to my place right?" Sakura asked looking at her two friends.

They glanced at Gaara and then back at Sakura. "Are you sure Sak?" Ino asked, we'll come over tomorrow, I think you should take care of Gaara now."

The blonde winked and handed Sakura her board and backpack.

"Y-Yeah, see you guys tomorrow," Hinata said waving at the two before walking away with Ino.

"Alright see you guys." Sakura waved and turned back to Gaara "Let's go Mr. Fights-A lot"

The two walked back to Sakura's house in silence. Well there was nothing said aloud, but their inner thoughts were having quite the conversations with them

I can't believe he would pick a fight over something so stupid! It had nothing to do with him anyways. Sakura thought

Well at lease you know he cares about you. I mean he got angry over that dickhead Sasuke treating you like that.

That's true, but he was too irrational, now look! He's all bruised up and bleeding.

Aww look at you, caring about your boyfriends' health.

He's not my boyfriend!

Not YET you mean. Inner Sakura disappeared before Sakura could protest and further.

Meanwhile, Gaara's thoughts were bothering him as well.

Why the hell did she get so mad at me?

Maybe she's worried, you are banged up pretty badly

This si nothing. Why would she be worried about me anyway.

You saw the way she looked at you after punching that bastard. She likes you WAAAY more than him

So, he's an asshole.

An you're not?

Hey!

I'm just saying, she prefers the asshole Gaara over asshole Sasuke any day. She proved it when she kicked his ass.

Yup, that's my girl. Gaara smirked remembering the awesome uppercut

Your girl huh?

W-Well… I mean- SHUTUP!

"We're here," Sakura announced as she opened the door with her key. She led Gaara to the couch and made him sit down.

"I'll get the first aid kit, I'll be right back." She said walking off up the stairs.

Sakura returned with the white box and got a damp cloth from the kitchen to clean the scratches on Gaara's face. She knelt in front of him as he sat on the couch, and began cleaning his wounds. Gaara winced slightly as the cloth ran over the gashes.

"It won't hurt if you stay still," Sakura chided "It wouldn't hurt at all if you didn't get yourself into this mess."

He rolled his eyes and stared at her. "I didn't like the way he was treating you, it made me angry, so I hit him." He said in a monotone voice.

Sakura sighed "I understand that part, and I know, I didn't like the way he was acting either, but that doesn't mean we can go around hitting people. If I hit every person that pissed me off there would be hundreds of people in the hospital!"

Gaara chuckled at the girl's statement.

Sakura froze. "Did you just… laugh?" she asked, astonished to see the Sabaku smiling and chuckling at something she said.

"Yeah, what of it?" he challenged, raising a non-existent brow at her, his smile now gone into his usual neutral face.

"Nothing, it's just you seem like the type not to laugh or smile a lot. I'm glad I make you happy." He said smiling at him.

Gaara felt that odd feeling in his chest again. The same one he had when he first saw the pink haired girl.

"I'm glad too…that I met you… Sakura" He said softly.

Sakura dropped the bandages she was holding.

Gaara looked deeply into her eyes as he leaned forward and…