Chapter 9

"Speaking in Japanese"

Thoughts

"Speaking in English"

Inner Sakura/Gaara/Sasuke

(A/N Hope you guys liked the last chapter ;) Please R&R 3 –Shinko)

~ Recap ~

Sakura felt him smirk against her skin before he bit down. "Gaara," she moaned fisting his silky red locks. He continued biting and sucking at her neck until he looked back up at her and chastely kissed her again.

Gaara rested his head in the crook of Sakura's neck, while she played with his hair absentmindedly. Neither of them spoke. Gaara couldn't remember the last time he felt so at peace. When he shut his eyes he could feel Sakura's steady pulse.

Sakura could barely supress the wide smile on her face. Gaara liked her, and she liked him. There was nothing more she could want. She moved her head and glanced at the bedside table.

The digital clock read 1:10 am.

How did it get so late?!

Sakura sat bolt upright in the bed, making Gaara get off her much to his disappointment.

"What's wrong?" He asked wrapping his arms around her and nuzzling into her neck once more.

"I have to go now, it's late." She replied with a sigh.

The boy looked over at the clock and nodded. He didn't realize how time flew when he was with her.

The pair got up off of the bed and fixed their slightly rumpled clothes. Gaara could still taste some of Sakura's lip gloss on his lips. He grabbed Sakura's hand with his and interlocked their fingers.

Sakura smiled up at him and pulled him out of the bedroom and back downstairs. The music wasn't as loud as before and most of the people were leaving. Sakura weaved through the crowd and found Ino, Shikamaru, Naruto, Hinata and Sasuke standing in a group by the wall.

"Hey where were you guys?" Ino asked looking at the pair and glancing down at their linked hands. She raised a thin brow at Sakura and a smirk made its way over her red lips.

"We were uh…." Sakura looked at Gaara for an excuse, he merely shrugged at her.

"Oi! Is that a hickey on your neck Sakura-chan?!" The blond boy yelled, she could tell he was a bit tipsy by the way he swayed when pointing a finger at her.

The rosette placed her free hand on her neck, feeling the little sore spot. "What are you talking about Naruto? You're just drunk." Her voice was more high-pitched than usual, something that happened when she was lying or hiding something.

Gaara saw Sasuke look at Sakura and frown then at him, his frown turning into a scowl. Gaara merely smirked in reply, his eyes conveying a message to the Uchiha.

She's mine.

"Anyway me and Gaara are gonna head home now," Sakura hugged Ino and Hinata and waved to the boys, she glanced at Sasuke who seemed to be fuming, the cup in his hand crumpled in his white knuckled grip.

"Later," Gaara said to the group.

The couple walked through the crowd once more and headed out the front door. The cold night air hit Sakura' skin and Gaara felt her shiver. He took off his denim jacket and put it over her shoulders.

Sakura smiled at him "Thanks Gaara," she whispered

He nodded at her, and Sakura saw the tiniest smile she had ever seen in her life. But it was there and it was all for her.

The walk back home was more relaxed than that of going to the party. The pair walked in comfortable silence, not bothering to communicate their feelings any further. There was no need for that right now.

They arrived at Sakura's house and the rosette felt her heart sink a fraction. She didn't want Gaara to leave, not now, not after she practically confessed to him!

She let out a sigh as they walked to the front step.

"I… had a good time tonight," She mumbled, a blush creeping over her face as she still could taste his lips on hers.

Gaara pulled her into a hug, putting one hand on Sakura's head and the other tightly around her waist, putting her right against him.

"So did I," he said softly. He pulled back and looked into her eyes, Sakura saw her own reflected in his sea green orbs.

"Goodnight Gaara," she said

"Goodnight Sakura," he answered kissing her forehead lightly.

Sakura turned and opened the door to her house quietly, so not to wake Kakashi. When she looked back Gaara was already at the end of the driveway. She waved at him and he raised his hand back at her. She opened the door and walked into her house.

"Sweetheart, you're late~" Kakashi called from the kitchen in a sing-song voice. Sakura knew that whenever he acted like that he was pissed. She hung her head and trudged into the kitchen.

The elder sat at the kitchen table, his trademark cup of tea in hand.

"Didn't I say to come home at midnight?" He asked in his sickeningly sweet voice.

Sakura cringed "Yes," she replied.

"You're grounded for the next week," He deadpanned.

Sakura puffed out her cheeks "Awe c'mon Uncle Kaka~ Don't be like that~" She whined batting her lashes and pouting.

Oh no, it's the infamous pouty face! Kakashi panicked, as a child Sakura was always able to play him like a harp, much to her parent's chagrin, they always said he spoiled her. But she has been through a lot

He sighed and ran a hand over his masked face "Alright you're off the hook this time, but there won't be a next time alright?"

Sakura smiled and hugged her Uncle who just sighed and patted her head.

"Alright, alright now get to bed."

"Okay~" Sakura spun on her heels, going to the kitchen door when Kakashi called

"Sakura, what's that on your neck?" He eyed her neckline suspiciously.

Sakura's eyes widened in panic "W-Well G'night!" She yelled and sprinted up the stairs to her bedroom, shutting the door behind her.

Kakashi finished his cup of tea and went to bed himself.

Breaking curfew and hickeys already? They grow up so fast.

Before Sakura knew it the weekend was over and it was Monday morning and her second week at Konoha High. For some reason she had woken up early and was just lying in bed staring at the ceiling.

She smiled when she thought of seeing Gaara again. She hadn't spoken to him since he walked her home from the party. She wondered if he considered them dating now.

Are we dating now? She asked herself

Well by the way his tongue was down your throat that night I would assume so.

Sakura blushed at the memory of Gaara's lips on hers.

What in the world was I thinking?!

You were thinking of letting him in your pants, that's what! Inner Sakura jibed

The rosette shook her head clearing any inappropriate thought away. One thing was for sure, she knew she liked Gaara. But a tiny part of her was doubting this, maybe she was being too hasty. Maybe she was just looking for a rebound from her last breakup.

But it was a year ago, she thought debating with herself

Then again I've only known Gaara for two weeks… maybe everything's happening too fast.

We both know how he makes you feel, why don't you just see how things work out.

I thought you were against me rushing into a relationship huh? What appened to that? Sakura taunted her inner

That was before I knew how great a kisser he was!

Sakura laughed a little. Man she was hilarious!

She finally moved her blanket aside and got out of bed. She showered and put on her school uniform, her white button up, skirt, white thigh high socks and her blazer. For her makeup she applied her pink winged eyeliner and mascara. She grabbed her schoolbag and skateboard and headed downstairs.

She set her bag and board by the front door before she went into the kitchen for breakfast. Kakashi was already in his usual seat with his cup of coffee and newspaper in head a piece of half-eaten toast sat in front of him.

"Oh, you managed to wake up on time for a change hm?" he quipped.

Usually Sakura would be out the door ten minutes before the bell and shouting a goodbye at him before slamming the door and heading out.

"Whatever," she replied with an eye roll

She finished her breakfast and then made her way to school, entering the courtyard via the railing on her board as usual. I'll never get tired of that. She thought.

There were groups of people whispering here and there as Sakura looked around for her group of friends. There seemed to be an usual buzz in the air.

"I heard he almost killed a guy," one girl whispered

"he just transferred here from Ame," A boy mumbled to his friend

"he even tried to fight the principal there!" Sakura overheard as she passed a group of second-years.

She was starting to wonder who the hell they were talking about, but she was more focused on finding Gaara. She needed to clear things up between them. Or more accurately about them.

Sakura spotted Shikamaru and Kiba through the loose crowd of students chatting and milling about before the bell. She waved at them as she jogged over "Hey guys, what's with all the fuss?" she asked, referring to the hushed whispers of the student body.

"Hey Sakura," Kiba greeted he with a smile, as did his do Akamaru when he barked at her.

Shikamaru merely nodded at her "apparently there's a transfer student, a senior." He said in his usual lazy drawl, but Sakura saw the gears in his head turning in thought.

She knew from their conversations and his reluctant participation in class that he was a genius. A lazy ass, but still, a genius. Both of them were thinking the same thing: Why the hell would anyone transfer in their last year of highschool?!

She set aside her curiosity and went back to her main goal. "Have either of you seen Gaara?" she asked.

The two males shared a meaningful glance then Kiba responded "Yeah, but he's with the Akatsuki right now," he jerked his head in the direction of the school's main entrance.

"Thanks, see you later," Sakura waved to her two friends before walking off.

Standing by the front steps were Sasori, Deidara, Itachi and Gaara. They all looked at Sakura as she approached but she paid no mind to the weight of their gazes on her, as she had spotted her target.

She smiled at Gaara as she walked up to him, and he looked at her with an odd expression. It looked almost as if he was warning her not to come.

"Hey," she greeted him. The red head looked over his shoulder intently then turned back to face her. "Hey, look I'll see you in class right now I-"

"Is something wrong?" Sakura interrupted, frowning a bit at his unusual behaviour, usually he was calmer.

Then a voice came from the main entrance as someone walked out.

"Well I got my schedule," The guy said

Sakura froze, she knew that voice.

No it couldn't be-?!

She shifted her gaze from the red head in front of her to the guy who spoke.

Gaara saw her viridian eyes widen in shock, her mouth slightly agape in a silent gasp. She was so still he thought she may have turned into a statue.

The person at the top of the stairs looked at her, his violet eyes locked onto her green ones.

It was him.

His lilac eyes flashed when he recognized her. There was only one girl he knew with such features as she. "Sakura….?" He murmured walking down the stairs, looking about as shocked as the rosette.

The Akatsuki stares at the two along with the majority of the student body in the courtyard.

He walked down the stairs to where Gaara and Sakura were standing and stood about a foot and a half away from Sakura.

Gaara saw her body move slowly, her jaw flexed as she clenched her teeth and her fists were balled so tight her knuckles were white.

The guy in front of her reached out to touch Sakura's face, when she whispered through clenched teeth, a name she swore never to utter again

"Ya…hi…ko…"