Chapter 13

"Speaking in Japanese"

Thoughts

[Speaking in English]

Inner Sakura/Gaara/Sasuke/Pein

Gaara had to get away from Sakura before he really said or did something he would regret.

He walked to the bathroom at the end of the hall. He went into the third stall to the left and reached under the one grey tile. They hidey hole where Sasori kept his cigarettes.

He shut the door and lit the cigarette with the lighter that was with the pack under the floor.

Gaara took a long drag ad exhaled with a sigh.

Just my luck He thought bitterly

She just had to be Pein's ex.

Well they aren't together now so… His inner piped up

Are you insane?! I'm sure Pein would kill us if he found out what happened between me and Sakura at Deidara's place

Well we won't know until we ask him now will we?

What if Sakura still loves him? Gaara questioned

Pein isn't the most lovable person, we both know that

I wonder what she saw in that bastard in the first place

They do say love is blind

His inner cackled and Gaara finished the cigarette, now calm again he put back the contraband in his cousin's hiding spot and left the washroom.

Gaara decided he would skip homeroom, he had some business to settle with Pein now.

Meanwhile Sakura was in her English class sitting at her seat looking over at the empty one next to her.

What the hell, every time I'm with Gaara I get more confused that the last time.

Mhmm, he totally freaked when you said Pein was your ex.

Does that mean he won't like me anymore? Because his boss is my former boyfriend?

I guess we can only wait and see.

We both know I'm not patient.

Sakura thoughts were interrupted when someone slid into the seat next to her. She looked over thinking it was Gaara, but her face fell when she saw it was Sasuke.

"Oh," she said "hey Sasuke," she said dejectedly

"You sound like you're not happy to see me," he smirked

That's because I'd rather see Gaara but whatever

"What are you doing here? This isn't your seat." She said looking at the raven haired nuisance

"Well you looked pretty down, I wanted to make sure everything is alright."

Everybody just wants to know everything about me now huh?

Well maybe you wouldn't be so popular if you weren't the only pink haired, fight starting, transfer student here.

Oh be quiet you! Sakura shot back at her Inner.

"Anyway that's Gaara's seat, you shouldn't be there." Sakura said looking forward at the blackboard that Iruka sensei was writing on.

Sasuke felt his eyebrow twitch.

Hmm I guess the plan isn't working so well, I think we're in the friendzone.

His inner said

Gee, really? I wonder what would make you think that? Sasuke thought sarcastically

Whatever brat, you better make your move before Gaara does and they become official.

Hn.

"I don't think Gaara will mind, since he's probably skipping class." Sasuke said

"He's coming, I was just with him before class." Sakura replied her eyes still glued to the teacher, but Sasuke noticed the furrow of her brow and the look of doubt that flashed through her eyes.

"I've known Gaara for a while, and I don't think he is the person you've made him out to be Sakura," Sasuke hid the smirk that threatened to cross his face when Sakura finally turned her attention to him.

"I don't care, stop badmouthing him or I'll knock those teeth out of your pretty boy head. You think Gaara is a delinquent? They didn't call me Young Blood back home for no reason Sasuke, so I suggest you not piss me off."

Sasuke was startled at the pure venom in Sakura's voice and the menacing aura she began to emit, as if on command.

He had to fix this, and fast. He turned on his charm a little more, leaning into Sakura's space and placing his hand over hers that rested on the desk.

"Look don't take this the wrong way, I just don't want him to treat a diamond like you, as a piece of cheap glass."

Sasuke watched as Sakura's guard lowered. "All right, sorry I'm a little defensive, it's been a bit tough lately."

"It's alright, just remember I'm here for you." He said squeezing her hand a bit more or emphasis.

They both turned to the lesson and Sasuke didn't move his hand. Sakura tried several times but he didn't budge.

Just a little more and we'll be on her good side. His inner chuckled darkly.

Gaara went back to his house and found that Pein was already awake. He sat in the living room with Sasori and Itachi. They seemed to be planning something with a map of the city on the coffee table in front of them.

"Pein," Gaara addressed the older male.

The leader of the Akatsuki looked up at the red head. "Out," He said dismissing the two other members.

After they left the room Pein motioned for Gaara to take a seat in the chair diagonally to his left.

Gaara sat and waited as Pein struck a match to light the cigarette that was hanging in between his lips.

"Well, out with it." The older male said impatiently.

"What happened between you and Sakura, what did you do to her that would make her act out like that."

A look that Gaara thought he would never see on Pein face as there. Guilt.

"Alright I'll tell you, but only because I know how you feel about her." The orange haired man took another drag from his cigarette before putting it out on the ashtray on the table.

"When I was younger, about 13 I moved with my sister and brother to a town in the US. That was where I met her. She was only about 10, a kid. But there was something about her that made me happy. No matter what happened she was always smiling."

Gaara watched as something akin to a smile cross the leader's face as he began to talk about his childhood with Sakura.

"We were inseparable, we even went to the same martial arts training. But… things began to go south really fast once I turned 16, Nagato got sick, our parents died."

Gaara tried to swallow but he couldn't get past the lump in his throat, the leader never spoke about his past, or showed his emotions to anyone.

"I knew I liked Sakura, and when she confessed to me things seemed to be looking up… but I guess I wasn't the best boyfriend." Pein smiled but it seemed more like a grimace.

"I was reckless, always getting into fights, her parents hated me... but Sak… she still didn't care. She was always there for me but-"

"But..." Gaara leaned forward, anticipating the next vital piece of information

Pein sighed and ran a hand over his face, he looked so drained Gaara couldn't believe it was the same ruthless man that recruited him into the Akatsuki.

"But Konan was moving back here and I was to go with her. The night I was supposed to leave Sakura came to ask me to stay although we had already broken up."

"So what did you say?" Gaara asked.

"I said I loved her, but no fucking way. I couldn't stay and just ruin her, I had to go and start over, even if that meant leaving her behind."

Gaara was shocked. He clutched his hands until his knuckles turned white.

"How could you just do that to her?!" he yelled "You say you loved her but no one would ever do that to someone they really loved, you could have stayed, Konan would have stayed if you asked her."

"I know, I know, I know, that!" Pein replied equalling Gaara's volume. "You think I hadn't regretted my decision the moment I walked away from her? You don't think she was on my mind every fucking second that I was over here bringing the Akatsuki together and making it the most feared and successful gang here? Why do you think I did this?! I had to prove to myself that leaving the US and Sakura wasn't the biggest mistake of my life."

By the time he was done his speech, Pein was on his feet and right in front of Gaara. They were eye level, staring each other down.

"Don't you dare say that I didn't love her."

"Alright, alright" Gaara relented. Both men sat down in an attempt to cut the building tension between them.

"So the reason she jumped you is because she… hates you.."

Pein nodded. "I don't care if she does, as long as she's safe."

There was another pregnant pause between them.

"But now I'm guessing you've come to speak to me to get permission to be with Sakura, am I right Gaara?"

The red head nodded.

"You're sure about this?" Pein asked

"At first it was only a way to finally settle the score between Sasuke Uchiha and I… but now I… I wasn't to be with her, for the right reasons, because she makes me feel things I never imagined I could."

Pein nodded

We'll have to test Sabaku's resolve his inner said.

You're right, we don't want Sak to go through another heartbreak.

"Alright Sabaku," Pein said sitting up and looking into Gaara's jade green eyes.

"I'll give you my blessing if you take down Taka and claim the Sound's territories for the Akatsuki."