Chapter 30: I Owe Them That

A/N: Hey everyone huh, the summer classes are over but the regular classes will be starting this 14th huh. But nobody's going to stop me from updating SHANROOOO!

"I guess this is when we say goodbye…" Kyo's voice resounded throughout the dark place as he walked away. Sakura tried to call him back but it was as if he did not hear her pleas. "Kyo-neechan! Wait!" she shouted from the top of her lungs as she struggled to catch up with him but slowly his figure disintegrated.

Sakura's eyes slowly opened upon hearing the loud argument outside the hospital room. "Why can't we see her yet!" Naruto's almost shouting question. "Because she needs to rest and having you there would mean no rest for her at all!" she heard the voice of her sensei almost matching the blond shinobi. "Well be extra quiet I promise and Naruto can stay outside," Sakura heard her best friend's request. "Don't worry she'll be waking up soon enough but this time let her rest," Tsunade reassured them all.

Meanwhile, Gaara was pissed off because he can't be by Sakura's side because of his duties as Kazekage. The recent battle did not left any serious damage but the diplomats are as cranky as ever. Looking out the window, he saw the clouds starting to get darker and darker. So the desert storm will be today huh… he said to himself lamely as he tried to listen to one politician babble about nonsense.

Sakura could only smile silently upon hearing her friends' worries. Unconsciously, she touched the pendant around her neck. She grabbed the black phoenix as her sight traveled to her window. Kyo-neechan… why did you have to leave? Making up her mind, she stealthily changed into her usual attire and jumped out the window. I'm sorry everyone. I will have to make you wait… I just need to find him. She mentally apologized as she jumped out of the hospital window and into the nearest rooftop.

The Kazekage was on his way to the hospital when he felt a familiar chakra leaving the city. He quickly turned around to follow her.

Sakura left the village and was back in the place in which she and Kyo fought. The rain started to pour but she did not mind as she started calling out for him. The black coloring in her hair dissolved under the rain revealing her pink strands. Her clothes were dripping wet but still she didn't mind. Thunders crashed and lightning split the skies. The curtains of rain rendered Sakura's vision almost zero. The wind was freezing but still she kept on shouting his name.

It was almost an hour now but still she did not lose hope that maybe somehow Kyo would return. The rain was taking its effect on her. Every drop on her skin now felt like needles pricking her. Every blow of the wind sent her shivering. Her voice was almost gone and so was her strength. Kneeling down the wet sand, "Kyo-neechan… why did you have to leave?" she asked herself out loud.

In that same moment, a lightning came towards her. Sakura can easily evade it but her feet till her ankles were buried in the wet sand. She closed her eyes waiting for the electrifying collision but none came.

She opened her eyes to see that the sand blocked it for her. Feeling the sand around her feet loosen she turned around to see him. Just like before, he saved me.

Gaara was in time to see the lightning and immediately ordered his sand in her defense. Sakura ran towards his savior. Upon collision, she wound her arms around him as did he.

He was warm and dry while she was cold and wet how ironic. The sand shielded them as they held each other for the longest period of time. Each of them reassuring that this was no dream as they held each other tighter. "Sakura..." Gaara whispered as he held her closer and tighter still. "Panda-chan, I missed you," she felt him lifting her chin. After what seemed to be forever, finally their eyes met.

The sand master gradually leaned forward at first but when he felt her breath against his skin he slammed his lips into hers. Sakura was more than happy to reply to his urgency. The feeling that he thought was gone began to roam through his entire being once again. She's here. She came back to me. His mind rejoiced as their tongues explored each other.

Sakura matched his need with her own as she felt herself weakening. She drew back mere centimeters away from his face. Their nose almost touching and their breaths meeting she stroked his cheeks as he closed his eyes. "I thought I'll never see you again," she almost cried. "Sshh, I'm here," he whispered as he kissed her yet again as his hands were now on her waist and hers were wound around his neck.

She wanted this moment to last longer but soon she felt her strength leaving her. Gaara caught her when she fainted. Removing his robe, he put it on Sakura as he carried her back to the village.

Sakura woke up upon feeling someone kissed her cheeks. Opening her eyes, she saw him smiling at her. "Morning, Panda-chan" she caressed his cheeks as he leaned forward and kissed her. "Welcome back," he said right after the kiss. Sakura's eyes widen as she spread butterfly kisses on his face "I'm home." They were having breakfast when her blond teammate barged in together with the rest.

Gaara was sitting on the bed feeding Sakura and her arms were around his waist. "S-SAKURA-CHAN, DON'T TELL ME YOU SLEPT WITH HIM HERE!" Naruto blurted out as he pointed at the glaring Kazekage. Sakura merely chuckled upon hearing his nonsense yet again. "Naruto, you're too loud," Ino walked in and placed flowers on her bedside.

Sakura and Gaara did not break their embrace when everyone came in. they had no intention of doing that. "Everyone seems fine, that's a relief," Sakura said upon seeing everyone's faces.

"By the way Sakura-chan, where were you last night?" Tsunade took a seat on the couch. Her arms held him tighter so Gaara looked at her worriedly. "I was looking for someone," she shortly replied. "Who?" "Kyo…-neechan,"

"NEECHAN!" Almost everyone except for Gaara and Tsunade exclaimed. "Okay, settle down everyone," the hokage ordered the rest. "Perhaps it should be best if you tell us everything from the beginning," she suggested.

Sakura weakly nodded as she broke their embrace. "I can't remember what happened before that but what I recall is that Kyo-neechan carried me from a river and brought me to the village. My wound was fatal… whoever attacked me wanted me dead… I was hit here by few needles I guess," she touched the top lower portion of her head. "That explains the fluid on your forehead protector," her sensei commented.

"He healed me in the only was he knew how. Kyo was not a healer but his technique of putting another memory into your head has a side effect of rapid repair and growth of brain tissue," "So he put a fake memory into you head… that's why you call yourself Sayuri," Gaara said as he held her hand.

"Sayuri… was Kyo's fiancé. Her memory was real. She was killed right after he rescued me. So he transferred her memories into me healing me in the process but then I was no longer in control of my own body. It was as if I was under Ino's technique, I can hear and see what she's hearing and seeing but I cannot do anything about it…" Sakura stopped upon remembering Sayuri's memories.

"Sakura? Are you alright?" Tsunade asked worriedly. Sakura faked a smile "The truth is I feel a terrible. Can we continue this later?" she lied. "Of course," Tsunade left with the others except for the Kazekage.

As the door closed, Gaara looked at her intently and said "You're lying." "No, I am not. I really feel terrible. The truth is I can see Sayuri's memory while I was dormant in my own head. She was raped by those men. Actually, she was strong enough to deal with them but the result would be losing their baby so she did not fight back. When Sayuri learned that she had lost the baby, she tried to kill herself but then Kyo was there to stop her, telling her without words that he loves her still. But then… she was killed by no other than Subaro," she gripped the blanket roughly.

Gaara could do nothing but listen to what she's got to say. "Sayuri was strong and intelligent. That's why Subaro wanted her… she knew all the forbidden techniques of the village and their counter technique as well. Kyo knew that Subaro was the one that murdered Sayuri but when he presented it to the council. The council said he had no evidence. Subaro was the military general of the village so he had many connections, Kyo knew that. So he sided with Ayame-sama, a political leader that rivals Subaro's leadership." She looked at Gaara intently with pain her emerald eyes.

"He was strong to recover from such pain but his pain did not end there. The whole village that was his family was burned to the ground leaving him only with me posing to be Sayuri. I don't know why he didn't but he could've let Sayuri's memory conquer my body. In the end, Sayuri's memory was forgotten leaving him alone. And I somehow… rejected him… I feel really terrible," she threw herself into Gaara and he instinctively comforted her.

Sakura fell asleep as Gaara caressed her hand. You've been through so much… this time I'll stay true to my promise. I'll be your shield against the world. I

The gang visited her the next day but this time she was no longer hesitant to share what she remembered.

"Kyo-neechan's technique was often called the ultimate infiltration because one can change both appearance and memory of the person. Just like what happened with me," she smiled. "Oh that's right when you were Sayuri you had black eyes and black hair," Ino said as she remembered Sayuri's appearance.

"So Sakura-chan can you tell me why you call him "Kyo-neechan"?" Naruto asked tactlessly. "Ah, that's because when Sayuri was asleep Kyo-neechan would talk to her knowing that I could hear him. He said that it would be nice if when we meet I would call him neechan. Also, he said that if the time comes that Sayuri's memory would be erased from mine… he requested to fight me in return for him saving my life," she replied remembering Kyo's kindness.

Everyone started asking questions and Sakura was more than happy to answer them. Finally, "ONE LAST QUESTION SAKURA-CHAN…" the blond shinobi said at the top of his voice. "Nani, Naruto-kun?" Sakura said nervously. "IF SAYURI WAS KYO'S FIANCE AND YOU WERE ONCE SAYURI…THEN… DID YOU… SLEEP WITH HIM!" he blurted out as everyone's eyes turn on Sakura.

Of course he did not she said mentally but when she looked at their faces especially Gaara's she can't help make fun of them "Hhmmm… Maybe… I don't know… I can't remember," she teased then as they grew tense with every statement. "Come on Sakura, that you got to remember," her best friend said waiting for her reply.

She closed eyes acting as if she was trying so hard to remember. Cracking one eye open, she laughed at their facial expressions. "Of course… he did not," she said in between her laughter. Everyone was relived to hear that most especially the Kazekage though he made move to show it but Sakura can fairly see he is. "Kyo-neechan, did not take advantage of my body though he had the right to do so since Sayuri is after all his fiancé." Then her head started to ache. Her vision grew blurry; her head was now painfully throbbing and then complete darkness.

"Sakura!" they shouted as she fainted against Gaara. Of course, he was there to catch her. "Alright everyone, time to leave" Tsunade lead the gang outside. Gaara laid her on the bed and kissed her lips shortly. "I'll be back," he whispered.

As soon as Gaara exited the room, he saw Tsunade signaling for him. He approach the gang and as soon as he did "Everyone listen up, it appears that Sakura forgot what had transpired before she was Sayuri. Her head wounds are still mending so I'm warning you all that in under no condition are you to force Sakura to remember what happened before she met Kyo especially… her parents' death," Tsunade said sadly. "If you force her to remember, her head injury might get worse. Do you understand?" "Hai," they responded.

Sakura was feeling better so even though she still wasn't allowed to leave, she left. She stood by the gates as she recalled the previous battle that had taken place. I have to do this. I owe them that. Walking out of the gates, "Sakura where do you think you're going?" a female voice behind her asked. Turning back, she saw her sensei together with the gang and Gaara as well.

"I have to do something. This is the only thing I can do for them. So please, let me go. I promise I'll be back." She pleaded as she stared into the desert. "Alright," the hokage agreed "But they're coming with you," she continued so Sakura quickly looked at her. "No… you don't have to," "Its either we come with you or you're staying here," Gaara laid it down for her. Sighing at her defeat, she nodded.

Sakura lead the way and the others followed. "So Sakura-chan, where are we going?" Naruto asked as he caught up with her. Without turning back, "To the village," she said shortly as she landed in a cave blocked by a huge rolling stone. "What now?" Ino asked.

Kneeling down, she pushed aside a piece of stone from the side. The stone rolled away revealing the entrance to the village. "Now… we enter," Sakura lead the way with Gaara by her side.

It was a sad scene. The entire village was turned into charcoal they observed as they walked around. Sakura made her way to the hill. There were piles of something burnt around the hill. Sasuke and Naruto inspected it a little closer and found out that "T-They're people!" Naruto exclaimed as a piece of skull rolled over. "They were but now they're dead," Sakura said coldly as she walked over to a decomposing corpse of a man having no eyes.

"It's that military general, Subaro!" Ino shouted while pointing at the corpse. "Sayuri took his eyes and gave it Kyo because they performed a blinding ritual on him." The pink haired kunoichi shared as she grabbed the mask that was worn by Kyo when Sayuri found her. On the mask were two eyeballs impaled into small spikes from the mask. "Sayuri somehow tapped into my medical technique to make Kyo see again. She left Subaro to live but it seems he cannot live without his sight," she made her way into the burnt woman on the pillar.

"Ayame-sama… Arigato," she whispered as stared at the broken forehead protector at her feet. "Everyone can you please. Come here," she requested so everyone stood by her side on the hill.

"Don't move," she ordered as she performed complicated hand seals and touched the ground. As soon as she did, silver flames engulfed the place. Her head started to feel pain but she ignored it as she concentrated on her task. Standing up, the flames subsided. Everyone was surprised to see the place missing the burnt village and replaced by acres of grass.

"How did you that?" the boy genius was now confused. Sakura stood there panting as she answered "This village was the one who took care of me or might I say Sayuri. This is the only thing I can do for them now, a proper burial." Her knees gave way but Gaara was behind her to catch her.

"Let the moon shine on the innocent and the guilty alike," Upon saying this, the moon light crawled slowly into the grass. Everyone was awed by what happened next. As the grass basks in the silver light, white flowers grew and quickly blossomed. Behind them, the pillar that held Ayame started to grow leaves and roots and in a few moments it grew into a cherry blossom tree. "They're star gazers," Ino said with the knowledge she gained from selling flowers.

Sakura was carried bridal style by Gaara. She gazed into the flower field and nodded. "Everyone… thank you," she whispered as she cuddled into Gaara's chest.

They were on their way back and Sakura was feeling a bit off. It wasn't that warm but she could feel sweat beading on her head. Soon it trickled down her eyebrow, she wiped them away with her hand but the liquid didn't feel like it was sweat it felt more like. Looking at her hand, she saw it was stained by a crimson liquid. "Sakura, you're bleeding," Gaara looked her worriedly as he quickened his pace.

Returning to the village, he quickly took Sakura to Tsunade. Sakura slept immediately in the middle of her diagnosis. "How is she?" the Kazekage inquired. "Tell me did she use her chakra?" she asked as she stared at her pupil. He nodded. "It seems Sakura still cannot tolerate too much control over her chakra. It means that she must refrain from using her chakra to prevent further complications." She drank her sake. "But Tsunade-sama can't you heal her?" the blond kunoichi asked worriedly.

The hokage shook her head and said "I was surprised when she survived from her head injuries. This Kyo guy seems to be the only one who can do that. But his technique isn't focused on healing so Sakura's injury is not completely healed," Tsunade said hopelessly.

"But anyway remember these two things… Sakura is not to be reminded of the past events and Sakura is not allowed to use her chakra yet. These things might worsen her injuries," she reminded everyone when they left her room.

Sakura woke up expecting Gaara to be by her side but instead she found her best friend grinning at her. "Sorry to break your expectation but he's working today," Ino teased. "I know that already Ino-pig," Sakura countered then they laughed together just like the old times.

They were having a pleasant conversation when someone knocked. "I wonder who it will be. Naruto? Sasuke? Or… your Gaara?" Ino mocked her as she stood up to open the door.

After opening the door, Ino fell silent. "Ino who's at the door?" Sakura asked wondering what's wrong. One anbu and one jounin of the hidden sand entered the room. "What do you want?" Ino asked nervously. "Sakura is summoned by the council. It is urgent," the male jounin stated.

Sakura got up and nodded. "Ino, don't worry it'll be alright. If it's the council then I'm sure the Kazekage and the Hokage are there as well," she reassured her panicking best friend. "Alright," Ino replied as she stared at her when she left the room.

Changing into her usual attire she entered a large hall that as far as she remembered was used to interrogate Sayuri before. Looking at their faces, she saw the advisors of the Kazekage but the Kazekage is not present and so is the hokage. What's going on? She asked herself as she walked further into the room.

"Sakura-san, you're here to answer a few questions…" one started. Sakura could only swallow her gut feeling that somehow this might get ugly. The interrogation starts…

"Sakura-san, you were once called Sayuri am I right?"

"Hai,"

"Then you knew about the secrets of the hidden moon,"

"Secrets? I was not aware they had any."

"The hidden moon village had unique powerful techniques even though they were only composed of a few hundreds. Do you know those techniques?"

"Some… I suppose,"

"Sakura-san, you're being difficult. If you would just tell us the truth then…"

"I AM TELLING THE TRUTH!"

"Sakura, we're gong easy on you because of you're parents death but if you prefer to be like this then…"

Sakura's head started throbbing with intense pain. The horrid scenes that welcomed her at her arrival in her house came flashing before her eyes. Her memory focused on the blood message on the wall "Welcome back phoenix," That's right how can I forget about them… it was my fault they died… I killed them! Blood trickled from her head and her strength was leaving her yet again as the flashes memory did not stop from appearing in her head.

Ino walked down the streets and saw the Kazekage with Tsunade-sama. Her heart skipped, she ran to them. "Why are you guys here?" she asked them quickly. "Ino… What's wrong?" Shikamaru walked by her side followed by the rest of the gang.

"Weren't you supposed to be with Sakura?" Kiba asked as he patted Akamaru's head. "Sakura went with an Anbu and a jounin. They said something about a council meeting…" "What council?" the Kazekage's temper was growing short. Are they making decisions without me! "Sakura went with then knowing that you two will be present at that meeting," she stuttered.

Gaara rushed into the usual meeting room but found that it was empty. Then he proceeded into the other meeting room that was used only for interrogation of criminals. Without hesitation, his sand slammed on the doors to open them. His eyes widen in anger as he saw Sakura was bleeding in the middle of the seated advisors.

"WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO HER!" The sands rose from the floor.

A/N: Okay, I know this took too long to write I was just having problems Hehehe. But please don't fail to read and review. If you're reviews are good then I'll be posting the next chapter the day after tomorrow.