Authors note: This chapter is a bit longer and definitely more informative…. I've also decided to add some more pairings so watch out - like a ninja - ; I've decided on two for sure, Gaara/Sakura being the main pairing and Shikamaru/Temari the other.
I also feel I should warn those who do not read the manga not to read any further if you don't want to know any spoilers. I won't say specifically which facts are spoilers and which aren't so there will be a little mystery in there for you but some are blatantly obvious.
I also stick pretty closely to facts except for the whole Gaara/Sakura pairing obviously.
Chapter 2
"Sand Siblings"
Kazekage Tower
"Gaara, the surveillance team is back" Kankuro stepped through the kazekage doors and stood in front of his little brother.
"The mission wasn't a complete success; they didn't find any conclusive evidence that the rogue ninja are the one's responsible for the village burnings. They did however come across someone on the way back."
Gaara looked up from his documents for the first time since Kankuro entered "The akatsuki?"
"No, only the remains from what looks like a confrontation between the akatsuki and a ninja of the hidden leaf."
"Who was the leaf ninja?"
"Haruno, Sakura the medic under lady Tsunade" Gaara turned to look out his window and watch the chuunin with Temari a distance away.
"Are we sure it was the akatsuki?" closing his eyes Gaara thought back to the old team seven from Konoha. 'What was she doing alone with the akatsuki? I haven't received any information on actions being taken against them.'
"Yeah" Pulling out a piece of clothe from his pocket Kankuro threw it onto Gaara's desk; turning slightly to look out of the corner of his eye Gaara saw the black piece torn from a robe. Picking it up and flipping it over he saw a small portion of the akatsuki symbol left behind. "She was clutching this when they found her"
Taking in a deep breath Gaara stood to make his way to the message center; he was tired of the problems caused by the akatsuki and was in no shape to fight them alone; them being near the sand village wasn't good news. "I'll send word to the hokage on the situation" walking past a few of the village elder's Gaara nodded before turning to Kankuro "What is her condition?"
"I don't know the specifics as of now; I only saw her as she was brought into the village. She had multiple head injuries, bruising along her rib cage, and according the surveillance team, cuts along both her sides and across her stomach. I was unable to see any of them beneath the dried blood."
Gaara continued to walk down the sand covered hall. "I'll send word to Konoha; contact me if there are any changes in her condition" turning to face Kankuro he covered his face with his hands; dragging his fingers along his eyes in attempt to wake himself up showing more emotion than usual "I'll ask them for reinforcements just in case the akatsuki are still around; we can't afford casualties and in my current condition I won't be of much help."
Suna Hospital
"Nurse!…." Kankuro walked up to Sakura's attending nurse "Nurse!"
"YES! What can I do for you?" Irritated from the long shift she was being made to take on in order to watch the leaf ninja and Kankuro's naturally loud tone she let her chart hit the counter with a thud.
"What of Haruno's condition?"
"She's still in the woods; when she came in she should have already been dead. Her head has already given up now its left to her body to decide" leading Kankuro to her room she entered picking up Sakura's chart. Holding up the blankets revealing her sides the nurse continued. "We've healed most of the exterior wounds; it's the internal ones that are causing problems" Dropping the blankets she moved to the end of the bed " We won't know the outcome until tomorrow; tonight is simply watch and see."
Turning Kankuro left with a wave of the hand "Thanks"
Kazekage Tower
The messenger bird lifted off of Gaara's fingers and headed for Konoha with a letter detailing the position of the akatsuki, the condition of Sakura, and Gaara's request. Staring out at the wings of the bird he watched without seeing thinking only of his own uselessness in his village's time of need. After his capture and the akatsuki's attainment of Shukaku he's had to start from square one as far as controlling his sand came. It was a relief in one way yet a curse in another; he was no longer as indestructible as he was before.
His lifeless green eyes stared out across the sky; arms folded at his chest and his emotionless face followed the clouds now that the bird was out of site. Standing there he stayed till morning watching the same spot waiting for Konoha's reply; Gaara knew he needed sleep now that Shukaku was gone and Temari wouldn't let him forget it; if only it was that simple. 'I've lived my entire life without sleep and now I'm expected to go on a regular schedule…hnn..'
It was sunrise when his attention was caught by sudden movement in the sky; the reply had come. Behind him a loud crash was heard followed by a females voice "Where is he!" Closing his eyes before returning to his task he attempted to ignore what he knew was coming
"Gaara!" he heard the fuming Temari come in behind him while keeping his eye on the bird. "Have you been here all night? You do know we have a code team that works up here!" Walking over to his side she attempted to get his attention "You need sleep; go home!"
"I'm not tired" holding his arm out the bird landed with a scroll attached.
"You not tired! Gaara, even the ninja at the front gates take turns sleeping; Kankuro was on assignment last night to keep watch over Sakura and even he slept on the operator's desk!"
-Flash- Kankuro passed out on the nurses station drooling on the reports with nurses yelling at his non reactive form -Flash Ends-
Watching her younger brother read the response from the Hokage she threw up her hands in defeat. "Fine!"
"Temari" She turned hopeful of a more interactive response; Gaara filed the reply and turned to his sister "Relieve Kankuro of his post and report any changes to me; the ninja from konoha will arrive in three days" walking past her he left Temari who now stood where Gaara did.
"Damnit!" cursing she whipped her fan around causing the rooms contents to go array and left through the window.
Feeling the remains of Temari's wind against the back of his neck on the way to his office Gaara welcomed the cool breeze. Grabbing documents to bring home and work on he turned off the lights in his office and left the Kazekage tower.
The draining affects of the night before hit him on his walk home and he decided he would try to fall asleep for a couple of hours, maybe just this once with the help of sleeping pills he would be able to leave his awakened state. 'Then maybe Temari can pay attention to her own sleeping patterns instead of mine'.
Konaha
"Hey Granny Tsunade it's too early to be awake" stumbling into the hokage's office Naruto continued to complain while hanging off of Shikamaru.
"Your both late!" Shikamaru threw his hands up in response before shoving Naruto off his shoulder.
"I was on time until I ran into him" mumbling under his breath Shikamaru stood with his hands in his pockets waiting for his orders.
"Were waiting on Kakashi; he's doing a sweep of Sakura's room before he meets us" Naruto's head snapped up at Sakura's name; his gaze darkening as he thought of all the possibilities.
"Why is he at her house?! What happened to Sakura! TELL ME!" Naruto slammed his fist down on her desk causing her papers to spray off her desk
"Naruto! Calm down or you won't be involved in this mission at all!" Tsunade turned to find Kakashi appear outside of the window; walking to take his place in front of her beside Naruto placing his hand on his students shoulder. "Kakashi, did you find anything explaining her absence?" Shaking his head in response he watched as Tsunade paced back and forth contemplating her students decision to leave 'or was she forced' Tsunade thought to herself. Kakashi thought about putting her out of her misery along with Naruto and handing her the note he had found on Sakura's night stand beneath her photograph of team seven; he decided against it. He wanted to find out for himself if it was necessary to cause problems for Sakura especially when he felt responsible for a portion of her misery; he would speak with her first.
"You three will be heading out in one hour at the most to Suna where you will retrieve Haruno Sakura and stand guard under the orders of the Kazekage" Placing her fist on her desk she looked more haggard than the day Jiraiya had passed; Kakashi could see recently the smallest things taking their toll on the women in front of them. "According to the surveillance team in Suna that found Sakura it was the Akatsuki that attacked her; the…." Naruto interrupted her ready to explode
"What! Why would they attack Sakura! What does she have to do with anything?"
"QUIET!" Slamming her fist down her desk broke in two sending wood splinters flying in every direction causing the three in front of her to have to shield their eyes. "The reason for the attack is unknown to anyone at the moment!" Breathing heavily she calmed herself as best she could "All we are informed of at this point is that Sakura is in critical condition and that the only thing they are able to do is observe her until they know whether or not her body will pull through." Turning Tsunade pulled out medical files she had spent the last two hours putting together for the Sand Medics to review. "Give these to Sakura's medics; tell them they are detailed instructions on any emergency internal procedures they may need given the type of injuries Sakura has suffered." Handing them to Kakashi she went on "After you hand these over you are to leave that part to the Sand Medics and go to the Kazekage tower for orders; it is my understanding that he believes the Akatsuki may be sticking around for a while and in his condition would like support from our village. That is your main mission; when you are off duty you may go to the hospital to check on Sakura; then and only then are we clear."
They all nodded in unison before she dismissed them to pack their things and leave. Shikamaru left with Naruto immediately afterwards while Kakashi stayed. Watching Tsunade's movements he could tell she had been drinking.
"You know she'll be fine, Sakura's strong." Tsunade looked up before laughing a drunken laugh
"So was Jiraiya." Taking another sip of saki she turned to look out the window "leave Kakashi, you have a mission to be preparing for" with that he left closing the door behind him.
Suna Hospital
I woke to white; white sheets, white curtains, white lights; am I in the afterlife? Beige came next, the beige sand covered walls and floors; am I dead? The sun shined through the open windows giving the room a vibrant yellow highlight; I'm not. A tear slid down my cheek and danced along my lips, I can taste the salt, feel the moisture; I can feel everything. I'm alone with the exception of the bag in the corner of the room; someone was here and now their not. Was it Naruto? Did he find my letter a letter of betrayal; is he so disgusted by me that he can no longer stay by my side? My mind is racing to the many possibilities deciding whether to run away or stay and fight my way through.
It took me a while but I have to go, I can't let anyone else see me like this. I make to move before I realize I can't, my body is in pain; I scream out at the sharp pressure in my stomach. Someone's coming; I can hear the footsteps moving quickly to my door before it swings open.
'What are they doing here?' I look around once more before I realize where I am. I'm in Suna, I didn't realize I was traveling so close to the village "mnnph!" my stomach gives another sharp pain when I realize a nurse is examining me, someone is also talking. 'Are they talking to me?' I stare ahead not ready to function; not willing to listen. I have nothing that is of use for them; for anyone.
I close my eyes not realizing I'm still crying; they stare.
I'm like that for a few hours, my mind is somewhere else; I'm still weak. They're calling for someone else, 'is it someone to get through to me? Someone to reason with me? Maybe it's someone who knows I'm a coward.'
An hour later I'm still frozen, wondering whether or not everyone's better off without me; 'maybe if a pull the cord from my wrist no one will notice.' I'm about to try when I hear them, they're outside my room with whoever they've brought along. 'Is it Naruto?' I think while gripping my sheets watching the door. The handle twist and feet start to shuffle in; my eyes are closed so I see no one, look no one in the eyes.
They stare.
Authors Note: Wow could I do put a larger amount of author's notes on here. Anyways just to let you know the third chapter is where everything really kicks into gear. The first and second are merely opening and placement chapters. So hopefully you'll stick around.