Chapter Two
By Mirei

His purpose on this mission was to watch over Sakura. That was it. Simple mission. He knew it wouldn't have been wise to allow her to journey alone each month but she was strong, too strong for a frail woman. She had requested him there and the Hokage granted her wishes. Her job was to come to Suna and train the medic-nin students there. Being that she was trained by Tsunade. Gaara wished to have as many well trained medics available.

So he sat in the last seat in the far left corner of the room, arms crossed, watching her teach. She wasn't as bad at it as he first thought she would be. Some of the things she taught were essential in missions as well as hospitals.

She looked up at him and smiled. He didn't respond though he wondered how she could smile after just leaving the cemetery an hour ago. Her smile made his insides do strange flipflops, something that he'd never experienced. He ignored them though and continued on with another train of thought. That still plagued his mind as well. Why was her family buried in Suna? It was probably as simple as it seemed. He didn't know much about Sakura in the first place.

Maybe it's better that I not know. Then again I've been known to become overly curious. I could always ask...no...maybe I could look into her mind...no...that's invasion of privacy. If she wanted the world to know she would have said something...not that she would have said it to me, but someone must know...

He shook his head and continued to listen to her lecture on the right way to run chakra through an injury. Watching her was like watching a teacher like when he was back at the academy. She then went onto showing them a chart she had made herself on how to remove poison without removing chakra. It also showed a quick way to do it. In case you found yourself in a dangerous situation and had to get everyone out fast. It was interesting.

When she talked about the 'exciting' world of medical ninjas she had a look of pure happiness shine in her eyes. He could tell that she really enjoyed being a medic nin and being able to feel useful after so many years of being a shadow. He used to pity her and though she annoyed him to no end he respected her. Desite he attempts at annoying her on long trips. This always seemed to happen to him. He'd find himself at the end of his rope and want to just leave her there alone in the woods, then they'd arrive and he'd realize who she was outside of the giggles.

He could still remember her on the day of the chuunin exam, when Lee hadn't shown up. She had been trapped by three Sound nins and he saved her. Whenever he thought on her an image of her smiling face appeared. The one when she was thanking Lee, the way that she placed a brave face on even though she had lost something that 'seemed' important to her at the time. She had done it for her teammates, to protect them, to break free from her weaker self and to prove to herself also that she was able to do something on her own, even if death was the end result. Sure he would admit that she knew how to get on his nerves but he saw much more then a girl who giggled a lot. There was no doubt that she wasn't smart, she had impressed the Hokage what he heard from the Hokage Sakura had managed to complete many difficult medic techniques that not even her other apprentice could at that age.

That her divine chakra control leveled up to the Hokage's as well. She not only learned medic techniques but also had her strength build up so much so that it matched Tsunade's. Though it never surpassed the older woman.

Her face still glowed in his mind. It was foreign territory for him to venture to. Thoughts of her in such a manner. This was Lee-san's dream girl and he was just another male to her. He was sure that her heart still beat for Uchiha and that in itself is something to stop anyone in their tracks. Not that he personally would ever hold deep longings for a female, let alone a medic-nin who constantly annoyed him.

He knew his role well in this particular mission, that was to protect and back her up. It never crossed his mind that she couldn't hadn't things on her own, but he also realized why Tsunade had sent him. One must never travel alone on long trips. These thoughts had come earlier and he knew them well.

"Class dismissed. Meet me in one hour in the examination room for your hands on test." the room slowly emptied as the students all left. Sakura let out a loud sigh of relief and plopped down in her chair. "Finally a little break." she grinned at Neji then pulled out a chocolate bar. He raised an eyebrow from the last seat in the back of the room. "Hey Hyuuga-san you want some?" she offered sticking it out in the air. He shook his head. Pulling it back she unwrapped it. Its delicious aroma filled the room. Something was going on inside of his mouth, something unknown to him. His taste buds were alive with hunger.

"I don't eat sweets." he answer despite himself.

"Why not, you don't know what you're missing." She broke a piece off and delicately placed it in her mouth made sounds of pleasure as she smiled and enjoy the bliss of chocolate. For some odd reason all he paid attention to was how the moments of her mouth made his own mouth water. He scowled suddenly at that. There was definitely something wrong with his train of thought. When in his lifetime had something so simple and innocent as the movement of a mouth during consumption caused such a large reaction from him?

"Oh crap, I forgot, I have to go set up for the hands on test." she jumped from her chair, chocolate forgotten, and dashed out of the classroom leaving a baffled Neji behind. It was a good thing she had left, he was beginning to salivate on the ground. Which was completely unlike him. Something was so wrong with him and she was the cause. It seemed unfair that such a little woman could stir up weird thoughts in his mind.

Rubbing his temple he stood and made his way toward the door, only to be stopped by the chocolate bar sitting there...tempting him. 'I can't give in like that, I refuse.' he thought to himself staring at it with desire.

She had been right about one thing, he didn't know what he was missing because he'd never had chocolate before. Slowly he inched his way toward the chocolate as though it were a dangerous foe that would strike if the right action wasn't taken.

Looking over his shoulder he found that he was still alone. Picking up the dark brown solid substance he sniffed it lightly and squeezed it to find that it was slightly melted. He couldn't determine quite what it smelled like, but it smelled sweet. His mouth began to water as he opened it and slid a piece inside.

The moment it touched his tongue he melted. It was the most amazing thing to ever enter his mouth. But as the door opened the good feeling left him. Sakura stood there with a raised eyebrow as she stared at the Hyuuga.

"Ah ha! I knew you couldn't resist." she pointed an accusing finger at him but held an amused smile. His silver eyes became wide as his mouth stopped chewing the sweetness of the chocolate. Never before had he been caught doing something like this. Savoring chocolate.

He was caught.

He was doomed.

He looked for an exit.

There was none.

"I don't know what you're talking about Haruno." He made sure to place the chocolate back down before she could see it. "I was just leaving this room." He made sure to walk around her in a quick pace. He made it to the door but he could still feel her eyes on his back. Could still see that smile on her face.

"You know, if you really wanted to try some all you had to do was ask." Her giggle floated to his ears and that practically pushed him out of the room into the hall. Shaking his head he made his way toward the Kazekage's home. They were to stay there until the next day. Maybe he could get the elder brother to spar with him. He needed to distract himself from her laughter and her delicious chocolate. He needed to drown her out of his mind before he went insane.

Sakura watched as he left and wondered why he was so embarrassment. It was quite normal to eat sweets at their age, at anyone's age. Even Kakashi did. Sighing she headed to the examination room. Sometimes she wished she could understand the creature known as Neji. At times she thought she could see a flicker of normalcy, then it vanished as quickly as it came.

When she finished with her students she strolled along the streets of Suna and wondered what she would do while everyone else was busy with their own work. She knew she wouldn't be seeing Neji for a while, he would most likely hide away somewhere, avoiding her.

Feeling something she looked up to find Gaara standing on a building. Smiling up at him he jumped down. He held so much authority in one little stride. She could tell that he was meant for his role as Kazekage. It was quite nice to see him so sure of himself.

"Why aren't you working? Isn't this the time that you are usually doing your paperwork?" He shrugged as the started down the street passing little shops.

"I'm the Kazekage I can do as I please and what I'm doing is walking with a friend while she's in town." she couldn't help but feel pleased at this. The word friend meant so much to her, as she hoped it meant as much to him.

"Oh really? Kazekage-sama I do apologize for questioning your great wisdom." She smiled knowing full well that he disliked being called that by his friends and family. It was still fresh for him, even after all this time.

"Funny Sakura, funny." His face remained stoic of course. But she could see the humor behind his seashore eyes.

"I know Gaara. So how has it been since I last saw you?"

"The usual, running this village and writing to you and Naruto. I find that I have more entertaining moments while visiting your village. This village is far too dry for people of your village. I do enjoy watching your village people stare as I walk along the streets."

"Yeah just a little bit but I do enjoy it and it once was my home. This place reminds me of what little moments I did have here."

They returned to his home for the evening. The sun had decided on vanishing over the sand-filled horizon.