"Please, Gaara… Don't…" I was in a rage. I would kill her for trying to lie to me! I won't let anyone else ever betray me again. Never…
"Gaara, stop!" I froze. All of the thoughts of the fight with Naruto flashed into my mind. I remembered why I had apologized to my siblings. I lowered my hand slowly. The sand released Haruka and she fell to her knees. Temari rushed over to her.
"Haruka, are you all right?" She nodded.
"Yes. I'm fine."
"Are you sure?"
"Temari, honestly, I'm perfectly okay." Temari nodded and steeped away.
"Gaara, what were you thinking? You could've killed her." She wasn't yelling or scolding. She was very calm and neutral, like she usually was around me because if she had ever tried to boss me around before… I might have… "Gaara's a little… moody tonight, Haruka. I told you that. You should bother him right now. Come on, I have dinner ready." She helped Haruka up.
"Thanks, Tem. I think I'll stay here for a little longer though," then after Temari gave her a What-Did-I-Just-Tell-You look, she added, "I promise I'll be fine." Sighing, Temari jumped off of the roof and I heard a door open and then shut. Haruka didn't do anything. A long silence fell. Then she slowly put one foot in front of the other and stepped closer to me. She paused and then walked up to me.
"I'm sorry, Gaara."
"Why are you sorry?" If anything, she should be yelling at me for almost killing her. Although that probably wouldn't be very smart…
"You went through so much and I… I couldn't be there for you. That's why I'm sorry." She reached her hand out and when I didn't react, placed it over my fist.
"You couldn't help not being there."
"I'm still sorry. It's not my… or your fault that you have the One-Tailed demon sealed inside of you, and I'm sorry for that, too." I looked up at her. I showed no emotion on my face. "I really love you, Gaara, no matter what you've done because of that. It's not your fault and I could never hate you or lie to you." She leaned over and kissed my cheek. I couldn't help but be shocked. I just stared at her, eyes wide, not knowing what to say, if I should say anything at all, or how to react. Finally she smiled and said, "Come on, Gaara. Temari said she had dinner ready, so why don't we go and eat?" She took a step towards the edge of the roof and turned around, still holding my hand. I hesitated. I wasn't sure if I wanted to go in and face my siblings right now or at all. The smile on her face was knowing, though, and she convinced me with only I light smirk. I slowly stepped up to the edge of the roof with her and we jumped off and hit the ground.
"What happened?"
"You heard me. Gaara almost killed her with his sand coffin. I worry about him, Kankuro, he's always much more tense when tonight comes around. It's too much like he was before…" I stopped when I heard the door open. I turned, expecting to welcome Haruka in for dinner, and to my surprise my eyes met her and Gaara! Even more surprising was that Haruka was holding Gaara's clenched fist! Gaara was staring at the ground, emotionless as always, as my little sister lead him to the table. She pulled out a chair and he didn't even try to pull away from her.
"Here, Gaara, sit." He looked to the chair that she had pulled out for him. She squeezed his hand and then let go. He simply nodded slowly and then sat down. Gaara was actually listening to her? Especially tonight! Haruka then smiled down at him, although he couldn't see it, and sat down in the chair next to me. Kankuro and I just stared at this entire thing. Haruka and Gaara started eating and everything went back to an awkward normalcy. Like usual there was no talking over dinner and when Gaara finished he stood, put his dish in the sink and headed for his room like he always did. Well, whatever Haruka said or did to him definitely calmed him down…
I opened my eyes slowly. I yawned. I was sitting on a soft couch. As I woke up and looked around I realized I had absolutely no idea where I was. Then I recalled meeting up with Michira again and I sat up so fast I began coughing.
"Oh, so you're awake. How are you feeling?" I totally expected to be in some dungeon and have Michira torture me for the rest of eternity… but instead, I was in a small house and Michira was talking to me like I was her kin.
"What's going on?" I asked confused and bewildered.
"This is my home, Sakura. Welcome. I've made you some breakfast. You should eat and regain your strength." I looked over and sure enough a huge plate of pancakes were witting on the table.
"Your home? Aren't you gonna, like, torture me or something? Why are you being nice? Unless that food is poisoned!" I concluded. She laughed, but it was a kind, humorous laugh. Was it even possible for her to do that?
"Why would I poison you, Sakura? I went through all that trouble of getting you from your village, so why would I just kill you?"
"I guess that makes sense…"
"In fact," she continued kindly, which was beginning to creep me out, actually, "I even have to ask you for a favor." Oh no. Now it was gonna get ugly. I see what she's trying to do. Make me think she's nice and then...
"What… kind of favor?" I asked suspiciously.
"Well, you see, my dream is to unite all of the nations and countries and resolve all fighting. I, of course, would rule, but it's not quite "ruling," it's more like being a peacekeeper. Sadly, many people reject this idea, so I had to set up this huge charade to get want I could only wish for." She paused, as if imagining her so-called "dream." "Anyway, I know that to make my dream reality, many evil people must die. I am not strong enough for this task, though."
"Well, why am I here? Why do you need me? To get to Sasuke, isn't it!? You needed bait to get closer to Sasuke so that he'll join you!"
"No, Sakura." She became more serious. "I need you. Your destiny is unbelievable to you now, but I know it. Hayato told me himself. You will become very strong, but only if you agree to join me and train under me."
"Never! I'll never fight along someone who's evil!"
"Sakura, I'm not evil. This whole plot was actually a carefully planned out mission to get you without your village thinking you've chosen to leave your village behind."
"What?"
"You see," she explained, "if everyone thinks that you've been captured, then no one will reject you if you don't agree to join me. If you do agree, it will be in secret, so that you could return to your village and make sure that my plan is enforced. You would be sure that my plan succeeds. So you see, this whole thing was done to your advantage."
"So I would have to betray the Leaf village?" My voice squeaked.
"Wrong again. You wouldn't be betraying them, you would be helping them. Most of the people you know probably don't understand my goal. You aren't like them, Sakura. You are smarter, and brighter. I was hoping that you would understand. Although, if you agree to join me, it will not be for nothing. I am fair, and in return I will grant you your greatest desire."
"My greatest… desire?"
"Yes. Now tell me, what would that be?" I forgot for a moment what was happening and my mind drifted off.
"My greatest desire would be for… for Sasuke to fall in love with me."
"Sasuke? Uchiha Sasuke?" I remembered what was going on and I snapped back to the real world.
"Yes." I said simply.
"Consider it done. If you choose to join me, that is."
"What? But how will you…"
"It doesn't matter now. You should eat. You must be hungry. But before you do, one more thing."
"What's that?"
"I need your answer soon and until then I will keep a sharp eye out for you. If you choose to decline I will have to find another student to train and must set out for them. On top of that, I will have to erase your memory about what I have told you. In warning, this is not a painless jutsu and there is a chance you may die."
"D-die?" She nodded solemnly.
"Do not worry now, Sakura. Think about my offer and give me your answer when you feel ready. When you are finished eating I will show you to the room where you will be staying." I stood and walked over to the food that was on the table. It smelled so good! I was still unsure about eating it, but why would she kill me now? I was also wondering if what she was telling me was true or not. I sat down carefully and took a hesitant bite out of the food.
"It's delicious!" I accidentally blurted out. It was true, though, they were the best pancakes I'd ever tasted.
"Why thank you, Sakura." I licked the plate dry; I hadn't realized how hungry I was.
"Now let me show you where you'll be staying…"
I walked down the streets of Konoha. It was getting dark now and Sakura still hadn't returned. I was beginning to think something had happened to her. If that was true, it probably wasn't something good. I returned to the training area where she had run off. I followed where she had headed. I moved through the trees, following a faint trail of her chakra. Then I came to an area with softer ground and I could see her footprints. I followed them and eventually they met up with a very unpleasant sight. Her footprints joined up with more prints, bigger ones. Two sets of them. Something had happened to Sakura again. I had a feeling I knew who it was.
"Michira…"
What do you think? Is Michira telling the truth? Or is she lying through her teeth!? What will happen next? WHO KNOWS? Will Sasuke go after her? –Dramatic voice- Oh, the drama!
-Guess who