The desk was illuminated by a single light, a cup of tea sat off to the side of dozens of scrolls. Sakura sat in the swivel chair, her legs tucked under her, a pen and small scroll of plain paper in her hands.
Ever since the mission debriefing Sakura sat in her room and pulled up all the scrolls she owed on separation. According to multiple sources this procedure was fatal. If it didn't kill him it would take months to rehabilitate him.
Rubbing her eyes Sakura put the pen on the desk and placed the scroll half full of notes next to the 3 other full ones. Standing and stretching Sakura went to the landline phone and dialed Itachi's cell phone. After a few rings he picked up, out of breath.
"Hi." She said happily.
"Hi, I'm in the middle of training, is this important?" He asked, the sound of kunai meeting wood sounded in the background.
"Well, I was wondering if you would pick up ingredients for Oden tonight; if you don't you can get yourself some ramen on the way home." Sakura said cocking her hips and pouting.
"Alright, ill get the stuff, but no leeks!" he said snapping his phone shut.
Placing the phone back on the hook Sakura looked out the window, it was pouring. 'Itachi, baka.' Sakura thought. Filling a kettle she placed water on to boil. Walking into her room she changed into a pair of skinny jeans and a plaid tank-top.
Grabbing a jade necklace from her night stand she made her way into the greenhouse. The trellis glowed softly in the overcast evening's dull light. Hanging the necklace on the trellis Sakura sat before it and drew the chakra from it into the seedlings that grew in the soil.
Naruto and Hinata called daily and asked how she was enjoying herself. Truth was she was lonely Sasuke hadn't called and Naruto said he hadn't left the house.
Her concentration was broken when the phone rang in the kitchen, running for it she picked it up on the last trill.
"Hello?"
"Sakura? It's Chioba. Gaara has agreed to meet you today at 8." The elderly woman said.
Glancing at the clock Sakura grimaced it was already 7:30. "Alright, where am I to meet him?"
"His house, I understand things are to be discussed over dinner." Giving instructions Chioba was very detailed and very strict on the time she should be there.
Hanging up the phone Sakura jogged between her room and the bathroom, clothes and makeup flying.
Writing a quick letter to Itachi she taped it to the door. Putting the number to a local delivering Ramen shop at the bottom Sakura tacked it on her door.
Running out of the building she took a right and up a ladder to access the roofs, cutting traveling time by half, Sakura arrived at exactly 8 o'clock.
The building was surprisingly small, an apartment for maybe 2 people. Gaara answered the door in a black t-shirt and a pair of loose jeans.
"Please, come in." He said in a quiet gravel-like voice.
Taking off her shoes at the door she was surprised to see the greeting room to be small and comfortable.
"Take a seat, I'll get you some tea, is earl grey ok with you?" He said, walking into the kitchen to the left.
"Yes, that'd be fine with me." Sakura said, settling onto the light green couch.
Dropping the bag at her side her scrolls rolled out, opening onto the floor. Bending down to retrieve them Sakura was surprised to see multiple picture frames on the left wall, A few childhood shots and a few pictures of him and Naruto at the last combined meetings of the cities.
Gaara walked out and places a set of finery on the table, settling into his 'throne' or 'seat of manhood' that was angled toward the couch.
Sitting Sakura took a cup in hand and drank slowly, enjoying the quiet.
"Dinner is almost ready I have Miso Soup cooking, but I timed it incorrectly so we'll have to wait a while." Gaara said leaning backwards; he sighed and rubbed his temples.
"Headache?" Sakura asked standing.
"Yeah, work is really stressful lately." He said.
"Do you mind if I heal it? It would also be an opportunity to understand your chakra levels." Sakura asked, moving behind him.
"Please do, this headache hasn't left for days." He said leaning back, into her hands.
Placing her fingertips lightly onto his temples Sakura worked on slowly easing the pain of his overworked brain.
Hearing him sight showed her she was through with that. Scrunching her nose Sakura followed his chakra paths and was amazed at how tangled they were, it would take weeks of concentration to pull them back into focus.
A timer went off in the kitchen and Sakura pulled back into herself she pulled her hands away, allowing Gaara to stand.
Following him into the kitchen Sakura was given a seat and a bowl of Miso soup with 3 onigiri on the side, simple and delicious.
"You need to focus on pulling your chakra paths back into your control, that's where a lot of the stress is coming from, suppressing Shukaku from controlling any chakra." Sakura explained; taking food in hand she idly nibbled at it, studying Gaara.
Gaara ate 2 of his onigiri before saying anything. "I've… put up with him forever. Now that it's time for him to leave it's kind of hard to let him go." He said, staring into space.
Looking down Sakura couldn't help but smile. Naruto and her had talked about something like this before. In the end if he was given a choice Naruto would keep the Kyuubi.
'He's a part of me now. He's someone that's always there, no matter how crazy it sounds.' Naruto had explained.
"I know the operation could kill me, but if I don't have it, then I could go completely mad, and kill everyone." He said, looking straight into her eyes.
