Disclaimer: For the millionth time I do not own any of Masashi Kishimoto's characters or any of their affiliates.

Ayame

A Blossom In The Wind, Chapter 4: Suna's Hospitality

Sakura hung her head, in a month she had managed to fail yet again at attempting suicide, push her grandmother even farther from her, and get herself sent to boarding school… one month! She was ashamed as well as exhausted from loss of blood. She couldn't understand it, she, as a medic nin, knew the exact pressure to put on the blade and she did and she should've been dead within five minutes… how had she survived? She began to cry silent tears as she thought of how she had failed at everything, she was never a good shinobi, no special talents in ninjutsus or genjutsus she was a mockery to the modern shinobi… until now. She had harnessed her strength and as far as she had come from that useless, pathetic little girl, why was she so willing to give it up now? Her spirit was broken, sure, but there was no reason for her to sink this low…

Within the week Sakura recovered from her injuries and was sent home, only to be told to pack her things, she was going to Suna. Hadn't her grandmother been kidding? Or at least threatening her with consequences should she try it again, but instead she meant it, she stuck by her word. "Grandma, what is the meaning of this? You can't possibly be serious?" she asked in disbelief as her things were already neatly packed and sat by the front door. "I'm sorry Sakura but I'm totally serious, I told you before, I will not tolerate you… doing such as you do…" she looked at Sakura with eyes full of regret "Maybe if I hadn't of been so hard on you…" she sighed "but I suppose the past cannot be undone" she looked sorrowfully at the bags by the door. Just then the doorbell rang and her grandmother snapped up from her daze "Goodbye Sakura…"

As Sakura was escorted from her home she broke down, she would really miss the old hag. "What's the matter?" Kakashi asked, figured it would be Kakashi to escort her from Konoha to Suna. "Nothing, I just… I… I'm a failure, a failure as a kunoichi and a person in general, that's why…" she stopped and looked at her wrist. Why had she gone to such extremes? Why? That seemed to be the question of the century, why this and why that… well frankly Sakura was sick of that word. "Why, why, why" she chanted looking at Kakashi "Who invented that god-forsaken word, I swear to god…" she stopped when Kakashi frowned at her from behind that mysterious mask of his. "Sakura, it's just a word, a word with almost no meaning, don't get so worked up" she looked down "I'm sorry, you're right, it's just a word" he smiled again "Well, since you wanted to know so badly, and you probably won't see me for many, many more years, I'll show you what's behind the mask…"

Sakura gasped in shock. "Oh my god! She said, it's worse than we ever imagined… y-your face… it's…it's…… normal!" she cried "Now where's the fun in that!" he smiled, his face was normal, a normal sized nose, normal sized lips, normal sized teeth, pretty perfect if you ask me. She felt so foolish knowing that she, Naruto, and Sasuke had went through so much trouble to see… this. She smiled and couldn't help but wonder "Then why do you wear the mask?" she asked, seeing as there was no reason to hide such a… normal face. "It just adds to my aloof appearance" he said jokingly. She smiled at this; Kakashi always had a way of making the situation more comfortable. "I really will miss you sensei" she said, frowning slightly. He cocked his head "You can just call me Kakashi, Sakura, I won't be your sensei after today" he said with a sorrowful look on his face. She began to cry again "But you will always be sensei to me" she said "you practically raised me, I could never just act as though you were just some person in my life, you taught me most of what I know and for that I am grateful" she cried, becoming weak in the knees. "Sakura, watch yourself that you do not fall" he said, gripping her upper arm. She sighed, they were already in the desert after only 50 minutes of running…

Suna appeared from over the next sand dune, the city rising in the distance as they approached. "Oh Kakashi sensei I don't want to go" she whined, wrapping her arms around his waist "Oh Sakura you will learn to love Suna as the time passes" he said, smiling warmly. "It'll be okay, I promise.." she looked at him "No! Don't ever promise! No one ever keeps their promises… especially my mom and dad!" she screamed, dropping to her knees in the scorching sand. "Sakura…" he said, pulling her up from the sand "I understand" he said, picking up her suitcase…

She dragged her feet all the rest of the way to Suna, pouting and whining to Kakashi, begging for him to take her home and he was explaining how it was impossible now that they were already inside of Suna's gates. He proceeded to drag her to the Kazekage tower, to meet the Kazekage and discuss her new housing. As soon as she walked in the room her eyes widened as did the jade ones from across the desk… the second clash between the two had just begun…

"Well" Gaara said "she is welcome to the guest bedroom until I can make better arrangements" he said through slightly gritted teeth, of course he would've put her somewhere else if he could but considering that she was a seriously suicidal risk he decided he would keep her close so that he did not have another death on his conscious, more blood on his hands. Sure he had killed countless people without feeling any remorse at all, but now… he was the Kazekage and had to set an example, a clean slate he had been given, so to speak. He sighed, she was proving to be truly troublesome. He had been informed that they were getting a new shinobi from Konoha but he hadn't expected it to be her. He looked at her, directing this statement toward her more than Kakashi "Of course we could institutionalize her , but that would be… a waste of intelligence and manpower that Suna desperately needs" Sakura snorted at this statement, she was not insane and most certainly not a tool to be used in battle. "I disagree, putting me in an institution would be in my best interest" she mumbled under her breath "I'd rather be there than her with you" she sneered. He looked at her "If that is the way you want it to be, that can most assuredly be arranged" he leered at her, the anger in his eyes clearly evident. "Now, Sakura, be reasonable, you just need to stay here for a little while, until you can get on your feet" Sakura sighed, she knew he was right and she couldn't win this argument is she wanted to "alright" she finally agreed, somehow she knew this wouldn't end well…

To Be Continued…

A/N: Well, chappie 4! Yay! Well, Gaara has been brought into the picture, hee hee, he is playing the role of hero and bad guy… for now! reviews appreciated