A/N: Sorry for the long wait... Hahaha... I got to work with my final exams and I also got to attend our school's recognition... I also attended practices and stuffs... So... Before i start blabling about nothing let's start!
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Naruto.
Sakura's eyes widened at his words. She felt her face burn.
He slowly released his hold on her and twirled her around.
"Now that I've answered your questions, you might as well go home now. It's getting late." Gaara said as he smirked at her reaction.
Sakura couldn't bring herself to speak but she manage to nod her head.
"Want me to walk you home?" he asked.
Sakura snapped back to reality and answered. "Uhm... Thanks but no thanks... I'm going at Ino's for a little sleep over anyway," she smiled.
"Sleep over?" Gaara asked,
"Yep, it's a girl thing." Sakura grinned.
"Oh... Then I'll walk with you up to her house." He proposed.
"You don't have to," she started. "Don't worry, it's not like I'm gonna be kidnapped or something. I'm a kunoichi remember?" she continued.
"If you say so," Gaara said. "I'm leaving for Suna tomorrow morning.'' He informed her.
"Huh? Already?" she said, a bit disappointed that he's leaving already.
"Yes. But I'll be back, for the Chuunin exams a month later." Gaara said.
"Oh, I almost forgot. Konoha will be the one to host the test this year." Sakura said.
"Yeah, I'll see you there then?" Gaara said.
"Ofcourse!" Sakura chirped.
"Good, Bye for now" he said. He gave her a smile that was only reserved for her before bending down and kissed her on the forehead.
"Bye." he bid then disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"Bye." she smiled then headed to Ino's house.
"Hey Forehead, took you long enough." Ino grinned letting Sakura enter her house. Sakura smiled.
"Sorry Pig, I needed to get my stuff in my house." Sakura said as she entered the living room, Hinata and Tenten were already sitting comfortably on the couch. The four of them had gotten closer over the years and Sakura can talk with them about anything.
"Yo Sakura, you're late." Tenten greeted.
"Hehe, uhm... Where's your parents Ino?" Sakura asked.
"They're in a mission, we have the house till tomorrow night" Ino smirked.
"Oh... That's nice" Sakura grinned.
"Yup it is... Sooooo, what happened?" Tenten asked.
"Huh?" Sakura asked innocently.
"You know... Gaara-kun?" Hinata said smiling.
"Oh... I see Pig here already told you guys the story." Sakura sighed. Ino grinned.
"Yeah, now answer the question." Ino said.
Sakura sighed again then told the story.
"Woah, I never thought Gaara is capable of such words." Ino said munching the chips she was holding. Sakura just finished her story and Ino had distributed some food to them.
"Me neither" Sakura sighed dreamily.
"I never knew he was sweet" Hinata smiled.
"Me neither" Sakura sighed again.
"And he was capable of bringing you on that state" Tenten said, a huge grin spread across her face.
"Me neither" Sakura sighed... again.
"She lost it" Tenten sighed.
"Yeah" Ino laughed. "She haven't been in that state since... Sasuke" Ino continued.
Suddenly, Sakura snapped out of her gaze at the mention of his name.
"What do you mean PIG?" she glared at Ino.
"Well, as far as I can remember, Sasuke is the only person who can reduce you to that state." Ino stated.
"I agree" Hinata said.
"Me too" Tenten mused.
"Mou... Guys, He's already in the past. I don't care about him anymore." Sakura said.
"Uhhuh, sure you don't" Tenten teased.
"Guys, stop teasing me." Sakura pouted.
The girls started giggling as Sakura rolled her eyes.
"Hey Sakura, I'm just curious about one thing." Hinata said.
"Hmmm?" Sakura turned to her.
"What will you do if Sasuke-kun suddenly returns to the village?" Hinata asked.
Silence.
"Nothing Hinata, I will do absolutely nothing." Sakura said dead panned.
"I see" Hinata said.
Another silence.
"Hey guys come on, let's sleep now, it's late." Tenten said, sensing the heavy atmosphere.
"Sure" Ino chirped. As they arranged their sleeping bags.
"G'nyt girls" Sakura said. She received a chorus of goodnight as replies. She sighed. She closed her eyes, one question bugging her mind, What will she do when Sasuke indeed return to the village?
'Nah, there's no use thinking about it, he wont be returning anymore anyway' Sakura concluded as she finally fell into a deep slumber.
"Forehead wake up now, it's already noon" she heard Ino say. She opened her eyes and saw her friend.
"Oh, morning Pig." She greeted.
"Correction, noon" Ino said.
"Oh, sorry, noo- WHAT NOON?" She jerked up from her sleeping bag.
"Yes forehead, noon" Ino said simply. "Now go to the kitchen, Ten and Hinata's there already." Ino said then left her.
"Noon" Sakura muttered to herself. "Damn, I didn't get to see Gaara off." She sighed.
'I was too busy thinking of what I will do if sasuke returned that I fell asleep a bit late. I even forgot to wake up early to see Gaara off' she mentally slapped herself.
"FOREHEAD!" she heard Ino yell.
'oh-well, I don't care about him now anyway. Hmmmm... Oh! I've got an idea, I'll just make sure that I'll be the one to greet Gaara first when he arrive next month'
"COMING, PIG" she yelled back as she slowly brushed her hair, fix herself and went down stairs.
"Is it just me, or you are getting a lot dreamy this past few days" Tenten stated as Sakura took a seat across her.
"No I'm not!" Sakura said and pouted. Tenten rolled her eyes.
"Guys food's ready" Hinata smiled as she served the food then sat beside Sakura on the rectangular dining table.
"Let's eat!" Ino beamed as she started eating beside Tenten.
"Itadakimasu" Sakura said as she too started to eat. The other girls followed.
After eating they all sat on the couch and chat about almost everything then the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it" Ino said as she went to the door. "Yes?" she asked as she opened the door.
"Hi Ino!" Naruto yelled.
"Sheesh Naruto, you don't need to yell." she said annoyed.
"Opps sorry, uhm, is Sakura-chan in there?" he asked.
"Why?" Ino asked.
"Granny-Tsunade calls for her." Naruto stated.
"Fine, I'll tell her" Ino said then slammed the door shut.
"Sheesh, what an annoying woman" Naruto muttered as he ran towards Ichiraku.
"A B-class mission?" Sakura asked. She was now in front of Tsunade discussing a mission.
"Yes, and it's out of town. You'll be taking this scroll to the wave country. I guess Naruto forgot to tell you but Hinata will be included in this mission." Tsunade nodded.
"I see, I accept this mission.'' Sakura said. 'As long as it won't take too long, it won't be a problem' she thought.
"I'll give you and Hinata one week for this mission, you will be leaving later." Tsunade said.
"I understand" Sakura nodded.
"Good, dismissed" Tsunade ordered.
Sakura nodded once more and she started to run towards Ino's house to inform Hinata about this mission.
Tsunade looked at her figure from the hokage tower then sighed.
"You ordered her into a one-week mission so that she wont be able to see him returning right?" Shizune said entering the room.
Tsunade turned around and sat on her chair.
"It's all that I can do." Tsunade stated.
"When will he return?" Shizune said.
"It would be approximately tomorrow afternoon" Tsunade said.
"He's injured right?" Shizune asked.
"Yes, it's not really life-threatening but he will be hospitalized for a while. And if everything goes well, he will be remaining on the hospital by the time Sakura returns." Tsunade said.
"You really don't want her to see him right?" Shizune smiled.
"Honestly, yes. I don't want to see Sakura broken once again. But I know they will be seeing each other when the time comes. I will just do what I can to prevent it from coming earlier." Tsunade stated.
"I see." Shizune said. "Well, I will be leaving now, I need to help into the hospital." she started to walk to the door.
"Shizune." Tsunade stopped her.
"Yes?" She turned around.
"When he returns tomorrow, quickly bring him to the hospital, and do your best to prevent people from seeing him. I don't want his return to be known to the village just yet." Tsunade ordered.
"Understood" Shizune nodded then left.
Tsunade reested her gaze on the door. Her thoughts wandered on her incoming visitor.
'I never thought they would be able to catch you so easily. On second thought, that person is included on the team. But still, I never thought I will be able to see you this fast...
...Uchiha Sasuke'
A/N: I'm really sorry for the wait and I give you a chapter like this.. T_T I'm reeeaaaaaaaaallyy sorry. But still, I hope you still like it.
To the reviewers, thank you very much for the support. I'll keep writing! See ya soon!
Jane~~
A sHaDoW eAgLe