This is the first beginning of how their love blooms ;)

Oh and if you really like this fic, i suppose you would enjoy readinga one-shot of mine,"Sakura on my Back", which is to be read in conjunction with this story! Its all connected!

Mwahs,

Kagura

Konohagakure

12 years earlier

"Haruno Sakura, I believe we've met before," said the pink haired kunoichi. She was smiling so wide it formed two small dimples on her cheeks.

Sakura's smile faded when she notice that the man standing before her didn't even bother to blink.

She had come earlier to the Hokage's office to be given a new mission; she then took a few deep breaths to recall what has happened earlier.

"You might finally be able to apply your years of extensive research regarding sealing techniques, Sakura." The Hokage had said.

Recently, Sakura and Shizune have been doing a lot of research in order to improve their ability of sealing. This was very personal for Sakura. Every time she was doing her work, she could only think of one person that might actually welcome the benefits of her tiring research and that person is Naruto.

"The mission does not require you to go anywhere. You are to treat and take care of our client. Like Naruto, he is also a jinchuuriki. You will be in charge of his health condition and you might possibly be able to properly seal the bakemono inside his body"

Sakura gasped. The Hokage is entrusting a huge amount of responsibility to her. The mission being given to her was far from being easy. Calling it hard or tough would be simply being an understatement.

There she was, in the Hokage's office staring at the person in front of her who remained as stiff as a statue.She tried quite hard to hide her amazement. The person standing in front of her was no longer a short red-headed kid with psycho eyes full of the intent to kill. He was tall and built. Even though he was wearing loose fitting black turtleneck, his outfit didn't hide the fact that his body is a sight to marvel at. His red hair was still as messy as ever and his eyes are still spreading the deep glare like it always did but it was missing its intent to kill. She could sense that he no longer yearned for blood.

"Well, Gaara, this is Konoha's best trained medical ninja and probably the only one ninja out of the five great countries who is capable of performing most sealing techniques" said Tsunade, beaming proudly.

Looking over the blank expression on Gaara's face, Sakura sighed, 'it's going to be a tough mission'

He was jumping from one branch to another when he felt his arm stings. "Damn insects," he hissed. Tempted to use his 'Sabaku Kyu' to crush the small being, he scolded himself for being stupid.

You are 19 and you are Sabaku no Gaara. How childish can you be? Getting all worked up for one insignificant being,

He rubbed his now itchy arm and concentrated on his journey to Konoha, making sure that he proceeds with caution and wouldn't encounter any ambushes.

Gaara has been going back and forth between Suna and Konoha for almost 3 months now. The Kazekage has ordered him to endure the treatment in order to properly seal the Shukaku inside him.

Gaara was certain that he wasn't going to miss the Shukaku in anyway and he was glad that soon he won't have to carry the weighty gourd behind his back anymore. The only thing that irritates Gaara is that no one could tell him how certain would his treatment be. He hated having to go to Konoha every weekend and he hated the fact that he felt like a guinea pig. It seems that every time he was in the hospital, the entire medic-nin trainees just had to take a good look at him. He was apparently 'a textbook miracle', Sakura had told him once.

Sakura…

One thing he did not mind was looking at her glowing face. In fact, this one girl is what drives him to go to Konoha despite the appalling travel conditions he has to go through.

He was mad enough to admit that he longed to see her smiling at him and flicking her soft pink hair in a way that would always make him drool inside like a sick stupid tanuki.

'You have indeed gone crazy', he reminded himself.

He could never stop wondering what she's like when she's not working. It infuriates him that he knows little about the sassy kunoichi.

'What is she having for dinner, where does she live, where did you learn how to massage so well and what are you wearing under that white medic robe?'

But he wasn't going to consume his pride and start making normal daily conversations with her. He after all tried to kill her a few years ago. In an attempt to convince himself that he was only physically drawn to her, he had told himself that so long as you don't see her you would not want her.

'That idea went flushing down the toilet' he scowled.

He continued his journey with his mind looking for other ideas but he kept getting distracted with the image of the kunoichi flicking her pink hair.

By the time he arrived at Konoha's hospital, he was tired, thirsty and furious. All the words used to describe a madman. He was tired from the journey, thirsty for water and possibly, Sakura. But he was furious, furious that he just can't stop thinking about her for just one second. Although, he have to admit that he was partly relieved that he will soon satisfy his thirst.

"Sumimasen, Gaara-sama" a voice whispered behind him. It was so soft he almost couldn't hear it.

Gaara turned his head around to find his object of desire…

'Not standing in front of me', he hissed inwardly.

Instead, a brown-haired nurse was standing before him.

"Hajimemashite, Michiko desu," she bowed as she introduced herself. "I will be in charge of you this afternoon. Sakura-sama couldn't attend to you today. She has… quite a few errands to run, family errands, for that matter," said the nurse making a rather forceful smile.

Gaara could feel rage spreading from his head to the tip of his fingers.

"Nani?" he hissed through his clenched teeth.

Michiko let out a small whimper of fear. She took a few steps back when she realizes that the man standing before him was tightening his fist.

'How could she dare cancel on a very important therapy session for some petty family gathering?'

He after all could not understand the idea behind the word family itself.

"I refuse to receive treatment from anyone other than the direct apprentice of Hokage-sama" he said grimly. With that, he walked briskly to his private room in the hospital.

He could hear the nurse Michiko calling out his name twice. He could sense that the woman was scared or else she would still be pursuing him and urging him to undergo the session under her care.

What a weak mortal, he mocked inside; Sakura would put the health of her patients before her fear

He was surprised that his conscience had defended Sakura. He hated this; however he hated himself even more for hating. It was really the feeling of disappointment that he was experiencing, but he has yet to admit that.

When he arrived at his private room, he sat on the black sofa. Crossing his leg, he decided to calm himself down. It was time for him to reaffirm the reason he exist. His superiority.

Don't lower yourself to their level. Don't let them get you. You are superior, he reminded himself.

The next chapter is coming soon, and it will be better than ever!

What happened to Sakura?

Read and Review, Onegaishimasu ;)