+++++ Chapter 3: Suna Air +++++++++
********* Sakura's pov **********
I smiled and took a deep breath of the Suna air. I had finally been let out of the hospital after five weeks. It was terrible. I finally understand why my patients are so edgy to get out. I hate sitting in a hospital bed feeling useless.
"Sakura!" A voice called. I turned to see Temari running up to me. I smiled and waved. She got closer and pulled me into a crushing hug. I giggled and hugged her back.
"I am so glad you are ok!" She breathed. I nodded in agreement.
"I am glad to be out of the hospital! One more day and I would have killed myself." I murmured. She giggled and let go of me. She grabbed my hand and smiled.
"Come on! My brother wants to speak with you." She said dragging me away. I blushed horribly at the thought of Gaara. She dragged be down the street toward the Kazakage's tower. She opened the door and pulled me in. She pulled me down the hall and knocked on the door at the end of the hall.
"Come in." Gaara's deep voice exploded from behind the door. Temari opened the door and pulled me into the office. Once I gained my balance I stood up straight and looked around. Gaara sat behind a desk watching me, and fiddling around with a faced down picture frame. Kankuro sat on the couch playing around with his sleeve in boredom.
"Sakura. It is good to see you out of the hospital." Gaara said. I nodded.
"With your permission, Gaara-sama, I would like to stay here... If that is ok." I said. He nodded.
"That is quite alright. You will always be welcome." He said. I smiled and nodded.
"Thank you." I said. He nodded.
"However I did not call you here to just talk." He said. I nodded.
"We will leave in an hour to return to Kahona and retrieve your things." He said. I gulped.
"Brother, why am I here if you are just talking to Sakura?" Kankuro asked annoyed. Gaara shot him an icy glare and he flinched.
"My apologies." He muttered.
"You will fill in for me while I escort Sakura to Kahona." Gaara said. Kankuro snorted but nodded. Gaara turned his gaze to me.
"Go get some food and some new clothes. Report to the gates in an hour." He said. I nodded and Temari squealed. She gripped my hand and tugged me out the door.
******** Gaara's pov *********
I watched my sister tug Sakura out of the room. I closed my eyes and sighed. Sakura had changed quite a lot since I had last seen her. She used to be a small fragile girl who hid behind her teammates. She seemed different now, more confident. It caught my attention, though I am not sure why.
"Do you think she can handle it?" My brother's voice surfaced from the couch. I looked over at Kankuro who was eyeing me.
"Handle what?" I asked already knowing what he would say. Kankuro closed his eyes.
"Going back to the village to see it in ruins with no one there." He said. I looked back at the door she escaped from.
"I think she has grown up enough. Yes I think she can handle it." I said. Kankuro nodded.
+++++ With Sakura and Temari ++++++++
********* Sakura's pov ***********
I took a deep whiff of the soup in front of me. I smiled and stuck my spoon in it. I picked it up and sipped the soup.
"How are you fitting in so far, Sakura?" Temari asked. I looked at her before returning my gaze back to my soup.
"It's difficult.." I murmured. She sighed.
" You can make it though." She said. I nodded.
"I will but it will take some time." I whispered. She nodded and reached over, taking my hand. I squeezed her hand and looked up at her with a smile on my face.
"Thank you." I said. She nodded and her hand retreated. We ate in silence and paid before standing and making our way to the gate where we found Gaara waiting patiently waiting. We walked up and he looked at us.
"You are ready?" He asked. I nodded and forced a smiled. In truth I wasn't. I didn't want to go back and see my village. I never wanted to see it again in my life.