Chapter 4
Sakura woke the next morning and found Kankoro at the bottom of the stairs, looking over, surprised. "Everything alright?" Kankoro held his finger up to his mouth in a shush manner. She tiptoed down to find Gaara asleep, his head on the table. She looked over him, his face seemed different when he slept. It was peaceful and calm. Sakura smiled at him and ran upstairs, getting a blanket and pillow, and used a few special med jutsus to move him to the couch without waking him, and covered him. She waved Kankoro and Temari outside. "Let's get breakfast, let him sleep for a bit." Kankoro looked over to her, looking a little nervous. "You don't understand this, he usually only sleeps a few hours once every week or two."
"It's odd, he slept two days ago." Temari spoke, looking completely astounded. Sakura smiled. "Shukaku is giving him a break. Gaara's appreciating it. It's not as bad as you two think, trust me." Kankoro nodded, his face still nervous. "What's wrong?" He looked over, a slight blush crossing his cheeks. "I feel naked without my usual attire." Temari rolled her eyes. "You're not, there's nothing to worry about. Come on, let's go." He nodded and Sakura had to bite her lip at the thought, but he'd gotten really cute! She thought about some of the girls in the village, and their responses to him.
It was only a few seconds before she was proven right. "Sakura!" She turned to see Ino run up, her hand out. "Hey Sakura! Have you seen Naruto today? He's all pissy about something-" She turned to the others and smiled. Temari looked at her and sighed. "Ino." She nodded and Kankoro looked over. "Oh yeah, I remember you." Ino smiled, trying to flirt. "Really? It's odd, you'd think I'd remember someone as cute as you." Temari looked at her brother and tried to hide a laugh.
"Kankoro. Chunin exams." Ino looked at him for a second. "I'm with Suna?" Ino suddenly realized who he was. "Wow, you look good!"
"Yup." Sakura threw her arm over his shoulder and they walked off, leaving Ino completely fried. "Sorry about that, I just had to get her to go away." Sakura smiled after a minute, taking back her arm. "Impressive." Temari smiled at her, and all she could do was grin back. "She thinks she's so pretty, it drives me up the wall!" Kankoro shrugged. "I didn't think she was that impressive. She seemed pretty weak at the exams, and honestly doesn't look like she's changed much since then." Sakura giggled as they walked the few doors down to the ramen shop.
They had fun catching up, Temari seemed very interested in being back but for a different reason. "I have to challenge Nara. He cheated me through last time, I want to know who could really win between us." Sakura sighed. "Don't know how well that will work." Temari looked up, a little shaken up. "He's still alive, isn't he?"
"Yeah, but there have been problems and he hasn't really been able to practice much in the last few years. He's had to step forward as the leader of the house, his mother's gone and his father might as well be. He's looking out for the little one now." Temari looked up. "He has a kid?"
"Yeah, his little brother. He's ten. Sweet little boy. Shikamaru and his father train him well, but he's yet to get to chunin level." Temari nodded. "I still want to try." Kankoro rolled his eyes. "She's carried a crush all these years. Sad, really." Temari looked over at him, her face betrayed her. "Shut up, Kankoro." He smiled at her, and she looked down to her ramen, suddenly losing her appetite. "I can take you over to see him. He lives right around here." Temari looked ahead, her eyes a little surprised. "I, uh... I'll wait a little longer. See if I see him around first." Sakura looked up and smiled. "Less than even I would have expected. Shikamaru!"
Temari turned to see him, now wearing the attire he wore before missions. He wore the green vested jacket that Kakashi and Iruka wore, with the same black pants, but he never wore the shirt beneath. His arms were bare, but he'd put on quite a bit of muscle since then and Sakura thought of Gaara yesterday, his bare arms and chest...
"Interesting." The ping in her forehead told her that Gaara must be awake. "Gaara's awake. I'll tell him where we are." Kankoro and Temari nodded, Shikamaru looked around. 'Shukaku, Gaara's awake, right?' "Yeah, you're left out of the door, fifth door on the right, right?" 'Yes, and Shukaku, keep your mouth closed about that one thought. It was a slip.' Even with her eyes closed she could see the grin, but he said nothing. 'Shukaku?' Nothing. "Shukaku!" She stood up, losing her temper. Shikamaru looked over at her and realizing who she was talking about looked around. "Where?"
"Here. What's wrong, Sakura?" She looked up at Gaara, the image flooding back to her head. She did her best to cover her blush, but found herself unable to. "He's messing in my head, I think. Does he do that? Show you images?" Gaara nodded. "I wonder what he wants." He sat down and Shikamaru was now completely lost, and Temari wasn't far behind.
After a bit of explanation she noticed the triumphant look on Temari's face. There was something going on here she didn't know about, but she was suddenly afraid to ask. Gaara kept looking at her, and the narrowing of his eyes was no longer frightening, but she now found it intriguing. She was surprised to find that the vegetarian remark from yesterday wasn't true, but was Shukaku messing with her head. He did eat meat, just not much. He ordered a small bowl of ramen, and ate slowly, keeping his eyes alert around him. They ate, Shikamaru explaining the mission he was to head out on later that day. "How long will you be gone?" Temari asked, and Shikamaru shrugged. "Hopefully I'll be back in time to see the Kazekage. I heard he'll be in town for the festival." Sakura looked up at Gaara and he looked over, his eyes narrowed again. "You wish to see the Kazekage? Why?" Gaara asked, and Sakura came to a realization. He was playing.
"Curiosity. I just want to see who it is, I guess." Gaara shrugged. "I'm willing to bet he's not as interesting as you think." Shikamaru looked at him, realizing he was from Suna. "Have you met him?" Gaara had to think about this. "I've met a few." Shikamaru nodded. "Two ago was my father." Shikamaru looked up, suddenly very interested. "You were the Kazekage's son?" Gaara nodded. "The last one we had was a little crazy. He didn't last too long." Shikamaru nodded. "That's a little disturbing. What about the current one?" Gaara shrugged. "What do you think of him, Temari?" She looked over, and Sakura noticed the sudden fear in her eyes. "Uh, I uh..."
"He's a good one." Sakura stated politely, never pulling her eyes away from her bowl, and stuck another bite in her mouth immediately. 'Am I flirting with Gaara?' "You may be. He's a good guy, once you get to know him." Shikamaru sighed. "I hope I get to meet him."
"You have." Gaara stated, looking up at him. Shikamaru suddenly realized what was going on. "Oh, I'm sorry, Kazekage-sama! I didn't realize-" Gaara shook his head. "It's fine." Temari seemed to be confused, and Gaara looked at her. His eyes narrowed, and Sakura noticed a gleam in his eye she'd never seen before. "Temari, you will accompany Nara-san on his mission. A look into how the missions are carried out." Temari stood, bowing. "Hai, Kazekage-sama!" Gaara looked down at Sakura. "I will need to see the Hokage. Sakura, after we eat, will you take me to her?"
"Hai, Gaara." Shikamaru looked around, completely befuddled. "What's going on?" Temari looked up at him, unable to hide his smile. "I'm going with you." Shikamaru looked over to Gaara and then to Kankoro. "Sakura?" She looked up at him. "She's been wanting to fight you. To see who could really win in a fight between the two of you." Shikamaru raised his hand up over his head. "We did that before. You won, remember?" Temari looked down. "You let me win. I'm being serious. If we're out on a mission, I can't fight you. Gaara's trying to mess with me..." She looked over to see Gaara looking intently at her. "He loves his sister greatly. He's hoping maybe they can be happier together than she is with him." "oh." Sakura nodded, leaving Shikamaru confused. "Why are you talking to yourself? Are you alright?" Sakura looked over, her mind seemed to be everywhere at once. "I'm fine, just a bunch of new things going on." She spoke quietly and Gaara looked back down at his food. "I apologize for the inconvenience." Sakura looked up at him. "It's alright. Just take me some getting used to." Gaara looked up at her and sighed. Sakura looked down at her bowl, which was now empty. She looked around, finding all of the bowls empty. "Should we go to the Hokage?" Gaara nodded. "Temari, come with me." She jumped up, bowing again. "Hai-"
"As my sister." Temari looked up, now confused. "Alright, Gaara."
The trip to the Hokage's was short, and immediately after they got there the Hokage was in to see them. "Sakura, heard about your trip to the hospital yesterday. Should I reassign you?" She stood, shaking her head. "That won't be necessary." She nodded and looked over to Gaara. "What is it I can help you with?" Gaara stood and looked to Temari. "I wish to send my guard on a mission with one of your ninja."
"That's fine, I have Choji and Ino heading out today-"
"Shikamaru Nara. He's heading on a mission, I wish her to accompany him." Tsunade looked at him, surprised. "He's heading to the land of mist to retrieve a stolen scroll. I don't know if you want her in that kind of danger..."
"It's fine, she can handle herself." Gaara looked into her eyes, and Sakura looked over at him. "As you wish, Kazekage-sama. He leaves in three hours, have her packed and at his door in two." Sakura noticed the mixed emotion on his face at these words and he stood, bowing. "Thank you Hokage-sama." Tsunade stood, looking around. "Is that all?"
"It is. Thank you for your time." Gaara spoke as he turned and walked to the door, everyone else behind. "Sakura, can I talk to you for a second alone?" She turned to Gaara who looked back. "We'll be in the hall." Sakura nodded and turned, walking back to Tsunade's desk. "How is it? Is he giving you trouble?" Sakura shook her head. "No, actually things are going really well. I'm surprised." Tsunade nodded and looked around. "I heard he put you in the hospital, and today I see bandaging over your shoulder." Sakura smiled and thought about him, looking over her shoulder, his strong arms wrapping over her to pull the gauze taught-
"Stop it!" Tsunade looked at her surprised. "What?" Sakura spoke without thinking. "He's playing in my head again, Aren't you?" Tsunade was now nearly horrified. "Sakura?"
"Shukaku. He's the reason I was in the hospital, Naruto stabbed me in the shoulder, the doctor called him in as the demon expert." Tsunade stared, nodding. "Shukaku put you in the hospital?"
"Stab your arm with a pencil. I'll protect you." Sakura sighed and grabbed the pencil from the desk and jabbed it at her arm, the sand erupting from her skin and blocked, snapping the wood into bits. "I have Shukaku in me as well, and we don't know why. This is why it's alright, and why I don't want Gaara to be assigned to someone else." She nodded and looked around at the wood bits all over the desk. "Fine, but if things turn bad, let me know."
"They won't. He's a good person." Tsunade looked up at her. "He used to kill for fun." Sakura froze. "That's not him. Not anymore." Tsunade looked at her and smiled, and Sakura realized what she was thinking. "Fine, you three go have fun."
She met them in the hall and they went back to her place, giving Temari a chance to pack. They were at Shikamaru's door in two hours, and Temari looked over at him. "Are you sure about this, Gaara?" He raised his hand knocking at the door and turned back to her. "I want you to be happy." Temari looked at him, her eyes suddenly tearing up. "You don't expect me back, do you?" She was frozen when Shikamaru opened the door. "If you decide not to return, I'll understand. You take care, sister." Shikamaru looked between the two of them and shook his head. "Come on in, Temari. I'll be ready in a minute." She nodded and gave her brothers hugs before walking in, and Gaara turned leading the walk.
"Was she right? Do you not expect her back?" Kankoro looked at him, his face completely shocked. "I expect nothing. She's served us happily, without question. If he makes her happy, I expect her to stay with him." Kankoro seemed to keep a step behind. Sakura felt the darkened aura between them and sighed. "What should we do?" Sakura had to speak, to try and break this deafening depression. "You can try to cheer him up, but I wouldn't expect very much yet. As I said earlier, he loves his sister greatly. He's giving her up for an emotion he's convinced he's never had." Sakura nodded before what he said sunk in. "Never?" "His father wanted him dead, his mother died at birth, the one to raise him attacked him with the intent of killing him when he was six. His uncle told him never to love, that his name, given to him by his mother means 'the demon who loves only himself. Never may be too weak a word. Now do you understand him a little better? Why it was he felt the need to kill when he was younger?"
"Shukaku." Gaara froze, looking back at Sakura, who was suddenly afraid. Even Kankoro looked terrified. Gaara sighed and began walking again. "I need to be alone for a little bit. You two do as you will." Gaara walked off, leaving the other two a little shocked. Sakura winced. Shukaku had been heard. He knew what was going on. She looked at him as he walked off, the white Kazekage's robe hung off of his shoulders like a cape. He had changed, and she knew it was for the better, but for that one instant she was terrified. She sighed and looked back at Kankoro. "If you don't mind, I'm ready to go back. I'm not really feeling up to being about right now." Sakura nodded, looking back to Gaara, who was no longer in sight. "Okay, let's head back."
They sat around for a while, the quiet was overbearing but Sakura was used to having no real conversation. She got bored after a while and went to her workout room, pushing her tatami mat out of the way and began running through katas to keep herself in shape. It was about an hour later that she noticed Kankoro in the door, watching. She stepped back and offered him the floor, but he shook his head and put his arm up in the door frame. "Your movements are fluid. You've improved greatly since we fought." Sakura smiled, wiping the beginning beads of sweat from her forehead. "I'd hope so, it's been so many years." She smiled and sighed, falling back into position before beginning another kata. She went through the motions, feeling the stress from the last day melting away and began speeding up, her motions becoming more rigorous, more dangerous, till she was in an all out battle with her mind.
It was about another hour after this that she felt eyes on her again, but finished her Kata before turning to the door, Gaara there. He looked at her and again his eyes were unreadable. "Gaara, how are you?" He looked at her and sighed, his eyes turning to the floor. "I don't know yet." She nodded, looking down as well. She stood still for a minute, noting him doing the same. "You look like you should rest. It's been an overly eventful day." Sakura smiled, looking up at him. "It's only noon. I can handle a little more of the day." He looked up at her, his face looked tired and she felt suddenly sad for him.
He didn't know the emotions he had, he was run by logic. She wanted Shikamaru, so he handed her over to him, and though it may make her happy, he found himself being sad. She sat hard on the floor and rolled to her back, looking at the ceiling. "I wish I knew what to say, something consoling, but I've not been in this situation before." Gaara walked in and sat beside her. "Do you think I need consoling?" His tone wasn't angered but curious. "I do." She answered honestly. Gaara looked up at the ceiling, not seeing what was so interesting so he turned his gaze back to her. "I know she'll be safe." Sakura sat back up and turned to him, her eyes searching his. "Yes, but you handed her over, knowing she may stay at his side instead of yours. You know you'll miss her." Gaara sighed. "Miss her.." He said the words as if he'd never heard them before.
"It's alright. It's normal. People miss those they care about." Gaara looked ashamed by these words. Sakura saw the look and shook her head. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to offend you!"
"I'm not offended." Sakura froze. He felt bad for not knowing that. Sakura smiled at him, trying to figure himself out. She couldn't help but smile at him before the images of him popped int her head, but these ones she'd not seen before.
Gaara stood in the bathroom, the bottle of antibiotic in his hand. He face kept shifting between the mirror and bottle. He looked worried, and oddly sad.
"Because you need someone else. Someone besides me and your siblings." Gaara narrowed his eyes. 'I don't need anyone else. It's not as if she knows me, or would care even if she did.' "You lie. The thought of someone else to care about you, the thought of someone who could maybe even love you, it races your pulse." Gaara realized his heart rate was up, and sighed. "You make me betray myself. I don't have the thoughts you believe."
"You lie to yourself, but it's alright. You are only human."
Sakura felt the pain in her head, the world spinning around again. Gaara looked at her, confused for a second before her hand came up to her head. "Sakura, are you alright?" She nodded before the pounding happened again, sending her to the floor. "Sakura?" He jumped forward, crawling over her and looked into her eyes. Sakura felt the edges of the world fade.