Chapter 8
It was the next morning they headed back to Suna, after Gaara hired Shikamaru (Specifically) to escort Temari back when they returned. It was pretty early in the morning, but Sakura had to ask.
"Gaara, what happened with Shukaku?" Gaara looked at her, not quite understanding. "He seems like a nice guy, a little rambunctious, but not a terror. He tried to kill us all. What happened?"
"He's a demon. He thirsts for blood, and I no longer give into this. Please remember that demons aren't like humans. They want the humans dead, so that they may reclaim the world. Shukaku seems nice, but he just wants out. You must remember this, as he has taken into you." Sakura nodded and Kankoro gritted his teeth. "Gaara won't admit it, but Shukaku is usually ignored. Every once in a while I'll catch him talking to him, but generally he tries to avoid the lies and deceit. He will lie and cheat, unless it's a situation that may bring damage to his summoner." Sakura nodded. "I'll remember."
It wasn't till that night that that Kankoro's pain really started to subside, and Sakura became worried. "You've been in pain this whole time?" She looked over his arm, removing bandages and looked over it. "Yeah, it happens." Kankoro sighed, fighting back a grimace when Sakura lifted his arm, looking at the alignment. "That's it..." Sakura ran her fingers over his arm, tracing the bone and sighed. "This might hurt..." She summoned her chakra and pushed, finding a break that hadn't healed properly right below the new break. The bone snapped, causing Kankoro to fight back a scream, and she twisted hard, snapping the bone into proper alignment, and Kankoro let it out, screaming in pain. Sakura used her chakra again, but this time the bones within were connecting, pulling each other like a magnetic attraction. Sakura replaced the bandaging and Kankoro tried his best to catch his breath.
"What was that?" Sakura gritted her teeth. "There was a break, right here," She pointed at his forearm. "It hadn't healed straight. That's why your arm was still hurting. In about an hour you'll notice there won't be any pain. Who fixed that for you?" Kankoro rolled his eyes. "Suna med-nins. They're a little lacking." Gaara looked at his brother, his face frozen in what appeared to be anger. "I'm sorry, little brother, but it's-"
"Perfect." Kankoro and Sakura both looked at him, dumbfounded. "Sakura, you were hired to be the escort to the Kazekage. You will have another mission as well." Sakura sighed. "Train the med-nins?"
"No, replace them. You'll understand when you see them." Sakura nodded. What had she gotten herself into?
They arrived late the next afternoon, finding a small farm that the owner recognised the Kazekage and insisted on him taking horses. "Just after you became Kazekage we had a problem with mist ninja! They tried to take the farm and threatened to steal my daughter and kill me and my wife! You came out here personally to help, and I thank you! I insist, it's the least I could do!" Sakura looked at Gaara and smiled, noticing the edges of a smile he held back. "It's my job." The man shook his head. "No, it wasn't. I didn't have the money to pay for ninja. They'd been stealing my profits for a while and we were worried of going under, now my farm is flourishing! It's thanks to you!" The man smiled, waving them to the barn.
Sakura smiled at the memory, the little girl playing with the sheep, waving at them, his wife, hanging cloths on the line, and Gaara had saved them from a horrible fate.
As they arrived, Sakura noticed the sunset. It was beautiful, the reds intermingling with the earthy yellow sand. It wasn't normal quartz sand, but something else. She grabbed at it, looking for any sign of the source of the color, and after a while figured it was just iron.
She looked up at the city. It was a lot smaller than Konoha. The tower was about the same size, but the city itself was smaller. "It's quaint." Sakura looked around and Kankoro laughed. "You must remember, this is a sand village. Many of these short buildings go underground four or five stories. The buildings sink in the sand unless they happen to be on the rock shelf over there." Sakura looked over, seeing the edges of a mountain poking up from behind the castle, but the rest of it was blocked by a wall. "The city is larger than you can tell from here. You'll see when we get to the castle." Sakura nodded, noticing Gaara's now frozen face. She looked at him, surprised, but realized why as they got a little farther in. "It's the Kazekage!" She noticed young women smiling at him. "He's so strong!"
"He's so brave!"
"He's so cute!" They erupted into a giggle fit. Sakura looked over at him, his eyes facing forward. He was doing his best to seem strong, and Sakura decided to do so as well.
They approached the castle, and Sakura noticed the mountain was behind them more than before. She looked around, and it dawned on her that the mountain seemed to surround. "Yeah, We're in a hollowed mountain. You can't even see it from a mile away unless you know what to look for." Sakura nodded, and looked around. "You can barely even tell from in here..." She looked around, noticing the girls watching her wide eyed. "Is Gaara-sama traveling with a woman? It's not Temari..." They watched amazed as Sakura made sure to keep her gaze forward, her posture strict and professional. Kankoro sighed, leaning forward over the horse's head. "Let me know when we get there."
Sakura slowed, taking the reigns of the horse and watched as Kankoro yawned. She wasn't tired. She looked ahead at Gaara and he seemed to notice the sudden alarm, turning to her. "What's wrong?" She stopped the horses and jumped off, feeling Kankoro's head. ""He's warm. Kankoro, How many fingers do I have up?" He looked her straight in the eye and grinned. "Four." Sakura sighed. "You cheat." She sighed as Gaara pulled him from the horse, and they began to walk. They had only gotten a few buildings down when Sakura looked over, noticing him swaying. "Kankoro?" He looked over and smiled, before he fell to his knees. Gaara looked over and dropped the reigns on the two horses he had, running to his brother's side. "Kankoro! What's happened?"
"It's alright, just too much heat." He began giggling. Gaara looked over at Sakura who sighed. She looked over to him and looked back at the castle. "Gaara, you need to get med-nins. We need to get him to the hospital now. I think he has marrow broken into his blood." Gaara looked down at Kankoro who tried again to stand. "Nonsense! I'm just a little weak, maybe heatstroke..." He got about another foot before falling again, Sakura caught him before he hit the ground, his broken arm beneath him. Gaara sighed, pulling the cork from the gourd. "Uh," Sakura stepped back.
"I'm not attacking now. I'm still a little weak..." Sakura nodded. "You better keep in check." She growled, and many of the people about in the street thought she'd just growled at the Kazekage! Gaara held his hand before him, the sand lifting Kankoro up into a sand chair, and he walked, the chair following behind. Sakura looked around, seeing two of the sand ninja walking up. Gaara turned to her and then to the ninja. "Take her horses to the stables then inform Baki I've returned early."
"Hai!" They called, snapping to attention and one took the reigns. "Pardon me miss!" The man whimpered and Sakura ran up, placing her hand on Kankoro's neck. "Did she just touch him without asking?" one whispered to the other, and they watched as she ran ahead, wrapping her arms around Gaara's. She spoke up to him and smiled, Gaara looked down at her and smiled back! The guards were surprised, but nearly died of shock when Gaara reached down, kissing her!
"I think I should go to the hospital afterwards, I think I'm hallucinating..."
The hospital was near the entrance, as they retraced their steps Sakura looked around, a little more into the detail. She noticed that all of the children looked happy, the people looked taken care of, Suna was definitely a village of people who were happy. She thought back to the children on her first mission, how they were all thin and lacked the basic essentials. She was happy to know that Gaara took such good care of his village.
The hospital was built into the side of the cave wall. There was little more than a door to the outside poking out of the stone. They walked in and Sakura looked around. There were people in the waiting room who were injured next to those who were sick, and the doctors looked as if they were seriously overworked. "Gaara..." He looked around and then at her. "What is it?" He looked at the nurse on duty who was currently trying to stop the bleeding of an old man with an arm wound. "Do you mind?" He looked over at her and remembered her speciality. "Go ahead." He smiled at her, and she ran to the first person who had an injury. Gaara watched as she instantly healed smaller wounds, and then when she ran to the nurses station to get gauze and bandages. The nurse turned on her, yelling about her lying about being a med-nin, till Garra walked over. "She is a med-nin, trained under Hokage Tsunade. You will give her any access she needs, seeing as over seventy five doctors are to be stationed here, and she's healed more than you have." The nurse nodded, pointing at the cabinet that contained the supplies.
By the time Kankoro was in a room Sakura had healed about half of the waiting room. "They rushed me. I have a bit of clout around here." Kankoro grinned and Sakura lookkl6y and sighed. She could tell her previous thoughts were right, and now if he didn't get care fast he wouldn't make it. She walked down the hall, leaving Gaara a little terrified. "Your doctors are in trouble. She's gonna go take care of things." Kankoro shook his head. He'd seen her angry a few times, but lately if she got mad it was downright terrifying. "You said you wanted to protect your villagers, you might want to protect them from your girlfriend!"
Gaara walk to the door and looked down the hall, finding the doctors fleeing a lounge! Sakura walked out, her hands at her sides, her eyes angry, but Gaara knew that whatever she had done it was for the best. "Please don't scare off all of the doctors." He asked, his face nothing less than completely amused. Sakura smiled. "I've found the radiology room. Kankoro, you alright with shots?"
They looked over the pieces of celluloid, looking through Kankoro. Gaara was entranced looking through the plastic. "What's this?" He asked, looking at Kankoro's hypothalamus. "That's supposed to be there. We're looking for something small and black. It would probably be in an artery, but I'm not seeing it." She looked over the cells and sighed. She pulled it out and put another slip in. Gaara looked at it and pointed again. "What's that?" Sakura looked over and laughed. He was like a kid at play! "That's a- bullet? A bit of...something...in an artery...I think you found it!" She smiled, and Gaara looked at her. "Really?" Sakura nodded as she lifted the cell to the window, looking for more light. "I think so! I'll need a closer look." She turned to Kankoro who looked down at his suit. "Why do doctors always want to see me nekkid?" Sakura turned to him, a little surprised. "It's because you wear a one piece suit and get injured all of the time." Gaara picked, and Sakura shook her head.
It was ten minutes later that Sakura finally got a look at his shoulder, but was more than anything thrilled that he wore boxers and didn't go regimental. She looked at his shoulder, no wound. This was a good thing, as it meant it wasn't scar tissue or something left there from a previous injury. Sakura took him back to radiology for another few images, a little closer this time to get a better idea of what it was. Sakura found it was what she said and when the doctor showed an hour later she showed the pictures, pointed out the situation and told them to clear an exam room. She wanted to observe the operation.
It was only about twenty minutes till Gaara saw Sakura walk out of the Operation room, looking menacingly at the doctors that came out. "Kankoro will be fine, he might be sore for a week or so, but he's all good. Your doctors probably kill more patients than injury or illness combined. They were about to begin an operation to remove his appendix." Gaara's eyes narrowed, and Sakura caught whatever was about to come out of her mouth. He was pissed, and she figured now was as good a time as any to learn to keep her mouth shut. "Sakura, will you assist here? Please, this isn't good. I need the best that we can offer, not this." Sakura looked at him as he watched on as they brought out Kankoro and he sighed. Sakura nodded, cautiously. "Of course, Kazekage-sama."
"I'm not asking as the Kazekage. I'm asking as the little brother of a man who nearly accidentally had his appendix removed." Sakura smiled. "For you, yes." She smiled at him, and he smiled at her sadly. "I have to go talk to the court. I'll take you to your area." Sakura smiled. "Uh, will I be near you?" She asked, suddenly a little afraid. He smiled at her. "Well, there are VIP rooms in the castle, or if you'd prefer you can stay in my house, but Kankoro and Temari live there as well." Sakura smiled. "Where ever would be more convenient." She bowed, and Gaara looked at her a little taken. She was being so proper, and it began to make him wonder.
Sakura noticed all of the eyes on her. She was the only woman to really travel with the Kazekage, and she intended not to offend anyone. It wasn't till that night that she found where he'd put her. "This is a guest room. You're right next to my room, but I'm rarely there. I'm usually in the room on the other side, my workout room. You're free to use it as you see fit, either room. The bathroom is across the hall, and after he returns Kankoro's room is across from mine, Temari's is on the other side of the restroom." Sakura nodded, trying to take in the directions. "The kitchen, living room and my office are down the hall. I'll show you." He put down her bags, insisting on carrying them after her spaz at the hospital, as she was covered in blood. He turned to her and winced, realizing again her state of being. "Than again, maybe you should take a shower first." She nodded, looking at the blood splattered across herself.
She pulled out an outfit and Gaara sighed. "I'll have something made when you get out. I'll be down the hall, that way." He pointed and Sakura nodded. He left her at the bathroom door and she wandered in. 'This is so much better than my bathroom...' She smiled as she looked around, the size of the room surprising her. She looked around, noting the dark red clay used to make the walls wasn't the same as in here, it was a beautiful marble, almost completely white. The tiles on the floor were a black marble, flecks of grey throughout. There was a giant bath tub in the center of the room and a shower in a recess by the door. Sakura smiled as she turned, seeing the mirrors in the back of the room. There were three. One was Gaaras, she could tell as one had the purple makeup and a black pen, one had blue, green and pink eyeliner and one was bare, save a writing pen and a comb. It seemed sad to her that only he had his work on his desk while the other tow had something a little more personal. She stripped off the clothing that clung to her flesh, and made her stomach turn.
He hadn't made it.
She picked up the cloths and threw them into the cloths bin in the corner, and walked to the shower. She turned the knob and felt the water, turning up the heat till the temperature was comfortable and she stepped in. It was a minute in, she'd wetted her hair when she heard Shukaku. "The water really is nice, isn't it?" Sakura sniffed. "I'm pissed at you! How dare you! Evil bastard!" She grumbled, realizing she'd accidentally left her shampoo in the pack. "Use Temari's. It's extra softening, and I've seen your hair." Sakura growled, and reached, grabbing the bottle. Sakura washed her hair, and ran the soapy cloth over herself, washing away the blood. She sighed and looked down at herself, the water now gone. "You wanna feel something interesting?" Sakura closed her eyes. "Like what?"
Sakura felt the sand creep up her leg, and she looked down. "What are you doing?!" She gasped as the sand crept farther, and all she could do was try to brush it away with no effect.
She braced herself against the wall and gasped as the sand reached higher, rubbing against her and she bit down, trying to keep from feeling anything. She wasn't able to for long, and the sensations finally broke through her block, making her gasp slightly. "Gaa-ra!" She gasped, hoping to get him to pull back the sand. Shukaku kept this up for a minute, and Sakura moaned. "Gaa-rah!" She leaned against the wall, the sand sneaking around.
"Gaara!" She screamed, seeing the small stream of sand gathering on her thigh. "Sakura? What's wrong?" She looked over to the wall and moaned again as the sand rubbed against her faster. "Shu-ka-ku!" She was failing at holding herself up and Gaara wandered over to see what was going on.
Gaara stepped back, Sakura laying on the floor, her hair draped over her shoulders and breasts, her arms barely holding her up and the sand was spread across her. It webbed across her back and Gaara could tell where it was heading. He put up his hand and pulled back, the sand following command.
"Oh, come on! I'm just having a little fun..." Gaara sighed as the sand slid back to the bottle. He walked up and she was able to crawl back to her hands and knees, her breathing laboured. She leaned against him and he put his arm around her. "Are you alright?" Sakura looked up at him. "I'm alright. I feel like I need to shower again." She shook her head. Gaara began to stand but Sakura wrapped her arms around his arm and he looked down. "Are you sure?" She nodded, but seemed to clench closer to him. "What do you want me to do?" He asked, looking at her. She knew he wasn't picking on her, but she wasn't really sure what she wanted him to do. She leaned her head on him and sighed. "I want you to be here with me." She pouted, and Gaara looked at her, narrowing his eyes. She was playing with him, and he knew it.
"Shukaku must have really gotten to you, asking me to stay in here with your state of dress." Sakura looked down, suddenly embarrassed. He leaned in and kissed her, a strong kiss that swept any rational thoughts away from her. She wrapped her arms around him as he ran his fingers through her hair, down her neck and over her back. Sakura's body was so sensitive from the wind on the trip that she kept gasping and moaning as he his areas on her.