The woman thought over the situation with Sasuke. It still troubled her as to why he would tell her to stay away from Gaara. He was one of the nicest people Sakura knew, and liked. Though she didn't want to admit it, Sakura felt a deeper connection with the Kazekage than simply friendship. There was something hidden deep at the bottom of the well that she was afraid to bring to the surface. Even though she assumed there was a hint at romance between them, she doubted it even more. Gaara wasn't looking for romance, it was Gaara for God's sakes.
Even if Gaara did feel something stronger, who's to say she'd be able to admit her feelings? She was shy when it came to this sort of thing, it made her nervous. Besides, Sakura thought, there was nothing to be nervous about. If Gaara didn't like her, then she didn't like him either. She'd drown those feelings in the well. Simple.
"Oh!" Sakura rounded a corner and came face to face with Sasuke. He had his hands in his pockets, the same cool demeanor marking his face. "Hi, Sasuke."
"I was just coming to pick you up."
"What for?"
"I wanted to see if you'd like to grab something to eat."
Sakura squinted at him, "Why?"
I wanted to apologize for last night. Sakura took note that he said this with no hint of regret, pain, or even a remote thoughtful tone in his voice.
"I'm too tired to go out to eat." She walked past him stiffly.
He followed,"Then let me at least cook you dinner, "Sasuke reached for her arm and she automatically jerked it out of his grip. His eyes pleaded with hers,"please."
Sakura sighed, "Fine."
A coy smirk lit his face as Sasuke followed Sakura back to Gaara's. It felt eery and creepy the way he watched her from behind like that. Her skin tingled and itched all the way home, and by the time they got there, her irritation was already lit and heated.
Opening the front door, the woman, exhausted and annoyed, was greeted with delicious scents coming from the kitchen. Sasuke ground his teeth together, hoping against hope that what he was thinking was not in that kitchen. The two walked into the kitchen and were greeted with a table full of hot, delectable food that made their mouth water. Gaara stood by the stove, cooking away. He noticed the two come in and smiled at Sakura, making Sasuke growl under his breath.
"Did you make all this, Gaara?" Sakura exclaimed, leaning over to smell the food. "It smells great!"
"Thank you. I thought you'd be tired and like a hot meal before bed. I hope you like it. You too, Sasuke." Gaara smirked at the Uchiha, firing up his temper even more. Sasuke held in his anger for the sake of Sakura. She couldn't see them fighting, it'd ruin everything he was trying to do.
"That's really sweet, Gaara."
"Let's eat." Gaara called his brother and sister and everyone sat down to eat. Everyone loved it, the food was perfect and as tasty as it looked.
Sakura sat next to Gaara and the whole time she felt warm and nervous. Now that she was aware of her feelings towards him she became shy. He still acted as the same old Gaara, though, smiling at her occasionally, making her heart race.
At the end of the meal, Gaara brought out a surprise. "And for desert, Shiratama anmitsu."
Sakura's mouth gaped open, it was her favorite. "Wow, Gaara! You're amazing! That's my favorite!" Sakura licked her lips and couldn't wait to eat some.
"I know." He winked at her, making a blush creep up her neck. Yet another thing Gaara knew about her. How much did he know?
After dinner, Sakura and Gaara sat in the living room and chatted. He lit a small fire in the hearth, and letting it warm their bodies, they chatted about different things.
"Hey Gaara, how did you know my favorite food? And how did you get that picture of me on the wall?"
Gaara leaned back against the couch beside her, "I have my ways."
"The great Kazekage Gaara, clever and sneaky."
"There's something I've been meaning to talk to you about. For the next few days, I'm going to be working late. I'm swamped with work and I just wanted to let you know, you might have to fend for yourself for a few days."
Sakura giggled."I think I can manage. If I need someone to make a feast I'll give you a call."
"I'd be here in a heart beat." Sakura looked at him then, his face was gentle, heartfelt. She felt her own heart race, her breathing slowed. Time seemed to slow down for the two, everything seemed to disappear around them.
"Gaara..." Sakura didn't mean to say his name, it just came out.
"Sakura." Gaara's voice seemed as though it had been dipped in sweet honey, causing gentle shivers down Sakura's back. Gaara reached out towards her, slowly, not rushing the moment. Sakura held her breath, stared into Gaara's eyes, got lost in them. She wanted him to touch her, but in what way? Sakura did not know, she just wanted to feel his warm hands on her delicate skin. She begged for his arm to move just a little faster, she couldnt wait any longer.
The pounding of Gaara's heart flooded his hearing. The woman sitting beside him stared, gazed at him in awe. He needed to feel her under his fingers, feel the warm, soft flesh that made her. She seemed to lean forward, rushing the moment, pleading for his caress.
His fingers, warm and slender, finally reached Sakura's face. He ran a thumb across her cheek, then traced her jawline with his index finger. She didnt breathe while he did so, she hung tightly onto every moment they shared.
"You are beautiful, Sakura."
Sakura got lost in the deep, sultry sound of his caressing tone. She felt beautiful when he stared at her with such yearning and admiration embedded in his glossy orbs. She wanted to be beautiful. Just for him, so she could hear him say it all the time.
Sakura, dazed and mesmerized, began leaning forward towards the Kazekage. She yearned for the sweet taste of his lips. Gaara leaned in as well, slowly and cautiously as if moving too quickly would cause him to jolt awake in his bed. She smelled so sweet, just like beautiful petals of a cherry blossom tree. He needed her. Now.
"Ehem." A deep throat cleared by the hallway, Sakura jerked back in astonishment; Gaara simply turned his head, clearly bothered by the interruption.
"What is it, Uchiha?" Gaara asked, thinking it better be something good.
"Nothing. Just wanted to see what you two were up to," Sasuke stated casually. He stuck his hands in his pockets, digging his fingers into his palms. Anger seethed within him, anger at Sakura and that bastard Kazekage. He was trying to take his girl away from him. That wasn't going to happen, though. Sasuke was one step ahead of both of them.
"If you do not need anything, Uchiha, I'd appreciate it if you'd leave." Gaara stared Sasuke down, harboring his own anger inside. But his was far greater than the Uchiha's, his anger consisted of love and hatred, protection and possession.
Sakura, sensing the tension rising between the two men, reluctantly stood up. "It's getting late, I should be going to bed."
Gaara nodded, his attitude softening. He stood up as well,"You're right, Sakura. I have a long week ahead of me."
"If you don't mind, I'd love to stop by after my shift and drop off some food for you."
Gaara looked at the woman with the most heartfelt gaze he could manage. This woman was the sweetest he had ever met. "Yes, I would like that very much. I will tell my secretary to let you in."
"Great! Well, goodnight Gaara, Sasuke," With a respectable bow to both men, Sakura left the room and went to hers.
After the gentle sound of Sakura's door clicking shut, Gaara walked around the sofa over to the fire. He stared into the bright orange and red flames, setting his mind at ease.
Sasuke walked over silently, standing beside the Kazekage, staring into the flames. They remained silent, listening to the crackling in the hearth. "What is it you want, Uchiha?" Said Gaara.
"You know what I want. So why don't you back off."
Gaara smirked,"She doesn't want you, if you haven't noticed."
"I never said I cared about what she wanted, did I?" Gaara's smirk slid off his face as he turned toward the Uchiha. The charcoal eyes the Uchiha possessed danced with the flames. "Sasuke Uchiha. I am warning you right now: do not touch Sakura. If I find out you hurt her, I will come find you."
It was Sasuke who smirked this time,"Whoever said I was going to hurt her? She'll come begging to me on her knees, pleading for me to take her. You can't deny a woman her heart, can you, Kazekage?"
"Watch it, Uchiha. Do not forget: you are a guest in my home. Watch your tongue, and your actions."
"Don't threaten me, bastard. I can kill you in a mere instant before you even gain the thought to move." Sasuke's anger was boiling over, he struggled to maintain it.
Gaara's own ferocity began to take control. Sasuke's arrogance was too much, it was beginning to get annoying. "Go ahead and try, Uchiha. Where will that leave you with Sakura? If you try to kill me, she'll scurry away from you like a little rabbit from a snapping tiger. Either way, Uchiha, you lose."
Sasuke's nostrils flared and his eyes widened with furious heat. The calm capacity Gaara's face showed nagged at Sasuke, itched at him until he wanted to tear it off. The Kazekage was pushing it. He'd show him. Sakura would be his very soon. Then they'd see who was proud.
"Just wait. Sakura will be mine, and far away from you."
"We'll see about that. What was it you said? You can't deny a woman her heart?" Gaara smirked, denying the urge to laugh out loud at the arrogant pride scratched across the Uchiha's face. They'd see alright, within time. Everything takes time.
a/n:::: i know it's been a while but this story was jammed against a wall in my head and i didnt know what to write. and i didnt have the original 5th chapter with me anywhere so i forgot i wrote it but knew somewhere in my mind that i did write because i remembered the gourd part. v.v so i couldnt pick which chapter was better and thought u guys may have liked both. however; the original 5th chapter never happened in the story. i just kept it on there incase you guys liked it. i will make the gourd part in the next chapter or so. so please, disregard the original 5th chapter and ill make up for it in the upcoming ones. also, im workin on another naruto fanfic dirty story type of thing like my others, since so many ppl liked them =) thanks for reading and being patient 33333