Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any of the characters.

Turning over Sakura tapped the sleep button on the alarm.

Just five more minutes.

When the alarm went off for the second time she finally sat up stretching the aches out of her back. After allowing her eyes time to adjust, she peered out her bedroom window and watched as the darkness began to fade in the east. Ah good morning Suna.

Feeling the pangs of hunger beginning to form in her stomach, she walked into the kitchen only to find the dreaded cans of vegetables and the package of instant noodles from the night before.

I really need to go to the market.

Skipping breakfast she took a quick shower and dressed in her familiar black shorts and blue t-shirt. And find a laundry mat, she thought looking at the abandoned pile of clothes in the corner of the bathroom as she brushed her teeth. I should have packed more clothes, really, what was I thinking. Packing only two outfits just isn't practical for such an extensive mission and in the desert no less. As soon as she sat her toothbrush down on the sink there was a knock on the door.

Time to go already? Maybe we can stop and get some breakfast before we start.

Opening the front door she was confronted with a shocked Sand Nin, "What happened to you!"

Dumbfounded, Sakura stared blankly at Temari until she realized that the comment was directed at her sunburned arms and overall cooked appearance. "Oh. It's nothing."

"Right. I haven't seen you look this bad since…Well, since the last time I saw you. But you've been training with the Fifth so this is really unexpected."

With an exasperated sigh she ignored the stifled laughter coming from her doorway as she grabbed her pack off the couch. "Thanks for the concern. So are we going to the Medical building this morning?" Waiting for a reply while she locked the door.

"Not right away, we have a few errands to run first." With a grin Temari continued, "I think Gaara was worried about you after the meeting yesterday. He gave me some money and told me to take you shopping for some decent clothes. And now I understand why."

"Oi. Stop your nagging Temari."

With those words Temari's teasing expression dropped into one of complete annoyance.

"Go away Kankuro. I doubt you'll have any fun stopping with two females. Go do…whatever it is you do somewhere far from here."

With a grin the hooded Nin walked up to them.

"Don't be such a cranky hag so early in the morning onee-chan. Ah, good morning Sakura just the person I wanted to see."

"Like hell she is, we have things to do today little brother without your assistance. So be a good boy and go bother someone else." And a death-glare match between family members ensued.

"Um…yeah. Good to see you too Kankuro. So are we leaving or would you two like to come inside and continue your bickering?" Breaking the hostile aura between the two siblings, Sakura sighed as they finally remembered she was standing next to them.

"Hai, unless the idiot has something else to say." Temari smirked while she flicked Kankuro's pointed hood ears.

Knocking Temari's hand away, he turned to smile at Sakura. "Don't let me keep you waiting, I can talk and walk at the same time. Besides, I need to pick up some parts I ordered for Crow."

Crestfallen, Temari snapped her fingers, "Damn."

"That one's perfect, you are definitely getting it. And I don't care what you say, it totally matches your hair."

"Are you sure? I don't want to waste money on something that I won't wear."

"Tan goes with everything Sakura."

Twirling around in front of the three-way mirror, she looked at the shirt one last time before looking back at Temari and Kankuro.

"Yeah…you're right. I should get some robes too and that outfit we saw earlier was cute, I hope they have it in my size."

Adding the tan-colored tunic to her large pile of clothing she turned to Kankuro who was nodding in agreement to something Temari had said.

"So Kankuro, how long are you going to be tagging along? Not that I don't appreciate your opinion on Suna fashion."

"I told you that I'm not leaving until you accept my invitation."

With a deep sigh Temari patted him on the back, "Give it up already. She doesn't want to go so don't force her. Isn't it enough that your big sister is going to your party?"

"Hey! I never said I didn't want to go. I just don't know if I'll have time to go, training a small army of medic Nin isn't easy you know. It's time consuming and demands an enormous amount of chakra. So I'll either be too busy or too tired to go."

With a wave of his hand he knocked Sakura's reasoning aside, "But if your date is the Kazekage then that would be a mute issue. He'd give you the day off no problem."

"God Kankuro. That's like asking me to turn the desert into a tropical paradise. There is no way in hell it will ever happen and likewise he will never go with me to your party."

Nodding in unison with Sakura, Temari looked back at Kankuro.

"She has a point. Gaara doesn't do birthdays, so why should this time be any different. You just need to respect his decision and leave it at that…unless you enjoy torturing him you sadistic asshole."

"He's just being stubborn. All he needs is the right enticement," Kankuro concluded while giving Sakura a disturbing look of amusement along with a drawn out wink which only fueled her annoyance.

"Don't wink at me! I'm not an 'enticement' if he doesn't even like me…he doesn't like me right?"

Temari leaned forward with her hand set pensively on her chin. "He must care for you on some level if he was worried enough to offer you money for some clothes. I'm not saying that level is above one of sheer pity, but it is possible."

"Yeah Sakura, and you're pretty cute too. I'm betting he's interested on at least a primitive level for sure."

"Dirty pervert," Temari muttered to a bruised and bleeding Kankuro as Sakura stomped away.

Walking down the narrow street and stopping momentarily to talk with a few concerned merchants, Gaara's ears perked up when he heard a familiar voice a few meters ahead of him.

Oh shit.

Unable to locate an adequate escape route he darted into the dark alcove of a nearby building and threw up a sand wall creating the perfect hiding place from his older brother.

I don't think he saw me. I'll just stay here until he leaves.

Gaara's brow wrinkled darkly when he noticed Kankuro had stopped moving and that he was traveling with both Temari and Sakura. Keeping his breathing low, he could make out their conversation.

"Oi, Temari look at that one! Let's go in and take a look at what else they have."

"Hai. Remember you've spent most of the money so maybe you can get a scarf or a pair of gloves."

"Come on Kankuro, we're going in will you hurry it up."

"Hey, I'm the one stuck carrying all her damn bags so show me some sympathy onee-chan."

Hearing their footsteps fade into the interior of the store Gaara breathed a sigh of relief, and waited a few minutes to make sure they were gone.

Time to make a run for it.

Releasing the sand wall in front of him, Gaara took a step forward and found himself nose to nose with a pink haired ninja with big green eyes.

Taking quick step back and swallowing the shriek of surprise that was caught in his throat, all he could do was use his best glare against the new threat.

"Good afternoon Kazekage-sama." With a smile Sakura cocked her head to the side.

"Hn." Ignoring her friendly grin, he continued to scowl as he stepped around her and began to walk away.

"So what were you hiding from?"

Don't respond, maybe she will lose interest and go away.

"….."

"Right. I know you were hiding from something and don't try to play the silent game with me, you looked pretty determined to remain unseen a few minutes ago. So what is it?"

None of your business.

"Is it a gambling debt? If it is I could help you, I've gotten pretty good at negotiating with loan sharks back in Konoha. But you don't seem like the type who likes to gamble."

Gaara picked up his pace and rounded the nearest corner.

"Hmm…you do know that running away from your problems isn't a good thing right? And running away from me isn't a good thing either. I can keep up with you."

With that he stopped walking and faced Sakura head on.

"Aren't you supposed to be shopping?"

"Oh that, well, I created a shadow clone in the changing room. Temari and Kankuro shouldn't catch on for a few more minutes."

Why me?

"So the reason I'm following you is that I just wanted to say 'hi' and to thank you for worrying about me."

What the hell is she talking about? I did it to save myself the headache of writing an official apology to Konoha because its idiotic ninja couldn't use her common sense and died. God I'm getting a headache anyways.

Rubbing his forehead, Gaara peered at the delusional Medic Nin between his fingers, "Don't thank me. The money is coming out of your payment."

"Ah. Well that makes more sense, but it was still thoughtful so thank you. Wow look at the time, I should be heading back now before they come looking for me. And judging from your earlier actions you probably don't want to be seen by your brother. Goodbye for now Kazekage-sama."

With a wave she turned around and headed back down the street leaving him alone in the alley.

Damn it.

Thank you for reading and thank you to everyone who reviewed this story so far. For those still interested in this fanfic, I should have the next chapter finished in a few weeks.