Thanks to my new beta, Lady Kyoshoku! Enjoy and sorry for the ending... ;)

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Recommended Song: Evanescence - Going Under

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, or any of its characters. Naruto belongs to Masashi Kishimoto

-An End To The Peace-

-24-

The gentle chink of china was the only sound in the room. A patient Temari was leaning tiredly over the countertop behind Sakura's chair, waiting for the toaster to pop her treat out. Her hand unconsciously ran through her hair, fiddling with the small knots while Sakura slurped on her cereal. Neither were morning lovers, yet Sakura couldn't help but feel positive after the night's revelation.

She had woken up to find Gaara in the same position as the previous night. It worried her how still he was but when he took a deep, tranquil breath and his chest rose, she found herself sighing and scurrying out the room to leave him in peace.

Her head popped up to find Temari pulling back a stool and sitting down beside her. She mumbled something under her breath but Sakura couldn't distinguish her tired banter. Seeming to realise something was out of order, Temari looked up and took in Sakura, as if it was the first time.

"Where's Gaara?" She asked taking a bite from her golden slice of toast.

"Oh, he's upstairs." Did she know he never slept? Of course she would, so what would she think if Sakura told her that was the very thing he was doing? She decided to take the risk.

"Ah…" She concentrated on her toast once more until Sakura sensed another question, when her eyebrows wrinkled in confusion.

"What's he doing?"

Sakura gulped and almost choked on the cold milk running down her throat. She pulled it together before Temari could see her struggle. "Sleeping."

Temari spluttered and dropped her toast, hastily picking it up again, hoping Sakura wouldn't make anything of it. She didn't think Gaara would let her blab about Shukaku and he never mentioned having told Sakura about the problem.

"Sl-sleeping?" She asked again receiving a positive nod from Sakura, who noticed her distress and took pity.

"Go see for yourself if you don't believe me."

Without warning, Temari pushed back on her chair and jogged to the stairs, creeping silently up them. Sakura could barely hear her rushed footsteps and the awakening of Kankuro, who was louder and unaware of his surroundings.

When Temari dragged her half-asleep brother to the door, they paused and nervously opened the door, peering into the room. They gasped a little louder than they had hoped and Sakura found herself grinning when their steps ran back down the stairs, not trying to be too quiet anymore.

"What did you do?" Temari almost yelled walking through the door. Sakura looked taken aback but responded evenly.

"I compromised… Good morning, Kankuro."

He mumbled a response before launching into his own set of questions, rubbing his eyes from the sunlight which illuminated the red swelling. "What's that mean?"

"Why is it such a bad thing?"

"N-No reason…he just doesn't really sleep."

"Yeah, I know…" Sakura paused watching their faces and then sighed loudly as she stood and took her bowl to the bench. "You guys suck at acting."

"How much do you know?" Temari whispered in hope that she wasn't going to stir Sakura's curiosity about something she didn't know.

Sakura's mouth opened to explain but a loud thud sounded from upstairs and the three froze.

Would Shukaku be the one in control? Would Gaara know what had happened? Would he be angry he slept? Would he be in a bad mood? What if he blamed Temari or Kankuro? Too many questions ran through Sakura's head yet time stood still until they heard an opening door and footsteps closing in on them.

The three looked at one another in panic, already understanding they all knew what would happen and what was flowing through the other's head. In blind panic, Kankuro ran to a cupboard in silence and Temari took her seat at the table, her back to the door. Sakura made for the china mugs wanting to make coffee. Inside, she was a mess yet she pulled it together, still feeling smug about helping him. When she retrieved the mugs, Gaara made it to the bottom of the stairs and approached quickly. She grabbed her bowl, needing to keep her hands busy, and took it to the sink.

When he entered, Kankuro, being the better actor, stood with a bag hooked between his teeth and many different boxes in hand. His eyes were still puffy and tired and his muffled voice greeted him as he passed on his way to the table. Sakura turned to register the sight of him and greeted him happily, with the usual smile which made Gaara's steps falter.

"Morning," She smiled, turning back to her bowl and placing it gently on the bench.

"Hn." He watched her carefully as her smile widened and she sighed, tinkering with the mugs near the sink.

She couldn't help but feel relieved Shukaku kept his word and, though he looked as he did any other day, she liked his morning confusion and the speculating glance he shared with them all made her want to laugh.

Temari hastily ate her toast and stood up, making her way around to the sink. Sakura took the small plate she held and Temari thanked her, walking past Gaara out the doorway. Kankuro greedily ate a variety of things, watching Sakura at the sink once more.

When Gaara cleared his throat, he looked up and read the expression quickly, then began excusing himself. Obliviously, Sakura finished at the sink and turned to lean against the bench. Her body jumped when she found Gaara waiting behind her with a blank expression.

"What?" She gasped out, willing her heart beat to slow from its frantic pace.

"You're nervous." He answered simply, carefully listening to Shukaku's own thoughts to find the demon was strangely quiet, yet the glee he felt inside told him Shukaku had plenty to think on.

"Well, yeah; you have a strange look on your face and you just scared me." Her words came out in a hurried stutter making Gaara's feral smirk break out and Sakura curse herself.

"Hmm…How did you sleep?" He already knew she must have woken up. When his eyes opened only minutes ago, he found himself lying oddly on the bed. It had to have got in her way unless she woke.

"Fine, yourself?" She smiled at this and the indent in his forehead told her this troubled him.

"The fact I slept at all astounds me." His answer came out roughly yet it still thrilled Sakura how much he said around her.

"Why is that?"

He sighed, getting bored of the game and ran a hand through his red spikes which were even more unorganised than usual. He had changed his clothes quickly when he woke, in place of a black wifebeater and combat pants. Sakura's eyes wondered to the muscles which moved like liquid in his arm when it rose to his hair.

"What happened?"

"I compromised with him…" Gaara stood still wanting more and she continued on. "He told me that he would let you sleep without interrupting if I was with you at night."

Gaara's widened eyes took Sakura by shock. What had she been messing with the previous night? Gaara looked worried and his eyes tried to be sly about skimming her skin, looking for injury. He seemed pleased she looked fine but when she realised he was looking for anything out of place, she tugged at her long shirt (which she had loaned off Gaara) and hid the tiny pink marks she expected to fade within the day.

Gaara caught the movement and immediately thought the worst of her tugging. "W-What did he do to you?"

She almost laughed at the panic in his face and what he had assumed, but he seemed genuinely worried for her and she could already sense the blame running through his head.

"Nothing; I'm fine. Get your head out of the gutter, Gaara." He relaxed but looked back down to her exposed legs, not entirely convinced. "If I show you, promise not to flip? It was really nothing."

He nodded and Sakura gripped the countertop behind her, hopping up to sit on the smooth surface. He watched her cross her ivory legs and tilt to the side, revealing four little pink marks and another adjacent. Four fingers and a thumb.

He gulped silently, but Sakura didn't notice the small movement in his throat. When he looked back up wanting an explanation, she smiled at him. "See? It's nothing."

"Why… did he have his hands-there?" He managed to ask, looking back down to her legs, unsure whether he was fretting over the wounds or taking in the sight of her skin.

"Oh… well-." What could she say? He had been groping her? Pinned her against the wall, where she felt his body pressed up against her? It was too embarrassing to say. Especially when it was his body she had been pressed up against.

"What did he do, Sakura?"

"Nothing."

"Then why-?"

"Jeez, Gaara. I can't say! I don't know how to."

He sighed and walked towards her, taking note of the similar marks on the other leg when she uncrossed them. A long, breathy sigh escaped him and his hands rose to match the marks of his fingers. Shukaku had obviously pinned her somehow. When his hands rested on her legs, he didn't notice her deep blush as his attention was drawn to something else. In between his nails… dried blood.

"Did… he hurt you?"

"Yes," She sighed, still blushing. "But it was fine, really."

"It isn't 'fine' Sakura." He interrupted feeling his blood running quicker through his veins. He looked up and took in the blush on her pretty cheeks. "You're red." He bluntly pointed out, worsening the matter.

She hummed a response, looking down to his hands and he seemed to understand what the problem was, yet made no effort to remove them. It was much too fun seeing her stutter and stumble over her words, and it distracted him from the guilt he felt.

She lifted her head and searched the room for something to do; her nerves were buzzing with him so close and she nervously began to bit at her bottom lip. Her eyes caught the two, glass doors leading out into a large open garden and then she beamed.

"Let's train!" She announced jumping down from the countertop, and unconsciously removing Gaara's hands. Red stained her cheeks as she moved towards the door, with Gaara close behind.

When they made it into the garden, Sakura looked up and winced at the brilliant sun, which hung overhead and lit up the crisp-green grass. Gaara stood across from her, with his arms crossed over his chest, his eyes focused on Sakura, who stretched her arms above her head and sent him a smile. He looked away as Sakura put up a defence and giggled at him.

Without warning, Sakura pounced forward towards Gaara and aimed a tight fist towards his head. He gracefully side stepped the attack, his arms still folded across his chest, much to Sakura's dismay. She lifted her leg and sent it to collide with his arm, but he simply ducked and turned back to where he started.

They continued to dance, all the while Sakura's anger rose by the lack of hits. She pulled out all the stops and sent two blows to his head, which he ducked to avoid. Perfectly timed, she swung her leg over his head and crashed it down to catch his head. She growled when he rolled out of the way, but didn't stop with her assault.

He noticed the speed she progressed at and began to throw his own punches back, only they weren't forceful for fear of hurting her. She must have known he was holding back on them, so she let his fist hit her shoulder, where she gripped his wrist with her brute strength and sent a kick towards his chest. He tumbled back and rolled back to his feet, watching her rub at her shoulder.

"Hit me!" She yelled at him desperately.

He smirked and let sand engulf him, appearing behind her and tripping her. When she fell on her back, he sat down beside her and let himself fall over her torso, looking to the sky. "Restraining you is much more fun." He said looking to the clouds which drifted past.

Sakura panted and controlled herself. The expression on his face was relaxed, and sparring wasn't on his agenda for the day. She tried to hide her pout and lay beside him, letting him use her stomach as a cushion.

"How come… Shukaku is inside you?" Sakura asked, focusing solely on the clouds like Gaara.

She felt his back widen against her before the air was pushed from him in a sigh. "I'm not sure; my father had a hand in it. I only ever heard the same excuses. 'There was no other way' or 'Think of the power.'"

Sakura frowned and stretched her fingers out to run through his hair. They lay in silence while Sakura pieced together something which made much more sense. She needed confirmation, however. "Is Naruto the same?"

He nodded against her stomach and it was her turn to sigh. "What made you ask?"

"He's always so defensive for you. Always sticking up for you or lashing out at people who name you and last night," she felt him shift uncomfortably beneath her, "your eyes were golden. I've seen Naruto's once… they were red."

It was confusing when she noticed it, yet after transferring to the school, nothing in her previous life seemed to make sense when there was so much more out there she never knew of. Nothing surprised her anymore.

"There are nine of us. It's amazing we met, seeing as though there are so little of us across the world." Gaara solemnly stated.

Her hands continued to trail through the red spikes, surprised at their silkiness; they looked to have a rough feel. Her hands continued until they came to the kanji engraved into his forehead. She had once thought it to be a tattoo, like everybody else. She was one of the select few who had been allowed to get close enough to see otherwise.

"How did this happen?" Her fingers were smooth against his skin and he let her trace the lines.

He chuckled dryly, not finding humour yet laughing all the same. "The first time Shukaku escaped. When I killed a man who tried to kill me first. He had been sent by my father. He was a friend; or so I had thought. I let the hate take hold and he took over me. The sand carved it into my skin, as a reminder of the people I had thought loved me."

Sakura felt her stomach turn, and the weight of his head didn't help the feeling. She rolled from underneath him and he lowered his head to the grass, letting her react as she wanted. His eyes closed peacefully and he listened to her feet, or rather her knees scuffling across the grass.

Soft lips were pressed to his head over the red scar. Jade eyes opened to look at her in surprise. She hovered above him with a sad smile. "Gaara… I-,"

"Hey, what do you guys—oh!" Temari had swung the door open with bags in both hands, containing groceries of different colours. "Did I interrupt something?"

Sakura blushed, watching Temari, and scuttled back from Gaara. As she was about to protest, Gaara growled in exasperation making her blush worsen. "Yes."

"I…uh, right. I'm making dinner now." She stumbled backward wearing a blush of her own and closed the door, only it bounced back and left the door ajar. They could hear Temari cursing her timing and scuttling about the kitchen.

It was the only sound until Gaara crawled the distance to the embarrassed Sakura on his knees. She looked up, startled no doubt, but wasn't left with time to process how close he was before he took her face in her hands and sealed her lips to his own.

She whimpered her astonishment and let the feeling take hold, albeit shyly. The longer they continued, the more the sounds around her were drowned in the bliss. Yet, she could still process the sound of an interruption drawing near. Only, she didn't have the will to stop it.

"Hey Tem, where are those two? Oh, doesn't matter, the doors open; they're out here right?" Kankuro's obnoxious voice boomed from behind the door.

"No! Kankuro, let them…" Temari protested but her cries were too late.

"Holy sh—!" She pushed at Gaara's chest to tug away, but he held her firmly, ignoring her brother. Eventually, he relinquished his hold, watching Sakura's face glance horror-stricken at Kankuro who was limp by the door. "I… uh… forgot what I was gonna say. Please continue." He left back through the door, closing it shut this time.

Gaara's lips were back on Sakura's without a moment's notice and this time she tried harder to break his hold. When she did, she panted wildly for breath, managing to spot his signs of breathlessness as well, though they were well disguised.

"Gaara!" She gasped out, feeling no need to explain herself. Surely he knew.

"He told us to continue." He stated as though he were pointing out the sky was blue and the grass, green.

Her mouth hung open in disbelief and he laughed at her expression, not holding back the smile. Sakura felt her mind turn into goo as she watched him happily laugh and her heart soared at the fact she made it happen.

A smile of her own spread slowly and it didn't take long for her to join in his laughter, as the embarrassment took hold. Although, Kankuro had to have learned his lesson.

oOo

The next day went just as smoothly as the last, being the weekend. Though the night had been difficult, as Gaara didn't quite trust Shukaku, but Sakura had promised and she wouldn't lie to him. He slept in the end, reluctantly, but when he woke, Sakura was beside him this time. He couldn't help but wrap an arm around the being that had made his life change so drastically.

They were sitting at the table once more, in total silence as the four let the unhappy morning blues take hold, all the while wishing for a few more hours sleep. Yet their body clocks couldn't be messed with.

Four hasty knocks on the door made the four jump, minus Gaara who seemed as though he knew it would happen. Temari got to her feet, grudgingly, and slid along the floor to pull the door back. Gaara watched Sakura and the tense muscles in her shoulders as she watched the door closely.

When the door was open, Tsunade smiled brightly with a folder under her arm. "Good morning." She greeted cheerfully, walking past an un-amused Temari who watched her walk by uninvited with puffy, tired eyes.

When the door slammed shut, she joined them once more and muttered miserably when she noticed her seat was taken by Tsunade.

"I have good news, Sakura! Your adoption was sorted out quite quickly." The four seemed to blink awake in an instant and listened carefully to Tsunade. "Of course, I had a few connections that didn't need too much information and didn't take too much time."

"What's happening?" Kankuro muttered out, not wanting to be delayed. Gaara nodded silently beside him, agreeing with his eagerness for once.

"Well, up until I handed in the documents necessary, you were technically moved to the orphanage Tenten and Naruto had once attended. But now...Well, Sakura… I'm your new mother!" She grinned happily and Sakura felt tears come to her eyes.

"Wh-what?" She gasped out in shock.

Tsunade lost her grin and stared unhappily at Sakura, "Well, I suppose I could—"

Sakura jumped to her feet and threw her arms around Tsunade and wailed her gratitude into the woman's chest. "Thank you! Thank you so much! This is the best!"

Tsunade hugged her back with her own grin. "Of course, we'll have to make up for lost time. I think we should begin with shopping and then a dinner. I need to know everything you like to eat if we're gonna do this properly."

Sakura giggled a sob out as Tsunade continued on with her plans. Beside her, Gaara looked to Kankuro, who had been eyeing him wearily with a frown. He sent a sharp glare and his brother looked away.

He lean forward as Tsunade loudly told everyone of her plans and Kankuro looked back up. Under his breath, so the girls couldn't hear, Gaara whispered firmly to Kankuro, "So long as she is happy, there is nothing more I could hope for."

His brother's eyebrows pulled back in surprise and he nodded dumbly in reply. By the time Gaara leant back with a neutral expression, he felt a small body jump on his lap. In reflex, he jumped but held the figure as it cried and smiled happily at him.

"Hey Gaara, my mother's our principal. Weird, huh?" She laughed getting nudged by Tsunade. Gaara sent her a small smile, freezing all the room in their place at the open emotion, except for Sakura. She wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled her nose into his neck, while he held her to him.

"Well, I can see I have a package deal here, so I'll lay down my rules." Tsunade announced. Gaara turned to her full of confusion, though his face revealed nothing. "You can stay with us whenever you want and so on. I expect her home for at least three days a week and no public displays, please."

Kankuro snorted at the last, but Gaara sent a sharp kick to his shin, and he choked on his toast which he had bitten into at the same time. Sakura smiled at Tsunade and nodded, while Gaara felt himself relax, knowing he would see her whenever he wanted.

"Now, I need to spread the joy and finalise a few things. Would it be possible for Sakura to stay for another few days or so?" Tsunade asked, standing and excusing herself. Temari beat everyone to the answer with a sharp 'yes'.

When she left, Sakura looked down to Gaara and lost her smile when she noticed the mischievous glint in his eye and the smug look on his face. "What's wrong?" She asked carefully. Temari entered the room and leaned against the door frame, watching the two curiously. Kankuro pushed his plate away with a scrape and leant back against his chair.

"Isn't Tsunade dating Naruto's adopted father?"

"So?" Sakura asked before realisation dawned on her and she froze.

"Good luck having Naruto as a brother. The way I hear it, the two will be married by the end of the year."

Sakura gawped down before swatting Gaara on the arm for his teasing. Good luck indeed.

oOo

The next day, Sakura skipped her way to school, refusing to let Gaara drive on such a nice day. She hummed a tune and grabbed his hand, holding it in her own and swinging their arms backwards and forwards. The smile on her face had Gaara watching her every twitch, wanting to savour each moment with her.

When she made it into school, she was surprised to find Naruto waiting by the gate, instead of their gang's usual spot by the tree. He was fidgeting and biting his nails anxiously until Sakura came into sight and called out to him. He grinned and bolted to her with his arms wide.

Gaara stepped in front of the intrusive blonde and pushed his palm against his head, effectively stopping him. "Stop."

"Aw, come on, Gaara! She's like my sister now! It's only fair!" He whined his protest with a pout as he swiped at Gaara's hand, to make for Sakura.

Gaara gave up and stepped aside and Naruto pulled Sakura to him in a giant hug. He spun her around, laughing like a mad man, and for once, Sakura didn't protest. Not until he began running away with her.

Gaara frowned and let his sand take him to the tree they met at. He watched from a different perspective as Naruto came bounding over with Sakura in tow, voicing her protests.

Shikamaru and Neji noticed him immediately, while Tenten and Kiba greeted him enthusiastically. Rock Lee waved at the red-head with a goofy grin he chose to ignore. Shikamaru muttered a hello and Ino nodded unsure of how to speak to Gaara in light of the circumstances.

Gaara looked around to the people present and noted the absences, like he did each morning. Shikamaru, without opening his eyes, told him of the absences. "Deidara and Sasori are in the art room today. Nina and Choji are absent. Illness I guess."

He nodded, though the brunette male couldn't see, and watched Naruto as he spoke.

"Hey guys! Sakura's my sister!" Naruto grinned, dropping Sakura to the grass. She knelt up and glared at the blonde.

"It's not final, Naru-tard! Wait until they marry before you say that!"

He pouted at her, and the gang smiled at the two, having already been informed. The bell rang and Naruto pulled Sakura up and tugged her along with him, inside the school building.

The lessons went by slowly for Sakura's liking. She bit at her pen, wanting to join her friends when the bell ran for the third time of the day. Another lesson to go before they could fool around during their lunch hour.

The class were startled by the speaker's crackling and the voice of a distressed Tsunade call out to her students, "This is Tsunade speaking. I want the whole school, teachers included, to report to the gymnasium immediately. Do not panic and leave your belongings where they are."

Sakura's eyebrows furrowed before the classes attention was drawn to the several cars parked out by the front gates. Her emerald eyes widened as the class looked out, while the teacher tried to call them out of the room. One boy jumped up and opened a window, where one familiar voice boomed through the speaker in his hand, announcing something they couldn't quite understand. More cars, all black and slim line, joined the first five, creating a commotion outside the grounds as men of all sizes and colour climbed out and waited behind the first man.

Sakura's legs felt like jelly as she watched them, and from her seat, she pressed her back against the wall, becoming hidden from their teacher, Asuma, who led the rest out.

Her eyes remained focused on Osamu out in front, though he seemed far away from her view. The window remained open and as she approached through the empty classroom, she strained to hear his demands.

"Hand her over, bitch, and I won't order an attack on your precious academy. Don't take me for a fool. I will not hesitate to kill, if need be."

Sakura's hand curled into fists and angry tears leaked from behind her dark lashes. It seemed like she would never be free and, like a preview of the past, her friends could get hurt in the process.

She knew what she had to do.

To Be Continued…

A BIG Thank you to my new Beta, Lady Kyoshoku, who has signed on to deal with all my irritating mistakes. Thanks to everyone who offered to be my beta! I didn't expect so many!

You know what to do with that review button. Anonymous reviews accepted.

Next Chapter: What will Sakura's decision be? How will it leave Gaara? Tsunade is about to take action and call upon the academy's true intentions. It's time for their first mission.