XD

I know.

Sasuke the unexpected . . .

8D I wanted to add him in.

This chapter is going to be a little harsh . . . (Not the ending, though)

Oh, and I might not be able to get a chapter up tomorrow, so don't expect one.

Chapter 7: Hating.

It turned out I past out just when the sun was beginning to come over the horizon. Kankuro, Tamari, and Naruto found me outside, and told me that Gaara told them everything, except the Sasuke part.

He didn't even bother to come looking for me himself?

Tamari was completely freaked, and had the idea that Gaara tried to do something I refused to do; Kankuro thought the same thing. They would have gone to talk to him - not punish him as you would think most people would. They were too afraid - if it weren't for Naruto. He managed to get me awake, and I told them what happened, but decided to leave the about Sasuke being the one who did it part out of the conversation, afraid it might have a big, and negative, affect on Naruto. He didn't need to hear what Sasuke did, and quite frankly, no one else needed to know - but Gaara.

I was sitting in Gaara's room, waiting for him to come back. Tamari and Kankuro went off to do some business stuff about a certain Kazekage, while Naruto was down stairs eating ramen, and stuff related to said food. I had to wear Tamari's clothing, because most of my other clothing was stained, and being cleaned. So, right now, I was wearing something that was too big for me to even walk in, so I was just sitting on the bed, swinging my feet, and kicking the bed as my legs flew back.

Hours past, and I do mean hours . . . The moon was already up, and it was beginning to bug me. Where was Gaara?

I heard the window open to the side, and I jumped off the bed, and got into a fighting stance - but the clothing I was wearing wouldn't really help that. " What are you doing here." Oh, it was Gaara. I sighed in relief, watching the moonlight play upon his pale face." I-I was waiting for you." I whispered, shuffling my feet nervously, and letting my muscles relax under his gaze." You shouldn't have." I frowned, narrowing my eyes at him." Where were you last night? I went looking for you . . . " His eyes widened, slightly, before they went back into the glaring 'mode'.

" That need not concern you, Kunoichi." He growled, shifting away from the moonlight, and taking a step closer toward my trembling body." I just want to know if you were okay, Gaara!" I retorted, giving him an angry glare. He was so conceited! " I am okay, Kunoichi! And, as you can see, I do not need of your assistance anymore. So you, and Naruto, can leave Suna. Today." My eyes widened, my mouth opening in disbelief. He wanted me to . . . leave?

" Y-You want me to . . . " I trailed off, but he caught my drift, and nodded. " But, you're still unstable, Gaara! You've been going off in the night-"

" And it's a good thing I do." He cut me off, glancing at me from the side, showing one black-rimmed eye, and giving me a meaningful glare. Trying to forget the sudden memories of the night before, I took a step toward him, my hand reaching out to touch him, but he stepped back." I thought I told you to not touch me." My arm retracted to my side instantly, and my gaze faltered to the ground." But I-I thought we were friends . . . "

" It's impossibly to be friends with someone you hate, Kunoichi." He said it so seriously. So calm, and strong, that I believed him." But . . . Tamari."

" She'll travel with you to Leaf, but that's it."

" And Kankuro?"

" He has to go on a mission." With that, he sat down near his desk stared down at the papers with a disinterested look." O-Okay. I'll get ready."

He wanted me to leave.

And I didn't know why. He was probably upset because of Sasuke . . . I was nearly tainted because of him.

Gaara used to hate him, and still does . . . Is that why he's making me leave? Because of Sasuke?

I tried to hold in my anger, but it was clear on my face. Gaara's gaze traveled over to mine, and he gave me a dark glare." Get ready."

I nodded, trying to hold back angry tears, before rushing out the door, and down stairs where I bumped into Tamari." Sakura . . . " She whispered. I stifled a sob in my throat before throwing my arms around her. She hesitated, before grabbing, and giving me a bear hug." I'm so sorry. Nothing would change his mind."

" It's fine . . . " I whispered. It hurt. Gaara wanted me to leave. He didn't want to see me again. He wanted me to leave. And that hurt more than anything else I've ever experienced since I've been here, because one of two men decided to break my heart. And Gaara didn't even know he had it, but he definitely had it. And he had it more than Sasuke did.

And, that night, all I did after I finished packing was curl back up into a ball, and cry.

--

When I woke up, Naruto was already down stairs ready to leave; bouncing up and down like an idiot. Happy that he was finally going home, finally able to come and see Hinata once more. Did I forget to tell you that Naruto proposed to her before he left for Suna? I couldn't be more happy for him, except now. I just put on a fake smile.

As we walked to Suna Gates, Naruto began to talk - which I had no clue what he was talking about - while I tried ignoring the laughter of Kyuubi in my head.

" You're a very unwanted girl, aren't you?"

Can you just leave me alone? Just for once?

" And leave you to suffer alone? I think not."

I was suffering just with him being there! But there was something I had to ask him . . .

Where is Shukaku?

Usually the sand demon tormented me with Kyuubi.

" He had to go on a little trip today."

But I thought . . .

I felt the oncoming of a headache, and I stopped myself from asking the rest of the question. I took a deep breath once more, now ignoring the demon as he talked in my head, no wanting to bother with him. We reached Suna Gates soon, but what bothered me was that Tamari didn't seem to be ready." Tamari? What's wrong?"

" Gaara. He's missing again."

I let out an irritated sigh, before glancing back up at her." I'm sorry, Sakura, but I can't go with you."

" But-"

" I can't."

" Well, I'll just wait till you guys find him, then."

" Alright . . . "

" Naruto, you go with Tamari, all right? I'm going to check out there." I muttered, tilting my head toward the open desert. " Okay . . ." Naruto muttered, seeming like he was hesitating, but decided not to argue. Naruto seemed different from others. All men had to vie for dominance, while Naruto just sat back like a lazy idiot; but a loveable lazy idiot. " Bye Naruto. Stay safe."

" You too, Sakura." I gave him a reassuring smile before taking off out of Suna gates, determined to find Gaara. It's amazing, isn't it? So much adrenaline can do to you. So much it can do that it makes you run, and run, and run until you just pass out, still having that urge to run? Yeah, I felt like that. I wanted to run. I didn't want to stop. I wanted to continue, and find Gaara, wherever he was. I don't know exactly where I was going . . . I was just going on instinct, whatever that was. I always thought the world would end because we were lazy; I mean, back then, we searched for food, and we killed it with our bare hands . . . We earned that food. Now, all we have to do is walk up to stands, and order . . . It bothers me, except, I can't stop. We're losing our instinct, as I say . . . That's why I think someone - up there- wants to punish us. I took a stop near a river, or whatever this was - Oasis, maybe. I practically threw myself in the water with all the heat, trying to cool myself down, at least. When I took off once more, I spotted a fire from a distance, and I raced over, hoping they would keep me for the night.

There was a women, a couple of blankets, some pots, and a donkey - I guess to carry most of her stuff. She was wearing some odd clothing - like something a witch would wear, except very colorful, and when I approached her, she stood up instantly, with a bright smile on her face. Something about her reminded me of my mother, and I didn't know why, but I trusted her.

" Well hello there, dear. Are you lost?"

" N-No. Just looking for my, er, friend."

" Is he lost?"

" I don't think so . . . "

" Come here, darling." Something about her voice . . . It was like smooth honey, and yet, had that type of tone that made you think she was . . . old. But she wasn't. She looked young, and to be perfectly honest, she was beautiful. Long black hair, and luminous green eyes, very slender figure, very well defined face. I was envious. I took a step toward her, and her hands reached out to turn me around gently, before lifting up the sleeve of my shirt." Hmm." And with that, she took my right hand, twisting it in her palm, and examining it." You've been touched."

" Er, excuse me?"

" By the demons . . . " Her voice trailed off before, taking a step back, and giving me a smile." What exactly do you mean?" I asked. She put a finger to her lips, before speaking," It means that the demons - Shukaku, and Kyuubi - Are now able to speak to you within your head, and communicate with you."

" H-How did you know that?"

She shrugged, before tapping her temple with her finger. So, she was . . . a what? I didn't know.

" Do you know what they want with me?" I asked.

She paused, glancing over at the fire, before back over at me." They want your blood, Sakura."

" W-What?"

" Not many people are able to be touched by the demons. Actually, it's very few. Very few. And because you touched them - they want your blood. Your blood is very different from others, Sakura."

How did she know my name?

" The blood that runs through your veins is able to heal anything in their part. They would be able to take control of their host, or, possibly, if they have enough blood, they'd be able to break away from their host; leaving the host dead. If they manage to take all of your blood, Sakura, you will not only be dead, but they will be untouchable."

I stared at her in shock, trying to scramble up some words to respond, but I couldn't come up with anything. Until a question nagged me in the back of my mind.

" Can we do anything to stop it?"

" The host will not be able to stay away from you, Sakura. One may try, but one will fall. Sakura, if you do not want to die, and if you do not want the host to die . . . " Her voice trailed off, and I knew, at that moment, I would have to do something drastic.

--

I found out the lady's name was Venus, like the planet in the sky.

And I know I'm changing the subject about the 'drastic' measure, but I just don't think I'll be able to say anything about that now. She told me that there would be a sand storm, soon, and that I had to use this blanket to cover me up.

But it was a good thing I didn't need to, because I spotted red hair a bit far off. The sand was beginning to get more violent. Swirling around, and scratching against my skin. I ignored the pain, dropping down in front of a meditating Gaara, who didn't even seem to know I was there." Gaara?" No response. The sand got even more violent than before, and I grasped the blanket from the bag to wrap it around myself, just a bit, and the pain seem to subside a little." Gaara!" I shouted. No response. Again. I gritted my teeth together, before examining him. He looked peaceful, again, and therefore he looked beautiful, despite the ugly surroundings. It seemed like he was sleeping, and it also seemed like nothing was going to make him respond to anything, and so, I came up with an idea. I dropped the blanket that was around me, and lunged at him. He fell backwards, and his eyes opened instantly, but I wasn't done. I locked eyes with him, before shutting them tightly, and placing my lips firmly against his. His body went still, and then completely rigged. Finally, a response.

His lips were soft like silk - untouched, I'd say. Not tainted by other lips. And, you know, I felt proud I was the first one to kiss these lips, if only for a moment. Gaara pushed me away, getting off, and propping himself on the elbows, and staring at me incredulously. It was cute. I finally saw emotion on his face, and it was surprise . . . He made the most cute face.

I blushed, glancing down at the grainy sand on the ground. I shouldn't have done that! I shouldn't have done that! I chanted within my head, scared that he would hate me even more now for touching him in such a manner. I didn't want him to hate me anymore, and at the thought of it, my heart seemed to beat painfully slow, as if it would just stop pumping because of it.

" Sakura . . . " His voice sent shivers down my spine, and I let my gaze travel back up to him. This was the second time I went searching for him. Second time. And each time, I ended up in some position that made my day a living hell. At least I thought.

" Why do you keep looking for me?" His voice was confused, obviously so, and I was surprised. " Well, I thought it was obvious." I really did, but to be honest, I didn't know why either. I just felt . . . different without him. People would say that is a bad thing, but I say it's a good thing. I felt safe around him, happy even when he didn't talk, and completely myself.

And hated me. He hated me.

He didn't respond, but he let his gaze flicker away from me to look up at the sky, before down at me." There is a storm coming," He muttered.

" I know."

" Then why did you come?" He growled, clearly frustrated that I wasn't giving him a straight-forward answer. And then I came up with one.

" Because I care about you!" I shouted, scared that the tone of my voice made him angry. Afraid that it made Shukaku angry . . .

I saw his facial features soften, but they turned into confusion . . . and then was covered by a cold mask of indifference." Come here."

I tentatively sat down beside him, and before I knew it, a wall of sand surrounded us, having no opening so that the storm outside wouldn't get to us. It was dark, and I didn't care. I was surrounded near some demon host that could just drink all my blood, and become a disaster in the making, and I really didn't care. Because, even though he hated me, he was helping me. Possibly even saving me, and it made me happy.

" Gaara?"

There was no response, and I could hear the sand outside swirling around like crazy. I wasn't nervous at all. Gaara would protect me.

" Thank you. I mean, I know I shouldn't have gone looking for you, but I was afraid something might have happened to you, but thank you for helping me right now."

" Hn."

" For a very hateful person, you do know how to save the people you hate."

An uncomfortable silence grew, and I heard Gaara shift from his position so that he was closer than he was before. I felt his warmth again, even though I wasn't touching him, and all I wanted to do was curl up into him, and fall asleep. I was thinking over some of the things that Venus had said . . . One of the things she had said stood out from the rest, and I couldn't help but remind myself.

The host will not be able to stay away from you, Sakura. One may try, but one will fall.

" You know, don't you?"

I heard him shift once more, and let out a sigh as he replied," Yes."

" W-Why did you have to say it like that? Do you really hate me?" I was angry, and upset at the same time. Had he lied the whole time?"

" No." He muttered. And, being my emotional self, I bursted out into tears of anger, and relief - Just wanting to bang my fist into his chest for revenge, but I didn't do it.

" Then why did you say that?" I snapped.

" You would have stayed if I didn't." He whispered, his voice had grown distant, and I stared into the darkness. He was right . . . I would have stayed.

" But, what about Naruto? You would just let him . . . ?"

" He should have known," Gaara growled, and I glared at him through the darkness. I wiped the tears from my eyes with the back of my hand, trying to stop the trembling that took over my body. " Gaara, do you know how much that hurt?"

" Words from a monster shouldn't hurt."

That hurt as well. The previous thought of hitting him, intensified, and I hit him in the chest. Gently, of course, but enough to knock some sense into him. He growled in response to my action, before gripping my hand that was now laying on his chest. Before he could even say anything, I reached out to place my hand on his cheek." You're not a monster, Gaara!" I whispered. I knew he was going to say something, so I placed my finger on his lips." The demon within you is a monster, Gaara, not you! You only hold that monster within you. You! Gaara! You are not a monster. You're stronger than all of us for just handling that thing. For holding back that . . . thing. If anything, you're our hero. And if they don't think so, I just want you to know that you're mine." He was my hero. Kind of ironic of how things turned out, right? I didn't want anything to do with him back then, and here I am . . . practically throwing myself at him.

" Why?" He whispered against my finger. He was trying to figure out what was wrong with me, and I knew that he would also just want to know why I would like someone like him.

I didn't answer his question. I just let my hand slide out of his hand, before wrapping my arms around his neck, and placing my lips upon his again. I just moved my lips against the silky skin of his lips, waiting to get a response, until, finally, his trembling arms wrapped themselves tightly around my waist, and he kissed me back. This kiss was a bit odd, if I do say so myself. Neither of us knew what we were doing, and in the end, it was delightful all the same.

And, even though I don't think this was what he meant . . .

I knew, in my own heart, that this was embracing the storm.

I was embracing Gaara for himself, and nothing else.