Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto..or Gaara...(cries)

Last Chapter: "Sakura..." She stopped at her task. "Yes." She smiled.

How it All Started...For Us

The night before their 'it's-not-a-date-date-we're-just-friends' thing, Gaara, Naruto, Hinata and Sakura stayed the night at a hotel. (Only the best for the Kazekage, the Hokage's apprentince, and the future Hokage, of course.) Luckily it was a big penthouse with a great view and access to the roof (for Gaara) two double beds (for Naruto) two full bathrooms (Sakura, of course) and Naruto in the room. (Hinata, Duh!) It was very spacious and luckily the beds made sure no one had to sleep on the floor. Sakura and Hinata got the room with a huge bathroom and a hot tub/bath big enough to fit three people. (Lord knows Naruto won't use it.) Gaara and Naruto got a room equally as big with a half bathroom, but they could always use the girls' bath or the hot springs just down the hall.

When the kunoichis finally got settled in their room Hinata got the bath first while Sakura just lied on her bed and stared up at the ceiling for what seemed like the longest time. She must have dozed off for a few minutes, because she couldn't hear the water for the bath running. She sat up, and then she screamed. (Well, she did note she was in a hotel, so it was more of a mumbled shriek.) Gaara was standing right in front of her like the ghost of Christmas past just smirking.

"Gaara, don't you ever get tired of me almost killing you because you like to sneak up on people?" she said, panting from the panic. She slid back to the middle of the bed.

"Do you always stare at the ceiling like that and then pass out? Oh, and technically, I did knock. But you dozed off about five seconds before I did." Gaara said, moving over to the edge of the bed. He faced Sakura. She stuck her tongue out a bit.

"What do you want anyway? Is Naruto whining or something?"

"Well, he is kind of upset that there's no dinner but I told him I would come and see what you were doing. I hope you and Hinata-san are good at cooking. Oh, and we're going down to the hot springs for a while. Be back in about an hour. Bye." he said, and with that he left the room leaving behind a small scrawl of parchment.

Konoha Sakura Blossom Park--11 AM sharp. Be there, or be a Sound nin.

Gaara

'Hmmm...Never noticed Gaara had such great handwriting.' Sakura stood up and stretched her back. Hinata came out of the bathrooom at this time. "Hey, Hinata! Let's start cooking!" Sakura said, putting her arm around her female ninja friend. Hinata smiled.

"S-Sure!" and with that, they set out for the kitchen.

The girls had conversation starting out as Sakura saying everything, Tsunade-sama, her sake problem, how she was like a second mom, Shizune like an older sister. Then she came to the topic of boys. "Hey Hinata, you like Naruto right?" Hinata dropped a dish.

"N-n-n-o!! I'm s-sure you tw-wo will be v-v-very ha-ap-py to-gethe-r! H-h-honest!" Sakura smirked in that sly way, similair to Sasuke.

"Well then I guess it's too bad we're not." Sakura said, putting a hand on Hinata's shoulder. She whispered into her ear: "Go get him!" and with that the two girls smiled and continued working on dinner. For several minute it was a comfortable silence.

"S-Sakura-chan, d-do you l-like G-gaara-kun?"

The boys were sitting in the hot springs for a few minutes of silence. "Gaara?"

"Hm?"

"Do you like Sakura-chan?" And...OOF! "GAARA! WHAT WAS THAT FOR? IT WAS A QUESTION!"

"And that was my answer." With that, Gaara gave him a very friendly smile that Naruto couldn't help but return twice as much. "Come on, let's go back up before the food gets cold." Gaara said while pulling a towel around him. He put his hand on the handle of the door.

"Gaara." He turned around. "Do you?"

Sakura and Hinata had just gotten settled down in their places when Naruto and Gaara walked in, hair still dripping from the springs. "Hey, hope we aren't too late." Naruto yelled from the front door in the direction of the kitchen.

"We just got situated guys, come on in!" Sakura yelled from her seat. Hinata blushed when Naruto walked in the door to greet them, and Gaara nodded towards her. When he saw Sakura he smiled. She did so in return. Naruto and Hinata sat on one side, Gaara and Sakura on the other.

"WOW! Sakura-chan, Hinata-chan, you guys did awesome!" Naruto said in his always over-enthusiatic voice. With that they continued their meal as usual.

The girls and guys said their good nights and went off to their separate rooms. Sakura settled for a nice relaxing bubble bath before she fell asleep. She decided to catch up on some reading, as she had bought it while showing Gaara around. She started where she left off.

The sword opened the door and invited her in for tea. "So, what is it that you want to ask me?" said the sword.

"Longsword, it is I that every man in the land desires. And you are the one every woman desires. How can we deny the world such a completely perfect couple by not being together?" The sword looked at her very seriously.

"My dear, it is true that you and I are the most desired in the land. But I could never marry such a girl that was incomplete. You must find a handle so that I may be able to hold you and love you more dearly. When you do, come back here and I will marry you. And with that, the Katana blade left the house weeping.

Sakura decided to get out before she got all wrinkly. With the story still in mind she took the opposite side of the bed trying not to disturb Hinata. Luckily, she was sleeping like a rock. With the story drifting off, she thought of Naruto and finally Gaara before falling asleep.

"Gaara..." she said, and drifted off to sleep, to a land completely her own and safe, where everything was...

Perfect. For tonight, at least. Tomorrows battle was another matter. Now, was her only time.