Obligation

Chapter Eight

-Date 36: Happy Anniversary-

Gaara walked up the steps towards Sakura's apartment building. He was dressed in a black button down shirt, with some black slacks. He'd actually really tried to look nice tonight, since it was a very momentous occasion. He looked down at the two dozen roses he'd gotten for her and sighed. He knew roses were cliché but the fact that they had been together for six months now made him feel the flowers fit. He found her number and knocked on the door loud enough so she could hear.

"Just a second!" Sakura yelled at the door. She was in her bedroom trying to get her hair to cooperate for her date with Gaara. It was their sixth month anniversary, and even though she didn't know what they were doing, she had been told to dress up. She wore a red cocktail dress that had a halter top with a deep V-neck, showing off more cleavage than she normally did. It had a rhinestone buckle around the middle, just under her breasts, leaving the pleated skirt to flow loosely until just above her knees.

She snapped the red barrette into place, so that her curled bangs were held away from her face, letting the rest of her curls fall freely, she hurried over to her front door, her strappy red heels clicking on the wooden floor. She grabbed her small clutch purse and made sure she looked perfect before opening the door with a bright smile. "Hey." She greeted.

"Hey." He smiled, holding the flowers out to her. "Happy Anniversary baby." He said, leaning over the roses and kissing her sweetly.

She returned his kiss, taking the flowers from him as they pulled away. "Happy Anniversary to you too." She said, smelling them. "These are lovely, thank you. Just let me put them in some water really quickly and we can leave. Come on in." she said, walking over to her kitchen to find a vase. He walked in after her, looking around her neat apartment.

"Take your time," he said, stopping in front of one of the shelves, examining the pictures of her and her friends.

"I'm sorry you had to drive all the way over here and pick me up." She said from the kitchen, pulling down a vase and letting it fill with water as she cut the end of the rose stems. "My car just wouldn't start this morning no matter what I tried, and so I had to call one of my friends and have them take me to the store."

He walked over and stopped in the doorway, leaning against the frame. "That's alright. After all, now it's exactly like a date." He smirked, giving her a suggestive glance.

She rolled her eyes at him. "Yeah, well…" she searched for words, but couldn't find any. "So." She eventually said, turning off the faucet and placing the roses in their new vase. She arranged them slightly, and then placed them on her small kitchen table in the center. Picking up her purse, she walked over to Gaara. "If this doesn't go well I'm gonna continue to drive myself when my car is fixed." She threatened, though they both knew she probably wouldn't.

He pulled her towards him, kissing her. "You think it won't go well?" he asked against her lips.

"No, I think everything will go smoothly." She kissed him once more, closing her eyes. "But I have to show some resistance or I'll feel cheated." She smiled against his mouth.

He pulled away, looking slightly confused. "Cheated?"

"Yeah." She said, blinking. "You know…like I didn't try hard enough not to like you." Her brow furrowed. "Which is really hard by the way. If you keep this up, I think I could fall in love with you, and then you'd be stuck with me forever." She said, trying to make it seem like that wasn't something completely huge for her, even though it was.

"I want you to fall in love with me." He smiled sadly.

"You do?" she asked, slightly surprised.

"Well…yeah." He said, sticking his hands in his pockets.

She smiled at him, looping her arm through his. "You're cute." She said, kissing him lightly. "So, shall we go?" she asked.

"Yeah, yeah. Bossy." He smirked, leading her back out of her apartment. After she locked it, they went downstairs and got into his car and began their first drive together. "So I thought for our six month anniversary I would cook you dinner…at my house." He said, trying not to sound so nervous about it. The fact was, he'd never brought any woman to his house before. Of course, she didn't know this. But it was a very big deal.

"Do you cook as well as you make sandwiches?" she asked with an easy smile, turning towards him a bit in her seat.

He laughed. "Well I guess we'll find out, won't we?"

"Guess so." She said, watching the road to see where it was they were going. She wasn't going to lie, she was extremely nervous about going over to his house. This would be a huge step in their relationship. But, she felt like she was ready for that. It was about time she saw where he lived anyways. You could learn a lot about a person based on their home, and so she was looking forward to seeing what Gaara's would reveal about him.

It took a while to actually reach his neighborhood, but as they passed by the houses, Sakura grew more and more nervous. These were not houses, they were mansions. Finally, they pulled up to a gated area, the house was hidden by large, freshly cut bushes and there was a key code to get in. The gates opened slowly and she noted there were a couple cameras around the front, some more probably hidden. They drove up a winding driveway, trees still blocking most of the house, but even with the partial vision she could see just how big it was. They pulled up to the circular drive way, the whole thing was tiled and looked really expensive. There was a small fountain in the center surrounded by grass and angular cut bushes.

The house itself was absolutely breath taking. It was a Spanish style mansion, with red tiled roof. The front had a walkway with two pillars as the entrance before you headed for the doors made of dark oak. It looked similar on either sides, Two balconies on either side of the entrance and massive windows to let in the light. She could only imagine what it looked like on the inside. It curled around the front drive way like a U, making the area seem even more enclosed. Gaara pulled up to the front and parked, looking over at her. "Well," he smiled. "What do you think?"

"Your house looks like it could fit ten of my apartments." She said in awe.

He shook his head getting out of the car and walking around to open her door for her. "Probably more than that, you just can't see the back of it right now."

She got out of the car and continued to look around at the place. "It's really pretty."

"Thanks," he said, taking her hand and pulling her towards the door. He walked in, pulling her in and allowing her to see the massive foyer. The floor was made of marble and everything looked amazing, it was simple yet elegant. "Well I already have the salmon almost done. I wanted it to be ready when you got here. So, go ahead and look around while I go check and meet me in the dining room in about fifteen minutes." He said, beginning to walk towards the kitchen. "And don't worry, you aren't going to find anything heinous. I don't bring my work home with me." He laughed.

She smiled at that and turned to walk down one of the first hallways she saw, making her way through the house at her leisure. It was a very nice abode, with the right amount of decorations so that it didn't look bare, but not too many to be distasteful. When she came upon a closed door, she opened it and peeked into the room, exploring it if it looked interesting enough.

At the end of one of the hallways she saw a set of large double doors, and assumed that it was either a library or the master bedroom. Curious, she opened the door and flipped on the light switch, her suspicion of it being the master bedroom correct. Her gaze focused on the large king sized bed, and she wondered what it would feel like to roll around in Gaara's sheets naked. They looked incredibly soft.

Blushing at her train of thought, she quickly shut off the light and closed the door, making her way back to the dining room. She wouldn't even bother with the second floor, it was probably just a bunch of guest bedrooms anyways, and she didn't want to keep Gaara waiting. She walked in and saw Gaara putting the final touches on setting everything up. "Your house is incredible." She said, stopping next to him.

He glanced over at her and nodded. "Thanks." He finished up and then licked his finger tips to get rid of the excess vinaigrette. "Alright, you go ahead and go sit down in the dining room and I'll bring out the food." He said, kissing her cheek and grabbing a few more things. She did as she was told and went into the adjoining room and gasped. It was absolutely beautiful. There were already two places set at the head of the table and then right next to it. She took the one on the side, assuming he would be sitting on the end. He came out, holding two plates filled with crisp lettuce. "Caesar salads." He placed them both down and then disappeared once more, coming back out with their main dish. "And grilled salmon with a morel vinaigrette finish." He set those down as well and then, popped open a new bottle of wine.

Sakura inhaled deeply, smiling in appreciation at the smell. "It smells and looks delicious." She said. He poured her a glass and then himself before sitting down.

"Well I remember you ordered salmon on our first date. So I thought you would like it." He said, taking a sip of the red wine.

"Points to you for remembering." She toasted him and then took a sip of her wine before setting it down. It was one of the most delicious wines she had ever tasted. He nodded and they began to eat, until he slowed down.

"So…I was wondering…if you wanted to meet my friend. I mean we've been together for a while now. I just thought you might be interested in actually meeting the only person I truly consider close to me besides you."

She slowed down in her chewing and swallowed. "What does he do?" she asked, genuinely curious.

He looked like he was having an inner debate, but finally sighed. "He's a…arms dealer."

"Oh." She nodded and glanced down, moving some of her salad around in her bowl. It would only make their relationship seem more like a real one. Did she want that? She wanted to meet his friend out of curiosity, to see the kind of people he hung out with, but she wasn't sure. Then again, if he thought highly enough of her to want to introduce her to his closest friend, who was she to say no? It would be like a test really, to see what his friend thought of her more likely. She looked back up at him. "I would love to. It doesn't even have to count as a date or anything. We can just hang out or something if you want." She said, smiling shyly at him.

Gaara actually looked somewhat shocked. "Are you sure…? I mean if you want we could count it as one…I personally would prefer not to. But he's interested in meeting you. He says…I seem happier now." He shrugged, looking off to avoid her gaze.

Her smile widened. "If you and I aren't alone for the most part then I don't count it as a date." She said. "Besides, my supervisor told me that I seem a lot bubblier now, so I'm glad…that I can make you happy too." She blushed and looked down at her mostly eaten salad and fish.

Too? He looked back at her. So he made her happy as well. The knowledge seemed to lift an enormous weight from his chest. He reached over and took her hand in his, lifting it and kissing her hand. "The feeling is mutual. And I can ask my friend Naruto and his girlfriend to come if you want. I think you'd really like her."

"I'd like that." She smiled, the blush still on her face.

"So…" he began, releasing her hand and continuing to eat. "Is there…anything you want to know about me you already don't? Sasuke told me to make sure I didn't have any skeletons in the closet."

"Well," she said, taking a bite of her salmon. "Do you have any secrets that you consider skeletons in your closet?" she asked, glancing up at him.

He thought for a moment and looked at her, for the first time actually looking ashamed. "Well I don't know if it's really a secret…" he sighed and locked his pale jade gaze with hers. "But I…kill people." He didn't know why he said it, but he just felt it was needed to be voiced.

That was something she had already assumed, but it was different to assume it and to actually be told about it. "Do you enjoy killing people?"

"You know…I don't really feel anything anymore about it. I just do what needs to be done." He explained. It was true, killing someone had neither a positive nor negative effect on him. When he had been younger, it had given him a thrill, all that power. But as he had gotten older and matured, it was only out of necessity. Either kill or be killed. It was the way the world worked. No matter what your profession.

"Then I don't really think it's that big of an issue." She said. As long as he wasn't completely psychotic and enjoy killing people, then she could just pretend it didn't really happen. She took a sip of her wine. "So, I'm pretty sure you know practically everything about me, since you had me followed for four years, but…is there anything you wanted to know?" she asked.

He smiled. "Yes…there was one thing I could never figure out. Why did you want to become a doctor?"

She set down her fork and fidgeted slightly in her lap. "For my mother." She said softly, looking down once more. "She had pancreatic cancer, and so I decided that I would become one of the best doctors in the world, and find a cure for her." She sighed. "But she died before I could even finish college, so I vowed to continue my dream and find the cure, so that nobody else would have to deal with the loss of a parent the way I had to." She looked back up at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "I know you can't really save everybody, but I still like to try."

"My mother died giving birth to me. So…I think your reasoning is great." He said truthfully.

"I'm sorry." She said, sniffing and collecting herself. She hadn't really told anyone about her reason for becoming a doctor before, other than her father. "I haven't really got to save anyone yet." She smiled slightly. "But I did get proposed to yesterday. It was pretty interesting." She chuckled.

His reaction was quite the opposite, "Who?" he demanded, looking a bit darker than usual.

"Just this old man who's been a frequent patient." She waved it off. "He was on a lot of pain medications, so I doubt he really meant it."

"Oh," he laughed, seeming to return to his normal demeanor. "Right, right. Well that's interesting. I'm sure he really wishes you were available."

She smiled at him. "What makes you think I said no? It was one heck of a proposal, a girl doesn't get one of those every day." She teased, crossing her arms.

He huffed, actually visibly appearing jealous. "Well I'm sure I could do it much better."

"Hm." Was all she said, reaching for her glass and finishing off her wine. He was really cute when he got jealous. "So, did anything interesting happen to you since I saw you last?"

"Do you mean interesting that you would actually want to know about, or interesting from work interesting?" he arched what could be a brow as he poured her some more.

"Um…interesting in general?" she shrugged, taking another sip.

He thought for a moment and then shrugged. "Nothing too interesting. There is this group, that's trying to climb its way up and stepping all over my toes. So we're having a few problems there. But nothing I cannot handle."

She smiled. "I'm sure it will be fine." She sat back and let out a content sigh. "This was really good. I'm stuffed."

"I'm glad you liked it." He smirked, sitting back as well. "So…what would you like to do now?"

"Well," she gave him a suggestive look. "It wouldn't seem right if we didn't make out. It's like a crime, actually."

He stood, offering his hand down to her. "Then why don't we adjourn to a more comfortable setting?" he said, pulling her up and taking her down the hall. She saw two familiar doors and felt her heart skip a beat. He opened one and walked in, flipping on the light to his bedroom. Sakura followed him inside somewhat hesitantly, actually taking time to look around the room, since before she had only been preoccupied with his bed. He pulled her against him, letting his fingers trace down her bare arms. "I miss you when we're apart." He said truthfully, kissing her neck and biting down on her sensitive flesh.

She gasped, placing her hands on his chest. "I can't go a day without thinking about you." She admitted, tilting her head to the side.

"I can't go an hour." He confessed. "I think about you all the time." He murmured, kissing along her collar bone and then lower, lower than he'd ever been bold enough to go before.

"Gaara." She softly pleaded, arching against him and moving her hands to his biceps. "You distract me when I'm at work you know." A small smile formed on her lips.

"How so?" he asked, hoisting her up and carrying her over to the bed before laying her down gently and returning to his ministrations, moving loser and nipping along the swell of her breast.

Sakura whimpered, arching against his mouth. "You enter my head and then I think about you and I wonder what you're doing. And sometimes, when work is really slow, I day dream about you."

"What do you day dream about?" he glanced up at her, placing his hand on her thigh and slowly rubbing upwards. He'd be a liar if he denied that he wanted her. And God he wanted her. But he also wanted this to last and if she refused him, he would respect her, no matter how hard it was.

She blushed, looking away from him. "It's embarrassing." She muttered.

"So?" he smirked. "I want to hear." He said, letting his hand smooth up her thigh and between her legs, tugging at the string of her thong.

"Mm." she bit her finger and glanced at him, trying not to lose herself in the way he was making her feel. "Stuff like…playing doctor…or hostage." Her face was as red as a cherry now.

He actually sat up, looking down at her as he pulled her slinky underwear off and looking at the red stringy fabric. "I've imagined you on my desk…many times." He said, tossing the garments aside and replacing his hand back between her legs, stroking her already wet folds with his finger. "You really are a virgin…aren't you?" he smirked, deciding to be his awful self and tease her clit.

She gasped and sat up, looking him right in the eyes, her own wide. Nobody had ever touched her there before, but it felt really good. His words came back to her, and she began to feel a sense of panic. If they kept going, he would expect her to sleep with him, and she didn't know if she could. "Gaara, I'm not ready for this." She said, trying to keep a reign on her emotions.

"I know." Gaara smiled, removing his hand from her. He would do everything in his power to keep the disappointment off his face. He placed his hands on either side of her waist, kissing her deeply. "And I'm not going to force you." He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers. "But other than you, I am craving ice cream." He smirked.

She smiled at him, but it didn't fully reach her eyes. He was so sweet. Most guys in that situation would have pressured her into doing it, and she would forever be grateful to him for just letting it go. "I'm sorry." She kissed him once more to convey her apology. "But ice cream does sound nice right about now."

He kissed her back, lifting his hand holding her face, stroking her cheek. "Sakura, don't get me wrong. I really want to. But if you aren't ready then it isn't what I want. I don't want to just have sex with you, I want to make love to you." He whispered, pulling away and getting off the bed then, helping her up as well. "So don't worry about it. As I told you before, I'm a patient man."

"Does that mean that you love me?" she asked, looking up at him, her wide emerald orbs searching his jade.

Gaara went a bit wide eyed himself, fully grasping his words. "Um well…I mean…I think so. I've never felt like this before." He laughed, hoping he didn't sound too idiotic. God, if anyone ever saw him like this, he would lose all his credibility. But strangely, around her, he didn't care to show his softer side. "I've never brought a woman to my house before." He told her.

Her smile widened slightly at the news. So he was pretty sure that he loved her, and she was the first woman to ever be brought to his house. It made her happy. She kissed him sweetly. "Well let's celebrate with that ice cream you mentioned." She said, grabbing his hand and leading him out of the room and to the kitchen. He stopped her before they could go in and gave her an endearing look.

"I meant we could go out for some, since its getting kind of late and I think if you stay here I might be too tempted." He smirked, kissing her cheek as he pulled her closer. "But your excitement was absolutely adorable."

She blushed as she was pulled closer to him. "Okay." That was a good idea, best way for things not to go too far. And that way she wouldn't be tempted either. He leaned down and kissed her, giving her but a firm squeeze.

"I'm keeping your underwear though." He said before pulling away and heading into the kitchen, grabbing his keys and her purse. "I mean, you were kind enough to leave them in my room. So I call dibs." He took her hand then and dragged her towards the front, giving her no room to go and reclaim the undergarments.

"B-but, what use are they to you?" she asked in bemusement as he led her to his car, the blush not leaving her face.

He shrugged. "I dunno. I'm a guy. There's something about panties that is just hardwired into our system." He opened the door for her and shut it once she was inside. He went around and got in, starting the car and pulling out from the drive way.

"Oh." She said softly, watching as they left his house behind and headed back towards her side of town. The rest of the night went by smoothly and Sakura couldn't even catch a hint of disappointment on Gaara's side. Which could only mean two things. One, he really was as perfect as she thought. Or two, he was just really good at lying and manipulating. Eventually they left the ice cream parlor and headed back towards her house. Gaara parked the car and walked her back up to her apartment and stopped, waiting for her to unlock her door.

"I'm glad you let m pick you up and came over and had dinner with me."

She smiled up at him. "I'm glad you made me dinner and let me come over." She hesitated a moment. "And, from now on you can continue to pick me up, like real dates." She said, rocking a bit in her nervousness.

He stared at her for a bit, before returning her gorgeous smile. "Alright. I'd like that." He stepped forward and kissed the top of her head and then took her hand kissing it as well. "Good night Sakura. I'll call you tomorrow." He nodded before pulling away and heading towards the steps, sticking his hands in his pockets as he descended.

"Goodnight." She murmured, unlocking and opening her door. Shutting it behind her, she flipped on her lights and saw the beautiful flowers he had bought her sitting on her table. She smiled to herself as she began to take off her heels. The way things stood now, it was beginning to look like she might let him be her first. And who knew? Maybe in the process he would get her heart as well.