She didn't get home until late that night, despite Tsunade's promises. When she got home all she wanted to do was collapse into bed and sleep, but Gaara was there, waiting for her. She looked at him for a moment when she entered, thinking. She would have liked to sleep, but she really should do some more work trying to figure out his curse. She tried again to imagine how he must feel, practically helpless. That was what really made her want to help him, not some sense of responsibility, or honour, or political reasons. She wanted to help him because she knew if she was in the same situation she would want someone to help her.
"I'm going to eat supper and then I'll take another look." She told Gaara, who hadn't said anything.
"Have you eaten yet?" She asked as she went into the kitchen. Gaara answered, yes he had. Sakura opened the cupboard and got out a package of noodles – too tired to make anything fancy. She was about to put them on the table when she noticed the box sitting there, as though waiting for her. She opened it and found inside a fried rice dish. The box was from a restaurant just down the road.
"Thanks." She called, surprised at Gaara's thoughtfulness. She had a thought soon after, wondering if he had bought her supper, expecting her to be back to eat with him. She went to the living room and looked at Gaara's back, and was about to say something more when he turned around and looked at her blankly.
"For what?" He asked.
She held up the take out box. "For supper."
He blinked at her. "Oh that. I didn't get you that." He said bluntly. "Naruto came by and left that for you."
"Oh." She said. She sat on the couch and started to eat. "What did he say?" She asked.
"About what?"
"About you. Being here, in my apartment, a stranger..." She elaborated. If she knew Naruto, he would have flipped out; finding out a strange man was living with her.
"He didn't say anything." Gaara told her. "I didn't show myself to him."
"Oh. Right. Of course."