I know I am pretty late with this chapter. Luckily the next chapter is the last! Thanks for joining me on this journey.


"Are you sure you're okay Sakura?"

The pinkette glanced up from her phone and noticed Hinata standing in front of her, a small smile gracing her lips. It caused her to chuckle as she shook her head lightly in amusement. "Of course, I am. It's been a few days. I wouldn't say I am over it, but I am doing better."

Hinata's smile faded and she frowned, "You should come out with me and Kiba."

'Kiba… so that's who she has a crush on?' This caused her to chuckle again. 'Interesting.' She didn't know Kiba well enough. She knew Hinata and Kiba worked together, but other than that, she knew nothing about the brunette other than what Ino would tell her. Kiba was a veterinarian and Hinata was one of the assistants who worked with Hana Inuzuka. She heard things about him being a player, but she wasn't worried about him hurting Hinata.

"Don't worry about me Hinata. You have fun with Kiba." Even though the ravenette looked reluctant, Sakura wouldn't budge with her feelings on the matter. She didn't want to ruin their little date, if one could call it such.

Once she left her, Sakura headed home, and locked her car doors when she arrived. When she headed towards the front door, her foot kicked something on the steps; which caused her to look down at it. Glancing around, she picked it up, and headed inside. Akemi was waiting at the door and purring, which caused Sakura to rub her neck once she noticed her. "Hey beautiful." She muttered before giving her kiss.

She made sure her door was locked and opened the box, which contained the third issue of her favorite novel. Surprise made its way to her face, and confusion settled on her features afterwards. This wasn't due until next month… why would she have it now?

Opening it up, she flipped through the pages and stopped when she noticed her name at the front of the book. 'To Sakura, the muse that allowed this book to even finish.' She didn't understand at first. It wasn't until realization dawned on her person and even when she glanced at the initials on the cover.

'G.S.'

'Gaara Sabaku.'

She was more confused that she ever thought a person could be in her life. So, he was the writer of this book…? Why didn't he tell her this? Sadness crept along her back and clouded her for a moment. After everything in his life, he never confided in her. She said he was writer for forums and that was nothing but a lie.

Then she got angry.

Throwing the book towards the nearest wall, she nearly jumped out of her skin when something slipped out of it and slid down the wall afterwards. Stalking towards it in irritation, she picked it up and realized it was a note that slipped out from the pages.

She pursed her lips into a fine line and decided to open the note, not really knowing what to expect from it. Was this Gaara's way of apologizing? Did that even matter though? He broke her heart and didn't even bother to fix it.

'Sakura,

By now you realize I am the author of your favorite books and I know it was wrong to lie about it. Perhaps I wished you would look at me like a normal person instead of the person who wrote three books. I am unsure if you will forgive me for my actions and how I hurt you, but I want you to know, there is more to the story than you think. Read the novel and if you still feel the same, please find me.

Gaara'

Sakura almost laughed, but she found tears falling from her eyes before she could even stop herself. Why was he so afraid of her? Is he scared of getting hurt? She folded the paper back up and placed it on the nearest shelf before she grabbed the book off the floor. She flipped through the pages and sighed softly. She guessed she would have to read it to find out what he meant.

Akemi rubbed against Sakura's legs and she simply rubbed her head gently before moving to her bedroom, so she could change. After she showered and put on her pajamas, she began to read through the book; interest heavily seen behind her gaze as her emerald hues scanned the pages.

Luckily, she was off the next day, so she could probably read this before the night came to an end. As she read through it, she was surprised to see a love interest make her way into the story, and it made her blush. She remembered telling him that Kiyoshi needed someone there for him and he must have written it because she suggested it. That didn't make her any less angry though.

'Suki Hayashi… you're not even being subtle there.' She thought to herself as she giggled. Gaara must have based this character off her, which was surprising. She wasn't sure why he would do that…

She trailed off when realization dawned on her. Kiyoshi was pretty much like him and he wrote Suki like her… didn't that mean he truly liked her? Shaking her head, she looked away. It didn't matter anymore… right? Even though he said to find him after she finished the book, she wasn't sure if she could do this.

Sighing, she read into the morning time, and she was amazed with the ending. It reflected her when she went to him because he stuck the pendant back into her book. She placed it onto the coffee table next to her and started to chew on her lip. Was this his way of telling her all the things he wished he would have said before she left?

Sakura grabbed Akemi and ran her hand through her fur. Before she knew it, she had been crying again and managed to cry herself to sleep. She was curled on the couch in her living room, and dreamed of things that made her tears disappear.

Gaara cared for her and this was how he told her… in his book, using Kiyoshi and Suki as their counterparts.

Despite the pain her heart, Sakura found herself wanting to find Gaara and smack him in the face for hurting her like that. Perhaps she would do it tomorrow. Who knows?


Gaara had eventually released the book to the public after checking with his publisher. She loved it, and he was glad that he was able to write Kiyoshi with a significant other without making it seem too rushed.

He sat in his favorite coffee shop and typed away at his computer, wondering if Sakura had gotten ahold of it. If she had, it would have been a couple of days, and maybe she didn't feel the same for him anymore. This thought caused him to pause his movements as he frowned, unsure if he could even continue his work.

Shaking his head, he looked up briefly and caught the eyes of some brown-haired girl who was giving him a sly smile. It made him uncomfortable, and he wasn't sure why she looked so familiar to him. Wait was that the same girl who bumped into him a few weeks ago? Or was it a month? He couldn't recall and that was mostly because he didn't care.

He glared in her direction and began typing at his computer again, pausing once more when he heard the chair in front of him move. He sighed and looked up to see that same girl in front of him. "Is there a reason you are bothering me?"

A frown appeared on her lips, "I just wanted to talk to you for a second."

"I am obviously busy, so whatever it is-"

"Gaara, do you honestly think I would let you get away that easily?" She took out his book and pushed it towards him, "You're my favorite author."

Gaara felt his heart stop for a moment. She knew who he was? How the hell…?

Matsuri grinned when she saw the panicked look on his face. "Oh, it's simple… you should really learn to pay off everyone in the publishing place you use. One of their employees told me."

His hand clenched into a fist, "And you are here to do what? Blackmail me?"

"I wouldn't consider this blackmail. I want you to take me on a date and become my boyfriend, otherwise I will let everyone know who you are."

Gaara couldn't hide his surprise even if he tried. Her words made him angry suddenly, but could he truly risk his identity? This is exactly the reason he didn't want Sakura to know who he truly was, and he realized how stupid he was for letting that go. Maybe he could tell this bitch that he had a girlfriend…? He wasn't sure about his options.

Before he could answer, she shrugged; "Here's my number, let me know your answer. If it's a no, your identity will go out to the public afterwards. I hope you make the right decision."

Matsuri left him then with her card and he was sitting there dumbfounded. Gaara growled and glared in the direction that the girl left in, which caused him to rub his forehead. He wasn't sure how he could go about this. Even if he reported it, the cops may not take him very seriously.

Would everyone knowing his identity be so bad though? Gaara leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest as he was unsure of what he was supposed to do now. Maybe he should talk to his siblings about this.

Without skipping a beat, Gaara texted his siblings and told them to meet him a restaurant nearby. Both answered and stated they would be there because of how urgent his message sounded. He didn't want anyone to know who he was, but he didn't want to date her either. He had feelings for Sakura… and he was a fool to let her leave.

He closed his laptop and stood, slinging the bag over his shoulder once he secured his computer in the right place.

Once he was at the restaurant, he got them a table, and waited for their arrival. When they both approached the table, he didn't budge from his spot, and stared up at them briefly. "Someone is blackmailing me."

He went ahead and told them the reason he was meeting with them. They had surprised looks on their faces and they weren't sure what to say. Before anyone else could speak, he ran his hands through his hair. "She will tell everyone I am the one who wrote the books if I do not date her."

Temari frowned in annoyance, obviously unsure how to take this information. "She does realize you have connections, right? We could destroy her life."

"You are an author… despite that just being a creative type, you have friends in high places. If I need to call Pein—"

Gaara interjected before Kankuro could finish his sentence, "We will not get my father's business partners involved. If he trusted them, that means I don't."

His siblings looked at each other, obviously sharing disapproving stares. Kankuro knew what happened between Sakura and Gaara, but he knew his little brother better than that. He had feelings for the pinkette, why would he allow her to walk away so easily? And why would he allow this Matsuri girl a chance to even blackmail him? "… Tell the world who you are. It isn't that important you know."

Gaara pursed his lips into a fine line and leaned back against the booth, staring solemnly at the table. "That may be my only option. I do not… there is someone else I want."

"You want Sakura?"

The red head didn't even look at Temari and instead just nodded his head. She gave him a small smile and placed her hand over his, "Women don't fall out of love easily Gaara. Even if you hurt her."

Gaara glared at her, "I didn't just hurt her, I ripped out her heart and stomped on it like it was nothing."

Temari pulled back and sighed, "Then make it right. You may have used your book to communicate, but she needs to hear those words from you Gaara. Not the book. Not Kiyoshi. But you."

She stood up and grabbed her purse, placing it over her shoulder. "I have to get going, but please contact me when you figure out what to do." Then she was gone. Gaara stared at the spot she left empty and ran his hands through his hair.

Kankuro frowned. "… Gaara, Sakura is just as messed up as you, and I know you know that because my wife visited you a few days ago to tell you how she was. If you wait too long, she can slip from your grasp."

Gaara knew he was right, but that didn't mean he wanted to admit. He and Kankuro sat there for a while, speaking on things that could distract the red head from losing his mind. Eventually they left and Gaara called his agent to tell him what was going on. He was going to inform everyone who he was.

He was not going to let this brown-haired child get in the way of him being with a woman he cared about. Nothing will stop him this time, not even his insecurities.

He just had to figure out the perfect time to make it up to her, and hope it wasn't too late for him.