As the sun took a higher place in the sky, Sakura stepped out the door with a pack on her back. Prepared to make the three day trip, all she had to do now was buy a sapling, one that would be mature enough to bloom, but not too heavy to carry.

The pinkette's friend came to her aid, bringing her to another section of her family's business. Ino helped her pick out a healthy, beautiful prospect. It was tall, thin, and branchy, but not at all hard to carry. Sakura paid her a fair chunk of cash, knowing that she would be reimbursed, then waved good bye and left for the Sand Village.

Tsunade had been just as understanding as she thought. In any case, there wasn't much she could do. Naruto was training for a new jutsu that only he could do. Sakura walked along, thinking about Sasuke. In the end, they all agreed they wouldn't give up, they would just get stronger, but would that even matter? If he didn't return willingly, wouldn't he just fight them or run off again?

One more time, she decided. She would give him one more chance. After that, she couldn't keep this up any longer. What was left for her in him? She had to know. She just had to know.

Tipping her water back into her mouth, Sakura drank from her canteen, then emptied it into the soil of her tree. She had made it into the desert and the sun and heat were brutal. The medic used her healing jutsu to keep the life force of the plant strong. As long as she kept it watered and healthy, it would survive the trip. She estimated that it would only be a few more hours.

Sakura placed her canteen in her pack and removed another from inside, attaching it to her side. She was smart in packing extra water, knowing she had to keep the tree hydrated as well as herself.

She lifted the tree into her arms and continued walking. It had felt lighter in the beginning, but carrying it for so long made it feel heavier than it really was.

Her feet sunk into the soft sand with each step, it was much more tiring than a hard surface, she was definitely getting a work out. She didn't mind, however. She could stand to sweat, it was never as big a deal to her as it was to some of her other comrades to suffer such extreme heat. What she did want was a shower.

Everything looked the same for miles, it seemed endless, until wall of carved earth entered her field of vision. It was Sunagakure's outer wall. Sakura placed one hand on the base of the cherry tree and refreshed it's vitality. She would run the rest of the way if it weren't for her fear of it getting chopped up and broken from the motion.

Patiently, Sakura walked and walked as the village grew bigger and bigger in front of her. Finally, she stood in front of two guards.

"State your intentions. Who are you and why are you here?" Questioned the stone faced guard on the left. The other simply watched her and eyed the tree sapling in her hands.

Sakura already had her paper out and handed it to the man while she awkwardly balanced the plant one-handedly. "My name is Sakura Haruno. I'm a ninja of the Leaf Village on a D-rank mission by request of the Kazekage. He asked that I bring over a tree of this variety to plant in his green house."

The paper Sakura gave him was the very same Gaara had given her, now signed by the Hokage as well, permitting her to carry it out. "Very well. You may enter." He said as returned the page to her.

"Thank you." She replied and stepped into the narrow passage, entering Suna at the other end. It was easy to locate the Kazekage building. Gaara was sure to be there.

Once again, Sakura was stopped by a guard who requested he identity. She passed through the doors after showing him her permit. A final time, just outside Gaara's office, a woman at a desk asked her why she had come to see the Kazekage. This time, she wasn't given the letter back, as it was filed away to be dealt with later.

The older woman stood and accompanied Sakura to the door pushing the door open with a little effort. There he sat at his desk, busy with his head down in his work.

"Lord Kazekage, Sakura Haruna of Konahagakure." The old lady announced, bowing and returning to her own work space as the door closed.

Gaara looked up, surprised, but not animatedly. There was just a touch of disbelief, before it settle into recognition. He smiled a small courteous smile. "Haruno. Sakura. It's nice to see you again. Please come in."

Sakura moved to his desk and set the tree down. As an after thought, she shouldn't have. His desk and papers would become dirty from the soil. He didn't seem to care, so Sakura's guilt was short lived.

"This is the tree you requested. It's very hardy." She informed, sitting back in a chair across from him. She was beat. Her hands and arms were filthy from holding the canvas sack which held the plant's soil and roots. As she inspected them, Gaara inspected the tree, touching it delicately.

"Where are the flowers?" He asked confused. Sakura tilted her head.

"Didn't you know? They only flower for two weeks out of the year. Don't worry, they'll bloom in a few weeks. I made sure to bring it before it happened."

He stood up from his seat and took the tree into his arms. "I see." He walked around her toward the door. "Come. Let's get it planted."

She pulled herself back to her feet reluctantly. "Alright."

Gaara lead her to a newly organized plot, already ready for planting. After Sakura had left the last time, he had taken the time to prepare a spot for it. It was an extended portion of his green house, this way he could adjust this room to the correct temperature and it wouldn't bother his other plants and herbs. One of his hobbies included tending to Cacti, so this tree would be well taken care of by him.

Placing the tree on the ground, he set to work digging a hole with a shovel set nearby, waiting for use. When it was deep enough, he set the tree in the enriched soil and began filling it in. Sakura dropped by his side and helped him, both of their hands digging and pushing the soil around it, leveling it so it didn't lean off to one side.

He watch her small hands as she firmly pat the soil bed and smoothed out the surface. He did the same on his end, though he was sure it was just something she did for looks. "There." She said, running her black hands through her hair. "A nice new home for this little guy."

The Kazekage was distracted by the smudges she left behind. "You have black all over your forehead and in your hair." At his words, she looked at her dirty hands. Then she smiled unexpectedly.

"So?" She smeared her index fingers horizontally across both of her cheeks, creating two bold lines. "I have some on my cheeks too." He must have looked at her funny, for she spoke again. "I need to shower anyway, I was covered up to my elbows in soil already and there is a thick layer of sand all over my clothes and body. A little more dirt can't hurt me now."

Gaara smiled. She looked silly. He reached out and touched the tip of her nose with his thumb and ran it up the bridge and further up her forehead, adding another bold line to her face. "You're beginning to look like Kankuro."

Her face tinted slightly, but he didn't miss it. He remembered the last time it happened and the cause of it. He stood up and she followed his lead. "I can arrange a place for you to stay for the night so you can shower and sleep before you have to leave. It'll be dark soon and you shouldn't travel though the desert cold at night."

"Thank you. I would like that." She said gratefully. "Also, here is a card with information you'll need for your tree. I asked that Ino write it down for you." She withdrew it from a pocket in her shorts and he took it, placing it in his own.

"Thank you. I'll make use of it."

Not only did he arrange a room for her, he even walked her there when he could have asked someone else to do it, especially since she had interrupted his work. He was a gentleman, Sakura determined.

"You should have everything you need. If you don't have anything to eat, there is a small restaurant downstairs. I'll see to it that you don't have to pay for it." He then pulled an envelope from his pocket. "And this is your pay for completing your mission. It includes what I owe you for the price of that tree as well."

Sakura took it. Immediately she felt that it was too thick for a low ranking mission. "This is too much. You're already providing me with food and housing, this feels like way too much, Gaara. I can't accept it."

He refused to take it back, putting his hands behind his back. "It's not just for this mission. That scar on your side..."

The medic shook her head. "No, you repaid that by taking me home. You carried me for over twenty-four hours!"

"I never said that was to repay you. I told you I would carry you for taking a hit meant for me. I don't consider this full repayment either. I'll find a way, but take money for now. It's what I can offer at the moment."

His face was stern and serious. Sakura sighed deeply. "I'm not going to win this, am I"

Gaara half smiled. "No. I'll be leaving now. Until next time."

The man before her made a sign with his hands and disappeared in a whirl of sand. Just as she had done to him, he didn't give her a chance to say good bye.

Sakura looked at the envelope in her hands, turning it over like it was something usual, then shoved it in her pack. She didn't want to accept it. He once had nothing but pain and loneliness. The last thing she wanted was to take from him, even if he had it to offer her.

She took a shower, ate a delicious meal downstairs, and retired to bed early. The pinkette would have to leave early, but not to avoid the cold night. She wanted to avoid Gaara. How long could she last against him cornering her about the reason she let herself be stabbed in his stead?

He would know she was hiding it from him, as he knew in the past that there was something she wasn't telling him. Now, she lied to herself. What she was uncovering must be a misinterpretation. There was no way it was right. She needed more time.