Chapter Three
It was almost sundown by the time Sakura and Gaara reached their destination. The sun seemed to set early in Suna this time of year as Sakura had learned along the way. After her heartfelt thanks to Gaara, the two had continued their walk in silence. It had been what she dreaded since the beginning, an uncomfortable stillness between the two as she realized they knew too little of each other to carry on a conversation. While she knew she would be forever grateful for all Gaara had done for her today, she still wished Temari and Kankuro hadn't forced the two of them off together.
There was still too little Sakura knew of Gaara, and couldn't figure out how to spark a deep conversation he would invest in. Eventually she gave up, and as time went by, the uncomfortable feeling of the situation passed along with it. She knew Gaara had no reason to speak to her, so she hoped he expected the same from her. She had faith that there was a silent knowing between the two of them.
'At least I know I'm not boring him,' she imagined. 'I hope.'
She grimaced in thought, her eyes now falling down towards her steps.
'Should I bring up what happened last night now?' she wondered. 'Would this be an appropriate time?'
Sakura sighed at her question. At what time would be appropriate to ask the leader of Suna why he drank her blood last night? Why his deranged antics were picking up again? Why his eyes were calm now but wild the past two nights?
'It will never be the right time,' she concluded in her mind. 'Might as well just get it over with.'
Sakura gulped. She was anxious yet apprehensive at what this young lord's answer to her questions may be. Would he deny all? Be offended by her accusations and send her back to Konoha? After the nice day he had given her, guilt was heavy like a stone in the pit of her stomach. Despite their lack of communication, Sakura couldn't help but feel she had made some small progress today with the young Kazekage. She was delighted she was going to leave some impression about herself in his mind, though, she wondered how long his memory would hold her in it. She knew she could never leave an impact on him like Naruto had, and she didn't want to have to possibly ruin it all so soon with her interrogation.
Sakura shook her head, trying to rid her procrastinating thoughts. She knew what she had to ask, despite whatever consequence Gaara would ensue. This was her mission, asked of her in secret by Temari. She had a job to do. Pausing her steps, she drew back a big breath.
'Do it!' she commanded herself, preparing for the worse.
"We're here," Gaara interrupted, turning his gaze back towards her.
Sakura's lips rolled as the fabricated breath, she was holding in, loudly released. She blushed hard at the noise that escaped her rolling lips, and the skeptic look Gaara tossed her way.
"Uh..." Sakura finally spoke. "Sorry."
Fate was unfair. It had taken her all this time and confidence to finally muster up the courage to ask questions. The silence encouraging her to speak up, and he had to go and ruin it by his unexpected announcement.
"Apologies," Gaara spoke, his passive look returning. "I did not realize shinobi of Konoha were not accustom to distant walking."
"Tch," Sakura clicked her tongue in annoyance, eyes narrowing.
He thought she out of breath? Did he just insult her? Sakura could hear her inner self cracking her knuckles.
'Oh, he wants a go? Two can play that game! Shannaro!"
"Oh no, this walk is nothing!" Sakura forced out a laugh, walking to stand in front of Gaara while he watched her. "This heat just got to me for a second. Seriously, who would choose a life in this hot desert compared Konoha's shady, greenery?"
Gaara stared at Sakura's back with apathetic eyes as he listened to her passive aggressive statement. He continued to watch as her back tensed lightly to the sight in front of her. Surely she was puzzled as to why he needed to be here. He smirked at her previous statement with small amusement before walking to stand next to her, his lips falling when he reached her.
Sakura blinked as she stared at the run down playground in front of them. Her head tilting in wonder as to why he had brought her here. It was bleak and dismal, unlike the one back in Konoha. The area only consisted of two, low swings and a rusty looking slide. Sakura bit her lip in thought, wasn't it Gaara's duty to make his village look a little more presentable? Then again, a renovated playground was probably on the bottom of his priorities. She didn't hold any ill thoughts against him, just that that was the ninja world they lived in, business outside before inside. She trusted he knew how to do his job.
Sakura turned her head when she heard laughter in a short distance away. She smiled when her eyes fell onto the laughing children in front of them. Nothing could deter a child's playtime, not even an ugly playground. They cried with joy as they kicked a ball to one other, and Sakura sighed while she remembered her carefree youthful days. Where had the time gone? Sakura lost herself in the memory of her childhood for some time, and was only brought back when Gaara spoke.
"An ice bar will help you with the heat."
Sakura turned as Gaara finished his sentence. His back already facing her before she could ask him what he meant. She followed his trail to see him sweep along the sand and towards a small cart in the distance. She could see the old man at the cart straighten himself to perfect posture when he realized who it was he would be serving. Understanding, Sakura narrowed her eyes at Gaara before sprinting after him and blocked his path as his eyes turned down to hers.
"Please," she began, her eyes set firmly on his, "let me treat!"
Gaara raised one of his brow bones in question. Silently allowing her to explain her reasons before passing judgment.
"You've already done enough for me today," she said while motioning her head towards the bag of clothes he was now carrying in his hand. "Let me pay for this at least."
"No," his answer was quick and he stepped past her.
Sakura however was just as determined and again stood in front of him to stop him, this time using more drastic measures.
"Puh-lease!" she practically wailed, clapping her palms together in the process and pouting.
"It's not fair! Besides, you're going to throw your village into an economic crisis if you keep doing this for me."
Gaara narrowed his eyes at Sakura's pleading ones. Her exaggerated glower annoying him.
"I told Naruto I would take care of you and-" Gaara began before being cut off.
"That isn't what I want though," Sakura spoke, trying to have Gaara understand her point of view. "Naruto speaks for himself, not for me. So, please..."
Gaara kept his narrowed eyes fixated on her begging ones, trying to get her to back down with his tenacious stare. Sakura, however, had played this game before, and his eyes began to soften at her pitiful, unwavering glance. He let out a sigh before turning his head, and eyes, away from her gaze.
"What is it you want then?" he mumbled.
He shut his eyes with discontent as he felt her smile grow big to her small victory before she spoke.
"Let me treat?"
Gaara sneered. Not so much because he didn't find this cordial on his part, or because he felt he was letting Naruto down on his promise; but because he felt the young woman in front of him might let this feat get to her head. He was never one to back down, from anyone, hardly ever. However...
"Do what you want," Gaara mocked, showing her he was not happy with the circumstance, and continued to keep his gaze away from her now grinning face.
As Sakura lightly sprinted towards the cart with a smile, Gaara let out a sigh before slowly marching his way towards her. He stopped next to her before she turned towards him.
"How many would you like?" she asked. "I just got myself one, but they split into two."
Sakura watched as Gaara turned from her and towards the playground. She tilted her head in question, watching his eyes waver towards the distance and in silence.
"Kazekage-sama?" she asked, wondering if he was still upset with her.
"Fourteen."
"Alright, four-eh?!" Sakura's mouth dropped while she opened her wallet, checking to see if she could forfeit so much over. "You seriously want fourteen?!"
Gaara gave Sakura a smug look before he turned back towards the cart.
"What?" he slightly drawled. "If it's a problem for you I could always-"
Sakura cut him off with a forced laugh as she dug for her change. She knew what game he was playing with her.
"Not at all!" her eye twitched in annoyance despite her smile. "I just can't believe that someone as tiny as you could eat so much!"
Gaara simply ignored Sakura's shot at his physique and appetite, and instead reached to grasp and maneuver all fourteen treats into his hands. Turning away from the pink haired ninja, he made his way back to the playground. As he grew closer, a soft, short whistle escaped his lips.
"Hey, wait up!" Sakura called to him, paying the man in front of her before grabbing her own ice bar and scampering back to Gaara.
As Sakura drew closer to him, her eyes widened. The children playing with the ball from before were now racing over to Gaara. Their smiles and laughter never faltering as they stopped in front of their lord. Her heart instantly melted as a few of them leapt onto his legs for a one-sided embrace.
"Kazekage-sama!" they all cheered.
It was interesting to watch Gaara's demeanor never change while the children all began to tell tales of their recent, but simple, accomplishments to the young man. They hoped for praise from him, but It didn't seem to bother the young kids when Gaara remained silent to each of them, instead handing over ice bars, one by one, to each child.
"Thank you, Kazekage-sama!" they each would chime.
Sakura felt a small blush on her cheeks as she watched the scenario. Never would she have guessed Gaara would bring her along to do something as personal as this.
"Onee-san, who are you?" one of the children grew curious of her, tugging on her skirt to get her attention.
As the children were handed off ice bars from Gaara, they surrounded around Sakura while eating their sweet treat, curious as to who this stranger was. Sakura smiled sweetly as she crouched down to their level.
"I'm Sakura," she spoke. "I'm from Konoha."
The child who had asked simply hummed at her answer. He chose to eat the delicious snack instead of asking more. Another, however, spoke in his stead.
"Are you a shinobi too?" one asked.
"Like Kazekage-sama?" another squeaked.
"That's right!" Sakura nodded her head to say yes, her smile growing bigger.
Soon each child was throwing a question of their own, asking before Sakura could even answer one.
"Do you use your sand to fight, like Kazekage-sama?"
"Are you strong?"
"Stronger than Kazekage-sama?"
"Is Kazekage-sama your friend?"
All the children hushed their voices while they waited for Sakura to answer that last question. Their was curiosity in their eyes when they saw her pondering look. As Sakura lingered on the thought, she turned her gaze up to Gaara, he had his back turned to her and was facing the playground. She hoped he would answer for her, but instead he crossed his arms, and nothing but silence emitted from him.
As the silence lingered, Sakura felt her heart race. What should she say? She obviously wanted to say whatever would please the young lord, but also remembered the distance between the two of them. Would he be offended if she labeled them friends? Maybe he didn't want these children to think he had any closer relation with her than what she was there for, being his medic-nin. She also didn't want Gaara to think her a liar when she knew deep down they were a ways off from being friends. Acquaintances, she could easily say they were, but knew the children in front of her wouldn't understand that term. So, In the end, she decided not to lie to anyone, including herself, but decided to let Gaara also hear her small desire.
"I hope he will be!" she smiled, her eyes once again on the children.
Through the corner of her eye, she could see Gaara uncross his arms and begin his march back to the playground. She began to wonder if her answer had vexed him, maybe he thought very little of her for her to even suggest them becoming friends. Sakura frowned at that thought, she suddenly felt very alone.
"Onee-san!" a child called again, Sakura's sad eyes turning towards him. "Why is your forehead so large?"
Sakura forced out a grin before standing tall, her eye twitching in anger. She could hear her knuckles cracking again in her mind.
'That's enough brats for today,' she decided, making her way back towards Gaara.
The children laughed as they watched Sakura walk away before settling themselves to the ground and enjoying their frozen delicacy in silence. Sakura caught up to Gaara as he sat on one of the old swings, his back hunched and his eyes narrow and distant, his gaze far ahead of him.
'I hope I didn't piss him off,' Sakura thought as she took a seat on the empty swing next to him.
He made no acknowledgment to her and Sakura reluctantly had to welcome back the awkward silence between the two. She could choose to speak if she wanted, but felt that Gaara's mind was now somewhere important since his angry eyes were shifting back and forth. So instead, she decided to copy his actions. Her eyes fell to the sandy ground below with a frown while she thought of her friends back home
'Geez. How am I suppose to finish here and get back home soon?' she asked in her mind. 'I want to make everything right here, I want to keep my promise to Temari but...'
Sakura could feel her eyes begin to moisten. Her grip in her hands also tightening and shaking as she thought of her friends back home. She, however, refused to cry. She dared not show any sign of weakness to the man next to her.
'I feel so lonely...' she allowed to admit in her mind.
"It will melt fast."
Sakura quickly whipped her head to the source that had spoken to her. Her eyes were surprised as Gaara's words brought her out of her train of thoughts. His callous look was staring deep into her as he took in her solemn mood. As it registered with Sakura what Gaara had meant, she quickly turned her eyes to the dripping treat in her hand; she had yet to take a bite.
"Ah!" she piped before she licked a sticky drop from her finger. "Thank you."
She grabbed onto the two sticks, snapping the yellow treat in half and turning back to Gaara.
"Here," she spoke, lifting one piece towards him. "I noticed you didn't keep one for yourself. We can share."
Gaara stared apathetically at what was being offered to him before narrowing his eyes and looking at Sakura again.
"I don't like sweets," he commented.
'After all the trouble he gave me, he didn't even want one for himself to begin with?!' Sakura shouted in her mind.
"Come on," she tried to encourage him to change his mind. "It's lemon. It's more sour than it is sweet."
Sakura nudged the ice bar closer towards him when she saw his pondering look to her suggestion.
"Just a bite," she tried again, feeling as if she were trying to convince a young one to eat his greens.
She smiled when she watched him wrap his fingers around the stick, noting the small contact between her fingers and his, though, it did not linger. She had to suppress a giggle while she watched him twist the food back and forth, his eyes examining it as if it were a foreign object to him. Sakura again encouraged him as his eyes simply stared.
"Try it. I didn't poison it, I promise," Sakura joked, but tensed when Gaara shot her a glare.
'Taking it too far again...' Inner sighed.
Sakura pushed her thoughts away as soon as she saw Gaara finally take a bite, anticipation setting her on the edge of her swing while she waited to see if he would like what she offered. Soon enough, his face began to contort and he scowled before he handed the snack back off to Sakura. She couldn't help but laugh at his obvious distaste.
"At least you tried it," she praised before bringing the bitten ice bar to her lips.
She tried to ignore his stare as she sampled the treat, her eyes once again out in front of her.
'Maybe he doesn't like that I'm eating from the same ice bar,' she thought, but also wondered how it could offend.
She decided to continue to ignore it. Smacking her lips before taking a bite for herself.
"I was poisoned once."
Sakura again whipped her wide eyes to Gaara, swallowing hard. She was surprised he would tell her something so personal while also berating herself mentally at her joke earlier.
"I-I'm sorry!" Sakura choked. "I shouldn't have said-!"
"It was painful. Like...burning," Gaara cut in, ignoring her apology.
Gaara kept his solemn look on Sakura, watching her shift in her seat. She didn't know what to say, feeling the silence come again. However, he surprised her again by breaking it.
"Want to know what happened next?" he asked, his stare intent on hers.
Sakura contemplated the question. She knew there was warning hidden in his tone, but curiosity got the better of her. She had always wondered what made Gaara the way he was, and now that the source himself was telling her, she wanted to try her best to get the most out of him. She nodded.
"I killed everyone in that room."
Sakura could feel a cool breeze on the back of neck, a light shiver escaping her, and she spotted Gaara's eye twitch to her reaction. However, despite how dark his words were, the rosette already knew of the past killer inside this once dark lord. Even though she did not know the story he was telling her, the ending was predictable. With a lost for words, her eyes turned from him and back to her dripping treat.
"No one in that room had been the one who poisoned my food. They didn't even know," he eventually added in.
'There's the dark twist,' Sakura thought, her eyes still set on her ice treat. 'But why? Why is he telling me this?'
Sakura's first thought of his tale-telling being that she had joked about poisoning him. Now she wondered what his intentions were? This moment had to be the most he had ever spoken to her on his terms, and his words were of blood-shed and betrayal. Of innocent lives being taken by him. Was he trying to scare her? To make her hate and distrust him? Trying to make her run away? Or perhaps was a guilty conscience inside him now encouraging him to vent? Was this perhaps therapeutic to him?
"Do you regret it?" Sakura asked.
He was silent to her question, as if he contemplated her words. Before he could answer, a voice in the distance could be heard, and both Sakura and Gaara turned their eyes to one of the children from before. A mother, no doubt, was now reaching and scolding one of the children. Sakura winced while she listened to her yelling, and watched the woman rip the ice bar from the child's hold and throwing it hard towards the ground.
"What did I tell you?!" she cried, shaking the child lightly by the shoulders.
Before Sakura could question, the mother's eyes were set towards her and Gaara, and Sakura suddenly knew. Knew that despite all Gaara did, and who he now was, there were still those that feared his past self and his power. With a sneer, the mother turned from them, child in hand.
"What do you think?" Gaara finally answered, Sakura's worried expression now returning to him.
He had finally answered her, but his eyes were away from hers as he stared at the mother and child. She could see a small hint of hurt in his gaze.
"Kazekage-sama..." Sakura whispered, the pain in his eyes softening her expression.
Despite everything now, he would never escape his past. It grieved Sakura a little to realize that a small amount of his pain was still buried deep within his heart. She had seen the kindness in him today, more so then she ever thought she'd see from him in her lifetime. Would he ever be rid of that pain entirely? As his look lingered towards the distance, she couldn't help but reach out her soft hand towards his shoulder. Hoping to show him some sort of support. He wasn't the bad guy she remembered from years ago.
As Sakura's fingers were mere centimeters from his shoulder, Gaara suddenly took notice of her motion, his eyes wincing when he realized where her hand was headed. Before the rosette could make any physical contact, a wall of sand erupted between the two. Sakura quickly brought her fingers back and stood herself tall, the ice bar dropping from her other hand and rolling into the sand below. The divider of sand in front of her now reminding her of the previous night, when Gaara had attacked. As soon as the sand fell, Sakura gasped when she saw the wild and demeaning look Gaara was now giving her.
"Do not..." he began to speak, his head twisting to meet more of her eyes before he sneered. "...touch me."
After his words, Gaara brought his head back down away from Sakura. His solemn look returning as he stared out towards the distance in silence. Sakura grimaced down at Suna's leader.
'What just happened?' she thought, her eyes intent on his frame.
As easy as she could remember all of his kindness from today, she suddenly remembered his destruction from the night before. His dark story from earlier now settling in. There was a chance he held no guilt killing innocents in the past, and again the past was brought up in her mind.
'He tried to kill me once before... What will he do tonight?'
'Should youask him now?' Inner Sakura spoke. 'About last night?'
As Sakura thought about the question, she turned her head towards the setting sun. Watching as the small, cold breeze from earlier began to pick up faster. The sand beneath them was now beginning to dance in the air.
'Another storm is coming...' she thought to herself.
"Kazekage-sama," Sakura finally spoke, deciding to be the one to break the silence this time. "We should return to your home. There's a storm coming."
Sakura's gaze turned to meet with his as he looked up to meet her eyes. His look was passive as he asked her one last question.
"Are you afraid?"
Though the question threw Sakura off guard, her stare on him was stern still and never faltering while she pondered in thought.
'Is he referringto the storm, or...'
Sakura drew closer towards him, his head lifting to keep their looks from breaking as he waited for her answer.
"I'm not afraid of some sand," Sakura smirked, reaching down next to him for her bag of new clothes.
With the bag in hand, she turned from him, shielding her eyes from the now hard wind and swimming grains as she began the walk home. Night was now settling in the land of Suna. Before she got too far, she could see a shadow casting above her. She gasped when she looked up to see a wave of sand towering like a wave in the ocean, though, it never sank down on top of her like she was expecting.
"Stand close to me," Gaara ordered as he stealthily made his way next to her surprised form. "My sand will shield us."
With that said, he began his steps, and Sakura followed closely behind. The wind now howling around them.
'This guy. One minute he is hostile, the next he is kind,' she thought. 'Just who is he?'
By the time Sakura and Gaara had reached his home, the storm outside had become brutal. She knew had he not been there, she would still be stuck outside. Probably suffocating and blinded by the billowing grains. As soon as Sakura stepped foot inside she turned to face Gaara, who was shutting the door behind him.
"Thank you very much!" she forced a smile, brushing grains of sand from her frazzled hair. "Your sand makes a great shield, I was worried how we'd make it back!"
"Hn," was Gaara's only answer, his narrowed eyes watching her.
He was taken slightly aback though when she straightened her back and slowly bowed to him.
"Thank you for everything today, Kazekage-sama."
"Hey! What did I tell you about being so formal with us? Stop it."
Both Sakura and Gaara turned their heads to watch Temari smirking at them, a paper in her hand as she sat on a couch.
"Temari!" Sakura smiled.
Sakura was relieved and excited that she would finally get to have a normal conversation today, and quickly made her way towards the sand-blonde, taking a seat next to her.
"Oh!" Temari chimed when she spotted Sakura's big bag. "I told you you'd want to bring Gaara along."
Temari winked towards a surprised Sakura.
"Indeed," Sakura softly spoke, a sincere smile on her face now. "Kazekage-sama showed me great hospitality today."
"Tch," Temari clicked her tongue. "You're too sincere Sakura. Just called him Gaara, right?"
Temari turned for an agreement from Gaara, but watched as he sat himself across from her and Sakura. His eyes and hands reaching for the pile of papers in front him.
"Just some papers the council gave me that you need to read over and sign," Temari spoke to Gaara before he could ask. "Not all at once though! Remember, you're still taking a break. I'm just not allowed to use my signature for these."
"I'm fine," Gaara retorted, his hand reaching for another parcel and reading over it. "I'm going back tomorrow."
"Oh no you're not!" Temari shot back.
However, Temari tilted her head when Gaara flinched to whatever it was he had just read.
"What's wrong?" she asked as he brought his eyes to meets his sister's.
"We're getting a new council member?" he asked.
With this, Temari sighed heavily before answering.
"Yeah," she spoke solemnly. "Yura's replacement."
Sakura quickly noted the atmosphere in the room change to that of an intense one. She was about to speak to lighten the mood but was beaten to the punch.
"That means we get to party soon!"
Everyone turned to meet Kankuro's grin.
"You say party as if we're going wild," Temari retorted, her eyes watching as Kankuro made his way towards the couch. "It's a formal event. Don't do something to embarrass Gaara."
Though Sakura wondered what they were speaking of, she couldn't help but smile when Kankuro reached to ruffle his young brother's hair. Gaara just ignored his older brother's affection and continued to read paper after paper.
"Me? Embarrass him?" Kankuro asked before glaring at Temari and then turning to Sakura. "She's more likely to shame Gaara's name than me! Remind me to tell you later, Sakura, what she did at the last formal event."
Kankuro snickered while they watched Temari turn red. Sakura again smiled at the family scene in front of her. Remembering hers in the back of her mind before wondering when it was Temari, Kankuro and Gaara could all sit and converse like they were now. She knew this sort of thing must have taken time within this family, and on Gaara's terms.
"By the way," Temari spoke, trying to move the current topic, "Gaara wants to go back to the office tomorrow."
Gaara took a moment to send Temari an unpleasant look before turning back to the papers. Though, the eldest did not falter under his gaze.
"What do you think, Kankuro?" she asked.
Kankuro shut his eyes and hummed in thought. He took some time to think before he turned towards the young sibling.
"Temari was telling me earlier that you slept a little yesterday," Kankuro began.
With those words, Sakura tensed and shifted in her seat for a brief second. No one had noticed her sudden change.
"How do you feel?" Kankuro continued. "Any better? More energetic?"
"The same," Gaara answered. "I do not need sleep to accomplish what needs to be done."
Sakura mentally cursed at herself. She had failed today to ask Gaara of the night before, as well as keeping it secret from the other two siblings. She felt a light panic within her. Should she speak up now? She didn't want the flawless facade to mask what private despair was now happening in this home. However, she had hoped to reach to Gaara before speaking to Temari or Kankuro about it.
'What do I do?' she thought.
"What do you think, Sakura?" Kankuro interrupted her thoughts. "You are the medic here after all."
Sakura jumped lightly in her seat when all eyes were on her now, she could even feel Gaara's stare now set on her flinching stature. In honesty, it did not matter to her whether Gaara chose to return to his duties tomorrow or not, but somehow she hoped he would take up on his words from before and not choose to sleep tonight.
"Well..." Sakura began, trying to think of something quick so as not to be questioned about her sudden skittishness. "Let's just wait and see how Kazekage-sama feels in the morning, alright?"
Sakura forced a smile at the three, once again bringing up her act. Her face dropped slightly however when everyone turned to see Gaara stand, nabbing at the piles of paper in front of him.
"I'm going to my room now," he spoke before making his way towards the stairs.
"Don't stay up late working on all those papers!" Temari called, the young lord however did not make any notion that he had heard her.
"I'll bring you some food later if you like," Kankuro spoke next, but again Gaara made no impulse. "Don't forget about taking your sleeping pills when you want to sleep."
Sakura figured it her turn now to bid good night to the young lord.
"Thank you for everything today, Kazekage-sama," Sakura almost whispered, it seemed fatigue was now taking a hold of her and making her voice quiet.
She was surprised to see him halt his steps to her voice, his back still turned to her. She almost thought he would not have heard her, let alone respond to her and not his siblings.
"Goodnight," Sakura finished.
All three on the couch watched intently as silence filled the air, however Gaara had remained glued to his spot, and the others began to wonder what was now on his mind before...
"Goodnight."
Sakura smiled lightly at hearing those words, and watched as he made his way up the stairwell. As soon as both his figure and the sound of his light steps were gone, Sakura motioned to the other two sand siblings with her finger. All of them leaning in towards one another so she could converse quietly. If Sakura couldn't bring herself to ask the questions that had needed to be asked, she would do her damnedest to protect those that thought so highly of Gaara.
"Let him be alone tonight," she ordered the two.
"Eh?" Temari narrowed her eyes. "Why? He did so good yesterday with me being there and..."
"Yeah. Too bad you passed out an hour in," Kankuro mocked. "I don't mind staying with him tonight."
Sakura shook her head, forcing out a smile to hide the dark secret she held deep inside. The truth about yesterday.
"Let's see if he can sleep on his own tonight," Sakura spoke. "Then we'll know for sure."
Kankuro nodded in understanding, however, Temari sighed and crossed her arms. Not entirely liking the idea, but deciding Sakura knew best.
"I trust you Sakura," Temari finished, candor in her voice.
Sakura's eyes shot open to the sudden sound within her dark room. As she pushed herself up against the soft bed, her eyes began to scan quickly across the room. Searching out for the source of the sudden howl, yet also trying to recollect where she was and the events that had led her here. Lack of sleep was now clouding her mind.
Her eyes turned towards the squeaking, swinging, round window, and her heart sank.
Now her mind was clear.
Quick like lightning, she raced to shower her room with light. She winced slightly when she flipped the light switch, blinding herself momentarily. Her heart however began to ease as her gaze swam across the empty room, noting now that the howl was only from the storm singing outside.
As soon as Sakura grew confident that only her presence was in the room, she let out a sigh of relief. Quickly, she made her way to the open window, shutting it to a click and making sure it was locked so the storm outside could not sneak back in. She took a moment to look up at the moon between the gliding sand.
"I wonder how everyone at home is doing," Sakura softly spoke to herself. "I bet they're looking up at the moon tonight too."
Sakura licked her lips as her throat gave a dry itch. She decided she would grab herself a glass of water before returning to the land of dreams. She wondered how long it would be before she grew accustom to this dry weather.
When she opened her door, Sakura stopped herself when a loud bang echoed within the home. Her eyes quickly shot up to the source of the noise before her gaze fell to a figure flying past her and landing on the floor, hard, just a few feet from her. She felt herself choke as she stared down at the blood body.
"K-Kankuro?" she barely whispered, her body trembling at the sight of him.
Sakura shook as he seethed in pain, trying to draw a breath in from his fall. When he heard the call of his name, he slowly turned his head towards the source. As soon as he forced his eyes open and their gazes locked, Sakura brought her hands to cover her mouth, the sight of his beaten, twisted body paralyzing her.
"S-S-Sakura," he managed to speak before sending himself into a fit of bloody coughs.
When his coughing subsided, crimson blood flowing down the corners of his lips, he strained to bring up his broken arm and hand towards her. Looking as if he was desperately reaching out to her before he murmured.
"...Run!"