A Dangerous Thing

by Seltap

Gaara is reverting back to his old ways, but it isn't Naruto who is asked to save the Kazekage from his dark customs this time.

6. Chapter 6

Chapter Six

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As time passed through the night, Sakura sat patiently and quietly. She continued to study Gaara in silence, and hoped this would help to calm the sour mood she caused earlier. She also anticipated this would give him enough time to let her request sink in.

"I'd really like to be your friend!"

Since she spoke that, Gaara had yet to reply. Even his eyes wouldn't turn away from his work to glance at her anymore. At first, Sakura figured she should reach out to the young lord and try to lighten the mood, but decided against it when she noticed his pile of papers dwindling down. She settled on the idea of waiting for him instead to be the first to speak. Hours had passed with nothing said, and Sakura licked her lips in anticipation when she noticed he only had a few more papers left to finish. If she really wanted a friendship between the two of them she knew patience, and following his lead, was key.

'Why are you so interested in him all of a sudden? I can't believe you told him you want to be friends...' Inner Sakura said.

'What's wrong with wanting to be friends? Naruto and him are friends. Why can't I?' Sakura argued back in her mind.

'Because he's...Gaara! You're here to fix him, not get to know him.'

'I can do both. In fact, I think doing both will be beneficial. Seeing him tonight, I can tell he is going to need some companionship getting through the quiet nights for a while.'

'It's normal to be aloneat night. That's when people sleep.'

'Not for him it isn't normal. Not yet at least. He was so use to having a voice in his mind his whole life. Now that it's gone, it's going to take him some time to accept it.'

'Still, you don't need to be his friend to show him.' Inner Sakura mumbled while crossing her arms.

'I want him to be able to trust me, right?He won't accept my help unless he trusts me.'

'Are you sure you can trust him though? The Gaara from last night almost had his hand down your pants. The Gaara in front of you doesn't even want to speak to you. Seems to me both the mindsets we've seen from him don't want to be friends. It's either something more or less.'

Sakura shivered with the reminder of last night.

'What happened yesterday is never going to happen again. I have the pills now.'

'Well, the guy in front of us now is like Sasuke-kun. Quiet, mysterious, reserved. You don't know what thoughts are going through a quiet mans' head.'

'It isn't good you compare Gaara with Sasuke-kun. You know what feelings we have for Sasuke-kun.'

'Of course I know. I am your mind. Thesethoughts are yours...'

Sakura's inner argument halted when she noticed Gaara signing his last paper. A small sigh escaped his lips as he placed the last of his work onto the finished pile. At the sight, Sakura's heart began to pace a little, and energy was returning to her while she wondered what he would do now.

'Let him be the first to speak.' Sakura reminded herself.

Sakura straightened her back when she felt his gaze setting once more on her, and as quick as their eyes met, she let a smile escape. She wanted to show him she held no hostility towards him and was still genuine about wanting to be his friend. His fixed stare, however, said otherwise and did not return her smile. His jade eyes were simply glued to her emerald ones, his elbows rested on the top of his desk while his hands laced and covered the bottom of his face. There was no emotion in his look while he remained transfixed to her eyes, almost as if he was studying her.

Despite his captivated look, Sakura held her soft smile and never broke the silence. If this was a routine night for him, sitting in his chair and watching the person across from him, then she would accept the fact and wait for dawn to end their session. The outside winds seemed to rattle a little louder now, and the ticking of the clock was more evident in her ears. Even the flickering candle was more discernible as their eyes never fell from one another.

'His eyes are so distinctive.' Sakura thought, taking the opportunity to study them.
'They're actually very alluring.'

"Why would you want to be my friend?"

Sakura mentally thanked the gods when she heard Gaara speak. She would have accepted the silence, but was thankful the possibility of conversation presented itself. She also inwardly cheered that Gaara was taking her words to heart, that meant he was weighing out the possibility of them becoming a little closer.

"Why not?" Sakura teased, sticking her tongue out playfully.
"Who wouldn't want a Kage as their friend?"

Sakura inwardly seethed when Gaara's eyes narrowed angrily towards her.

"So, you believe you will receive better treatment by-"

Sakura raised her hands in defense before cutting him off.

"No, no! I'm only joking with you, trying to lighten the mood." Sakura let out a nervous laugh.
"That's what friends do. They try to make each other laugh."

"I'm not very funny. I wouldn't be able to make you laugh."

Sakura sighed when silence filled the room once more. However, his angry eyes had returned to a serene gaze, and she was happy to know she had diffused the ticking time bomb inside of him. Taking a moment to think, the rosette tried to find an answer to his question. One that he would accept.

"Well..." Sakura hummed, bringing her legs up to the chair and hugging them tightly as her gaze met the floor.
"I'm here staying in your home. I imagine I have quite some time here in Suna, until my work is done at least. The only people I know in this village are you and your siblings. I will never have a more opportune time like this to get to know you better and be your friend then now."

Sakura kept her smile and eyes to the floor, waiting for his reply. When she didn't receive one, she inwardly scoffed. Shaking her head as realization hit her hard.

"I'm sorry, you're the Kazekage. You probably have more friends than I can imagine. It probably doesn't even matter to you what I asked. To have another friend added onto your long list probably means nothing." Sakura said, her smile falling the more she spoke.
"You have more important things to worry about than friends anyway."

"If it didn't matter," Gaara said, "I wouldn't have asked you why or brought up the topic again."

Sakura quickly whisked her surprised eyes back to Gaara's calm ones. Her mouth was slightly open as she took in the meaning of his words. His body, however, never faltered to her now startled gaze.

"Also, I can tell you the names of all the friends on my list." He continued, bringing up a finger.
"Naruto."

Sakura watched as he lowered his one finger. She waited for him continue, but instead he remained quiet and kept his lingering stare on her. He waited for her to become aware of what he was saying.

"Just Naruto?!" She finally exclaimed.
"What about Temari?! Kankuro?!"

"While I care deeply for them now, they are my siblings. Not friends." Gaara spoke while tilting his head slightly in thought.

Sakura tilted her head back in thought too. She had no siblings of her own, so she couldn't agree or disagree to him. She would just have to take his word for it.

"Your people though, surely you-"

"It's as you say, they're my people. Not my friends." Gaara answered flatly.
"Besides, how do you think the villagers would react if they saw me favoring someone else above the rest of them? I have to treat them all equally."

Sakura mused at the thought. A sad look now etching her frame. She saw the truth behind his words, and it affected her to think the most loved man in this village was possibly still the loneliest.

"Have you and Naruto ever just hung out?" Sakura asked, trying to recall anytime Naruto had mentioned going to visit Gaara.
"As friends, have you two done anything together besides missions and business?"

Sakura's gaze fell more when she saw Gaara shake his head, silently answering no. She suddenly remembered his words from earlier explaining how his work was constant.

"You work all night on these papers. Then go to your office to work some more. Never taking a moments time for yourself or with anyone else..." Sakura softly spoke, trying to comprehend his lifestyle.

Sakura's eyes wavered on Gaara's tranquil look. He did not speak to disprove her, she was in fact correct on his current lifestyle. He waited for her pitying look, though he would hate it, he knew it was coming. Her sad eyes would burn into him soon.

"Then..." She began again.
"Does that mean the other day, when you took me shopping and to the playground, was the first time you spent a day away from work and with someone besides Temari or Kankuro?"

Gaara's eyes began to swim around in thought as Sakura waited. It seemed he had never given that day much thought, but now that the rosette put it in his mind, it was definitely a day that stuck out of the norm for him. Slowly he nodded to answer her yes, and was taken aback when a grin spread on her face instead of the frown he anticipated.

"Did you enjoy that day?" Sakura asked amused.
"Away from work, and with someone else?"

Instead of swimming eyes, his gaze stayed locked on hers. Minutes began to tick by as he remained silent to her question, though, Sakura knew he was deep in thought.

"Did you enjoy it?" He finally asked.

'He's so cautious.' Sakura thought with a smile before speaking.

"Of course I did!"

Gaara simply nodded at her. He never answered her, but as Sakura saw the small spark of amusement in his eyes, she knew he felt somewhat the same as her. Her smile never broke while Gaara watched her, captivated by her look.

"That's what friends do." Sakura continued.
"You see? We're already starting to become friends."

Gaara watched her intently after her spoken words. He was searching to find some hesitation in her, whether it came from her voice, her smile, or body language. It couldn't be this easy, he thought. Friendships for him didn't happen literally overnight. At this point, his mind would probably be warning him. The voice inside his head would be laying some serious, heavy doubts. It be reminding him what had happened the first time he had opened his heart and trust to someone.

'Yashamaru...' Gaara thought, closing and scrunching his eyes.

In the past, he would never be receiving the smile in front of him. Why was she readily giving hers to him tonight? Especially when he was putting no effort to claim it.

"Besides, Naruto and I are good friends, just like you two are. Like I said before, It only makes sense that you and I could be friends too."

Gaara's eyes quickly flew open to the mention of Naruto's name. He had to admit, her point there was valid. He had seen friendships click that way. However, as his eyes stayed with her, he remained silent, and waited for the voice inside his mind still to tell him what to do. It never came, and, he knew it never would. So, he sat there in silence, waiting, for anything.

His anything soon became Sakura when she stood from her seat, her small steps making her way to his desk. His gaze never faltered while she loomed over him, a smile on her face. Soon, she was presenting him with her hand. Was this suppose to be some sort of agreement to their friendship, he wondered.

Sakura kept both her body, and eyes firm while she bestowed her hand for Gaara to shake. She remembered the action he had used on Naruto before he left, and figured this was the next best route to take for the quiet, young man. To show him she meant the best, and was true to her words. She couldn't go wrong by copying an action Naruto had taken. At least, that was what she had thought, but began to doubt herself when she noticed Gaara's eyes begin to dart back and forth between her open palm and floor beneath him.

"What's wrong?" Sakura asked, both her smile and hand falling.

Gaara shuffled in his seat, his eyes still set on the floor and arms crossed. Sakura suddenly remembered the day before when she had attempted to touch his shoulder. Maybe he thought her some sort of danger, or threat. Despite his reaction, the young woman simply shrugged it off.

'Patience is key. I'll show him he can trust me.' She reminded herself.

Now that she was standing, Sakura decided to take the opportunity to stretch her legs and walk around the room once more. Heading towards Gaara's drawers, she examined the frames and few cacti that nested on top of the counter. She halted as one of the plants caught her attention. It's giant, magenta flower captivating her interest and beckoning her to come closer.

"So pretty..." Sakura softly spoke to herself.

Despite how quiet her words were, Gaara had heard her with ease, and brought his eyes to see what she was flattering. He watched as she knelt to one of his cacti and traced the flower lightly with her finger.

"This is the only one with a flower." She spoke, petting the blossom still.

"That one just recently bloomed." Gaara spoke, his eyes still on her with his arms crossed.
"It is the first bud I've gotten to open."

Sakura's grin grew when she learned something new of the young lord, it was an interesting hobby of his to have.

"You did this? You like to raise cacti?" Sakura asked, turning to Gaara as he nodded to her.
"We don't have these type of plants in Konoha. The flower is beautiful."

Tracing the magenta petal one last time, Sakura then lightly poked at the cactus's pointy spine, noting how the white spikes lined around the magnificent flower.

"This cactus loves its flower. It's protecting it." Sakura smiled as she spoke her playful words.
"The dangerous spikes will do what they can to protect their fragile blossom."

As Sakura straightened her back, she looked at Gaara with a smile, wondering if he would agree to her foolish story. Instead, she met with a puzzled look from him.

"The spikes are called glochids." He corrected her.

Sakura did not flinch or waver to his words, instead she turned back once more to the cactus.

"My apologies." She said.
"The glochids stand tall and ready for their flower."

She turned back to Gaara, a playful grin on her face.

"Right?" She asked.

"Hn," Gaara answered, turning his eyes away from her to stare at the floor once more.
"Childish thinking."

Sakura's smile did not fall despite his ridicule, and instead she looked again at the top of his large drawer. Her eyes passed a familiar purple frame before swiftly returning to it, she remembered the picture from the first day she was brought in this room.

"Ah!" She exclaimed to herself, picking up the frame.

The woman in this picture had caught her attention before, and Sakura stared into the woman's smile. Again, the rosette's mind raced with questions while she stared into the woman's indigo colored eyes. Who was she? What relationship did Gaara have with her? Why was her picture of so much importance that it resided in the Kazekage's chambers? Turning her emerald eyes back up to Gaara, she was taken slightly aback when she saw his gaze was already set on her. She opened her mouth to ask, but was beaten by him.

"Hahaoya." He answered her silent question, turning his eyes, and grimace, back to the floor.

Sakura's mouth snap shut and her wide eyes turned back to the sand-blonde lady in the frame.

"Your mother?!" She exclaimed.

Sakura took a moment to study the picture deeper. Trying to pinpoint a physical feature Gaara and his mother might share. Though, as she continued to scrutinize the photograph, she could find none.

'I wonder where his mesmerizing eyes came from.' Sakura thought before mentally slapping herself.
'Gah! Don't have those type of thoughts!'

Clearing her throat, and mind, Sakura set the picture back down. Somewhere before, probably from Temari or Naruto, Sakura had learned of this mother's passing. However, she was never told of the relationship the woman had with her husband, children and village. She merely assumed before speaking.

"Your mother must have loved you dearly."

Gaara's body tensed and eyes flinched when those naive words reached his ears, however, Sakura did not notice his sudden detachment. Her eyes were still set on the frame as Gaara calmly and hurriedly collected himself.

"Tch. Childish thinking." He whispered for his ears only, deciding not to correct the girl of his mother's past fondness of him.

Clearing his mind, Gaara narrowed his eyes towards Sakura. Did she really have to go around his room snooping, making up children tales of his cacti; and having wild acquisitions of his relationships with his deceased family members? Though his mind rang with those thoughts, he couldn't bring himself to say all that to her, and instead settled on some choice words.

"Is this what friends do? Pry in others' business?" Gaara took a jab at the girl.

Sakura brought her curious eyes back to Gaara's irritated ones, wondering if he was lightly joking, but she could see the seriousness in his look and decided to back off then.

"Absolutely." Sakura joked, winking at the young lord before returning to her seat.

She had gotten his message, but took no offense to it. She knew this familiarity was going to take time with him. As she sat down, she crossed one leg over the other, smiling still.

"Close friends tell everything to one another though. There is no need for prying."

Gaara snorted to Sakura's hidden motion of them possibly becoming close friends. Her expansive mind did not cease to baffle him tonight. Turning away from the girl, Gaara brought his eyes above him.

"Do friends also overstay their welcome in the middle of the night like you are now?" Gaara said, keeping his eyes above him still.

Sakura inwardly fumed, her cheeks puffing out in annoyance. His words were suddenly bold. Was she a sudden bother to him? He had agreed to her staying all night earlier, and despite the rough start, she had acted innocently and with probity so far into the night.

'Calm down.' Sakura told herself.
'He is probably just becoming uncomfortable that someone is showing an interest in him and his life. Remember, patience is key.'

Sakura let out a heavy breath, her anger leaving along with it. A smile returned on her face.

"They do. We call them sleepovers." Sakura jested.

Sakura watched Gaara for a reaction, wondering if he would find humor in her words, but instead of laughter, he remained silent. His brow bones creased in time as he stared at the ceiling still with a resentful look.

"Sleepovers are for young girls, no?"

Sakura's eyes widened to Gaara's question. She mentally smacked herself when she remembered the solitude this lord was subjected to at his young age. Of course he would be confused to her words. She wondered how clueless he was from his isolation as a child.

"Well...no." Sakura sighed, pondering on how to answer.
"Both young girls and boys have sleepovers. I suppose with age it's more acceptable for women to have sleepovers still than men of our age. Boys grow out of it I guess."

Sakura shrugged when she finished those words and turned back to Gaara, hoping to see some understanding in him. However, his dark circled eyes remained motionless towards the ceiling still. Perhaps he was thinking hard on her words, trying to fathom around the idea that he was robbed of learning on his own in his youth.

"If a woman of our age wants a sleepover with a man of our age, then, how do they come to a compromise?"

Sakura had to do a double take at Gaara when he asked that question. Was he serious? Surely there were better conversations the two could settle on. She remained silent as she stared at his slow blinking gaze towards the ceiling, and as time passed she let out a heavy sigh.

He was serious.

"If it's a man and a woman, of our age, that want a sleepover together..." Sakura hummed in thought, scratching her chin lightly.
"Then, I doubt it's the sort of sleepover we're talking about!"

Sakura let out a small chuckle before speaking again.

"At our age, I can only think of one reason a guy and a girl would agree to spend the night together."

Sakura's chuckle turned into light laughter after she spoke her words. She hoped the Godaime in front of her wouldn't be vexed by the lack of innocence in her sentence.

'Hey, he's the one who asked.' Inner Sakura quipped.

Stifling her small laugh, she turned her eyes back to Gaara. She was slightly surprised to see that his expression had not changed. Despite her answer, his eyes were still glued above him. Sakura tilted her head slightly at his fixed form before watching his lips move again.

"What reason would that be?"

Sakura couldn't stop her jaw from slightly falling, a light blush painting her cheeks pink while she replayed his question in her mind. Her voice was caught in her throat as she stared at Gaara. There was no way he was this ignorant, right? Sakura had to wonder to herself. Surely he understood her words, surely he wasn't serious.

He was serious.

Clearing her throat, Sakura quickly composed herself.

"Um...Well...You know..." Sakura was at a lost for words.

Silencing herself, the rosette also brought her eyes to the ground below her. She began to scratch her chin as the tension began to build to her quiet and anxious state. She was just going to have to be as blunt as she could allow herself in front of Gaara. He was the one who had asked anyway.

"Usually when that happens..." Sakura gulped.
"...The guy and girl are... hooking up..."

Sakura finished her words in barely a whisper, though she knew Gaara had heard her clearly. Her cheeks were matching her hair color now and her eyes remained glued to the ground. She couldn't bring herself to look at the young lord now, she was too embarrassed she had just told something so lewd to the Kazekage himself.

'He's the one who asked! You only answered what he was asking. No shame in that!' Inner Sakura spoke.

Repeating that in her mind, Sakura brought her now shameful eyes back up to Gaara. She was astounded that the Kazekage in front of her did not even seemed fazed by her words. He was still sitting in his chair with his arms crossed. His narrow eyes still up above them as he look to be in a contemplating, deep thought. There was no shyness in him like there was in her now.

'He is so mature and composed. I could learn a lot from his example.' Sakura bashfully thought.

"What does it mean, hooking up?" Gaara asked, staring at the ceiling still.

Sakura's back straightened when that question left Gaara's mouth.

'H-He's joking, right?!' Inner Sakura cried.

"Is you being here considered a sleepover? Are we going to do this, hooking up?"

Sakura could feel the blood drain from her flushed face before racing back up and swelling her mind. As quick as her face paled, it began to grow a deep beet red, and she could almost feel her cheeks melting off from the immense heat she now felt.

'Did the Godaime Kazekage just ask what I think he asked?! Does he not understand what the act of sex is?!' Inner Sakura continued to scream, making outer Sakura deepen a more shade of red.

Sakura could only stare at Gaara with her jaw agape, his eyes and face passive and staring at his ceiling top, waiting for her answer.

'There's no way!' Sakura screamed in her mind.
'I can't answer this, no way! Did nobody care to explain to their precious village leader about the birds and bees? Isn't this suppose to be Temari and Kankuro's job? Not mine! He can't be this clueless!'

As Sakura's mind screamed and body twitched, Gaara blinked before slowly bringing his eyes down towards her. Sakura did her best to stifle herself when she noticed his gaze fall on her, though, she knew he had caught her with her rose colored face. Their eyes locked, and the rosette again felt a heat wave race through her as his jade eyes pierced into her.

'He can't look at us that way after asking all that! Was that not his intention yesterday when his hand was reaching down your pants?! Gah! Why are his eyes so enticing?! Shannaro!' Inner Sakura spoke what outer Sakura could not, since her eyes were still locked with Gaara's.

Minutes passed as they stared at one another. Surely he was waiting for an answer that Sakura refused to give while she screamed in her mind. A small twitch suddenly escaped from the corner of Gaara's mouth, one so sudden that the young woman's eyes had to work fast to catch it before his face fell back to his apathetic gaze.

'D-Did he just smirk?' Sakura wondered, her face beginning to cool and return to its normal color.
'Why did he smirk? What's going on in his mind?'

"I told you I wasn't very funny." Gaara finally spoke, breaking the silence.

"Eh?" Sakura peeped, her eyes widening.

'D-Did he just try to crack a joke? Is he teasing us?! Is that why he smirked?!' Inner Sakura asked.

As Sakura kept her eyes glued to Gaara's, she mentally slapped herself. Of course the young man in front of her had to have known what she was speaking about, she was the ignorant one here, and surprised she fell so easily into his trap. Quickly she brought a hand over her bottom lip, a giggle erupting in her throat as she tried to stifle it. However, the more her mind thought of what Gaara had asked and how flabbergasted he had made her, she let her giggle explode. Cupping her hand over her mouth to stifle her loud laughter, Sakura had to close her eyes as they welled up with tears. The whole idea sending her into a fit of laughter.

Unbeknownst to her, Gaara watched her with lifted eyes. Never before had he seen someone so close to his presence laugh wholeheartedly like she was now, let alone howling uncontrollably because of him. This was the second time he had made this young woman laugh, remembering her snickering when he had suggested she get some new boots. The scene in front of him was still vaguely new, so he watched her, intrigued, and unable to turn away. Again, he wondered to himself how he was rewarded of her laughter and smile tonight, it was never this seemingly easy and effortless for him. However, as he continued to watch her, he realized he enjoyed seeing her this way.

As quick as a wink, Gaara suddenly felt his chest pang. Instinctively he wanted to reach up and claw at his chest, but restrained himself from doing so. He didn't want to bring any alarm to the happy ninja in front of him. So instead, he shut and narrowed his eyes, trying to compile himself with focused breaths. With his ears still filling in with her laughter, one thought came to his empty mind.

'Where were you when I was younger?'

Gaara opened his eyes when he heard Sakura clear her throat across from him, their eyes once again locking.

"You got me." She spoke with a smile.
"I didn't think the Kazekage of being so mischievous."

"Hn."

Despite Gaara's lack-luster answer, Sakura's smile turned into a grin. She knew what she had just experienced from him was something rare. A treat she concluded. Something he did not do with others, and she was excited he had chose to share that trait with her. As silence returned to the air, she kept her smile proud, listening once again to the howl of the storm outside, the ticking clock and flickering candle.

'He hasn't lashed out tonight.' Sakura thought to herself, smile still.
'It really must have been those pills.'

Sakura began to scratch the top of her hand as the memory of the previous nights flashed through her mind. The idea of his sand around her again, like he had done the first night, made her suddenly itchy and her nails naturally scratch at her skin. Unknown to her, Gaara too watched as her nails grazed at her hand. He watched her in silence, his eyes beginning to narrow as he stared at the hand she scratched at. He was immediately reminded of her action earlier, when she had tried to shake his hand, and slowly brought his narrowed eyes back up to her face.

"Will shaking my hand be an arrangement of our friendship?"

"Eh?" Sakura peeped upon hearing that question, ceasing her scratching and turning her wide eyes to Gaara.

She was met by his narrow eyes, he looked angry, but Sakura was easy to distinguish that he was just being cautious. He was still inwardly battling what she had asked of him this night. However, she could also see a hint of curiosity in his jade orbs. Perhaps he wondered too what this new found friendship would bring for him.

"It's a sign of trust." Sakura spoke with a light smile.
"A friendship can only stay steady and strong if there's a strong base of trust holding it up."

Gaara tilted his head to her words.

"How is two beings touching a sign of trust?" He asked.

Gaara, of course, already knew the answer. He had presented it a few days back when he grasped Naruto's hand. He was simply absorbed in hearing the young woman in front of him speak it. Maybe she did understand him. Just a little though, he would allow himself to admit.

"Please excuse my boldness, Kazekage-sama," Sakura began, "but I've seen first hand what happens when someone does not have your trust."

Gaara raised his brow bone to her, silently telling her to continue.

"Your sand defends you against any threats. When you don't have trust in someone, that someone is consequently perceived as a threat in your mind, thus, your sand acts out. Defending you from that threat."

Sakura's smile had fallen sometime during her words, but her focus had not swayed from Gaara. He simply stared at her, no doubt taking in her words and thinking deeply.

"When I reached for you the other day at the playground, your sand lashed out." Sakura spoke, seeing recollection in Gaara's eyes.
"I wonder now...if your sand would still guard you from me."

Sakura could see Gaara's eyes widen for a second before falling back, he understood her underlying premise; she was asking him if he trusted her now. Little did she know, that even he wasn't sure of the answer, and so the two sat in silence. They watched each other, one waiting for a response while the other clamored in his mind for a resolution. Minutes would tick by before Sakura saw Gaara begin to shuffle in his chair. She watched, perplexed, as he slowly raised his arm to the top of his desk. He rested his elbow on the wood while he brought his hand slightly up in the air and towards Sakura. As his hand moved closer to the rosette, all but his index finger folded back into his palm.

As Gaara's hand came to a stop, Sakura stared down at it. It wasn't an open palm like she had expected, just a finger pointed towards her. Perhaps Gaara, too, was unsure how his sand was going to react to her touch and opted in the one finger instead of a full handshake. It was a curious, and bewildering, sight to take in that she continued to simply stare in silence. It was uncharismatic for the Kazekage, and looked more to her how an uncertain child would react to a stranger.

"Are you afraid?" Gaara asked, earning her gaze before it fell back to his finger.

It was then Sakura knew she had to push all her pessimistic, and skeptical, thoughts to the back of her mind. Of what he did to her all those years ago, and how he had attacked her the nights before. She was going to have to trust him first before he allow her his.

'I'm not afraid of him.' She spoke determinedly in her mind, raising a finger slowly towards Gaara's now.

As much as he wanted to keep his gaze on the girl in front of him, Gaara stared down at her approaching finger. Preparing himself for the outcome that his sand may instinctively guard him. He could feel both his and Sakura's breath hitch as the aura of her finger came into contact with his before...

"Ah!" Sakura chimed.

A small smile spread across her face when her index finger pressed against Gaara's own finger. They had finally made contact, and there was no sand.

Only trust.

Sakura had only wanted to make the contact brief, she didn't want to push her luck, but as she felt their two fingers pressing together, she found herself unable to tear away. She feared that what all this meant would be lost if she pulled back. She took a minute to steal a glance at Gaara. His eyes were just as transfixed to their fingers as she was, his gaze was curious as he continued to stare at this new physical connection.

Turning her eyes back down to her finger, Sakura began pushing against his finger slightly harder before slowly tracing down the underside of it. As her finger began to venture, she could hear Gaara's breathing growing slightly heavier over the flickering candle. No doubt he was wondering what her motive was. However, his sand never raced to his aid, and that was more than enough cue for Sakura to continue her actions.

'You're playing with a dangerous thing.' Inner Sakura reminded her again, asking her outer part to fall back.

'If he didn't like it, he would pull back.' Sakura retorted in her mind.

As Sakura's skimming finger reached the bottom of Gaara's digit, she slowly retraced back upwards. She heard the young lord gulp while she continued to brush his finger up and down with her own. No doubt he was slightly nervous to this unknown act, but it made Sakura all the more content knowing he trusted her enough to let her continue. So in silence, she carried on her brushing for some time, and was soon surprised to find Gaara's uncertainty turn that into a relaxed state. His breathing now more soft and his eyes were beginning to glaze over as he watched her finger move.

In time, Sakura too could feel herself restful to the small contact, her eyes were growing heavy and body becoming drowsy. Yet, she refused to let up her small stroking, and marveled if it was making the young lord just as calm.

'I really like this. I wonder if Gaara feels the same.' Sakura thought.
'He must be if he isn't pulling back.'

Sakura's attention was drawn to the candle next to Gaara as it gave a loud snap. As quick as her eyes fell to the sparking candlelight, she watched as the small fire reached the end of its wick, the hot wax dowsing out the small flame. Her actions ceased as soon as darkness filled the entire room, blinding her vision. Quickly she gasped, a recurrence of what had been happening the past few nights racing back to the front of her mind. Somehow, the shadowed room now alarmed and frightened her, and as quick as the blackness came, Sakura pulled her finger back and away from Gaara.

The contact broken.

As her hand traveled back to her, she felt Gaara's hand race and snatch at her wrist, stopping her from pulling back completely. At first she panicked at his bold action, half expecting to hear him cackle and threaten to drink her blood. She found herself unable to move or speak as his grip tightened around her wrist, and soon felt herself begin to shake. However, as her quivering began she soon focused on his thumb that too began to stroke the bottom of her arm and wrist. Her light shakes stopped when she realized he was silently coaxing her to calm down with his touch.

Sakura let out a heavy breath, relaxing herself.

'Did he not want me to pull back?' Sakura wondered as she unwind to his light strokes.
'Why else would he have chased my arm? Or why now is he still holding it?'

Sakura felt herself lightly shiver at the enjoyment Gaara was giving her, and noticed how his strokes had paused at her sudden shudder. As her shaking stopped though, his ministrations continued. A little more exertion in his finger than before. Sakura slowly shut her eyes to the pleasurable feeling, sighing with discontent when Gaara's grip loosened. Slowly, his fingers brushed on top her hand and fingers before snaking its way from her and back to him.

He stopped the interaction, and Sakura inwardly cried out for it once more. Peeking an eye open, she watched as the morning sun behind him began entering the room. His silhouette a little more clearer to her. She opened her eyes completely, hoping to read the emotion he now held on his face. Surely this whole action would hold something more in his expression then his usual passive gaze. However, as she fully opened her eyes to take him in, she had to wince and shield them, the morning's sun now blinding her completely when it shone in her face.

"I'll be needing to get ready for work now, please excuse me." Gaara spoke in time, watching as Sakura began wiping at her eyes.
"Please be sure to eat and rest today."

"S-Sure." Sakura, defeated, answered and shut her eyes at the sun piercing rays.

Upon her answer, she heard Gaara's chair squeak while he stood himself and made his way to his washroom. As he opened the door, he took another moment to turn to Sakura's now hunching figure in the chair. Fatigue had washed over her suddenly, and somehow he sympathized with the girl. He too felt a little, drained? He wasn't sure what the right word for it was.

"Thank you." He spoke in almost a whisper towards Sakura.

Sakura had straightened herself to Gaara's words, about to ask what is was he was thanking her for. Before she could whip her eyes back to him though, he had locked himself in his bathroom. A heavy sigh escaped her while she stared at his door.

'I guess we made a new friend.' Inner Sakura teased.