Chapter Seven

Emerald eyes shot wide open from the blaring alarm echoing in the room. The bloodshot gaze began to shift frantically around the foreign chamber, a mind once again racing to recognize where it was, and where that boisterous and vexatious noise came from; or better yet, how to end its obnoxious howls permanently. Her body was heavy, yet her brain forced her to turn her body over on the snug bed that was underneath. Her red gaze finally met that of a little, black, clock on top the night stand next to the bed, a heavy sound emitting from it. Despite how strenuous it felt to lift her arm towards it and push the off button, her ears, mind, and body all thanked it for bringing the silence back. When she finally recognized her surroundings, and the purpose of the loud alarm, a sigh escaped her lips.

Sakura winced in discomfort as she forced herself to sit up, inhaling deeply and closing her eyes in the process. Her head and neck rolled back while she drew her breath in, trying to push the exhaustion out of her when she exhaled. She turned to look at the time after composing herself.

"Ten in the morning." She spoke to herself, voice raspy.
"Only three hours of sleep."

Sakura again sighed and closed her eyes, trying to recall why she had set an alarm. What was it again she decided was of great importance that she only give herself a few hours of sleep? Quickly she recalled why she had not fallen into slumber until seven in the morning today, and lifted her index finger to her eye level. The night's session replayed in her mind.

"Gaara." She whispered.

He was the reason for her lack of sleep the past few nights, and he was also the reason she ended her slumber prematurely this morning.

'Why?' Inner whined, fatigue bothering her as well.
'Why do you decide to go so far for him?'

Sakura sighed again as contemplation began in her mind.

'Because he is a friend now. Because I still have to earn more of his trust. Show him I care, and help him.'

'He didn't change at all last night. Can't you just say job well done and head back home now?'

Sakura smiled at the funny thought. Most jobs for her were never this easy, and she knew she still had a lot of work ahead of her in helping Gaara.

'I suppose I can rule the cause of his um...nightly episodes. He didn't take any drugs like he had been the nights before. I wonder if Temari has gotten any info on those pills. In any case, now the real work begins. I need to show him how to function at night like the rest of us, and help him build a healthy sleeping routine.'

'Fine. Fine.' Inner Sakura yawned.
'Why do we have to wake up now though? Can't we just sleep until tonight? Nothing you can do for him during the day, he is busy running the village.'

Sakura hummed at the thought. She had been restless by the time she crawled into her bed this morning, despite the wariness that had been plaguing her the past couple of days. A certain red-head Kazekage, and his actions, swam vigorously in her mind as she tried to enter a dream. She had been happy that he seemed to accept her now, but still felt saddened by the little she had learned of him that night. All of this cast her to stir in her bed.

'I want to show him what a friend is.' Sakura admitted in her mind, scrutinizing her face at how silly she sounded.

'Let Naruto show him what bonds are.' Inner retorted.
'We're here for work, not play. We should be sleeping now. Besides, Gaara probably doesn't even care. He is going to find your acts childish and bothersome.'

Sakura frowned as she listened to her mind, admitting that was probably how he was going to perceive her if she decided to go with what she had planned. Sighing in defeat, she lowered her back towards the comfy sheets, preparing herself for sleep once more.

'You're right.' Sakura admitted to her other half.
'He doesn't care.'

Before shutting them, Sakura's eyes swam around her room. She caught a glimpse of something shiny, and white on top of her drawer. Her view drew wider as she picked herself up from the bed to inspect it closer.

"That wasn't there before I went to sleep." Sakura mumbled to herself, drawing herself closer to the object.

Her stomach gave an audible growl when she approached the white plate of food. Despite Gaara's words for her to eat and rest earlier, Sakura had chosen to do the latter first, forgetting breakfast completely. Which seemed to go unnoticed by a certain Kazekage, as she knew deep down that he was the one who had brought her a plate since he had done the same act before. Staring at the food for some time, Sakura's mind decided to speak up and swallow her words.

'Just get your ass in the shower and do what you need to do so we can come back home to sleep.' Inner sighed.

Wiping the tired from her face and eyes, Sakura quickly stripped her clothes off and raced towards her shower. She ignored her shattered mirror as she drew past it. She would have to remember to clean it up later. A warm smile plastered on her face as soon as she stepped into the steamy shower, the trickling water helping to wake her as it hit her cold back. Her wash was quick, and Sakura took little time to dress herself, again questioning Suna's exotic apparel before wrapping it around her body.

With quick steps to help her both wake, and finish her task early, she headed towards the kitchen. She was glad to see that both the sand siblings, and house help they would get once in a few days, were not present. She didn't want to be bothered with the task she had set before her, and she didn't want any rebuking eyes glowering at her for the inevitable mess she was about to make.

"Alright." Sakura spoke confidently as she lit the stove, emptied the fridge and filled a giant pot with water.
"Lunch will be soon. Let's do this!"

Sakura made sure to lock the door behind her when she entered the outside. A grin was plastered on her face, and she took a moment to stare at the boxes that were wrapped in cloth that she was now holding. It had been time consuming, but the remaining energy she had left in her had been worth the effort. Her stomach rumbled lightly as she caught whiff of the lunches she was carrying.

"I don't think I've made a bento for someone else since-"

'Sasuke-kun?' Sakura's mind piqued.

At the thought, Sakura's grin fell to a solemn frown and she sighed. The remembrance of her colleague, and long-time crush, could always put her in a damper mood. This time however, she told herself that she should be happy and proud. She was putting effort in to make someone else happy, the least she could do is greet Gaara with a smile. Bringing the cloth up and to her eyes, she spoke to herself.

"I hope my motion isn't off putting. I'd hate to overwhelm him. He may not even like the gesture..."

'He's Kazekage.' Inner Sakura piped.
'He's probably used to these kind gestures from the village already. If anything, just tell him it's a way of saying thanks for letting you stay in his home or something. Don't be getting cold feet now after all that work.'

Sakura hummed and tilted her head at that statement, blinking one last time at the lunches she held before noticing the slight chill in the air around her.

"Ah!" A sound escaped from her as she tilted her head towards the sky above her.

A small smile began to spread on her face when she noticed the gray clouds swimming slowly in the normally blue, clear sky. Not a drop of the sun's rays could break through the dreary barrier, and the fallout now being that Suna was loose of its usual extreme heat.

"Gaara was right." Sakura whispered to herself.
"Their monsoon season is approaching. Maybe it will rain today."

Sakura took a breath in, letting her skin soak in whatever humidity it could find in the air. Soon, she began her march towards the spherical office that hovered in the middle of the village. Her walk brought her through the town's market, and she mentally laughed at her self when she listened to the loud conversations people carried about the approaching rainfall. She would never hear this sort of talk back in her homeland. Rain was as common in Konoha as a sneeze, but here, where it was considered like a delicacy, she could feel a change in the people. Their spirits were higher, they were more energetic, and she could feel herself growing excited along with them for their anticipated downpour. Something that did not happen back home where she, and the rest, would pass off the rain with a wave of the hand.

Traveling deeper into the market, her nose began to pick up smells of the different cooking meats swimming in the air. She had to hurry her steps when the delicious scents tried to beckon her towards them. Wiping the drool from her lips, she apologized to her stomach and took another glance at the lunch she had prepared.

"A home cooked meal always tastes best anyway." She spoke to settle her stomach.

'But let's remember to try out some of these new dishes soon.' Inner Sakura said.

Climbing a small set of stairs in front of her, Sakura had finally reached her destination. Surprised to find the walk had only taken her about fifteen minutes.

'Right on time for lunch.' She beamed in her mind.
'I hope he takes his lunch break around this time.'

Sakura was hit by a blast of cold air as she set foot into the giant building. Despite the drop of temperature outside, it seemed the air conditioning inside was automated to handle the normally hot days in this village. Sakura shivered lightly while taking in the office around her. The scene in front of her was fast and busy. People were pacing back and forth and between rooms, and most had their eyes down towards papers that they held.

'Never a slow day when it comes to politics. Just like the hospital.' Sakura spoke in her mind, stepping now towards the receptionist desk.

As she approached the desk, she was greeted by a heart-warming smile from the secretary. However, the smile quickly fell when the woman's eyes fell to what Sakura was carrying. Despite the now passive gaze, the secretary spoke up.

"How can I help you?" She asked, her eyes glancing once again at Sakura's cloth bag.

"Ettooo..." Sakura started, the woman's change in demeanor slightly deterring her thoughts.
"Is there anyway I can give this to the Kazekage?"

The woman in front of Sakura lifted an eyebrow towards her, questioning the rosette with her look as to what she was carrying. Of course they had to take precautions when it came to Gaara, and Sakura was quick to pick up on this.

"It's just some lunch I made him." Sakura forced out a nervous laugh, hoping suspicion wouldn't fall on her now.
"My name is Sakura and-"

"The Godaime is judging a very important trial at the moment." The secretary cut Sakura off.

Sakura's smile fell to the harsh tone of the woman in front of her. She knew Gaara was busy, but had asking really been that harmful? How was she to know he was currently in trial? Before she could voice her opinion, the woman spoke again.

"Just go and..." The woman sighed as she gestured her hand behind Sakura.
"Sit with the rest of them. Maybe he will see you if he has the time."

Sakura turned towards where the woman had gestured, chairs were lined up in what she figured to be a waiting room. As her eyes passed through the lobby, she caught glance of the many young girls that were sitting. Like her, they too held onto what looked like wrapped up lunches, treats, or gifts. Some the girls clung to their bags as they stared towards the ground passively, a blush on their cheeks, while others stared intently towards Sakura. Their eyes would narrow when she locked gazes with them, and she recognized that look from her younger years when she sought out Sasuke's affections against others. She was being considered competition in their eyes, and realization hit her hard at that point.

'Gaara has fan girls?!' Sakura screamed in her mind.

Sakura's jaw dropped, and a blush crept onto the now flustered rosette. She quickly spun on her heels to face the receptionist. Was this woman seriously degrading Sakura to the level of these girls?

"Y-You have this all wrong!" Sakura stammered towards the secretary.
"I'm not like them, I-"

"Yes, yes." The secretary cut Sakura off again, a fake smile on her face.
"I already informed Kazekage-sama of your arrival, Ms. Hana."

Sakura could feel her temple throb from both the lie, and wrong name, the woman threw at her. Inner Sakura was cracking her knuckles, and it was taking quite some restraint to stop her outer self from doing the same.

'Shannaro!' Inner Sakura cried.
'Who the hell does this bitch think she is?! I'm one of the top medic-nin from Konoha, not some wait-for-a-man-to-notice-me-fan-girl!'

Sakura grounded her teeth as the receptionist seemed to her ignore her presence now, oh but how she would get her attention again soon. She had a few choice words for the lady and her lack of professionalism.

"Listen here-" Sakura began, but stopped herself when a familiar voice reached her ears.

Turning herself back around towards the waiting room, Sakura was quick to find the young man the voice had belong too. He was in his usual black attire, hood included, and he don purple paint around his face.

"Kankuro!" Sakura beamed, a smile now on her face as her angry mood dissipated.
"Finally, someone I can level with."

She watched as Kankuro was now looming over one the girls in her seat. His elbow resting on the wall behind her as he held a smug look towards her young, blushing face. Sakura could tell she was one of the quiet ones, like Hinata. Her eyes were bashful and away from Kankuro, and she clung onto her boxed lunch tighter while he chuckled. Sakura's ears perked as she listened in on their conversation.

"-but I made it for Kazekage-sama..." The young girl said, pulling the box closer towards her.

"Oi, don't be like that." Kankuro grinned,
"You know I'm Gaara's older brother, right?"

Sakura scoffed at what she heard. Was Kankuro seriously playing the I'm-related-to-authority card right now? From his look, she wasn't sure if he was trying to get the young woman's affections, lunch, or both. Sakura bit her cheek as she continued to watch the two.

'I hope Gaara never picks this trait up from Kankuro.'

Sakura watched as Kankuro made a quick glance towards her before his eyes fell back to the girl in front of him. Maybe her now deadly aura had made him shift a fast gaze her way, since she was considering throwing a kunai at his head for his actions right now. She inwardly smiled when she saw him widen his eyes towards the young girl in realization before bringing his pupils back up to Sakura. There was shock in his face now, and hurriedly he made his way towards her.

"Sakura!" Kankuro smiled as he drew near.
"Hey, what are you doing here?"

Before Sakura could speak, he eyed the cloth in her hand.

"Ah! Did you bring me some lunch?" He laughed.

Sakura lifted the bag away from Kankuro as he made a reach for her homemade cooking. She placed her other hand on her hip when Kankuro eyed her curiously.

"Not for you." Sakura spoke, lifting her chin up and away from him.

"C'mon. Don't be like that." Kankuro forced out a smile.
"Just a bite?"

Sakura eyed Kankuro before glancing back at the girl he was speaking to before. As her eyes returned to his, she watched his smile fall. He knew she had caught him on his previous act, and she raised an eyebrow towards him as he began to lightly sputter.

"I-It's not like Gaara is going to eat any of theirs!" Kankuro tried to defend himself, throwing a thumb towards the waiting room behind him.
"He never takes a lunch break anyway."

At those words Sakura eyed her bag. Had this all been a waste?

"He doesn't?" Sakura asked again, still staring at the boxes.
"I guess I could have slept in this morning..."

"Wait a minute..." Kankuro spoke, earning her eyes on him now.
"Don't tell me...Are those..." He paused his words, pointing towards her food before pointing a finger at her.

Sakura watched as Kankuro's face flushed when the gears in his head began to turn and work. Putting the two and two together, his accusing finger began to shake as his jaw dropped.

"Sakura, don't tell me." He said again.
"You made lunch for Gaara?!"

Sakura blinked at Kankuro's reaction, was her generosity really that surprising?

"Un." Sakura nodded her head, holding no hesitation.

With her answer, Kankuro's arm fell as he stared bewildered at Sakura.

"Don't tell me you're like...them." Kankuro whispered, motioning his eyes back towards the girls in the lobby

"O-Of course not!" Sakura barked, her face reddening in embarrassment at the accusation.
"It's my way of saying thanks for letting me stay in his home and-"

"It's my home too." Kankuro remarked, looking at her food once again.

Sakura chuckled at his whining words and spoiled look.

"The residence is given to whoever is Kazekage. That means it technically belongs to Gaara." Sakura shrewdly spoke.

"Yeah, yeah." Kankuro rolled his eyes, now walking past Sakura.

He set some distance between him and her before turning back around.

"Let's go then. He should be free now, the trial ended about ten minutes ago." He said, before trudging again.

Sakura's smile grew as she lightly skipped towards Kankuro. Making her way to his gruff form while swinging the bag in her hand. As they marched up stairs, the two remained silent. Though, the action was not awkward between them even as time passed. Soon enough, Sakura found herself walking down a purple carpet hallway that seemed vacant compared to the busy setting she had just come from. Perhaps this area was only permitted to a select few she thought to herself.

"Temari and I were worried last night, but looks like everything went okay. It's a such a relief, and it's all thanks to you."

Sakura stared at Kankuro's back to his words, watching as he threw her a thumbs up. Sakura wanted to tell Kankuro that she hadn't really done anything, and that it was probably the pills he was taking, but decided against it when she realized exactly where it was they were. She had to be careful of wandering ears. Instead, she asked a question.

"Kankuro?" Sakura spoke.

"What's up?"

"Why doesn't Gaara come out and at least meet with those girls?"

"Huh?!" Kankuro drawled, so surprised at her question that he turned to face her, continuing his walk backwards.
"You think he has time for that sort of silly thing? He's busy with more important stuff!"

Sakura simply chuckled at Kankuro's small outburst. Of course she knew he was busy, she just simply felt like teasing.

"But you know," she said again, "he's breaking their hearts by ignoring them."

At that, Kankuro scoffed and turned back around to face forward, his hands settling in his pockets. He knew now Sakura was playing and grimaced at the thought of his brother actually taking the time for a girl of his own. Silence filled the two again before Kankuro spoke out.

"He has a right to. You could say they broke his heart first...We all did."

Sakura had barely heard Kankuro's last words, his voice was almost a whisper. If it weren't for the empty hallway, she was sure his opinion would have been drowned out by others around him. However, she did hear him, and tilted her head in curiosity.

"What do you mean?" Sakura cautiously asked, noting Kankuro's glum attitude.

Sakura watched as Kankuro exhaled slowly, shaking his head to figure out the right words to say. She wondered if he was now feeling slightly guilty.

"What I mean!" He barked, before trying to compose himself.
"Is those girls would run away from the sight of Gaara his whole childhood. They didn't give him a chance. Now that he's Kazekage, and has a name for himself, they want to suddenly jump into bed with him and suck his-"

"I get it, I get it!" Sakura cut Kankuro off, stopping him from saying such vulgar words.

At this, Kankuro turned back around to face Sakura. He winked at her while sticking his tongue out playfully.

"Gaara isn't stupid or naive. He knows this already." Kankuro continued.
"I'm not saying it's in his nature to do this or that he purposely ignores those girls, but..."

Kankuro paused his words as he stopped and stared at the door next to him, he scratched his head before lowering his voice to Sakura.

"He has every right to treat people the way they treated him first. It shows what sort of character Gaara is that he doesn't do that them."

Sakura's eyes stared towards Kankuro as he took a minute to study her, perhaps waiting to see what reaction she would have to his words. When he received none, he turned from the rosette and continued his march.

"He's in there." Kankuro said, walking away still.

At that, Sakura's mouth dropped lightly and she glanced at the door before taking a step towards Kankuro.

"You won't go in with me? Don't you want to have lunch with us?" Sakura asked.

"Apparently someone didn't think me important enough to cook for!" Kankuro teased.

As Sakura stared at Kankuro's back, his words sank into her and she felt suddenly remorseful. The feeling only lasted a second until she remembered his actions downstairs earlier.

"You're just going to snag one of those girls' lunch, aren't you?" Sakura's spoke as her face contorted.

Kankuro's only answer was a wink and a stuck out tongue as he turned to face her once again. He threw a v-sign her way before saying.

"See you later."

Sakura only shook her head as she watched him disappear down the hallway. He had spoken words of wisdom to her, yet his acts were shameful.

'Just like Naruto.' Sakura thought to herself, before reaching for the door handle in front of her.

As Sakura stepped into the giant, empty room, she took a minute to study it. There was wood benches lined up beside her, and in the distance in front of her was a giant raised desk. She recognized the room immediately.

'This must be Sunagakure's court room.' She thought to herself.

Sakura took a small step back when she realized where she was. Why had Kankuro brought her here, she wondered before spotting red in the distance in front of her. At the end of the room, the middle seat was raised fairly high as well as the desk in front of it. The judges seat no doubt in Sakura's mind when she noticed it pillared above everything else in the room, and in that seat was the red-head she was searching for.

Sakura studied Gaara for a minute, wondering if his eyes would raise from his work under him to meet her gaze. However, he kept his head down and away from Sakura.

'I wonder if he even knows I'm here.' Sakura thought to herself, now walking towards Gaara.

The room was empty, save for the two, and Sakura wondered why Gaara stayed in here instead of seeking his office.

'Probably finishing up some last minute work on the trial.' She concluded in her mind, passing through the wooden gate and inching closer to him.

When Sakura had reached his tall desk, she peered up. There was only wood in front of her as the judge's seat and desk seemed to be a foot taller from her head, and as she continued to look up, she realized she could not see Gaara behind the escritoire. She stood there, staring up, waiting for him to acknowledge her. As time passed however, she smiled and listened to his light breathing and scribbling of his pencil.

'Have I snuck up on the great Kazekage, or is he just ignoring me?' Sakura chuckled in her mind.

Sakura took a moment and played in her mind of all the possibilities she could use to get Gaara's attention. She dismissed quite a few ideas when she realized surprising him would probably end up with her encased in his sand.

'Gaara is smart. He must at least feel my presence. Right?' Sakura said in her mind.

With that thought, Sakura dismissed the whole possibility of surprising the young lord. Instead, she stood on her toes and reached her only free hand towards the top of his desk. Instead of waving to get his attention, or tapping on the wood, she stuck out her index finger. She hoped he would notice her gesture and recognize it as the one between them from last night. She smiled at herself, wondering if this expression could be their own personal thing. A secret handshake of sorts between the two.

It would be her hand shuffling the papers aside while it inched towards him that would catch his attention. When he finally noticed the hand, and wrist, snaking closer to him from below is when he finally looked up and away from his work. He studied the index finger that was pointed at him carefully, and in silence. An almost bored expression on his face as he tried to figure in his mind who it was below him and what their intentions were. When her index finger began to wiggle back and forth in front of him, his eyes widened. He recognized the salute, and slowly peered over his desk and below him.

'She couldn't be here now.' Gaara thought before his eyes caught sight of the familiar pink strands.

As soon as Gaara stared down towards her, Sakura pulled her arm back and leaned from her toes and back to her heels.

"Good afternoon, Kazekage-sama." Sakura grinned upwards.

Sakura studied his eyes as he remained silent and staring. When he first took notice of her, she saw his eyes widen in surprise, he had not expected her. When he came to terms with her presence actually being there, she noticed his gaze turned soft. Perhaps he was slightly happy at having her company now, she thought to herself. However, as soon as she had that belief, Gaara's eyes quickly narrowed with disapproval in his look.

"Why are you here?" Gaara asked with slight anger in his tone.
"Has something happened?"

At his harsh words, Sakura's grin turned into a delicate smile.

'Kankuro said Gaara wasn't naive but...' Sakura said in her mind before lifting up the cloth bag to Gaara's gaze.

"Nothing's happened. I just thought you might be hungry and brought you some lunch!" Sakura said, slightly swinging the bag.

As Gaara stared at the lunches in her hold, Sakura noticed his angry eyes distort to that of confusion. She was quick to figure that his mind was now raising alarms to her kind gesture, and he was trying to figure out what catch there was from her offering. Despite all the girls downstairs, it seemed Gaara was unfamiliar to this courteous action, and coming from someone so new in his life it probably puzzled him more. Luckily Sakura was blessed with her smarts, and able to spot his uneasiness.

"It's what friends do." Sakura cooly remarked.

As Sakura spoke, Gaara's eyes quickly went from the lunches and back to her. When his teal gaze met her emerald one again, the confusion left and anger returned. Perhaps he did not appreciate Sakura understanding his silent questioning.

"Go home." Gaara flatly said, before disappearing back behind the desk.
"You have been awake for too many hours, you need rest."

Sakura's arm holding the lunches slowly dropped as did her mouth. Had she really upset him that he tell her to leave? Her thoughts from earlier this morning came back to her mind.

'...Gaara probably doesn't even care. He is going to find your acts childish and bothersome.'

Had her mind been right all along? Despite his gesture and words from last night, their new friendship, was she still just a burden to him? As Sakura listened to his scribbling pencil returning to his work, slowly she turned herself away from him, deciding to do what he had instructed of her.

"Alright...I guess." Sakura spoke in almost a whisper.
"I'll see you later then."

Sakura would never know, but Gaara had halted his work when she spoke those words. He had gripped his pencil tightly, before ignoring her sad tone and returning to his work. As the rosette took a few small steps forward, the image of the plate of food in her room from this morning returned to her, and she stopped her steps.

'Hold up.' Sakura thought in her mind, remembering Gaara's kind actions and interest over her well-being the past two days.
'He isn't angry that I've bothered him. He's just overly concerned about me, and my lack of sleep! Maybe this is his idea of being a good friend.'

'That doesn't sound like the Gaara you know.' Inner Sakura chimed in.
'Better make sure that's what it really is.'

Sakura let out a heavy sigh when she silently agreed with her mind. Her exhale was so exaggerated, that she knew the Kazekage behind her had his attention back on her, though, she could still hear his scribbling as he continued to work.

"This sucks." Sakura cried out, turning to stare sadly towards the lunches she held.
"I worked so hard and long this morning to make these lunches. What a complete waste it was..."

As her back was turned to him, Sakura mischievously grinned when she heard Gaara's scribbling stop. His attention was completely back on her now, and she knew her idea was working.

"I just wanted to make Kazekage-sama happy, and thank him for all his hospitality." Sakura's sad tone returned as she stared towards the floor with a sulking look.
"I guess he doesn't like me after all, I guess it was silly of me to think of us as friends."

Sakura began her small steps again, hanging her head low still.

"I felt all alone in this village and without anyone to talk to. I was finally happy to have made a friend here yesterday. Guess I was wrong."

As Sakura started her walk once more, she let out one more sigh.

"Oh well..."

"Wait, Haruno."

At the sudden call of her name, Sakura smirked.

"Got'cha." She whispered.

'Ah! Guilty conscience. You were right.' Inner Sakura said impressed.
'That, or it stems from his loneliness as a child and his understanding of your feelings right now...'

Sakura hushed her thoughts, noting that now was not the time to theorize and experiment more. She knew from the call of his voice that she had been right, and spun on her heels quickly to face him.

"Yes?" She practically sang, and watched as Gaara pushed himself from his seat and slowly made his way down from the high chair and desk.

Slowly, he made his way towards another door within the room, he opened that entryway and stood back before looking at her.

"My office has a couch. It will be more comfortable eating in there than here." He finished, watching with a dull gaze as Sakura practically skipped towards him and his office.

As he held the door frame open for her, she took a moment to stop in front of him and smile a toothy grin towards him. Caught off guard by her genuine look, and at how long she held it for him, Gaara began to stammer under her gaze.

"W-What is it?" He finally asked, trying to compose himself while also trying to break her smile that made him so bewildered.

"I'm starting to understand you." Sakura lightly sang again, wanting to laugh at his shocked look to her words.
"I'm really glad we're friends now!"

Sakura let out a small chuckle as Gaara turned his eyes away from her, using his body and the closing door behind them to hurry Sakura into the room. He wasn't sure how much of her smile and playful words he could handle today, and he knew she knew that.

"Hn." Was his only answer to her, before completely shutting the door behind them.