Chapter Fourteen
Sakura continued to stare angrily at Kankuro, ashamed at him for letting his younger brother drink to the point where Gaara's common sense had disappeared. She took a moment to study the redhead, who still sat quietly on the bench with his head down. Her gaze softened to his pitiful look, and she half wondered what was currently going on in his mind. Had she hurt him by rejecting his kiss?
'No.' She thought, rubbing her temple.
'He would have never asked me this if he were sober. I'm such an idiot for thinking Gaara could like me that way.'
With doubt back in her mind, anger returned to her and her narrowed eyes returned back to Kankuro.
"How could you?" She sneered.
Sakura knew she was letting anger get the better of her, but she also had sense to know that Gaara, as Kazekage, should not be parading around tipsy. She was use to her Hokage having a frequent drink and knew that village leaders had a right to let loose once in a while. However, there was definitely a limit, and given Gaara's light swaying in his seat and silence, Sakura knew he was way past that extent. Not to mention, given his dark past, she knew he needed to appear always composed to the council lest they begin to doubt him. She was also aware that this was not something he would do willingly. No matter how little she knew of Gaara, she easily identified him as not a drinker.
Sakura crossed her arms when a cold breeze hit her bare shoulders, she hunched slightly but still kept her eyes on Kankuro.
"Well?" She asked again, demanding an answer.
Kankuro simply shot Sakura an unpleasant look before making his way to Gaara.
"I told you before. Gaara's a grown man, he can decide what he wants and doesn't want." Kankuro sarcastically remarked.
While Sakura did agree with Kankuro, a part of her still doubted that he had drank so willingly to the point of being drunk. She continued to watch as the puppet master rested his hand on Gaara's shoulder and leaned down to one knee to be at his little brother's level. She listened in while Kankuro asked Gaara if he was alright, the genuine concern the older sibling had made her anger ease up a bit. Now she just felt sorry for Gaara and the circumstances.
When Gaara didn't answer, Kankuro simply continued to rub his shoulder showing support. As minutes passed with this, the puppeteer finally decided to confess.
"I'm not sure what happened." He sighed.
"One minute I see him marching over to Temari to tell her off, the next, I see her offering him a drink. I don't know if she convinced him or tricked him..."
Sakura felt her heart drop to Temari's actions, and Kankuro could sense it right away and spoke in his sister's defense.
"She's drunk too, otherwise she wouldn't have done this to Gaara. She never meant any harm, she just wants him to be happy and have fun. We both do. He didn't exactly get that luxury when he was younger."
It was then Sakura let herself mildly relax and sigh, there was no use crying over spilled milk and returned to take a seat next to Gaara. She suppose she would help where she could.
"Would you like some water, Kazekage-sama?" Sakura leaned in to ask him.
She was caught off guard when Gaara moved his head to her shoulder, leaning against it and shutting his eyes. She watched with a round gaze as he nestled himself, and his closed eyes twitched spasmodically. She could tell he wasn't asleep, but trying to focus on the alien feeling he was now experiencing.
"Poor thing." Sakura whispered.
"You've never drank before, so this must be so new to you that you don't understand, right?"
As if to answer her, Gaara's eyes opened slightly, his pupils wavered before he let out a heavy sigh and closed them again. His red hair tickled Sakura's shoulder, but she composed herself while she turned to look at Kankuro. He too had a look of surprise to Gaara's action, but more than that, concern.
"Sakura." Kankuro finally spoke.
"Do you think you could take Gaara home?"
Sakura was surprised, but studied Kankuro's serious tone and eyes. She knew what he was asking her was the most important thing he had asked of her this night. When the heavy rain reached her ears again, she turned her gaze to study the pitch black in front her. It seemed the lightening and thunder had traveled a distance away, but the rain still fell hard and showed no signs of letting up. She still had her doubts of traveling in it. Not to mention, another person was going to depend on her, and this person happened to be the leader of Suna.
"You can't?" Sakura inquired back, doubt in her.
Kankuro sighed, scratching his head and turning his eyes away from her.
"One of us has to stay and represent Gaara, it doesn't really look good that he is going to disappear without saying goodbye. I need to let people know he is returning home safely. Temari is out of the picture, and I need to make sure no one catches her or that party going on in the back."
Sakura sighed before looking at Gaara once again. He looked to be in pain, but she knew he was just confused, and that made her heart feel all the more for him. She knew he probably just wanted to be at home and in his bed.
"Poor thing." Sakura again whispered, brushing a strand of hair off of his face,
Gaara's eyes fluttered again to her action before settling them back closed.
"Alright." Sakura finally decided.
"I'll do it, just tell me the general direction I need to go."
Kankuro nodded before standing himself.
"I really owe you a lot, Sakura." Kankuro said.
"Just maybe, next time, think before you consider throwing a wild, secret party under your brother's nose." Sakura retorted.
Kankuro chuckled to Sakura's advice.
"Like I said, we barely get any fun around here. Gotta take the chance when the opportunity arrives."
Sakura rolled her eyes at Kankuro before turning once more to Gaara.
"Everything is going to be alright, Kazekage-sama. I'm going to take you home now."
Sakura couldn't deny that Gaara leaning on her made her feel all the more giddy about him, she truly didn't want to pull back. However, she knew they couldn't sit there like that through the night. Someone was bound to exit out of the doors behind them soon, and she knew they couldn't be seen like this. She was sure the village was going to be an uproar tomorrow because of her already, no need to make the situation worse. She took one last look at Gaara tilted on her, for she knew this would be the last time, before slowly beginning to pull away and stand herself.
Both Kankuro, and Sakura, watched as Gaara's eyes widened and head shot up to her sudden absence. Before she could fully stand herself, Gaara's hand took a hold of her upper arm. The rosette stilled herself when his grip tightened and he began to pull her back down. At his brother's motion, Kankuro had taken another step forward, ready to coax his brother into letting Sakura go. However, when the young woman brought her eyes up to Gaara's, his glazed over pupils cleared somewhat and he released his hold.
"I am..." Gaara mumbled, before taking a long pause.
"...Just forgive me. For it all."
Sakura turned her eyes to Kankuro, looking for some sort of understanding in him for Gaara's odd speech and slurred words. When Kankuro's, just as confused, look locked with hers, she simply brushed it off and leaned down to Gaara.
"Don't worry about anything right now. Let's just go home." Sakura smiled at Gaara, hoping this would make him more at ease.
When Gaara stared out in front of him and didn't answer her, Sakura brought up her hand out towards him in offer.
"Come home with me?" She softly asked, tilting her hand closer towards him.
With her calm voice and demeanor, Gaara finally looked at her. His stare on her was long, and seemed distant in his cloudy eyes, but eventually he nodded. Surprisingly, he pushed her hand aside, refusing her help in standing. When he stood, he was wobbly and looked ready to fall back into his seat, and it was then Kankuro grabbed his shoulder to steady him.
"You make sure to let Sakura help you when you need it little bro." Kankuro tried to talk some sense into him, he was worried his brother's pride would cloud whatever better judgment was left in Gaara.
Sakura watched Gaara's light swaying, knowing there was no way he was going to take steady steps on his way home. She gulped trying once again to bring out her confidence and locked her arms around Gaara's. She studied him to see his reaction, to see if he would push her away. Like before though, his body simply tensed and a small hitch in his throat could be heard. She didn't want to scare him, so she spoke softly again to reassure him.
"I'm just going to help steady you. This way we don't get lost from one another too. It looks dark out there and I don't want to lose you."
To her words, she felt Gaara relax to her hold before he brought his eyes to the storm in front of them again.
"I don't want to lose you either." He spoke with another slur.
Sakura did not question what he had meant, but instead turned and nodded towards Kankuro.
"We'll be off now." Sakura said.
"See you at home."
Sakura took a small step forward, pulling Gaara along lightly and studying how balanced he was before she decided on a set pace. She shivered lightly when she felt the cold rain drops hit the back of her neck and travel downwards. She wondered if Gaara felt the same way, or felt her discomfort, for he drew closer to her body and she tightened her hold on him.
"I leave him in your care, Sakura." Kankuro called out behind her.
"See you a later."
Sakura swore she heard Gaara scoff, but shrugged it off. His pride in taking care of himself had probably been hit again.
While the two continued down the path in complete darkness, it didn't take long for the both of them to become soaked and freezing. Soon, Sakura was shivering, and turned to see if Gaara was the same. She was surprised to see he held his head high, but kept his eyes closed, he truly relied in her for guidance at the moment. Well, that, or the direction of his home was etched into his mind. She could still sense his steps were uneven and wobbly though.
"Kazekage-sama?" Sakura questioned cautiously, knowing his drunk state may cause him to ignore her.
To his name though, Gaara opened his eyes and turned them towards her as they continued step by step.
"Hm?" He hummed and nodded slightly towards her.
"By chance, can your sand shield us from this rain?"
Gaara remained silent while he stared at Sakura, and as time passed, the woman simply gave up and returned to look out in front of her.
"I'm sorry." Sakura spoke.
"I know you're having a hard time right now."
Sakura stopped in her tracks when a loud noise rang out above her, and she smiled when she turned to see a wall of sand above her now being a shield between them and the rain. She took a moment to praise him.
"What a gift you have." Sakura beamed.
"Your sand is simply amazing."
Gaara stared up to his sand as well, as if studying to see what Sakura meant, and did his best to suppress a small hiccup. She was about to pull him along and continue down the street when she felt something wet and grainy land on her neck. She couldn't help but halt and shiver to the odd sensation. She quickly brushed off her neck before looking back up to the sand above them. Where she had hoped the grains could be their cover, the rain water was instead making the sand wet, and heavy, as drops fell on them. When she felt the sandy, dewy pearls hitting her, she clicked her tongue in annoyance.
'I should have at least asked Kankuro for an umbrella.'
Turning her eyes back to Gaara, she was taken slightly aback when she saw his stare was watching her whole ordeal. However, that was quickly forgotten when she noticed the wet gooey sand was raining down on him and staining his Kazekage outfit. She seethed when she saw the muddy water run down his white clothes, and small panic began to rise in her. She knew it wasn't her fault, nor would she be blamed, but the thought of such formal, and imperative, wear becoming muddy under her nose made her anxious.
Rain water could be washed out easily, mud was another story. Quickly, she made her way close to Gaara, who watched her with a curious stare.
"Just forget the shield." Sakura said, locking her arms back around Gaara's.
To her surprise, Gaara spoke loudly and threw a thumbs up in front of him.
"Ooo-kay!" He almost sang, reminding Sakura of Naruto's playful tone.
Sakura was about to ask him if he was alright, but instead watched as Gaara's thumbs up turned downwards, his finger now facing towards the ground. Almost immediately, she felt the heavy, wet sand waterfall down onto of two them. She shrieked at the sensation, her body tensing and squeezing his arm tighter when the gooey sand dripped from her entire body. She could feel the wet grains falling from her now messy hair, and the beautiful dress Temari had gotten her.
Sakura breathed heavily in her spot, frozen and trying to fathom that she was now going to have to walk the rest of the way home covered in this grainy substance. She was definitely going to need another one of Temari's extravagant baths after this. Above all else, she couldn't believe Gaara had done this.
"What. The. Hell?" Sakura whispered to herself, shivering when the sand traced slowly down her back, creating a foreign and odd sensation.
Next to her she could hear Gaara trying to suppress an odd noise in his throat. Quickly she turned her eyes to him, wondering if he was trying to hold back from puking the alcohol. Her eyes went round when she saw a small smirk in his eyes while he watched her. He was holding the back of his hand against his lips, and she recognized his motion with ease. To seeing him, Sakura couldn't help but smile too. The question in her mind came out of her mouth.
"A-Are you laughing?" She asked.
Too her question, Gaara quickly cleared his throat. His eyes turned from her and towards the ground, and he blinked rapidly while trying to be rid of his odd giggles. He didn't answer her, and it wasn't until he knelt to his knees did Sakura feel panic in her again. She watched, speechless, while he used his hands to dig at the ground under him. He almost looked like a kid at play were it not for the fact mothers would never let their children out in this storm.
His outfit was completely covered in mud, and a mess, and Sakura felt all the more nervous being caught by someone like this. She couldn't imagine what would go through their minds if they saw Gaara as he was now. Drunk, dirty, and on his hands and knees digging up sand. She knew people were different types of drinkers. Angry drinkers, flirty drinkers, emotional drinkers, and so many other types, but Gaara definitely stole the show when it came down to it. She had no idea what was going through his mind right now, and felt sorry that he was possibly so helpless at the moment.
Sakura continued to watch while Gaara scooped some sand into his palm. He studied the grains in his hands carefully before tossing it behind him and digging once more. It hit the rosette then that whatever he was searching for, she needed to do his stead. He was Kazekage, he should never be in the position he was now.
"Ah, Kazekage-sama!" Sakura said, dropping to her knees and looking at the sand under them.
"Please tell me what it is you're looking for. I'll find it, so please don't get yourself anymore dirty."
Gaara ignored her cries and instead continued to dig through the wet grains. As his eyes narrowed, she could tell he was becoming agitated and let out a loud sigh.
"I'm trying..." He tried to speak, words still slipping.
"To find dry sand."
Sakura blinked a few times at Gaara, repeating his words in her mind to make sure she had heard him right.
"You're trying to find dry sand...in the pouring rain?" Sakura questioned, trying to hint to Gaara the stupidity that was coming out of him.
Gaara wiped a muddy hand across his face, sniffling in the process and dirtying his face more. He eyes remained glued below him before digging again.
"I'll make a shield again for you." He mumbled.
Sakura bit her lip to his words.
'Not a bright drunk. Then again, who is?' Sakura thought to herself before sighing and standing herself back up.
As soon as she stood, she reached for Gaara's arm again, who surprisingly put up no fight or struggle as Sakura helped him up to stand.
"Let's just get home and get ourselves cleaned up, okay?" She smiled, though she knew she was starting to become annoyed at this whole situation.
She waited for no response before trudging and pulling along a wobbly, dirty, wet Kazekage. Gaara must have noticed her annoyance for he apologized again while she pulled him along.
"For everything." He said at random.
"Please forgive me. If I had known..."
Sakura stopped herself to his plea, saddened to hear his sudden emotional plight. Was he upset at himself that he couldn't make a sand shield for them?
"Let's just get you home, Kazekage-sama." Sakura tried to reassure him.
As time passed, Sakura did her best to suppress her giggles every time Gaara hiccuped. They came from deep in his throat, and she could tell he was trying to fight them from escaping. However, his holding back was causing them to rattle more loudly, and Sakura held her head down. She hoped he wouldn't notice her snickering.
'What a night.' Sakura thought.
Despite the downpour, and rolling thunder around her, Sakura now had a smile on her face. With her arms around Gaara still, she drew him closer to her. His only remark to this was another hiccup. It was odd to think this night fun, but she did admit her most joyful moments involved the redhead. The cake, and the dancing was something she'd never forget. Her only hope was that things between her and Gaara wouldn't become awkward.
'I wonder if he will remember himself asking me for a kiss.'
Sakura felt a small blush creep on her face at the thought, and she turned her head to eye the young lord again. Gaara looked tired as he trudged along in the direction she lead him. He was still tripping on his steps, and his hiccups were continuous. His clothes were a mess, and his face was smeared with mud. As Sakura took in all this, only one word came into her to describe him.
'Cute.' She thought sheepishly before turning her eyes away.
In the rain, with a drunk and easily distracted Kazekage, it took Sakura half an hour to find the residence. Found it she did though, and practically dragged Gaara inside the dry, warm home because of her speeding feet. She let go of Gaara, but cringed when she still felt the raindrops, and wet sand, dripping from her body and onto the tiled floor. She didn't want to make a mess in this beautiful home, but listened to Gaara sniffle before he spoke.
"I'll get us something to drink." He said before trudging towards the kitchen.
Sakura wasted no time reaching for the tipsy redhead.
"Oh no you don't." Sakura spoke before hooking Gaara once more.
"I know you like to be hospitable, but let's get you into your room. I can only imagine how you're going to feel in the morning."
With no protest, Gaara let himself be lead away again by Sakura. She was actually surprised at how well he managed up the many stairs. Never did he trip or stumble with her help, and before long, she was opening the doors into his room. She lead him into his chambers and shut the doors behind them. When she turned to look at Gaara, she sighed. It was comforting to know they had made it back home safely, and with no one noticing them.
"Mission accomplished." Sakura whispered to herself.
She watched Gaara silently while he stood in the middle of the room, staring out his balcony windows. He swayed in his spot, holding back his hiccups still. Sakura bit her lip as she took in his look. His expression seemed sad and lost in her eyes, as if he was longingly looking for something in the outside. She had no clue as to what that could be, but couldn't help but to slowly walk over and stand next to him. She, too, stared into the pitch black outside while the heavy rain continued to pelt against the glass. On occasion, the sky would light up from the lightening, but the thunder was too distant to be heard.
Sakura sighed after some time in silence, still wondering what was going on in Gaara's mind. Maybe he was just enjoying the rain. She did admit, now that she was inside the warm home, she enjoyed the wild storm playing outside. She knew she would find it even more comforting if she could get into a hot shower, clean clothes, and maybe even some tea to help relax and warm her before bed. Through the corner of her eye, she looked at Gaara again and noted he still hadn't torn his eyes away from the windows.
"What are you looking for out there?" Sakura whispered to the young man.
Gaara didn't look her way, but Sakura knew he had heard her, for he let out a heavy sigh. Maybe he was just trying to warm up as well, and kept rooted in his spot. At this time, the rosette was unsure at what to do next. It never occurred to her what would happen after she brought home a drunk Gaara. Most people would probably crawl into bed at this point, but instead, he stood frozen in his spot. She wondered if she should just leave him alone.
'He's a grown man. What he wants to do now is completely up to him. I should just let him be.'
Sakura opened her mouth to say her good night, but was unable to let her voice escape. The way Gaara was staring solemnly out the window, the way he swayed and shivered from the cold rain that dripped down his clothes and body, and the way the mud was smeared on his face made Sakura's face melt with sympathy. She wasn't even sure why she felt the need to guide him like he was some lost child or something. She only knew she felt this way to only one other person her entire life.
'Sasuke-kun.' She thought before reaching for Gaara.
His eyes finally turned from the window and to Sakura when she reached for his shoulders.
"Let me take off your robe." Sakura spoke quietly.
Gaara obliged by leaning down a little to her level, and pulling out his arms when she tugged the sleeves back. She neatly folded the wear and set it on top of his dresser. She knew it was going to need some heavy duty cleaning to get the mud out. When she turned back to look at him, she was surprise to see him in a plain, black t-shirt and pants. It seemed for tonight, he had dismissed his usual attire to attend the party in comfort. Studying Gaara more closely, who had returned to stare out the window, she could tell his shirt and pants were soaked. She also looked at the mud on his face before speaking.
"Want me to run you a bath? Want to change into some warm clothes?" She asked.
She waited, watching patiently as Gaara remained silent and glued to his spot. She was about to ask again, when she saw him slowly shake his head to answer her no. At this, Sakura sighed again. He looked so sad and lost, and she had no idea why. Perhaps that was just his appearance always, and she had just simply looked past it all this time. Then again, it was rare for Gaara to act this way in front of her. He had always been quiet around her, but never like this.
"Would you like something to drink? Tea?" Sakura asked.
Gaara was quicker this time to respond to her, but his answer was still the same as he shook his head. Sakura at this point wondered if she should just leave. She knew he was more than capable with handling himself in his room, but still, she could not tear away from his just yet. Something about his mood and look drew her in.
"Forgive me."
Sakura's eyes widened to Gaara's whisper. Why was he apologizing again? Did he think he offended her in some way?
"For what?" She asked, puzzled.
Gaara took in a deep breath, letting out a long sigh before whispering to Sakura again.
"Everything."
Sakura bit her lip in confusion. The young lord had been apologizing all night, and she had no idea for what.
'It should be me apologizing for trying to kiss you.' Sakura thought.
She knew there was no use in asking him to explain himself at the moment, he could barely even stand in his spot. Sakura decided to try one last time on her many offers.
"Want me to help you into your bed?"
Gaara's eyes wavered to Sakura's suggestion, his eyes still remained to the window in front of him but they shook. Sakura felt a smile grow on her face when his eyes finally turned to hers, they still looked sad and tired, but he nodded in her direction.
"I think...I want to sleep tonight."
Sakura was inwardly ecstatic to hear this. She wasted no time reaching for Gaara's hand and pulling him towards his bed. She didn't even notice that he brushed his thumb against her knuckles before she pulled her arm away from him and pulled his bed sheets back. She spoke as she grabbed his pillows and began to fluff them.
"I'm glad you want sleep, but don't think you can use alcohol every night just to help you relax. We still need to get you to sleep naturally."
When Sakura was done, she spun on her heels to face Gaara, a smile still on her face.
"There you are, all set." She said, holding her hands behind her back.
As she took in Gaara's look on her, she couldn't help but feel her smile fall. He stared down at her with a look on his face she couldn't quite figure out. He looked taller all of a sudden to her, and his towering over her in silence had her shuffling in her spot.
"W-What's wrong?" She asked, having to force herself to look away from him.
His answer was only silence as they stayed like that for minutes. It wasn't until she saw his hand move did Sakura's eyes return to his. She gasped as his fingers brushed against the side of her cheek. Slowly they traced against her skin before he brought them against her lips. Sakura could only stare at him in disbelief. His eyes did not settle on hers but instead on her lips, where he kept his fingers still. The rosette drew a sharp breath in when she felt Gaara's thumb begin to play with her bottom lip. His touch was gentle, and he continued to watch her lip move against thumb.
Sakura could do nothing but remain silent and allow him to touch her. It wasn't until he began to lean in towards her did Sakura find her voice. She knew right away where his face and lips were heading.
"Kazekage-sama?" She whispered, somewhat in a trance.
To her voice, Gaara halted his movements and finally brought his eyes to meet hers. He studied her for a moment in silence, as if contemplating if he should continue or not. In time he continued his face towards her, but tilted his head to have his lips close in near her ear. The fingers on her lips brushed back up her cheek and tucked a pink strand of her fallen, wet hair back behind her ear. Sakura shivered when she felt his hot breath against her ear and the way his fingers touched at her delicate skin. He brought his lips closer to her ear, before whispering.
"Water."
"Eh?" Sakura whispered.
Sakura was wide eyed when Gaara pulled back from her and his touches left her body. Her body screamed at the loss, and her mind drew a blank while she tried to process what had happened and what he had just said. It wasn't until she saw Gaara turn to his bed and begin to crawl into it did the gears in her head begin working again. She felt somewhat defeated when his eyes never returned to hers, and instead he lay with his back facing her.
"R-Right away, Kazekage-sama." Sakura finally answered, rushing out of his room and back down towards the kitchen.
While she searched the cabinets for a cup, Sakura was shaking and breathing hard. It wasn't until a cup clumsily fell from her hand did she take a moment to take deep breaths in and out to try to calm herself down.
"Calm down, Sakura. Nothing happened. Gaara is just drunk and teasing you, or playing a game or...something."
Sakura let out a sigh, her shakes gone. She cleaned up the mess of the first cup before grabbing the second one.
"Just bring him the water, and you can go back into your room."
Sakura practically ran up back the stairs, hoping to have this night over with soon. The thought drove her faster up and the stairs, and she returned to Gaara's in no time. When she stepped in, she softly shut the door behind her and turned to look at the young lord in bed. A small smile spread across her face when she noticed he was still buried in his covers, and he was breathing in a light rhythm.
'He's asleep.' Sakura thought with high spirits.
She knew the alcohol was to blame and that this was no step forward in her work, but still felt somewhat thrilled to know Gaara was getting a small feel at what a good night's rest might be like. Sakura's nose wrinkled when she thought how bad Gaara was probably going to feel in the morning.
'On second thought, this actually might be a bad example for him...' Sakura thought, placing the cup of water on top of his nightstand next to his bed.
Sakura took one last look at Gaara's sleeping back before turning back towards the doors. She was set to leave, when lightening again lit up the sky and room she was in. She stopped in her tracks when another door in his room, lit up by the light, caught her attention. To the side of her, she turned to face that door, and recalled what was behind it.
'That giant pool that Gaara calls a bath.' Sakura remembered with ease.
At the thought of bath, Sakura could feel her wet, and cold, body shiver. Her mind began to beg her to maybe spoil herself in the bath behind those doors. Sakura slowly opened the door, and was immediately hit with a moist smell, though it was pleasant. There was a constant drip from one of the faucet's that laced around the giant bath, and Sakura flipped the light switch to get a better look.
When the light's came on, she bit her lip with envy.
'I really want to take a bath in here...' She thought to herself.
'Well...why don't you?' Inner Sakura encouraged.
'Gaara did say earlier that you could use it any time you like.'
Sakura bit her lip harder to that thought. Would it really be okay for her to take a quick dip? The giant bath now looked a little intimidating, and she didn't want the running water disturbing the young lord behind her. Sakura took another look behind her, eyeing Gaara who was still asleep. She remembered earlier thinking how informal it be to use his possessions, but as long as Gaara slept only she would know, right?
'He is out for the night.' Inner Sakura encouraged.
'You could open a window and I bet the noise from outside wouldn't even wake him. He owes you anyway, for bringing him home safely.'
Sakura sighed and agreed to this, and turned to eye the bath again. Would it really be alright? She stood there contemplating for some time, and it wasn't until she felt the mud cake onto her body did she make her decision.
"Alright. Just a quick dip to rinse off the mud he dumped on me." Sakura whispered to herself.
She tiptoed into the bathroom and slowly shut the door behind her. At the click of the door, she waited and listened, wondering if Gaara would stir to the noise. She pressed her ear against the doorway, and after some time, smiled. She hadn't disturbed him, and quietly she clapped her hands together when she eyed the many faucets that traced around the bath.
'I guess I turn all of them on at once. It's a pretty big bath to fill.'
Sakura did just that. Sprinting around the bath and turning every faucet on. By the time she reached the last faucet, the pool like bath was more than halfway full and the room was warm and fogged with steam. She could feel her cold body now warming, and the hard mud on her skin beginning to break.
"I've heard of mud baths before, so I guess this mud was good for my skin." Sakura joked to herself.
Turning on the last faucet, Sakura tilted her head when instead of water, a pink goo began to pour out. She felt herself panic slightly, wondering if she had broken something, but as bubbles began to form in the bath, she knew right away its purpose.
"A bubble bath." Sakura relaxed at thought.
"Perfect night for this."
As soon was she was certain the bath had enough bubbles and water, she raced back around and turned off every faucet. Standing herself tall, she eyed her bubbly, hot, giant bath. This was definitely a step above luxury compared to Temari's floral one earlier. Gaara was no doubt the most flourished when it came to the three siblings, and she knew it was because of his title as village leader. Walking towards the door, Sakura again pressed her ears against the door and listened intently. She could hear no movement through the other side, and she could still sense Gaara in his bed and unmoved.
"Good." Sakura whispered to herself.
"He's still asleep."
Taking a step back away from the door, Sakura let a sigh escape. It was finally time for her to relax. In the corner of the room, she spotted a plentiful amount of towels and made her way towards them. Once she had her own clean towel, she stripped. When her dress was off, Sakura held the once beautiful garment in front of her. A guilty feeling settling in when she noticed the bottom of the dress had ripped, and everywhere was mud.
'I hope it's salvageable.' Sakura thought.
'I'll try to find a tailor soon, otherwise it might upset Temari.'
Sakura folded the dress neatly and set it down along with her other garments. She then edged towards the bath, settling the towel and bottle next to her before placing her feet into the bubbly water. As soon as her feet were submerged, Sakura let her shoulders fall in bliss. This bath was just what she needed, and the temperature in the water was just perfect. The rosette wasted no time sinking herself completely into the bubbles.
"This is so nice." Sakura cooed, closing her eyes.
As soon as she felt the caked mud on her body begin to disappear, Sakura sank her head into the water, hoping the grains in her hair would float away. She held her breath under the water, letting her face soak up the heat and moisture it desperately needed. It wasn't until a sound echoed into her ears did Sakura shoot her head back out of the water.
'What was that noise?' She thought nervously.
As soon as her head resurfaced, Sakura could feel an instant chill in the air. The feeling made her heart sink, and she wasted no time turning to the only source the cold could have come from. Sure enough, the door leading to Gaara's room was now open, the cold air from that room was entering the bathroom while steam escaped into the chilly room.
'Sakura, you idiot.' She thought.
'Why didn't you lock the door?'
Sakura was about to get out of the bath to do just that, but froze herself when she saw a silhouette through the steam standing at the entrance.
'No.' She thought, dreading the possibly.
'Please, tell me that isn't him. Please, tell me I didn't wake him!'
Sakura's heart and mind began to race even quicker when the shadow closed the door behind them. It wasn't until the figure drew closer towards her did Sakura recognize the chakra signature.
'No! No! No!' She screamed in her mind, reaching for the towel next to her.
'Why is he coming in here?! Does he not realize I'm in here?!'
She was still too bashful to get out of the bath in his presence or even voice herself, but she quickly wrapped the towel next to her around her frame, letting it soak in the bath before sinking her head lower behind the water and bubbles. As soon as her eyes turned back to face the intruder, a splash erupted in front of her and Sakura squeaked in the process, bewildered that he would join her.
Then again, the bath was definitely big enough for two of them. This was certainly one way to help conserve water in Suna.
A/N: May I recommend another GaaSaku story to you all? It is so beautifully written, and will keep you at the edge of your seat to read what happens next. I just read the latest chapter of that story before posting this and my heart is still racing. It is that good. Please check it out if you're a GaaSaku fan. I promise you won't be disappointed.
The story is called A Little Black Box by the user Skarrow. His work is astounding!
Skarrow, if you're reading this. You better promise all of us fans a happy ending. We're watching you! :)c