Chapter Seventeen
"Here." Kankuro said, bringing a tea kettle towards the table.
"The water is ready."
Bringing her cup to meet his hot pot, Sakura shook lightly while Kankuro poured the hot liquid. Her trembling made the brunette feel all the more guilty to whatever it was that just happened to her. He wasn't sure if she was simply cold and shook, or if something traumatizing plagued her enough to make her quiver with fear. When he pulled the kettle back, he watched the rosette sip at the warm liquid. His eyes narrowed in thought.
'Please.' He begged in his mind.
'Please tell me Gaara didn't...'
Kankuro couldn't even bring himself to think that his little brother may have possibly forced Sakura into something she did not want. He remembered how defeated the rosette looked this morning when he found her in Gaara's bed. He only eyed his brother momentarily, sleeping on her lap with his arms tied possessively around her before she had asked Kankuro with his help by pulling her out of Gaara's hold. It had taken some time, a lot of thinking and gentle maneuvering. Both had been careful not to wake the sleeping lord, but while they pulled here, and tugged there, it was evident Gaara was in a very deep sleep. Kankuro blamed the alcohol for that while Sakura wondered if her technique had such a strong effect on him.
Whichever the case, as soon as Sakura felt an opening she went for it, and practically flung herself out of Gaara's bed and hold. She had almost fallen, her legs weak and asleep from the many hours. She felt herself wanting to scream at the pain she felt when her blood raced back down to her limbs, but remembered the young man sleeping still. So instead, she stifled her hollers in her hand while massaging her legs. When feeling returned to them she quickly readjusted the towel around her body before hurrying to her room for a change of clothes.
Kankuro, mindful of her naked body, kept his eyes on Gaara while be gave Sakura her privacy. This was the second time he watched his brother sleep so peacefully, but was troubled at what he may have done in his drunken state.
'Stupid Temari.' He clicked his tongue in annoyance.
He knew he couldn't put all the blame on his sister. He had been the one secretly planning a wild party, alcohol and all. Turning away from Gaara, for he no longer could stomach looking at him and wondering if he had taken advantage of Sakura, he headed towards the rosette's room. He needed answers, and needed them soon before his mind rot with feasible allegations. This was his brother for goodness sake, a changed for the better man. It would tear this whole family apart if what he thought transpired the night before, really did.
When he reached Sakura's door, he knocked a little more loudly than he had meant. His nuisance getting the better of him. As upset as he was, Kankuro felt his heart soften when Sakura answered the door in silence. Her face was tired, and again he was reminded how fragile she was when she eyed the floor below them quietly. She wouldn't even look him in the eye.
'Something's eating her up.' Kankuro concluded, though, he still felt grief.
She had changed into a baggy t-shirt and short pajama shorts, and she shook in her spot. Making her look all the more pathetic to Kankuro.
"Come on." He finally spoke, gesturing her to follow.
"I'll make you some tea."
Sakura was no fool. She knew why Kankuro lead her to the kitchen, and why he practically chased after her to her room. He had questions, and she had the answers, so she didn't think any ill of his intentions. He had walked in on his brother asleep, and with a naked woman in his bed; two things that did not define who Gaara was. She was exhausted, but felt she at least ease Kankuro's mind before returning to bed.
Sakura's body shivered when she felt the cold air around her and arctic floor touching her bare feet. It was amazing to think that so much rain outside made the hot desert feel like a winter morning. She looked outside when they passed a window, noting how the rain kept pouring outside and the dark clouds swam in the sky.
'I wonder how long this rain will last.' Sakura thought, a chill running up her spine again.
Once in the kitchen, Kankuro had pulled out a chair from the table and ushered her to sit. The two remained silent while the puppet master set down the cups and began to boil the water. His mind was infested with wonders, Sakura was drained from any energy, so neither had opened their mouths to speak until he poured her some tea. It was her voice that brought him back to the present, putting down the events that just lead up to this point.
"Thank you." Sakura whispered.
He watched while her fingers trembled around the small cup, drops of tea were spilling because of it. Again, he wondered if she was cold or in a state of some sort of shock.
"Would you like a blanket?" Kankuro asked.
When Sakura shook her head to answer him no, he sighed before joining a seat at the table and pouring himself a cup. Through the corner of his eye, he watched the rosette and studied her body language. After another small sip from her cup, she settled her head in the palm of her hand and her eyes were glued to the table under her. She had a headache growing, but sucked it up while waiting for Kankuro to speak up. She knew he was curious and would breakdown soon.
"So..." He finally muttered.
Sakura couldn't help but smirk softly. Kankuro played no waiting games, and she just hoped in the future that curiosity wouldn't kill this cat.
"What happened?" He finished.
Sakura gulped, trying hard to search for the right answers. She had no reason to mislead Kankuro into thinking her and Gaara had done the deed. Yet, her voice seem lost when she thought about explaining to him what all did transpire last night. Despite it all, the things Gaara had said and done to her seemed intimate and between just them. Still, she knew Kankuro would not let her leave until he was sufficed by her answers. So, she spoke the truth.
"Nothing."
It was true, nothing immoral had gone on between them like this eldest brother thought. To her words, Kankuro sighed though.
"Sakura." He said, irritation in his voice.
"Come on."
"It's true!" Sakura rebutted.
"What you're thinking didn't happen."
A silence fell between the two, and Kankuro chewed on his lip while tapping his fingers on the table. He was thinking hard on how to get the young woman to open up to him. He was sure Sakura wouldn't lie to him, yet what he saw completely supported what he imagined did happen.
"You were naked in his bed."
Sakura blew out a heavy breath before bringing her eyes back up to Kankuro. As tired as she was, she decided to explain all that she needed to the puppeteer. As the story went on, she could see the brunette's wariness lift away, at which point he only held curiosity to his brother's odd, drunken behavior. By the end of the story a small smile was on his face, and a chuckle escaped his throat when Sakura finished.
"So, that's what happened." Kankuro smiled once more before sipping from his tea.
"I was worried for no reason. Thank goodness."
To his optimistic demeanor, Sakura narrowed her eyes at Kankuro. He was relieved, yet as she relived the night through her own words, she was troubled once more.
"I'm glad everything's peachy for you, but what am I suppose to do now?" She asked Kankuro.
Kankuro simply raised an eyebrow to her question.
"What do mean?"
Sakura again trembled while gripping her cup hard, she could feel her anger growing.
"When he wakes up! What do I say, or do? I'm worried it's going to be super awkward between him and I now!"
At her plight, Kankuro studied the rosette hard and curiously.
'What is she so worked up about?' He wondered.
'So what if Gaara avoids or ignores her?'
To his thoughts, Kankuro spoke.
"Why does it bother you so much?"
To his question, Sakura stammered before shutting her mouth completely. A blush began to spread on her cheeks and she hurriedly whisked her eyes, and face, away from Kankuro.
'Because I think I'm starting to grow feelings for your brother.' Sakura's mind confessed.
'And I don't want him to push me away.'
"It's...you know..." Sakura mumbled to the table under her, trying to find her words.
"I don't want him to avoid me when I'm making good progress on his insomnia."
Kankuro seemed to buy her words for he began to hum in thought. His mind went up to his sleeping brother upstairs, and his being suddenly became joyed knowing Gaara was growing accustom to the concept of sleeping through the night.
"Crazy." Kankuro mumbled to himself.
"It's amazing to me how much Gaara changes everyday. From an insomniac killer to a sleeping leader."
Sakura remained silent to Kankuro's words. She knew they were not intended for her, but for himself at how much awe he was in for his sibling. It wasn't until Kankuro cleared his throat did Sakura bring her eyes back to him.
"No use crying over spilled milk." He said, trying to ease Sakura's doubts.
Sakura simply sent Kankuro an unpleasant look.
"You have no idea how he is going to react, or what I should do, do you?" Sakura said
Kankuro snickered, surprised Sakura figured him out so easily.
"I'm just glad I'm not in your shoes."
"Gee... Thanks."
Taking in her small anguish, Kankuro again tried to think of a way to comfort the rosette.
"You know, he was pretty drunk." Kankuro whispered for Sakura's ear only.
"Whose to say he is even going to remember anything this morning?"
Sakura thought hard on Kankuro's words, trying to find the error in them she so easily could with the brunette, but she had to agree with him. There was a small chance Gaara would wake up completely forgetting.
"Even if he does remember, you could play it off as some lucid dream he was having."
Sakura lifted an eyebrow towards Kankuro, surprised at how clever he was.
"I suppose I could." Sakura mumbled, her eyes turning from Kankuro and to the tea in her hand.
"I just...I'd hate to lie to him."
It also felt somewhat wrong to pass off everything that had happened between her and Gaara last night as well. Like she thought before, it was somewhat intimate for her. The kiss, his apology, the passion that suddenly exploded between them. It hurt her to think the redhead had only done those things because of the alcohol, or for her to pretend like it never happened.
'Damn.' She thought to herself.
'How much more complicated do I have to make things.'
It wasn't until Kankuro spoke, did Sakura clear her mind and return her eyes to him.
"Gaara doesn't like liars either, but it's hard to say whether he won't believe your lie or will."
Sighing, Kankuro leaned deeper into his chair and stretched his back. He hummed again while thinking and shut his eyes.
"I really can't suggest what you do. Hopefully it all works out."
To his words, Sakura threw her pounding head back into her hands. Anxiety building up inside of her while she decided on what she should do, and how to approach Gaara the next time she saw him.
'Why do I have the worse luck when it comes to guys I'm interested in?' Sakura thought.
Kankuro again felt his heart reach out to the poor, young girl in front of him. Sakura hadn't asked for any of this. It was Temari who had pushed her to stay to help Gaara, and he was just as guilty pushing the young woman last night to take care of Gaara again. As interesting, and funny, as the night sounded, he knew the rosette across from him was in turmoil, and it had been his fault.
However, he had been surprised to hear of his brother's interest in Sakura. He planned at some point to speak with Gaara and hear how he truly felt about the pink haired woman. No matter how out of mind his younger brother was, he knew there had to have been some sort of attraction on Gaara's part for him to be bold enough to do what he did with Sakura, otherwise he would have just stayed away from her. He wondered if it was possible for Gaara to be interested in Sakura, and if that were the case, then she had nothing to worry about.
"Everything will turn out alright in the end, you'll see." Kankuro spoke before sipping his tea.
Despite his words, Sakura did not bring her eyes up to him or move her head from her hands. She was still lost in her own thoughts, questions, and determining what she would do next. She had three possibilities to go with, yet she still searched for an easier escape.
'Maybe I can just go back to Konoha now. He sleeps as if his insomnia is cured anyway.'
It wasn't until a loud boom erupted in the house did Sakura stop her thinking. Loud noises were shaking the ceiling above her and Kankuro, and quickly they shot their eyes up above them. In silence they listened to the rattling, and watched as dust dropped from ceiling. The sounds seemed frantic and rushed as it dashed from one side of the room to the other, and continuing back and forth.
"What is that?" Sakura asked over time, the noise not stopping.
"I'm not sure." Kankuro answered before scooting his chair back and standing himself.
"I better go check it out."
Despite his words, both Kankuro and Sakura froze and eyes widened when they heard a door above them open and slam shut. Frantic footsteps could suddenly be heard traveling down the staircase and towards the kitchen they were in. Sakura and Kankuro could only stare at one another in silent panic before they each whispered who the noisy culprit was.
"Gaara!"
Sakura's heart pounded against her chest, and quickly she tried to decide her next choice.
Fight or flight.
While she listened to the young lord race down the stairs, she knew she would not be able to escape to her room without bumping into him. Instead, she tried to settle on how she would greet him. How she would pass off on what happened last night.
Kankuro meanwhile sank back into his seat and reached for his tea. He wasn't sure what approach the rosette in front of him was going to take, and decided to just stay as silent as long as possible. That itself was harder said then done, especially when Gaara practically threw himself through the kitchen door and in dismay. Kankuro watched while his younger brother skidded to a stop in front of Sakura next to him.
His breathing was heavy, his eyes were wide, there was confusion and rush in them, and they were all settled on Sakura.
Meanwhile, the rosette had surprisingly composed herself. She was relaxed in her chair, sipping her tea while keeping her eyes from Gaara. It was plain as day to see that the Kazekage remembered everything from last night, the alcohol had not blinded him. Silence filled in the kitchen now, save for Gaara's heavy breathing, and his fingers twitched while he stared still at Sakura, lost for words. Kankuro finally then decided to speak and break the ice.
"Hey lil' bro." He said, forcing a smile.
"How you feeling? I'm sure you have a killer hangover."
Though Kankuro had tried to bring Gaara's attention on him, he still stared with round eyes at Sakura. She seemed to realize this too, for she finally turned to look at Gaara with a sweet smile on her face. As if nothing was wrong.
"Good morning." She peeped, her smile growing.
Gaara sucked and held a breath in when her smile fell onto him, and he quickly analyzed her. Growing even more confused when she passed on him like it was another carefree morning. Realizing he was the only one rattled, he slowly narrowed his eyes and eased his breathing. He couldn't let himself be seen in a tizzy, and not composed, in front of others. He was Kazekage. Calm, collected and in charge. Still, his heart raced while he stared at Sakura. Why did she play off as if she had no care in the world? Despite the added company of Kankuro, he couldn't stop himself from asking.
"I...We...Did you and I.."
Gaara quickly threw his head and angry eyes to the side of him, once again upset that he was losing his control. He never stammered, and it was making him furious. So, he took a moment to himself, drawing in a big breath before releasing it and turning his eyes once more to Sakura.
"Did I hurt you last night?"
Kankuro's eyes widened for a moment. He was surprised that Gaara asked for her well-being first instead of demanding answers. Especially in his presence, it didn't even matter to Gaara that Kankuro would ask him what he meant later on, he was more concerned how Sakura was fairing up.
Sakura too felt her heart stop when she heard Gaara speak, and she wondered if she should turn to him and answer him truthfully. Instead, she forced a confused look on her face while bringing her eyes up to Gaara. Deciding to follow through with the decision she made earlier.
"Of course not." Sakura smiled.
"You fell right asleep once I got you into your bed. I went straight to my room after that. That dance wore me out."
Sakura's face was stoic after speaking, but inside her mind was screaming at her, and she worried her disheveled look would call her out on her lie. Hurriedly, she sipped on her tea while waiting for Gaara to take in her words. Through the corner of her eye, she could see his shoulders fall and again his eyes widen in surprise.
"You didn't stay at all last night?"
Gaara had wanted to ask more, but with Kankuro in the room, he held his tongue, not wanting to upset Sakura if he said too much in front of someone else. The rosette again gave him a surprised look, and forced her eyes on his.
"I didn't." Sakura said, shaking her head.
"You didn't use my bath?" Gaara asked, wondering how everything from last night was so vivid now if none of it really didn't happen.
"No, I used my own." Sakura answered quickly, trying hard to keep her cool.
"I didn't apologize to you?"
"For?"
Sakura felt her heart sink lower when Gaara didn't answer her but instead threw his head and narrow eyes to the ground under him again. His breathing had become short and heavy, but Sakura could tell he finally bought her lie, and it made her feel all the worse. He was bothered, and that itself was enough to make her feel the more guilty, and quickly she tried to drown that remorse down with the tea in front of her.
Seeing how uneasy the two in front of him were, Kankuro got up and reached to grab another cup. He felt a small sigh escape him, and mentally kicked himself for encouraging Sakura to lie to his little brother. It hadn't been right at all, and his brother even seemed pained that whatever happened last night was told it had just been a dream.
"Sit down, Gaara." Kankuro sighed.
"You had a lot to drink last night."
"I need to head to the office. I'm late." Gaara spoke to his brother.
Kankuro could see Gaara was now trying to run away, yet still held back for reasons unknown. Perhaps he was still mentally battling with himself over what had, and hadn't, happened last night.
"One cup won't hurt. You can go in at anytime you want. You have no boss." Kankuro again spoke, trying to convince.
"But I have responsibilities."
Sakura, too, could sense Gaara's uneasiness. He probably still felt confuse about last night, and suffering from a hangover. On the outside he was only mildly disheveled, but on the inside she knew his head was probably pounding. He was trying to grasp on the fact that what he thought happened last night, didn't, and she wondered if it bothered him half as much as it daunted her now. To push everything that happened between them into the trash had made the young woman suddenly feel sick.
'Damn.' She cursed in her mind.
'Why did I do that? I shouldn't have lied.'
Sakura bit her lip, feeling queasy at the action she just did. She tried to shake it off by taking another sip of her tea before turning once more to Gaara. She studied him for a moment while he stood there, his eyes were narrow and to the floor and they wavered while he thought deeply.
'Damn it.' Sakura thought again.
"Do you have a headache, Gaara?" Kankuro asked while standing by the stove.
"Want me to get you medicine for it?"
At his words, Gaara brought his confused and angry eyes to his brother. He took a moment for himself before shaking his head no.
"I need to get to the office now."
Turning from the table, Gaara began to march his way out the kitchen. To his departure, Sakura felt her heart sink, and she almost reached out to stop him. Almost.
"Tch." Kankuro clicked his tongue.
"You're all business and no fun. I'll catch up with you later then."
Gaara made no reply, and instead reached for the kitchen's swinging door. At his definite departure, Sakura finally decided to speak up one last time.
"Have a good day today, Gaara." Sakura softly said.
To her words, both Kankuro and Sakura watched in wonder while Gaara stopped dead in his tracks. His hand remained glued on the door before he slowly clawed at it, bringing his fingers into a tight fist. Kankuro was about to question if the redhead was alright, but was beaten by Gaara's own soft spoken words.
"What did you just call me?"
Sakura felt her eyes widen and heart drop when she realized her mistake. She had used Gaara's name in his presence. In front of him she had normally been poised, formal, and never forgetting of Gaara's place and title. She was taught young where her position was, and what his place meant. She had been proper by calling him Kazekage in front of him this whole time. How could she easily slip up now?
'Because of last night.' Her mind answered.
She remembered easily when he demanded she start calling him Gaara, and she had agreed to it. It struck her hard though to hear how readily she was to begin calling him by his name. She figured it would take time, something to get accustom to. Except, here she was now, bidding him goodbye so casually by using his name. She thought about apologizing, to shrug it off and act like it had been a slip of the tongue. Yet, as Gaara turned to her, eyes round and mouth open much like hers, she knew that he knew it was no mere slip up.
Sakura had just silently confessed that last night hadn't been an alcohol induced dream for him.
She remained silent as they stared into one another. Confusion, shock, embarrassment, Sakura could read all of Gaara's emotions that swam through his eyes. She had lied, yes, but he seemed more impacted to the fact that last night had not been a dream. That he was going to have to live the rest of life knowing him and her had shared a night like that together, and that he was the one who had insinuated it all. He walked in on her bathing, he had been the one to pull her out of tub, he had touched her in a way he never felt the need to touch anyone, and he was the one who had wanted to do so much more to her if she had given in. That scared him. It scared him more than anything else, and that fear boiled down to the young woman in front of him. What had she done to make him feel this way?
He stood in his spot, unmoving, yet his eyes betrayed what mentality he felt, and Sakura could read them all. She wanted to move, to speak, to assure him, but only found her voice when she saw his sand begin to pick up around and cloud him. It didn't take a genius to know what was happening, and the rosette felt herself panic. This had been the very thing she tried to avoid this morning.
He was running away from her. Pushing her away.
"Wait, Gaara!" She quickly called, standing herself and reaching out to him.
Before she could even feel a grain of sand on her fingertips, he, and his sand, were gone.
"Damn it!" Sakura shouted, narrowing her gaze at the table next to her.
She wondered how much trouble she would be in if she introduced her fist to it. Sensing her angry aura, Kankuro intervened. He knew the rosette was fiery, and had heard rumors of her fists flying in Konoha. He worried for the table she eyed with angry eyes, and spoke to distract her.
"I take it Gaara just realized you lied to him."
Sakura huffed upon hearing Kankuro. Her mind still set on Gaara, and her anger boiling. How could she have done this to herself? To Gaara? She knew before this that he disliked liars, and she wasn't too fond of them either. How could she have let herself become the very thing she hated?
"I should go after him." Sakura mumbled, speaking more to herself than the brunette in the room.
However, Kankuro heard her loud and clear and voiced his opinion on the matter.
"Give him some time to cool down. If you chase him, all he is going to do is keep running away." Kankuro spoke, pouring himself another cup of hot water.
"If you go now, it's just going to frazzle the both of you more."
Sakura felt like retorting when Kankuro poked at her current state. She was far from frazzled, she was calm, and felt disrespected by the puppeteer.
'He's right.' Her inner self spoke.
'You'll probably make things worse if you go now. Frazzled girl.'
Angry at her own mind, Sakura gripped the cup of tea at the table and downed it quickly. She hoped the warm liquid would still her pestering thoughts. However, after finishing her drink she slammed the cup hard back down on the table and cursed.
"Damn it!"
"Hey, what's wrong?"
Sakura's back stiffened to the new voice. Slowly, she turned to come face to face with the blonde who just entered silently into the room. Temari's eyes darted back and forth between Sakura and Kankuro, noting how much tension was in the kitchen and how awkward their silence was.
"Uh, good morning to you two too." Temari muttered before turning to the stove and pouring herself a cup of Kankuro's boiling water.
From Temari's annoyed tone, Sakura mentally slapped herself. She had no reason to act differently in front of the sand-blonde, and didn't want to include Temari in the little escapade that happened just now and last night. So she instead spoke, trying to calm herself and divert the older woman from thinking anything had gone on.
"Good morning, Temari." Sakura spoke.
Kankuro seemed to have the same thought as Sakura, for he spoke immediately after her.
"How's your head?" Kankuro snickered lightly, remembering Temari's hard partying.
"Awful." The blonde sighed before settling into a seat at the table.
"I can't believe I slept in this late."
Kankuro's smile and eyes grew mischievous at Temari's misery.
"See, what did I tell you, Sakura? Temari is the one who soils Gaara's good name."
Temari sent her brother an unpleasant look while sipping at her tea. Had she the energy, some sort of object would be sent towards the brunette's head.
'These two...' Sakura thought.
'They never give the other a break.'
Sakura was about to excuse herself back to bed when Temari stopped her.
"So, what's with you two this morning?"
Again, Sakura felt her back stiffen and knew Kankuro was the same. Like she had thought before, there was no reason to bring the blonde into this.
"Nothing's wrong." Kankuro spoke first, forcing a smile.
"Why would you think that?"
Temari's demeanor remained calm while she again sipped her tea. She narrowed her eyes angrily to her brother and Sakura, she knew when she was being lied to, and hated to be excluded.
"I heard you guys and Gaara in the kitchen this morning. Now he's gone and Sakura's cursing. What's up?"
Sakura bit her lip to Temari's verbally pointed finger, and contemplated what to do next. She knew lying to Gaara would mean consequences later on, so she figured her best bet was to just tell the truth to Temari and avoid anymore trouble with anyone. The rosette let a heavy sigh escape before opening her mouth to speak, however, Kankuro beat her to the punch.
"Gaara's embarrassed you tricked him into drinking yesterday. He was telling us just now, and it made us a little upset as well."
Sakura mentally shrieked to Kankuro's lie and harsh words, but as Sakura studied Temari's gaze while it contorted, she felt like the young man had done the right thing to scare his sister. Hopefully it taught her a small lesson, despite the good she thought she was doing. However, Temari's gaze was harsh as she stared out in front of her, and her eyes narrowed into tiny slits as minutes passed. Sakura wasn't sure if guilt was eating at her, or if she knew they were still excluding her.
"So," Temari began after some time, "nothing else is going on? Nothing went on yesterday night?"
Sakura waited for Kankuro to answer this time, for she knew she was about ready to lose her cool and spill everything that went on. Luckily, Kankuro did just.
"Nothing at all. We were all in bed and asleep by the time you came home."
Kankuro and Sakura stared at Temari in silence. Waiting for her reaction and to see whether she would call them out on their lie. She sipped once more at her tea, before turning to Sakura and speaking.
"Then, you should be well rested enough to come spar with me."