A.N. - Okay so this story is going pretty good for me right now.
Thank you all so much for your reviews! I love them. Seriously, from the bottom of my heart up I love them.
So I'd just like to say thanks to saRhXlovE. I'm glad you like it. I hope you enjoy this chapter just as much as the last.
And I'm glad you thought it was cute. That made me smile. Because I was kind of aiming for cute in places.
And then to chikkachoo. Thank you very much, you're review was funny. I will try my hardest to update as quickly as I can. And actually, yes. Both Kiba and Naruto will be in this story. Kiba kind of shows up in this one.
But sorry, his part is rather small, more will come though. And Naruto is coming. Soon.
To TOTAL RANDOM. Thank you for being my first review. And I also appreciate your rewarding my use of the word please. I will try to be polite more often just so you will review more. By the way, yes I figured installments were chapters. Duh. ;)
Fanggirlx
Alright now that i have said my thank yous on with the next chapter.
Disclaimer: Naruto and Gaara...still not mine. Maybe one day though...(dreamy sigh) Everybody else from the show? Nope not mine either.
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Sakura chattered away with her friends as she strolled down the sidewalk. They had all decided it would be best to go get pizza. It was the simplest of food choices. Not to mention delicious.
Saiyomi had told her and the girls that she would go get the car and pull it around to the boy dormitories to pick everyone up.
They figured she was just giving them some time alone before the whole group got together. They would soon be adding Kankuro, Gaara, and yes, Neji to the group. He'd been at first stunned that Hinata would be calling him and even more shocked that she'd invite him out to eat pizza. He'd been hesitant to say the least, until his cousin had added that Sakura wanted him to come. For some reason that had changed his tune quickly and Temari had ridden Sakura about that ever since.
Why in the world was it so hard for the girl to understand that she and Neji had nothing going on? They had just gotten close over the last few years. He'd had family close to where she'd moved to-which he was obligated to visit regularly, much to his dismay. So every summer and spring break she'd seen him and hung out with him to give him an excuse good enough to keep him away from his horrendous family life as much as possible. In the process, she and the young genius had actually forged a friendship that had continued to grow and strengthen and they were now very close. Alongside Naruto, Sai, and Sasuke...and Rock. She could add the deeply profound genius who held a troubled heart and a fighter's spirit who had something big to prove which pushed him to mature and grow in as perfect a way as possible to her list of boys that were hers. And if she were being totally honest she could probably see adding Kankuro and Gaara to that list as well.
Kankuro, the mischief making puppet master who held a deep running love for his family and an unexpectedly correct insight into others and what they needed to achieve happiness, but had trouble seeing what would give him his.
And Gaara…the quiet and secretly sad insomniac that struggled to keep hold onto his recently budded humanity and to understand it while trying to come to terms with what he was and what he'd come from and also what was inside him fighting to get free and his hidden fear of what that thing could do if it managed to break loose.
While in Suna she had managed to get close enough to both boys to be able to read them. And she'd been stunned at what she'd seen in each of them. She would be a fool if she did not admit that she saw them as a part of the group of guys she cared for and trusted.
Especially Gaara. While on her self assigned mission to get him to talk to her she had ended up exposing things about herself she hadn't with anyone else. Things very deep and personal that she couldn't even bring herself to think about right now, much less say out loud. But she had with him. It was easy with him.
Despite his history, Gaara held this air about him that comforted and calmed her when she was around him. And it made her believe that she could tell the boy anything and that he would keep it quiet and that he would understand.
She didn't feel like that with anyone…well except for Naruto. But that poor idiot hadn't always been able to keep things secret. Unless it was absolutely important. Then he had. Sometimes under threat of torture and death, but he had. She could always count on him to at least do it then.
She hoped that she could find out from someone just exactly where he was and how he was doing. He hadn't been doing so good when she'd had to leave. And she worried for him constantly. Neji never would talk about him when he visited. Which only made her that much more nervous. She was determined to find out what she could and then find him.
Something in her gut told her that he was having a hard time dealing with something. And that he needed her.
Just like she needed him.
"Hello? Earth to Sakura!"
A hand was waving in front of her face.
Blinking, she focused her eyes and came face to face with Temari.
"Temi?"
"Yeah, what's wrong with you? Huh? You were spaced out this whole time walking. You suddenly got quiet and then there was nothing."
"Y-yes. W-we were worried about y-you." Hinata added.
"Sorry girls." Sakura apologized to them. They accepted it easily. It was then that Sakura noticed they were standing out front of the boy dorms.
She saw the three boys heading out of the building and straight for them. The three girls waved at the boys in greeting. Kankuro waved back at them and Neji gave them a nod of acknowledgement, but Gaara simply kept moving as if nothing had happened. A person would have to know what to look for to know he felt anything at all. Which with the slight relaxing of his shoulders as he drew nearer to them and the softness that tugged at the corner of his scowl as he made slight eye contact with her, Sakura could plainly see- with her previously learned Gaara reading methods- that he was looking forward to going out just as much as everyone else.
He just wouldn't show it. He never showed it. Maybe that would change…Sakura shrugged. Maybe it wouldn't. He may not be himself if he just up and started expressing every emotion he felt. As the three girls stood waiting for the boys to join them Sakura's mind drifted to a small world where Gaara expressed every emotion.
……. "Oh hi there Sakura-chan. Its great to see you." beamed Gaara. They were standing in a wide open field and the sun was literally smiling at them. He had cool shades over his eyes...nice. And happy clouds were dancing in the sky with the song "It's a Wonderful World" as their music.
She smiled at the red head and nodded, "Yes it's a beautiful day too."
Gaara laughed, "Indeed! All the more reason to be happy! Come. Let us go and enjoy the day together!"
The smiling Gaara grabbed her hand and began to run towards the horizon that was suddenly a beautifully heart stopping sunset. Wow. Time flew by in dreamland. Wonder why. And on top of that- Why were they running in slow motion?
And why did this emotional Gaara seem a lot like Rock Lee?
Suddenly Gaara was no longer in his usual clothes, no. now he was wearing the very same green spandex body suit that Rock Lee wore. Sakura stared at him in horror. No! ……….
Sakura shook that world away. What a scary place! Gaara laughing and smiling! Running in slow motion! Gaara dressing like Rock Lee! If she ever ventured to that world again-and that's a big if there, that was just scary- she didn't doubt that the strange alternate Gaara there waiting for her would break into sonnet about the flame of youth and beauty upon her return. A laugh escaped her as that image formed in her head.
"Hey, Pinky, what's so funny, eh?" Kankuro asked from in front of her.
Jumping slightly at the surprise of finding someone in front of her she giggled when she realized who it was and her laugh grew when she saw the look he was giving her.
"Oh nothing, Pinocchio. Just thinking about something weird." she replied with a grin. Laughing he ruffled her hair as he pulled her to his side under his arm and grinned down at her, "When are you not, Pinky? When are you not?"
She shoved him off of her and faced the others.
Sakura noticed Neji and trapped him in a tight hug faster than he'd seen anything ever move.
"Neji! Its so great to see you! I was so worried when I moved away to college that I wouldn't get to see you anymore but here you are! We'll see each other everyday maybe!" she squealed happily.
Prying her off of him he muttered dryly, "Yay."
"Oh don't be like that. You'll make me cry." she said making a pouty face.
Kankuro laughed, "No, not the undefeated pouty face! Don't look Neji! Or you'll be pulled into a spinning vortex of death and cuteness!"
Neji looked at Sakura with one brow raised, "Undefeated pouty face?"
She shrugged, "Never failed on him. He's a sucker for my big green eyes."
Kankuro blushed, "Who wouldn't be? She's just so darn cute." he said as he pinched her cheek.
Sakura struck a cute pose and everybody laughed. Well except Gaara, she noticed disappointedly. But then she thought again of that scary alternate Gaara and was thankful he didn't laugh.
Neji tugged her away from Kankuro and patted her head.
"What was that for?"
"If you wish to make puppy eye faces. Then I shall treat you as a puppy."
Temari laughed, "Oh, Pinky! I think the hottie hunk known as Neji just offered to make you his bitch! Go for it!"
Sakura laughed with her and everyone joined in when Neji blushed and looked away trying in vain to hide his rosy cheeks.
Sakura smirked at Hinata, "Yep, he's definitely related to you."
That in turn made Hinata blush. Which for some reason had the whole group cracking up again.
While the others laughed Sakura walked over to where Neji was standing away from the group and touched his shoulder. He turned to face her with a slight blush still on his cheeks and a scowl on his face as he crossed his arms and huffed.
"I don't want you as my bitch." he said quickly.
"Uh…thanks. I think."
"No, that was wrong. I meant to say-"
"Neji, I get it. Okay? None taken. I know the truth remember? So don't worry."
His blush came back with a vengeance.
"Its still our little secret, I promise." Sakura reassured.
"Thank you."
Sakura hugged him again, "It really is great to see you, Neji."
"You too." he whispered gently returning the hug.
"Hey, Pinky, quit flirting with your new master and get over here!" Kankuro called.
Temari elbowed him, "Oh shut it, Kankers, you're just jealous its not you she's flirting with."
"Temari…" Kankuro growled warningly.
Giggling Sakura rejoined the group with Neji.
"So you going to tell us the plan or do I have to keep standing here waiting?" Kankuro asked with a smirk.
"Oh right! The plan." Sakura exclaimed, having forgotten all about it with all the distractions.
She smiled at all three boys and informed them of their plan for the night. Not too long after she finished explaining things her mother pulled up and waved for everyone to get in. They all piled in and seconds later they were off to get pizza and catch up on good times.
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About a mile and half away from the college campus a boy sat high up in a tree staring at the bright blue sky and the many clouds that drifted lazily by him.
He took a deep breath and turned his steady eyes in the direction of the school.
"S-sakura?"
He paused and got a better feel for the things around him, scents, chakras, and feelings.
Oh yes, it was definitely her.
A slow hesitant smile spread on his face.
He quickly hopped down to the thick grass below. It wouldn't be long now before he finally saw her again. Held her again. Smelled her again. Smiled with her again. Gods, how he needed her.
He could only hope she still felt the same for him as she once had. With how things were going for him recently there was just no telling anymore. But as he started off for the school he prayed with everything he had that nothing had changed too drastically between them.
In fact, while he was at it, he prayed and hoped that she would be just as happy to see him as he was her. That would be so wonderful. But as memories flooded his tired mind he flinched inwardly and was reminded of what all had happened to him since loosing her. There was no use in praying and hoping. He sighed, world weary at a young age, at least no for someone like him. He could only hold the rights to hope for so much so long and that time had probably long run out, and the gods had stopped listening to his prayers long, long ago. Right around the time they'd taken his one saving grace away from him. A soft smile came back to his face. He refused to loose all hope just yet. There could still be a chance. Because now even though she'd been taken away, it seemed that finally his luck just may be changing for the good again. He may be getting her back.
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Saiyomi sat back in her chair and watched her daughter slip gracefully back into her place among her friends. She was always the center of attention when she was speaking. And when she was not, people simply stared because of how pretty she was…or because she did something weird or clumsy. But either way currently, Sakura was shining so brightly she was practically glowing with her happiness.
And the group must have made so much noise in their celebration, that others noticed, some of them being other students at the school-and most of them knew Sakura from somewhere or another, which shocked and pleased Saiyomi to no end.
Some more of Sakura's childhood friends from her days of being a ninja had been around and had also heard and they'd joined the group at the table. Now Kiba, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and TenTen were added to the mix. But even as it grew in size and the chatter grew in volume Saiyomi noticed how Sakura kept the shy Hinata in the loop as well as the stand offish Gaara, who both of which would normally slip into the woodwork among this many people. But not with her daughter.
As happy as her daughter was though, Saiyomi could see something was bothering her. Something troubled Sakura and it kept her from having the best of times she possibly could.
No one else seemed to notice, except maybe that red head boy. Gaara was his name she believed. Gaara kept glancing at Sakura with what Saiyomi would guess was his version of concern. Though it came off mostly as a simple critical glare.
The boy must have felt her eyes on him because he turned his head to meet her gaze. Saiyomi felt chills ripple through her spine. How Sakura could meet his cold emotionless eyes head on was beyond her but she for one couldn't do it. The woman quickly looked away. She hated to be rude, but his eyes, his face they both showed nothing! How could he feel nothing all the time? And here she'd just been thinking he'd been concerned for Sakura. That really didn't seem likely.
She could not understand how that boy was cut from the same cloth as Temari and Kankuro who though both may be a bit violent were not creepy, and are for the most part very friendly and have huge wonderful personalities. Gaara on the other hand…no. She shouldn't be judging the poor boy. Perhaps something happened to him. Sakura feels fine with him around. In fact, if she knew her daughter, and she did, it would appear that the creepy quiet boy's presence made her happy. Strange. Not entirely unexpected but strange nonetheless. Sakura always saw good in everyone, when she bothered to look for it. Sometimes her temper spoke before her heart or mind and she refused to see anything.
Saiyomi saw the slight frown on Gaara's face deepen, had she offended him? She glanced at the huge gourd of sand sitting beside him.
Gaara noticed her worried gaze and followed it nearly snarling at her for her uncalled for fear when his eyes met his gourd.
How dare this woman! He'd done nothing to her! Hadn't moved in a threatening manner or said anything questionable! And yet she still feared for her pathetic life! If it was anyone else besides Sakura's mother she would have already been dead. But he had this vague notion that killing the mother of one of your only friends would be detrimental to any relationship between the two.
Feeling the power of his glare directed her way Saiyomi struggled not to tremble. The boy…wow, if looks could kill he'd certainly have many more deaths under his belt.
Sakura felt a growing air of tension from the boy beside her. Looking over at him she noticed his deep frown and angry eyes.
Gently she placed a hand on top of his cold, tightly fisted one. She watched him tense at her touch and then slowly turn his head to stare at her.
He looked at their hands. That were touching. They were touching. And then he looked back to her gentle smiling face.
"Are you alright?" she whispered.
Unsure of what to say he said nothing. He just continued to stare at her and her hand on his.
Sakura nodded at him as if understanding everything without him speaking. He knew such a thing was impossible but with her, she made it seem real, and very much so possible.
With one last reassuring smile she turned back to the group to jump back into the conversation she'd been a part of before dropping out to help out Gaara.
It was odd how he no longer felt the desire to kill. And his head was no longer throbbing with the demand to feel the slippery warmth of that woman's blood on his hands.
What did she do to him?
He watched her out the corner of his eye. Sakura was giggling at something Temari said to Ino. She went about affecting him and wasn't even aware of it! How could she not know!?
His blood began to boil again and he felt his hands shake with his fury.
"Gaara."
He turned to face her, his eyes slightly wider than need be and his breathing a little heavier than on average. All signs of the raging battle going on within him.
He saw that she noticed, the recognition was clear in her eyes. However, she didn't call any attention to it. She simply placed her hand on his again and smiled at him.
"You have got to taste this!" she said with a smile. She was offering him a form of distraction, he realized. "It is so awesome. They're some kind of cinnamon stick. And they have white icing on top and its so warm and gooey and it is just delicious. Please try some?"
He stared at the dessert she held before him in her other hand. Could she have not chosen a less sticky distraction? Then he glanced back at her other hand that still rested warm and peaceful on his. Perhaps it was not such a bad attempt.
Meeting her eyes, he felt his breathing stop as he reveled in the fact that she didn't shudder or draw back at the lack of expression on his face or the lack of emotion in his eyes. Not once had she.
She understood him some how. He wanted to know how, but that could wait. Right now she was holding something sticky inches from his face and it was dripping rather hot icing into his lap. Forcing himself to take a breath he then focused on the mess she was making.
He stared down at the small pile of sticky white goo beginning to build up on his thigh. A small blush appeared on her face when she followed his eyes and realized what she'd done.
"I'm so sorry Gaara. I didn't mean to! Here, let me get some napkins."
She grabbed some and went about wiping it off of his leg.
Letting out a hiss at the contact of her hand on his thigh he quickly gripped her wrist, harder than he'd meant to.
"No." he bit out, breathless once again.
"I'll do it." he added quickly, when he saw her face fall.
"Oh, okay. Sorry. I don't think things through sometimes. Sorry, Gaara."
Giving a short nod he answered with a grunt.
She took that as an okay answer because she smiled at him and sat back and waited for him to clean his pants leg.
Once the sticky icing was off he glanced at her again.
She was still watching him, smile still in place. Not a very bright smile, more like one a person wears when remembering something good.
"You still want to try this? I won't drop anymore on you I promise."
He eyed the stick of goo warily.
Wondering just how greatly he would regret this, he nodded.
Her face brightened as she moved to stick it in his mouth. Stunned, he found himself catching her wrist once again.
He questioned her with his eyes on just exactly what she was doing.
She again understood and giggled.
"Just open your mouth. I swear its not poison or anything. Well, unless you're allergic to cinnamon or something else in there. But I really doubt you are."
Hesitantly he obeyed and opened his mouth the slightest bit.
With a sweet smile she fed him a bite of the stick, chuckling lightly when his eyes tried to follow the stick and ended up crossed for a second. Feeling foolish he turned his attention to the treat in his mouth. It was only slightly warm now and it was sweet and yet tasted of spice. But the gooeyness just melted in his mouth and Gaara simply closed his eyes to savor the feeling and the sweet caress the taste had on his taste buds.
Sakura smiled at him.
"Good. Glad you like it. This is my favorite thing here. It's the reason I picked this pizza place. They're the only ones that sell these cinnamon sticks."
He opened his eyes and met her emerald gaze.
He felt a tug inside his chest and he quickly looked away.
What was that? What just happened? What did it mean?
She laid the rest of the stick on a napkin in front of him.
She then gave him one last smile before rising from her seat.
"I'll be right back, guys. I have to go wash my hands. And my face. I think I got icing all over me."
Kiba laughed, "Well you were practically rolling in the stuff. You were worse then Akamaru. What did you expect?" The others in the group laughed, all of them completely unaware of what had just transpired between the infamous and ever stoic Gaara and the friendly pink haired Sakura.
A blush staining her cheeks she grinned at her friends, stuck her tongue out at Kiba, and then dashed off for the restroom.
Gaara watched her leave and then returned his focus to the cinnamon stick in front of him.
His face softened as he picked it up and ate the rest, relishing in its taste and the thought of the one who'd given it to him.
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Sakura walked out of the bathroom and saw her friends sitting together still laughing. She also saw how Gaara was still alone, still uninvolved.
Naruto could have gotten him involved. But she didn't know how. She wanted him to experience having so many friends. But at the same time she secretly enjoyed being one of Sabaku no Gaara's only friends. It made her special.
Her mother saw her returning and told everyone it was time to go. Reluctantly they all agreed and rose to their feet.
Once everything was paid for they all headed back for the campus.
Sakura sat between Gaara and Temari wondering when her mother would spring her apparently momentarily forgotten surprise on her. It was getting close to night time and her mother had a long trip back home. Maybe she'd be able to stay the night and leave in the morning.
The car pulled to a stop in front of the boy dorms and all the guys piled out.
She smiled at them all and wished them a good night. The door closed but Sakura did not miss the soft look on Gaara's face as his eyes met hers for that one second before she'd shut the door.
Grinning to herself, happy to have helped her friend have a good time she settled in her seat and enjoyed the extra room they all had now. Once back at their dormitory they got out. Sakura watched Hinata and Temari head on inside after thanking Saiyomi and bidding her goodbye.
She turned back to her mother and after a short goodbye and a warm hug her mother waved to her and drove away assuring her that she had a hotel room and that she'd come say goodbye before she left in the morning.
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Okay. So that was fun. I think I just may explore alittle more romance between Gaara and Sakura in the next chapter.
What do you think? Should I? I'm thinking yes, it could be fun. Keep telling me what you guys think, please. I'm eager
to hear your ideas.
Fanggirlx