A.N. - Hello everyone! I am so sorry it has taken me this long to get something out. The holidays got really busy and then almost as soon as I got home from our long Christmas/New Year's trip and got settled and almost ready to write I got sick! I had this really icky case of pneumonia. But I'm all better now and I'm definitely ready to write again lol though it had been so long since I had written I had to go back and reread some of what I'd already posted. But my mind is completely refreshed on the story and it's time to get back on it! I hope everyone's new year is going great so far! Thank you for your patience with me and I hope you all enjoy this next little chapter. And…it really is rather little. But don't worry the next chapter will be much much longer and better for you guys! I'm posting this little bit I have now to show I haven't forgotten you guys. And…since I'm supposed to be studying for my physics midterm…and I hate studying physics… I'm probably going to get that next chapter out in the next day or maybe even tonight lol who knows! Anyway its great to be back I missed all of you guys! And again, I hope you enjoy this little chapter!
Fanggirlx
Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine…
To animeprincess74- hi! Thank you so much!! Amazing? I'm blushing. Heehee I know it's not hard to make me do but I am. I'm really glad you like my story! Especially since you aren't a fan of this couple. That makes it even better that you think it's a good story since it already has a count against it for being about a couple you don't particularly like. Thank you for reviewing and I hope you continue liking it!
To jollyrancher6250- hi! Heehee I'm so happy you liked that line! I actually laughed at it myself while editing so it's nice to know I wasn't laughing alone. In fact I love making people laugh so it made my day when you told me you laughed so long. Thank you! Of course you can use it anytime you want! Maybe even more people will laugh! Yellow is a fun color isn't it? Thank you so much for reviewing! I hope you enjoy this next chapter as well! And by the way I'm really glad chapter 3 was awe inspiring to you I really liked that chapter. And it just makes me so happy that you are in love with Mix! I think he's pretty neat I'm thinking he is for sure coming again lol.
To Akina-chan09- hi! I'm so glad you like my story! Thank you! I hope you continue to enjoy it! Thank you for reviewing!
To Gugga- hi! Yay! I'm allowed! That's a cool day to have a birthday on! Heehee yeah having a twin is fun except my brother is really good at knowing what I'm thinking and so it's really hard to keep secrets from him. Lol makes things difficult sometimes. Yep yep it's a family thing I have a huge family and it's so much fun! I'm glad you did good! Go Gugga! Slapping jerks! Woo! You aren't a bad person for thinking that. Heehee if he deserved it I bet lots of people saw you as their hero! Your holidays sound fun! I think I'm going to look into having my family try them out this year. Especially the boom day and the bread day (that sounds yummy!) I can't sing very well so if I tried ash day I wouldn't get any candy but maybe my brothers who can sing could share the stuff they get with me. Thank you! I'm so happy you thought it was cute! Heehee weeeeellllll Gaara is a guy. Lol nah I'm just kidding not all guys are perverts I know, but Gaara is. I think he would be, all that pent up frustration has to come out someway right? Heehee. I'm happy I made you laugh with that. Good to know six only sounds like our sex and not your word for it. Lol that sure would make weird misunderstandings if you did though.I'm excited to see how the last part goes over for Until Christmas. And it was your idea so you can take credit for the awesomeness that the story is! I'm just happy you're letting me help! Thanks for reviewing and I hope you like this next chapter!
To JPLteen- hi! Thank you! I'm glad you thought it was great! It's understandable I'm just happy you still like it enough to review it when you have a chance. I hope you continue to enjoy it and thank you for reviewing!
To Fallen Dark Neko- hi! Really? That's cool! I think rain is peaceful, and flowers are beautiful. So the scene to me was meant to be peaceful I'm really glad you caught that! I don't think it sounded gay at all. I'm happy you felt that way about it. I had a lot of fun imagining it while I wrote because it painted such a pretty picture in my own mind. Made me want to find an actual flower shop like that heehee. Plus Gaara and Sakura have such an understanding of each other their quiet love in the moment definitely made things just that much more soothing (at least I think so) Thank you! I'm happy you think its coming together well! And you're welcome. I do have some dramatic things planned that they will face together but in the end I like happy endings so its safe to bet that's how it will be. And I totally understand what you mean. Gaara has had it hard enough and love isn't exactly easy for him if someone tried to take Sakura from him he probably wouldn't fight too hard to keep her even though he wanted to because he'd think she deserved better. And I want them together by the end of my story so I can't let that happen. So I'm really glad you feel that way. But… you might have just given me an idea. So thank you! And I'm sorry I couldn't make the chapter more about them but I will give you another sweet moment between them soon because I love writing them! Heehee thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
To hayhayhiltz- hi! Thank you! I think it was sweet too. She is very lucky to have all she has in her life. I like writing stories about things like this because they create the best means of escaping stress of reality for a little while. That's one of my biggest hopes as a writer that I can help people forget their world if for just the length of my chapter it's enough for me to be happy. And I think there are good guys who aren't fictional heehee it's just hard to find them because fish in the sea all pretty much look the same on the outside so it's hard to tell who's a good guy and who's just another jerk. And though its very idealistic of me I believe in happy endings in both fiction and reality so I bet you'll find your good guy lol just keep fishing. (but don't use gummy worms I found out fish don't really like those much turns out they don't taste as good once dunked in water lol) anyway thank you so much for saying it was a great chapter and thanks for the review! I hope you enjoy this next chapter too!
To BluePanda22311- hi! Heehee of course. He is little patience I'm coming to find out. You pictured it like that? That's so awesome! I did too! I'm so happy you saw it like that! Lol it made the scene much funnier to me that way. I'm happy for her accepting him too. It makes the relationship less stressful when mommy dearest approves lol. Wasn't he just adorable still feeling that? I love writing Gaara like that, its just so darn cute to me. Heehee Gaara is a perv. It had to come out eventually right? Lol they are just the cutest! Since I started writing this story I am just that much more a fangirl of this couple lol I'm glad you loved this chapter and thank you for the review! I hope you like this next chapter!
To Courtz. babee- hi! Lol Thank you! I like surprising people. So I'm really happy you like that. Heehee yes big yayness for the couples happiness! They're so cute together! I'm so glad it makes you smile! Lol I know the feeling. it's the same exact for me, and since its usually one of my brothers who catch me doing that its really funny because they make the funniest faces as they back away from me lol thank you for the laugh by the way. The way you described how it happens for you with your family made me laugh so much. I'm thrilled you can't wait! Thank you! I hope you had fun on your trip! And though I am also late getting my next chapter out I am totally honored that you would pick mine first. Thank you. Also thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
To Leechan- hi! Heehee thank you so much! I'm blushing now because of all the compliments! I'm so happy you loved it though! Hm… where do I come up with this stuff? Lol I don't know really most of it starts as a day dream to be honest or an actual dream in my sleep and then it evolves while I'm writing it. I'm glad you think it's amazing though. Lol or else? Oh my… lol thank you for the review! Please enjoy this next one too! Lol I know I know special privileges I just would feel bad if I didn't wish you enjoyment as well. (and thanks for your help)
The next morning Sakura called her mother and, after being scolded fiercely for not calling her the night before, informed Saiyomi that she was perfectly fine that nothing had happened and thanked her once again for giving her advice in how to talk with Gaara that she had actually discussed it with him last night when he found her and that that was the reason why she hadn't called.
Said boy who lay beside her let a soft growl rumble in his chest to let her know that he still wanted to sleep longer.
Sakura ran her fingers soothingly through his hair to quiet him as she quickly said her goodbyes to her mother and grinned down at him.
"You know, for a guy who hasn't slept most his life you sure aren't a morning person now that you do."
Gaara shrugged lazily, "Catching up on lost time?"
She laughed and kissed his forehead before climbing out of his bed.
"Okay, so I am going to go pack my things and move them here. I figure it won't take me too long…but between that and classes I am probably going to be pretty busy today." she said turning to smile at him.
Gaara sighed, seeing that yet again late morning sleep was not to be for him, sat up and stared at her.
"Why pack?" he asked.
She rose one eyebrow at him, "So I can move it here, silly. Didn't you talk to Naruto and Sasuke yet?"
"After a fashion." Gaara replied with a half shrug.
A small grin played at her lips, "Which means no, right? You just kicked them out last night, didn't you?"
He locked eyes with her, a wicked smirk as his answer.
Sakura shook her head and laughed. "You are an absolute mess."
Sand wrapped gently around her and slowly tugged her back towards the bed.
"And you have no reason to leave yet." he murmured, burying his face in her hand and nibbling her tender skin playfully.
Smiling down at him she teased, "Oh really?"
"Yes." his eyes met hers, and held more desire then she knew what to do with.
"Absolute mess." she repeated as she allowed him to tug her back down into the bed beside him.
Gaara's low chuckle was his only reply.
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Later that afternoon, Sakura was leaving her final class for the day when she saw a message board with a large gathering of people around it.
Pushing into it to see what the commotion was about she was delighted to see there would be a dance that Friday to welcome students to the new year. It was a little late but, as the old saying goes, better late than never. Besides, going to a dance with Gaara would just be the greatest.
Smiling at the romantic thought of dancing in Gaara's gentle hold all night long almost had Sakura squealing with giddy excitement as she squeezed out of the large congregating mass of bodies and hurried to find her friends. They needed to make shopping plans!
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Sakura spotted Yura and Temari sitting under a tree together talking. She ran to join them waving as she approached. The two girls waved a greeting in return and once she was where they were resting Sakura plopped down in the grass beside Temari.
"Hey guys, have you heard about the dance?" she panted out excitedly, brushing a strand of her pink hair away from her face tucking securely behind her ear.
Temari nodded, "Yeah, Pinky, we were just talking about that now actually."
Yura stretched languidly, letting out a long drawn out yawn as she spoke.
"Yeah, it seems Temari here has finally come to terms with her undeniable desire for a certain brooding hottie."
Sakura cocked her head to the side in confusion while Temari knocked Yura's head with her fist.
"Its not like that!"
"Oh come on, Temari, if even I can fall for a guy so can you. Hell, a whore has to settle down eventually or just plain settle. We'll see which it was you did, huh?" Yura teased.
"I'm not doing either, you loud mouth." the blonde girl snapped at her friend.
Sakura's gaze jumped back and forth between the two girls while she bounced eagerly, "What? What? Come on, Temari, tell me please? Please? Yura? What?"
Temari looked at her skeptically, "But I'm not so sure you won't get angry with me…"
Yura scoffed, "Like I've been telling you for the past hour, oh stubborn one. She's so wrapped up in your brother she doesn't care about Sasuke anymore. Just ask her."
Temari looked to Yura with a horrified expression, "You just can't keep your damn trap shut can you!?"
Yura shrugged a shoulder casually as she examined her claws, "I'm sure he would have told her if you hadn't. And which is better to hear it from? You who she saw first or him later when he eventually finds her?"
Temari glared heatedly at the cat girl lounging on her side flicking the tip of her tail back and forth as she stared at Temari with amused pale blue eyes.
"Him! If it means I'm not the one having to tell her, blabbermouth!" Temari shouted.
Sakura giggled into her hands and asked between fits of laughter, "Can I tell you what I think now or are you two going to keep bickering about telling me something you already told me?"
Temari jabbed her finger at Yura, "She told you."
Sakura shrugged, "It doesn't matter anyway, Puffles. Yura is right. I haven't really felt like that towards Sasuke since I was…hm…thirteen maybe? So I'm really fine with you being with him. Especially if it makes you two happy! Silly head, why on earth would I be upset with you?"
Temari shrugged, "I wasn't sure if you still felt anything for him…"
Sakura shook her head, "Nope. The only love I feel for Sasuke is the same I do for Naruto. He's my brother in my eyes. I really hope you two work out together. I always secretly thought you two would be a good couple since you handle each other so well."
Temari blushed, "Thanks, Pinky."
"Not a problem! So I restate, now that that is covered, have you heard of the dance and are you guys going?"
Yura shrugged, "I actually have a decent date, why not go?"
Temari nodded, "I figure Sasuke wouldn't mind, would he?" She turned questioning ocean hued eyes to Sakura who would know better than she if Sasuke would mind.
"Are you kidding? I bet Kankuro and Sasuke both are just waiting for you two to ask if you guys are going so they can go get tickets." Sakura exclaimed cheerfully. "Soooooo, are you going?"
The two girls before her nodded and she clapped happily, "Yay! So I say we need dresses! Lets go find Hinata and start looking! Maybe we can find some of the others around here too! It'll be fun! A day of all out crazy girl dress shopping!"
The two glanced at each other, back to the incredibly excited pink haired girl and shrugged signifying their agreement.
Eh, why not? What was there better to do?
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"Sir and you are certain she was seen in this area?" a voice asked from across the table.
"Yes. Positive. Is that not what we paid the cat girl to find out for us?"
"Yes but she refused to tell us the exact whereabouts."
"Regardless. She will be dealt with in due time for her disrespect and disobedience. For now, let us find and locate our special targets…my patience is wearing thin. I trust you will not let me down?"
Two figures bowed respectably, speaking in unison they replied, "Of course, sir."
They backed their way out of the room and smiled to each other in wicked anticipation.
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Meanwhile, across town on a rooftop overlooking the small city that held the college stood a different pair. They too were searching for someone. And were also led to believe that who they sought was somewhere within the city before them. It was now only a matter of time before they located who they searched for and returned to their boss prize in hand.
One glanced to the other in silent question. Was it time to move?
An answering nod was given. Yes. It was indeed time.
Back at the school, a man walked the halls nodding acknowledgment when people smiled their greetings his direction. He had but just a little more time to play this ruse as his pawns all followed his exact predictions and placed themselves right where he wanted them. They thought their wills were their own; thought their decisions were made of their own accord. But they were all mistaken.
He was god and they were merely his puppets.
A couple of students stepped in front of him to discuss the dance plans they were working on.
He smiled kindly at them perfectly carrying on his act even though he simply saw them as drones working towards his final goal, the climax of his master plan.
Dealing with termites such as these would not be necessary for much longer.
Patience. That was all he needed. As soon as everything was in place he would make his ultimate move.
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The doorbell ringing brought Saiyomi to her front door.
"Yes?" her ivy green eyes doubled in size when they landed on just who had rung her bell.
The woman's mouth dropped open.
"Oh my dear." she mumbled softly as her hand came to rest at the base of her throat in shock.