Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or any characters associated with it.

A One Month Bet

"Sakura-sensei, where does this ligament attach to?"

"Sakura-sensei, can you demonstrate again how to link bone fibers?"

"Sakura-sensei, can you show us…?"

"Sakura-sensei, can you explain again…?"

"Sakura-sensei…?"

Sakura now understood why Gaara wanted an entire team to train the meds here.

They were worse than she'd expected.

Progress was going slowly, but then again, it'd only been five days. Luckily their chakra control was descent. It saved Sakura the trouble of teaching them how to channel their chi in the correct proportions to heal injuries: if they used too little for too long, they'd deplete all their energy; if they used too much too soon, they could easily amputate a limb or cause other such disasters. She'd taught them first how to heal minor wounds like cuts and burns, primarily on the epidermis. Today they'd studied the skeletal system: healing and sealing cracks in broken bones and reconnecting ligaments. Perhaps it was a little out of order scientifically, but out in the field, broken bones and cuts and abrasions were the most common injuries. Sakura had become so frustrated with the repetitive questions and explaining the same things over and over again. It was enough to drive any teacher to the point of strangling one of their students.

Within the last twenty minutes of class today, she literally had to keep a hold on the table edge to prevent herself from doing so. It was a wonder she didn't snap the thin wood in half.

Good thing she had a tight enough hold on her temper. And her chakra.

Now Sakura trudged back to the Kazekage tower weary and sore. True she hadn't taken any real time to train, but she could still feel the fatigue of repetitive demonstrations. Thank God it's Saturday. At least she could sleep in tomorrow morning, and then maybe explore Suna a little bit. Or maybe Temari would be up for doing something fun. All Sakura knew was that she needed a break. Starting with…

A bath.

The small shower in her bedroom at the Kage tower was sufficient enough as far as cleaning herself went, but it really wasn't the best place to indulge oneself after a long, grueling week of teaching. Plus, she'd wandered the streets between the Kazekage mansion and the hospital enough to know that there was a descent-looking bathhouse along the way. All she had to do was run up to her room, grab some money, and then head over to enjoy a nice, relaxing, tension-releasing soak.

Already excited at the prospect, Sakura bounced up the steps to the Kage mansion and into the lobby. "Hi, Mitaya!" she chirped to the front-desk-lady. The sweet old woman smiled and beckoned for Sakura to come to her.

"A hawk came for you, Haruno-san," she said, handing the small scroll to her. Sakura smiled and accepted it, then turned a mocking scowl to her elder.

"Mitaya, I know I've asked you to call me Sakura." She smiled again. Mitaya bowed her head and returned the gesture.

"Yes, yes," she said. "I'll remember next time."

Sakura waved sweetly and then practically skipped up the stairs to her room. She truly liked Mitaya. She was the sweet, old, grandmotherly-type, the kind who always remembers everyone's birthday. Sakura would've loved to simply sit and chat with her and maybe do something cliché, like knitting, but that kind of thing was, unfortunately, not within her to-do list as a kunoichi.

Darn medical-nin and their mediocre abilities.

As Sakura entered her room, she examined the scroll. It had the seal of the Hokage. Cha! Now, finally, she could shove this in Gaara's face and be happy and alone in a hotel room, away from the nosey Kazekage. Subaku no Gaara! Inner Sakura snapped with a voice resembling Tsunade's, how dare you force my apprentice to stay in the Kazekage tower! It is completely inappropriate and utterly unnecessary. I demand that she retreats to a hotel immediately! Signed ~ Hokage Tsunade

Sakura chuckled with childish glee as she unfurled the letter, anticipating and eagerly awaiting the anger that was surely to be directed at Gaara. The scroll read:

Sakura,

I'm glad things worked out. Gaara can be an ass sometimes, but you'll just have to put up with it. He is the Kazekage, and while you're in Suna I expect nothing less than the best behavior out of you. Remember that you not only represent me, but also the entire Hidden Leaf.

Sakura suddenly felt like a child who'd just been hefted with a large responsibility. The kunoichi heaved a sigh and continued reading:

By the way, you might rather be grateful about getting a room in the mansion. I promise it's nicer than any hotel can offer, plus I don't want to have to send you money to stay in a Suna hotel for a month. You think we have that kind of money to spare? Oh, and don't forget to write me daily reports. You're still on a mission, kay?

Best of luck.

~Tsunade

Sakura gaped in horror. Be grateful? Grateful? That she was stuck in the same house as the one man who was out to get her? Gaara wanted nothing more than to get her out of Suna so he could get what he called a 'proper team'. Every night, at Gaara's convenience, she had to report immediately to his office to tell him about the day's progress. It didn't matter what she was busy doing at the time. Once he'd even called her while she was taking a shower. She barely had time to rinse the conditioner out of her hair, and he was still annoyed with her 'belated' arrival. Ooh, that conceited asshole!

And Tsunade wanted her to be grateful.

Don't have that kind of money to spare? Teh. As if it would make that big of a dent in the village treasury to pay for a single hotel room for a few weeks. Tsunade was just being cheap. Sakura didn't care that the room in the Kazekage mansion was more beautiful than any hotel's. At least at a hotel she would be away from him. She hated how he treated her like the brown, icky stuff on the bottom of his shoe. She hated how he acted like he was king over all the universe and that every other living thing was beneath him. She hated that—

You like him.

Sakura wanted to stab her inner-self through the eye. I don't like him! She argued mentally. He's a complete ass! Why would I ever, in a million years, like that worthless, conceited, bigheaded, arrogant—

Handsome, mysterious, dangerous –C'mon Sakura, you've got a type.

That's not a good enough reason! Sakura attempted, but it was too late. She finally admitted it to herself. Fine. Gaara was attractive. Would she be forever doomed to fall for unstable, unattainable men? Really, Sakura—raise your freaking standards a bit, she groaned.

It didn't mean that Gaara wasn't still an asshole. Every time he called her in for a report, he acted snide and apathetic. And if she boasted at all about her students' success, he was completely unimpressed. He would only wait until she was finished and then ask about something he knew they could not do, such as just the other night when she told him about their progress with epidermal injuries.

"But can they heal broken bones?" he'd asked.

Dick.

She would probably tell him tonight that they'd learned how to reattach torn ligaments. He would probably ask if they could stop internal bleeding. Damn him.

But, even so, she couldn't ignore the attraction she felt. She got a secret, sudden thrill each and every time he called her in and they were alone in his office—even if it was accompanied with dread at the following conversation. A single glance from his dark-ringed eyes beneath the disheveled blood-red hair made her heart rate increase, and it wasn't only out of anger.

Stupid hormones. Why did they always have to get her tangled up with men that didn't like her back? She'd long given up hope that Sasuke would ever come crawling back, seeking her love, but since then she hadn't even attempted at engaging in a relationship. She simply believed that, as a kunoichi, she was just too busy for love. It hadn't stopped her from at least enjoying the company of the opposite sex, but if ever she felt any attraction forming for someone, she was almost always handed a mission during which the crush would fade. It was almost as if Tsunade knew when Sakura liked someone and she was there and ready to stamp it out. Now, however, this was her mission, and Tsunade was nowhere nearby to hand her a scroll and say 'scram'.

Sakura groaned and slumped against the wall. Oh well. There was no point in getting all upset about it now. At least she still had one good thing to look forward to. Screw Gaara and his good looks and bad attitude. She was going to the bath house, and damn it, she was going to enjoy it. Sakura tossed the scroll onto her bed and ruffled in her travel pack for some money. She grabbed a little extra, in case she wanted a snack on the way back, and then proceeded down the hallway and stairs with a new determination.

"Hey Mitaya," she huffed while still walking, "I'm just going to the bathhouse. I'll be back soon, okay?"

"Alright, dear. I'll just tell the Kazekage."

Sakura stopped just feet before the door and turned quickly around. "Oh," she yelped, "Uh, you don't have to do that. He doesn't need to know that I'm going to take a bath."

Mitaya gazed with confusion at the pink-haired kunoichi, but removed her hand from the intercom nonetheless. "Well, alright then," she said hesitantly. Sakura nodded gratefully and turned back in the direction of the door. Finally. Sweet freedom was within her grasp...!

"Miss Haruno."

The voice penetrated her skin like ice-cold water. She froze with her hand on the door, ready to push it open and be free of the exact person who now beckoned her. Sakura turned slowly to face him.

Gaara sat leaning in the doorway of his office, his face completely unreadable. Sakura did not want to tell him that she was going to the bathhouse. When a shower was readily available in her room, it could only mean that she was going merely to indulge, and she felt Gaara had no right or reason to know her personal pleasures. He was not her friend; he was not her boyfriend. As of this month, he was her boss, and telling your boss that you like to pamper in a warm, soapy, bathtub in the presence of multiple other women is not generally part of a healthy working relationship.

With a sigh, Sakura answered, "Yes, Kazekage-sama?"

"Where are you going?" he asked nonchalantly. He made no motion to show that he was actually interested; it was merely an intrusive question, just one of many he liked to rattle off only because he was her superior and he knew she would have to answer.

"I'm finished working for the day. Does it matter?" She asked coyly. She knew she was crossing a line, but she felt rather like she was channeling Tsunade's smart-assery with good reason. Why did he assume he needed to know her every goddamn move?

As predicted, Gaara's displeasure at her answer was evidenced by the narrowing of his dark-ringed eyes. "It does matter when your under my supervision in my village."

Sakura chewed on her cheek and glared at Gaara. Fine. If he wanted to know that she enjoyed long, steamy, relaxing baths, then so be it. It wasn't like she was the only woman in the world who did. And if that was too much information for him, then perhaps it would discourage him from asking so many questions if she ever so much as stuck a toe outside the Kage tower without the excuse of going to work.

"I'm tired, I'm grimy, and I'm going to the bathhouse." Her voice dripped with indignation, and knowing that her attitude would be poorly received, she gave dismissive half-bow and started toward the exit without waiting for Gaara's response. She missed the momentary embarrassment that flashed over Gaara's face at her confession. Glancing between the Kazekage and the empty space that had previously belonged to Sakura, Mitaya let out a small chuckle. The Kazekage shot her an angry glare and disappeared back into his office, slamming the door behind him.

Sakura's voice echoed in his head. Why would she need to visit the bathhouse? He knew the room Temari had given to Sakura had a shower. Was it broken? No, of course not; she would've said something sooner… Then why?

Gaara walked slowly to his desk and sat down. It should not have been such a hard thing to understand. Lots of people go to the bathhouse. It was considered a place of relaxation and… He paused.

Oh.

Sakura wasn't going simply to wash away dirt and sweat and other such grime. She was going because in Suna, and he guessed in other villages too, the bathhouse was considered a place of relaxation and indulgence. While most showers in homes were small and cramped, the bathhouse was large and spacious, with consistently warm water that would not turn stale. For just a handful of money, anyone could enjoy a relaxing bath to wash away stress and fatigue.

Just like Sakura.

But it was not just the idea of indulgence that struck him so strongly, nor was it the fact that a bathhouse would be more relaxing than a shower. It was the revelation that within a bathhouse, people take baths, and when people take baths, they generally do so naked.

Sakura.

Naked.

Gaara leaned back in his chair, momentarily shocked by the images now dancing through his consciousness. Again, he couldn't understand his sudden inclination to lascivious thoughts. He imagined her sitting in the shallow pool with steam curling all around her. She was pouring the sweet, scented oil over her pink blossom hair and letting it drip onto her shoulders.

What the hell is this?

Gaara growled and pressed his palms to the top his desk. Steady. Calm. He was a disciplined man. She was just a woman. Just a kunoichi from Konoha here on a mission. Strictly. Business.

He felt his chest tighten, along with the muscles around his groin.

That's it. He decided he should nix all thoughts involving that woman and water. It was becoming hazardous. She'd not even been there an entire week, and already she haunted his mind. Out of the four times he'd called her in for a report, twice had been solely because he wanted to see her, including the time he called for her during her afternoon shower. He knew he was interrupting her; he could easily hear the water, and it certainly wasn't at his convenience. He'd paid the price of that by staying up into the late hours of the night finishing paperwork. His only regret, it seemed, was that every time he was alone with her, she gazed at him with anger and disdain. He wondered what it would be like to have her smile at him. He'd never taken time to admire it when he'd known her in the past…

It has to be lust, he thought. He could not fathom any other explanation. She was an attractive young woman, and it was only natural for his body to respond like it was, including the thoughts and images of her now implanted in his head.

And yet, he did not constantly think about all the other attractive women in his village. In the past, he had not allowed it. He was disciplined. Gaara thought only for Suna. It was his goal in his new life to prove that the Shukaku was the monster, not him, and now that it was gone he would do anything and everything in his power to better the lives of his people.

Such as strengthen his medical unit.

Which had started all this mess in the first place.

Damn it all!

Why did Sakura affect him so much? He'd never in his life been so drawn to a woman. In the past five years of his manhood, things like sexuality and the opposite sex had not particularly interested him. He'd declined offers to go to socials and bars with other men like his brother—he believed it highly inappropriate for the Kazekage to participate in those kinds of dealings, anyway. Why now, all of a sudden, had he begun to think about such things? More importantly, why was he thinking of Haruno Sakura? She was nothing more than a political bond, a business affiliate.

Wasn't she?

Stop thinking about this. He ran his hands over his face and through his hair. The stubble on his cheeks was more than irritating, providing just another reminder of the ever-present exhaustion that had been his constant companion for nearly five years. You need to get back to work.

He sighed. He picked up his pen. He scratched his signature on one of the papers from the seemingly endless pile of ambiguous documents. He flipped it over and reached for the next form.

Scratch.

Flip.

Scratch.

Flip.

Scratch.

Flip.

"Hey little bro." interrupted a rather obnoxious sibling.

Great. Another distraction. As if Sakura wasn't enough. Gaara did not glance up. "Don't bother knocking," he said in acknowledgement to the other's entrance.

"Aw, c'mon—I'm fresh off of a mission," Kankuro grinned, "Don't act like you haven't missed me."

"You returned from that mission almost a week ago."

"Yep! The perfect amount of time for me to finish my mission report."

He slid another piece of paper on the already expansive pile on Gaara's desk. The single sheet of parchment read:

MISSION REPORT

SHINOBI NAME: Subaku no Kankuro
TASK: Intel Retrieval

DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS:
We kicked ass and took names. Mission complete.

Gaara rubbed his temples. He was not in the mood for Kankuro's bullshit today. The older brother flopped into a seat opposite Gaara's desk and leaned back comfortably, hooking his hands behind his head and gazing expectantly at his brother. Out of the previous Kazekage's three children, it seemed only Kankuro did not adhere to the characteristic commanding presence of his father, brother, and sister. Perhaps he had missed the Kage gene boat. He was much more comfortable with himself as a carefree young adult rather than as a leader, and he didn't seem at all bothered by that fact. Instead of flaunting his abilities as a highly accomplished jonin, he was quick to accept the fact that Gaara was the leading force behind Suna, with Temari as his right hand. Kankuro, as the left hand, was deeply loyal to his siblings and would do anything for them—he just didn't command the same high-and-mighty demeanor.

Gaara finally flicked a glance at his brother. He shoved the measly excuse of a mission report to the side so that he could resume dealing with real paperwork. Scratch. Flip.

With the purple markings etched on his face, Kankuro's grin looked rather ridiculous. Gaara didn't feel like dealing with him right now. He already felt overburdened as it was, what with images of a nude pink-haired woman flashing through his head every ten seconds.

Kankuro rolled his eyes and shifted forward towards the desk. "So, what're you doing tonight?"

"Working." Scratch. Flip.

"I mean what are you doing tonight? After work."

Scratch. Flip.

"C'mon, man. It's Saturday. Chill out. Me and some other people are going out for drinks tonight. You should come."

"I'm busy." Scratch. Flip.

Kankuro's grin disappeared and was replaced with a look of something resembling disgust.

Scratch—Gaara sighed. He finally looked fully at his sibling. "Kankuro," he began, "You ask me to go out to drink with you and your friends nearly every weekend-"

"Yeah, and you always refuse." Kankuro interrupted indignantly.

Gaara glowered wearily at him. "Yes, I do, and for good reason. I have work to do, Kankuro. I can't just—"

"Yeah, yeah I get it. A Kage's work is never finished." Kankuro retorted defiantly. Gaara's gourd shuddered, and he shot him a warning glare. That was the second time Kankuro had interrupted him. If it happened again, he would end up with a throat full of sand.

The older brother stood up and held up his hands apologetically. "Look, I'm sorry," he said, "But really, man, you need a break. All you do is work. And believe me, I'm telling you this out of my own concern for your wellbeing." He placed one hand over his heart as though expressing true compassion.

If Gaara hadn't been so annoyed at the moment, he might have smirked. He'd had a hard time adjusting to the acceptance of his brother and sister after Shukaku was removed, just as they had a hard time accepting him as another human. He truly appreciated their almost parental concern towards him, the mentally fragile youngest sibling, but over the years he just couldn't ignore the fact that Kankuro's constant badgering about 'cutting loose' and 'taking it easy' had become rather irritating. As Kazekage he had certain duties to fulfill and expectations to rise to and overcome. Drinking and partying were not actions well thought of by the village elders.

"No, thank you, Kankuro." Flip.

He persisted. "Come on! Look, it's a small place. Not a lot of people know about it, so no one's gonna hound you about being there. It's a small bar with a really small dance floor. It's perfect for getting up-close and personal with the ladies." He waggled his eyebrows suggestively and made a dirty motion as though dancing with multiple imaginary women.

Gaara could think of only one woman he wanted to get up-close and personal with.

He quickly ducked his head in chagrin. "Don't sweat your makeup off," he deadpanned. Scratch. Flip.

Kankuro dropped his hands and let his face become blank. "Was that an attempt at a joke?"

Gaara said nothing. Better to just look angry than admit to a failed sense of humor.

Kankuro looked angrily at his little brother. "You really are no fun, you know that? You're twenty years old. Get an apprentice or something. Make them do the paperwork so you can go out and have a life! Tsunade's known to cut loose sometimes, and I bet she shoves tons of work off on Sakura all the—"

Gaara glanced up quickly at the mention of Sakura and, to his surprise, locked gaze with Kankuro by accident.

Shit.

There was no way Kankuro missed that.

The man in question looked down curiously and narrowed his eyes at Gaara. "What?" he asked quickly.

Gaara glared back and returned to his paperwork without a word. Scratch. Flip. Scratch. Flip.

"I could ask Sakura herself. She would tell me. I bet she has to sign and fill out all kinds of crap for Tsunade." Kankuro continued. There was a calculating edge to his tone, though. He knew something had caught Gaara's interest. Now he was just trying to figure out just what it was.

Gaara didn't rise to the bait.

Scratch. Flip.

"I wonder what Sakura's doing tonight."

Bathing in all her white porcelain and pink blossom glory? Gulp. Scratch. Flip.

"She's a really nice girl."

Scratch. Flip.

"Good ninja, too."

Scratch. Flip.

"She's kinda cute."

Scrat—Fuck! How could he have misspelled his own name? Damn Kankuro…

"Aha!"

Damn it. That was all it took. Kankuro had been carefully monitoring Gaara's reactions to each statement. That last one had jarred his younger brother enough that he accidentally added an extra line to the last character of his name. Gaara took a calming breath and set the parchment aside.

"Do you have something going on with Sakura?" Kankuro asked, slightly smug with himself.

Gaara did not acknowledge his question, but he did not pick up another piece of paper for fear that he would mess up again if Kankuro said anything else suggestive about the kunoichi. Instead, he listened to the quiet hush of sand seeping from his gourd, a nearly-silent warning for Kankuro to shut the hell up or suffer the consequences.

Kankuro's grin faded and he eyed Gaara cautiously. "Alright, calm down. It's cool. I don't care if you have a thing with her."

Gaara looked up at his brother. "I have no thing with Miss Haruno," he nearly spat. "She is in Suna to train the medical unit. That is all."

Kankuro raised his eyebrows at Gaara's hostility, wary of the sand still creeping menacingly toward him. "No need to get all offended, man. I was just curious."

"Don't be."

The elder brother finally shrugged in submission. It was not worth getting choked with sand, he decided. He backed slowly towards the door with his hands shoved in his pockets. "Alright, alright, I get the message. But you know," he stopped about halfway between the desk and the door, "It's no crime to like someone, Gaara." When Gaara made no sign or acknowledgement that he understood him, Kankuro shrugged again. "Look, if you ever need anything, you can… come to me, ok? If you have any questions, or if we…ahem… need to have the talk, I can do that too."

Gaara arched a cynical, nonexistent eyebrow. Kankuro winked. "It's what big bros are for, right?" With a final tilt of his head, he turned around to exit the room.

Gaara thought quickly about his brother's last remark. He wondered if perhaps, just this once, Kankuro was right. What if confiding in his brother would help alleviate some of the confusion that had been building up inside his head like a sinus infection? He had never, never in his young life had such ridiculous thoughts in mind all the time… or the incessant urge to call her into his office every day, just to look at her… He hated admitting weakness in any way, but when it came to inter-personal relationships, he was sorely out practiced by his siblings. Maybe Kankuro could help.

"Kankuro," he called before the man was out of earshot. "Come back." His brother returned with a knowing grin playing on his purple face. It nearly made Gaara regret his decision, but the curiosity and confusion was overwhelming. "Alright," he said wearily, "Let's talk."

x

Sakura strolled down the road a tad dissatisfied with her day. First her students had hounded her about simple medical procedures until she wanted to scream, then Tsunade had ignored her request to be transferred to a hotel, and finally Gaara had gone and been intrusive and infuriating. She couldn't even fully enjoy her bath because she was haunted by thoughts of him the entire time. Was he thinking about her in the bath? Did he wonder what kind of scented soap she was using? Half of her wanted to heave with disgust and anger, but a deeper part found herself flattered with the idea that he would think about her when she was away. But of course, that wasn't realistic even in the slightest. There was no way Gaara thought about her in that way. Stupid Inner Self and her wishful ideas.

Her bath was terrific, otherwise. The warm water soothed her aches, and she'd felt extremely refreshed. It was nice to simply indulge and not worry about using all the hot water or running up any bills. She spent an entire half an hour just sitting and taking pleasure in the natural splendor of a hot bath. The establishment even supplied a variety of lovely scented soaps: prickly pear, honey and melon, lavender and vanilla… she chose the last one as her preference. For thirty whole minutes, she felt like a true woman again, pampered and content.

Now, however, she was once again a kunoichi on a mission. She had no time for the simple pleasures of life; her duty was to get the job done and get back to Konoha. Oh Konoha, Inner Sakura sighed, How I miss thee… Being a native of the Hidden Leaf certainly had its drawbacks when one was stationed in Sunagakure. The hot Suna sun was beating down on her already warm body, still flushed from the heat of the water. It made her want to take a cold shower, just to lower her body temperature. Her still-wet hair was dripping down into the front and back of her shirt, making her skin feel sticky and sweaty. It wasn't quite enough to completely cancel out that satisfied feeling from her bath, but it was damn close.

With her endorphin levels rapidly stagnating in the unforgiving heat, Sakura made her way back towards the direction of the Kazekage tower. It stood looming over the other buildings of the city, casting a long, merciful shadow over a few lucky edifices. The pink-haired Shinobi strode confidently, though with underlying dread, up the stairs into what she considered her temporary prison. By Tsunade's orders, she was to stay in the Kazekage mansion for the remainder of her one month bet with the Kazekage himself. An actual prison might've felt more welcoming in some ways.

Cool air from the inside brushed past her and chilled the moisture still clinging to her skin. Great, she sighed, now I'm cold. She cast a cautious glance around the empty lobby. Mitaya wasn't at her desk, but Sakura was less concerned with her whereabouts and more so about whom she suspected was in his office right now, and how she would bypass him safely and without any awkward conversation.

Luckily, though, it seemed the man in question had a visitor in his office. Sakura could hear the muffled remnants of a conversation coming from inside. Curiosity nipped at her insides, andshe took a hesitant step towards the closed door—No! It would be completely inappropriate to eavesdrop on a Kage's conversation. Doing such a thing could get her sent back to Konoha or, depending on the severity of the conversation, imprisoned. It was not worth the risk, she decided. Probably nothing interesting anyway, she sighed, like a village elder or something. She turned and headed back toward the direction of the sleeping quarters.

But suddenly the characteristic tingle in her ear of three distinctive syllables caught her attention. She'd heard her own name uttered hundreds of times by friends, comrades, teachers, and enemies alike. Now, to hear it mumbled through the closed doors of Gaara's office, it rattled her. She spun around quickly and eyed the office suspiciously. He was talking about her, she realized, but to whom?

Carefully, Sakura edged towards the door using every ounce of ninja stealth she'd acquired over the years. She couldn't use her chakra; Gaara would sense it. In fact, he might simply sense her presence anyways. He was Kazekage after all. If he couldn't sense the approach of a foreign kunoichi from twenty feet away, he didn't deserve the title. Still, she edged closer. Her curiosity was overwhelming. She sidled against the wall and inched her way closer to the crack between the doors. With her ear pressed against the wall, she slowed her breathing and listened.

"I've got to be honest, I'm not really seeing the problem here. You just need to just loosen up is all."

"Nn."

"I'm being serious!"

"Really? This is you being serious?"

"C'mon, Gaara, really. It's completely natural. Frankly, I'm proud of you. You missed all this kind of stuff growing up, and now you have to experience it late. You need to go out and have some fun, have a couple drinks, and then maybe you can talk to—"

"Kankuro, for the last time, I am not going out drinking with you."

So Gaara was talking with his brother, Kankuro. It seemed he was encouraging Gaara to… have fun? But Sakura couldn't understand how her name fit into the context of this conversation.

"Look, I get it… the choice is yours. But if you wait around and do nothing about it, it's only going to get worse. And sooner or later, you'll have missed your opportunity."

Sakura was extremely confused. What opportunity could Kankuro be referring to? As far as she herself was concerned, couldn't the only possibility be Gaara's opportunity to send her back to Konoha? She seethed at the thought. This conversation made no sense. I should never have trespassed! she thought angrily. As quickly and quietly as she could, Sakura darted on light feet away from the office. She felt traitorous and embarrassed and suddenly wanted to disappear back into her room, or to the bathhouse, or back to her apartment in Konoha—anywhere away from that horrible, confusing man.

In his office, however, said man wanted quite the opposite. Despite all the nonsense Kankuro had spouted within the last hour, including the part about where babies come from, he had enlightened Gaara to one important detail:

"Call it a crush, call it desire. You can call it whatever you want, man. But the truth of the matter is you like Haruno Sakura. You should talk to her; invite her to dinner or something. There's nothing wrong about that…"
Gaara had… feelings for Sakura. New and uncomfortable and difficult to understand feelings, but they were definitely there. It was such a simple thing, and yet so complicated at the same time. He had no idea how to act or how to respond. Instead, he had just sat and listened to Kankuro babble on, saying nothing consequential to encourage his older brother's nonsense.

Suddenly the hair on the back of Gaara's neck prickled. He felt another presence, a familiar one. Kankuro didn't seem to notice, but Gaara could definitely smell the sweet sent of vanilla creeping under the doorway. His stomach dropped. She was back…

She was close…

He rose to his feet and clenched his fists while his sand shuddered and spilled across the floor. Kankuro, surprised at his brother's sudden outburst, held up his hands in innocence. "Gaara," he began, "Look, no need to get angry. If you didn't want my advice, you could have just said so—"

Gaara shot him a silencing glare, forcing Kankuro to quiet. As soon as he stopped talking, he too felt the other presence. With a wide grin he whispered, "She's back, huh?" Before Gaara could stop him, Kankuro swept around and opened the door to the office.

"Hey, Sakura!"

Sakura froze in horror. They'd caught her! Oh, no… this was going to be horrible. Gaara would send her back to Konoha for sure. Tsunade would be pissed, not to mention disappointed in her for not handling the situation like she should have. This was her mission, and now she'd blown it.

"Hey, what's up? I haven't seen you in years!" Kankuro continued. Sheepishly, Sakura turned to face him with a wary smile. As with Temari, she'd never really known Kankuro, but here he was acting like they were good old buddies.

"Um, hello, Kankuro-san," she said. "You look…" Purple? "…Well."

Kankuro's grin widened. "You too! You look great!"

Sakura was still wary. She nodded politely. "Thank you." Her feet were itching to turn and walk away, but Kankuro stopped her once again.

"Hey your hair looks wet. Were you just at the bathhouse?"

No, actually, I just decided to dunk my head in a fish tank, she thought angrily. Why would he say something like that out loud, with Gaara in earshot? When she failed to respond to his question, Kankuro continued, "Well, I hope you had a good soak."

Now that last comment had to be pushing a boundary. Was Kankuro flirting with her? Or was that just his sense of humor? Regardless, it was her cue to leave the conversation. "I, um, have a report to write, so if you'll excuse me."

Kankuro continued to smile as if nothing odd had just occurred between them. He watched her disappear hurriedly down the corridor.

"Well, that was awkward, huh?" he said nonchalantly as he turned back to face his brother. The sight he beheld was terrifying. Gaara was fuming with anger, and his sand sat twitching and hovering around him, prepared to strike.

"Kankuro," Gaara whispered, "Get out. Now. Before I kill you."

Kankuro didn't need a second warning. He waved good-humoredly and hopped away as quickly as he could. Though he felt it was his duty as the annoying older brother to tease his lovesick little sibling, he made a mental note to never do it again. He preferred his body intact, thank you. He did, however, plan to have a long, interesting talk with Temari that night.

Gaara took slow, steady breaths to calm himself. Why would Kankuro do something like that? Because he's an idiot, he reminded himself. It was completely within Kankuro's character to embarrass Gaara like that, out-of-line though it may be. Gaara knew his brother enjoyed dancing along the thin line between disrespect of his Kazekage and playful joking with his socially-awkward little brother, and likewise Gaara sometimes didn't know whether to be angry or amused by it. This time, however, Kankuro had gone too far. If Sakura had not left when she did, Gaara might have snapped his brother's neck then and there.

Argh, Sakura! How much did she overhear? What was she thinking when Kankuro addressed her? Did she… know? Gaara felt the chakra begin to slowly recede, as a new, familiar feeling encroached upon his body. He was worried: worried about Sakura's reaction, worried about what she would say if he called her in. He felt it in his gut, the fluttering sickness choking his insides. She would think him childish and insolent. She had pushed to stay in Suna on a mission, nothing more. He was nothing to her but her superior; he was not Gaara, he was the Kazekage.

"Just as it should be," he muttered to himself. With a sigh, he sat back down. By now he was already set back in his paperwork nearly two hours.

A Kage's work is never finished.

Good, he thought. There was always more work to do. Gaara decided to delve himself into his work. He would no longer think of Haruno Sakura as anything more than what she was: the Leaf kunoichi, here to train his medical unit.

Thank you, as always. Reviews are appreciated.

Humbly yours,

Olly