AN: I'm still not totally happy with this, but I just need to post it and move on.

The first thing Sakura did when she arrived in the Hidden Sand Village, after she'd said goodbye to Shikamaru, was to buy some flowers for Lady Chiyo. Yes, she was here to see Kankuro, but she wasn't a lovestruck twelve-year-old anymore, she had learned hard lessons since then and knew that romantic love wasn't the be all and end all of life. It would be nice if it worked out, but she wasn't pinning all her hopes on it.

She took the flowers to the old lady's grave, respectfully offering them. She hadn't known Lady Chiyo long, but she had been the first person to treat Sakura as an equal in battle, to trust her enough to fight by her side even though they barely knew each other. That one battle had proved to Sakura what she was capable of, and that she could truly match it with the best shinobi in the village. She had after all been the first one to take down a member of the Akatsuki.

"Thank you, Lady Chiyo," she said, laying the flowers on the old woman's grave. "I hope I'm doing okay, I try to live my life in a way you'd be proud of."

She stood by the grave for a while, paying her respects, and thinking about that circle Iruka sensei had once spoken of.

"Sakura?"

She froze at the sound of his voice. What's he doing here?! I probably look a mess!

Sakura patted her hair and straightened her dress, and then with no other option, turned to face him. He was wearing his warpaint, but she knew what he looked like underneath, and her heart skipped beat.

"Kankuro, hi," she laughed nervously. "What are you doing here?"

Get a grip, girl!

"My parents," he said, holding up a small bunch of peonies.

"Oh," Sakura said, sobering quickly. She was lucky that she still had both her parents, but she knew that Kankuro had lost his mother when Gaara was born, and Orochimaru had killed his father back when they were all still genin. "I'll leave you to it."

"No, that's okay," he said, coming to stand beside her at Lady Chiyo's grave. "That was a pretty tough mission, huh?"

"Yeah…" she agreed.

"You saved my life back then, and Naruto saved Gaara. We owe the Leaf a lot. I guess my sister will have to do," he laughed nervously.

"Oh, so you've talked to Shikamaru?"

"Yeah, Gaara and I gave him our blessing."

"That's great," Sakura smiled.

I'm glad my friends are all finding their happiness.

"Hey, we're all having dinner tonight, the three of us and Shikamaru. You should come. Unless you have other plans?"

"No!"

He gave her a startled look and she blushed.

"I mean, no, I don't have any plans. I'd like that. Thanks."

They made the arrangements and then Sakura spent the rest of the day exploring the marketplace. She bought some handicrafts for her mother and a cute blanket for Naruto's baby.

I should bring something to dinner. Sake? Macaroons? Both.

She bought enough for the five of them, and then went to a bathhouse to get ready for the evening.

Dinner was at Kankuro's house. Sakura straightened her dress and knocked on the door. It was Temari who answered.

"Well," the blonde kunoichi said with a smirk. "Who do we have here?"

Sakura didn't know what to say, and suddenly felt silly for showing up at family dinner where she wasn't actually part of the family.

"Don't make Sakura stand outside, Temari," Kankuro complained, nudging his sister aside.

"Well how was I supposed to know she'd be invited to our family gathering?"

"Don't worry about Temari," Kankuro said, shooting his sister an annoyed look and stepping aside to invite Sakura in. "She just enjoys being contrary."

"I don't know what you mean," Temari dismissed, wandering off.

"I brought some things," Sakura said, holding out her offering.

"Great. Thanks," he accepted with a smile. Unlike earlier, he wasn't wearing his warpaint, and was ridiculously attractive without it.

She smiled back, nervous and excited all at once.

Following Kankuro to the living room, she saw Shikamaru was already here.

"Hi, Shikamaru." She didn't say anything about his possible engagement, because she wasn't sure if he'd actually asked Temari yet.

"Hey, Sakura. How was your day?"

"Good," she answered truthfully. "I did some shopping. The markets here are full of awesome stuff."

Kankuro brought some sake to the table and was pouring it when Gaara arrived.

Gaara had changed a lot since she'd first met him all those years ago. Though, thinking back on that very first meeting, when Kankuro had threatened Konohamaru, it was Gaara that played mediator, so maybe he'd been destined for diplomacy. Kankuro had changed too, she couldn't imagine him picking on someone weaker than himself now, and she hoped she had changed some as well, that she wasn't so selfish and narrow-minded now.

It's all thanks to Naruto, he makes us all be the best version of ourselves.

"Now that everyone is here," Temari said. "We have an announcement. Shikamaru finally asked me to marry him and I've agreed!"

She grinned and held out her hand to show them the ring. They all congratulated the couple, the boys fussing to a suitable level to appease their volatile sister.

"Finding the right one was such a drag…" Shikamaru complained.

Sakura poured more sake for everyone and they all drank to a long and harmonious life for the couple. Knowing Temari that's a long shot, but it's a nice thought. Sakura swallowed her drink.

Once they'd finished talking about the engagement, the conversation turned towards other subjects.

"How is Naruto Uzumaki?" Gaara asked.

Sakura and Shikamaru shared a look.

"Female…" Shikamaru offered.

"Believe it or not," Sakura elaborated. "Naruto used a transformation jutsu to make himself a woman. He's pregnant now with Neji's son."

None of the sand siblings knew what to say.

"Yeah," Shikamaru said. "It's pretty crazy."

"It's amazing though," Sakura said. "He's putting everything into it. And they're both so happy. He's due in a couple of months."

"I wouldn't expect anything less from the ninja who reshaped our world," Gaara acknowledged.

After they'd shared a few more stories and cups of sake, Shikamaru and Temari were the first to head off, followed shortly after by Gaara, which meant that Sakura found herself alone with Kankuro. He was so attractive, and she wanted him very much.

She had only ever confessed her feelings to someone once before, and that hadn't ended well. He's not Sasuke, he's a good man. Besides, you were twelve. This is different. Stop being a chicken!

"Where are you staying?" he asked. "I can walk with you, if you like…"

Do it, girl! Make your move.

"Actually, I thought I'd stay here..."

He stared at her.

"With you," she added, in case that wasn't clear. Afterwards she could never remember who moved first, but suddenly they were kissing, open-mouthed and hungry, hands frantically touching whatever they could reach.

He was big and strong, and even though she was just as strong, she let him take the lead. She had never been wanted by someone she wanted in return before, and it felt good. He picked her up and she wrapped herself around him, their mouths still connected, while he carried her the bedroom.

He laid her on the bed and climbed over her, kissing her again before he looked into her eyes and spoke.

"This is what you wanted, right?"

She curled her arms around his neck to keep him close.

"Why do you think I came to your village…"

He grinned at her, his ego boosted, and kissed her hard again.

She felt his hand on her thigh, pushing her skirt up, and then he was slipping her panties down. That alone made her skin tingle and her core throb, so that when he pressed a finger inside her she arched up to meet him.

"Yes! Yes, more!"

There was a flurry of clothes, and fabric ripping, until they were naked. Then he was on top of her again, pushing inside, filling her. It felt strange, and she was just starting to get used to it when he stopped moving.

What? That's it?

He rolled off her, and they lay on their backs, side by side, letting what had just happened sink in. When she'd imagined this it was slow and romantic, she hadn't expected it to feel so urgent, or to be over so quickly.

"That was…" she began, unable to find the right words.

"Yeah…" he said, as equally unsure.

He moved as though he might get up, but she couldn't let him leave this bed without making her feelings absolutely clear. She reached out and grabbed his arm.

"I didn't just come here for this," she said. "Sex, I mean. I like you, Kankuro and I want to be your girlfriend."

He gave her a surprised look.

"Even after that…?"

Back when she was a girl, she would have needed it to be perfect, but life had taught her that things rarely went to plan, and that perseverance was as admirable as any trait.

"It gives us a lot to improve on, and the best way to do that is to practice. Right?"

She offered him a smile, neither of them really knew what they were doing, but together they could figure it out. And that sounds like fun.

He watched her a moment longer, weighing her sincerity, then relaxed and smiled back.

"I'd like that."

"Me too," she said, reaching out, wanting to keep him close. He came to her and she wrapped him up. Sex was good (or had the potential to be), but having someone to hold was better. She breathed deep let his warmth soak into her. It's nice to finally not be alone.

AN: I actually wrote this before I watched the start of Boruto and found out Sasuke is a minute man. (Still can't believe they actually put that in canon.) Gosh, I dunno, maybe Sakura just has that effect on guys, she always was weirdly popular with them.