Gaara's POV

"Let's go for a walk."

"Now? But it's dark outside."

"Would you rather us stay here, on the hall?"

"Why not?"

People are going to listen on our conversations if we stay here. I want out conversations to stay between me and you.

Sakura seemed uncomfortable. She tucked her hair behind her ear.

"Come on. Nothing will happen to you."

"It's not that…"

"You do trust me, right?"

"Of course I do."

"Then let's go!"

I took her hand in mine and pulled her along. I scratched my nose with my other hand. I looked back. Sakura's face was cherry red. Her hand started sweating. She tried to excuse herself, but I said I don't care about sweat. I wiped her palm between my hands. She smiled. I refused to let go of her.

"I am happy you are here. I have been waiting for this moment for ages!" I said as soon as we were out.

Sakura opened her eyes wide.

"You are finally here with me! I won't let you go back."

She smiled bright. She knew I would not force her to stay here against her will.

"Waa!" Sakura said.

I looked everywhere to see what had caught her eye.

"What? What is it?" I asked looking from side to side.

"The sky! The stars! Does Gaara-kun see this every night?"

I wrapped my right arm around her shoulders and pulled her closer to my chest, smiling. My face was sore from all the smiles and grins I've showed since Sakura arrived in Suna.

Sakura giggled. It made my heart turn into mush. My sand gathered at our feet to lift us up. I wanted to take her closer to the sky, to bathe in the beauty of the stars, but she suddenly clung to my clothes in desperation. I saw fear in her green eyes.

"What are you doing?"

I placed a hand on her lower back to calm her down.

"Don't worry. We can fly and…"

"No, I don't want to. I'm scared."

"Ok. No worries. We can do that some other time or not at all if you don't want to." My sand scattered and Sakura released a sigh of relief, even though she was still holding onto my shirt.

"I'm sorry." Sakura said.

She was about to cry. Oh, no! That was the last thing I wanted. I laughed out loud to surprise her and make her forget about sadness. She took a step back, looking at me.

"My little Sakura…"

"What?" She asked amused. "Tell me."

I kept laughing and Sakura grew more and more intrigued.

"Gaara-kun, please tell me. I also want to laugh." She pulled funny faces before she eventually started laughing too and the tension was gone.

I kissed the top of her head and she closed her eyes. Out of nowhere, she started tickling me under the armpits. I quickly pulled my hands to the side and turned away from her.

"What are you doing?"

"I am giving you a reason to laugh."

I laughed even harder. I think my brother and sister saw me from the window. I had to get out of there.

"You were laughing at me, weren't you?"

"No, I wasn't."

"Admit it."

"I can't because it is not true."

I caught both her wrists in my hands. Sakura didn't put up a fight, so I let her go.

We didn't do more than go for a walk because Sakura didn't want to enter any store. I felt her fear. It was as if she feared being among other people. I didn't want to push her. She held onto my hand tighter and stopped talking to look at the ground whenever another man came towards us from the opposite direction we were going. None of them was a threat, or else I would have sensed it. Sakura came closer to me when the man passed by us and she wouldn't relax before he was 10 meters behind us. I only squeezed her hand and assured her that I will always protect her.

"Give me all of your worries and I will carry them for you. I don't want you to stress yourself over anything."

"It's easier to say than do."

"I know. I know. Try and you'll see relying on me is not that bad."

She smiled. I knew she was trying her best. That Uchiha…I fear Sakura will have a heart attack if she ever sees him again. That's why I must erase his existence before he has the chance to lay eyes on her again.

…..

"Do you want to hear the latest gossip?" my older brother said.
"No, thank you."

"I think you're the only person who has never had the slightest curiosity about gossip."

Kankurou jumped from the chair he was sitting in and came closer to me. He patted my left shoulder roughly. I am lucky to have my sand protect me, otherwise I am sure it would have hurt.

"I know you are going to like this because it's about your favorite person, Uchiha Sasuke."

Cold shivers ran down my spine. The tips of my ears felt a slight electric shock.

"What about Uchiha?" I asked, turning my head to the left to look at Kankurou.

He moved away and kept on talking louder and louder. He was contempt.

"After Yuki left, you put me in charge of the spying division. I've sent a team to follow that rogue ninja. You're interested now, aren't you?"

I felt annoyed.

"Keep going."

"They found out Uchiha had run to the Sound Village. It seems that Orochimaru had sent his dogs to hunt him down. Uchiha ran to hide behind the Akatsuki's skirt."

"We should prepare for a siege then."

"What siege? Akatsuki threw him out the doors."

I let the information slowly sink in. However, Kankurou's intel came over me in waves.

"Really?"

"Yes. He thought he can just ask to be let in and they'd welcome him with opened arms. The idiot! I wonder why his brother, Itachi, let him leave without a fight. When the Uchiha left, he swore to take revenge on you, on Orochimaru, basically on everyone. Some people simply can't accept they are the reason why their lives take a bad turn. He's got nowhere to go to now. Konoha won't take him back. Everyone in the ninja world found out what he's done. He's not to be trusted by anyone. He's going to be hunted down like a mad dog."

I hate the Uchiha and I won't show him any mercy after what he tried to do to Sakura. But…I can't help but sympathize. I could have ended up like him had Sakura not been in my life since early on. I also didn't have anyone. I was just as lonely as he is. Is it really his fault that he ended up like this? He didn't have anyone to ease his pain like Sakura eased mine. As bad as my life was, I am sure it was better than his. I can't be happy about this empty walking vessel that's waiting to be broken into thousands of shards. And then I remember my Sakura, the way she cried and feared for her life under the Uchiha's wing. No matter how much I understand his pain, I can't let him live. Sakura will always be in danger as long as he is alive. That man is no longer a boy. He is responsible for his rotten mind and cruel actions.

"We have to get our hands on him."

"How do you plan on doing that?"

While I was thinking of an answer, my brother said:

"Let's use Sakura as bait."

"No. Never."

"I don't mean the actual Sakura."

My brother is so cryptic, that he gives me headaches when he comes up with an idea.

"We'll have someone dress like her. We'll spread word that she's leaving back to Konoha. Uchiha will come running into the trap as his greedy nature blinds him. We can have some of our men protect the fake Sakura while our special troops will shoot tranquilizers into his neck. We'll collect his unconscious body and bring it back to Suna. From then on, he is all yours."

I nodded.

"We should start preparations while Uchiha is still a ball of rage so he won't have a clear head to spot the trap."

"Yes. I'll get on to it."

My brother is smart. How come I haven't thought of that?

…..

Sakura's POV

I was getting ready to go out with Gaara. I am so upset that I don't have any nice clothes to wear. All of my cute dresses are in Konoha.

"Temari-san, can I borrow one of your dresses?"

"You want to look pretty for my little brother, don't you?" she smirked.

I blushed and turned with my back to her to hide my embarrassment.

"What's the problem with that?"

"None at all." Temari started looking through her drawers. "I don't really wear dresses, but I have some kimonos. Do you want to wear one?"

I looked back at Temari.

"I am not as graceful as Temari-san. I am afraid I will embarrass myself in fancy clothes."

"Oh…the only dress I have is this one."

"Black…I am sorry, but I only wear black at funerals."

"I see. Try on a kimono. Green matches your eyes. I am sure Gaara will love you."

I blushed and accepted her help. Temari told me to sit down at the table before she started doing my hair. I was having fun. I think Temari is honest and she always says what's on her mind, unlike Ino who says one thing, but means another. Temari's eyes catch me writing something on a piece of paper.

"What's that?"

I answer without a bit of shame or fear:

"I am trying to remember the list of names for my future kids with Gaara-kun."

Temari laughed a little. I happily hummed my favorite song. The brush stopped combing my hair abruptly.

"What do you mean by 'remember'?"

"I've already made a list of names at home, in Konoha."

"When have you started looking for names?"

Temari continued combing my pink hair.

"Ever since I was 10."

"That's cute. Does my brother know?"

"Not yet. I don't want to scare him. Please don't tell him anything."

"Sorry, can't make any promises."

I turned around in the chair.

"Please, Temari-san, don't tell Gaara-kun."

"Fine, I won't."

"Thank you. By the way, does Temari-san have a favorite name?"

"For boys or for girls?"

"Both."

"I haven't thought of girls' names because I hope to give birth to a boy first. I'll tell you, but you have to promise not to use it, understood?"

"Of course. I promise I won't."

"I like the name Shikadai."

"Shikadai. Shika-dai. Shika…It sounds a lot like Shikamaru."

Temari playfully pulled my hair back. I laughed and screamed.

"Ok. Ok. It will be our secret. Temari-san is in love."

"Shut up."

I giggled. So not only I am in love.

...

Notes: I am happy my previous chapter made you laugh. I hope this one will cheer you up, too. Dear cupcake, you'll see what you've been waiting for in the next 2 or 3 chapters. Thank you all very much for your patience. I am looking forward to reading your comments on this chapter.