Sakura's POV

I wish I had a pen and paper to draw and pass the time.

The whole of Suna is your painting block.

I smiled.

Your fingers can dance in the sand of my garden, on the shores of our river, I'll even teach you Wind Style Jutsu and you can draw in the sky. I only want you to be happy.

I imagined a Suna where I belonged. Konoha didn't do much for me. Even Naruto left the village to train somewhere else. Why wouldn't I? I have nobody to go back to except Gaara. He is my river of life. I ran my fingers through my hair.

I wish this hotel had a hairdryer. I have to wash my hair.

You'll do it when you arrive here.

I can't let you see me like this.

I felt ashamed because the places I've been were very cold and poor. They didn't have any warm water, so I was afraid to have a bath in case I caught a cold and died. I want Gaara to remember me as pretty, clean and perfumed.

I don't care about that. If you're healthy, that's all I need. How long have you been waiting?

65 minutes.

Pull the curtains. Check for any notes from Yuki.

I stood up slowly. I was too tired and scared to be able to act fast. I stepped on tip-toes in fear Sasuke might hear me, even though it was impossible. His room was far from mine.

A note on the windowsill!

Read it to me.

"Come to the reception. Take what you have." Wouldn't it be better to jump out the window?

No, it's night. It will look like thieves are trying to get in and somebody will definitely sound the alarm. Sakura, let's set a password in case that Uchiha catches you.

Ok. My heart started racing. How about 'home'?

Yes. This is the good password. In case he catches you and forces you to tell me everything is fine, use this password, so I know how to act: 'lock'. I'll pretend everything is ok and make a plan to kill that worthless Uchiha and bring you back to me.

I'm counting on you.

God, please help me get through this!

I hadn't unpacked anything when I arrived, so I simply took all of my luggage and tried to carry it through the hallways and down the stairs silently. The receptionist saw me on the security camera and hurried to help me carry my stuff down the stairs. When we got there, I saw a man looking at me intensely. I knew he must be Yuki.

"Are you going, miss?" asked the receptionist.

"Yes. I am not coming back."

He glanced at the telephone on his desk and then looked back at me.

"That man I came here today with kidnapped me."

He stilled, eyes wide open. I don't know where I got the courage from, but I kept talking with calm and seriousness to make him understand the urgency.

"How can that be? He has just told me you are his fiancé."

"I am not. He's had an obsession with me for a while. He tried everything to get into my bed. He has been frightening me for days. He's planning to kill me. That's why he brought me far from home, far from anyone I know, to a foreign country, where I don't even understand the language."

He looked at me in disbelief. Yuki stepped in.

"She's telling the truth. She's with me."

"Here's my Id. See? I am not married to that man."

"Oh, my. I am sorry to hear this. Can I help you in any way?"

"Just don't tell him that I'm going. He'll kill me if he finds out."

"Of course. Your secret is safe with me. Let me help you carry the bags outside."

To my surprise, there was a tuktuk waiting in front of the hotel. Yuki and the receptionist loaded my things. Yuki helped me get into the tuktuk while the receptionist started talking to the driver in their own language.

"Why aren't we running on foot?" I whispered.

"Because it looks strange for people to go out at night in here. This country has banned any unnecessary departures at night. All stores are closed and everyone stays in their houses. Nobody wanders the streets at night in times of war."

"I see."

I rushed the driver to stop gossiping and start driving. As we started getting away from the hotel, my eyes were glued to the building, hoping to never see Sasuke again.

Gaara, I am coming home! I was so happy and relieved!

Perfect! That was the hardest part, getting away from him. Yuki will take you to a safe place, my dear. And we'll soon be reunited.

I can't wait!

Keep in touch with me the whole time. Tell me if you feel like you're being followed.

I will.

And don't fall asleep until you arrive here, please. Anything could happen if you do. Stay on guard. Yuki will take you to the hiding place where my ninja will give you the papers you need to leave the country tonight. I checked and there's a diplomatic train leaving in 2 hours. You have to catch it.

Yes, I will.

The tuktuk didn't miss any hole or stone on the ground. The carriage shook us restlessly. Soon, my muscles started to hurt from having to clench my muscles whenever there was a bump on the road. I didn't realise it, but I had a fever and an odd sensation of trembling on the inside. My brain zoomed out and before long, I felt as if I was watching the movie of my life from the backseat of a cinema. The tuktuk stopped. We got off. The driver looked at me happily and said:

"You can give me money to keep my mouth shut about your location."

Yuki waited to see what I'd do.

Give him the money. Your life is more important than money.

I gave him half the money I had in my purse. He counted them with pleasure.

"My mouth will remain closed."

Sakura, tell Yuki to hurry up. That driver is going to go back to the hotel to tell that Uchiha about your location.

Why would he do that? I have just given him money to...

He will ask for more money from the Uchiha. Go! You don't have much time.

Adrenaline rushed through my veins and I urged Yuki to run.

"You and your boyfriend...it must be good to be rich."

"What do you mean? I am not rich."

"Come on! You gave him 10 times more money than the trip was worth."

"I only did that because I didn't know how much the banknotes were worth. I bought some things from around here in yen, but the sellers always gave me the change in another currency. I looked at the banknotes and the only number printed on them was 0. I thought they're worth nothing."

He started laughing his heart out.

"Money worth zero!"

He kept repeating that to everyone even after I changed appearance. I didn't expect to take Yuki's form.

"Hey! The girl should get dressed like one of you. Why did you dress her like me?"

"You didn't think a true Sunan citizen would actually remain here. You're an outsider. Don't think we don't know your past."

"I won't let you leave without me. I'll sound the alarm and none of you will escape."

One of Gaara's ninja stood between Sakura and Yuki with a blade in his hand, ready to fight.

Gaara, I'm scared.

What happened?

Yuki-san is upset the team wants to leave him here. They're going to fight.

Yuki is my trusted man. I told somebody else to remain behind, not Yuki. He's not going to forgive me for this.

Poor Yuki-san. I am sorry I can't say anything. I am not in charge of your troops.

I'll punish them when they come back.

Please save Yuki-san as soon as possible.

Yuki liked fighting in the shadows, without honor, without rules. I could tell just by looking at him. Taking 5 ninja head-on wasn't his style. I could tell that he was uncomfortable. He took a step back and looked straight at me.

"After all I've done for him...he abandons me like a dog."

"Yuki-san, please don't talk like that. Gaara-kun will get you out of here."

"Tell him that my debt is paid. I don't owe him anything."

"Yuki-san..."

He was gone in the shadows like a cat. I feel very bad that a man who tried to save me was going to be sacrificed. My body felt hot.

I think I have a fever.

I am sorry.

It's not your fault, really. We're getting on the train now.

Good.

What do you think Yuki-san will do now?

Doesn't matter.

Gaara-kun, you're going to rescue him, aren't you?

Yes. I will send him all the necessary information my ANBU gathered in order to get out of there by himself. He is more than capable of doing so.

I am sorry you lost a trusted man because of me. Are you certain you won't regret saving me at his expense?

100%. Your life is the most precious to me. Had I been there, none of this would have happened.

What kept you from coming?

I'll tell you when you get here. Focus on the road. The train will take you 10 km away from Suna's Southern border. From there you'll have to run. That Uchiha could be following yo.

I'm scared.

I know. I can't help you more...

Don't apologize again, please.

I heard him sigh.

Just talk to me until I see your face at the gates. You are going to welcome me, aren't you?

Of course I am. You'll see me on the walls, above the village. I will watch your back. Run to my arms, my sweet girl.

I didn't have enough energy to giggle, but my Gaara's precious words made me lift the corners of my mouth.

ℬ

Notes: Cupcake is right, Sasuke is going to find out about Sakura's escape. We have so many traitors, that it is hard to know which one betrayed. Haha! There is a little bit of foreshadowing in this chapter. What do you think will happen to Yuki? What should Sakura do first when she arrives in Suna? I thought about letting her share the room with Temari. What do you think?

Thank you all very much for reading and leaving reviews. I tried my best to finish this chapter faster for you. I hope you enjoyed:D