Sakura's mom took her to school and brought her back home every day, just like she promised. Sakura held on tightly to her mom's hand while she worriedly looked around.

Sakura, I can feel your fear.

Huh? Sakura asked in embarrassment.

Just look around and try to memorize any detail of anyone who looks dangerous. In case they do something to you, I will know what they look like and I will come to find you. Think about it as ninja training.

Gaara, what a good idea!

A few days later, Sakura managed to fill Gaara's head with people's descriptions. Even if he had never been to Konoha before, he felt like he already knew everyone in Konoha. They were so many, that Sakura probably described the whole village to him. Gaara laughed to himself. On the other hand, he managed to find out one of Sakura's qualities: she was extraordinary at memorizing information.

Sakura, I need to train now.

Oh, Gaara-kun started training even before he became a genin? Wow, amazing!

The boy felt proud to be praised.

Yes, I have to become strong. I need to learn to control the monster inside me.

I understand. Good luck! I won't bother you.

Call me if it's urgent.

Yes, I will.

The thought that he works hard to be able to protect Sakura in the future, made him more focused, more serious and more attentive. His dad trained him without mercy. Rasa attacked his son with the intent to kill him, forcing Gaara to defend himself. There was no trace of emotions in Rasa's eyes. If the village didn't need him, Rasa would kill Gaara on the spot. It was in his best interest that his kids secured his position as the Kazekage and he told them directly. Temari cried at that moment. Kankurou tried to comfort her, but she got up from the table and left. Gaara didn't feel anything. He stopped feeling anything towards his family years before. The young boy followed his interest when he trained. His only purpose in life was to be next to Sakura. She was the only one who needed him. Rasa noticed his youngest son was more determined ever since that messenger bird disappeared. It was wonderful that Gaara wanted to be stronger, but he had to make sure Gaara stuck to his side.

"Whomever you talk to, remember they will never be next to you, like your family."

Gaara stood face to face with his dad and he was stunned. Golden sand put him down because he was too stunned to see through the attack.

"You have to help your family. Strangers only want to take advantage of you. They will steal your power and you won't be of use to anyone."

Gaara clenched his fists and gritted his teeth in response. How dares he?

Gaara-kun, are you alright?

Sakura asked because his negative feelings reached to her and she became worried.

Rasa's sand squeezed Gaara hard, threatening to break his bones.

"I am the only one you live for, do you understand?"

Gaara-kun, is everything alright? Gaara-kun.

SHUT UP! "SHUT UP!" Gaara's hard voice could be heard in both the inside and the outside world.

Gaara took his dad by surprise. It was the first time he was in open rebellion against him. Gaara's thoughts darkened more, until he felt like he doesn't have air. Sakura felt the same. Rasa knew just by looking at his son's face that he is losing the battle with Shukaku. If Shukaku surfaced, who knew how many people he would kill? Thus, Rasa changed tactic.

"To prove I am not your enemy, I will allow you to stay with your brothers tonight."

Gaara didn't know whether that was good or bad. His brothers were probably scared of him. What if his dad only wanted to hurt him more?

"You'll understand one day that I am not you enemy." Rasa resignedly said as he pulled his sand back and walked away.

Sakura was too afraid to say anything, so she shut up. Gaara didn't know if that was his fear or Sakura's. He was very close to let the monster loose. He sighed deeply and went back home with empty eyes. His father was long gone by the time Gaara arrived. Only when he walked into his room, he remembered he had yelled at Sakura and he was scared that maybe she broke their connection, so he fearfully asked:

Sakura? He was holding a ball that he moved from one hand to the other in impatience.

Yes? She replied unsteadily.

Gaara exhaled trying to calm down.

Gaara-kun, is everything alright? I felt fire that wrapped around my neck to squeeze and then it felt as if you were gone.

Don't worry. I am alright. His voice was a little stiff. He considered himself a man, so he didn't like to be pitied by others.

I am sorry if I bothered you during training.

You apologize too often. Gaara said a bit more relaxed.

Sakura was at a loss for words, so she shut up again.

I am the one who is sorry for yelling at you. Forgive me. My dad was playing with my feelings again. He said you will never truly be on my side.

Sakura felt the uncertainty behind his words. He was waiting for her to disapprove.

Gaara-kun, you are my best friend. Your dad doesn't know what he's saying. You and I will continue to talk forever.

The red-haired boy sighed in relief. He knew Sakura told the truth. Rasa lied. He likes making my life bitter. So much of a father. He changed to topic to a more cheerful one.

Sakura-chan, dad will let me stay with my brother and sister tonight.

That's great! I am very happy for you!

Yes. I don't think I can talk to you much tonight. I hope you won't be upset. I will make it up to you tomorrow.

Don't worry. I know how much you wanted to play with your siblings. Gaara-kun, if you need advice, you can count on me. I will go to bed late tonight.

Mhm, thank you!

Gaara smiled happily in his room while playing with the ball in his hands.

After dinner, Gaara and his siblings gathered in the living room. The boys were sitting on the floor. There were toys sprawled all over the floor. Kankurou was very happy to play with his little brother.

"Can you make food?" Kankurou asked.

Gaara nodded and moved his hand to create yakitori chicken in the air.

"Waa! Can you make a cake?"

"Yes." A cake with 3 layers and chocolate glaze appeared above Kankurou's head in no time.

Gaara was very happy to know Kankurou wasn't afraid of him. While they were sitting on the carpet, Kankurou showed Gaara his puppets and what he could do with them. He created all kinds of scenarios of attack. He made Gaara create sand enemies which Kankurou's puppets destroyed. Gaara wasn't pleased.

"Why do I always have to be the enemy?" Poor Gaara was sick of being looked at as if he was always the enemy. He wanted to be the hero for once. So Kankurou let him. They played like that for hours, until Gaara realised his sister was sitting alone on the couch with her hands clasped together on her knees. She didn't say anything, but it didn't look like she was afraid either. Gaara knew she was pretty brave in general. It wasn't like her to be this quiet, though. He looked into her eyes. They looked so much like Sakura's eyes. Gaara sat on the floor with his hands clutching his knees, thinking of what to say to her. Kankurou glanced at the couch and back to his brother before directing his eyes to the couch again.

"Temari, come here. Stay with us."

Gaara thought it was so easy for Kankurou to say those words. They came naturally to him. How odd. It was very difficult for Gaara to find the right words that wouldn't scare her off, words that didn't make him seem authoritative, but not a loser either. Temari stood up from the couch and kneeled between her 2 brothers. She blinked often because she was stressed. She didn't know how to start a conversation with Gaara. Rasa let them spend so little time together, that she didn't know anything about him. What should she ask? What should they play?

Tell her she's pretty. Sakura said out of the blue.

"You're pretty." Gaara said without hesitation.

His sentence shocked the 3 of them. Kankurou and Temari looked at each other in amazement. She blushed and then smiled as she grabbed a toy and answered:

"Thank you."

Gaara was embarrassed at first because he thought that was his thought and he voiced it without question. But after he saw his sister's reaction, he thanked Sakura for helping him break the ice. He would have felt sorry for Temari if she sat there on the couch all by herself because he knew how she must have felt: as if she doesn't belong.

Hours later, Kankurou and Temari went back to their rooms. It was almost morning. Gaara had his head on the desk and started crying tears of happiness. Sakura was already fast asleep, but she felt his emotions through her dream, making her smile unconsciously.

For the next 3 days, Gaara woke up unexpectedly to start crying and thank God for giving him the chance to play with his siblings. It had been his wish for a long time. He only saw his siblings in pictures until now.

At school, Sasuke began noticing Sakura didn't even look at him lately. She ignored him completely and he wondered why, but not because he had any feelings for her because he didn't. It was important for him to know that the world wants to stay around him even if Sasuke rejected them, because that meant they acknowledge his power and strength. Sasuke existed for that purpose only: to gain power. If Sakura was no longer interested in him, then others would inevitably follow her and all of his badass attitude would be worth nothing. 'I will end up an idiot like Naruto.' Sasuke thought.

Sasuke decided to greet Sakura for the first time in his life. She didn't hear him because she was talking to Gaara in her mind.

"Oi, I have just said 'Hello'. Why didn't you reply?" Sasuke asked angrily. He couldn't stand being ignored.

"Eh?"

What is it, Sakura?

"Sorry, Sasuke-kun. I didn't hear you. Hello."

Gaara-kun, Sasuke is upset because I didn't greet him back, but I was talking to you and I really didn't hear him.

You weren't upset with him when he ignored you all this time. He should man up and stop complaining.

Gaara-kun...

Will you eat lunch with me? Gaara interrupted her. He didn't like talking about Sasuke.

Yes, sure. She quickly replied, forgetting about her dispute with Sasuke.

Only at lunch, Sasuke sneaked behind her and she was startled. She was sitting on grass in the yard, under the tree. Sasuke was very arrogant with his hands in his pockets as he stood tall behind her.

"Eat with me." Sasuke said.

"No, thank you."

'Did she just say no to me?' Sasuke thought as he couldn't recover from shock. He realised somebody was watching from the bushes and decided to leave in a puff of smoke before he embarrassed himself even more.

What happened? I can tell you are angry.

This Sasuke. He is acting weird. He came to tell me to eat with him. He didn't even ask. He ordered me like I am some kind of dog. Hmpf!

Sakura puffed her nose in annoyance. Gaara frowned. Why did this Sasuke suddenly have an interest in Sakura? Something didn't smell right.

I am glad you chose to stay with me.

Of course.

Does this boy tease you often? I thought he doesn't talk to you.

Well, he hasn't talked to me until now. I don't know what's gotten into him. Who knows what he is thinking...

Right... It made Gaara fall in his thoughts.

Ino jumped out of the bushes to get closer to Sakura.

Gaara-kun, have you spoken to your brother and sister yet? What does your sister say?

Sakura must really like my sister if she asks so much about her.

I was thinking...do you think she would like to be my friend?

I don't know, to be honest. I haven't seen her or Kankurou since that day.

I see. Maybe Gaara-kun can ask his father to allow him to see them again?

I don't think so because...

But Sakura didn't hear the whole sentence because Ino startled her, just like Sasuke.

"Sakura!"

"AAAA! What's wrong with everyone today?" Sakura asked in irritation.

Is it Sasuke again? Gaara asked angrily.

No. Sorry, it's Ino.

"What do you want, Ino?"

"Why do you treat Sasuke bad?"

"I didn't do that."

"Do you hide some secret only you and he knows?"

"What are you talking about? I simply don't want to stay with him. He's been rejecting me until now and suddenly he expects me to do whatever he says. No way!"

Ino was shocked by Sakura's attitude. Could it be that Sakura didn't like Sasuke anymore?

"You're acting weird."

"I am not the one who hides behind bushes." Sakura laughed and she could hear Gaara laugh, too. Since she thought of what she should reply to Ino, Gaara was able to hear all of her replies. How sweet! Now I and Gaara have a secret.

"Shut up! I wasn't hiding."

"Whatever. Just leave me alone."

"Hmpf, fine." Ino's fists trembled at her sides as she walked away from her former friend.

Sorry, Gaara-kun. It looks like today is the 'annoying people's day'. They keep on bothering me.

I think it's funny. I am happy you talk to me. You know, I believe you can make up with Ino.

Do you really think so?

Yes, now that you don't like Sasuke anymore, you have no reason to fight. Give your best to regain her friendship. I will do the same with my brother and sister.

Gaara-kun, that's a great idea!

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