Gaara kept moving on with the techniques. He followed an intensive training program: manipulating chakra, keeping a fixed amount of chakra throughout an entire battle, keeping chakra reserves for emergency fights. He left Sakura behind. Fortunately, she didn't like being lazy, so she tried her best to catch up with him in a short time. Every day after school she stopped by the library and borrowed scrolls from which she could practice all sorts of techniques, such as making clones, chakra control, substitution techniques, walking on tree trunks parallel to the ground, walking on water and so on. Gaara was used to overwork his body, but Sakura wasn't.

Sasuke hid behind buildings, among trees, on top of tall poles as he followed Sakura's every move. Sakura had no idea. He looked with his scrutinizing eyes and tried to understand this sudden wish to study hard by herself, why she was always alone and who she was talking to. In fact, this last question gave him headaches. She smiled out of the blue, stopped in her tracks and laughed for no apparent reason. Random words like 'silly' and 'no way' slipped her mouth when she thought nobody was around to hear. Sasuke stopped trying to talk to her because he knew it was pointless. So, he boiled down to watching over her from the shadows, like a true ninja.

Sakura was sitting on the shadow of a big tree with the scroll on her lap. She formed the seal with her hands, concentrated the chakra in her hands and blue light shone after many tries. Sakura's eyes were as big as onions when she succeeded the first time and the blue beams of light disappeared as fast as they appeared because she lost focus.

Gaara-kun! I did it! Can you believe this?

Yes! Well done! Keep up the good work!

Waaa! When did Gaara-kun manage to do this?

About two years ago, I think.

Oh. The disappointment in her voice was obvious.

Sakura, did you think it is easy to surpass me? Are you giving up so quickly?

No! She shouted both out loud and in her thoughts, standing up at the same time.

She startled Sasuke and he fell down from the tree right behind her. Sakura got even more scared than him and screamed again with her hands crossed over her chest as she turned around to see what had happened.

Sakura, what's going on? Is everything alright?

No. Sasuke appeared behind me all of a sudden.

Gaara's eyes narrowed.

How did he do that?

Sakura stared at Sasuke, who fell on his behind on the grass, then she looked up at where he fell from and noticed a few broken branches and 2 leaves which were about to fall in the middle of spring.

I think he fell from the tree.

"I think he fell from the tree."

She said it both out loud and to Gaara without realizing it.

"Stop it! It's very annoying." Sasuke said.

"What is?"

"Who are you talking to? I am right here!"

Sakura, I think Sasuke was spying on you.

"Were you spying on me?"

Sasuke blushed, got up on his feet very quickly and stuttered an answer.

"Of course not. In fact, you disturbed me when you chose to sit right here under the tree I had already climbed."

"What were you doing in the tree?"

Sakura, is he bothering you? You can leave anytime.

"It's my business. Who were you talking to?"

You don't owe him an explanation.

"You know what? My head hurts. I'll go study someplace else. Don't follow me again!"

Sakura grabbed her things and left the boy there speechless.

Gaara-kun, can you believe his guts? To question me after I discovered that he was the one who followed me in the first place.

Gaara could tell she was angry.

Sakura, when he sees us together, he'll understand there is no room for him.

The corners of her mouth lifted upwards.

Until then, I am sorry, but you will have to kick him on my behalf.

Sakura laughed her heart out.

Gaara-kun is so funny.

Gaara smiled, too. Although it wasn't a joke. He actually meant what he said.

What will you do if he keeps trying to get to you?

I'll bury my fist in his head!

Gaara laughed at her determination.

Very good!

That day held a special aspect. Something unexpected was about to happen. Sakura's mother asked her daughter to go to the market and buy tomatoes. As she was walking along the alley with the bag in her hand, talking happily with her friend, the voices around her became distant, her ears rang and black clouds ate her vision little by little until she could no longer see anything and she collapsed on the ground. Sasuke run to her and checked her pulse.

"She's alive."

He gathered her in his arms and brought her to the hospital. The sneaky boy tried to take off her sand bracelet, but he failed. He would have liked to analyze it and see what was special about it. How did Sakura gain its power?

Meanwhile, Gaara was fuming. He was talking to Sakura when she finally disappeared without a trace. He couldn't hear anything, not a sound, not a thought. It was as if she disappeared into thin air. The violent silence in his head scared him because he felt just as lonely as before. Why did Sakura leave him? She definitely got into trouble. He desperately called her by the name many times over and over again, but to no avail. Was she dead? No. Not Sakura. Did that Sasuke do anything to her? This thought made Gaara so angry, that he gritted his teeth and he threw a ball of sand with such speed, it tore down the wall of a house. The owner of the house got out to see who did the damage, but when she saw the boy's wild features, she evaporated from his sight.

SAKURAAA!

Nothing. Shukaku's voice intoxicated his mind. The monster used the boy's fear to make all efforts from the past years of keeping him in check go to waste. There was too much at stake for Gaara and he was aware of how much he had worked to prove his worth in the eyes of his father. Rasa hadn't tried to kill him in a while. The little boy made great efforts to calm down and think rational.

Sakura's been missing for only an hour. Maybe she just got a little sick.

Shukaku: Or maybe she's finally had it with you, human kid.

Shut up!

Shukaku kept laughing to try and provoke him.

I didn't do anything to upset her, so she didn't break our connection on her own free will. That Sasuke likes her, so he'd have no reason to hurt her.

No matter how much he detested the Uchiha boy, he had to admit the probability that he did something to the girl was slim to none.

Somebody else couldn't have hurt her because she has my sand. Wait! Sasuke couldn't have done it either because the sand already recognizes him as a threat since he tried to hold my Sakura's hand in the past. Maybe she fainted. I heard that it happens to girls, although in Suna I haven't seen any girl do that. Who knows? It's possible considering how sensitive and fragile Sakura is. I just hope she wakes up quickly. I don't know for how long I can be in control.

The kid frantically scratched a wooden table with his nails, his eyes lost focus and his mind wandered.

Yes, it's the only logical option. She passed out.

Sasuke waited in the salon with Sakura until her parents would come. He sat on the chair next to her bed. How did he not notice before how thin her wrists were, how shiny her hair was, how full her cheeks were? It felt like a spell that called him closer. He stood up in a trance and stepped towards the bed. His hand lifted to caress her temple along with the side of her face with the back of his fingers. He took a strand of hair between his fingers for a closer inspection. It was soft like wadding, but the color was ridiculous. 'Pink can't be a normal hair color. My mom had black hair.' He started the thought with an honest smile on his face, but ended it with his lips pressed into a straight line. The memory of his mom always saddened him.

At that moment, Sasuke heard the hurried steps of a rushed person in the hallway, he took 2 steps back, and Sakura's mom stormed into the room, slamming the door open. She went straight to the bed to touch her daughter's forehead. Her father came into the room next, followed by the doctor.

"Madam, there is nothing to be worried about. It's nothing serious."

"What happened to our little girl?" The dad asked.

"She used too much chakra and overworked herself. Her body couldn't take it, so she passed out. She should be up by morning. We should let her rest to recover fully."

Her mom caressed the girl's cheek and held her small hand with great care before she finally noticed the black haired boy who stood awkwardly in the corner without making a sound. She waited for an explanation which made Sasuke stand straight like an arrow. He gave her the report in an official manner, like she was his boss and he was just an employee.

"I was in the perimeter when I found her on the ground. I checked her pulse and brought her here."

Sakura's dad thought the boy must have felt overwhelmed judging by the cold answer he provided. Sakura's mom hugged him to show her gratitude, but he didn't move at all. He seemed embarrassed, so he made up an excuse to get out of there.

In the meantime, Gaara was drawing straight lines on a sheet of paper, just like prisoners were drawing in jail. The floor was flooded by those papers full of black stripes. He was trying to get rid of stress. His dad stormed into the room unannounced, as usual.

"I heard you wreak havoc in the village. Did you get a job as a demolition man?"

Gaara had his back to him and didn't say anything. What was there to be said?

"Look at me when I am talking to you! What's with this mess in your room? I'll call the woman to clean."

"No. I will clean by myself." The little one said as he got up from the chair and bent his back to gather all the papers before throwing them into the bin.

"Good. Don't create any more trouble." Rasa said while looking into the boy's eyes. Then, he asked with curiosity and a gentler tone: "What's happening to you?"

Gaara stopped everything he was doing to look his father in the eye when the reply to the question left his lips.

"I want to go to Konoha."

Like any father, Rasa was proud his son gives orders instead of asking. A man must impose respect, he mustn't let anyone step on him. The other part of Rasa knew he could use this occasion to find out who the person his son had sent a messenger bird to was and how he can profit from it. 'If I can find that person, I will manipulate him to be able to control Gaara more. My son didn't become so calm, kind and conscientious out of the blue. He even succeeded in keeping Shukaku under control. I need this person by my side.' Rasa thought as Gaara awaited an answer.

"Fine. We leave at dawn."

The timing was perfect because the current Kazekage had to leave on a diplomatic mission in Konoha, otherwise there was no way he could have gone without a good reason. He was the Kazekage.

Gaara was speechless. He didn't expect to achieve something when he asked the question. Rasa got out of the boy's room before he could recover from shock. Turquoise eyes stared into space before a grin made its way on his features.

I will finally see Sakura! Yey! Oh, wait. I don't know what happened to her. Never mind. It can't be serious. I will see Sakura, my flower!

He giggled and scared himself at the same time. Eww. I acted like a girl. Good thing Sakura didn't hear me. Gaara shook his head at his own actions and started packing his things. He should have gone to sleep that night, but the excitement for the trip and concern for his friend didn't let his eyelashes mingle to sleep. One hour before dawn, Sakura's frail voice called for him.

Gaara-kun?

Shock and happiness both made him stand up and stumble on his own feet in the process.

Sakura! Sakura! Are you feeling ok? What happened to you? He asked without breathing once.

Sakura woke up with a headache. She was rubbing her head with her palm before she tried to lift her upper body into a sitting position on the bed.

Gaara-kun, I think I am in hospital.

Why? Did anyone hit you? Gaara asked with the desire to kill someone.

No. The last thing I remember is that I was shopping for my mom and then everything turned black.

Right then, Sakura's mom entered the hospital room and hugged her precious child to the chest. Gaara could only be jealous of the affection she received.

I am happy you are ok. He told her in all honesty.

Her giggle instantly cheered him up.

See? I knew she wouldn't abandon me. Gaara scolded Shukaku with pride.

Shukaku: Hmm. Not this time. The monster puffed and huffed.

When Sakura arrived home later that day, her eyes met Sasuke's unexpectedly.

"What are you doing here?"

"Sakura! Is that any way to talk to someone who saved you?"

"Saved me?"

"Show some respect. This boy brought you to the hospital and waited there with you until we arrived. You should thank him properly."

"He helped me..." Sakura mumbled to herself in shock. She never expected Sasuke to save her.

It didn't please her, but her mother was right. She forced a smile and thanked him in a polite fashion:

"Please forgive me. Thank you very much for your help."

Sasuke wasn't an idiot. He knew she didn't want him there, so when her parents offered him to stay and eat together, he declined. 'Sakura probably wishes she was saved by the person she keeps talking to.' Sasuke thought.

Gaara-kun, I don't think you'll like what you are going to hear, but it is true. Sasuke saved me.

I see.

Are you upset?

Why would I be? It's not your fault and I wasn't there. If I should be upset with someone, that will be me. Thank God you are healthy. I felt so bad when you suddenly vanished. I didn't know what happened. I feared the worst.

Oh, I am sorry. I never meant to make you worry.

Anyway, something good came out of this.

What do you mean?

I told dad I want to come to Konoha and he agreed.

Sakura screamed so loud, Gaara thought she wanted to make him deaf.

That's great! Tell me when you'll be here. I have so much to prepare for you.

I'll be there in 3 days, maybe less if we move fast enough.

Perfect! Gaara-kun, I am so happy! We will finally see each other face to face, I will introduce you to Ino and to Naruto and...

I am sorry to disappoint, but I want to meet you first. You choose what we do in the rest.

Deal!

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Notes: I am sorry for the delay. Please leave reviews. It makes me happy to know your opinion.