Are you hiding again?

A little.

What do you mean 'a little'? he smiled.

I am not in the mood for jokes.

Yes. You know, I don't understand why you don't tell them face to face. That's what I'd do if I were you.

I can't do that. I am not you. You have your sand shield, so nothing can hurt you.

Except for your words.

Sakura smiled, though a little tired.

I wish I had your power.

Trust me, you don't. It has only caused me trouble. The only good thing this power has given me is that I met you.

Sakura giggled.

You don't know how happy I am to be able to make you laugh. I honestly don't know why you're afraid. Your father has never hit you, right?

It's true, but...

But what?

I don't know...I feel so...restless whenever I feel like he is coming home. I start stressing myself and look for things to do in the house, even if everything is already done. Yesterday I took 6 baths because whenever I heard noise from the garden, I feared dad was coming home and I ran to the bathroom.

But why? He won't do anything to you.

Sakura sighed: I don't want to be part of their fights anymore. Dad always talks bad about mother and mother...you don't even want to know how she talks about him...On the day my mother left him, she wanted us to sell the silver coins we had in the house to make money for paying the rent in a new place, far from dad. But I think dad found out and he called her back home. He hit her in the jaw with his fist because he said he couldn't find a pair of socks and so we left.

Sakura felt a knot in her stomach. Gaara felt equally bad.

That's not good at all. A man must never hit a woman.

Mebuki: "Sakura! Sakura, where are you?"

Sakura hugged her knees to her chest and made herself even smaller in that corner where she was hiding.

Is that your mom calling you?

Yes. Ugh! When I stay with my dad, she always comes when he is at work, jumps over the fence and tries to convince the landlord to talk to my dad about getting her back.

Gaara couldn't hold in his laughter: How strange!

Stop laughing!

Sorry.

Mebuki: "Come on, get out from wherever you're hiding. You need to come with me."

Are you going?

No.

Will you stay with your dad?

Yes.

I thought he stresses you out.

I honestly don't know which one of them stresses me more. Gaara...

Yes?

I wish you were here. You are the only one who treats me nice.

Gaara felt flattered and he got all flustered. He didn't know what more to say, even though he tried his hardest to say something, so that Sakura wouldn't feel bad.

Mebuki: "Here you are! Why don't you answer when I call you?"

Sakura sighed, but didn't say anything. Mebuki took Sakura by the upper arm and helped her stand up.

Mebuki: "I cooked some food that I know your father likes a lot and left it on the cooker. If he asks, tell him you made it."

Sakura: "Mom, why don't you talk to him instead of hiding like this?"

Mebuki: "I have nothing to say to that donkey."

Sakura: "Then why did you cook for him?"

Mebuki: "So he sees what he's lost. Who is going to make him food like I do? Who is going to clean his clothes? And take care of his house like I did? Don't you do anything around the house! Let him clean and cook by himself. Do you hear me?"

Sakura: "Yes, mother."

But Sakura cooked, as much as she knew at her 13 years old and took care of her father's house the best she could. When Mebuki asked her who she likes to stay with more, Sakura replied:

"With you."

When Kizashi asked his daughter the same question, Sakura answered the same:

"With you."

She didn't want to upset either of them. If only they hadn't bragged about their daughter preferring one or the other, everything would have been perfect. Then, when all three of them were face-to-face again, Kizashi asked the same question. Sakura took her dad's side because she was more scared that he would beat her than she feared her mother.

Kizashi: "See? She wants to stay with me. Come on, get out of here!" he said with his right arm around Sakura's shoulders.

Sakura couldn't look her mother in the eye. Of course, Mebuki beat her for this humiliation the next time Sakura came to stay with her.

Mebuki: "Go to your father if you love him that much!"

Sakura cried and begged her not to be upset. Sakura couldn't wrap her mind around Mebuki's behavior. One day she said Kizashi is the worst man alive, and the next day she cried for him, saying he is her one and true love and that she had never loved another man. The situation was much too complicated and Sakura's parents way too irrational for Gaara to understand. He couldn't bear to hear Sakura cry or sob. He couldn't comprehend why the people who were supposed to protect Sakura beat her on every occasion.

You were right. You should have had my sand armor. If I could, I would give it to you right now. It breaks my heart to hear you cry.

I am sorry I make you sad with my problems.

Don't say that. Your problems are my problems.

But you never tell me your problems. I shouldn't burden you.

Sakura, I can handle anything. I am not a little boy anymore. I am a man now. I got a lot stronger since the last time I saw you. I told you; nothing can touch me. He took a deep breath. My Sakura, I promise you one day I will come and take you from there. I won't let anyone lay a hand on you again. You feel safe with me, I hope.

Yes.

Don't you have any more missions? I think it would do you good to get out of that place for a while.

That idiot, Naruto, complained to Hokage-sama about her only giving us easy missions and he refuses to take any mission lower than B-rank, so now we're waiting.

Gaara started laughing.

Father said we are going to make a trip to Konoha in 3 months. He wants to renew the peace terms. Hold on until I arrive.

The promise of a new meeting cheered her up instantly and a thought crossed her mind before she had time to stop it: I can't wait to hold you in my arms! She blushed when she realised Gaara heard her and changed the topic.

When Gaara was to come to her, he would buy her a bouquet of flowers, not a big one though. And not because he didn't have money, but he was saving for his wedding.

Luck knocked on Sakura's door the next week, in the form of a new mission. The Hokage had mercy on the poor team 7 and decided to give them a B-rank mission considering how strong Kakashi was. Sakura knew Gaara had been in many B-rank missions and came back unharmed. He was now taking part in S-rank missions, but this mission meant a lot to Sakura since it was her first of this kind. They were supposed to spy on a runaway jounin who was hiding in the Land of Waterfalls and collect data about him.

It was such a relief to leave the village behind! The mission couldn't be too dangerous since it was about spying and not physical fight with a much more powerful man. Sakura was relieved because she could count on her sensei to protect them. There was no risk of her getting beaten by anyone, so Sakura felt very happy.

Gaara was glad to hear her giggle again. Her sweet voice brought him to life every time. Sakura had just taken a hot bath at the inn where team 7 was staying for the night. Kakashi-sensei paid for 3 rooms. Sasuke and Naruto shared a room, Kakashi slept in his own room, so Sakura had a room to herself. Finally! No annoying parents to burst into her room unannounced with all kinds of requests: "Come iron my shirt.", "Take out the trash." or "Come and wash the floor. I dropped the pot and there's food all over the tiles."

She got out of the steaming bath tub, she let the water go down the pipes, she put on a white robe a little big for her considering it belonged to the inn, but it was ok. At least it felt soft on her skin. Sakura moved in front of the mirror and took her hair brush. She was brushing her hair while humming a song her mother used to sing to her when she was a baby.

Gaara lied on the bed, looking at the ceiling and imagined Sakura brushing her hair in his room. He imagined her pink locks flowing smoothly on her shoulders, until they reached the middle of her back. He imagined Sakura's slim hand delicately taking the brush to caress the pink strings of that violin; he imagined her pretty white face reflected in his mirror, her catlike green eyes, her lips. He liked her lips the most. He was looking at the ceiling and sighed like a boy in love.

Gaara-kun?

His cheeks reddened when he heard the suffix added to his name. The way she whispered his name made him feel guilty, like a thief that was caught red-handed. Sakura smiled triumphantly. Those innocent and honest states of Gaara's made Sakura feel brave and in control.

Y-yes, Sakura?

Do you think I would look better with long hair?

Well...hmm...I think you are beautiful regardless of your hair length.

Earlier you imagined me with long hair. Would you like me more like that?

I honestly don't know why I imagined you with long hair. Both my mother and sister have short hair.

Sakura giggled.

I will let it grow for you.

Gaara grinned, showing all of his teeth in the darkness of his room, where it was safe to be himself. He stood on his behind, on the bed, with his knees bent and arms loosely hanging between them. He raised his left hand and combed his red hair once before awkwardly scratching the back of his head.

You know, I'd like...

The scary sound of a big explosion frightened Sakura and made her scream from the top of her lungs. She dropped the hair brush. Both of her hands held onto the front part of her robe and she got out of the room in a hurry to see what had happened. Gaara was also scared for her.

What happened? Are you alright?

Gaara, Kakashi-sensei told me to stay here. I hear noise from fighting coming from the other side of the inn, where Naruto and Sasuke are staying. I'll go check what's going on.

Don't! Stay there! Your sensei has just told you to stay in place for a reason. It's too dangerous to get involved. Can you see anything?

Sakura's eyes increased in size and she fearfully reported back to Gaara everything she saw. All the other people were desperately running in all directions.

It can't be! It's Itachi!

Uchiha Itachi? What is he doing there?

I don't know. He is grabbing Naruto by the collar. I think he wants to kill him.

Gaara's heart stopped for a second. He considered Naruto his friend. He felt stressed because he wished he was there to save Naruto just like Naruto saved his life before.

Tell me everything you see. His voice became authoritative.

Sasuke is on the other end of the hallway. Frightening white thunders glow from his left hand. I think he wants to save Naruto! He is now running to his big brother. Sakura started crying. How cruel! Itachi slammed Sasuke on the opposite wall, like he is a rag doll! Sasuke's jutsu didn't have any effect on him. Poor Sasuke! He's covered in blood. He is now trying to stand up. Oh no! He is trying to hit Itachi again! Gaara, he's going to die!

Gaara felt like he was sitting on thorns, not because he cared about that Uchiha's life, but he was afraid for Sakura. He didn't want her to get hurt.

Don't stop!

Kakashi-sensei managed to save Sasuke in time, otherwise Itachi would have strangled him to death. I don't understand. What is Akatsuki doing here?

They want the Jinchuuriki, meaning Naruto.

Why?

To get a hold of the 9 tailed beast. Last week, 2-tails was killed by the Akatsuki.

Oh no! Wait! Does this mean they will come after you, too?

Sakura started crying again, fearing the worst. If she loses Gaara, too, what will she do? Gaara hadn't thought of that up until that moment, but now that he considered the possibility of being hunted down by the Akatsuki, he wasn't afraid at all.

Don't worry. Nobody can touch me, remember? I am far from weak. I will kill anyone who tries to stand between me and you. Stop crying, my dear. They weren't even capable of taking Naruto and I am much stronger than he is.

Gaara-kun, please don't leave me!

I won't. Don't worry. Are they still fighting?

No. Itachi and that companion of his with shark face and big fish sword retreated. Kakashi is taking Sasuke off of the floor. I'll go see if they need anything.

Okay.

ℬ

Notes: I think Gaara and Sakura will meet in the next chapter. I know I said Sasuke will play a major role in this chapter, but I didn't have time to write a longer chapter, so he will have his moments in the upcoming chapter. As Gaara's life gets easier and happier, Sakura's life becomes lonelier and sadder. Please share your opinion about this chapter, like always. Thank you very much for reading!