Gaara's POV
You're always like this.
You know this word 'always' annoys me the most, yet you still use it. Whenever you don't get your way, you say I always do this and that…
You never let me do anything.
Another word that gets on my nerves: never. You only did whatever you wanted ever since you arrived in Suna.
Wel…that's…
What? Isn't it true? Did I ever forbid you to do anything? Don't you go wherever you like? Don't you eat anything you want? Did I impose anything on you?
You're changing the topic.
No, I am not. It's the same topic we've started from.
Sakura sighed.
You made me look weak.
Everyone already knows you are weak.
This I didn't want to tell her, but my mind went ahead of me. I immediately felt bad and I wish I could take my words back.
We were having dinner at home, all of us. Kankurou and Temari were talking happily to each other. Sakura was biting her lip. I reached for her knee under the table, but she pulled away from me, so I proceeded to rub my thigh.
Nobody questions your medical skills. You've been trained by the best medic ninja in Konoha. I appreciate your value in that regard.
Yeah, I am sure you do.
I've looked over your ninja book. You have successfully completed 40 D rank missions, 10 C rank and 1 B rank that is quite questionable.
Why are you bringing this up? And that Brank mission was actually an S rank, although I didn't know at the time. And its success didn't depend on me alone.
I am just stating facts. Your ninja skills are average. You mostly stepped aside and let your teammates or captain do the work. I need you to comprehend matters from my point of view.
Isn't that what you always want?
I am responsible for you. I've been so ever since I took you in my village. If anything were to happen to you, your village would turn it into a reason to start a war. A foreign ninja can't simply die or become injured in another country and expect people to brush it off. What would your parents say if they found out I let the Akatsuki hurt you? Don't you agree that they'll come looking for revenge?
Sakura, you are the most important person to me. You are to be my wife. I couldn't live with myself if…
Sakura took off her bracelet. I was upset. Why doesn't she understand me? What is so difficult to understand? I can't have her hurt. I will be blamed for it. How can a man who can't protect his wife-to-be call himself Kazekage? My honor and reputation are at stake, not hers. Nobody expects anything from her.
Sakura's POV
I can't listen to the same tape over and over again. I took the bracelet off and refused to look at him. He placed his hand on top of mine on the table. I can't pull away because that would damage his honor. I didn't want to embarrass him in front of his brother and sister, so I waited patiently for him to take his hand back and then I excuse myself and went to my room.
Gaara's POV
I want to make amends with Sakura before the war starts. I hate to see her upset. I waited for everyone to go to their rooms and later that night, I gently knocked on Sakura's door. It was meant to be heard by her ears only. I don't want others peeking into my business.
"Sakura?" I asked after I knocker for the second time.
"What is it?" she retorted from behind the door.
Why isn't she opening the door?
"Can I talk to you, please?"
"You are talking to me right now."
"Can I open the door, please?"
I was whispering because I didn't want anyone else to hear. Sakura opened the door after what seemed like forever.
"I am sorry I made you feel sad. I care for you deeply."
"I know. I have seen it."
I could feel her sarcasm.
"I hope we can move past this."
It's been three days since Sakura and I fought and she's still upset. I don't understand why she refuses to let it go. I won't put her at risk.
…..
I instructed everyone to wear light brown clothes and tunics as well as cover their heads with like color scarves to confuse the enemy. At my command, transparent nets were set between every two neighboring buildings to use as catapults for our explosive puppets. Our underground tunnels are used as C4 storage that Sakura cooked. My men divided the C4 bars into equal sacks that we don't keep only in one place. If anybody wants to load more puppets, they don't have to travel all the way to the base and get the C4.
"Captain, the city gates have been abandoned, as you commanded." A soldier reported to me.
"Good. Have you evacuated the civilians?"
"Yes, sir."
"Good. You may leave."
"Captain" another soldier called for my attention before the previous one left.
"Yes. What is it?"
"Kankurou-sama instructed me to inform you that everyone is stationed according to your orders."
"Good. The scout?"
"No news yet."
But he didn't get to finish his sentence as another dusty man burst into my office unceremoniously. He was the scout that I had sent on the field.
"What is it?"
"The enemy…I saw…2 men" He was out of breath. I could barely make sense of his words.
"Somebody bring this man a glass of water." I shouted.
"No need, captain. Please excuse me. A man in his 40s, black haired, hunch back, along with a blonde 20-year-old man, both wearing black and red robes and triangle hats with Akatsuki distinctive rings and clouds, are approaching from the Southern border on foot."
"On foot? How long until they reach the gates?"
"An hour at most. I ran here as fast as I could."
Water finally arrived and the scout rank it to the last drop, tapping the bottom of the glass while still in the air.
"You may take your leave." I said with a straight face, hands clasped behind my back.
Sakura's POV
Last night we slept in tents in Gaara's office. Nobody went to check on the crabs. Who knows for how long they'll stay alone?! Might be days or weeks. I want to make sure they have food and water. The scout said it will take and hour before Akatsuki reach the gates. It is plenty of time to go home and come back. I tried to sneak out unnoticed while Gaara was talking to his men, but Temari saw me.
"Where are you going?"
"To the bathroom. I'll be back quick."
"Ok."
I got out of the tower in a hurry and I ran all the way back home. Nothing is going to happen, so Gaara should just chill. It is so strange to find the house empty. It's almost a relief. I don't have to be quiet because no one hears me. I wonder what Gaara keeps in his room. I haven't been in his room before. Hihihihi! I felt like an intruder. Sweet crime! Such an interesting experience!
"There you were!" I said to one of the crabs I almost stepped on upon entering the room.
I took it in my arms and looked around. There was no carpet on the hard stone floor. I saw a wardrobe to my left and I went ahead to open one of its doors. Books! I opened the other door and surprise: more books! Where does he keep his clothes? I check behind me and I see a desk and a chair, all furniture in the color brown. There was no bed. Sand nin prefer to sleep on futons on the hard floor to cool off since temperatures are so high in Suna. The crab was trying to pinch my ear, so I scolded it. It looked at me confused. I opened the drawers of the desk one by one hoping to discover a secret. Plans! More plans! City plans-boring. More plans and drawings of pipes, some underground constructions…Doesn't he have anything interesting? Underneath a stack of papers, I found a crumpled note. Uuuu! I bet it's a love note.
I hope you get to read this letter before you get killed. If Sasori doesn't kill you, don't worry. I will.
What? Kill Gaara-kun? Who wrote this?
A cold chill ran down my spine. I thought nothing of it because I was in shock. The crabs became alarmed in my arms and around me, but I didn't pay attention.
Your ticket to Hell…it's going to be your girlfriend's head. Mine. My head. Why? I don't care if you tell Sakura. She won't believe you. She's so stupid! Why? Save her from my arms.
Sasuke wrote this. I covered my mouth with my hand as I felt like puking. That soulless boy has frightened me so much that I still feel like he's here. By the time I got to the end of that letter, tears fell freely down my cheeks and an explosion woke me up. Before I could tell what was happening, chaos ran loose. Why do I like as if I am being choked? I want to run to the tower, where my soon-to-be-husband is, but as soon as I walk 2-3 steps, I halt. Someone else is in the building. Another explosion burst outside, followed closely by 3 echoes. Yells and screams came towards me from afar as I was standing frozen in front of Gaara's door to his bedroom, still inside the room. I know this chakra. It's…
Gaara's POV
"Temari, where is Sakura?"
"She said she'll go to the bathroom."
She found quite the time to do that. The enemy is almost here. We should prepare. Actually, we ought to wait for the enemy fully prepared. Where did Sakura go?
"Gaara-sama, the Southern gate has exploded."
"Gaara-sama, the Northern gate is bits and pieces."
"What? At the same time? How many enemies?"
"Only 2 that we saw."
"Why are they attacking from two sides? It's illogical. Send the right wing of our division along with my brother to the Northern gate. That way, we'll have our back covered."
"Yes, sir."
"Right away, sir."
"Which one attacked us from the South?"
"His description matched Deidara. He was walking on a giant white bird, 4 times bigger than a man."
"We'll take him on. Let the fireworks loose as soon as he soars."
"Yes, sir."
"Temari, go find Sakura."
"No. I am not leaving your side."
"It's an order."
"Wait a second."
"Temari!"
"Yes, sir."
Why do people always find the most inappropriate moments to disagree with me? An order is an order.
I flew outside the window on a giant biscuit. There's no reason to stay in the building as it is a big target and it will be taken down soon. All of my men exited the tower and only after I covered their retreat, did I make 20 shadow clones of myself to fly in 20 different directions to confuse the enemy while my true self hid among the grains of sand. The enemy was a white bird carrying a man dressed in distinctive clothes. Black, red and white are easy to spot in the sky. Deidara can't risk attacking from the ground. He's outnumbered 5000 to 1. He'd be dead before laying his eyes on me. We are all camouflaged in the beautiful sand colors that have made my childhood. My wind users create gusts of wind in order to blind the enemy by ever-so-moving particles of gold dust. I can take these 2 out! I won't end up dead like the other Jinchuuriki!
Gaara-kun!
Sakura! Where are you?
Home. Something's wrong! I think Sasuke is here.
...
Notes: I was afraid the previous chapter was a little dull, but reading your comments brightened my sky. Seeing the economical and political side is also perceived as interesting. I am happy I didn't disappoint.
Sorry, but Sakura didn't fight much in the anime either. She seems soft hearted, good-willed and careless to me, even from the show. I think a fighting, tough Sakura would diminish Gaara's character. I intended to make him fierce and her sensitive, from the beginning.
Who would want Gaara for president in their country?
To eviev, Sakura has powers in the show. She has the power to magically heal wounds in a designated time span, thanks to her intensive training to become a medic. Her hands glow green and the injury heals itself. You can compare it to Rapunzel's powers of magically turning back time to give youth to her stepmother through her blonde hair.
Thank you all for reading, leaving reviews and always staying with me. I am forever grateful! I spologise for the delay on this chapter. I way away on vacation. I hope everyone has a nice summer. See you again on the next chapter!