Blossom in the Wind

Chapter 16: The Light of Truth…..

Ok, hey I'm back….. Don't kill me! School is such a hassle sometimes. Please forgive me for not updating so soon. I have been so busy with school and personal reasons, but now that I am here and my other stories are ready and redone somewhat, I hope that will make up for my lateness and all. So, without further ado, I present to you, the next chapter in my most anticipated story I have ever written.(Sorry again for the theatrical. My friend told me to say that so that you guys would forgive me more so I won't get bombed or whatever your imaginations can come up with.)

Gaara's Point of View…..

Gaara stared out the window, wanting so badly to just drop this whole waiting for the Akatsuki to come and present their evidence and go find Sakura. He didn't trust any of the other gangs that were here, he had his reasons though. Even if everyone thought that he was delusional and was just imaging things, he was always on his guard when it came to these crafty bastards.

He looked down at his tea that one of the servants gave him. It was herbal and still had the leaf in it. Perhaps to preserve the flavor or keep the taste of it in check. He didn't care. He just wanted this meeting to be adjourn for today. He had to know if Sakura was alright, if she got to her room alright.

He had never been this nervous before. He felt this need to stay by her after the incident at her apartment and in the park. He felt a squeezing of his veins tighten around his very being inside of him. He had become anxious almost and a bit concerned about her well being. He had never been so nervous in his life.

Not even the time when Temari was hit by a giant piece of debris, causing her to go into a coma for four months, with Ino always telling him and Kankuro that she might not make it. He was worried for her but not like this. It felt like that feeling exploded when it came to Sakura and her well being. He was now very confused if that is how he felt, then why didn't he feel that way when Temari was close to death or when Kankuro was close to losing his arm and was going to be put on the sidelines while he went off alone. Why didn't he have this feeling for his own family?

He sighed as he brought the small cup to his lips and sipped it silently, letting the steam hot liquid flow down his throat. It soothed him for a few seconds, before the same feeling began to resurface, churning his insides and having his stomach turn upside down. He hated feeling nervous. It made him sick inside, feeling like he was useless when he wasn't.

He slammed his cup down, cracking the sides of it. Gaara grinned his teeth and sneered at his now broken cup. "Damn it!" He whispered silently. Rising away from the window, he felt his anger rise as he felt a familiar chakra, one he wished was not around him right now. He turned around to see a long red headed woman smile at him.

"It's nice to see you again, Gaara. You have grown so much. Tell me, how have you been?" She asked as she placed her slender fingers upon his shoulder and began to walk around him, dragging her finger across the back of his blades and neck. He growled, not wanting to have her near him right now.

"I would advise you to remove your hands from me, Mei. I have told you before that I am not interested in a ten year difference relationship. And I have made it perfectly clear that what you are doing is really starting to piss me off, so back off." Gaara said as Mei smiled even more. He hated whatever she was thinking. He seriously didn't need this right now. Just when he thought she was going let her hand move south, he heard a gentle voice call his name.

"Gaara, what are you doing?" His eyes widened with what he saw. Sakura, looking at him as if he had just slapped her and Temari in shocked and angry at the same time. Gaara looked at Mei then at Sakura and then at where Mei's hand was and he instantly pushed it away, in turn shoving Mei away.

"Sakura, I….." He started but he couldn't finish, after turning around and seeing that she was gone. No. He thought as he followed after her. She had to know that what she saw was not real and was just a weird situation. He followed her chakra out into the hall, near her things. She didn't go to her room. Why?

She had her face in her hands, crying terribly. He felt sick again. Which made him even more worse. "Sakura," He said, seeing her lift her mascara covered face to his. She looked like she left her make up on when she went to take a steam bath. "What do you want, Gaara? Wouldn't you rather be in there with your bimbo and be screwing the life out of her?" She said, looking over to see Temari wink at her and nod.

Gaara was horrified that she would even think that he would even… Well, he couldn't blame her. After seeing what happened, he should of expected it. "No, Sakura. It's not like that. It's completely weird situation. I would never…. I would not even think….." He stopped when he looked at her, seeing that her tears began to dry up. He was shocked, but smiled to see that she had gotten better at her acting. She was able to fool him in this kind of situation like this.

"You would never what?" She asked. He bent over and kissed her sweetly. As he pulled away, she smiled up at him.

"I can not think of anyone I want to be with, than you right now. Especially when you are being sneaky and getting me away from everybody." He said, smiling at her as she wiped her fake tears away. She smiled at him as she picked up her things and kissed his cheek.

"I knew you wouldn't go for that bimbo. She is too much of a preppy school girl. I don't think you like school girls." She said as she placed her book in his hands. He smiled as she picked up her other things and looked back at him.

"I heard that they have a garden in the side wing. Almost as big as central park. Want to go check it out?" She asked. Gaara smiled again. Grabbing her hand and followed her to the garden, not suspecting a certain short dark haired girl sneak around after them, smiling to herself. She couldn't resist following the red head after he basically blown up at Mei and almost crushed the blue haired woman back in the meeting room. She just couldn't resist.

Though she did not sense the rooted figure against the wall sink back in and vanish without a trace…..

Sakura's Point of View…

She was blown away to see that the garden was everything that the servants said that it was. Complete fields filled with wild flowers and trees that she thought would never stop growing. She released Gaara's hand and dropped her things as she ran through the tall grass. The feel of the grass brushing against her skin felt magnificent. The coolness it delivered to her sleek skin.

It sent tiny pricks of joy to her senses, besides Gaara touching her in such a gentle ways. She spun around, stopping underneath a pine tree, feeling the cool of the shade it provided for her. She always loved parks. It's where her father used to take her to read to her when she was little. Now, she would always try to get Gaara to come with her to the park, which wasn't that hard since he liked going to the park or any place that was quiet and read.

She sighed, sensing him come closer, placing her things beside the tree and wrapping his arms around her. She breathed him in as he buried his face to her neck. She giggled when she felt his tongue glide over her sensitive skin. She could feel him grin against her skin, knowing full well that this was the easiest way to have her give in, but he stopped. She looked over at him, enjoying the complete pleasure he was giving her.

"What's wrong?" She asked, feeling his chakra rise up quickly. Something or someone must be here, watching them.

"Don't be alarmed. We have an uninvited guests. And she seems interested in us and he is wanted to see what we are going to do." He whispered to her. She played her best calm face she could make and looked him in the eye.

"What do you want us to do?" She asked, watching him eye the walls and the other side of the pond.

"We sit down and I read you your book until they call us back and I don't care if they yell at me for being with one of my fellow gang member's. They can shove it where the sun don't shine." Gaara said. She giggled at him. He could be quite funny when he was irritated. How his face would become all distorted and be creased with frown lines and his eyes becoming serious.

She grabbed his hand and pulled him to the tree, sitting down, waiting for him to position himself before she could rest her head on his chest. She watched as he relaxed, well sort of, and grabbed her book and began to read from where she left off.

Gaara's Point of View…..

She closed her eyes, listening to the sound of his voice was just so soothing to her. She could never be more at peace than hearing his voice. As she relaxed against him, while he began to describe the stage set for the next play for Christine dea being the page boy and the notes sent to the owners and sneaking around the stage, seeing that if she was still alright. He paused for a moment, looking down at her. He smiled and felt himself being content in the way her face was when she was relaxed, especially when he was the cause of her relaxation.

It was only an hour that they were out there and he still sensed their presence. Gaara growled inwardly. He couldn't relax with then here. There was no way in hell that he was going let Sakura out of his sight. He knew they would have to return soon and continue the meeting, but this time, she was going to come with him. He didn't care what the damn Predecessor had to say about it. The last time he left her alone, she got kidnapped.

He shook her a little, knowing very well that they couldn't stay here for a long while, though he wished they could. He had grown used to leaning against a tree and having her lay on his chest. He had grown to being with her. He felt content and actually happy with her. He didn't feel so alone when she was in his arms. He even noticed that he, himself, began to change because of her. He smiled as she blinked at the field multiple times.

He chuckled to himself as she blinked up at him, she must have had an enjoyable nap if she was waking up like this. She yawned silently, Gaara chuckled softly this time, seeing that she did enjoy her small nap and she looked like she wanted to go back to sleep. He brought her face close to his and kissed her nose. He grinned at hearing her groan.

"Five more minutes, please. I was having a peaceful dream." She groaned out, burying her face back into his chest.

Gaara sighed and kissed her eye lids. "Come on. We need to get going. They haven't left yet and I got a feeling that they won't and they are either here for me or you or both of us, but I'm not going to let you go to your room all by yourself. So, you're coming to the meeting with me." He said silently. He could feel her concern rise at what he said. He kissed her forehead and stood up.

"Well, you did sneak into the first half of the meeting and now you get to sit through the second half and then you can go to your room and then you can do whatever you want." He said, offering his hand to her. He smiled when she grabbed it and as he raised her up to him. He could feel her press against him just a little to drive him insane enough to want to go back on what he told her and just go straight to the room, but he smirked at her.

"Didn't I tell you that I didn't want to do that right now and I know you want to go to bed, but for right now you can't. I f you want to, during the meeting you can sleep underneath the table or maybe in my lap? Your choice because I can't leave the meeting or Naruto until this thing is over." Gaara said as she sighed against him and nodded against his chest.

"Ok, but I want that one part when you said I could sleep in your lap, I would like that." She said as he grinned down at her.

"Of course you do." He said, sensing one of the servants near by. He signaled him to come to Gaara and told him to take her things to his room and do not remove them until she came with him and got them personally. He bowed and left. Gaara sighed, he could still sense the two little birds watching them. He growled when he could see her in one of the trees near them. Her really short hair wasn't hard to miss with him. She was one of Onoxi's body guards. He remembered her from the last one. She was less annoying and more to herself and protecting the old man than sticking her nose in other peoples business.

Sakura's Point of View….

She couldn't believe where she was right now. Sitting next to Naruto, with Gaara standing in between them and Kakashi chuckling at what happened earlier on. When they got back, the Predecessor gave him heel for going to see her, but Gaara countered him and told him that she was in a critical state of depression and sorrow and he had to comfort her and that was some of the truth. He did comfort her, but it was all just an act to get him away from them so that she could talk to him, which worked. In the end, Naruto spoke for them, stating that the Akatsuki were targeting her and she needed to be with Gaara for protection because she trusted him the most when it came to her safety being the first priority. The Predecessor gave in and allowed her to come and watch the meeting. For this one time, he would over look it, but if Gaara insisted again, then he would draw the line and send her back to her room.

Sakura could tell that Gaara wasn't happy about that but, would find a way to keep her safe and near him at the same time. Sakura tried telling him before the meeting began that she had the vial of sand he gave her, but he shook his head and said, "That won't be enough if there are more than three of them and they are all bigger than you." She had to give him that. She wasn't much of an experienced fighter, not like Gaara or Naruto or even Kakashi, but she had the healing skills of the highest doctor in the city. They had to give her some credit. But, she couldn't argue with him wanting to protect her when there were so many experienced fighters around them and he had only gone over the basics with her before they came here.

Sakura sighed as everyone began to return to their seats. Sakura felt the red head woman glare at her as she took her seat, but felt it disappear when she saw the look Gaara was giving her. Sakura then turned her attention to the Predecessor, who grimaced at her as he opened the book before him again and marked something down in it.

Soon, the whole room became quiet as the Predecessor spoke. "Alright, before the break, the Akatsuki were asked to show proof that they were in fact not out to look for the Ancient Beasts. Do you have your proof, Lord Pein?" He asked looking over at him in a questionable tone.

Pein nodded. Sakura did not like where this was going. "Yes, I do. I have proof that in fact we are only here to establish ourselves and become a part of the main gang family heads, but I believe a certain group of kids tried to prevent us from recruiting anyone for our family to fill up and leave." He said. Sakura glared at him. She wanted to yell at him for the night she was kidnapped and was forced to draw out Gaara as his weakness, but she saw the look Gaara gave her and she remained silent.

She looked over to the Raikage as his face creased to a look of anger and frustration. "So, that is all the proof you have of your real reason of being here? To establish yourself and your gang in another city?" He yelled at the spiked man. Sakura could feel her nervousness spike up at his voice. It wasn't exactly pleasant but it wasn't exactly bearable either and the way it boomed around the room, frightened her to think what kind of strength he must have in his chakra.

As if sensing her distress, she felt Gaara kneel down to her and whispered to her softly. "Don't worry. He's just really mad that his brother might be in danger. Even so, I won't let him hurt you." He said and then kissed her cheek lightly. She nodded and relaxed herself, trying to run the comforting words he just whispered to her in her head.

Focusing back on Pein, he looked almost unaffected by the Raikage's accusations toward him. Sakura was almost surprised to fid him calm and cool with the Raikage yelling at him. She just wished that his body guards weren't the same. She looked over at Gaara, seeing him listen to Naruto say something and then nodding slowly.

"I would like to point out that not only are they trying to establish themselves in an already claimed territory, but they are causing more troubles for all the family heads and bring the government into this kind of mess. We know our rules and one of them is to stay clear of the government and don't draw so much attention to ourselves so nothing bad happens, but they have not followed that rule and have practically blown it out of proportion. Even I have the sense to not draw attention to myself." Naruto said, addressing everyone in front of him.

Sakura then looked over at Pein and for the first time, seeing him sneer at Naruto. She almost gasped at the sight. Pein was actually showing some anger. She looked to Gaara, who was already surrounding the bottom of her chair with sand. He was getting ready for something.

She looked at the Raikage, as he continued to sneer at Pein. "I agree with Naruto. If they so wished to be part of the family head, they should have established themselves in their city. Not in some else's. I vote for them to be banished from the main cities and cursed for eternity." He said, looking at Naruto, giving him a curt nod.

That was one vote for the Akatsuki to be voted out and leave forever. Sakura looked over at the old man and the woman. What was their decision going to be? She was becoming anxious almost to hear their replies.

Gaara's Point of View…

Gaara felt that this meeting would never end. For hours, they spent arguing back and forth. One claiming that they were here for this purpose and then they had proof to prove only some of it wrong, but then the votes would tip more and more in their favor. This thing might end earlier than the others he had been to.

He looked over at Sakura to see her almost dozing off. She was lucky that it was ten and she'll be allowed to sleep soon enough. He could tell she needed it. It had been a long tiring day. Having to sit through all this talking back and forth and having keep her guard up all the time now. She wasn't used to it, but she will soon, when he teaches her more and trains her in her ability. Sure she could crack the earth in half, but she had to learn how lengthen that strength and power for a long duration or she would be finished before the fight even started.

He sighed as he looked at the clock. Already ten and they were still on this business with the government deal thing. He watched as the Predecessor sighed and closed his book. "We will stop here for today and continue tomorrow." And with that, he picked up his book and left. Gaara wasted no time picking Sakura up, cradling her in his arms and making his way to the door. He only stopped outside in hallway, when he heard Naruto call out to him. He looked at the tired blonde and smiled. He would never change. Always wanting to get things done quickly and loudly at that.

"Do you know where your room is?" He asked. Gaara rolled his eyes as he pointed down the hall and up the stairs. Naruto smiled and gave him a thumbs up before departing and giving him a goodnight wave. Gaara sighed again as he made his way to his room, minding where he went with his woman in his arms. He liked the sound of that. His woman. It gave him a sense of pride and a little bit of possessiveness in his inner demon.

As he climbed the many stairs to the third floor, he sighed as he realized that his room was right down the hall this time. They must have moved it down because of the many gangs being here. As he made it to his door, he shifted Sakura in his arms just a little so that the reaching for the doorknob wouldn't be too hard to reach.

When he opened it he sighed again to find that he had the same kind of room as always. A king sized bed in the center of the room, a balcony, a large walk in bathroom and a TV with two side tables at each side of the bed. He crossed over to the right side of the bed and placed Sakura gently down, underneath the cover, making sure that she was comfortable, before leaving her to doze off even more as he made his way to the bathroom and get ready for bed.

Ok, I hope this makes up for my tardiness and I hope you guys enjoyed it. Please read and review. I don't own any of these characters just the plot. Ok see ya!