Sakura Blossoms in Sand 6
I would like to thank all of my readers and add a double thanks to those who reviewed.
Also, This chapter really does dive off in another direction than the manga does, just to let you know, so I do really change what happened after Gaara's rescue.
Sorry if Gaara is a bit OOC in this chapter. I really don't want him to be, because I love psycho Gaara but he keeps on changing on me, the sand bastard.
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Shadow of Archon I – thanks a lot for telling me about the misspelled name.
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Katterree Fengari – Yeah, Thanks. I don't really have great grammar skills.
ShadowDragonWingsGozarunoda – Your welcome. Does Bow. Writing surely relieves the stress of finals for me. Hehe. Now where is that cookie? -?
Beadlety – its ok. It must have been really late at night, but this makes me feel a lot better. You had me double guessing myself for a while there. I actually went to like three web sites just to check how accurate my information was.
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When Sakura finally walked out of the hospital, after a day of healing, she found that the sun had already set. Looking up to the stars, Sakura could tell that is must have been about eleven at night from the placement of the full moon high in the sky.
Walking out into the village, Sakura found herself feeling a slight bit fearful from the deathly quite atmosphere surrounding her. The street lamps were dull, and spaced out so there were always long shadowy areas before the light of the next one would brighten the street.
It was as if the city of Suna died at night. Not that she could blame them. Sunagakure really was a tough environment to live in.
It only rained an average of two inches a year, something Sakura found quite amazing. How they could ever survive on just that much still eluded her.
But it wasn't just that Suna was extremely dry that caused for its rough atmosphere. The temperature in the day ranged from ninety to one hundred and twenty degrees on average while the nights would plummet down into the teens.
Subconsciously grabbing her white medic coat, Sakura pulled the thin material tight over her body, hoping to warm herself up just a little bit more. Scurrying down the dusty road, Sakura looked up, seeing the Kazekage's tower in the distance. With a smile, she continued on.
Sakura hadn't moved five feet when she felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand straight up on end.
"Your out awfully late", growled a deep voice into her ear, its hot breathe misting out into view.
"AHHH!" Sakura yelled, jumping forward, away from her offender. Reaching for a kunai hidden on her thigh, Sakura twisted around to see the face of the creep behind her. Only, when she saw who it was, did Sakura relax; recognition kicking into her adrenaline induced mind.
Black trench coat draped over his form, standing completely relaxed with his hands in his pockets was Gaara, his usual mask gone, instead replaced with a small smirk.
'Does he have to look so damn smug about himself', inner Sakura yelled.
Sakura pulled herself together, straitening herself out while giving Gaara the best death glare she could muster. From the raise of his lips, her attempts of intimidating him were only thought of as amusement.
Too bad it was Gaara, or she would have been able to let out some steam by smacking him upside the head.
Instead, she stalked up to him, dealing with her problems by hissing out, "Don't sneak up on me!"
Gaara's smirk only widened at her, a sort of predatory glow appearing in his eyes as he drifted past the kunoichi, sauntering his way towards his tower.
'What is up with him? He acted so normal this morning!' Sakura wondered, loudly, in her mind before chasing after the red head.
Catching up to him, Sakura found his face devoid of any emotion, his mask set back into place. They walked in complete silence, save for the rustle of sand beneath their feet.
Sakura wasn't the type who liked silence, and so she decided to liven up the little walk.
"Its been awhile, hasn't it Gaara-san. I do believe that the last I saw of you, save this morning, was one year ago...?"
The red head, staring straight ahead, barley nodded his head; showing that he was listening.
'Jeez. He just goes from one side of the emotion scale to the other'.
With a frown, Sakura sighed, letting her mind drift away from the main street of Suna to memory lane.
It had truly been a long time since they had seen each other. Gaara's last visit to Konoha had been a short one and Sakura, being the workaholic she is, never had a chance to see him. It had made her a bit sad to tell the truth.
Sure, when she first met Gaara, he was a psychopathic twelve-year-old with a thirst for her teammates blood, but he had changed after his battle with Naruto.
She was able to realize this after she had been put on the mission to rescue him from the clutches of the Akatsuki. They were fifteen and two years had surly changed them all.
When she arrived at Suna, hearing of Kankuro's ailment from Sasori's poison, Sakura was caught off guard by the shinobi of sand. Sakura had heard of Gaara abusive past through Naruto, and knowing that, had maybe, even a little, made her understand the silent insomniac. As she looked around at the ninjas and citizens of the village of Sand, all Sakura saw was both the sadness, and undying loyalty they all held for him. It was amazing and Sakura found herself absently wondering what had called for the transformation, and more importantly, how all this trust had affected Gaara himself.
When Gaara was finally found, his corpse was all that was left. Sakura felt her chest tighten as she looked over at Naruto, crying over the loss of a dear friend, one of his important people. That was when Chiyo-baa-sama spoke up. Meeting up with the Naruto had change the old lady, as she decided, for once, to help her village instead of leaving it in fates hands. She gave life to Gaara, bringing him back for the good of the future of her village. Naruto had that affect on people; the affect to turn their hearts back to the path of the light, to the path of a good ninja and better friend.
Brought back to the living, Gaara found himself in the presence of the many people who cared for him. The Suna shinobi who trusted him with their lives, his siblings, the Konoha ninja's from his youth, and Naruto all watched and celebrated, for the first time, as he got up onto his feet. Even with Chiyo, dead from giving her life to save Gaara, Sakura felt her heart warm and the look of devotion and relief that washed over everyone's faces. She especially watched Gaara, as the undertones of happiness found its way into his eyes.
Still weak, Gaara had to be carried back to Suna. Kankuro gladly took up that duty, throwing his little brother over his shoulder while he led the little entourage of Suna shinobi back to the village. Gaara might not have been happy, glowering the whole way back, but they did make good time.
Returned to Suna, Gaara was immediately taken to the hospital. The citizens of Suna lined the streets as they let their leader through, making sure that he got the attention he needed as fast as he could. Gaara on the other hand was not very happy.
Once in the confines of his own room, Gaara attempted a drastic escape, planning on going straight back to work. It took Sakura's strength, Kankuro's knowledge of his little bro, and Naruto's stamina to keep him in bed.
That was when Sakura decided to appoint herself the duty of bringing Gaara the vitamins he was to take for the next few weeks. His condition after being brought back was less than desirable. He needed a lot of nutrition and rest to get back to full health. But then again, he had died.
The Konoha ninja's had been planning to leave right away, but because of Gaara's stubborn nature, Sakura felt that she should stay to make sure he followed his medication correctly. It seemed that he was just as much of a hard head as Naruto was and Sakura had the feeling that none of the Suna medics would know how to handle their hotheaded leader.
When Sakura informed the others of her decision, Naruto decided that he would stay with her while the others left. They needed to inform Tsunade of the current status of Sand, and really, the others weren't needed now that Gaara was back, safe in his hometown.
Sakura was happy that Naruto had decided to stay. She had found out just how much he meant to her when he left to train with Jiraiya for two years. Now that he was back, Sakura was determined to get to know him, the way she had refused to years before.
With smiles on their faces, Sakura and Naruto waved to their comrades as they left back to leaf. The rest of the day was spent in a sort of festival as everyone in Suna celebrated the return of their Kazekage and mourned the loss of an elder.
It was late when Sakura found her way to Gaara's room. Most of the other patients had already gone to sleep and the hospital was much more quiet than she ever thought a hospital could be. Sakura had almost open the door when she heard two familiar voices on the other side
"What's wrong? Really?" Sakura heard the concerned whisper of Naruto from the other side.
Sakura realized that maybe they were having a deep conversation and she shouldn't interrupted, but the curiosity of her massive mind left her body standing rigid in front of the door.
A murmur came from the other side, distorted by the thick sandy walls. Patience not being one of her virtues, Sakura quietly opened the door, just a bit, so she could peek in.
Inside, bathed in the moonlight, Sakura found Gaara and Naruto, the two, allied Jinchuuriki. Naruto was sitting cross-legged at the foot of Gaara's hospital bed, staring at his friend in a sort of wonder, as if waiting for him to elaborate on whatever was said earlier.
Gaara was sitting at the head of the bed, only half under the white linen sheets as he rested his back against the wall. Wearing a black shirt, which was given to him only after he threatening some of the staff trying to fit him into their hospital 'gowns', Gaara sat with his head facing away from Naruto. He held a very somber expression, staring out the window into the large harvest moon hanging perfectly in his vision. The dark circles around his eyes looked even bigger in the dark as two aqua orbs pierced the black of the night.
Opening his mouth, Gaara paused for a second before answering Naruto's intense gaze.
"What I mean is that I feel as if I had failed Suna somehow".
Sakura's eyes widen as she stared at the red head in front of her. His expression had become almost painful as he said this, slowly turning to look into the sapphire eyes of his fellow sacrifice.
Naruto seemed to be fighting between sadness and anger as he stared at Gaara. Clutching at the material of his orange pants, Naruto looked as if he was trying exceptionally hard to keep his voice at a minimum.
"What do you mean? You saved Suna at the cost of your own life. That is exactly what a leader is supposed to do. They are supposed to protect the people who believe in them at all costs!"
Gaara's gruff voice cut in, an anger replacing the former sadness as he stared down the fox. "NOT if dying could lead total chaos! Naruto… You live in such a simple world. Do you even realize what could happen if something like this ever happened again. DO you realize the politics behind this all?
"I am not as strong as I thought I was. Suna was nearly destroyed because of me, if you don't recall. The Akatsuki was after ME so they tried to take down MY city. Maybe if I was stronger, I could have stopped them. But in the end, they were still able to win. Some of my best guards were killed because of ME, just because those Akatsuki bastards wanted ME.
"I mean… I may be popular among my people, but the hierarchy still hates my guts. It was just like Chiyo-sama when you first met her. I was still the… the… MONSTER they had created years ago. In their eyes, I have not changed at all. The only one who believes in me is Baki and he has barely any power so what does it matter.
"If the elders get a hold of this information, they will use it against me, and guess what? They could even get me kicked out of my position as Kazekage. Sure I'd be pissed, but do you know what could happen. My country could go to civil war! I either have people who support me a lot or hate me even more. If I would to be booted out, there is no telling what they would do to each other. Bloodshed on the streets and murders in the home is what would happen. My entire nation could crumble just because of one mistake. Just think of that. I could be the cause of my country's demise.
"But Naruto. I don't want that to happen. But what can I do. I Fucked Up. But not only that! What if this happens again? What if someone as strong as those Akatsuki members attacks the city? I mean the ones who attacked aren't nearly as strong as say, Itachi or Kisame. It is possible that I won't be able to protect my people. What can I do? Am I really leader mater- SMACK!"
Sakura felt her eyes widen once again, aghast at what she just saw. Gaara was sprawled out on the ground in a daze, a large red mark forming on his cheek. Above him stood Naruto, huffing and puffing as he tried to calm down.
"SHUT UP GAARA! JUST SHUT UP" Naruto yelled at his friend, the fire burning behind his eyes. "WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU! ONE MISTAKE AND YOUR IN A TIFFY FIT! YOU ARE A GREAT LEADER AND EVEN IF THOSE ELDER BASTARDS TRY AND BOOT YOU OUT OF OFFICE, KONOHA WILL BE RIGHT BEHIND YOU! AND YOU ARE NO WIMP! SURE ONE DUDE BEAT YA, BUT THAT'S BECAUSE HE HAD THE PERFECT WAY TO GET TO YOU, BUT GUESS WHAT, NOT MANY PEOPLE CAN MAKE BOMBS TO DECIMATE A CITY. HELL, I BET KONOHA WOULD BE GONE IF THEY TRIED TO ATTACK IT. YOU SAVED YOUR CITY THE WAY NOBODY ELSE COULD, AND GUESS WHAT, IF THAT MAKES YOU WEAK, THAN I'M WEAK WITH YA! And I don't say that often!"
Naruto stood, his shoulders hunched over as he tried to calm down once again. Gaara was just gazing up at him, caught between emotions.
With a final sigh, Naruto reached down towards his sandy friend. "Sorry dude… you are just thinking to much into this, yah know. You have nothing to feel sorry for. And if it's strength you're worried about, then I will personally train with you. Just, pull it together. It's a bit creepy seeing you act this way", Naruto ended with a lopsided smile.
Reaching up, Gaara took Naruto's hand, a tiny smile finding its way onto his face as Naruto hoisted him up.
It was then that fate decided to hand Sakura a bad card. Getting so into what was going on before her, Sakura didn't realize she was leaning in until her balance failed her. Falling through the door, Gaara's medication flew out of her hands and she collided face first with the cold, cement ground.
SMACK
"Urg…" Sakura groaned, scrunching her face up in pain.
"Sakura-chan?" was the sound that brought her back awareness.
Springing up, Sakura looked into the faces of two powerful teenage boys. Naruto was obviously confused as he furrowed his brows, willing the workings of his brain to start. Gaara on the other hand, was glaring profusely at Sakura, suspicion evident in his flaring aura.
"Sakura-chan… are you ok?" Naruto finally asked, coming forward to help his shaking pink haired friend.
"Eh. Yeah. I just… fell. Sorry… these new heels Tsunade bought me you know… I still have to get used to them", Sakura tried, but lying was never her strong suit. Even as she tried to look as innocent as possible, Sakura felt sweat forming on her brow as she held her breathe.
Even though Naruto would probable understand her spying, Gaara was still a mystery to Sakura. She felt the need watch him a bit more, to understand him if you will, before she would loosen up. No faults were allowed in Sakura's analytical mind.
"Yeah. I can imagine. I still don't know how you were able to fight in those things though. I probable would have fallen on my face within the first few seconds", Naruto laughed, believing in Sakura. Letting the breath she had been holding out, Sakura suddenly felt the beginnings of guilt forming at the line of her stomach.
Trying to spread a smile across her face, Sakura dusted herself off.
"Yeah. It took me awhile too. But I think I'm getting pretty good at keeping my balance" Sakura said as her inner self sunk deeper into the grave she was digging herself.
"So… why are you here Sakura-chan?" Naruto finally asked with a wide smile.
"I was here to give Gaara his medication". Never let it be known that a Haruno cracked under pressure.
"Oh, yeah. I almost forgot about that. Heheh. I better leave you two to business. I do need to get some rest", Naruto laughed as he jumped off the bed.
Naruto then turned towards his red haired friend. "Now. Don't give Sakura-chan any trouble. You don't want to do that", Naruto advised with a taunting voice as he waggled hi index finger. Walking to the exit, Naruto stopped in the doorway. With his back turned, Naruto's voice rose up to his two friends.
"And remember Gaara. Sakura-chan still isn't to friendly to guy's getting fresh with her", and the blonde sprinted off, just dodging the blow aimed for his head. Running down the halls, Naruto fled from the hospital, a silly grin plastered on his face.
Back in the room, Sakura stood with her hand clenched into fists, trying her hardest to calm down while the vein in her head slowly stopped throbbing.
"Well? Didn't you come here for something?" Sakura heard Gaara's irritated voice rise up from behind her. Turning around, Sakura faked the hospital smile as she looked at the growling redhead.
With Naruto gone, Gaara had returned to his old, miserable self. No… he looked even pissier than before.
'Maybe I shouldn't have spied', Sakura regretted as she walked towards his bed.
"And take off that silly smile!"
Sakura felt herself twitch at his words. Her face fell into a slight frown. 'Jeez. Grouchy much!' Sakura heard her inner self commented as she glared in Gaara's direction. Good thing Sakura could leave her frustrations inside or Gaara might have become even more agitated.
With only slight scowl showing on her face, Sakura walked up right to Gaara's bed… only to realize that she didn't know where his medication had gone. A twitch found its way onto one of her pink eyebrow as Sakura wondered where his meds had disappeared too.
"Err…"
Oh yeah. It went flying from her hands when she fell. Sakura sighed. Today just wasn't her day, was it.
Turning her head left and right, Sakura begun to search out, around the room, trying to think of where they might have landed.
"What are you doing?" Came the Kazekage's condescending voice from behind. Sakura's head poked up from where she had been craning her neck to look around.
"Well… I am looking for you medication. Why?" She answered, trying her best not too sound stupid but feeling as though she was failing miserable.
A snort was heard from behind, obviously made by Gaara himself. It was that noise that seemed to trigger Sakura. Because seriously, did he have to be so rude to her while she was trying to HELP HIM! Sakura turned around, ready to say something rude back to the fuming redhead, only to be stopped dead in her tracks.
Gaara sat with his right hand upturned, and as fate would have it, there in his hand was his medication.
Sakura stumbled over herself, caught off guard.
Looking up into Gaara's face, Sakura said the first thing that came to mind. "Where did you find it?"
A frown found its way onto Gaara's face as he stared down the kunoichi. Sakura didn't budge, a sort of stubbornness coming out as she waited for Gaara's answer. With a sigh, the red head decided to humor her, if you will.
"It flew into my face when you fell through the door", Gaara deadpanned. Sakura felt a blush forming on her face from the comment of her most recent humiliation.
"Oh…"
"Yes. You should really be more careful when walking about", Gaara commented; yet the look in his eyes were anything like the caring words he spoke. Anger and suspicion flowed through those aqua depths as he dared her to speak the truth.
With a deadly glare pointed her way, Sakura almost didn't want to go through with her task. 'Almost' being the key word. With defiance rising in her inner psyche, Sakura strode forth with the utter confidence that had made her famous in Konoha. Brushing off Gaara's coldness, Sakura nimbly took the medication from his hand, a sort of malevolent smirk forming on her face.
Sakura could feel Gaara's shock, even if it didn't show on his face, as she walked about him, profession shining out as she worked in her true calling. Healing.
As she walked out the hospital doors, later that night, her guilt surrounded her. It was almost shameful, the way she had acted towards the Kazekage.
He had every right to be mad at her, for spying on a personal conversation and then lying about it. Oh did Sakura feel ever so terrible, but as Naruto's happy form came bounding towards her, she knew that she couldn't tell him the truth. He trusted her and she didn't wish to shatter it with the small lye that was starting to grow.
And it continued like that, for the next few days. Sakura continued to tend to Gaara as her guilt grew, and Gaara continued his glares and small taunts.
It wasn't until a week had past since the initial accident that Sakura fell. She had come to the hospital, once again to make Gaara take his pills.
As she walked, Sakura noticed something peculiar. Gaara was not in his bed. He was standing by the window, fully clothed, seemingly ready to leave.
"What do you think your doing?" Sakura asked, rather peeved by his stubbornness.
With a pointed glare, the Sand Kazekage answer her the bluntest that seemed possible.
"I'm leaving."
"Yeah right. Why do you think you can?"
"Look at my chart?"
With a perplexed look, Sakura walked over to Gaara's bed and the little medical chart hanging from it. Picking it up, Sakura scanned over its contents before coming to the information she needed.
Two fine, pink eyebrows rose from their place as Sakura stared dumfounded by the information before her.
'Because of good behavior, fast healing, and apparent self sufficiency, Sabaku No Gaara, the Kazekage of Sand, is to be let out a week in advance. His…' Sakura didn't even bother to read the rest of it as she stared at the Kazekage.
"What! They can't let you out. You never took your medication when I asked you to! I had to force it down your throat. What are they thinking"!
"Well obviously they have more faith in me than you do." Insinuations. Sakura tried to ignore it.
"Well you never give me any reason to!"
"Why?"
"I already said that you never-"
"That's not it."
"Yes it is!"
"Why don't you just say it already!"
"I don't have anything to say!"
"Yes you do. You don't trust me the same reason the high counsel doesn't trust me! And you know what I mean!" Gaara cut Sakura off. She knew what he wanted her to say. She wouldn't say it. It wasn't true.
Looking into the face of her very angry patient, Sakura could see that she was getting nowhere. His chakra was swirling around him erratically as his anger grew. Aqua eyes bore down on her as he tried to dominate this conversation.
With a long, drawn out sigh, Sakura relaxed herself, the way her teacher had taught. Opening up two emerald eyes, Sakura looked back up to the Kazekage, Gaara.
"Gaara" she said slowly, trying to get his attention in a calmer fashion. "I didn't mean to spy on you and Naruto that day". A Slightly shocked look filtered across Gaara's face but Sakura continued. "It… was an accident. I was merely trying to get you your medication that day, but heard you and Naruto conversing, so I decided to let you talk.
I know that I should have just left until later, but when I heard the subject of your conversation, I was stuck. I mean, you had done so much for Suna and yet you still blamed yourself. It just didn't make sense.
I had been noticing the differences around here, once I had arrived. How almost everyone trusted you, wanted you as their leader. It was a fascinating sight. I became so curious about you. The only thing I know about you is what Naruto had told me and when I came to Suna, I guess that I just wanted to learn more.
I am very sorry to have intruded upon you. Very sorry", Sakura finished, bowing her head both in respect and in shame.
She heard nothing. Sakura felt Gaara start to move away from her and she felt her heart crack. 'Stupid, stupid Sakura. Of course he wouldn't forgive you. If you were him, you probable wouldn't have forgave yourself. Ah. Why do I always get myself dragged into these things!'
As Sakura berated herself, she failed to notice that Gaara had stopped at the door.
"Thank you Sakura"
Sakura snapped her head up but it was too late. The mysterious red head was already disappearing into a whirlwind of Sand.
"Were here", growled a deep voice.
Startled from her reveries, Sakura looked up into the face of an annoyed looking red head. Looking around, Sakura found herself in front of her guest room door.
"Oh" was the only response Sakura could put forth.
"I will be seeing you tomorrow morning for a full report on the antidote. Come to my office and 10 sharp and don't be late" and with that, the Kazakage turned on his heels, disappearing into another whirl of sand.
'He does that a lot' Sakura mused to herself before opening the door to her quarters.
Stepping through Sakura closed the door before falling to her bed with a large sigh.
Whoa that took my along time to finish. This was like the flashback that would never end. Sorry to everyone who was waiting for this. I just have a terrible problem with writers block.
Ill try and update as soon as I can (Which might not be as soon as it should. Sorry again)