The Flight - 10

"He has endangered your life by bringing you here. There is no way he can fully ensure your safety," Gaara looked back to her, questioningly, "How long has he left you alone here?"

"Sasuke's coming back."

"He's not coming back, Sakura," His voice was rough, "He had the good sense to continue on without you, at least."

"No!" Sakura threw a flailing punch at him, tears beginning to blind her, "He'll be here! Sasuke!" She called for him, futilely. It only angered him more as he caught her half-hearted punches. He hated the affection reserved in her voice when she spoke the Uchiha's name.

"Sasuke has used you as a crutch for his misery, even if he hasn't realized that," Gaara's eyes softened on her as she backed away, choking back hysterical sobs, "He has seen a future for himself with you in it, a future he is too cowardly to work for! He has chosen the easiest path to achieve his goal; to achieve power. I would never elect such a thing…I will never leave you."

Sakura was wiping at her eyes, red and swollen. She looked a mess, but she didn't care; tact was beyond her. With Gaara all her dignity was stripped away and she was left naked, baring her mistakes in shame.

He reached for her and she backed away from his hand, like it too would betray her.

"S-So what if Sasuke-kun went ahead? I'll follow him! I'll find him! He needs me. I promised him I'd never let anything bad happen to him…" Her voice lowered, "He promised the same for me."

"Sakura, people bent on power will always break their promises."

"No! He wants to marry me! He loves me! Why would he throw that away? It isn't…it isn't about power, Gaara." Sakura said it as if he didn't understand, as if she could convince him he didn't.

Finally she backed herself against the tree-trunk, unable to escape his persistent hold. His arms felt smooth and strong, and he held her as if she were a crazed pet trying to escape its owner.

Her struggling ended and she leaned into him resignedly. What now? What was the use? Gaara had caught her and she had no hope of getting away; that was for certain.

His embrace loosened. He was gentle. He said he wasn't going to leave. All the same, she could tell he was still distraught. Her defection from Konoha must have hurt him. Her feelings for Sasuke must have hurt him more, and she knew they would.

"If it isn't about power then why has he run to Sound? Can you answer that?" Gaara asked quietly, knowing the cold hard truth was difficult for her to hear.

The tears streamed steadily down Sakura's cheeks. He was right; she knew he was, but that didn't stop the pain and it didn't solve the problem. She had come all this way praying for a way for things to end well.

This is what she ended up with.

"If he wanted to marry you he would've stayed. He would've given you everything and cast his bitterness away for you. He would protect your dreams and keep you safe. Most importantly, he'd put you before himself." Gaara explained, unmitigated, "It was a coward's love he gave you, which is far less than what you deserve."

What was he preaching about this time? What was the point? He always gave her these longs talks that made her feel like a fool in the end.

"Sakura, he doesn't love you as I do. I ask nothing of you. I could never demand anything from you, not even on the day I arrived in this village. You had already given me so much when you chose to be my friend." His voice was softer. Sakura raised her eyes to his.

"I've known it was not worth standing between the two of you, but I've waited." He admitted, "You are the only person I have ever felt this way about. If I would make one demand after all of this time, then it's this: I want you to live and that is all," He lowered his mouth to hers, "So just live…"

There was sincerity in his actions, but the last thing she had expected him to do while he was angry with her was to kiss her. It was slow and cautious but unwavering, and Sakura let her eyes blink closed, unwilling to fight against the new contact.

'Gaara. Do you really?' It was as if her brain had switched off, much as it had when Sasuke had proposed, however in this instance nothing about it felt wrong at all.

Gaara had surprised her. Again. Maybe that was why she had been so taken with him while growing up and at the Academy; even during the Tanabata Festival. But he had never shown interest, not in any way she could perceive, at least. So she had pushed her hopes for their friendship becoming something more to the wayside and focused on becoming a stronger kunoichi.

A fat lot of good that had done her.

She had scarcely improved and now all the old emotions were bubbling to the surface with great intensity, screaming at her in frustration. Why had she placed Sasuke over Gaara?

Sakura had always understood that she had Gaara's unconditional affection. She just decided not to act on it because there was no guarantee his mind wouldn't change about her. Now she had to accept her error.

Sasuke was the one who fled, not Gaara. He'd run after her and professed his feelings. It was surreal. Like some sort of tacky fairytale where everything straightens out after overcoming the obstacles. Still, Sakura knew there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell of this fiasco having a happy ending, even with Gaara around.

'We're still in danger here but…he came to save me…' Sakura's thoughts drifted like mist through her head while she reciprocated. She remembered now. She remembered why Gaara and all that he represented had meant so much to her. He had suffered and overcome. He had been alone but chosen friendship. She remembered why she had chosen him.

He wouldn't let her down.

"You are so irrational…and…selfish," Gaara started speaking the words against her mouth, "You're foolish and naïve. You'd get yourself killed if I wasn't around…"

Sakura kissed him again, placating, trying to shut him up. She wished that he didn't have to remind her of her faults, even if it was his job to do so.

"Every time…you were smarter than me…braver…what happened to you?" He still tried to speak, innocently curious, "I am like you…a fool…selfish…I want to die for you one day. You are all that is good in me…"

Sakura felt tears sting at her eyes again. Why did he have to say such things?

It was in his nature to complicate matters.

His hand had moved to her tangled, pastel hair. He closed his eyes finally. He was starting to trust the way she made him feel.

Sakura understood at last why she couldn't tell Sasuke those same words. She had tried to, but all along the only person she could tell them to and mean it was to Gaara.

"I lov-" She tried to speak in the midst of their tousling but it was of no use. It was harder than it looked, and she silently commended him for his ability to multi-task: kissing and speaking.

The red haired nin pulled away from her. It was a very reluctant action and her eyes fluttered open to stare at him in wonder. Wow. Naruto and Haku were never going to believe this. Sakura was unsure if they even had to know.

"Just…live." He mumbled, his nose pressed against her cheek contentedly.

She relaxed completely. Sakura had not felt this safe since before the Chunin Exam. It had been a while and so she welcomed the feeling back.

"Sakura?"

"Yes?" She responded, her chin resting on his shoulder lazily. Sasuke could wait. If she knew well enough, which she did, Gaara wasn't the only Leaf ninja out chasing fugitives.

She had faith.

"I'm sorry, Sakura-chan." His words were frank and it frightened her.

"Sorry about what?"

"You'll be asleep for a while. You're going to wake up in your home."

"I'm going to-?"

His elbow landed in her gut and the air left her lungs instantly. She was unconscious before she even realized what was about to happen. It was for her own good, Gaara reasoned. If Sasuke turned up again no doubt she'd rashly chase after him so it was better to be sure. Now she was not going anywhere on her own.

Gaara pulled her weight over his shoulder, preparing his nerves for the journey back to Konohagakure.

"Sleep well, Sakura." He took off, not caring what fate held in store for Sasuke. He had someone precious in need of protecting and there was no one and nothing that would be able to stop him.