Kankuro smirked at his brother’s obvious discomfort. Gaara’s face had taken on the tell-tale blush that stayed only around his nose and cheeks. Gaara’s hair stood up so as to take on the look he had as a younger child. The locks that had begun to curl at the ends stood up into the air like the rocks that jutted out of the cliffs. Kankuro smiled at Gaara.

Gaara relaxed, but the blush stayed in it’s place against his pale skin. Kankuro set down the boxes he had brought up. Gaara followed suit. Kankuro looked at his brother, hoping to crack Gaara’s defenses. But Gaara stood fixed, his brow dipping in concentration, holding onto the last of his steel will. Kankuro’s face lightened after several moments.

“She’s beautiful, isn’t she Gaara?” Kankuro sat down on the bed. He struck it, sending dust into the air. Gaara winced as dust found it’s way into his eyes. He rubbed them with his fists. He answered, his eyes reddened, “Yeah, I’ve never met anyone like her before.”

“So,” Kankuro said, “you’ve known this girl for what, six-eight years.” Gaara nodded. “And you’ve taken this long to ask her out?” Gaara winced at her brother’s blatancy. “I mean, she never dated, or even looked at another guy since she’s been here, and it took you this long to ask her out?” Gaara nodded. Kankuro was satisfied with his brother’s honesty.

“Gaara,” he said, “I won’t push you into anything, I just want you to know something.” Kankuro stood up. He walked over to his brother and placed his hands on Gaara’s shoulders. “I want you to do what your heart tells you to do, brother, as it tells you to do it. I don’t want you to be afraid to act on your emotions. I want you to find your happiness in your own time, but don’t take forever, Gaara.”

Gaara looked at his brother with newfound admiration. “What about you, brother? What about your happiness?” Kankuro smiled. “My happiness is in seeing you happy, Gaara. I’ll always look out for you.” Kankuro squeezed his brother’s shoulders assuredly. Kankuro smiled. His face was soft and loving.

“Aw, brother, as the Kazekage’s most handsome older brother,” he said with pomp, “I can bag any girl I want, anytime I want.” Gaara looked at his older brother’s face and laughed. “Come, most handsome older brother, let us go forth, we must finish this task.”

The two brothers laughed. Gaara and Kankuro were both grateful for this moment. Gaara’s blue eyes, with the lingering black circles that seemed permanent despite how much sleep he got were bright and seemed to reflect the light around him, met with Kankuro’s dark brown. Kankuro smiled. It hadn’t been until Sakura came that things had changed this much. Gaara had never been this happy until she came. He had never seen his brother so relaxed and free.

Kankuro smiled as they reached Sakura’s room. She smiled back at Kankuro. She stood up and Gaara walked over to her. The two of them smiled at each other as he ran his fingers through her long hair. Gaara placed his hand on Sakura’s cheek and he kissed her. She kissed him back and wrapped her arms around his slim waist. Gaara picked her and slung her over his back and chuckled, “Look Kankuro! No hands!”

Kankuro laughed. “Look Gaara, more boxes!” Gaara’s face fell slightly as he stared at all of them. Sakura’s room was bare now. It was eerie. The only evidence she had been there at all was the faint lavender the room had been painted.

She picked up a box and smiled at Gaara. He took it from her and placed it on the stack. He picked up two. He grimaced. He wondered what was in the two boxes. Gaara made his way down the stairs with Kankuro chatting with Sakura behind him. He set the boxes down in her new room and turned his head to steal a glance.

“Hey, Sakura,” he said casually, “do you need any help putting things back?” She turned to him and grinned, “Nah, I got it,” she added, “but if you want to, you can keep me company.” Gaara sauntered out the door to get the last three boxes. He picked them up and had to crane his neck to see over them. He took each step down the stairs cautiously. He wondered where Kankuro was. Gaara couldn’t hear his brother anymore.

He put the boxes down and popped his back. He looked around the room to see Sakura pulling the dusty comforter off the bed. She bundled it in her arms and cradled it. Her hair fell around her shoulders and cascaded down her arms in rivulets. Her eyes glowed in their constant indecision on whether to be blue or green. Her skin, bathed in the burgundy and gold of the desert sunset, was like the flower she had been named for. “Hello, Gaara.”

He smiled sheepishly in reply and blushed slightly. “Hi, Sakura.” He nervously ran his fingers through his hair. She was even more beautiful than when she had first come to Suna to treat his latest acquirement of grotesque wounds. The sun had augmented her then as it did now. He remembered his awkwardness and how that hadn’t changed when he was so close to her. He thought of the nights and days he saw her before his window when she was gone. The phantom stood there and smiled, just like she was doing now.

She cocked her head and faced the open window. He saw the comforter drop to her feet. She shook it once and the dust flew off of it. She shook it again. She sneezed and looked at him over her shoulder. He saw the dust make a halo around her head. It was like so many angels hovering and dancing about her. “You’re so beautiful,” he whispered.

She blushed and turned from him. She shook the comforter again. Then again and again. She had shaken it five times and tossed it onto the bed. She lowered her eyelids to half-mast and he was taken by her beauty. He was unsure of how anyone had been able to resist her. He thanked the sunset and closed his eyes. He engraved the portrait of her into his eyes. He opened them again and walked over to her.

He took her in his arms. She brought her arms over his and hooked her hands “I want to kiss you,” he said. “I want to kiss you like no one has ever kissed you before. I want to kiss you everyday; I want to hold you like this everyday.” He kissed her hair and spun her around. He tilted her head and crushed his lips to hers. He ran his hand up her back and held her shoulder. He felt her stomach beneath his other hand as he slid it to rest in the small of her back. He felt her arms encircle his broad shoulders and he felt her mouth invite him in. He didn’t hesitate as he tasted her sweetness.

He felt the roof of her mouth and he brought her closer to him. She pressed her body to his and he felt his hair stand on end. He felt electricity shoot from his groin as she rubbed against him. He felt the skin of her neck grow feverish. He felt her hair on his naked arms. He was unsure of what to do next. He wanted her more than anything.

He felt her pull up the hem of his shirt. He let go of her and sat on the bed, sending more little angels to dance around her. She sat next to him. He curled his fingers underneath the hem of his shirt and he pulled it over his head. He looked at her pink dress. She slinked towards him and put her hands on his bare chest. These weren’t the chaste touches of a physician. He kissed the alcove of her neck and he sucked it slightly. He elicited a velvety moan from her.

She kissed his pale chest and he began to breath quickly. He felt so lightheaded he wasn’t sure he was breathing at all. He let his head fall back as he let her tender kisses wash over him. His body ached as he felt his flesh grow more and more inflamed. He felt his body tingle at its center and the pain shoot downward to his loins. He pulled her down with him. He felt her hair on his face and neck. He pressed his lips to her again. He trailed kisses to her ear and he felt her shiver. He kissed the shell and his lips made his way to her smooth shoulder.

Gaara followed the curves of her breast to the fissure of her bosom. He kissed it and he tasted it with the tip of his tongue. “Sakura, I love you,” he panted. “I love you too, Gaara.” He looked at her neck. He nipped at it and he took pleasure in the hushed moans she gave to him.

“Sakura,” he murmured. He heard the door clink. He continued to kiss her. She had been here so long that he couldn’t imagine life without her now. She was with him through everything. She was so patient with him. He held her closer. She was with him through the nights. She was there through cuts, bruises, and nightmares. Sakura was there with him, only him. “Sakura, be mine.”

She looked at him. Her hooded eyes were hazy from his kisses. “Gaara, I am yours, I have been for a long time.” Her voice was breathy. Sakura pulled his neck down and kissed him again. He closed his eyes and savored the kiss. He turned their bodies around on the bed so that he was on top her. “Sakura, come with me to Konoha.”

She nodded. He looked at her again, wanton and innocent at the same time. He rested his head on her breast and looked at the little dust angels dancing around them. He closed his eyes and inhaled her hot perfume. Gaara felt her skin on his cheek.

Gaara felt her arms on his naked torso. He shivered from her touches. He draped his arm over her waist. He sat up and grabbed the dusty comforter and pulled it up over them. He laid his head back down and snuggled up to her. He felt the heat in his body subside. She kissed the top of his head. She cradled him in his arms, “Gaara, when are we going to Konoha?”

He grinned, "We’ll leave tomorrow night if that’s good for you.” Sakura rested her head on the bed and sighed, “It’s fine with me.” He rubbed the soft fabric of her dress between his fingers. He closed his eyes and whispered, “Goodnight.” He heard her soft reply. He had a lot to do tomorrow.