Gaara x Sakura

End

used but didn't turn around. "I'd rather not have a constant reminder that I did not value you when I had the chance."

Sakura blinked in awe that he spoke those words out loud. Sakura watched him shut the door behind him then turned to Gaara. Had he said that years ago, Sakura's heart would have jumped with excitement. Now it didn't matter. Soon, Ino gave her a final hug and departed. It was well past midnight, yet Sakura still felt wired. In a few hours, she'd leave Earth. The concept seemed so abstract; Sakura had trouble digesting it.

"Stay safe!" Ino shouted over her shoulder. "Come back and visit!"

Sakura remembered Ino may lose memories of them when she leaves. She explained that to Ino, but instead of her getting sad, Ino laughed. "There's no way I could forget an idiot friend like you!"

"Hey!" Sakura snapped. "Don't be a jerk!"

Ino gave her a wink before turning her attention to Gaara. "You take care of her or I'm coming for you!"

Gaara nodded in response. Sakura closed the door with a soft click and began cleaning the kitchen. She remained silent as she threw perishable food into the garbage. The medic didn't want her place filled with rotted food. Sakura had packed her belongings earlier. She had suitcases full of clothes and irreplaceable pictures of her friends. The photo of Team 7 from her childhood counted among the pictures she couldn't leave behind.

After cleaning the kitchen, Sakura and Gaara went to bed. They stripped to their underwear and climbed underneath the comforter's warm embrace. Sakura laid her head on her lover's chest, drawing lazy circles along his smooth skin. His gentle fingers ghosted up her arms while the other rubbed her back. In the beginning, Sakura couldn't stand Gaara and the feeling was mutual. Now she couldn't imagine her life without him in it.

"Are you excited to return to the realm?"

"I don't care where I am as long as you are with me."

Sakura's cheeks tinted. She locked eyes with her lover, ready to begin a new chapter in their lives together. Goodbyes were excruciating, but their bright future allowed her to shed some of her pain.

"Sakura?"

She focused her attention on Gaara and raked her fingers through his vermillion locks. "Yes?"

He leaned into her. "I... it's nothing."

"No tell me," she probed. "What is it?"

"Is this..." he swallowed. "Is the swirling emotion that burns through me every time I look at you, love? I told your leader I do, but I've never experienced this."

Undeniable adoration washed over her. Gaara didn't realize how passionate of a person he was. He loved hard and fierce; it consumed every fiber of his being. This was the first time they admitted they loved each other, yet he didn't have to speak it. Gaara's actions proved his love for her.

"It is." The kunoichi brushed her hands down the sides of his face. "It will only increase with time."

Gaara sat up and pressed his mouth against hers. Sakura's hands ran from his chest over his shoulders, stopping to lock her arms around his neck. The pinkette pulled herself into his lap, her legs stretched out on either side of his waist. His strong grasp tightened around her lower back and he pulled her closer. Sakura could feel his hardened member against his thigh. She reached in between them to grasp it and worked her hand over his length. He groaned into her mouth and laid her back to situate between her parted thighs.

The One released her mouth and dropped feather-like kisses along her throat and licked the hollow of it. Sakura opened herself, body and soul to her lover. Her green eyes were lidded and full of passion. She took his hand and pressed it against her breast, her back arching into his hand.

"I want you Sakura," he growled as he kneaded the soft mound.

"Then have me," she whispered and his mouth captured hers once more.

The next day, Naruto came over early and they waited for Madara to return them to the Realm of the Ones. Although yesterday had been hard, peace surrounded Sakura. She entwined her fingers through the red head's as they waited. Naruto seemed more cheerful and his friends picked up on it.

"Did you sleep with Hinata?" Gaara's blunt question caught his friend off-guard.

Naruto blushed hard. "What?! You can't just ask that! Don't you have any manners?!"

"I'll take that as a yes," Sakura giggled.

"Give me a break, guys," Naruto muttered.

They turned their attention to the kitchen as Madara and Hashirama appeared. The dark-skinned male walked toward them with a welcoming smile. "Are you all ready to go?"

"Yes," Gaara answered.

"As ready as I'll ever be," Sakura responded.

Hashirama's dark eyes turned to her. "We welcome you to our family Sakura. I'll make sure you enjoy your stay with us."

"Thank you, Hashirama."

"Enough with the sentiments," Madara interrupted, his ebony orbs remaining closed. His arms crossed over his chest with impatience. "Let's go."

Hashirama gave him a loving smile before motioning for the others to gather around. Sakura grabbed her bags and glanced over her living room with nostalgia. She memorized everything from the nick on the wood coffee table to the order of her medical books on the shelf. Gaara gave her hand a comforting squeeze. There was nothing more to say. Emerald eyes locked with her reflection in the wall mirror before they all disappeared in the blink of an eye.