Title: When the Fire Burned Out

Description: Sakura is crushed after the second loss of Sasuke, but she won't let anyone see the pain besides her best friend Sai. When her next mission leads her through a crash course of love, then to the pain she's been avoiding, can she depend on her friends to lead her back to sanity?

Rating: T.

Authors note:

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the music in this chapter. All credit will be given at the end of the chapter.

***

"Sakura…" Gaara whispered, gently shaking my shoulder. "Sakura, you have to get up." I opened my eyes slowly and rolled over.

"You have to get up!" I said groggily, looking up at his face. He smiled. I reached up and grabbed his wrist, pulling him down to my level. "Sit with me." He looked at the clock and sighed, sitting on the edge of my bed. I noticed he was already dressed, in a tuxedo, with a green tie this time. "What time is it?"

"Almost three. You missed breakfast." He said apologetically. "And lunch." He quickly added. I laughed quietly. I sat up and laid my head on his shoulder.

"What time is the dance thingy?"

"It starts at six, but I have to be there to greet guests at five." I nodded. "So, you should probably get up, and ready." I sighed and rolled off the bed, hitting the floor with a low thud. I blushed, remembering I wasn't wearing pants. He laughed softly, his face was covered with a blush, like mine. "There were pajamas in the drawer next to your bed." My face grew darker.

"Oh." I grinned, walking into the bathroom and shutting the door. I turned on the shower and stepped in, taking my time. Eventually I stepped out, wrapping a large black towel around myself and drying my hair quickly with the other, leaving it messy around my face. I walked over to the door and opened it, to my surprise the young Kazekage was laying on my bed, eyes closed. He cracked one, his face grew red at my appearance, as did mine.

"Good morning sunshine." He murmured, noticing that I was actually awake.

"Hey." I walked over to the closet and pulling out the dress, I turned around, noticing his eyes were closed again. I opened the drawer above the shoe cabinet, and looked at the contents, my face extremely red as I slowly picked up the first item on top, lingerie. I quickly set it to the side, as I sifted through the thongs and thin brassiere. I finally settled on a less revealing green set to match the dress. I shoved them inside the dress, before walking back into the bathroom. I quickly changed, and looked in the mirrors surrounding the room. I brushed out my hair, then walked back out.

"Temari is good." He mumbled, now sitting up once more. "It looks great." I laughed, a smile on my face as I walked over and sat next to him.

"Nothing but the best for the Kazekage right?" He chuckled softly. "Do I have to wear heels?" I demanded, looking towards my closet. He nodded, laughing again. "Come on! They're like a death trap!"

"I'm sorry." He said softly, "Temari will kill us both if you don't." I smiled.

"Well…I don't want that. So, I'll wear them." I said, walking over to the shoe drawer and pulling out the green ones. Once again, they were stilettos, which were probably going to cause my death. I slipped them on quickly, before standing up and turning towards him.

"Happy?" I demanded, turning around in a circle. He smiled.

"Very. But, could you try not to fall down the stairs and kill yourself?" He laughed. I stuck my tongue out at him.

"Whatever." I muttered. He looked up at me, trying to tell if I was mad or not.

"I'm sorry." I smiled.

"Let's go." I said suddenly, "Where are the others?"

"In the den." He informed me, I followed him to the stairs, where I teleported down them quickly. He laughed, walking down them easily. I waited for him, then he led me to the den. Naruto and Hinata were sitting on the couch talking quietly…well, Hinata was at least, Temari and Shikamaru were loudly playing Shogi, and Kankuro and Ino were making out in a large comfy looking chair. I sighed and sat next to Naruto on the couch. Gaara sat next to me stiffly.

"You're up!" Naruto said loudly, a huge grin on his face. "We were starting to worry." I laughed.

"Haha. No, I just slept in." I yawned, for emphasis. "How are you guys?"

"Great!" Naruto answered for them both. I heard a low moan, I stole a glance at Ino and Kankuro. Kankuro had his hand cupped around Ino's breast through the bright red dress she was wearing. I sighed.

"Do you need this?" I asked, picking up a heavy paperweight.

"No, why?" Gaara said puzzled. I turned around and chucked it at Kankuro's head. It hit him with a dull thud, followed by loud cursing.

"What the hell?!" He demanded turning around to look at us. "What was that for?!" I snickered, as did Gaara.

"Yeah forehead!" Ino yelled, a pout on her face.

"Come on guys, keep it down!" Temari said, focused on the game she was playing.

"Shut up and get a room, pig." I hissed, agitated at the familiar nickname.

"Fine forehead, I will." She stormed out, grabbing Kankuro by the wrist and dragging him out of the room.

"Bye pig." I mumbled, turning back around.

"THANK GOD!" Naruto yelled, a grin on his face. "That was so annoying!" I laughed.

"How long have they been making out?"

"Like…Three hours!" Naruto sighed.

"Man, I was here for thirty seconds before it got annoying." I smirked. "Poor you two."

"I know!" Naruto exclaimed smiling. Naruto was wearing a tux with a lavender tie to match Hinata's dress. "Hey Gaara, do you have any ramen?"

"Yeah, in the kitchen." Gaara said, gesturing towards the door.

"Can I have some?" He asked, a pout on his lips.

"I don't care."

"Yay!" Naruto said, jumping up and running towards the door.

"Oy! Naruto!" I said quickly. "Can you make me some too? I'm starving."

"Sure Sakura-Chan!" Naruto ran down the hallway, singing about Ramen. I turned towards Hinata.

"So, how long have you liked Naruto?" I asked casually, triggering a blush.

"S-s-since we were Genin." She admitted, face growing redder. "Thanks Sakura."

"For what?"

"For giving me a chance to tell him." I smiled.

"You would have told him eventually." I said softly, smiling. She shook her head quickly. "Yes you would of." She shrugged, face red again. Naruto ran back in a few minutes later, carrying two bowls of ramen. I took one and ate it quickly before handing the bowl back to Naruto.

"Thanks Naruto."

"No problem."

"What time is it?" I turned towards Gaara. He looked at the clock again.

"It's…4:30, we should probably get going." He said, standing up. I followed suit, Naruto and Hinata followed us.

"Temari, could you go find Kankuro and Ino, we're leaving now." Gaara said, snapping his fingers trying to get her attention.

"Yeah, yeah." Temari sighed, brushing his hand away and standing up. I heard her race up the stairs, and kick the door. "Time to go!!!!" She screamed, running back down the stairs. "Happy?" She asked, sitting back down to the board. She moved a few pieces. "I win! "She yelled, in Shikamaru's face. "I WIN!"

"Impossible!" Shikamaru hissed, staring at the game board.

"…" Said the Gaara.

"…" Said I.

"…" Said the Naruto

"…" Said the Hinata

"HAHAHAHA!" Said the Temari…

***

We arrived at the dance, which was held in a big ballroom near the border of Suna. It was decorated formally, with a buffet and lots of tables. There was a very long one on one side of the wall, which Gaara led me too. Tsunade and Jiraya followed us. Gaara sat on the end, followed by me, then Tsunade and Jiraya.

"All of the Kage will sit at this table with their dates." Gaara explained, gesturing towards the table.

"Ahh. Okay." I nodded. I stood there awkwardly staring at him.

"Do you…want to sit down?" I looked over at the table he gestured at.

"Uhh. Sure." I followed him to the table and smiled as he pulled out the chair for me.
"Thanks." He nodded.

"It's tradition isn't it? Being a gentleman?" I laughed softly and nodded. He smiled again, sitting down beside me.

"FUCK!" I heard a voice scream from the hallway. "You IDIOT!" A loud slap echoed through the room.

"Calm down woman!" I recognized Shikamaru say, he slowly came into view, backing away from a very pissed off Temari.

"I just got my nails done, and YOU BROKE ONE!"

"I'm sorry!" He yelped as she grabbed at his collar.

"Temari!" Kankuro yelled, grabbing her before she tackled the younger Chunin. "Calm down!" She frowned and sat down in a seat, crossing her arms in front of her chest. Shikamaru hesitantly sat down across from her, sighing at her fuming face.

"You're sooo lucky Gaara doesn't let me bring my fan to these anymore." She said, a smirk coming to her lips. Shikamaru gulped.

A few minutes later, people started filing in, some filing the table for the Kage, and the rest sitting in the tables to the side. The "party" started out with a quick meeting over dinner amongst the Kage. I listened, intrigued by the plans of the different villages, to work together to take down rogue ninjas. After the dinner, it really became a party. Beautiful waltz music was playing and a lot of people were dancing, including Temari and Shikamaru, who apparently made up.

"So. Do these things happen often, the balls and stuff?" I asked, Gaara and I were the only ones still at the Kage table.

"Occasionally. This is the first time I've had a date though." He said, a blush covered his face again. I smiled.

"I don't see why."

"What do you mean?" He asked, eyes guarded.

"I mean, look at you. You're gorgeous, you're sweet, you'd be the perfect boyfriend." My face turned bright red as I said the last part. He smiled.

"Would you like me to be your boyfriend?" He asked, it was teasing, but with a serious undertone.

"I would love nothing more." His eyes brightened, and a big smile crossed his face. I laughed. "Careful there, don't hurt yourself." He laughed softly.

"Would you like to dance?" He asked, as the song playing drew to a close. I nodded, starting to fall as I stood up. He caught me with one hand, leading me out to the middle of the room. He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close to him to keep me in a standing position. Once again, he easily led me through an intricate waltz. After three songs, he led me back to the table.

"Where'd you learn to dance like that?" I asked, his hand finding mine under the table.

"Lessons."

"I felt like a little girl again, standing on my fathers' feet." He laughed.

"You look anything but." He gave my hand a soft squeeze, I smiled. We sat there for the rest of the time, alternating between sitting and dancing until the guest started to leave.

"Let's get out of here." He said, rising to his feet. "I want to show you something." I followed him out the door and into a limousine. It drove back to the mansion. He led me up the stairs, into his room, and into his huge closet, without a word.

"You wanted to show me your closet?" I asked, skeptically. He laughed, sliding a panel away, from the ceiling. He stood up on the step and pulled himself through the hole. I looked at him doubtfully as he reached down to pull me up, he did so, effortlessly. He pulled me through another hallway, and out a door. The sight before me was beautiful. The night sky was full of stars, the moon was huge and full.

"Isn't it beautiful?" He asked softly. He led me over to a large pile of blankets laid across the roof, facing the sky. He sat down on the blankets and patted the spot beside him. I quickly and eagerly dropped down beside him. He lowered himself down under the blankets, I followed suit.

"It's…amazing." I sighed, laying my head on his chest hesitantly. He nodded. We laid there in silence for awhile, I stared at the stars and listened to the calming sound of his breathing and heartbeat. Eventually I moved my head onto the pillow behind me, Gaara wrapped his arms around me gently.

"Goodnight Sakura." He said softly in my ear. I turned around to face him, and pressed my lips against his softly. There was no hesitation this time as his lips started to move against mine. The kiss broke a minute later, with a soft gasp from me, I snuggled against his chest and slowly drifted to sleep in a warm embrace.

Et fin.
That's all folks. Hope you liked it.
Should I add an epilogue to it, to tell what happens with everyone in the future?
Review please.