A/N: It's short I know, but I'm going to try to have more up by late December if not sooner.

Disclaimer: The characters and Naruto in general are not mine!

Chapter 7: Eye of the Hurricane

Gaara was a man who played as hard as he worked. After taking Sakura rock climbing he introduced her to archery. Being that Sakura was a newbie he had his arms around her at least half the time making Sakura blush like an idiot. She would have stayed blushing too if not for the fact that his teaching methods proved successful when she hit the target for the first time. She had been so excited she'd hugged him. That had caused Gaara to blush big time which Sakura found quite adorable.

Never would Sakura have believed that a business man could crave so much action. After they left the archery range Gaara encouraged Sakura to take his car out to the edge of town and let loose on the horse power. Sakura could have kissed him for it. She would have definitely died from embarrassment but the point is she could have kissed him.

As Sakura sped along the towns perimeter Gaara cranked up some music. Sakura noticed that while he didn't seem to hate any music, he absolutely loved Indie Rock. Where ever they were going, he made it clear to her he was in no hurry.

She probably would have driven for hours upon hours if her stomach hadn't kicked up a fuss, spurring Gaara into activating his GPS and having it guide them to a nearby sushi bar. Sakura was surprised to see it was a hole-in-the-wall kind of place, and when she gave him a questioning stare he smiled at her and nudged her forward.

Once they were inside and Gaara had secured one of their few booths for privacy Sakura's curiosity could not be put off any longer. "Okay, as delighted as I am that we're not in some over the top 5 star restaurant, I have to know how you even found this place. I almost drove right past it! How does a place like this attract the heir to a massive fortune and not to mention a very successful company as well? What made you set even one foot in this place?"

Gaara shrugged. "It's because I'm going to inherit the company and the fortune that I came here. Do you know the term 'there's no such thing as bad publicity?' The paparazzi use that as an excuse to invade every aspect of their target's life. Everyone needs a place where they can just get away. Whereas most in my position look for the high class restaurants and clubs and such, I look for places that don't draw the eye. Places that no one would ever expect me to go in." Gaara stated doing his best not to show his delight at her interest in him.

"I see. That makes a lot of sense, especially when your personality is taken into consideration." Sakura replied. "Can I ask you something Gaara?" Gaara grinned and Sakura immediately noticed her mistake. "Besides that, I mean." She corrected herself.

"Sakura, you are the only person who can ask me anything and still expect an answer. Ask away." He responded.

"Why me?" Two little words, that's it, but they carried a mountain's worth of weight.

Before Gaara could respond there was suddenly a huge surge of noise at the front of the restaurant. When the noise not only persisted but grew more frantic Gaara felt the first tinge of worry. His worry proved justified when he heard a sound that made his blood run cold. The distinct click of a camera shutter was a roar of thunder in a buzzing hornet's nest.

Thinking fast Gaara ducked under the table and managed to get Sakura to do the same. He was immediately thankful to the little sushi place for always trying to make his meal "special" by putting out a table cloth and a candle. While it still stood out in the room, the camera man would probably find an "empty" table boring.

"Gaara what's going on?" Sakura demanded.

"The paparazzi found us after all." Gaara replied morosely. When he saw Sakura's face pale he made a decision that would cost him his little hide away. It stung but remembering how much fun he'd had with her made it impossible to regret a single thing about the day. He told Sakura to wait casually at the table once he caught the reporters' eyes and led them away. He'd loop around to pick her up as soon as he lost them.

Sakura thought this was a bad idea, but seeing as she couldn't offer a better one, she agreed with a solitary nod. Before she had time to process what he was doing Gaara leaned in to give her a quick kiss on the cheek.

"We'll have our first real kiss in a much better setting." He whispered to her before he disappeared to draw the paparazzi away. Sakura's face was as red as it could be which she found utterly ridiculous. It wasn't like a cheek kiss was anything new or worth blushing over, but Gaara had such a reverent look in his eyes when he leaned in. The brush of his lips was so soft and tender it was almost as if she were his first love and he was scared of ruining it.

Sakura doubted that was the case but his attitude towards her was so new and strange to her. Any guy who'd expressed tender feelings to her before seemed so experienced. There were times when Gaara was just as out of his element as she was and that surprised her.

The paparazzi noise was fading when she heard someone climb into the booth and sit at the table she was under. This was awkward.

"You can come out now, Miss Haruno. They're gone." A baritone voice stated in a smooth as melted chocolate tone of voice that probably weakened the knees of any woman who heard it. Sakura stayed tensed and ready to run as she slowly climbed out from under the table.

Across from her sat a man who was as handsome as he was a visual shock. She'd never seen so many piercings before. He wore them in such a way that she couldn't help but think he not only pulled them off but they even suited him. His apparent sex appeal aside, his smile was gentlemanly but his eyes, his silver eyes ringed in dark gray were glacier cold.

"Hello Miss Haruno. You may call me Pein."