A/N: Hello again, fellow writers. I decided to do a Sakura X Gaara fic because I love the pair so damn much.

A few points:

- This is an AU environment but the characters are the same – exactly the same.

- Gaara has no eyebrows.

- Sasuke is an emo.

- Orochimaru is bisexual – no, pansexual. Actually, let’s just make it both.

Disclaimer: Do not own Naruto!

Chapter I:

Missing Eyebrows and Possible Incest

Sakura dodged easily through the mass of students lining the inner halls of Konoha High on her way to the registrar office to announce herself as a new student. Ever since she’d broken the nose of a former acquaintance in her last high school, she’d been transferred here. It wasn’t as though she’d done it on purpose or anything…ok, that’s not really true, but the victim – the provoker – had deserved more than one broken bone after trying to feel her up in the middle of a hallway. The pink-haired teenager sighed and slightly pushed a junior out of the way. At fifteen, she was a senior. Only seventeen and above were classed as upper seniors. The junior shouted a rather rude comment at her before shuffling further into the crowd. Sakura shrugged it off. No use apologising when she definitely wasn’t going to be forgiven.

It was just that little bit unusual that she’d seen neither senior nor upper seniors. Perhaps they hung around the outer parts of the school, or in the cafeteria. It was recess, after all. Just as that thought raced by, she almost crashed into a taller male.

“Oops, sorry,” Sakura smiled nervously as she looked up to meet the dull emerald eyes, surrounded by black kohl. He certainly didn’t look happy. What was with the disappearance of eyebrows? Why was his hair red? What about the red symbol of love on the left corner of his forehead? What was with the large calabash gourd on his back…and…why was he staring at her as though he wanted to slit her throat?

Deciding to try and maintain a little peace with this obvious senior, she smiled. “Hi. I’m Sakura Haruno. Who are-?”

“If you ever get in my way again, I will personally remove you from my path.” His voice was rough, yet probably attractive if he was being nice. A tingle ran down her spine at the truthful honesty in his voice. She glared at him and poked him non-too-gently in the centre of his chest.

“Listen here, buddy-”

Nostrils began to dilate and emerald eyes narrowed dangerously.

“- I don’t care who you think you are, but I apologised and you should accept it!”

Should - being the keyword in this conversation – didn’t seem to want to make it into his vocabulary. Preparing for her next vocal attack, Sakura opened her mouth to speak before the air was shoved right out of her lungs due to the force of which he pushed her into one the metal lockers lining the hallway. His body was pressed tightly against hers to prevent any escape. Passing students turned to gap at the two. Sakura, too, gaped up him. His face was just a huge mask of intimidating rage and agitation. This was one guy you shouldn’t mess with. He glared at her for a moment longer before he abruptly withdrew and stormed down the hallway with juniors jumping out of his way for fear of being treated with the same disrespect. Heart still pounding in her chest, Sakura edged away from the locker and continued to the office, dazed. How could she relinquish such a reaction like that from someone she didn’t even know?

It was as though he hated her or something.

After receiving her schedule, she managed to find the cafeteria and sink down into one of the plastic chairs at a table. Countless other students were arriving from their classes to enjoy the half-hour break. Sakura took a sip from the water bottle she’d bought and stared unseeingly at the pattern on the table. That boy’s glare still did nothing but disturb her.

“Hey there!”

Sakura jumped and looked up into an enthusiastic face haloed by yellow hair.

“Umm, hi. I’m Sakura Haruno.”

“I’m Naruto Uzumaki. Believe it!”

The kunoichi smiled confusedly. “Yeah, I believe you-”

“Mind if I sit down? I’m bushed. My sport teacher made me do all these ridiculous exercises that he knew I couldn’t do so he just made me do it and…”

The strange boy sat himself down without awaiting an answer and continued prattling on about his obviously depressing sport session. Sakura nodded, smiled and asked occasional questions to just be polite but the truth was she was hardly paying attention. Her eyes were searching the area for the first sight of My Creepy. Yeah, she’d call him that until she figured out his name. An insistence prod in her side brought her back to reality and she turned to Naruto who had a rather sulky expression on his face.

“Sakura, were you listening to me?”

She faked a grin. “Of course I was.”

“Great! Now, what was I saying? Oh, yeah! T-”

“Damn, Naruto. Give her a break, will you?”

Naruto groaned and moaned. “Aww, don’t be such a spoil sport, Temari.”

Sakura looked up to the new arrival, took in the clothes, the unusual hair style and the large fan slung across her back. So, everyone was pretty weird in this school. All the same, she smiled at the taller girl.

“Hey. I’m Sakura Haruno.”

“Temari,” the blond said and the two shook hands and to any that observed, it was sure to be a deep friendship. Temari took the seat next to Sakura and sighed contently. Two other people showed up then, too. Hinata and Neji Hyuuga: cousins with very different attitudes.

Neji didn’t say a word after introducing himself and sat quietly at the table, his white eyes scanning the crowd around him as though someone was going to pounce. Hinata was a different story. She was a bundling mass of nervous emotions and gestures as she blushed every time Naruto smiled or said something stupid. Sakura smirked and secretly plotted to get this pair into a relationship. Temari winked knowingly at her and the two girls grinned. Temari was an upper senior, so it was unlikely that they would be in the same class together.

“You guy’s seen Gaara?” Temari asked the group abruptly. “I haven’t seen him since this morning. Hopefully he’s beating up one of the Uchiha’s.” A rough agreement was issued from the group and Sakura just looked confused.

“Gaara?”

“Oh, he’s my younger brother, but a hell of a lot stronger than me. He’s the Kazekage but he chose to continue high school for some reason that eludes me.” Temari shrugged. Sakura raised her eyebrows but said nothing more. She suddenly ducked down in her chair and the others around her stared curiously at her.

“What are you doing, Sakura?” Naruto asked her.

She pointed across the hall at the figure walking towards them. “My Creepy! The guy that suddenly has a profound interest in killing me!”

Silence met her statement and she found that everyone in the group was now glaring at said Mr Creepy, even Neji and what an intimidating sight that was. The tall red-head levelled a stare at the pink-haired kunoichi before he seated himself between Hinata and Neji.

Oh, no…please don’t tell me that’s Gaara.

“Gaara,” Temari stated firmly, though with a trace of fear in her voice. Sakura sunk further in her chair until she was almost under the table. He was still staring at her! “Whatever Sakura did or didn’t do, it’s no reason for-”

“Temari,” his voice, though quiet, rose above his sisters with ease. “Do not speak to me as though I am a child with uncontrollable emotions.” He now turned his scary stare to his sister. “I will do as I wish and nothing you say can ever change that.”

And that was that. Temari did not dare say anything more, but simply turned to Hinata and started a quiet conversation. Sakura twitched as she was once again fixed with that unwavering stare of his. Should she move?

Oh, hell no! We aren’t moving anywhere, sister! If he doesn’t like us, then too bad. He can get off his arse and move

As usual, her other side was right. Who was he to try scare her by staring at her? Ok…it was getting a little creepy. Sakura fidgeted uneasily but his head suddenly flicked away from her, in voluntary answer to a boy who’d stopped by their table.

“Sup, Gaara? Added a new whore to the party, have we?” the boy was gorgeous, in an emo way, and looked very much like the asshole his attitude was portraying him to be. Temari glared at the boy. Naruto, Neji and Hinata curled their lips in disgust and Gaara simply blinked at him. Sakura was a fuming mass of nerves, ready to unwind by landing a hit on his nose. Funny, her body was moving on its own and her fist connected with the boy’s face, sending him back a few steps, stunned. Temari stood, uncertainly. The emo boy cracked his neck and wiped the trickle of blood from his nose and smirked at the fuming female.

“Not bad, sweet-heart. How about a taste of your own medicine?”

Before he even managed to hit her, a wall of sand appeared out of nowhere, protecting the kunoichi and successfully stopping his assault. Sakura stared at the impenetrable wall of sand before her and she suddenly found the Kazekage standing right beside her. Students in the cafeteria paused in their meals to watch the confrontation.

The sand wall faded back into the gourd and the emo boy smirked at Gaara who had his arms folded and was very much the impressive sight with his impassive stare.

“When will you learn, Sasuke? You are not to harm a female no matter what they do to you.”

“It’s all a matter of perspective and opinion, Gaara.” Sasuke replied snidely and switched his gaze to Sakura. “You’ll be mine, sweet-heart, and then this pathetic excuse for a ninja won’t be able to protect you.”

Gaara allowed the tiniest of smiles to touch his lips. “Firstly, yes, I agree with your first statement. Secondly, I’m the Kazekage and you’re the ninja who can’t beat his brother. And thirdly-” he leaned forward towards Sasuke, insane blood-lust glittering in his emerald orbs. “- if you so much as try to hurt her again, I’ll snap your neck without a thought.”

Five minutes later found Sakura sitting back at the group. Gaara had defended her? Why had he done that? It didn’t make any sense! Temari had looked over her schedule and wrote down who was in her class.

First session: Sport Sasuke, Naruto, Ino, Kiba, Gaara.

Second session: Sex Education Sasuke, Gaara, Kiba.

Recess

Third session: English Hinata, Ino, Gaara, Naruto.

Fourth session: Art Neji, Kisame, Deidara, Itachi, Tobi, Sasori, Temari, Sai

Lunch

Fifth session: Science Gaara, Shikamaru, Deidara

Sixth session: Cooking Deidara, Gaara, Kisame

Sakura grimaced as she saw that Sasuke was in a few of her classes, but what surprised her the most was that she was in most of Gaara’s and, that she was in an upper senior art and cooking class. She only questioned a few names, since she’d probably be meeting all of them.

“Well, Shikamaru, Kiba, Ino and Sai are all apart of Sasuke’s group, so stay away from them, if you can.” Temari said. Ok. She was going to give her the full run down without having to be asked. “Kisame, Deidara, Itachi, Tobi and Sasori are all upper seniors. Stay away from them. They’re all really dangerous, all experienced shinobi. Itachi is Sasuke’s older brother and far more deadly. Maybe not as rude, but definitely not someone you want to be alone with.”

Sakura took this in and pouted as she caught Gaara staring at her again. Would the guy ever quit? Apparently not because even though she glared at him with all her might, his emerald eyes stayed locked on hers and she submitted by turning away to enjoy the last few remaining minutes of recess before she went to her next class and met Ino. At least she wouldn’t be alone.

Perhaps being alone would have been a better idea. Hinata had politely asked if she could sit next to Naruto, leaving her to face Mr Creepy by herself. Shifting in her seat at the front of the class, Sakura could see out of the corner of her eye that he was still staring at her, not even bothering to be inconspicuous about it. Maybe he was wondering whether it had been worth protecting her from Sasuke. Arrogant prick. Sakura grinned evilly to herself at that thought but it faltered as soon as he frowned at her. Wait…how could he do that with no eyebrows? Whatever. He still frowned, dammit! His forehead creased.

“Ha! You’ve got a girlfriend, Gaara? That’s new.” A busty blond had sauntered up the aisle of desks to stand beside theirs. Sakura blushed furiously. “I’m not his girlfriend!”

“What are you then, forehead?”

Forehead. No one had dared call her that for a very long time and now this girl, this pig, yeah, this pig was using it?

“A friend, Ino-pig,”

“You want to start somethin’ with me?”

“No, but I’ll finish it.” Sakura glared at her and the two girls glowered at each other before there was a rather loud snap. The class faced the chalkboard and noticed their teacher had arrived. Sakura raised her eyebrows in question to her…teacher. Why was an old man teaching her class? A blush rose to her cheeks as his eyes met hers in the most lecherous manner possible before scrolling down as much of her body his eyes could find.

“Well, well! A new student! A lovely flower! Sakura…Haruno…cherry blossom. Very nice,”

Sakura sank into her seat as the class laughed at her but then it abruptly stopped for Gaara’s sand had risen to hover on the ceiling. Ok. Mr Creepy was once again bringing out those heroics of his. Hinata smiled gently at her and Naruto was just grinning like a moron at the grains of sand for some unknown reason.

“That’s Jiraiya.” Naruto told her quietly as said man turned to settle the class and began writing instructions on the board for the next assignment. “He’s a bit of a lousy teacher.”

Sakura nodded in understanding and focused on the writing littering the chalkboard. So, they had to create a story of their choice. This should be fun. The kunoichi began to write down ideas in her notebook and glanced once or twice at Gaara’s blank page. How did he expect to pass? Oh, right. Lookin’ at her all day must be an A grade. Gathering her courage, she lifted her head to look at him and smirked. “See something you like?”

His expression remained impassive, eyes boring into hers. “Perhaps.” He said quietly.

Every nerve in her body simply stopped working. This was not the reaction she had anticipated. Blushing much like a tomato, she dived down into the very depths of her work and ignored him for the rest of the session.

Oh…wow. Stay away from them! What was Temari thinking? Those guys are lookers! Well, expect the guy that looks like a shark…and maybe the guy that wears the mask…

Just shut up, will you?

Sakura looked up nervously from her artwork as though her internal thoughts could be heard by the upper seniors sitting on the other side of the room. Neji and Temari had their heads down and were concentrating on their work. The unusual one of Sasuke’s group, Sai, was drawing on the back of the classroom wall, creating an inspirational drawing for the other children, apparently. Sighing, Sakura glanced down at the incomplete drawing of a red rose. A weight suddenly pressed on her and her eyes met black orbs.

Itachi Uchiha, the infamous ninja that killed all of his family save for Sasuke. His dark eyes held hers and the other four looked at her, too. Oh, great. Now it was a staring contest. She could only guess these guys were seventeen or eighteen.

The art teacher, absent for the entire half-hour, suddenly came barraging into the room. Sakura recoiled as she met a fierce yellow, reptilian gaze.

From across the classroom, a pencil snapped. Itachi’s hand bled. Though the noise echoed around the classroom, that isn’t what startled the other students. It was Itachi’s reaction that made them react in panic and half-a-dozen dropped their pencils and whispered quietly to each other. Why would his reaction bother the entire classroom? Sakura frowned in confusion but it soon disappeared as she suddenly found the creepy teacher at her side. Two creepy people in one day. How awesome is that? The stench of his breath was vulgar, as though he’d had meat…or something raw for recess break. Gathering her courage, she did not lean away but met his yellow gaze respectively.

“Hey, Mr…um…?”

“Orochimaru,” Was the hissed reply, and how it sent shivers down her spine. Just the way he scrutinized her made her want to screw her eyes shut and dive behind the nearest person to escape him. But she was tougher than that. The whole class remained silent with baited breath.

“You’re supposed to be teaching art, yeah. Not ogling the new girl, Orochimaru.” The handsome upper senior with his blond hair tied up in a ponytail on the top of his head, said casually. The snake-like man turned to his grinning student and smirked.

“Mind your own business, Deidara.”

“What if I don’t want to?”

“You’ll be expelled.”

“Pfft. You wouldn’t dare ‘cause you know Itachi will kick your arse into the next universe.”

As if to confirm this, Deidara turned to face the silent Uchiha. A smirk tilted Itachi’s slips and he nodded. Orochimaru gaped before storming to the front of the class, slammed open a book and sulked.

Sakura blinked once, twice. What the hell had just happened? Across the room, she caught Deidara’s eye and he blew a kiss at her. Crimson stained her cheeks and her eyes darted back to her work. Temari frowned at her but said nothing. If she wanted to mingle with the Akatsuki, that was her choice, but technically, she should be forewarned that most girls that venture over to that group lose their virginity in three days.

Just before Sakura even got a foot out of the door to follow Temari and Neji, an arm circled itself around her waist and for one minute she was afraid it was her teacher but relaxed marginally as the black cloak came into her view. Marginally, being the keyword. A member of the Akatsuki had her in his grasp and there was nothing she could do about it if she valued her life and virtue.

“Hey there. Are you the new senior? Sakura Haruno?” It was Deidara.

“Leave her alone, Deidara.” That was the red-headed one, Sasori. Creepy guy, though nothing compared to Gaara. Sakura would have shot an appreciative look at him if she was in his direction.

“Aww. The princess is shaking.” Creepy shark-dude. Wait – what? Oh, what do you know? He was right. Her whole body was having a nervous fit. Just great. That’s one way to start up a reputation with the Akatsuki. Their first impression is that you’re a complete wimp.

“It’s not my fault!” Sakura snapped and dug her nails into Deidara’s hand and he let go of her with a hiss of surprise. The kunoichi whirled around and went for her kunai before a she met crimson eyes. Oh, crap. Sasuke’s brother. Itachi Uchiha. Really, what did she do to catch unusual people’s attention? The crimson Sharingan seemed to hold her in place, drawing her into a sense of stilled calm. Though she struggled with her eyes, she couldn’t seem to draw herself away from the hypnotism.

Snap went the hypnotism as the boy with the mask suddenly launched himself into the semi-circle blocking the doorway.

“Hi! My name is Tobi! Tobi is a good boy!”

Kisame sighed and thumped him rather hard on the head.

“You’re a moron is what you are.”

“Awww! Kisame-san! Why are you so mean to Tobi?”

Sakura twitched as the two began arguing. Deidara grinned at her.

“Ignore them, yeah. You got someone to sit with at lunch?”

“Umm…yes…sorry,” she said sincerely with a fake smile as she edged herself slowly through the door. The blond made as though to go after he but the Uchiha placed a hand on his arm. As Sakura once again met the Sharingan, she was sure that his gaze wasn’t just curious. He was interested.

Run, run, as fast as you can! You can’t catch me, I’m the – err….whatever. Just run.

Sakura did just that. She bolted from the room and into the cafeteria, almost catapulting herself into the local hierarchy of her group – Gaara. He caught her, his hands resting on her waist as he stopped her from toppling over the table. Crimson coloured her cheeks as she met his emerald gaze.

“Hi, Gaara.” She said shyly.

A chorus of sniggers ran around the table and Sakura blushed again and moved to her seat when Gaara decided her fit to walk on her own. Temari grinned at her.

“What was with the full-out run, Sakura? Did the Akatsuki scare you?”

“No!” Sakura retorted and glanced up as said boys suddenly came strolling into the cafeteria as if they ruled the place. The group watched them, as did the rest of the students. The shark-nin looked over at them and revealed his fangs as he looked at Sakura.

“Hey, princess! Don’t sit with those boring little shi-”

“Shut up, fang-face!” Naruto yelled at him, eyes flaring brightly as he jumped up on the table. “She’s not going anywhere. So pipe down and eat!”

“What if I don’t want to?” Kisame yelled back, his annoyance being much more impressive. The Akatsuki smirked.

“Maybe we should just fetch a fisherman and he can deal with you.” Temari commented lightly and smiled as Kisame glared at her. Neji and Hinata remained quiet, as did Gaara for that matter, his eyes trained on Sakura’s blushing face.

“Say that again, blondey.” Kisame threatened, his hand moving to grip Samehada’s hilt. Temari nonchalantly brushed him off and went back to eating her lunch. Kisame twitched agitatedly and his eyes once again met Sakura’s before he shrugged and sat down at the table the Akatsuki basically owned. The pink-haired teenager fidgeted uneasily as she felt eyes drilling into her side and into her forehead. Gaara and Itachi. Sakura looked up to meet the red-heads gaze and smirked. They had been alone that last time he’d made his little comment.

“See something you like?”

“Of course he does. He’s a man-whore after all.” Sasuke winked at Sakura as he passed their table.

“You’re the one who has sexual fantasies about your brother.” Gaara muttered, arms folded casually across his chest. Sakura giggled. On the other side of the room, something snapped. Too bad it wasn’t Sasuke’s neck. The youngest Uchiha turned to glare at him before he met his brother’s crimson gaze.

“I do not.” He hissed with finality before rushing away.

Now that the circus was over, Sakura finally gathered her courage and initiated the staring contest, as she called it. It was more of an attempt of intimidation on her part to the master of scariness! Gaara raised non-existent eyebrows at her as she continued to narrow her eyes at him until they were almost slits. Was she really trying to scare him or trying not to see him? He wasn’t too sure and neither were the people around them for that matter.

Yeah! Glare at him! I bet he’s gettin’ scared.

Concerned for the well-being of his new friend, Naruto leaned over to her and whispered, “Er…Sakura…what are you doing?”

She replied from the corner of her mouth. She isn’t a very good ventriloquist, mind you. “Trying to creep him out.”

“You and I both know that’s not going to work.” He chuckled.

Sakura’s eyes narrowed even further into they were almost closed. Gaara’s lips twitched as if he were fighting a smile before he abruptly leaned across the table and very gently lifted her eyelids up until they were back to normal. She would have smiled at him if it weren’t for what he said next.

“You shouldn’t do that to your eyes. Squinting and glaring at the same time isn’t the most attractive of expressions.”

Bastard!

With a last glare at Mr Creepy, she rose out of her seat and stormed to her next class, completely forgetting that he was in it.

But just as she began walking away, she tossed a retort over her shoulder. “Not as unattractive as your lack of eyebrows.”

Ouch. I know I’m the queen of bitches but…damn…that was below the belt!

It was just as well she didn’t see his expression other wise she might have left the school.

Sakura jumped up and down on her way to science – her favourite subject.

“You sure look excited.”

Sakura practically froze in mid-jump as she looked up to meet the amused gaze of Deidara. Now this was certainly unexpected. She knew she’d been put into an upper science class but it had to be a very severe coincidence that he was in it, too. She stared up at him suspiciously for good measure. He winked reassuringly at her before his eyes flickered ahead of them and darkened with an emotion she couldn’t place. Gaara stood at the doorway to the science classroom, nostrils dilated, arms folded across his chest. Sakura almost hid behind Deidara in her fright. Did Gaara really have to look so creepy and angry all the time? Oh, right. It was her fault for commenting on his lack of eyebrows. The blond looked from the red-headed, to the girl at his side, and back again. Something was up, and judging by their expressions, it wasn’t good. Deidara raised his hand in an abnormally friendly greeting.

“Yo, Gaara. What’s up, yeah?”

The Kazekage didn’t reply, but merely maintained his terrifying glare on Sakura. The kunoichi gulped nervously before glaring back. If he hadn’t insulted her in the first place, this wouldn’t have happened!

“Don’t you glare at me, Mr-I-have-no-eyebrows. It’s your fault! So don’t glare at me!”

If she didn’t have a death wish before, she certainly did now. There was a loud crack and a line zigzagged its way down the side of his face before stopping at his jaw. His hands twitched at his sides before he suddenly screamed and ran at full-tilt towards Sakura. Eyes narrowed, Deidara flung himself in front of the stupefied girl; his cloak billowing around him as he quickly moulded clay between his hands.

Shikamaru had just reached the corner around the science classroom before there was a huge explosion. He sighed and scratched the back of his head.

“Deidara’s being a moron again.”

“Hey! I heard that, yeah.”

“What a drag…”

A/N: Yeah, I know. It totally sucked, right?