To Tame a Beast

A/N: So, I decided to try something different here. Rather than Kohona being all ninja-oriented and whatnot, I’m treating it just like any other town, no ninja schools, ninja techniques, etc. Naruto and Gaara do not have any sort of demons in them either.


To tame a Beast

Part 1:

A cool summer breeze swept through Kohona, as Sakura Haruno made her way through town for her first day of school. It was her senior year, so she knew it would most likely be her easiest. Any classes of importance had been taken care of the 3 years prior. She thought about how much fun it would be to finally be able to play on the volleyball team with her friends, Hinata and Naruto. Actually, Naruto wasn't on the team itself, he had chosen to cheer on the sidelines in the school mascot costume. She smiled at the thought of her friend prancing around in the bright orange fox-suit, not caring about the other students calling him, "Fox-boy" from across the field. Sakura neared the school, hoping that today would be a long one.

As Sakura approached the school yards, she couldn't help but notice the group of people gathered around the front. It seemed like the entire school was out there, and to make things worse, she could see the lights of cop cars flashing ahead.

Omigod! What's happening? Did somebody get hurt?

Sakura rushed in closer, curious as to what had caught everybody's attention. When she reached the front of the scene, she found only a single officer speaking with the principal and the school councelor. Even more curious than before, she caught sight of her friend, Hinata, and proceeded to inquire on the subject.

"Hinata, what in the world is going on?"

Hinata shuffled around, "Well, I'm not sure myself. This morning, all those cars pulled up here at the same time and Tsunade-sama has been talking to them ever since. It's strange though, the only thing that they've been discussing is a new transfer student."

Sakura raised an eyebrow at this. "All this fuss is over a new student? That can't be right. Are you sure you didn't hear anything else?"

"I'm afraid not." Hinata said. "But from what I hear, this guy is supposed to be really dangerous. I hear he's been transferred over 14 times in the past 6 years."

"Fourteen times?! What has he done?"

Hinata continued. "Well, I overheard the officer over there discussing his record with Tsunade-sama and...It seems that he's extremely violent. He said that he's been locked up for the past two years for killing 8 armed students in what started as an after school fight."

Sakura went pale at hearing Hinata's words.

"And that's not all either. They were forced to keep him in solitary since he was known to attack the guards and had murdered the two inmates sharing his cell on his first night in prison."

Sakura didn't know what to think. "And they let him out?! Here? What happens if he does something like that again here?"

"Aparently, this is his last chance. I heard them say that if any incident like that happens here, he'll be given the death penalty."

Sakura and Hinata were broken from their conversation as the crowd suddenly quieted down. Their eyes were led straight to the now open van, and the men walking out of it.

Four, fully-armed officers were seen escorting a single man from the back of the van. His hands were still cuffed behind his back, and Sakura could see that his ankles were chained as well. He wore loose black pants and a tank top, along with a pair of boots that were studded along the edges. He was well built, tall, and had almost blood red hair. His eyes, Sakura thought, despite even the rest of his appearance, were most definitely the part of him that made her freeze with fear. His eyes were a deep jade in color, and were rimmed in black as if he had never slept in his life. His cold stare pierced through anything in his direction, she decided that he could murder someone with that stare alone. It frightened her even more when he stopped walking, and fixed his gaze on her. He shot her a grin that mimicked the way a predator would look at its prey.

His deep voice seemed to echo over the silence that still filled the school yard.

"Pink hair huh? You wanna come over here and prove to me it's your natural color?

Sakura was disgusted by his sudden advance on her. It didn't help that he was thrusting his hips out as if to prove what he was implying.

"Hey!" One of the officers shouted. "Watch it you sick bastard, or your right to remain silent will become mandatory."

It only seemed to excite the redhead more. He turned back to Sakura grinning wider, and exposing his canines even more.

"Fine, I see how it is. Doesn't matter. I've got the whole semester to think about how much I'm gonna enjoy it when I get to fuck you hard and cum on that perfect chest of yours. Tell me Gorgeous, you spit or swallow?" He snapped his teeth at her, "Or would you prefer I give you a facial instead?"

Sakura didn't know if she was shocked more by the words coming out of his mouth, or the blood that followed it after the officer in front had hit him hard in the gut with a metal baton. Either way, the redhead didn't seem to care. He continued to stare her down, blood covering his predatory smirk as he was quickly led away.

"Sakura, you okay?" A worried Hinata stood beside her friend, who was still smoldering with rage.

"How DARE he talk to me like that!! I swear, the next time he says anything to me, I'll be giving him a piece of my mind AND my fist!"

Tsunade stepped up to the two girls. "Sakura-chan, calm down. I'm sure he was just trying to get a rise out of you. You'll feel better later."

"Yes, I'll feel much better when I get to pound him into a pulp darker than his hair. I'll..."

Tsunade smiled. "Ah, I see. I'm sorry you had to be the first one to put up with him. But hey, you never know what will happen. I think he likes you."

Sakura was furious. "Likes me?! He practically raped me with his mind!"

Tsunade gave up holding in her laughter. "Well, I'll have to give him a talk regarding sexual harrassment later. For now, I think I'm going to assign you to be his guide for his first day of school."

"WHAT?! Why me?!"

"Because I know you're the only person in this school who would stand up to a guy like him if he decides to do anything stupid. Besides, once school starts, his chains come off. He knows damn well if he dares touch any of my students, I have full permission to physically reprimand him. If he gets even one more count of assault against him, he's well aware that he forfeits his own life on the spot. It's that serious, this really is his last chance."

Sakura thought it over. There was no arguing with Tsunade. "Alright, I'll do it. But if he gives me anymore crap, I'll beat him myself."

Tsunade smiled. "Alright, come with me. Let's go introduce you to your new 'friend'."

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As they entered the office, Sakura saw that the guards were surrounding the room. She also took note that the redhead was still bound by cuffs at his wrists and ankles. He hadn't seen her yet, but Sakura had a feeling that when he did, he'd be running his foul mouth at her until his 'escorts' shut him up. As Sakura took her seat next to him, she realized that he was actually being quiet. She peeked over and suddenly realized why; one of the officers had a stun gun pressed tightly against the back of his neck. His jade eyes stared straight forward; it was like he didn't even dare blink.

It seems like they're going a little overboard with the security around this guy. I guess he really is as dangerous as they say he is. I bet they've used more than just that stun gun on him before too...

At that thought, Sakura scanned the redhead from the corner of her eye. She was right; countless bruises, cuts, scars and tazer burns adorned his skin. It was like he regularly had officers and prison guards beating the shit out of him. The marks on his wrists confirmed that he'd been wearing the cuffs for sometime as well.

If he wasn't such a...monster, I'd feel really bad for him. I suppose, he does deserve what he's getting. I'm surprised they're giving him a last chance with all that he’s done. I guess it's because he's so young, probably my age.

"This is Sakura-chan." Tsunade began, looking down at her new student. "She'll be showing you around the campus, letting you know where your locker will be, and will be accompanying you to 4 of your 6 classes. I trust that you will treat her with respect and will not be harassing her in any way. If I hear that you have, you will answer to me; is that understood?"

"Yes." He gruffly answered.

Tsunade motioned to the officers on his sides. Two of them proceeded to remove the restraints from him, while the others stood with their weapons in hand as if preparing for him to bolt as soon as the cuffs were off. He simply rubbed his torn wrists and shot a nasty glare at one of them.

"You two can leave now. Classes are about to start." Tsunade turned back to further discuss things with the officers.

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Sakura turned towards the redhead. Her fear of being alone in the halls with him was evident, but she did her best to cover it up. "So, are you going to tell me your name?"

He stared back at her, his grin turning slightly feral again.

"Need to know what you'll be screaming later, huh?"

Someone sure is a cocky bastard. We haven't even been out of the office for more than ten seconds...

Sakura sighed. "No, jackass. I just wanted to know. You do have a name don't you? Or did you forget it after being called by nothing more than your prison ID number for the past two years?"

He seemed to laugh a bit, silently admiring the way she was standing up to him. "My name is Gaara. But feel free to call me whatever you want, Babe."

Again with the sexual harassment. This guy is seriously intent on getting into my pants...

"Anything, huh?" Sakura smirked. "How about Arrogant Bastard? That work okay for you?"

He only laughed harder. "Alright, Sweetheart. Have it your way for now, and I'll just have MY way with you later."

Forgetting who she was talking to, Sakura turned and placed herself in his path. "Try it, Asshole! I dare you to see what happens to you!"

Faster than she could formulate a second thought, he dropped his bag and slammed her into the closest wall. His hand kept her scream muffled, and his broad figure held her pinned so that she could barely move. She shivered when he brought his hand up to her face, gently caressing her cheek with his fingers. He smiled at her, that same predatory grin from before.

"Rule number one, NEVER dare me to do anything."

His hand trailed off to her exposed thigh, which he caressed down to her calves before bringing it back to cradle her rear.

"Rule number two, I ALWAYS get what I want, and it's up to me to decide when I get it, not you."

He buried his face in her neck, gently nipping from her jaw line to her collarbone. He paused at the base of her throat running his tongue over the marks where his teeth had been. Sakura heard him make a small sound, unable to determine whether it was a moan or growl. It was obvious that Gaara was extremely turned on at this point. Her thoughts were silently confirmed when he brought his hips up higher, she could feel his erection straining at the seams of his pants. He was making it too difficult for her to think, she knew her face was probably extremely flushed from the unexpected intimate contact.

I can't take anymore of this! He's completely tranced right now, and I know I'm going to get seriously violated if I don't stop him now. So much for trying to stay calm and waiting for him to snap out of it...

Sakura's retaliation came in the form of a rather hard punch to the same spot where the officers had hit him earlier. Gaara's grip on her failed and he backed away clutching at his stomach. To her surprise, he didn't seem angry. Instead, he began to brush himself off and act as if nothing had happened. In his mind though, he was stunned to see that she actually had the guts to hit him.

First time for everything I guess. But who would’ve thought this pink-haired cutie would be so tough? Nobody picks a fight with me to begin with. They all know I'd be feeding them their own digestive tracts if they did. Alright, I'll leave her alone for now...besides, I don't need her ratting me out to Tsunade on my first day.

Sakura glanced over at Gaara, who was still eyeing her like a piece of meat.

"Let me make something clear." She scolded. "You might be used to getting what you want, but so am I. If I say you don't get it, you don't. I hope you're not forgetting that I can tell Tsuande what you just did at any time."

Gaara only chuckled at her. "You won't tell Tsunade anything."

"And how do you know that?"

He leaned in towards her, his jade gaze piercing through her own.

"Because I know you want to prove to her that you don't need anyone's help to deal with someone like me. And on top of that..."

She watched him trail off, impatiently waiting for him to finish.

"You know you liked it."

Sakura was about to retaliate when she heard the bell ring, signaling that class was about to start.

"Alright, whatever. Now c'mon, we have to get to class."

Gaara silently followed Sakura down the rest of the hall. She noticed that he was still staring at her, and seemed to have a little victory smile plastered on his face.

"What is it now?" She asked, seemingly annoyed.

He rolled his eyes away to stare at the ceiling.

"Nothing."

She watched him walk a few paces in front of her before laughing to himself again.

"Well, nothing of importance anyway. But before we get to class, you might wanna pull your collar up."

Sakura seemed confused before it finally hit her. She frantically searched her bag, pulling out a small mirror. Sure enough, he had left a very noticeable red bruise at the base of her neck. She blushed in embarrassment upon realizing how long he had been sucking on her neck earlier. Gaara's grin spread even wider when he noticed her button up the collar of her shirt in defeat.

She sighed, hoping that Gaara wouldn't be like this for all their classes.

"I wish I'd never hoped for today to be a long one..."