"What's wrong, sweetie, you don't feel like eating?" Ameno looked at her daughter, who was picking at her Domiburi in a boring matter.
"I just don't feel hungry right now…" she mumbled, her pale cheek resting on her hand.
They sat in silence for a moment as she resumed picking up a slice of tonkatsu and dropping it once more.
"You want to go play with Gaara, don't you?"
"Yes," she looked up at her, brushing a strand of crimson hair out of her field of sight, sitting up, removing her elbow from the table.
"Alright, I'll put it in the…" Kichigai stood up quickly, hugging her, and ran off out of the dining room and into the living room-"Fridge…" she sighed, smiling, "that girl…"
Kichigai grabbed her messenger bag from the armchair by the window and, opening the door, ran out happily.
Kichigai walked down the dirt roads of Sunagakure, her hair just barely shifted by the wind. The sun was just beginning to set and it cast an orange glow over the village. Bloody red stars spotted the sky like pavement at a crime scene. It somewhat soothed her.
Kichigai knocked on the door, waiting for it to be answered, when it creaked open. Gaara peered around the door when suddenly, Kichigai tackled him in a tight hug.
"Gaara-sama!" she cried out happily.
Gaara was startled for a moment, then relaxed a bit, returning the hug.
She adjusted the khaki messenger bag that was nestled into where her shoulder became her neck, just above her collar bone. The streets were about empty, except for a few sand martins flying overhead, and the occasional person on their way home. There weren't many people.
"Good, not many people out tonight. No cold, worthless people…" she thought as she approached the familiar house a few blocks away from her own.
She adjusted her shirt, running her long, thin, pianist's fingers through her long hair, then knocked on the door.
After a moment, she heard the locks click, and the door creak open.
"I missed you, Gaara-sama! I always miss you when we're not together!" she happily replied to his questioning, playful gaze.
Kichigai could always read his eyes. It was a special gift she had, reading eyes.
"I missed you, too, Kichigai," he smiled slightly.
Ever since Yashamaru died, Gaara had never seemed the same. He now had a symbolic kanji above his left eye, marked "Love". Kichigai gave it no thought, simply saying it had "a special meaning".
He also had a colder attitude, except around Kichigai. His siblings never lingered when they were around, instead going to their rooms and locking the door, leaving Gaara and Kichigai to themselves.
Temari opened the door, smiling her usual smile whenever Kichigai came over.
"Hey, Kichigai."
"Hello, Temari."
"Gaara's upstairs in his room. I'm sure you know where it is."
"Yes," she nodded and walked down the corridor, into the hallway that the stairs were in. Upon reaching the top, she counted the doors until she reached five on the left. She knocked first. Gaara liked it when people knocked first. And if they didn't, he just wouldn't unlock the door.
"Who is it?" he called darkly, the fact that he was glaring at the door obvious in his tone.
"It's me, Gaara-sama," she returned, and almost immediately, the locks clicked, and the door opened.
She met the familiar green eyes she came to know so well, smiling quietly. He took her hand, bringing her into his room.
Kichigai glanced around at the room. She hadn't been in there for so long, since the two years she spent away from him in Konoha. Now, it was all different. The queen-sized bed had been moved to rest in the corner, covered by white sheets and a black comforter. The walls were a sand-colored tan, a few pictures here and there, scattered among the four walls. His closet led into the wall, the double door a ceiling to floor mirror. A hope chest, with a heavy iron handle bolted to the chestnut finish, sat at the foot of the bed, filled with things Kichigai had no clue about. A black rug sat in front of it and a black-finish dresser with a television sat against the wall.
"You've redecorated."
He nodded, then picked up a marker off the nightstand, walking to the mirror that Kichigai took notice to that it was covered in Kanji and drawings, in erasable marker, a rag strewn onto the bed for wiping it off.
She walked up behind him, resting her head in the crook of his neck, watching him draw on the mirror contentedly.
"It's beautiful…" she muttered, blinking slowly, almost sleepily, out of character for her.
He made a small noise, almost in thanks, or in agreement as Kichigai's hands slipped up his arms to his shoulders, resting her chin on one.
Gaara clicked the cap onto the marker and placed it on the nightstand. His hand met Kichigai's on the opposing shoulder, and they stood like that for a moment, their silhouettes intertwined as the sun set over Sunagakure, leaving an almost blood red glow in the room through the now crimson curtained window.