She watched curiously from a distant as the young, lone boy, her age with flame red-hair, sat aimlessly on a swing clutching a teddy-bear. He stared at his feet, having not yet noticed her presence. Quietly she crept behind the pitiful sight of him and placed both her small palms on the boys' back and gave a firm push. The boy swung high into the air before jumping off in shock. Facing her, his innocent green eyes grew wide at the strange girl who approached him so casually and flashed him a mesmerising smile, her eyes sparkling in delight. A smile he would enjoy seeing again...
I sat on a futon in the Kazekage's office, the pen never breaking contact from paper for more than a mere second. We worked more efficiently and effectively together. Piles of paper surrounded me, stacked high like impenetrable walls. I was always loyally by his side as his chief-advisor, as the shadow, there to make him shine brighter than any before him. To be close to him was my reward and I desired to serve no other, only him. He was my superior and friend.
The heat was getting to me; I looked and felt abnormally unprofessional. My normally sleek pony-tail was tied up in a messy bun to cease the irritation it caused when it hung down my neck when attempting to concentrate in such heart. I had abandoned my blazer somewhere after the conclusion of an important meeting during the course of the day, my sleeves were rolled past my elbow and my ribbon hung limp around my neck. My face was completely flushed and I believed my image at the present moment reflected that of someone who had just been banged than an important business official.
At a brief impulse of curiosity I looked up from my paper at mid-pen stoke to sneak a glance at Gaara. He looked exactly as he always did – perfect, but because of it he was so hard to read. I unconsciously frowned slightly at the thought and did not notice Gaara staring back at me till his lips twitched upwards into a semi-awkward smile. My cheeks flushed a record red and I broke the silence, attempting to disguise the fact that I got caught zoning off from my work, though my pen never ceased to stop its continuous motion.
"It's getting late. You should go and get some sleep; I'll finish the rest of the paperwork."
True enough, the clock stroked midnight and its ring echoed loudly through the room.
Gaara seemed to think for a moment. "Seresuto the paperwork can wait till tomorrow; you need your rest as well."
Gaara's hypnotic eyes bored into mine and I couldn't resist. "Ok Gaara, just let me tidy up a bit." I shuffled some papers, trying to tidy the place a bit for the next morning and I slipped several documents neatly into a folder which I clutched in my arms, intending to finish them when I got home.
When I was done I turned around to face Gaara's desk and he was gone. I had thought Gaara had already left but I was proven wrong when I saw that he was waiting for me to finish at the threshold of his office.
"I'll escort you home; it's dangerous to be travelling alone late at night."
I smiled reassuringly almost jokingly at how genuine his words were. "Don't worry, I'm sure I can look after myself long enough to walk down the street."
Gaara didn't seem convinced about something and he silently retained his monotone expression till I sighed, knowing that the argument wasn't leading anywhere.
"Look, Gaara I just don't want to cause you any trouble."
"It's no trouble; I still find it difficult to sleep." Gaara persisted.
The look I gave him next was full of concern but I reluctantly nodded in agreement. He could be such a gentleman sometimes.
"As you wish, Lord Kazekage." I lavishly bowed, mocking but not out of disrespect, only to mask my emotions which mainly consisted of my excitement.
He held the door for me as I walked out and I felt just a tiny bit special.
"Here, you should have learnt by now that the desert night can be unforgivingly cold." Gaara draped my jacket over my shoulders and I stood shell-shocked momentarily before quickly regaining my composure. Yes, we were friends and I knew he cared about me but he usually wasn't so demonstrative about it.
We walked side-by-side in a comforting silence at a slow and steady pace, our shoulders almost touching and I could feel his body heat radiating from him. The street lights were dim and were glowing a warm orange. He looked very handsome and mysterious as I sneaked glances at him in my peripheral vision.
Gaara walked me all the way to my front door and turned to face me. He was standing so close and I could feel his warm breath lingering tantalisingly on my skin. All I had to do was lean forward and press my lips to his. The sound of his deep voice brought me back from my daze.
"Good night, be safe" was all Gaara said before he left me standing by myself on the front steps of my house. I watched his form fade into the darkness and regretted not asking him if he wanted some hot chocolate or tea for his trouble before I turned around and entered my home.
The other children avoided him, persisted in warning her of the dangers of his company but she would always thank them for their concern and continued to meet him. She was different; she saw the loneliness and how misunderstood he was, not the little demon that everyone else thought. She didn't pity him, but instead respected him too much, especially his inner strength. He was always so happy to see her when she came to play even though it went against her father's wishes.
I leaned over the basin of the sink and splashed my heated face with the cool liquid. I lived alone in a small plain house. My father was a horrid man, truly despicable, and I couldn't bear to be in the same room as him, let alone in the same house. I dabbed my face with a small towel and exited the bathroom, flinging my tired body onto my inviting queen-sized bed. I rolled onto my back, yawning and stretching my tense muscles to make myself more comfortable and relaxed. I closed my heavy eyelids and relived the night's events. I couldn't believe Gaara went to the trouble to walk me home. I wonder if he likes me? Of course he likes me; he wouldn't have walked me home otherwise… but does he feel the same way that I do?
This is so frustrating because there is no definite evidence; his intentions could have been purely innocent. Ok, I have to stop dwelling on this or my mind is going to implode. I drifted into the land of dreams.
It was time; she knew that that this day was inevitable. Her entire life was planned for her before she even entered this world. She had leave to begin her training, to be the best Chief- Advisor. She stood in front of him, her belongings in a bag on her back, she was yet to break the news to him.
She briefly explained the situation that her father planned her entire life and she dared not disobey. Her voice laced with the sadness she kept from her round features. His wide green eyes brimmed with tears that threatened to spill after his initial shock - the same shock-filled eyes she saw when she had first met him almost a year ago.
She kissed his cheek sweetly and left, never looking back as she walked up the sand dunes, never really knowing how much he would need her when his uncle would break his heart in just a couple of days.
The next morning I was in my usual spot on the futon in the office, sipping a strong cup of coffee whilst reading over some completed mission reports. Caffeine was more of a necessity than a guilty pleasure and I had gotten used to the bitter taste a long time ago.
Gaara walked in and I stood up and greeted him.
"I've finished all the paper-work from yesterday, it's all on your desk and someone should be coming to collect it soon, also..."
"You came in early again?" Gaara said in his usual monotone voice, but after spending so much time with him I could have sworn I heard a hint of concern.
"Yes, that's just my job. First one in and last to leave." I smiled warmly, trying to demonstrate that there was no need for concern and attempting to quickly drop the topic.
Gaara approached me and lightly traced his thumb under my eyes.
"You have no dark circles," Gaara stated in his own way of expressing surprise.
I shuddered barely noticeably and shifted my gaze, willing myself not to blush.
"Make-up, it's in the job description to always look perfect and professional," I replied in a casual tone.
"You don't need it."
Gaara's hand dropped back to his side and went to sit in his desk. I was stunned and downed the rest of my coffee in disbelief. Did Gaara really think my appearance was perfect?
Gaara broke my train of thought, "Why?"
"Why what?" I questioned, wondering where this conversation was leading and why Gaara was acting out of the ordinary.
"You're free from your father's grip so why do you stay on the path he chose for you?"
"My decision has nothing to do with my father; he is no longer an influence in my life. This is the life I chose because...because I wanted to help shape a greater village... to be useful to you." The last part was barely a whisper and I doubted Gaara overheard.
"And you have no regrets?"
"Life, especially as a shinobi, is too short for regrets."
She had travelled the many different villages since she was but a child, barely five; training not only the art of a shinobi but also in politics. She sat on one of the many roofs of Konoha, her legs dangling dangerously over the edge. Her thoughts dwelled on the sad little boy with wide green eyes, whom she had left almost eight years ago.
"How did you find me?"She asked, not needing to look behind her to know who it was.
"Simple. You have a tendency for enjoy high places"
"Hmm..." She brought one leg up to her chest and rested her head on her knee.
"What's bothering you?" The male shinobi questioned and sat next to her. He put an arm around her shoulder and brought her close, letting her rest her head on his shoulder.
"There have been rumours that he will be coming to take the chunin exams."
"You mean that boy from your childhood?"
"Yes, after all these years I'm finally going to see him again, but I don't know what to expect." She turned to face him, pleading for an answer that would distract her.
"It's destiny."
She smiled at her male companion, eyes sparkling at their little inside joke and pecked his lips tenderly. She peered into his eyes through the curtain of her thick eyelashes.
"I guess you're always right, Neji..."
He was staring at her and she felt uncomfortable in his presence; this was not the same Gaara she had left behind all those years ago. She could practically taste the bloodlust in the air surrounding him. The Sand village had finally done it, they'd finally twisted him so far that he had become the very monster they believed he was. But she knew somewhere that her Gaara was still within him. She wasn't sure if he recognised or even remembered her.
"Are you here to take the Chunin exams, Seresuto?"
"No, I was promoted to Chunin a year early. I'm here for diplomacy between the sand and the leaf for the Chunin exams." She smiled a little, attempting to ease the tension. At least he remembered her.
"How long have you been in the leaf village?"
"About 6 months, on and off but I'll be returning to the Sand village as soon as the Chunin exams are over." She said casually and he nodded.
"Seresuto, you have to go with team Kakashi to save Gaara."
"I..I….can't," I replied hesitantly.
"Don't you care about him?" Temari said sternly.
"Don't ever imply that; as much as I want to I can't just go rushing after him. I have to act as a temporary Kazekage to keep the village together. That's what Gaara would want. The safety of the village comes first." The tone of my voice reflected my frustration.
"What if you gave Kankuro and I your emergency powers. We could deal with the council until its safe for us to join you."
"Temari, have I ever told you that you're a genius?"
"Not as much as you should! Does this mean I'm allowed to hug you?"
"Don't push your luck." My tone was light and playful and Temari took that as a message that a quick hug was fine.