Rage

Gaara was tired. As usual everything that could wrong, did. The council was breathing down his neck about some mundane matter, his village was suffering some kind of crisis, and of course, other villages wanted talks but only if Gaara could travel there. For weeks now he had spent days and nights on his feet, getting little rest and always on the go. He was glad that his brother and sister were around to help but their constant bickering only added to the headache.

He walked down the corridor thinking of the hot meal the kitchens were preparing for him, grateful for the short thirty minute break he had. He strolled into the dining room to find Kankuro and Temari already seated.

"Hey Gaara, glad you could finally make it one of these days," Kankuro smiled.

Gaara hummed in reply before taking his seat at the head of the table.

Temari looking slightly worried glanced at her youngest brother. "Maybe you should take some time off. Visit a hot spring, take a day for yourself."

"No, I must ensure the village is doing the best it can." Gaara rested his chin on his interlaced fingers. "Besides, I must leave for the Leaf village in the next month to talk with Naruto. He's been requesting my presence for some talks with the Tsuchikage about a rogue group of ninjas that have been terrorizing our lands. I want you two to come with me."

The two siblings nodded. Gaara sat as his siblings talked and closed his eyes as he waited for his food. He was roused by the sound of the door opening and his food placed in front of him. Desert hen with stuffing and steamed mixed greens with rice. The table quieted down as they ate, savoring the delicious food. Gaara took a bite of the stuffing and noticed candied chestnuts mixed in, one of his least favourite foods. Annoyed he ate around it. How hard was it for the servants to remember his likes and dislikes? They continued to eat and Gaara became irrationally angry. Temari and Kankuro noticed his increasing rage and decided to hurry and finish. Gaara put down his utensils and a servant cleared his plate while another brought the dessert.

Gaara slammed his fist on the table. "Bring me whoever made this. Now," he hissed. A servant scurried out of the room, presumably in search of the housekeeper, the woman in charge of all women servants and the kitchen. His anger built in an ugly fashion as he waited for the return of the servant.

The door burst open and the housekeeper, Sachiko Nakano stalked in dragging a young girl, screaming, by the hair behind her.

"My lord," she acknowledged, throwing the cook on the ground. The cook sprawled out face down before quickly gathering herself into a kneeling bow. She stayed like that as Gaara stood up and walked to her.

"Sit," he commanded, his voice barely above a whisper. The cook slowly sat up, visibly shaking in terror. She knew how unforgiving the Kazekage could be. Her white hair covered her face, messy after the violence of the housekeeper had pulled it out of its ponytail. He picked the plate up and dropped it in front of her. It shattered on the ground sending chips of porcelain and food flying in every direction and on to the cook.

"What is this filth?" The cook shuddered unable to speak.

"Look at me," he hissed, becoming more infuriated as the cook began to panic. She looked up from him from her knees, her breath ragged. Gaara squinted his eyes at her. She already had a blooming bruise across the left side of her face. The housekeeper must have already punished her on her way up.

Gaara looked around the room glancing at everyone. "Leave," he stated simply. He stared down at the girl again noticing her white knuckles as she crushed her other hand. The sound of chairs scraping against the floor greeted his ears and the room was silent as the door clicked shut.

"I will only ask one more time. What. Is. This. Filth?" enunciating every syllable.

The woman sobbed once before replying. "Yakon with chestnuts and pickled sakura petals, Lord Kazekage," she whispered.

Gaara gritted his teeth, the anger seeping into his voice, "How long have you worked here?"

"Two years, Lord Kazekage." She sobbed again, bringing her hand to her mouth in attempt to stifle the sob.

"In your two years here, did you ever learn what foods I've said to never put in my meals?" he felt the rage continuing to build. Normally he would let these things slide and leave the discipline to Sachiko as the housekeeper but with all the stress going on lately, this was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Her eyes widened, realizing her mistake. A sobbed racked her whole body. She was going to die she realized. Over a mistake she should have already known not to make. Two years into her contract as a servant and she wasn't just going to have her contract extended, she was going to lose her life to the rage of the Kazekage.

"Yokan and marron glace." The tears broke forth and she sobbed uncontrollably.

Gaara sighed. "Quiet," he commanded, annoyed by her sad attempt to garner his sympathy, "Come here." He watched her stand and silently walk toward, attempting to choke back tears. "Look at me."

Her face slowly rose to look at him, and he froze her with his gaze. Her eyes were a bright startling blue, the shade of a glacier. Her hair hung long past her shoulders, falling to just below her chest.

"What is your name?" he inquired.

A tear slid down her cheek, "Michiko Hisakawa."

"Go find Sachiko. Tell her to take you to Jabari. Meet me in my office at 8." He whisked past her leaving her there, a sobbing mess.

I was in shock. I was alive and unpunished by the Kazekage. My body felt numb as I walked back towards the kitchens. There wasn't any reason I should still be here.

I arrived at the kitchens and found Sachiko who was at first surprised to see me again so soon but her surprise quickly turned into anger. She slapped me again before asking me what I was thinking. I repeated in a croak the same instructions the Kazekage had given me. Go to Jabari. Meet in his office at 8. The color had drained out of Sachiko's face. Recovering quickly she yelled at the rest of the staff to get back to work and grabbed my arm and pulling me out of the kitchens.

They arrived at a door and Sachiko knocked and looked at me. It was then I realized I hadn't gone unpunished. Who was Jabari? The prison warden? The Kazekage's head of torture? I started to panic again.

Sachiko looked at me again, tears forming in her eye, "I'm sorry child. If only I had been paying closer attention."

I started to sob even harder. This was the end. I was done for. If Sachiko was worried for me I had no chance. Sachiko was a strict housekeeper but had always tried to be fair. She was like everyone's crazy grandmother.

"Listen to me," she grabbed my chin, suddenly urgent, "When you meet with the Kazekage again, do whatever he tells you, no questions asked. If you listen and do what you're told, you might just live."

I nodded as she hugged me, giving me a quick kiss on the forehead. We both jumped as the door opened and a tall, imposing man looked down at us leaning against the door frame. His chocolate brown eyes glared at us.

"Yes?" he spoke, "I do not enjoy being interrupted in the middle of my dinner."

Sachiko stood up a little bit straighter, "The Lord Kazekage wants this one in his office by 8."

Jabari stood up and smiled. "Well then come in. We'll get you taken care of."

I waited for Sachiko to enter but she pushed me in and didn't follow. Jabari put his hand on my lower back and ushered me inside. I looked back and saw Sachiko give a sad wave before the door clicked shut, separating me from everything I had ever known.

I started to cry again. Why me? Why couldn't I remember one small thing? Jabari looked down at me.

"What is your name, child?" He was smiling. I was definitely going to be tortured.

"Michiko." I had no will left. Only tears and fear of what would happen next.

"Michiko, huh?" He smirked, "It means beautiful, wise child right?"

I looked up at him, a bit surprised. "No actually. I mean yes, it does mean that but the origin of my name is 'Child of All'." We had made it passed the foyer and into a new room, one filled large mirrors, a tub, and a chair in front of a long basin. Stacks of makeup sat on a counter and various oils lined the tub and basin.

Jabari stopped and pushed me inside. I heard pulling the door closed behind me. "Undress and wash up. Use the purple bottle of soap," he smiled and he pulled his head the rest of the way through and latched the door. I was thoroughly confused.

I pulled off my simple servant outfit, stained with the food the Kazekage had dropped on me, and dropped it to the floor. Turning the knobs on the tub, I waited for it to heat up, my mind racing. What the hell was going on? I wasn't being tortured, I was being given a bath. I couldn't figure it out. I squeaked as I realized the tub was nearly full. I stepped in, not wanting to make Jabari wait. The water was near scalding. I pushed through the pain and sat down and started washing my hair. He seemed nice enough. He hadn't yelled at me or done anything to scare me. I moved on to washing my body, taking care to use the soap Jabari had mentioned. The scent of pomegranate and lemon verbena wafted to my nose. It was such a pleasant and relaxing scent. I finished washing and grabbed a fluffy white towel to dry myself. Unsure of what Jabari wanted, I wrapped myself in the towel, not wanting to put on the soiled clothes. Peeking out the door I saw Jabari, sitting outside, reading a book. He looked up at the noise.

"Perfect! Now let me come in darling." He grabbed a hanger that had been lying next to him and followed me inside. He hung the clothes up and motioned for me to sit in the chair by the basin. I sat and he tilted my head back.

I felt cool water start flowing past my ears, pulling my hair with it to the far end of the basin. Jabari dropped some warm oil on my hairline and started combing my hair out with the flow of the water.

"My, my," he mused, "Your hair is gorgeous. Is it natural?"

"Yes," I blushed at the compliment.

"Pretty hair for a pretty face!"

He laughed as my face burned. I started to relax as he brushed the tangles out. We chatted about idle things. The weather, Suna, and how he ended up here.

"My mother worked here for The Fourth," massaging the oil through my hair, "My family has been working in the spa for generations. All we know is pampering the Kazekage and council."

I hummed to acknowledge him. "What about you? How did you end up here?"

I froze slightly at the question, "I was on the streets and needed work. I don't have any family and it was this or prostitution. I decided giving 7 years of my life as an indentured servant was far better than being a street walker."

Jabari nodded, "A tough choice. Working for the Kazekage is a dangerous job but prostitution requires so much from you."

I hummed again not sure what to say. The Kazekage was terrifying. His immense power scared even his siblings.

Jabari finished in silence and had me sit up. He squeezed the water out of my hair and led me over to the mirrors. I sat in the chair and he began drying my hair.

"So how old are you darling?" He deftly worked his hands through my hair drying it.

"19," I replied. I heard him gasp. I looked at him quizzically.

"You're so young to be on your own. I can't believe you've had to make some of the choices you've had to."

"I've done what I had to to survive. Though it seems like my life might be over anyways."

He laughed, "What do you think is going to happen? He's going to kill you?" I nodded at him completely serious.

He chuckled much to my annoyance, "You'll be fine darling, I swear on my life."

I opened my mouth to ask him what he meant but he cut me off. Pointing the comb at me in the mirror he said, "Don't even think about it! The Lord Kazekage will tell you everything you need to know."

I clamped my mouth shut. Well then.

Jabari finished drying my hair and braided it into a simple plait down my back. He looked at me in the mirror.

"Hmmmmm, I think I'll leave you natural for now. You don't need much help." He offered me his hand and I stood. "Now, put this on and then we'll head up to the Kazekage's office." I visibly gulped. "Now, now," he chastised, "I said everything will be fine. Now tut, tut! It's almost 8!" and he scurried out the door.

I unwrapped the clothes he handed me. A simple white tunic and black belt with black leggings greeted my eyes. I quickly put it on and stepped outside to find Jabari.

"Marvelous! Now put these one and let's go!" he said handing me a pair of supple, soft black slippers. I stepped into them and we left his chambers. He led the way and my nerves came back. I started fiddling with the hem on my shirt when we stopped outside an ornate door. Jabari knocked and winked as he opened the door.

"Good luck!" he whispered and I stepped into the room and immediately bowed. The door closed and I heard a soft voice.

"Stand."

The command was simple but my heart started racing. I stood and stared at my master. The Kazekage was seated at his desk, giving me an intense stare.

"Come."

I walked forward, my breath quickening. I wasn't ready for this. I felt my eyes burn, the tears threatening to form. I stopped in front of his desk, my racing thoughts coming to a sudden stop.

He looked at me coolly from his chair, letting a quick sigh escape.

"What are we going to do with you?"

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh meeeeeeeeeeeeeeehhh Geeeeeeeeeeerd. I haven't written anything in years. I've had all these ideas but never put any effort into putting effort into them. I recently got back into Naruto and reading fanfic and quickly fell in love with Gaara all over again. This chapter is an even 2500 words not including the author's notes. I'll try and keep up to your expectations! Just as a warning, I'm not too terribly informed on Japanese culture and customs and whatnot so food items will either be some pretty obviously Japanese things or Korean things with a Japanese twist since I know a butt ton more about Korea than Japan. Please rate and review! Also the M rating comes from the fact there will be some dark-ish themes and lemons in the future. I actually have two plots I want to work so I may end up splitting the story later and taking one plot and making it a set of chapters and the other a different set. ANYWHO, enough rambling and enjoy!

Edit: I really should proof read these things better. fixed some missing words and such.