--
It was a hazy morning, with the very bright morning sun in room, reminding Gaara that the warm season was approaching. How he loved waking up from sleep, a fascinating unconscious state of mind where his body could rest. His sleep consisted of that state of mind for three hours, and he was improving every week by quarter of an hour. Ever since Shukaku had been extracted from his body, Gaara lived an easier life, taking time to enjoy the small pleasures. Three hours earlier it was the sense of Kuroi that drifted him off to sleep. He could feel her melanoid energy from across their rooms and through the single wall that separated them. She had been awake then, doing what he didn't bother to find out. Three hours later, her energy level was still active.
It bothered him a bit. He wondered what kept her up all night, and lay there, thinking about Kuroi. He didn't like her, but he couldn't really say that he disliked her. She was…obscure. She was strange. Even now he didn't know if he made the right choice for marrying her, and he regretted that he didn't pay more attention to her before. He's never really met anyone like her. She seemed psychotic, with her interest in liquor and her own knowledge of psychology. She seemed to suffer from various mental disorders, resulting in a troubled woman in an unstable borderline state. His curiosity got the better of him, so he got up and exited his room. Outside her door, he turned the handle, but it was locked. She must know that someone was trying to enter her room. With his sand, he let it slide through the cracks and unlock the door. He opened it just a crack, and with a care for his manners, knocked.
"Come in" said Kuroi. She didn't seem to be bothered.
Gaara opened the door a little more, and then stepped into her room. He first noticed a bottle of liquor on her bedside table, near empty. Instantly his was aware of his senses and alert to her actions. Kuroi seemed happier, maybe because the alcohol had really gotten to her. She lay there on her bed, her neck propped up with pillows and her body luxurious sinking into the sheets. In disgust Gaara had noted that her shoes were strewn on the ground. He looked to the couch on his left and sank down.
"Yes?" Kuroi questioned, her eyes focused on a bunch of papers grasped in her hand.
Gaara didn't know what to say now that he actually got here. She was dressed in alluring black silk robes, files in one hand, liquor in the other. "You don't sleep?" he asked.
Kuroi shook her head slowly. "No, I do sleep, but last night was an exception. I couldn't sleep."
His frowned, in a way that if he had an eyebrow it would be raised."Suffering from insomnia?" said Gaara, almost sarcastically. He didn't get a response for another couple of minutes. Her eyes shifted to his. "What is it, Gaara? I'm sure you didn't come here to see me suffering from something that plagued you."
"I was just wondering why you stayed up so late…and the reason behind your alcoholic obsession last night."
Kuroi sighed."It's not an obsession; it's something I enjoy. The reason I stayed up so late was also because of something I enjoy. I had read these papers, these files of important people and I may encounter in the near future. It's really very interesting. Did you enjoy your few hours of sleep? I heard you breathing…very calm, very vulnerable." Kuroi smiled. "You know what you would love? The ability to heal."
In a second Gaara was enraged. Kuroi didn't have the authority to say that. She didn't know what it felt like fighting that monster all those years, with everyone around him believing that he was that monster. He had grown strong, powerful enough to control the monster most of the time. Nobody knew his strength, nobody understood him for himself, and nobody would trust him.
"How would you know?" He answered bitterly. "You've never had a monster inside of you"
"Everyone has monster inside them, Gaara. Everyone also has a pureness inside them. It just depends on how much of each quotient they have. The face inside of me watches me climb, and laughs when I fall." Kuroi's voice softened. "I've had times when I would be so cold that I would turn completely numb, when paranoia would chase me to my edge, and that face inside me will push me off." Kuroi's eyes were far away, as if she was talking to herself. "And so I began to kill, to watch others squirm before me, dying with my words."
Gaara instantly caught the bend with what she said. "Dying with your words?"
She eyed him closely, mildly amused. "You're mind's quick. Well, what do you think I mean by that? I'll give you three guesses."
Gaara took time to think. "You've hired assassins." Kuroi shook her head.
"You use psychology to disrupt and malfunction the mind…" Again Kuroi shook her head. Gaara had one more guess, thinking hard. His focus faded when he became aware that Kuroi's pupils were abnormally large. His breath caught in his throat when he saw two dark holes –literally. He was caught in the deep pit of her eyes, unable to tear his gaze away. In a flash of white Gaara had lost his sight, but it soon returned to him after a few seconds. As his vision returned to him, he stared wide-eyed at Kuroi, seeing nothing different on her eyes again.
"…was that real?" he breathed.
A smile played on Kuroi's lips as she took another sip of vodka.
--
DingDong
"I'll get it" said Kankuro, getting up to answer the door. He was greeted by a man in an outlandish dressing. "Hello"
Kankuro scratched his head. "Aren't you…the sensei of that…what's him name…ah ha, Konoha's green beast?"
"Yes, that's true! I am Maito Gai from Konoha, and I have a package from the Hokage for the lady of the Kazekage."
Kuroi appeared behind Kankuro. "Hello, Gai-san."
Gai nodded and heaved the box onto Kankuro. "Oh, there is also a note from the Hokage." Gai took a sealed scroll from his pocket. "Until me meet again, Kuroi-san."
Kuroi grasped the scroll and turned. Kankuro closed the door and followed, putting down the large and heavy box. Without a word, she left her unfinished breakfast and hurried up the staircase. The sand siblings heard her door close and lock. Gaara put down his fork and pulled the box toward him. "Hey, Gaara, maybe you shouldn't open it –it's a package for her." Kankuro said.
"It's nothing important, or else she won't just leave it here with us." Gaara said, as he ripped the cardboard open. It revealed liquor, 40 bottles at least. Temari's eyes widened and frowned in concern and disapproval. "She's an alcoholic, Gaara. Last night she came home with a newly bought bottle, and this morning she came down with an empty one."
"It's what she lives on, Temari." Gaara answered. Temari was surprised at Gaara's reponse. "Alcohol helps her think, helps her concentrate."
"I sure don't get why that happens" grumbled Kankuro. "This liquor's strong. She's lucky she has a high intake."
Gaara's thoughts went back to his conversation with Kuroi earlier in the morning, still hungering of curiosity about her. He also wondered what Tsunade would want to tell Kuroi, written through a sealed scroll only the receiver can open. His wife is interesting…he realized.
--
Once Kuroi locked the door, she quickly advanced toward her beside table, where she opened the drawer and took out a small bottle with light blue liquid and a small pocket knife. She held the scroll next to her ear, shaking it for any sounds. Her knuckles tapped the wood in the center, and then she took hold of the knife and carved a deep hole into the wood. The wood was hollow, but filled half-way with explosive powder. Next she opened the small bottle and poured a drop or two of the liquid into the hole, fizzing with the powder. When the fizzing stopped, she finally opened the seal with the end of its binding string. The whole process took roughly five minutes, but she wasn't taking any chances. Inside was a letter from Tsunade.
Kuroi, by the time you've received this letter, twelve formidable Konoha ninja will come to your aid in a few days.
You will have no choice to accept this aid or not to; this is an A-rank mission for these ninja to protect you and lastly, with Konoha's jounin, defeat the Yoinokuchi. I have informed these twelve ninja of your situation, as I trust them and I hope you will too. Show this to Kazekage-sama, and please let him send a sealed scroll to confirm his decision. You must compromise.
Tsunade
Kuroi didn't know if aid was good news or not. It would endanger those around her, and the more likely for secrets to be spread. By then she would lose her battle. She couldn't use her eyes to defeat her enemies all the time. It needed passion, extremities, or glee to protrude her Hari, her dark eyes with the power to illusion and confuse. Kuroi held her forehead in her hand, her heart aching and her head hurting. Thinking through her options in her head, she finally decided that to tell Gaara's family would be best. So exited her room, but there was no noise in the empty house. In dismay Kuroi felt lonely again, even though she hated herself to think that way. She had always lived alone, but she never felt lonely because there was no one to leave her. Gaara went to the Kazekage's tower to put on his role as Sunagakure's leader, Temari and Kankuro were Jounin with students to teach. All that was left was Kuroi, alone, unsafe, and unprotected.
--
"Gaara?" Kuroi called.
"I'm home" Gaara called back. He liked how she called him Gaara, instead of those ridiculous Gaara-sans or Gaara-samas. Kuroi was trying to hold back a smile, as their little dialogue filled her with warmth. She descended the stairs, holding the open scroll Tsunade sent her. Gaara watched her, lowering his gourd to the floor.
"Well, Gaara, I want you to read this." She handed him the scroll. Gaara sat down by the table and read it, thinking it over for quite a while. Kuroi seated herself beside him, looking down. She didn't why she was feeling a little ashamed, a little guilty. Everyone around her was coming to her aid, yet she was not accepting it gratefully.
"I'll send the confirmation tomorrow." Gaara finally said. She nodded. "I'm going to tell Temari and Kankuro tonight." Comfortable silence filled the air, both of them lost in their thoughts as they sat there, waiting for his siblings.
Towards the evening, Kuroi sat by her seat at the dinner table nervously, fidgeting with her plain fingernails. Gaara's hands were rested on the table, his eyes elsewhere. They were so close, beside each other but no touching. She slowly took off her wedding ring and held it towards the setting sun to admire it. It was adorned with diamonds along the band, with gold outer. Her wedding ring glistened in the afternoon light, shining gold. She had never thought about anything to do with marriage or love before, and was even shocked to find herself in this position. In the silence of the empty house, a key was heard inserted in the lock at the front door. Gaara looked up, expecting Temari. Kuroi was startled, and the ring shook out of her hand to shatter on the glass table. The loud noise shook her, and for a moment Kuroi's heart quenched. All of her sorrows and fright from all those years rushed to her. The door was flung open, and Kuroi, sitting there, facing the door, experienced a moment of melancholic fear.
Kuroi's hand went to Gaara's, grasping his fist with her white knuckles. Gaara was shocked and didn't know what to do, but soon his hand squeezed hers, holding her there. Kuroi's mind experienced a turmoil of haunting memories, from the miserable dungeons of the Yoinokuchi to the sad and gloomy apartment she lived in before. She remembered a cold dagger's sharp blade traveling up her bare thighs, nearly drawing her blood. Double chains that strapped her wrists, silver cloaks that skimmed her skin. The agonizing sound of the water dripping from the tap, the grey walls that held her captive.
Gaara looked to her in concern, tempted to reach out to her shadowed face. But he didn't. He didn't know where the line was, and he didn't know what would happen if he did cross the line. Kuroi's other hand was holding the side of the glass table, her sweat smearing the glass. "I'm home!" the call of Temari brought Kuroi back to reality, relieving her.
Temari saw her brother and his wife holding hands, sitting at the table. Kuroi was hunched over, but slowly straightening. Gaara was mouthing "Be quiet".
Kuroi eased her eyes open, seeing Temari sitting down across from her. Gaara didn't want anyone seeing him showing such warmth and kindness, but he was afraid to let go of Kuroi. He was afraid to hurt her, to plague her with more insecurity. "I'm sorry", she whispered, her hand still in Gaara's. To his surprise, her eyes filled with tears. She quickly put her hand over her eyes and wiped the liquid away.
After that, her eyes were a bit swollen and red, but she was back to her normal composture. Temari, noticing the tension, wanted to leave and let Kuroi cool down with Gaara. Temari got up and took two steps until Kuroi stopped her.
"Temari" she said, her voice delicate and weak. "Find Kankuro and please return. I have matters to discuss."
Temari nodded and left the house. She wondered what had happed before she came home. She first browsed some store fronts on the street of the Kazekage's home, waiting for Kankuro to arrive any minute. Half an hour passed, and Temari wondered ehy the delay. She headed to the Kazekage's tower, where a few interns she knew were working late. Inside, she found Suzuki, a filer-in-chief.
"Temari-san! What may you be doing here so late?"
"Has Kankuro returned?"
"No, not yet. Is there a problem?" Yes, there is a problem, obviously not your's. Temari had always hated Suzuki, a young woman that has an addiction to all things fake. Plastic hair, plastic nails, plastic eyelashs, plastic nose.
"I would like to know the mission he was given."
Suzuki smiled. "Follow me."
Inside an office where all the mission files were stored, Temari waited a few minutes for Suzuki to find Kankuro's latest mission.
"Ah! Here it is. It says that Genin team 8 and he were on a C-rank mission in the north end of the wind country, near the Ugi Mountains. Their task was to…capture an escaped criminal. Anything else?"
Troubled, Temari returned to the Kazekage's house and went in. There he saw Gaara and Kuroi, sitting in the exact position she left them. "Did Kankuro come back?"
Gaara shook his head. Temari returned to the street and started searching for Kankuro around Sunagakure. It took her three hours to complete her search, but no sign of Kankuro. Kuroi, meanwhile, dreaded and dreaded to hear any bad news of Kankuro. If anything happened to him, she was sure it was the doing of Yoinokuchi. How could she be holding Gaara's hand and not feel guilty of being a burden? But she didn't want to leave his warm hand. It brought heat to her heatless body and love to her loveless heart.
It was an hour or so before midnight when Temari came back, with out Kankuro. "Kankuro hasn't come back yet."
Kuroi took a deep breath and suddenly stood up. Her voice was dominant, strong and different from what Gaara had seen earlier. "Temari, Gaara, get dressed for the night. Please send for a group of 10 skilled Jounin and a few skilled medics. We're going to find Kankuro"
Gaara didn't know how she was going to approach the problem, but he trusted her. "Temari, quickly round up our best Jounin, and please deliver this message to Baki for him to send to Tsunade."
Temari nodded, threw on a warm vest, and left the house. Kuroi hurried upstairs to dress warmly, and came down in a swift and light coat. "Round the best horses and let's get going."
--
"We're going west!" Kuroi shouted to the whole group. "We need to cut them off, before they return to their headquarters with Kankuro."
The team of Jounin all agreed that no wonder Kuroi-san was the Kazekage's wife; she was truly a leader. As they were trusting Kuroi, Temari had doubts.
"Are you sure Kankuro is captured by the Yoinokuchi?" Temari asked quietly. "And why would they return to their headquarters?"
"I'm positive" Kuroi replied. "We need to set off now, because we won't be able to defeat them in their territory."
Kuroi swiftly mounted her black horse, among with the others. Gaara led the team, followed behind him was Kuroi and Temari. They traveled at a fast pace with no breaks. In an hour, according to a map, the Yoinokuchi would be meeting them here. Gaara steered his horse towards Kuroi. "You should be finding some safe spot to wait until the fight ends. You can't fight."
Kuroi didn't say anything. Finally, Gaara sighed. "I don't want you to get hurt. It'll be my fault."
"I won't get hurt."
Exasperated, Gaara said, "Why are you so hard-headed? You will get hurt!"
"I won't get hurt!" By now a few Jounin were already watching.
"She's right, Gaara. Kuroi-san can take care of herself", said a third voice, a shadow emerging beside Kuroi. The voice had sounded painstakingly familiar. The male voice was eerily husky, and playfully sexy. Gaara stared at the owner of the voice in disbelief.
"Sasuke…"
--
