Maddening Temptations

Reiko sat on the chair in the office, legs crossed. She watched carefully as Koketsu run to and fro, into the kitchen and out the door. Her voice was like the sound a dying bird, and it had looked like her shirt was about to rip. Reiko made a face, swinging her legs off the arm of the chair. She stared up at the ceiling, yawning rather loudly. Both Koketsu and Gaara looked at her. She looked at the both of them with a toothy grin on her face. Koketsu frowned and Gaara sighed, both of them continuing their work. When Koketsu left the office to deliver more paper work, Reiko hopped off of the chair. She walked over to Gaara, standing next to him. With one planted on the top of the chair and the other on the desk, Reiko looked at the writing in front of him.

"What's that say?" She asked pointing at a word.

"That."

"And that?"

"Is."

"And that?"

"Why."

"And that?"

"Don't you have better things to do?"

"No, actually I think that says 'we.'" She replied, squinting at the paper. Gaara sighed, pushing away from the table. He stood up, dragging Reiko by the wrist into the bedroom. "How about you go back to sleep." He said, leading her to the bed. Reiko pouted, crossing her arms as she sat down on the bed.

"You just don't want me out there because Koketsu's so 'attractive.'" Said Reiko defensively. Gaara rolled his eyes, crossing his own arms. "No, I just don't want you standing next to me asking every second what a word says." He replied sternly. Reiko frowned, staring at him as he returned the gaze. "I don't want to sleep." Gaara frowned, dropping his arms.

"You came back a week ago. The only thing you wanted to do was sleep." Reiko scowled, "I don't want to sleep because every time I do, I see my dead brother and my dead parents." She muttered, looking at the ground. Gaara's eyes softened as he sat down next to her. He didn't say anything, taking her hand into his. Reiko sighed, laying down on the bed, staring at the ceiling. He laid down next to her, looking at the ceiling and back to her. Moments of silence ticked by when she decided to speak.

"I remember that day like it was yesterday," She began, turning onto her side to look at him. "I was buying somethings for my okaa-san, but I ran into a few of my academy friends and we just talked. I guess we talked a bit too long 'cause when I walked into the house, the door was already open. I called for both of my parents, but nothing. That's when I started to worry. I entered the house and saw that the kitchen was empty, there room was empty, and as I went into the living room, I knew it wasn't empty. I saw their dead bodies; slaughtered and raw. It was a horrific sight, probably the scariest thing I've seen. Everything was bloody; from the couch to the walls. The house reeked of blood, and I could still smell it when I was half way down the hill. My clothes probably sucked in the smell of blood. I asked the medical ninja if they could help, but they said it was too late. Too bad. They said it was an instant death. As I left my home village, I took a recap on what happened throughout my life. My brother died... I left for the Suna... I came and met you... I set off to avenge my brother's death... that didn't really work out and I got kidnapped... you came and saved me... I almost died... I went home... My parents died... and now here I am. Great life, huh?" Reiko asked, rolling onto her stomach. "At least I have you."

Her legs hung off the edge of the bed, letting her raise and drop them. Gaara stared up at the ceiling; he had listened intently, feeling horrible for Reiko. He was surprised, though not as much as you think, why she hadn't burst into tears. He turned onto his side, looking at her from an angle. She returned the gaze, hurt in her eyes. He examined both of her eyes; one lined with a vast green field and the other of gold. Both stained with geniune fear and dry sarcasm. Both curiosity-colored, and filled to the brim with a dark, childish snarl that lashed out when provoked. Yet, a soft whimper poked its head out, offering a sweet and faithful hand to guide the way. A soft kiss to the eyes, was what hers offered. Divine and deviant, sweet and sorrowful, beautiful and beastly, sheer brilliance.

Reiko had to admit, being lost in his eyes happened often. It was a joy, being stuck in a puddle of green tea, or a cup of sea moss. It was very cliche to think of his eyes this way, but Reiko knew it was the truth. Being touched by a tainted light, and being spoken too by a sick cloud, she couldn't help but look. And when she did return from the pale fields, she grinned at him. Even if he didn't show it to her, he smiled back. A small, hopeful smile that was rarely shown to the world.

She ran her fingers through her hair, yawning loudly. Her face fell into the ocean if blankets and sheets. Reiko groaned into the sheets, grabbing the blanket. "I'm so tired!" She yelled, sitting up. Gaara sat up next to her, on which where she leaned against him. "Then go to sleep." He said casually, earning a glare from Reiko.

"Goddamn it! Weren't you listening?"

"No, I stopped when I noticed the bug on the ceiling."

"You're such an ass, I sometimes wonder if you lis-" She was cut off by a sudden kiss, and when he pulled away, Reiko smiled flirtatiously. She sat up, pressing her lips up against his, and as he began to return the kiss, she bit down gently onto his bottom lip. Taken by slight surprise, Gaara pulled away, seeing Reiko with a devious grin. As he leaned down to kiss her, the door swung open, a wheezing Koketsu in the door.

"Kazekage-sama! I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU!"

"I was here all that time. Where did you think I was?"

"I thought you went somewhere! Or worst! You got kidnapped!" Reiko snickered, a glare received from Koketsu.

"But I find you here, kissing that little girl!" She went on. Reiko rolled her eyes and scowled. "That depends on what little means to you." Reiko replied, watching Gaara stand up and exit the room with Koketsu following behind. "Jeez, she's like a bustier, spunkier, sassier Asumi." Reiko muttered, laying down on the bed.

A few more days pasted and Reiko was still restless. She took a shower with what was left with her strength. She dried her hair as she exited the bathroom within the bedroom. As her hair neared dry, Reiko dressed. She exited the room wearing a very big sweatshirt that stopped above her knees. Koketsu noticed her appearance first, squeaking and dropping her things. Upon hearing the squeak, Gaara looked up at Reiko and immediately looked back at his paper, banishing thoughts that occurred to him.

"What's wrong with you?"

"Hmmm, nothing. Why do you ask?" Reiko retorted, leaning against the desk.

"You dress like a teenager! Are you even wearing pants? How old are you?"

"Thanks. Yes I am. Twenty-two." Reiko replied, lifting the sweatshirt up to see a pair of shorts. "Hey look at that! Pants." Reiko said snidely. Gaara sighed, the air he nibbled on as he held his breath released. He took a sip of the cool tea, and nearly choked, which was a sight to see, when Reiko spoke again. "I'm not wearing a shirt underneath this sweatshirt though." Koketsu rolled her eyes, looking out the large windows behind the Kazekage, seeing the sun setting slowly. Reiko stretched her arms, yawning, gaining Koketsu's attention.

Reiko got up and stood next to Gaara, his attention drawn to her. "Guess what?" She said, as he kept silent. "When I took a shower, I found this scar! You should remember this." Reiko said accusingly, lifting her sweatshirt, revealing a rather large scar. Gaara didn't look at the scar, rather the naked skin. He reached out to touch her skin, but she slapped his hand away. "No, you've got to look at this one too!" She said, lifting the shirt a bit higher, another scar shown. Gaara stared for a bit, before Koketsu dropped a stack of papers. He shook his head, pushing away his thoughts. He grabbed the sweatshirt, pulling it down. The room was silent, the sun slowly setting.

"I think I'm gonna take a walk." She finally said.

"If you fall over from lack of sleep, don't expect me to come find you." Reiko laughed, crossing her arms.

"You'll come when you start to miss this." She said, taking his face into her hands, kissing him softly. As he began to return the kiss, she pulled away and turned towards the door. He swiped his sleeve across his lips, picking up his pen.

"Reiko." Gaara called as she went out the door.

"Hmm?"

"Go put on a pair of real pants... and a shirt." He muttered, putting his hand, barely, over his eyes. Reiko grinned, skipping back to the bedroom. She exited with a longer pair of pants that you could actually see, and Gaara prayed to God that she wore a shirt. When Reiko noticed him looked at her, she lifted the shirt slightly, revealing a black shirt. The door closed gently and the office was silent.

Koketsu had watched what had happen; how he let her kiss him like that and how he called her name. If she could kiss him like that, why couldn't Koketsu?

As she watched the Kazekage closely, her temptations grew. Shrieking, frightening, maddening temptations. From his fiery red hair to his soothing green eyes, Koketsu knew she liked him. Every girl in the Suna at least had or has a crush on the Kazekage. He was so young and so gorgeous. Who wouldn't like him? But Koketsu had seen him have a hot and heavy make-out session with that girl. What was her name? Riku? Raiko? Reiko! When she wasn't there, they would just start kissing each other, but in reality, Koketsu was watching from behind the glass on the door.

Koketso looked outside, it was dark. She hoped that that Reiko girl didn't plan on coming back so soon.

Reiko walked up the stairs, down the hall and went through the door before she screamed. The scream made Koketsu scream and Gaara stand up. What she saw made her angry, confused, and very, very, very hurt.

"What the fuck is going on here?" Reiko cursed loudly. Koketsu blushed and Gaara stared at her. Reiko couldn't believe what had happened. The man she loved, kissing a girl. She couldn't take it anymore; first her brother, then her parents and now this. Reiko cursed under her breath, turning around and leaving the room. Gaara stood up, following after her, when Koketsu grabbed his sleeve.

"Don't touch me." He snapped at her flirtatious smirk. Her smirk turned into a dark frowned when he left the room. He could barely see Reiko's fast figure push past many people when he lost track of her. He sighed, continuing down the hall.

Reiko was walking very fast; she wasn't even thinking straight anymore. As she passed many people, she absently took a flower with many petals and scurried down the hall and out a door. It was a large balcony she entered, the whole night sky above her. Reiko hopped up on the railing, she looked at the flower in front of her. A thought occurred to Reiko, as she plucked one of the petals.

"Jump. No jump. Jump. No jump..." The process went of for a long time before she came to the last one. "Jump. Well my family's dead, the man I love doesn't love me anymore. Great choice, flower." Reiko said, tossing the flower over the railing. "See you at the bottom." Reiko said one last time, before jumping off.

Reiko opened her eyes, seeing that she was in the same place. She tried jumping again, but something was holding her back. An arm tightened around her waist, a chin rested on her shoulder. "Don't jump, Reiko." A voice murmured into her ear. She scowled, folding her arms across her chest. Reiko looked down at the world below her, breathing slowly. "What choice do I have? First my brother dies, my parents die, and now you go and kiss another chick," Reiko paused, swinging her legs. "I have nothing to live for." Gaara kept quiet, lifting Reiko off the railing, carrying her under his arm.

"Let me go! I want to die!" She cried. Gaara stopped, "If you insist." He said, turning back to the railing. Gaara pulled Reiko up, hanging her over the railing, letting her look down. "You're heavy. I don't think I can hold on longer." He said, loosening his grip. Reiko's body stiffened as she tried to climb back. "Okay. Okay! I get it. I won't jump!" Reiko cried as Gaara pulled her back up. He carried her under his arm yet again, this time continuing on without interruptions. Reiko kept a scowl on her face, her eyes narrowed into accusing slits. Gaara pretended to not notice, and as they neared the office door, Reiko muttered, "I hate you." He knew what she said wasn't true, but he sighed anyways.

As they entered, the room was empty. It looked as though Koketsu had left. "Good riddance." Reiko muttered, recieving a look from Gaara. He opened the bedroom door, dropping Reiko onto the bed. She crossed her arms, not to look at him. Gaara sighed, standing in front of her. He knelt down, taking her face into his hands. Reiko scowled at him, trying to look away. He kissed her softly, and as she returned the kiss, it wasn't a sweet and gentle kiss. Instead, it was a hard and 'this-is-going-to-be-the-last-kiss-from-me' kind of kiss. He pulled away, looking into her eyes. "She kissed me," He began, making Reiko snicker. "That's what they all say." Reiko said with a pff. Gaara rolled his eyes are her ignorance. It was hard to get through a thick-headed girl like Reiko, but he had his ways.

He kissed her again, this time, Reiko was hesistant. She kissed back, and before long, she wrapped her arms around his neck. Gaara smirked to himself inwardly, continuing to kiss her. Reiko pulled away, a half smile on her face. "I'm still made at you." Reiko said, ruffling his red hair. Gaara rolled his eyes once more, standing up. "That's great to know."

As he opened the door to the bedroom, he saw Koketsu laying on the desk half naked. "Come back for more?" She asked seductively. Gaara turned around and closed the door. "On second thought, I'll stay in here with you." He said, locking the door. Reiko looked at the door, "What happened out there?" Gaara didn't answer, kissing her once more.