Chapter Two
Of New Beginnings
"Where are you going?" Kira asks, as she places yet another framed photograph of her and Kankurou on the wall of her side of our room. My side of our room is completely blank.
"Up to the roof," I reply, walking away toward the door.
"Why?"
"Just to get some air." I button up my jacket and step into one of the many hallways of the Kazekage mansion. Temari's words ringing in my head, I turn corner after corner until I reach the Kazekage's office. Passing through a door adjacent to the one to the office, I step out onto the warm sand of the roof. It's not the first time I've been up here, as I have the privilege of living on the top floor, but I've never been up here at this time.
Beautiful.
That one word that's so unfamiliar to me is all that comes to mind. The stars seem within arm's reach. The moon, in their midst, seems to light the world as well as the sun does in daytime, despite its shape and size. I'm instantly bathed in light, as I realize why this is the place Gaara always chooses for his refuge.
It takes me no time to locate him. He's sitting straight on the edge of the roof, his gaze forward instead of up or down. His dark red hair appears silvery-red in the moonlight.
I begin my slow walk forward again, stopping a few yards behind him. The light seems to intensify with every step I take closer to the edge of the roof.
"Sora. Why are you here?"
That calm, quiet, yet penetratingly clear voice I hadn't heard since those months ago on the day I met him and his siblings for the first time…
When I don't respond immediately, he turns around and stands up. "I'll leave."
"No… don't."
The words are out before I can think, before I can stop them. Gaara falls silent, stopping in his tracks. After what seems like an endless moment, he turns around and walks back over to the edge of the roof, slowly sitting down. I sit down beside him and we sit in silence for awhile before he speaks.
"Why would you want to be here?"
"Tell me who you are." I briefly turn to him, seeing his clear eyes momentarily widen at the new words.
"Why are you…?"
How am I acting this way? It's like my body, my mouth is moving on my own. I don't think I can act this way by my accord. So what's going on?
"You're like me, Gaara."
Gaara. Not Kazekage-sama, not even Gaara-sama, but just Gaara. There is an extended silence.
"Is that so?..." he says. Sighing, his gaze turns down; when he speaks again, it is in no more than a whisper. "What's with you…? This isn't you."
This isn't me. But this person – whoever it is – is doing the right thing.
"No. No, it's not." My gaze follows his, "Maybe the true me wasn't strong enough today."
Backing away from the edge of the roof, I stand up, beginning to walk away. "This is all I wanted you to know… that you might not be as alone as you think."
I hear him sigh, his gaze still lowered. Taking another step forward, I continue off this roof and out of this beautiful night.
"Sora."
I stop in my tracks.
"So far, my existence… has it been able to mean something to anyone…? Or am I still not taking the right path?"
Already, he expects me to know. Expects me to have meant it when I said he's like me.
"I don't know why, Gaara, but it means the world to me."
I leave the strange silence so complete that it seems tangible behind and walk on.