Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto only my original characters.
How I Met Your Father
Chapter 4: Always The Space Between
Let it begin with me!
The morning before the meeting, Gaara had escorted Miharu and her party to the front gates. She looked up at him with big brown eyes as he searched for better words than "goodbye." He'd hardly known her though, even after a week in her presence he still felt that way despite her readiness to discuss her family and various hobbies.
"I've had a wonderful time here, Lord Kazekage." Miharu said, bowing her head, "I look forward to returning as well as seeing you." She lifted her head, bright eyes matching his.
Gaara opened his mouth, which was suddenly very dry. He held it open—stunned—while he threw out colder, less personal responses. "We await your return." He managed to squeeze out perhaps a moment too late. He surmised that wasn't the best response either. She blinked rapidly, nodded and turned to go.
Kankuro stood next to him as the group disappeared. He put his hand on his brother's shoulder, shaking his head, "That wasn't…awful?"
Gaara turned, heading back to the village. "No. It was worse."
"You just need practice. It's only because you think she's beautiful that it's hard. Plus, having to remember that you may be marrying this woman doesn't help." Kankuro kept his tone light, trying to sound enthused.
"Realizing that fault and actively doing something about it are two different things."
"You're not wrong," Kankuro gestured with his hands, Gaara appreciated that he was trying.
"Let's head back."
/
After Gaara and I returned from our shopping, we met with the Elders again and finalized the contract. I shouldn't have to tell you that the real contract was accepted. That one—another work of art—was immediately welcomed into the fold, thus beginning the new relationship between Mist and Sand. My Aunt had off handedly remarked once that the Mist and Sand Villages were as opposite as heaven and earth. She wondered then, as she nursed a cup of premium sake (a parting gift from yours truly), if the villages would always be in conflict in the same way or, better or worse yet, if we would need each other in the same respect.
My aunt could be philosophical when she was in the mood, inspiring even. I, on the other hand, never tended to deal in either currency, nor did it ever rub me the right way. We liked to dream that we were two peas in a pod but…
I laughed bemusedly, twirling water around in my sake cup. I never drank often, just pretended to for her sake. "I'd rather be shat on by a thousand birds than have to rely on a single speck of dirt from that forsaken hell hole."
My Aunt Mei laughed at that, throwing her head back in one of the few ways we mirrored each other. "A thousand?"
"No less than a thousand," I replied, and paused as if I were thinking deeply. "Perhaps two thousand, depending on the weather."
"Brilliant," she took another sip of sake, and then sighed. "I am sorry you feel that way…but you're still going."
I pursed my lips, but did not argue. I wasn't Ao; I knew when she wanted me to argue and when she wanted me to bow my head and obey. I wasn't in love with the sight of power, but it was one of the seven great wonders of our world. I more often than not respected it.
I tilted my head, "As you wish, Lady Mizukage."
Her electric green eyes, drifted over to my face. We observed each other quietly. I gave her nothing. In her expression, however, I saw a touch of guilt there, perhaps a spark of regret, but she wouldn't relent. When you were in charge, you played your pieces. And in whatever game she was playing now, I was her queen. An almost unstoppable piece. And that thought was enough to make me smile. I walked over to her, and took a seat to her left, dropping my head into her lap.
After a moment, I spoke, "What are you planning?"
In all honestly, if she would have said "world domination" I would have sighed a blood pact with her, there and then. But, alas, my aunt wasn't that ambitious.
She began to run her fingers through my strawberry locks, humming a song my father would sing for me whenever I asked. I knew he also sang the same for her.
Her words came from a deep sigh, one of contentment. An action that came from conviction of the highest degree, "Peace."
"Peace." I repeated her words, and gritted my teeth to hold in my answering laugh bubbling up in my throat. If only she wasn't serious.
I closed my eyes, allowing myself to be bathed in her hopefulness—her glorious naiveté. Perhaps if it bathed in it enough, I could be reborn?
I cracked a smile.
Not likely.
/
Gaara and Kankuro had met up after the meeting, preparing for the upcoming festival. The day before, he had met with every vendor and ensured that everything was ready. There would be over a hundred booths, covering several streets, decorated with color. Several booths of course would sell, Mist Village favorites for their guests. The others would host all sand village goods. They didn't have festivals often, but when they did, they spared little expense. Truthfully, if Rinmaru hadn't been the granddaughter of a feudal lord, they wouldn't have done things so extravagantly. But, Gaara had learned a long time ago that there was a lot of ceremony involved in running a village. He hated no less than half of the traditions he was forced to uphold, but that one was by far his least favorite. Gaara would probably save the village a lot more money and accomplish much more in a year if he didn't have to uphold the village's image as well as his own. He probably also wouldn't be attempting a betrothal…but that's neither here or there. It wasn't for him, after all. It was for the security of their village—to give his people a more secure transition into the next Kazekage. Gaara was young but if something happened to him, a child would make things easier. At least, that's what he told himself. Temari and Kankuro weren't so pleased by his revelation three weeks ago.
Temari was struck speechless, while Kankuro attempted to get his brother to lay out all of the details. After he was nearing the end, Temari flew into a rage and tracked down the first Elder she could find (Gaara and Kankuro trying to calm her). The three of them tried to explain matters to her but no.
"Kankuro, do you hear yourself?" she said, screaming, making the Elder back up into a corner. "He's barely seventeen and you want to shackle him to some power grabbing witch?"
"Temari don't—" Kankuro tried to cut in.
"No, Kankuro. If you cared about him the way you say you do, then you wouldn't let this happen." Temari snapped, shutting down Kankuro's next response.
Gaara, along with his brother became quiet. After a moment, he placed arms around his sister's shoulders and gently squeezed her in an embrace. "Please, Temari. I want this…please understand."
She didn't, but she apologized to Kankuro and walked back to her room without a word. She hadn't commented on the matter since then, and neither had Kankuro. Gaara hadn't mentioned it and none of them thought about it until Miharu had shown up at their village gates.
Kankuro stood in his doorway presently, arms crossed, a grin plastered on his lips. "Temari's not going to let you get away with that."
Gaara glanced down at his clothing, and then eyed himself in his long mirror, "What's wrong with it?"
"Well, nothing's wrong with it, not necessarily, it's just not very festive…or impressive."
"No one is going to be there that I need to impress." Gaara replied, adjusting his collar. He wore his regular clothes but many people, mainly women, had remarked that he looked handsome in them. If he didn't look horrible, he saw no need to change. "My villagers appreciate me as I am and Miharu has gone home…"
Kankuro reached to the back of his head and began scratching his hair, an act Gaara noticed he did whenever he was about to broach a subject that made him uncomfortable. "About that Gaara…"
Gaara turned to face is brother, suddenly concerned, but he knew not to show it, it would only make Kankuro feel worse which, of course, made him speak much slower than normal. "What is it?"
"Temari and I were talking and…" Kankuro took a deep breath, closed the door behind him and approached his brother. "Gaara. You know you don't have to do this, don't you? I mean," his shoulders slumped, his mouth taking on a melancholy smile, "I am your older brother. I should be doing this for you, not the other way around."
"I'm fine. I'd hate to push either of you into something neither of you want. Besides, I've become Kazekage, fought a war and lived. Marriage shouldn't be so difficult in comparison." Even as he said it, he didn't believe it, but he at least sounded sure. His voice didn't waver and he didn't blink at all. He didn't lie, so he wouldn't know if he had a tell.
"You're only seventeen, Gaara. You should have more time. Spend time with more women…real women. Not that pampered doll they're throwing at you."
Gaara frowned, "I'm with women all the time."
"Women…" Kankuro looked uneasy again, "you find…attractive."
"Miharu's attractive." Gaara replied easily enough. It was true. She was beautiful. He was speechless the first time he saw her, but that had more to do with the fact that he knew he'd be marrying her. The idea still made him speechless, but…he would deal with it.
Kankuro paused at that, "I know but…"
"We can't all be Temari," Gaara said dryly, earning himself a chuckle from Kankuro which made him feel warm all over. "She's more personable than both of us combined. You said it yourself. I'm not very practiced at…"
"Wooing a woman?" Kankuro offered with a grin.
"I have no idea what I'm doing, even Rinmaru said so and we've only spent a few hours together."
"Rinmaru…" Kankuro scratched his chin, "She's a different kind of woman, definitely not the kind you want to start out on, that's for sure."
Gaara nodded in agreement, he'd never met anyone so vexing in his entire life. She'd have more luck wooing herself. Even if the thought of her made his stomach clench, tighten in a way he couldn't try to explain, being with Rinmaru was like being in enemy territory. Under no circumstances, should you ever panic. It only feeds the frenzy, makes the torture that much sweeter. He knew from experience, when he lived a different life. And that, of course, felt like millennia ago.
"Be real, Gaara. You're the Kazekage, if you asked any woman in this village they'd marry you in a second." Kankuro emphasized this by snapping his fingers.
"Out of respect for my title, out of loyalty, not out of any real love—"
"Yes, but that's part of the problem. You wouldn't be marrying Miharu out of love. I didn't want to say this, but you know why she's here. Her family wants power, control. Her family has been scheming for generations. She can't love you Gaara. She's been taught to bait and hook. You'll be miserable your entire marriage! Do you want that? Because I don't, not for you. Not for my little brother."
Little Brother.
A long time ago, the two words would have meant less than nothing to him, he found it strange that now they seemed to grab hold of his entire being—hold him firmer than any sand coffin he could craft.
Gaara was speechless, his brother's eyes were reddening. The lighthearted part of the conversation had all but evaporated. Kankuro, unlike Temari, had stayed silent on the issue but his reluctance to speak on it had nothing to do with his acceptance, it seemed. As much as Gaara appreciated these still new moments with his brother, he needed this conversation to be done. It wasn't for him that he did this, all of them needed to know that.
"Kankuro." Gaara began, searching his brother's dark gaze, it didn't take long before an understanding passed between them. That was one thing he loved about Kankuro, he may not be as brilliant as Temari, but he understood things in a different way than their sister. "Thank you."
Kankuro nodded, his throat making his next words hoarser than normal, "Just…try and remember that that girl isn't the end all be all. That Ichigo seems to like you. Spend some time with her, she's sweet."
"Does she?" That fact was news to the Gaara, but as everyone seemed to know, he was never any good when it came to matters of the heart.
/
"You look you tasty, Temari." I said, as I strolled down the stairs, taking in the four waiting for me at the bottom.
Temari grinned, "Thanks girl. You look late." Kankuro's dropped jaw told me I looked stunning.
My royal blue lace shirt created a horizon line beneath my collar bone. It was fitted and yet breathable, it hung off my shoulders and reached all the way to my knuckles, leaving my entire toned stomach exposed. I wore a tiny gold choker, to accent the gold barrette I'd had holding my hair to one side. My skirt was a long black silk thing that clung to my waist with a belt of gold and jewels, casually draped around it. The jewels were sapphires, a gift from a lord that wanted my mother's favor and my hand. Even after he found out he couldn't have either, he was eager to let me keep it. The slit in the skirt started mid-thigh, just low enough to hide a pair of mesh shorts and a dagger. I wouldn't be taking my swords with me—they made flirting with lordling men difficult—but I'd hidden weapons seals along my covered wrists. I could have swords if I wanted them, but…I knew they didn't care about the particulars.
Perhaps I should've dressed more modestly, but I was only here to get trade up and going—as a ninja not a lady. Besides, I was having a shitty day, I deserved to break a few hearts.
I shrugged, not bothering to speed up my swaggering down their stairs, if they'd wanted me to move faster they wouldn't have built so many. "A lady is never late. Everyone else is simply—"
"Early." Ichigo finished for me, shinning with a secret smile I knew too well. It was no secret that she had immediately perked up when I revealed that things between Gaara and his Lady Love hadn't been set in stone, handed down by the gods. It made me a little guilty when I remembered how I'd flirted with him, how I'd shamelessly exposed his trickle of attraction and attacked it like tiger would fresh meat. Oh, it was thrilling in the moment. The way his large sea foam green eyes grew tenfold, or the way his skin pinkened at my overt advances. All of it was the nectar of the gods. But…it left me feeling worse than a good flirt should have, left me hating him more than any normal person would.
There would be none of that tonight. I flashed her a grin.
"Kankuro," I practically purred his name, how I loved to say it. "I can't tell you how much I adore your face, it brings me joy you know?"
Makeup less and exposed, Kankuro ducked his head and adjusted his burgundy shirt which was folded up at the elbows. His scrolls ever present on his back. I expected no less from the guard of the Kazekage. But I was forcing an attraction I barely felt, even though…he was handsome. At least he wasn't off limits. "Yeah, whatever. The routine's getting old, Rinmaru." The deep blush on his face told me otherwise, but I let it go. Not one to kick a dead horse and all that or camel—whichever animal could survive in the desert—if it were both? All the better.
I reached the bottom of the stairs and stopped in front of Gaara. "I hope you plan to entertain me, Gaara. If I'm not," I winked at him mischievously, "I plan to let you know."
"You didn't have to tell me that," Gaara responded, speaking in that soft almost breathless tone he used when he was pleased, or amused. He wasn't difficult to read. "I figured as much."
"I hope you don't disappoint." I turned from him, by passing Ichigo, to grab onto Temari's elbow exposed for me. "Lovely."
Temari dropped her voice, "You're certainly going to turn some heads tonight, poor Kankuro looked like he was about to have a seizure and Gaara—"
"That reminds me," I looked over my shoulder at the three trailing behind us. "Gaara? Make sure you hold onto my Ichigo, the desert makes her faint."
Ichigo flashed me a look of indignation, but almost blushed out of her mind when Gaara moved to stand beside her. Kankuro tried to hide his smug smile, behind his hand. I offered him my right arm with a wink, which he readily took. It seemed we were all in agreement on the matter.
"Will you be alright?" Gaara asked Ichigo softly.
Her eyes darted around nervously, before settling back on his face, "You know Rinmaru, she likes to exaggerate."
"All the same," he offered her his elbow like a gentleman, I rolled my eyes. "I won't risk your health."
If she could have, Ichigo would have died happy.
/
The Sand Village was actually alive. People came out of the wood works in multitudes, children played and chased each other through the streets beneath colorful paper lanterns, and I could hear several instruments drumming in the distance. Couples carried sparklers, men and women alike tried their hands at various booths, and the scent of sweets and delicious barbeque pulled us straight into the fray. The crowd was boisterous, but parted as we walked by each face glowing as they spotted their adored Kazekage. A series of , "Lord Kazekage!" "He's here? Where?" "My dear Kazekage, how are you?" never ceased as we walked past booths. I was recognized along with the siblings, but their love for their lord overran any admiration or wonder they had for me.
I smiled without thinking. For a moment, I thought of my aunt. I thought of the joy on her face as I would return, the revelry that would follow, the adoration I had there surrounded by all those who knew me well…
I chuckled. Perhaps I was spending too much time in the Sand—with that ridiculous Kazekage. It was turning me soft.
I grabbed onto Temari and Kankuro, pulling them away from the two behind us. "Come on! I want to catch a goldfish. Or at least have you point me in the direction of your finest men and have them catch it for me…you know, whatever works best."
"This will be good," Temari remarked, "We'll get to see her in her element. Let's see if she's not all talk."
"Challenge accepted." I gave Temari a mock curtesy. We stood next to a booth that sold dango, and across from it was a young dark haired man still in his ninja garb. He had a handsome profile, but he wasn't extraordinary looking. I was willing to bet that he had an average confidence, but wasn't a chaser unless given reason.
I inclined my head in his direction. "How about this one?"
Kankuro frowned, shaking his head. "I know him. His name is Shoto Higuchi. He's a straight laced kinda guy. He wouldn't be into it."
"How about we place a wager then?" I said. "If I can get him to follow me around the entire night—"
"Now that's too easy," Temari said, crossing her arms, "You're an attractive woman, and he's a guy all by himself. It would be like taking candy from a baby."
"You didn't let me finish," I said smugly, glancing around the area. I pointed to a sandy haired man by a balloon booth, two medium build guys by the taiyaki stand, and a nobleman surrounded by two guards. "I will also have all of these men following me around in exactly 30 minutes and…by the end of the night three of them will have confessed their love for me."
Kankuro's mouth dropped open, his lips curling up into a smile. "Now, that I gotta see."
"And if I don't deliver?"
"You'll have to do anything we ask for three days." Temari supplied, placing her hands on her hips. "You still want to make the bet?"
"Of course," I waved her off, they didn't realize how easy this would be. Getting rid of them, now that would be the hard part. "I love a challenge."
"And what do you want if you win?" Kankuro got an excited glint in his eyes that matched Temari's calm assurance.
I adjusted my necklace and stared straight at my first mark. He'd just looked up and the two of us caught eyes. He looked shocked to see me, a hint of recognition there, perhaps he remembered me from yesterday morning? I let my lips part, one eyebrow raised slightly (as if I was shocked to see him too, as if he was the most handsome man I'd ever seen, as if he'd just stolen my very thoughts from my mind). My lips curled into a smirk and I lifted my hand, signaling him to draw near with a single finger. "Nothing." I said, as the man sent me a grin that reached his eyes. One hand shot to his hair to tidy it before he stepped forward, shooting through the river of people that passed between us. "I was planning to do this anyway. An audience makes it that much more fun."
Both Temari and Kankuro turned around as he reached me, but I knew that they were listening in. Shoto, my first target, only had eyes for me.
"You're Lady Rinmaru, right?" he asked, Shoto had dark brown eyes, an easy smile. Easy prey.
I nodded my head with a smile, my arms tucked behind my back as I gave us little distance. "And you're Shoto Higuichi," I said, "well-known shinobi of the Sand Village."
His eyes flickered in surprise, amazed, "Wow, how did you know my name?"
I shrugged, turning my head to the side, peering up at him from beneath my eyelashes, almost like I was embarrassed. "You wouldn't believe how many people I had to ask…"
His right hand flew to his hair, his face pinkening, "You, uh, you asked about me? Why would you do that—I mean why would you want to know my name?" he swallowed thickly, clearly nervous but unable to help himself. He had no idea he'd just given me the signal to go in for the kill.
"Because I wanted to know… you."
His mouth hung open, and I knew I'd had him.
/
"This is amazing." Ichigo said, as she kept pace with Gaara, her hand still on his arm. "You have everything."
Gaara nodded, narrowing his eyes at a familiar figure in the distance. "We try. We usually have only two a year. Your coming here has changed that a bit." Was that…Rinmaru?
"Oh," Ichigo let out a surprised gasp, "I'm so sorry."
At her change in tone, Gaara looked over to her, "No need to apologize. I'm actually glad the two of you did come. I can tell it really made everyone in the village happy to be a part of this. I'm grateful."
"Thank you, Lord Kazekage." Ichigo said, meekly dropping her gaze, her face pink.
He glanced over at her in concern, "Are you sure you're feeling alright? You're turning pink. It's not particularly hot tonight…you must be coming down with something—"
"No!" Ichigo exclaimed, "I'm fine. I just…"
He waited for her to finish but once she trailed off, she left it at that. It was quiet between them again. Rinmaru, his brother and sister had left them almost forty minutes ago. Gaara had stopped to talk with one of his shinobi named Kaito Yoshino, his wife and his one-year old daughter. The toddler wouldn't let Gaara leave until she'd pulled his hair at least once, after he'd held her of course. After that, the couple had apologized for several minutes and Gaara assured them that no harm was done. When they'd finally parted, Gaara looked around and the three had disappeared.
He knew Rinmaru had said that he should spend time with Ichigo, but despite discovering that she was both a sweet and kind girl, he came to the conclusion that for whatever reason…she wouldn't be giving him advice anytime soon. She became flustered when he complimented her, and he could tell that hanging onto him as she did wasn't helping matters.
Admittedly, it was flattering to have someone like Ichigo like him so much but…that he was used to. He'd much rather be able to engage her in conversation—
"Rinmaru." Ichigo chuckled, and pointed to the strawberry haired girl to their left. She laughed gaily, surrounded on all sides by seven men. Two of the men wore solemn expressions and stood farther back while the other five tried to catch and keep her attention. She was on the arm of a bench, listening as Shoto, a ninja Gaara had seen with Kankuro many times, told her a story. The others listened as well. Some of them were actually listening, the others, Gaara could tell, were bidding their time until they could interrupt. "She's incorrigible."
Gaara found himself smirking, "I guess she wasn't lying when she said she preferred her men the way she preferred her enemies…"
"'In large groups, ripe for the picking!'" Ichigo exclaimed, imitating Rinmaru's mannerisms as she said it, finishing it off with a wink. "She never lies when it comes to flirting. She's become something of a professional—so infamous, most ninja in our village know better than to take anything she says seriously."
"She's never meant any of it?"
"Never. It's never been more than a game to her." Ichigo was grinning now, her eyes alive as she observed her friend. "I've gotten some of her special moves down to a science. See here—" Ichigo motioned to how she was sitting, "She's presenting herself as a prize. There's elevation here, sitting differently than the men around her. She's holding herself in a way that invites others to look…but not touch. Her legs are crossed but her skirt is draped in a way that hides her legs—letting them know that she's no floosie. If they want to win her, they have to come as gentlemen. I'd even be willing to bet that she hasn't so much as grazed one of their arms. She probably spotted these men when we first arrived, observed them a bit—tried to reveal bits of their character—before making her approach."
Gaara furrowed his brow, "That seems so unlike her," and yet it also didn't. When they had entered the dressmaker's store, Rinmaru knew exactly how she would approach Nanao. Some of it had to premeditated, but it seems so…reckless…so whimsical. So…
"It's rare for Rinmaru to do anything without a purpose or plan," Ichigo said, nodding at the girl in question as she peered their way. "If she does…her target must be very beautiful."
The wind suddenly picked up around them, causing Ichigo to exclaim as she leaned further into Gaara. Rinmaru on the other hand seemed to relish it. She lifted her arms as the wind blew around her, whipping her hair around. She closed her eyes, and turned her head. When she opened them, her striking eyes met Gaara's nailing him to his spot. But instead of reprimanding him, she smirked and stared back at him, not breaking contact even as the wind pushed and pulled her hair.
She continued to smirk at him until the urge to look away from her left Gaara. In moments, he returned the look with a small smile of his own. She seemed pleased and he couldn't say that he wasn't either. In a way they were both caught, a secret shared between them—
One of her consorts called her name, she blinked, and the spell was broken. Rinmaru turned away from him and continued her game of cat and mouse. But he continued to watch her all the same.
/
The crowd around me had grown to include both women and children, and not a moment too soon either. I'd been given my love confessions and wanted nothing more to do with these men. They were pleasant…but boring. The women were more interesting and the children were even more so, hilarious. I used them as an excuse to escape, but my little harem found me anyway.
"Lady Rinmaru!" Kota said, freckled faced with red blotchy skin. I had a feeling he had a crush on me. "Look at me!"
He threw a ball at a bunch of bottles stacked on top of each other and succeeded in knocking the load down…save for one. He frowned, and crossed his arms, disappointed.
I waved a few quick signs with my right hand (blocked from view) and watched as a gust of wind blew it down.
"Yes!" Kota punched the air, his hair falling into his bright dark eyes. "I won you a tiger, Lady Rinmaru!"
The vendor scratched his grey beard, "That sure was a crazy wind just now."
"Was it?" I asked, "I didn't feel any wind."
The vendor frowned, questioning himself, "Well…I suppose I didn't feel anything either. Must be the rheumatism."
I grabbed his eyes, and held them, "Perhaps a storm is coming? I wouldn't put it past a wise man like yourself to know such things."
The man folded his arms, straightening his back as he did, "Yes. Well, it wouldn't be the first time. These old bones don't lie…"
"I'm sure." I said, and pointed at the red stuffed tiger, "We'll take that one."
/
Kota, Genkai, Ran, Yuma, Ichiro, Sosuke, and Asa comprised my new cohort. All of them walked closely beside me, squeezing out any other pursuer with ease. The boys were sweet, grinning to get my attention, and the little girls were cute, cunning little things. The men that managed to sneak by a child would be met with one of their smiles and an order, "Lady Rinmaru really wants some candy." And like the suitors they claimed to be they would scramble away at a run to retrieve that special treat for me. Asa was the one who had started this little game, and I, of course, did nothing to discourage it. I didn't let it on, but she was quickly becoming my favorite.
I'd met the little diva after I ditched my harem the first time. She was all alone, arms crossed but with a distinctly noble air about her. She was a pampered girl, her clothing extravagant and her eyes ever watchful. She had dark, rust colored hair that instantly reminded me of my aunt. But her eyes, despite their color, I could see were just like mine.
"You're Lady Rinmaru, aren't you?"
"Yes. And who are you, beautiful?" I said squatting down to her level.
"Asa." She said, her cheeks pinkening at my compliment.
"Are you with someone?" I decided that asking "are you lost" would instantly throw her into a rage, she would deny it and march off like she knew exactly where she was going. She would get lost, land herself in a few fights too. It was something I would do as a child.
She shrugged, "Not anymore."
"I see."
"You know something?" the little girl stepped closer until she had to tilt her head to match my eyes.
"What?"
"My mother hates women like you."
I threw my head back laughing, tears pricking my eyes. I was pleased to see that the little girl didn't look displeased by my reaction. Her eyes were bright, alive. "Is that right? Why is that?"
"She says you're attention whores."
Again I barely suppressed my laugh, but straightened my features, my eyes boring into hers. "And what do you think?"
Her answer was instantaneous, following close behind a wide grin, "I think you're funny."
I grinned, brushing her hair with my fingers. "Well, I think you're funny too, but let's not let other people hear you say the word whore okay?"
"Why not?"
"Some people don't like it." I said with a shrug, "But me? I couldn't care less."
I looked down at her beside me now, as her hand held on to mine possessively. Marriage had never been a part of a future I thirsted for but for a little girl like her…it would almost be worth it.
/
Gaara quite enjoyed the quiet. It was nice and seldom uncomfortable for him. The silence he shared with Ichigo wasn't uncomfortable, it was awkward but not uncomfortable. After Rinmaru had disappeared, the two of them had discussed her and her antics until there was nothing left to say. They had actually worn the subject through to the bone. Even now, he was tempted to bring her up again just to see Ichigo's face light but, even more so, he wanted to know more about the Rinmaru Ichigo had unwittingly revealed to him. Gaara chastised himself for it, even though, truly, he didn't know why he did that either.
Gaara was no brilliant conversationalist unless they were discussing war or politics. He figured neither subject were appropriate though. That left him with few options….
Oh, what the hell… Gaara sighed deeply, "I was wondering about something you mentioned about Rinmaru—"
Ichigo suddenly let out a laugh, "This is just like Rinmaru. Even when she isn't here…she's here."
Gaara didn't respond. He couldn't be sure the girl was even speaking to him and knew it would probably be a bad idea to offer any more insight into her comment.
Gaara was slowly getting annoyed—not at Ichigo—but at his brother and Rinmaru, of course. This was supposed to be easy! This was supposed to be simple! Something even he could accomplish with little to no effort. Damnit. She seemed so outgoing when he'd met her on the battlefield and again at the village gates. Why was the only thing they could possibly have in common is the one person—
There was suddenly a whizzing through the air. Gaara looked to his left, "Paper bomb—"
He grabbed onto Ichigo and the two of them were incased in sand as the debris blasted all around them.
/
It was almost a blessing. Almost. But…unfortunately women and children screaming did nothing but put a damper on my love for battle.
Asa tugged on my hand, "What should we do?"
Her eyes were bright things, fierce. This little girl didn't understand anything beyond her own temper. She'd get herself killed one day if she kept that up.
"Simple." I weaved my hand signs, giving the group of fierce and frightened children a wink. "Nothing. What is it? Six of you?"
Asa narrowed her eyes at me and nodded. "Yes. Why do you—"
"Almost to ten then!"
My portal appeared beneath them and they had little time to scream before they found themselves transported away. It was a good thing too, because at that moment a barge of kunai speared down from the sky. I'd put the number close to a hundred, many of them, undoubtedly hard to see in the falling darkness. The screams told me that although these people could see them, many of these villagers didn't seem to have the means or faculties to run away.
I opened another damnable portal. The screaming ceased only to be replaced by shock.
"Well?" I shouted, "Aren't you going to run?"
One man wearing a dark blue tunic pulled himself from the dirt and began barreling in the opposite direction of the fighting. Good for him. After seeing this brazen fellow, the rest of the group followed. The group was dense, I'd put the number closer to sixty. It was strange how slow people seemed to move when they had every possible reason to run like the gates of hell were falling from the sky.
I followed after them, opening portal after portal, transporting these people to the other side of the village to a bunker I knew existed from my late night "stroll". I pray it's in commission. If it's not… well…always the thought that counts.
I turned and darted down a side street. In the distance I could see waves of sand roll over and around buildings, dancing fiercely with an assailant.
Gaara.
I scaled the first building I came to and began jumping and diving from roof to roof. He was closer now, near the village walls but high in the sky suspended by a small circle of sand. It almost looked like he stood on nothing. I opened my mouth and found that even I couldn't think of something clever to say to myself.
His hair was a storm of red around him, his arms barely moving as the sand hunted it's target. The man was swift though, keeping just near the city to make Gaara pause. There were suddenly two other shadows advancing, the ones that had undoubtedly attacked the city. I moved to take them but the sand was faster. It swarmed around them, enfolding them in enough sand to bury them alive five times over.
There was a movement with Gaara's hand and a muffled scream as the sand suddenly tightened destroying its contents in mere moments. Ruthless.
The man leaping around barely glanced at his fallen comrades. But shuddered all the same as sand took them. I let my hands weave me up and into the air. I was behind him now. And I placed my cold fingers against his neck. He jerked back into me and I stepped back landing on the roof beneath us. He landed as well, but unfortunately for him he began to sink speedily into the ceiling.
"What the hell is this?" the dark blue haired man shouted.
"It's what we in the mist village like to call a trap, my good friend." I said swaggering up to the man, who had only a head left to shout with.
"Where's the rest of me?" he screamed. I couldn't possibly attempt to recreate the terror on his face. It was beautiful, marred by his dirty face. "It…feels like I'm standing in nothing."
The rest of him must be in the sky somewhere. I even impressed myself sometimes.
I didn't dare look up though, best to keep him confused. Ninja's were always less effective than they would like to think when they were confused. The same is true for lovestruck men.
I could hear Gaara descending behind me.
"Where's Ichigo?" I asked, smiling at our dear insurgent.
"She, Kankuro and Temari were evacuating the villagers. I left to handle this…" Gaara frowned at the being before us. "I didn't expect to find you here."
"I thought I'd get that debt out of the way."
"I see you have your priorities." Gaara replied monotonously.
"Don't be jealous just because I have nothing to confuse," I replied lazily. I pointed my finger at the assailant. "Now, tell me…what's your name?"
His darting eyes seemed to finally fall on me. His eyes were wide, but they began to slack. His lids beginning to close shut. "Death…" he sputtered out, "Death to the Sand Village…long live the Mist…"
/
My eyes snapped open and my body ran still. I didn't bother glancing at Gaara. I did listen though, I listened for anything that signaled an impending attack. The two of us stood in silence.
I was almost disappointed. Gaara had a way of making you hate him. If our positions had been switched, the moment I heard those words I would have attacked without question. Unflinchingly.
I rolled my eyes and cracked my neck. He knew how to piss me off, didn't he?
"That was easy." I said, taking steps toward him.
"It was supposed to be." Gaara said, flicking something toward me to catch. I snapped it up with two fingers and flipped it over. It was a single card with a joker on the front, divided around the waist. It showed two faces laughing. "Someone's trying to start a war."
He crossed his arms and peered down at the man tucked deeply in the genjutsu.
I stomped my foot, knowing full well it meant I'd be trapped here for another week or so. "Well, fuck me."
Gaara gave me an appraising look but he cracked a smile and then looked away.
Irked, I watched him kneel next to the insurgent before looking him over as well (what he could look over anyway). He glanced back at me.
I rolled my eyes, weaved a hand sign and walked up to the insurgent, grabbed him by the hair and pulled him out of the roof.
"Impressive," Gaara remarked, staring at the spot the ninja had been, "Your power is reminiscent of the Rinnegan or the Sharingan, but it's also so versatile."
I lifted my hands, "What can I say? I'm a boss, deal with it."
Shaking his head, Gaara encased the man in sand, leaving only his face free for him to breathe. "After we account for the villagers, we should question him."
I nodded at his back, knowing full well he couldn't see me.
"I guess it would be a bad time to ask how things went with Ichigo?" I said tapping his shoulder to get him to turn and face me, "Did you talk about me the whole time or just for the time you were watching me?"
/
Author's Note: Hello, lovelies! I appreciate your guys' patience. Please ignore any future dates I put up, I always overestimate how much time I'll have to finish a chapter. In truth I began this chapter immediately after I posted the last, but I wasn't able to finish this off until recently. I'm posting these chapters as I finish them so they may have a few errors here and there. When I reach chapter five, I plan to go through and fix all errors. I want to finish this story in ten chapters, by the end of summer or beginning of winter. I have it all outlined! Let's see if we can make history!
