Kintsukuroi

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Chapter 4: Anxiety

Gaara patted her head and looked at Shinki who placed the Yarrow tea in her hands.

The 14 year old was caught off guard when Sarada quickly placed down the tea and suddenly wrapped her arms around him. Shinki stood in place, his usual expressionless face, which he mirrored from his father, had a trace of shock.

It was in the midst of the sudden embrace did the two male shinobi hear her whimper and sob into his chest.

Gaara stood up to continue the packing of his personal effects, before redressing himself in his sand/heat protective gear.

Gaara was rummaging through their belongs and from their bag, pulled out a large piece of white cloth, placing it beside Sarada for her personal use.

Gaara turned around to witness ongoing tender display between his son and ...her daughter.

Gaara's couldn't help but grip at his heart, the action itself felt very foreign to him.

He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his now, slightly longer red locks.

' I wonder what Konoha is doing to retrieve her.. I wonder... how she is handling this..'

Gaara leaned against the edge of the table, arms crossed while lost in thought while Sarada still held on to his son, crying.

Gaara's forehead furrowed, the thought of going back to Konoha, back to where it all began, made him feel terribly nostalgic.

' I don't think... I can.. do this..' Gaara couldn't help the hesitation that crept upon him.

At times, whenever Gaara was alone to himself, Gaara admitted, he missed Shukaku.

Many a time, he caught himself wondering what the Ichibi would say to him, at a moment like this. Gaara couldn't help a small smirk make its way across his features at the thought of the Ichibi's regular witticism:

'It is dark one inch ahead of you..'

Gaara was pulled from his reverie when Sarada began to repeatedly thank them out loud.

" Arigato!..A-arigato...Arigato!" She continued to chant and cry.

Gaara unfolded his arms and straightened up.

' If she's like this. I can only imagine what Sakura is going are returning her, then leaving soon after.. The storm should provide cover. It should be affecting Konoha at this time..'

Shinki placed his free hands on her shoulders, squeezing them comfortingly, which caused her to lift her head and lower her arms.

Now freed, he sat her back on the two-seater and re-handed her the tea.

" Drink this slowly.. it's still hot.." Sarada nodded and sniffled before gently blowing into her tea, sipping it casually.

Her face remained downcast, a small hint of shock in her expression at today's turn of events. She rubbed her watering eyes then felt around her face, and slowly began to panic.

Shinki's eyebrows knitted, clearly confused, he tilted his head to side as he studied her.

"M-my glasses.. I-i can't really see without them..." She was in the middle of saying how she received them when Gaara started to pat his hidden ninja compartments, seemingly finding what he was looking for.

He passed the red spectacles to his son, whom held it out for Sarada to take, she smiled brightly at the sight.

" I found it on your captors.." Gaara added and immediately regretted mentioning it, as her smile vanished to then be replaced by a look of horror.

" T-they..aren't going to continue to come after me..a-are they?" Gaara shook his head which gave reason for Sarada to crack a faint smile.

Gaara picked up a chair and brought it in front of Sarada, sitting in front of her as she slipped on her red framed glasses.

It took a minute for her eyes adjust to the prescription lens, but once they did she surveyed the boy and man in front of her.

Gaara was wearing loose clothing in different shades of black and brown that covered everything but his face, hands and feet. It was hard to see his frame, but his towering height was hard to see past.

His crimson hair was longer and no longer combed to the side, it flowed and framed his face, naturally parting above his tattoo, the length somehow seemed to bring out the color of his hauntingly jade colored eyes that were surrounded by the iconic black rims.

'..Love... interesting..' she mentally noted.

She turned her gaze to the gray-eyed, brunette with spiky hair. She suddenly felt heat rise to her cheeks as her two saviors were observing her, just as she was, to them.

" ..Sarada" She jumped at the mention of her name.

" Do you mind telling me, how you came to be captured?" Sarada took another sip from the tea in her hands, she sighed softly as the effects were slowly, but surely, soothing away the fever she had.

"Well-N-no way..." Shinki blinked in confusion and looked at his father, who in turn, also looked puzzled.

"Carbuncle! It's you!" Sarada placed the half empty cup of tea down in seat next to her and proceeded to clap and pat on her lap, until the fox excitedly followed suit and jumped on her lap, nuzzling her hand.

Shinki couldn't help but smile at the display.

"I was on a mission!.. to find Carbuncle..this little guy .. he really gave his owner a fright.."

She began to explain the chain of events that led to her capturing.

Gaara stayed silent and mulled over the facts while Shinki put out the fire and slid on his protective gear.

Sarada stayed seated with the now fast asleep fox, now known as Carbuncle on her lap. Gaara neared the talking girl and re-handed her a piece of white cloth to protect her from the harsh winds.

She examined the fabric, noting how soft and high-quality it felt.

" ..A-arigato.. but this seems expensive.I would hate to ruin this lovely fabric.."

Gaara materialized two sand gourds before him by gathering the sand from inside the shelter and seeping some from the outside in.

" Use it.. I have no use for the garment.." Sarada smiled and examined the cloth more, it wasn't just white, it had a blue streak that ran down a part of it. Sarada's eyes widened once she came to the realization of what she was holding and looked at the former Kazekage, whom she heard, once gave his life for his sandy metropolis, Suna.

'… What..happened ..?' Sarada wondered to herself but, nonetheless she accepted it gratefully and stood up causing Carbuncle to hop off her lap and stretch.

Shiniki knelt in front of Sarada with his back facing her.

"Get on.. you still aren't well enough." Sarada's cheeks turned pink at the thought of her wrapping her arms around a boy, whom she only just recently learned whose name is Shinki.

She nodded and wrapped her arms lightly around the boy's shoulders, he lifted her up, after hooking his wrists together underneath her bottom for support; her blush only darkened more.

" Hold on tightly.. I'm pretty fast." Sarada's face matched her glasses at this point, she tightened her arms around Shinki's shoulders, her right hand gripped her left wrist to secure her hold on him. She felt him follow behind the Kazekage, who now had his two gourds strapped to his back, as well as the fox in his clothing.

Gaara went up to Shinki and showed him the map.

" Shinki.. Konoha is 25 clicks from this area.. North west of here, it should take you no more than 10 minutes to get there." said boy nodded while listening intently.

"When you arrive... Wait for me 1 click away from the gates. I will only be a moment"

Shinki nodded and tightened his hold on Sarada, and bolted to the direction of Konoha.

At first Sarada had difficulty breathing and seeing, that was until a black cloak of sand materialized in front of the two, not only did it help shield them from elements but it also allowed them to travel faster, but cutting through the wind.

Shinki made it through the fading desert and into the lush forest in no time, he slowed to a stop, commanding his sand to move from the front of them to above them, protecting them from the ice cold rain water.

Sarada shivered and placed her forehead on Shinki's shoulder blade as they waited for the Kazekage.

In her current condition, Sarada had trouble keeping her eyes open, and sure enough, fell asleep.

" Rest .. We'll be in Konoha, soon." he mumbled softly as to not wake her.

"..A-arigato.. Shinki.." she replied softly.

Shinki, tuned his head slightly to glance at her from the corner of his eye, it was faint, but there was a soft smile on Shinki's face.

"..Rest well Sarada.." she nodded and after resting her jaw on his shoulder, once again falling asleep.

"Shinki..." The boy in question re-positioned himself, to better view his father.

" Let's go..." Gaara looked at his son, and motioned for him to follow under stealth.

Shinki noticed that his father was allowing the downpour to drench and invade his sand armor. The two made quick work of climbing the gates of Konoha not raising a single alarm.

Gaara and Shinki blended in with the trees, effortlessly, with the help of the weather.

The pair along with the resting Chunin, proceeded to head where he recalled to be her residence.

'.. Home with her.. mother..'