She felt the pillow yanked from her grasp, ans she glared. She sat up, opening her mouth to yell at him, but she was quickly silenced by a pair of lips crashing down upon hers. She started to push him away, but hesitated. 'They feel so real...'
"Fang, wake up," he muttered softly, cupping her face with his hands. He stroked her cheekbones with the pads of his thumbs, his vision going blurry. He kissed her softly, tears falling from his eyes. "Please. Please, Fang.."
She blinked, reaching up to touch the wetness on her face. She looked up at him, slowly leaning forward. She wrapped her arms around him and buried her face in his neck, trembling. he mumbled his name over and over under her breath, sobbing. He massaged her back softly as her cries softened. He gently pulled her face up, and he used his sleeve to erase the trails of tears from her cheeks. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. I-"
She silenced him with her finger, taking a deep breath. "You... are in so much trouble, Sabaku-no-Gaara. Why did you just leave? I tried and tried to get you to wake up. I've-"
"Fang, let me explain. Please." When she fell silent, he continued, recounting the events leading up to and after his death. He sighed, rubbing his shoulder as he finished his experiences.
"Take it off."
He shook his head gently. "I can't."
She reached over and carefully slid the dark fabric over his head. She trailed her fingers against the raw skin, tracing th faint lines of the seal. She climbed off the bed, returning a few moments later from the adjoining bathroom with a handful of gaze. She set to work on wrapping it, jaw clenched tightly.
"Fang."
"Hm?"
He grabbed her hand, tucking in the end himself. "I never meant to break my promise."
"I know."
Gaara sighed softly, looking around. He finally found what he was searching for and held it up.
"Why do you have a brush? Your hair looks fine."
"Well, yours doesn't. Turn around." He began to run it through her long tresses, untangling it slowly. He brushed her hair back from her neck, leaning down to kiss her skin gently. He rested his forehead against her shoulder, wrapping his arms around her waist. He smiled softly as she laid her arms over his and leaned back into him. He threaded their fingers together, whispering, "I love you."
She kissed his head softly, closing her eyes. "I love you, too, but that ain't getting you out of the trouble you're in."
He chuckled softly, untangling himself from her. He pulled her down beside him as he laid back, holding her tightly. He closed his eyes as she traced the marks around them, smiling softly.
"What happens now?" She blinked, looking down at him when he didn't answer. She smiled, laying down next to her sleeping boyfriend. She brushed the scarlet locks from his extremely pale face, kissing his cheek softly. "Goodnight, Gaara."
"Would you give him a break? He has seventeen years of sleep to make up!"
"So? He coulda at least told me he was alive..."
"Naruto..."
"I was just saying, Sakura-chan!"
"Hey, no fighting. You don't want to wake him up, do you?"
"Kankuro-"
"Who knows what he'd be like? He could be the angry type, or-"
"Enough."
"Temari, that hurt..."
"Quit your complaining. Why don't you go work on your puppets or something? A watched sleeper never wakes..."
"So says you."
"Kankuro..."
"I'm going!"
"Y'all can go. I'll stay in case he wakes up."
"You sure, Vanille?"
"Positive?"
"I'll take Ariyah with me then."
"But Unca Gaa-"
"Will be okay. He's just sleeping."
"Otay..."
Once everyone had left, the Pulsian settled comfortably into chair. The coral-haired woman pulled the crystal ring from her pocket once more, twirling it absently. She had no idea how anyone coul sleep through any of that. But then again, he had a good reason to be the living dead. It'd only been three days since she had found him in that room ghostly pale and half dead. She glanced up at Gaara once more, sighing softly. Fang had started eating at least, and taking care of herself now that her boyfriend was back from the dead. But, she ,too, was anxious for the Kazekage to awake.
Vanille smiled, clutching the ring tightly. She quietly slipped out of her seat and onto the bed. She slid the ring into his pocket. She went to go back to her chair, but a very pale hand held her by the wrist. She smiled, emerald eyes meeting seafoam. "Good mornin'."
He shook his head slightly, sitting up. He yawned, then rubbed his eyes. The circles around his eyes were stil there, and they would remain so for the rest of his life. However, the dark skin beneath them had lessened, barely noticeable to the naked eye anymore. His pallor was as ivory as ever, seeing as how little time he had spent outside in the recent week.
"You hungry?" She giggled and stood up when he nodded, clasping her hands behind her back. "I, we, all hoped so. We all chipped in making you something since you haven't eaten in a week."
He smiled softly, uncovering his legs.
"No, no, no. Not until you've eaten."
"But-"
"No buts. I'll go and get everything. You stay right there." She hurried out, humming happily under her breath.
Gaara sighed, waiting until she was down the stairs before slowly standing beside the bed. He made his way to the window, taking a seat on the sill. He gazed down upon the village, observing the people- his people, he reminded himself- as they bustled about their lives unaware of his miraculous resurrection. The Elders had been leery about announcing his spectacular journey from the dead in case some other unforeseen thing should plague him. They feared he would no longer be able to carry out his duties in his weakened state. He shook his head, leaning back against the circular frame.
"I thought she said to stay in bed"
"She did."
"Well, why aren't you?"
He shrugged, glancing over his shoulder at the woman.
"That's very enlightening, Gaara," she muttered, striding over and standing beside him.
"You're welcome," he mumbled sarcastically, resting his arms on his knee. He let his other leg dangle down, foot barely grazing the hard floor.
"Smart ass."
"And you're not?"
"This isn't about me-"
"It is now."
She grumbled under her breath, crossing her arms.
He smiled softly, slowly standing from his position. He pulled her close and pressed his lips to hers.
"Somebody was supposed to stay in bed," Vanille sang softly, carefully sliding through the door with a huge food laden tray in hand. She sat it on the end of the bed and put her hands on her hips. She looked at Gaara, pointing to it. "Sit down and eat." She turned her gaze to her younger sister and sighed softly. "And make sure he stays there."
"Relax, 'Nille. I got it."
The coral-haired woman smiled, waving as she left. "Bon appetit!"
Fang shook her head, turning to her boyfriend. "You heard her." She nudged him toward the bed, smiling at his slightly annoyed expression. She helped him into the bed and slipped in beside him, picking up a piece of toast from the array of breakfast foods. She held it out towards him, eyebrow raised. She poked his cheek with it, smiling.
Gaara snatched the bread from her fingers, rolling his eyes as he took a bite. "Happy?"
"Not until you eat all of this," she gestured to the tray. "We all spent a lot of time making something."
"So I heard," he whispered, picking up a steaming bowl. "...What is this?"
"I think it's called oatmeal. Light made it."
He paused, then set it back, selecting a bowl of grapes instead.
Fang laughed, sneaking a grape from his bowl. "She's actually in a better mood today. Nobody can figure out why."
He shrugged, popping one into his mouth. "Who knows?"
