Chapter 8
Chibi Emi-Chan Actually your question will be answered later on in the story. I'm still not sure which chapter, but it will be soon. Keep reading and you'll find out!
Himeko Koneko Well, your patience paid off!
tmmdeathwishraven Haha! I love your comment! Just don't die on me, okay? It wouldn't be fair for you not to read what comes next.
Cindy Medeiros Glad you enjoyed that bit.
xXStarGirl13Xx Thanks! And yep, just goes to show you that detail just adds character and realism to a story.
lalalaWOW Thanks!
Well you guys did it! You got more reviews than last time so here's the chapter! It's a little short but I hope you enjoy nonetheless! AND REVIEW!
(P.S., I wrote a story for "Avatar: The Last Airbender. Check it out if you like the show!)
GAARA
"I'm in."
There was a pause of silence after Sakura had declared her decision before the room erupted with loud cheers and laughter. Honestly, you'd think she had announced that she'd been promoted to ANBU-rank. I swept the happy room with my eyes, taking in every detail. I saw Sakura take a look at Sasori and she smiled a tiny smile at him, her cheeks tainted the slightest pink while Sasori returned her smile with a slow and almost seductive one of his own.
On the other side of the room I saw Temari and Kankuro toasting with their half-empty glass cups filled with water and coke respectively. I raised an eyebrow. Why were they so happy? Temari I can understand. She's an only girl, so the possibility that she might get a sister (although in-law) probably has her excited. Kankuro, on the other hand… Oh well, he's just Kankuro. He probably just got caught in the excitement.
Momoko-san and Father were standing together, big, wide smiles lighting up their faces as they chatted away excitedly about how delightful everything had turned out. Momoko-san caught my eye and winked before answering a question my father asked her. I guess she's encouraging me. I kept looking at the two, trying to snatch words of their conversation through the noise in case they're planning something more. I have a feeling that they're going to voluntarily create situations for Sakura, Sasori and me to fall into to have Sakura choose faster.
However, that didn't last long. Once Momoko-san started talking about how she was so enamored by the idea of grandchildren I turned away and instead focused on Sakura who was chatting quietly with Sasori by the hall.
As I took in her exquisite and unique candy-pink locks, her smooth, impeccable porcelain skin, her wide emerald-green eyes that sparkled so and her thin, plump plum lips, I was suddenly struck with the feeling of being lonely. Everyone was with someone to chat and celebrate the turn of events. Father had Momoko-san plus Temari and Kankuro who had recently joined their conversation. And Sasori had Sakura.
I had no one.
Just as the thought struck me, by some force or signal, if you will, Sakura glanced at me that same instant. For a split second our eyes met and she smiled at me. Was it wrong to think that maybe that smile was the slightest bit wider and more affectionate than the one she had given Sasori? I frowned with the realization of how ridiculous that thought was. Sakura caught on despite my facial movements always going unnoticed because they are so diminutive. She frowned as well and said something to Sasori before walking over to me.
I straightened up and took a sip of my water as she took a seat beside me. I set down the glass and returned her stare politely. What I was not prepared for was the look in her eyes – fierce, determined, and supremely intelligent. As her hypnotizing jewel-like eyes bore into mine, I felt my soul be exposed bare.
Suddenly I could hear nothing; the chatter of the room dimmed in volume until there was nothing but silence. Then I lost my peripheral vision, quickly, until all I could see where those green infinite depths that called out to me. I was vaguely aware of Sasori looking intensely in our direction, but I neither minded nor cared for him at that moment or anyone else for that matter. The longer I looked into Sakura's eyes, the more entranced I became.
Then, all of a sudden, I no longer had a body. Oh, I could still feel my heartbeat, but it seemed to be going in slow motion. Ba-thump...Ba-thump…Ba-thump…But I couldn't feel anything else. I couldn't feel the blood rushing in my veins; I had no nose to smell the fragrance of the leftover food; I had no mouth to describe what I was feeling; no air reached my lungs. All that existed at that moment was the immediate connection between us.
As the realization of the intensity of our bond struck me, Sakura's eyes, which had been staring so intently at me, narrowed slightly. For a moment, I froze. I wondered if she did not like what she saw. Although I could feel nothing but an intense calmness since the moment our eyes met, that calmness gave way to a deep sadness that mercilessly gripped my heart. Of course that pink-haired goddess with the jewel eyes wouldn't like what she saw in me. I'm a monster. A demon. Why would she care for me?
Dejection found its way through my consciousness and the world came back to me, slowly, creeping as if mocking my short-lived fantasy as odd as it was. The feeling in my body returned to me, but it was unpleasant: my stomach was a loose knot at the base of my belly, my shoulders were stiff and faintly aching as if I had been rigorously training for hours, my heartbeat became more regular though I couldn't help but feel a slight stab of pain with every beat, and my lungs were filled with air which they pushed out as I sighed quietly.
I blinked and the daydream was gone.
Or so I thought. When I re-opened my eyes, the first thing I saw where Sakura's, closer than before with a flicker or worry in them.
I froze, wondering why she was worried. Then it occurred to me: she was worried she would end up with me. She wanted Sasori, the one with the elegant yet casual look, the one who's witty, fun-loving, artistic and smooth as silk, the one who knew just what to do or say in just about any occasion. She didn't want the stoic, traditional, quiet guy who didn't even know how to talk to a girl properly without awkward pauses or the conversation turning to something boring and irrelevant like what is the best way to meditate.
My eyes dropped at the corners and I attempted a weak smile at her. I couldn't hold it against her that she preferred Sasori. How could I? Sasori was my brother and I recognized that he had everything that I lacked, every quality all the girls seemed to love in a guy. Plus he was normal.
"Gaara."
I looked up, startled by the soft, melodic voice that said my name with such tenderness. Sakura now was evidently a little worried, no longer just a flicker crossing her eyes. It took me a moment to answer. "Yes, Sakura-chan?"
She seemed relieved that I was paying attention, though how that can relieve someone I can't imagine. She grinned at me and raised her index finger before placing it on the tip of my nose and tapping it twice. There was a soft gasp from my family as she did that, for no-one save my mother had ever had the audacity to do that.
"No 'Sakura-chan,'" she said. "Just Sakura."
I stared at her, not comprehending what she was getting at, but nodded anyway nodded.
"Now say it. Sakura. No suffix."
"Sakura," I said, and I couldn't help but notice how easily it was for me to be so informal with her. Her grinned widened and she removed her finger from my nose. "Good," she said. "And I'll call you Gaara. Can I?"
I nodded and she giggled delicately. I don't know why, but I returned her smile although hers was wider than mine by a mile.
"Great! Now we're no longer half-strangers but friends." She stood up and reached for my face. Normally I would evade such a gesture, but for some alien reason I let her; I longed for her affectionate gesture. When her hand came into contact with the side of my face, she said, "I look forward to the coming month. Even if we don't marry each other, lets continue being friends, alright?"
And before I could give her an answer - which was "yes," by the way - she leaned down and kissed me on the forehead. She straightened up and smiled warmly at me before saying "goodnight" and turning to saying the same thing to everyone else.
I didn't fail to notice that the only people who received kisses were her mother (on the cheek), Sasori and me.
Needless to say, I felt light with happiness. I too, would be looking forward to the next month.
