"Haz?" Haru began. He got up and walked over to me, his steps slow and nervous, but I could tell by the look on his face that he was anxious.
I opened my mouth to speak, but I didn't know what to say.
"Hazuki, you saw me cry," he said slowly, as if I was too stupid to understand.
I nodded.
"How do you feel, Haz?" Omi asked.
My mind was whirling. "No different," I answered.
At that, Haru stopped moving. "What?" he asked weakly.
I shrugged. "No different."
His eyes widened and he stared at the ground, calculating something. It was as if this was not at all possible that I hadn't fallen in love with him. But wasn't it? My eyes strayed over to Gaara, and the normal pink came to my cheeks.
Haru looked up at me from his lashes, watching me. I pretended like I didn't notice. I didn't want to notice.
"They had no effect," he whispered to me.
I hugged my best friend. "I'm not mad at you anym-"
He pushed me off. "Just go away." He walked away, his pace zombie-like.
I watched him go and I suddenly grabbed him and pulled him behind a tree. Before I knew what I was doing, I pushed him against the rough bark and kissed him hard. I was willing to sacrifice my happiness if it meant helping him.
He threw his arms around my waist, and kissed back just as hard. I wanted to pull away. I wanted to tell him I didn't love him. I wanted to, but I couldn't. Especially not when I felt him smile.
He pulled away. "Why'd you do that?" he asked, wiping his mouth.
I was at a loss for words. "I dunno."
"Do you love me?"
There was a long silence. I felt something, but I didn't think it was love. "I dunno."
Haru played with my hair. He smiled, but I felt like crying. Damn it. I wanted to be with the Poison I had left behind. My eyes flickered over to him, then back at Haru. He had noticed, but he didn't stop smiling.
"You love me, too," he announced with such certainty that I couldn't deny it. "I got to you. But you loved me before, didn't you? You loved me; I knew you did. But once your father promised you to me, I knew you'd never admit it, you stubborn little girl."
I frowned and denied his words, angry that they were true.
He kissed me again, and my face went red with embarrassed happiness as I kissed him back. However, I still liked the color red more than any other.
I wanted to pull away, but I couldn't. I wished for a moment that Haru would just die. When that thought passed through my mind, I hated myself.
He pulled away. "You're hesitant."
It was my eyes that gave me away. The sadness of uncertainty that they held made him mirror my look. He pulled away from me, but he wasn't angry.
He smirked. "We're still betrothed."
"I don't love you as much as you think I do," I retorted.
"I'll make you."
"You can't."
"Because you love that monster?" He chuckled as if he found Gaara to be no competition at all anymore.
I growled at his words and had to restrain myself from hurting him. "He's not!"
"He is."
"Not as much as you."
Without missing a beat, he came back with a swift, "I didn't turn on our allies."
"You have no idea what he's going through."
Haru pulled me into a hug and whispered into my ear, "all that matters is you." Then he let go and jumped into the trees and disappeared.
"Damn him," I muttered to myself as I walked out from the tree, smoothing my hair and clothes.
I looked over to Gaara, who still sat against the tree, innocently watching me back.
I forgot all about Haru, because my feelings for him were nothing compared to what I felt for the Poison.
--
Gaara and his siblings- I had learned they were related during their stay here- were leaving the Village.
They stood my the exit with Shikamaru, having a short conversation with the chuunin.
I bounced over, Omi right behind me. Haru walked slowly behind us, his arms crossed jealously, but his face victorious at their departure.
"Bye, guys!" I said, attempting to be optimistic. I hugged them all, giving them all a kiss on the cheek. Gaara's hug lasted a split second longer- and was just a bit tighter- than the others'.
"Bye, everyone. We were glad to help," Temari said as she waved goodbye. Kankuro ruffled my hair in the way a big brother would, and Gaara watched quietly from his spot closest to the exit.
"Thanks for all your help. We could have lost some of our genin if you hadn't come," Shikamaru commented with a cough.
Omi and I nodded.
"Yeah... thanks," Haru added.
At least he's trying to be polite, I thought with an aggravated frown. I then turned to Gaara and smiled weakly. I didn't want him to leave.
The three turned and left, jumping into the trees toward the Sand Village.
Haru was still waving with a smile on his face until he was sure they were gone. Then he turned to me and said, "at least he's gone."
I ignored him and walked home.