I'm back at it again!
A/N:EDITED :)
-Please review-
Gaara pov
I look to Anare. "Excuse us for a moment." I say to her.
She bows then exits the room without a word.
Matsuri doesn't look too happy. "Matsuri, you can never be replaced...she is currently my assistant though. The council preferred I have one. I didn't know."
She looks away from me.
"If you do not approve I will dismiss her." I said meaning every word. I didn't want Matsuri upset. Especially not with me.
"No- maybe I'm over reacting. I just felt...like I was going to pick up where we left off." She said rubbing her arm.
"You have graduated to better things now. I can't tie you up here in my office. You are more important than that; not just to me but the entire village as well."
"I'm sorry. Perhaps I do need a day or so." She said in a more normal tone. "I'm just glad to be back." She wrapping her arms around me.
I inhale her scent; it was always so alluring. Vanilla. I hadn't been able to hold her in two weeks. This was all too familiar to me. I touched my lips to hers. I would give up a lot for her. She was that special to me.
Knock knock
We broke apart. "Enter." I said highly annoyed.
"Gaara-sensei, you have a meeting." Anare chirped.
"I'll be there in a moment." I said waiting for the blond girl to exit. I hated being interrupted. "I was meaning to speak with you, Matsuri. I want you to run the genin training full time now. Temari and Kankuro will still assist but this will become your fixture." I noticed she smiled as I spoke. "And I have a personal request as well. Anare is still a genin herself; I would like you to train her. She asked me to do it but I do not have enough time to spare like I did with you."
At these words Matsuri's face soured. She took a deep breath. There was a silence as she thought of her new found position and also my question for her to become a mentor. "For you, Gaara." She finally spoke nodding her head.
"She is immensely talented, and with the proper guidance she is going to be an invaluable asset to Suna, arigato. Excuse me, Matsuri." I thank her leaving out for my meeting.
Matsuri pov
Was I over reacting? I thought inaudibly on my way out the building. Maybe I need to be more secure in what Gaara and I have together. Then again that is how we fell in love. I was his student, assistant, now lover. I have more faith in Gaara though. There is no way he can see past me to her. 'She is immensely talented...' His words played over in my head. I became irritated remembering how he boasted about her.
"Hey, Matsuri. Wait up." A girl's voice caught my attention.
I turn around, it's Anare. I don't say anything.
"Gaara let me out for this afternoons training. He said I should accompany you." She spoke as I started walking again.
The nerve of this little girl...calling him Gaara like he awas her equal. She annoyed me already to say the least. "Lord Kazekage deserves to be addressed on more than a first name basis." I said feeling the need to put her in her place.
"Right, well I just figured with it only being us it didn't matter." She stated arrogantly.
I glare at her. If looks could kill, she'd be dead.
We continue to walk to the court yard for training class. Most of the students had arrived already so I began to prep them for the day's activities. Today we will practice kunai and shuriken techniques, then some weaponry. There were three dummies strung up. On the dummies were several target points the students needed to hit in this training. Very few could get a bull's eye; the areas outlined were the kill points.
We begin with the lesson. Moving through the students, I document the skill level each genin has advanced to on a scale of 1-10. So far all the genin seem average in comfort ability with these accessories. Scores ranged between 5, 6 and some 7's. Finally it's Anare's turn. Gaara seemed quiet impressed with what she could do, so I was a little anxious to see her skills for myself.
The blond haired girl reeled back…she seemed unfocused on the targets set half a mile away. I cut my eyes at her. She was purposely distracted; she lined her hands with one eye. She began to move; sending a barrage of metal instruments flying all with one single effort. After each knife and spike landed, the class erupted in cheers. She managed to hit all targets dead center. That was even tricky for me. She stood there with a sly smile. She looked at me. Show off...I scuffed inwardly. I didn't want to give her any more praise. She passed with flying colors; she knew that. I congratulated her like any other trainee.
"Good job. Moving on." I said sternly noticing everyone gathering around her to ask where she had been trained and why she was just a genin.
Slowly everyone whipped back into formation. This time the feat was to use your specialty weapon to subdue your opponent. Starting out with the other trainees I waited to have Anare last again. She was going against a very strong opponent who was very skilled with a pair of knuckle knives. I didn't see Anare with a weapon. I assumed she'd use kunai or shuriken. Once the sparring match commenced I saw her take out a wooden nub about two or three inches. She couldn't possibly think to beat Jun-shin with that. Anare danced around the circle, blocking and shielding against Jun-shins ploys to take her down allowing none to reach their intended destination. He reached out and wrapped an almost invisible string around her body. Before Jun-shin could tighten the lead and ensnare Anare, she tapped the end of her wood piece on the ground and it instantly extended to about 8 feet jolting her up into the air. So this was her trick...I thought. Landing behind the bedazzled boy, she swiped the now long stick under the boy's feet and he toppled to the ground. She twirled the shaft she held in her hand, she disrespectfully walked away giggling with the others cheering again.
"Anare where are you going?" I asked noticing how she turned her back on her opponent laying on the ground. I hoped he could make a come back.
"He's done in case you haven't noticed. Who's next?" She cockily asked over her shoulder while brushing off her clothing.
"Matches aren't decided by you." I said helping up the boy who seemed to be having a hard time standing.
She shrugs her shoulders in response.
Needless to say I ended class for today at that time. This was more than I could handle. The students start to disburse.
"Aren't we gonna practice more?" She says walking up behind me.
"No. Class will resume tomorrow." I stated roughly. Maybe I do need some time off... I ponder silently while feeling a headache coming on.
"Well Gaara said you would train me. We need to be doing a one-on-one or something." She said as if giving me orders.
"Not today. You've had enough fun don't you think?" I said annoyed by her disrespect for my Gaara.
"Well, maybe you're tired but I'm not." She said defiantly tapping her pole on the ground; the size reduced.
I stopped and thought about actually engaging her but she had proven her point. She was beyond the classes bounds. I wasn't interested in finding out anymore right now.
"Fine I'm going back to the office." She spat before sashaying off.
I shook my head. What has Gaara gotten me into? I wondered as I walked off the grounds too.
Later
After getting home, showering and napping for the latter part of the evening, I got up and decided to do some reading. I had forgotten my love of literature while being at the office every single hour of every day it was open. It felt good to just lie around and relax. I close my eyes.
Hiroshin's face flashed...there was lightening that night...blood littered the ground...my fingers covered in the red thick substance...my stomach turned at the gruesome scene…all I could think of was getting back to Suna...back to Gaara...I didn't even stop to clean up...I ran...I ran to the forest, to my troop and we pulled out...
I'm jolted back to consciousness by a stern knock. I jump flipping the book over my lap and onto the floor. I checked my surroundings for a moment believing I was still in Genshaw hill, at Hiroshin's palace. After realizing where I was, I slinked to the door.
"Who is it?" I ask suspiciously.
"Gaara."
I open the door with a sigh of relief. He walks in. We hug. I missed him.
"I came as soon as my work ended for the day. You must be tired." He said sitting on the sofa. "I expected you to return to the office, with Anare."
I plop down beside him. "I caught a little headache...after training today." I said touching my forehead.
"Are you okay now?" He asked reaching out and placing his hand on my cheek then forehead.
"Yes, Gaara." I responded blushing.
His lips turned at the corners, signaling a smile. "You are still blushing..." He said noticing my tint.
"I can't help it... But anyway you have more than enough going on in your office now. I would just be in the way." I said looking down at my bare feet.
He guides my face back to his with his index finger. "You are welcome at my office anytime; day, night, whenever you would like. I feel alone without your company."
My eyes met his. "But, Gaara, you have Anare now and..." I started but was cut off.
"She's not you Matsuri. You are my love; you are who I want." He spoke as I hung off his every word.
Here I was sulking, thinking I was the victim. There was more at stake here. The relationship I had forged with Gaara could not be left to hang. "I understand. I missed you so much...I am so glad you are here." I said before delving into a long passionate kiss. Gaara and I enjoyed each others company for the remainder of the evening. He left after laying me down in my bed. I hated him having to go but he couldn't spend every night with me. I knew that. It was just hard. As he exited using the bedroom window, a single tear shed from my eye before I drifted off to yet another deep sleep.
Anare pov
Another splendid day at Gaara's office. Gaara...it sounds sooo good coming from my mouth. I muse walking through the halls of the tower.
It was 8am and the day was just beginning. I was bringing Gaara his tea as I had done each morning since I got here. After a knock, I walk in and place the cup in front of him. He was not a morning person. He silently meditated about the days goals. I watched the steam rise from the tea mug. He sometimes drank it and sometimes not. I waited patiently for his requests to get things running. After about 10 minutes he spoke.
"Anare..." he began in his normal 'morning tone'. "I need files pulled..." as Gaara begin to name tasks for the day, I jotted everything down in my assignment pad. He normally listed stuff that needed to get done, pulled or copied and I worked on that till he needed something else.
I love this job. It put me right into the world of the man I adored. He was everything to me from a far at one point. Through hard work and many trials, I was able to get this close to him. The only thing I didn't expect was Matsuri. It had been three weeks since she came back from her A-rank mission and started meddling amongst the office almost everyday. I knew there was more to their "teacher/ student" relationship than everyone saw after Matsuri corrected me about calling him just plain Gaara. She seems to have a sort of hold over him. He is different when she is around. He attempts to smile and looks more at ease. I hate to say this but it's either her or me. Thankfully though since she is a jonin now she spends much more time out of the office rather than in it. That makes my work a lot easier. We have been training together off and on for the past few weeks as well. This is really great because it's giving me a chance to get her fighting style down pact. I break back into character...
"Uhhh, Lord Kazekage?" I ask in a most timid voice.
"What is it, Anare?" He asked looking somewhat puzzled.
"Do you think...maybe...today you have time for a brief sparring with me?" I ask hoping to melt his cold exterior with a warm smile.
He looked at me for a few seconds studying my features. "I will try." His reply was short and sweet. He got the point.
I wanted as much time with him as possible. Since training with Matsuri, I have asked him to sessions a few times on the side, telling him I wanted to be sure I'm progressing in the right direction. "Arigato...sir." I said bowing to show grace before I exit. Once the door was shut and hall was clear, I smiled the deviant little smile I was born to flash. I skipped off thinking to myself, today would be the day.
As I pass through the halls I ran into Kankuro. He narrows his eyes at me.
I get mixed signals from him. It was almost like he could see what I was here for; like he knew my intent to seduce the Kazekage.
He nods heading toward Gaara's office.
Whatever... I thought as I smiled. As long as he doesn't get in my way. I was so serious about getting what I wanted.
Later that evening
As the day drew to a close, the sun was starting to set, reddening Suna's background. It was beautiful. He was beautiful... We stood near the Oasis towards the out skits of town. I like to train here with him because there were to be no distractions. Just him and I.
He seemed preoccupied. Probably something to do with Matsuri. I silently gagged.
"Hey, sensei...are you ready to begin?" I called out to him as he was standing about 15 feet away.
He looked up at me and stood in his fight stance. "Come." He stated sharply.
The battle began. He was a tough teacher. He put Matsuri up to training me but I wanted the real deal. He held nothing back, where as she was just plain nothing. I double over in pain feeling the full force of sand hitting my back and front. I had to move, he dashed right along with me. That gourd didn't seem to hinder his moving at all, just then he dropped it to the ground and without it he was even faster. Dammit... I thought as he cut me off with ease. I could only guard myself against his onslaught of attacks now.
No wonder Matsuri was a top jonin... My mind wondered as I continued to move. I used my pole to gain height, he flew up behind me on a platform of sand. I forgot he could do that... I used kunai to destroy the sand needles he tried to rain down on me. Countering with tai-jutsu I realize I need more. I had a few nin-jutsus up my sleeve. I use a sort of invisibility cloak to get close to him. Very close. He had never seen me do this trick before.
Approaching him from the front, I reach out and throw my arms around his neck; we crumble to the ground. He seemed startled. I caught the sand man off guard huh? I laughed with a soar smile. I release my jutsu. He can see my form again, not to mention feel it as I rest on top of him. I don't release my grasp. How could I? He was so adorable.
His light greenish eyes widen.
My face was moments from his. I move in for the kill. Locking lips with Gaara of the desert was the single most exciting thing I had ever done. It felt so good. His lips were so soft, his mouth so moist. This was the moment forecast in my dreams. I was not trying to let go. I twisted my tongue against his as I held his face between my palms. He pushed, but I pushed back.
"Anare..." He said firmly gripping my arms and breaking the lip lock.
Like a rabid animal I crush my mouth to his again. I ravish him. I want his clothes off. I want him, right here, right now.