Snow in the Desert.
Chapter Nine.
Plot has changed! I do not care about how the story went originally and yes, I am aware. I am skipping and adding parts as I please or else it wouldn't be a fan fiction, it would then be the manga/series. Don't like it? Then don't read it, it's that simple.
Shock and horror was visible on her face.
"They want Shukaku. Don't they?" She asked.
"Yes."
She wasn't ready to give up on both Sasuke and Gaara.
"Prepare yourselves to leave right away."
They left the office. Miyuki didn't try to hide my emotions. Naruto put his hand on her shoulder.
"Are you okay?"
She shook her head 'no'.
"Come on, let's go."
With that, they both ran to the village's gates. There were many others there, waiting for attacking the Akatsuki. After a quick briefing, they were all ready to move on.
After hours of running and searching, they were able to find a clearing where the sand nin all gathered together.
Miyuki pushed through the suffocating crowd and drew herself to Gaara's lifeless body. She dropped her knees by his head, tears streaming down her face. She lightly touched her fingertips against his pale cheek but quickly flinched away from the cold touch. More tears pooled at the corners of her eyes.
She noticed an elderly woman came fourth.
"My dear, don't worry. He will live to see another day."
Miyuki staggered. "You're Chiyo… You put Shukaku inside of Gaara."
"You were closer than I thought." She smiled weakly at her."I ended his life the day I put Shukaku inside his body, now I will give him a second chance."
Aura alit her hands as she placed them over Gaara. Half way through her eyebrows crossed. "
What's wrong?" Miyuki asked, panicked.
"I don't have enough Charka."
Yes, there is a change here.
Miyuki placed her hands over Chiyo's.
"Miyuki, do you understand the caution you're taking?" She asked nodded my head and Chiyo continued.
Everyone watched in amazement as they pushed their lives into Gaara.
After several minutes, Miyuki saw Chiyo drop in front to the floor in front of her.
Gaara's face twitched as he stirred. Miyuki got a glimpse of his aqua-marines before she too hit the floor also.
Gaara sat up confused. "What happened?" He asked the crowd.
Kakashi stepped forward. "Chiyo died to revive you and Miyuki risked her life on your behalf."
Gaara looked to his left and noticed Miyuki passed out beside him. He sat on his knees next to her.
"Is she… Okay?" He asked Kakashi.
"I hope so." He replied.
"I will bring her to Suna's hospital for treatment." Gaara was stern and demanding.
"If you wish." Kakashi replied.
He pushed Miyuki into his arms and walked to Suna without another word. When he got to the hospital she was rushed into care without a second thought. They put her in a private room to herself where Gaara placed her on a bed. She was immediately assisted by doctors and nurses. Gaara was pushed to the back of the room with all the commotion. He could only get a glimpse of what they were doing.
"Kazekage-sama. She have lost a critical amount of charka but she will be okay, she just needs rest. She can leave as soon as she awakes but I recommend that she continues resting and does not attempt to leave for Konoha for at least two weeks. She was close to death, you're extremely lucky." The doctor told was shocked of the fact that she nearly died for him. He was confidant of her survival and would try his best to ensure it.
He tried terribly to keep his eyes open but struggled as his hand fell into hers on the bed and his eyes forced themselves closed. He was in an awkward position, he was sitting on a chair that was pulled to the side of her bed. He rested his hands above his head that laid on the bed as he slept. He didn't know what was brought over him, but without the Shukaku, he felt at ease to sleep.
The next morning, Miyuki's eyes opened to find Gaara at the end of her bed, she was extremely weak but she managed to pull herself up to a sitting position with the support of the her right hand, she ran it through Gaara's hair and he jumped in spite of the action.
He head whipped up to her, he stared in shock.
"Thank god you're alive." Miyuki whispered, "You really scared me you know."
"I scared you? You scared me! What were you thinking?" He asked.
"I couldn't just leave you die, Gaara… You would have done the same for me." She told him. And she was right, he would have done the same. He briefly thought did that mean that she felt the same as him. But he found that idea ludicrous.
"I would have…" He admitted, putting his head down.
He cursed himself for being so weak for this girl. She smiled full-heartedly.
"So, when can I go home?"
"Two weeks." He told her.
"You're kidding right? I'm stuck in the hospital for two weeks."
"No, you're stuck in Suna for two weeks. But don't worry, the kids are not as mean." The quote from her childhood years made her laugh. Gaara's lips twitched to see her full of life but frowned when she seemed to be in pain afterwards.
"You will be staying with me in the Kazekage's building."
"Gaara, I don't want to be a burden."
"You won't, believe me." She smiled again.
"Okay, I will stay but only for a few days." She offered.
"No, you'll be staying for two weeks. No arguements.
And she didn't. Secretly she was delighted to be staying with Gaara for two weeks, but she didn't want to annoy him. She sighed to herself mentally.
"Well, let's bust you out of here." Gaara told her.
"Am I allowed leave?" She asked.
"Yes, you are. Come on." He offered her his hand and she took it. He pulled her out of the bed and lead her to his house.
Once inside, he brought her to his bedroom. "You will be staying here, I do not sleep much anyway."
"Gaara, I do not want to impose. I'll be okay with the couch."
"No. You need proper rest. Therefore, you're sleeping here."
She sighed in defeat. He pulled back the covers.
"In." He demanded.
She followed, she wanted to relax, she needed it. He pulled the covers over her like a mother would do to a child. A loving gesture.
While he was in front of hers, Miyuki sat up on her knees and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, hugging him. He stood shocked, he couldn't move.
"Thank you, Gaara." She kissed his cheek. He deeply blushed and she smiled at his reaction. He placed his hand to the cheek she kissed while his lips twitched.
"I… I got t-to get to work." He stammered in shock.
"I will get Temari to send you up breakfast."
"Thank god! I'm starved!"He walked out the room, still blushing. He approached Temari in the kitchen.
"Temari." He called, "Miyuki is our guest, she is staying in my room, you are to bring her breakfast and oblige to her commands."
"It's the least we owe her. Why in your bedroom?" She asked, "I thought no one was allowed in your bedroom."
"Yes, they're not. But she risked her life for mine and we have no other rooms."
"Okay. I will bring her breakfast. Oh, and Gaara? You're face is extremely red." She said with a grin.
As Miyuki was sitting in bed there was a firm knock on the door.
"Come in." She called. There was silence.
"Uh, I'm not allowed." An awkward voice said on the other side.
"Temari?" She asked as she made her way over to the door.
"Yeah. Good to see you're alive." Temari smiled when Miyuki opened the door.
"It's good to be alive." Miyuki smiled as she took the tray.
"Thank you for what you've done for my brother and this village." Temari smiled.
"It was seriously the least I could do. Can't you come in? Gaara would never find out." Miyuki smiled, slyly.
"Oh, trust me, he would." Temari thought. "But if it was a command." She said devilishly.
"In that case, Temari, I demand you to look after me in Gaara's room." Miyuki put on a stern voice.
Temari laughed as Miyuki made room for her to enter the room.
"Why aren't you allowed in Gaara's room?" Miyuki asked her as they both sat on the bed.
"Oh, he's huge on the whole privacy thing. No one is allowed in his room. But for some reason, you are. What have you been doing to my brother?" Temari laughed as Miyuki's flew open wide.
"Nothing like that, if that's what you're thinking!" She exclaimed causing Temari to laugh more.
"So, how long are you here?" Temari asked.
"Two weeks." Miyuki sighed.
"Hmm. Why did you risk your life for my brother?" She asked.
"For the Kazekage? I'd say a lot of people would have."
"Interesting thought, but then again, you were the only one who volunteered with Chiyo."
"I noticed that. But no one were friends like Gaara and I were."
"That's true. You know he didn't tell me and Kankuro that until recently? We never knew. When we were younger we never were really with Gaara in public because of who he was and we didn't want the other children to see us like him - that's why we never knew of you. Selfish, I know. But when I thought he died, I regretted all of that the day I heard he was abducted. I remember wishing I could take it all back, and I still do." Temari's head dropped with shame.
"I know, Gaara told me when we were younger that you and Kankuro we never by his side. He wasn't bothered though because I was always there for him, until I left, you know."
"We always knew something was beating him up when he was younger, he only told us at the Chunin exams who you were after he rescued you. Kankuro and I were shocked for months."
"I thought he'd hate me after what happened. And when he didn't leave me for death, I was shocked also." Miyuki said truthfully.
"Gaara wouldn't do that. Well, to a childhood friend anyway." She laughed.
Then Temari's eyes dropped to my necklace. "Is that the Uchiha symbol?" She asked.
Miyuki touched the symbol. "Um, yes. Before Sasuke left for Orochimaru, when we were involved."
"Ah, that's what I heard. Pity, he would have been a good ninja."
"He will become a great ninja, well, his body will." Sighed Miyuki.
"Do you miss him?" Asked Temari.
"I miss the comfort from someone else." She answered truthfully.
"Then why don't you take a swing at someone else? Say… My brother?" She winked.
"Temari!" Miyuki shouted. They both laughed and continued their conversation while Miyuki was eating.
They talked about many things in general, mostly about Shikamaru after Miyuki mentioned his helping hand during the rescue of Sasuke. Temari would not shut up about him. Miyuki then start to suspect some blood boiling between the two. Temari also talked about how she saved Shikamaru during the rescue. After a while, she quickly left my room with my tray claiming that she had errands to run.