Chapter 10
Four months later…
That morning…
She dreamt about her memories of when she first became his assistant...
Nearly one year ago...
On the day on his appointment of being the Fifth Kazekage...
In his office, Nomasaki stood across from him that early dim morning.
"And as such, you'll be tasked with helping me with my day-to-day operations, as the council directs." He finished. "Do you have any questions?"
Nervously, she shook her head.
"N-No, I think everything was clear, Gaara." She stammered.
Jolting, she realized she made a fatal mistake in addressing him.
On her first day of work, too.
Flustered, she tried her best to correct her mistake.
Bowing her head slightly to him to show she was sorry.
"O-Oh, I-I mean... Gaara-sama. I'm sorry."
"Don't worry about honorifics." He said, in a calm tone. "I don''t expect you to be formal, being that we knew each other since we were genin."
Looking up to him, she nodded slightly.
Smiling at his response, relieved.
"Y-Yes, sir."
Slightly surprising her, he stepped closer towards her.
"Before you take your oath," He began. "I must ask you something."
"What is it?"
The young Kazekage locked eyes with her in a serious exchange as he stood before her.
His ringed tanuki-like eyes gazing into hers unwavering.
Nervousness entering her eyes, as she looked up to him.
"If I do anything out of line... If I make a decision that puts the very existence of Suna in jeopardy," He started. "I expect you to strike me down."
Surprised, her eyes widened from his request.
Nervously, she gulped from the thought.
"Can I trust you with that?"
Swallowing her emotions and nervousness, she remembered her duties as a shinobi.
As a newly appointed jonin.
One must control their emotions and not let them interfere with the mission at hand, and obey all orders given.
That was the sacrifice all shinobi must make to survive, and allow their villages to prosper.
Knowing full well her history with Gaara, she accepted his request as the Kazekage.
Honouring it.
"Yes." She nodded, obediently.
After a moment of shared silence, she averted her glance.
Her light-hearted and friendly nature slightly peeking through her stoic exterior.
"Although, it won't come to that. I have faith in your judgement, but if you do anything out of line I will be sure to speak out."
"Is that so?" He sighed.
Nervously, and with a determined glint to her lilac eyes, she nodded.
"Thank you, Nomasaki." He acknowledged, a faint smile visible on his face.
Softly, she smiled back at him.
Their bond as Kazekage and assistant was now solidified...
Later that night...
In a darkened room near the Sand Council's meeting chambers...
She remembered a scattered conversation she had with the advisory council...
"You may be his assistant... but you are also a jonin of Suna with duties to fulfill for the sake of the village. You must monitor his activity and report back."
"How long will this mission continue, sir?"
"As long as Shukaku remains a threat to our way of life, you will be spying on Gaara-sama's activities within the village authority. Do you accept?"
"Yes, sir. As a kunoichi of Suna, I will do as the Sand Council asks of me."
"Good. Keep this meeting a secret from Kazekage-sama, make sure he's unaware of you tailing him. With your sensory skills, I trust you'll have no trouble."
Her eyes suddenly awoke from her recollections.
A deep sleep, yet somewhat disturbing towards the end.
She could feel the second-hand guilt within her bones, and she carried that burden each day she worked with him.
It deeply conflicted her at times, but she knew it was her duty.
After a few more moments of relaxation, she slowly lifted herself up from her slumber.
Stretching and yawning, as her fangs revealed themselves.
The sun was bright; beaming onto her bedsheets and making them too warm to get out of bed.
She especially liked to be cozy.
Suddenly, she sneezed and felt a funny sensation on her head.
When she touched the top of her head of messy golden hair, she felt her recently-activated wolf ears.
Touching her nose, seemingly dismayed so early in the morning, she felt the tip of her canine nostrils.
Taking a deep breath, she shook herself.
Making her wolf features disappear.
Although it's been almost three years since awakening her Kekkei Genkai, it sometimes slipped out by mistake.
As if subconsciously.
Despite her being comfortable enough to use her abilities in Suna, she was still ashamed of the form it gave her.
Not even Gaara seen her like this.
The only time he saw her 'true' form was their first meeting, and she was too embarrassed to show him again.
Or anyone else for that matter.
Tiredly, she wiped her eye.
Trying not to think about such trivial matters.
After stepping out of bed, she turned towards the clock on her wall.
Her lilac eyes widened.
She was an hour late for work.
It was one of those occasions that she slept in a little too late.
Typical.
Once she was in her blue and white kimono-like dress, she gathered up all the paperwork and her clipboard.
Bolting out the door.
Starting for the Kazekage's mansion.
Rushing, she made her way down the long hallway.
Being as careful as can be to not drop any of the papers.
Awkwardly, she stumbled towards the door of the Kazekage's office.
Trying to open it.
Her clipboard held tightly to her chest with many papers and forms.
After about of minute of scrambling to reach the doorknob, she entered the Kazekage's office.
Nearly falling flat on her face in the process.
"S-Sorry I'm late!" She stuttered. "I slept in!"
She placed all the paperwork on his desk.
She knew Gaara was indifferent if she came to work late, but deep down she worried about her sources of income and her apartment.
She had no hot water last bill, and she was hoping for hot water this time around.
"Eh?"
Gaara was nowhere to be seen.
His chakra was within the room, but not him.
Relieved, she sighed.
"Oh good," She chuckled, almost whisper-like. "He doesn't know I'm late."
Turning around towards the open door, she bumped into something.
Nervous, she slowly looked up.
Looking right into her eyes only breaths away was the young Kazekage.
Just as nervous and startled looking as she was.
He didn't know how to react.
Her face immediately turned red.
Shyly, she quickly turned her body away.
Clutching her clipboard against her chest.
"I'm sorry, Gaara! I-I mean... Gaara-sama!" She blurted. "I have your paperwork!"
Keeping his composure, he nodded.
"T… Thanks."
An awkward start to their morning.
That afternoon, they went to a small teashop to chat.
After a few moments of talking to one another, Nomasaki placed her hands on her lap.
"So your sand abilities… they are recovered?"
He nodded.
"Mostly." He said. "Shukaku did give me more strength in terms of defence, so I'll have to figure out how to perfect the ultimate defence on my own."
He glanced to his side, narrowing his eyes.
Remembering Shukaku.
"I'm close to perfecting it, but it's going to take some more time. I'm not quite there yet, but I will be eventually."
Nomasaki looked at him with a tint of concern in her eyes.
Shukaku: the source of his sand and ultimate defence.
The council feared that his powers would disappear after losing one-tail.
Luckily, that was not entirely the case.
Although, four months later and his abilities were still not yet completely refined.
Sadly, she looked down.
"What's wrong?"
His voice jolted her senses for a moment.
"O-Oh," She stammered. "Nothing, really. I just… hope you're able to feel like yourself again soon. Ability-wise."
As she looked down at her cup of green tea, a slight smile curved on her lips.
"The council worries about you, in that regard. And… I do, too."
"You don't need to." He spoke. "But… thanks. This will pass, but I won't push myself for missions until its more refined."
Her thoughts grew concerned.
Worry taking over her mind.
"Um, listen, Gaara," She started. "There's something… I-I have always wanted to… to ask you."
Trying to gather up the courage to tell him at last.
"What is it?" Gaara asked, curiously.
Nomasaki's eyes grew nervous and saddened.
She took a deep breath.
Not knowing how he would react.
This was it.
After three long years, she was finally going to ask him.
"Well," She stammered.
She gulped.
Ready to at last confess.
She averted her glance.
"…When you-"
"So you've finally asked her out!"
Kankuro interrupted, chuckling.
With a small trace of red on his pale cheeks, Gaara glared up at him.
Annoyed.
"Get bent." He muttered.
"I was only joking. Sheesh…" Kankuro groaned, with a smirk.
He sighed.
"Well, anyways… I came here to tell you two that the council just got a mission for you two. They said it's very important."
"A new mission?" Gaara repeated. "What for? And why the two of us together?"
Kankuro stretched his arms.
"Not sure," He replied. "They mentioned something about Ishigakure, but they specifically asked for you and Nomasaki to go. They said they can't tell me anything more than that, it's confidential."
Gaara's eyes narrowed at the answer.
The council knew he wasn't ready.
And why send them together?
Was there a hidden motive?
"Alright." Kankuro yawned. "I'll be seeing you two when you get back, then. I have to assemble new puppets for my next assignment."
Walking off into the crowd.
Gaara watched his brother leave.
"Nomasaki, you were trying to tell me something." Gaara reminded.
Silence.
"Nomasaki?"
When he turned, she was gone.
As he stood from the table, he seen a white wolf walking alone in the distance.
Towards the direction of her apartment.
She left.
What was she trying to tell him?
Would he ever find out?
It puzzled him greatly.
Especially her leaving without saying goodbye.
"Did I… do something?" He asked himself, quietly.
Once she was at her apartment…
She transformed back into a human and opened the door with her key.
After entering, she locked the door behind her.
She sighed.
Relieved.
With her back against the door, she slid down until she was sitting.
Holding her head down.
"That… was too close."
Her lilac eyes closed halfway.
She knew how much she cared for him, and how she truly felt about him.
But he was Kazekage.
A truly strong and powerful ninja.
He was the object of affection by many fans and young girls who did not know of his Shukaku past.
Or his childhood struggles.
She knew she loved him more than anything.
But she was shy.
Soft-spoken.
And hardly confident.
She remembered how she asked Temari how to be confident...
"Nomasaki, you just need to speak up! Be assertive! Nothing's holding you back. I know you're shy, but you should at least open up a little."
But it was difficult for Nomasaki.
Someone who struggled with being both a human and a wolf.
She was a 'freak' in her eyes.
As many of her Yama villagers had called her and her mother years ago.
And she thought Gaara deserved much better.
She sighed again.
-Would I ever be able to tell him… how I feel…?-