(A/N) I'm pretty happy with how fast i can get these stories out! School isn't to bad yet, and work is pretty easy. I am working everyday till monday though for the rest of this week...So stories might slow down until then. As for the Sota thing, i'm thinking that i will do a full chapter on his story. It might be alot shorter than the other chapter, but thats just what might happen. So as always, rate, let me know how i'm doing, and enjoy! Thanks to those of you who have rated!
mndstJohn: I used to write for another site in first person. I guess i accidentally slip back into it sometimes. I honestly like the way i'm writing much better. Thanks for the tip that i'm doing that though. I defenitly don't want my story to be readers pov.
shadowheart123: I'm glad you like Sota. I guess it wouldn't be to good if everyone hated him. Thanks for the review!
" You should go to sleep" Gaara's young voice was laced with concern. He was watching the young girl next to him snap her head up again and yawn.
" I'm fine, really!" She gave him a toothy grin before looking back out over the desert. Her short hair was tousled from the game of tag they'd been playing earlier. It was almost as messy as Gaara's now. Emiko sighed and leaned her head against Gaara's shoulder. "He's so warm..." She smiled into his shoulder, enjoying the warmth this one small person radiated. She smiled again when she felt Gaara squirm uncomfortable underneath her. He was always getting so embarrassed.
" Are you sure? I can take you home." Gaara's voice was still carrying that worried edge to it. She sighed and sat up, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.
" I'm sure, Gaara-kun. Don't worry about it" Gaara blushed and looked away from her. The two of them stared up at the stars for a while longer, enjoying each others company. " Hey Gaara?"
"Hm?" He turned his innocent eyes to meet hers.
Emiko smiled sadly, running a hand through her hair before speaking. " Why do people say that your a monster?" Gaara's eyes grew impossible huge, reflecting Emiko's tired appearance. He quickly shut his eyes and hung his head. " you don't have to tell me if you don't want to!" Emiko quickly amended. Gaara was hunched now, almost like he was collapsing into himself.
"There's something inside of me." His young voice was strained, becoming hard and gravely. " People always call me a monster, because of what's inside of me..." Emiko took in his small huddled form with confusion. His red hair was all messed up like usual, and his dark rimmed eyes were shut against the cruelty of the world. How could someone, no, how could all these people call him a monster? Gaara was far from a monster!
" He's sweet, and kind!" Emiko argued, watching her friend slowly open his eyes. " Gaara is always considerate of me! He's nervous, and gets embarrassed a lot, but that's only because he isn't used to people!" Emiko dramatically sighed, catching his attention. " The only monsters in this village, Gaara, are the ones who fail to help a child who is alone and hurting. You have done nothing wrong. I...i wouldn't even keep living if i were in your situation."
" Emiko...you don't think i'm a monster too?" His light blue eyes shined with un-shed tears. He bit his lip to hold back a sob when she refused to look at him. However, her next words calmed his throbbing heart.
" No matter what happens in the future, no matter how much you might hurt me, or how far we get separated, I will never forget YOU. I only see you, Gaara, not the monster inside of you. You are only one person, after all! It'd probably make me crazy if i thought i was seeing two of you." Emiko put a finger to her chin in mock wonder. She giggled and shrugged her shoulders at Gaara. He was just watching her with wide eyes. Emiko was completely unaware of the amount of admiration he felt for her just then.
"How could i have forgotten, what she said to me? Why did i forget...what i felt that night?"
Emiko awoke the next day to find herself in the hospital. The nurses fussed over her for a good half an hour before she finally got them to leave. " Make sure you take care of yourself!" One she secretly called baba (hag) called over her shoulder. Emiko stuck her tongue out at her and turned her head. Nosy hag. When Emiko had been training under the ANBU here, she was sent to the hospital on quite a few occasions. She knew the place like the back of her hand. On one visit, the nurses had been nosy enough to run a couple extra tests on her. The result was a severe lecture from her sensei, and the beating of a life time. He ordered her to fight against him and kicked the crap out of her. The nurses never even apologized for ratting her poor eating habits out to him.
"Maybe if you took better care of yourself you'd have a husband." Emiko muttered under her breath.
" Ouch" Emiko snapped her head toward the door way, blushing like crazy.
" Kankuro!" She laughed and scratched the back of her head. " How long ya been standing there?"
Kankuro raised an eyebrow at her nervous laughter. " She's not that bad" He defended with a smirk. Kankuro walked over to Emiko's bed and sat on the end of it. He was dressed in his usual all black, his face painted with the purple lines.
" easy for you to say." Emiko glared at the door again, hoping the baba would sense it. Kankuro laughed again and Emiko just looked to the side, blushing and muttering under her breath. " So how was Shikamaru?" Emiko couldn't help but ask.
" ah, well...I didn't really talk to him that much. You'd be better off asking Temari." He was grinning apologetically at her.
Emiko sighed shifted on the bed so her feet were dangling off the side. " Ok, i will."
" You'd better not let Gaara hear how curious you are about that Shikamaru." Emiko's blush exceeded a new level of red.
"Wh-I-you-" She couldn't even form a sentence. Kankuro was full out laughing now, gripping his stomach and rocking back and forth.
" You should see your face!" He yelled, poking her cheek and laughing some more. " To bad gaara couldn't see you react like this! Why isn't he here anyway?" Kankuro looked around the room, almost expecting his brother to appear out of thin air.
" He..." Emiko thought back to the roof top. She looked down at her ankle, not at all surprised to find it bandaged. The nurses had managed to get rid of the swelling, but it was still sore. " At least it isn't broken," Emiko sighed. " I can still go on missions if it's only sprained." Emiko jumped when she saw Kankuro staring at her ankle. His eyes narrowed slightly, but whatever he was thinking, he kept to himself. " Gaara is probably still waiting for us to wake up?" Emiko shrugged her shoulders in what she hoped was an innocent guess.
" Yeah, maybe." Kankuro got off the bed and stood in front of her. " To bad it's already twelve in the afternoon."
" What! I couldn't have slept that long! Where's Gaara! I have to get to Gaara! What if something happens!" Emiko shot off the bed, but unfortunately for her, she landed hard on her bad ankle. She hissed in pain and immediately crumpled to the ground. Kankuro quickly caught her arms, steadying her before raising her face to look at him.
" Gaara's fine, have some faith in him." He gave her a reassuring smile before turning around. " Now c'mon, i'll get you back to the house." Kankuro wiggled his fingers behind him and smirked at her. " What's wrong?"
"N-nothing." Emiko reluctantly took a step forward. Kankuro kneeled on the ground and waited patiently while she awkwardly situated herself on his back. He abruptly stood up, making her squeal and cling onto him.
" Jeeze," Kankuro put a finger in his ear and pretended to be hurt. Emiko put her forehead on his back and groaned in embarrassment. "Kidding" He assured her. Emiko ignored him and kept her head down. Kankuro just sighed and shrugged, gripping her other thigh with his hand again. The nurses gave them strange looks, but as Emiko had her head down, Kankuro was left to suffer them alone. When they were about half way home he finally spoke again.
" Your really light."
" thanks." Emiko had eventually lifted her face and was now resting her chin on his shoulder. " this is so weird." She thought. Never, in the whole time she was here, did she have much contact with either of Gaara's siblings. Sure she talked to them a lot, but touching was something that family didn't seem to do a lot of. Kankuro had only ever hugged her once or twice, and it was usually after making some perverted joke about her and Gaara that only she didn't get. " you don't have to do this you know."
Kankuro almost turned his head, but thought better of it now that her face was so close to his. " Sure i do. Your my little sister now. I'd be a bad big brother if i didn't walk you home from the hospital." Kankuro didn't even smile after saying that. He was dead serious.
" I've never been anyone's little sister before" She admitted, laughing softly. " All i ever heard was 'big sis'. It was like Hiroshi didn't even know my name." Kankuro laughed, hoping to keep her from getting to depressed. She always seemed to shut down when someone mentioned her family. It was rare for her to bring it up on her own.
" Well, i'll just have to call you little sis more than. It's not like i get to say that everyday!" This time Emiko laughed. " Besides, you mean alot to Gaara. There's no way i'd just ignore the girl that he loves."
Emiko almost passed out. " Gaara...loves me?" No, that couldn't be right. Kankuro had to be reading something wrong. Why would Gaara ever love her? She was so plain, so...All the others girls seemed like they had more to offer him than her! She wasn't very funny, or talkative. She didn't really know how to be all girly like Matsuri or her friend. " I'm just so..."
" Maybe you shouldn't read so far into things, big brother." Emiko teased. She was praying to her clans god that he didn't turn around and see her blush.
" I didn't think i was." Kankuro grinned and shook his head. " you two are so oblivious. It's almost painful to watch."
" What?" Emiko couldn't believe what she was hearing. " What do we do that's so damn weird!"
" Well, you seem completely oblivious of the fact that both of you are trying your hardest to protect the other one. Like how you went through all that training to become his 'bodyguard'. You had to know that Gaara doesn't really need protection. And then there's Gaara, who is contently trying his hardest to watch out for you. You'd be surprised how many guys i've seen him scare shitless to keep them away from you."
Kankuro took a deep breath and gave her a few moments to gather her thoughts. " Gaara, is protecting me to? But why? I don't need anyone to watch out for me. It's not like i can't fight for myself." She voiced this concern to kankuro who sighed again. It seems she is very good at making him sigh.
" You just don't get it do you? I guess i should just leave it alone for now. Temari'll kill me if she finds out i told you anything anyway." Emiko huffed but kept quiet anyway. She knew she couldn't force anything out of him. " Were here!" kankuro carefully made his way up the stairs, balancing Emiko on his back while he opened the door.
" Cookies?"
" No, i think it's cake"
"wait, your with me...so that means that Temari's baking?" Emiko and Kankuro shared a look of disbelief.
" Go see!" Emiko pointed toward the kitchen split seconds before Kankuro took off running. He skidded to a stop, gaping at the figure in the kitchen. In only one year, she had gotten taller, fuller, and by Emiko's standards, far prettier. Sasuke was going to be sorry he left her behind.
" Sakura!" Kankuro actually dropped Emiko when she shouted. "OW!" Emiko glared at a pale Kankuro. Three things happened at once.
Kankuro got even paler when he looked over at the entrance to the kitchen and accidentally backed up to Sakura. Sakura glared at Kankuro for dropping you when your obviously injured and smacked him upside the head. Emiko looked over to see what had scared Kankuro so much and saw Gaara and Temari standing in the doorway.
" What the hell is going on?" Temari had her hands on her hips and was glaring at her brother.
"T-Temari! Gaara!" Kankuro was about to run over and help Emiko back up but Sakura held him back by the coller of his shirt. Both Sakura and Temari loomed over Kankuro, dark clouds forming over thier heads. The poor boy shrank back and tried his best to stutter out an excuse.
Gaara's eyes slid from his brother and the two pissed girls to Emiko who was struggling to get up on her own. She had one hand on the wall, and the other pushing down on her knee as she tried to stand. Gaara only had to see her wobble once before he was at her side. Gaara got her arm around his shoulders, and one of his arms around her waist in one fluid movement. He was kneeling next to her on the kitchen floor, his other hand holding onto her arm that was over his shoulder. The two were instantly lost in a world of their own. Sakura, Temari, and Kankuro had all stopped fighting to watch the two.
Emiko was hyper aware of Gaara's body so close to hers. His side was pressed against hers because of how he was holding her. His messy red hair was almost tickling her face, and his breaths washed over her in deep, even intervals. How had she not noticed how flawless his face was before? Gaara was finally not wearing his sand armor, allowing her the sweet bliss of feeling his real skin agaist hers. Everything seemed to be going in slow motion around them. Emiko was caught in his intense gaze, relishing both the feel of his hand on hers, and the warmth radiating from his body.
" He was always so warm." Emiko remembered how she used to always gravitate closer to him to keep warm at night. The desert would always get so cold when she stayed up with him. " Gaara always kept me warm."
She continued to stare at his face, even when his eyes slid down to her injured ankle. Emiko almost missed the look of pure torture that contorted his features for a split second. Almost. It was a good thing he wasn't able to see the bruising on her torso. Emiko's breathing became ragged again when he looked her in the eye. She was overly conscious of the blush adorning her cheeks, trying her hardest to will it away. The heat from his body, the feel of his skin on hers. The look in his eyes. It was all becoming to much for her. Emiko's heart was beating rapidly, pounding against her chest in an effort to escape. Gaara's grip around her waist tightened, pulling her just a little closer. Her breathing hitched, catching in her throat. Thier faces were only inches apart now. The smallest of smirks spread across his face.
All to soon, Sakura spoke, making the two jolt apart. " Gaara? I need to look at her ankle..." Sakura sounded sincerely sorry. Emiko was blushing heavily, completely mortified that that had just happened in front of everyone. Gaara simple pulled her up, leading her to a chair before lowering her down. Without waiting to see what Sakura would say about her foot, Gaara disappeared in a flurry of sand.
" I keep telling him not to do that in the house..." Temari exhaled in annoyance. A few of the kitchen chairs were knocked over now. Temari kept her eyes closed, resisting the strong urge to peak at Emiko again. " Damn! They were so close!" Temari feigned ignorance to the situation and excused herself from the room. " Don't hesitate to bake anything else!" She called to Sakura, waving over her shoulder.
Kankuro glanced at Emiko one last time. She was sitting at the table, her leg propped up so Sakura could look at it. He eyes were clenched shut and she was gripping the edge of her chair. " I guess i should go talk to him." Kankuro bid farewell to the girls and went up stairs to find his little brother.
He found Gaara sitting on the edge of his bead, his elbows on his knees and his head bent down in thought. His hair was messed up more than usual, almost like he'd been pulling on it. The afternoon sun was still high in the sky, casting a strange glow over the boy. Gaara didn't acknowledge Kankuro's presence until he joined him on the bed. Gaara groaned and put his head in his hands. Kankuro couldn't believe what he was seeing. " He seems so...human." Human was a poor choice of words, but Gaara had never shown any type of weakness around either of his siblings. "He still doesn't think he can trust us with everything." Kankuro couldn't blame him.
" Hey, Gaara." Gaara kept his head down, but Kankuro knew he was listening. " I know that we...I wasn't there for you when you needed us...in the past." Kankuro scratched his head. The awkward tension was so thick it could be felt. " But i'm going to be here for you now, little brother. I...I think it's time...that..." Kankuro sweat dropped when Gaara looked up at him with innocent and expectant eyes. There was a plea hidden under that innocence though. " Damn, I always thought Dad would be the one to do this..." Kankuro trailed off as he tried to gather his thoughts. Gaara was still watching him when he finally spoke again. " We need to have the talk."
Gaara's eyes grew wide as he drastically flinched away from his brother. This wasn't going to be fun.
" Care to tell me what happened?" Emiko winced as Sakura forcefully turned her ankle over again. She pushed some Chakra in, feeling out any fractures.
Sakura glared up at Emiko when she didn't answer. " I landed wrong."
" You landed wrong?" a sigh. " your just as bad at lying about this stuff as Naruto." Sakura's pink head shook from side to side. " I suppose you don't have to tell me. Here, try walking now." Sakura got up and dusted off her hands before offering one to Emiko.
" you didn't make it worse did you?" Emiko warily took her hand, preferring to use most of her own strength to get up. Sakura scoffed and looked away. " Whatever." She slowly put her foot on the ground, allowing the smallest amount of pressure to press down on her ankle. When there was no pain, Emiko tapped her foot on the ground a few times. "Wow"! Emiko lit up as she took another step. " It's all better!" She laughed loudly and grabbed Sakura's hands, forcing her into a small jump of excitement. Sakura watched with a small smile as her mysterious friend took a few more experimental steps.
" So why are you here?" Emiko turned to look at the kunoichi from her past.
" Hm? ano..." sakura put a hand on her chin and looked up. " You see...We have a mission. I'm a chounin now, and Tsunade named me as leader for a mission." Both Emiko and Sakura's expressions hardened.
" What kind of mission?" Emiko's voice was low, almost dangerous. She had a very good idea where this was going.
" There have been reported sightings of Orochimaru. Some of our informants in the Land of Tea sent word that he was seen with a young man. They describe the young man as pale, dark hair, and onyx colored eyes."
" Sasuke..." Emiko spat out his name and clenched her fists. " Why are you telling me this?"
" You were his friend to...at one point. I thought you would want to try..."
" To bring him back!" Sakura actually flinched when Emiko shouted at her. She looked down to hide her sadness from Emiko.
" Look, i know that you say you don't care about him-"
" I don't!"
" But i know you do. He was your friend to after all. Him and Naruto were the only people you talked to when you were Jin. You probably didn't notice, but he really liked you. You were probably his best friend next to Naruto."
Emiko bit back the insult she had prepared when she heard Sakura's voice. " It can't be easy for her to admit that. She was in love with the guy." Emiko crossed her arms and sighed. " I thought Naruto wanted to be the one to bring him back. Didn't he make you the promise of a life time that he would?"
" Yes but..." Sakura suprised Emiko by reaching out and grabbing her shoulders. Her green eyes sparkled with tears and her bottom lip went between her teeth to keep it from quivering. " Please, Emiko. I-it's not fair to expect Naruto to do that alone!" Emiko watched with a passive face as Sakura begged her. " you know Naruto as well as i do, probably better! He won't stop until Sasuke is back. And I..."
" You still love him?" Emiko finished for her. Sakura nodded, a soft pink dusting her cheeks. Emiko sighed and stepped away from the girl. She walked over the sink and stared out of the small window. Sunlight poured through the window, warming her skin against the coldness inside of her. "Sasuke is a pathetic traitor. I shouldn't help, he doesn't deserve to come back. Not after what he put them through. But..." She sighed again when she heard Sakura shift behind her.
" If Gaara left like that, I would go to the end of the world to find him again. I guess it couldn't hurt to help you find Sasuke then huh?" Emiko's hair fanned out around her as she turned to face Sakura with a smile. " Lets go."