Scroll One; Chapter Eleven:
Hospital Beds
"Can she really do that?" Naruto asked without hesitation. The tears that streaked down his face cleared away the dirt, but made it more apparent. He lifted his hands and wiped them with his palms.
"Granny Chiyo is the only one who can perform this jutsu," Sakura replied, her eyes sullen.
Chiyo groaned, the aura surrounding her hands shrinking. "I don't…have enough Chakra," she muttered between breaths.
"Use mine!" I offered, jutting my hands toward her. "I don't care if it kills me! Just please bring Gaara back!"
Naruto kneeled next to me, pushing my hands away. "No, use mine. I have more than you do, Kyan."
Chiyo raised her tired eyes, watching us as if expecting a joke of some sort. I agreed with Naruto, knowing full well how much Chakra he truly had. I returned my hands to Gaara's hair. It had never been so filthy before.
"Place your hands on mine," she ordered.
A pained grunt coming from his mouth, Naruto infused his Chakra with hers. The aura grew strong, but from the sweat dripping from both their heads, I could tell it was an immense strain.
"In this shinobi world created by frivolous old people, I'm glad new souls like you have come along," Chiyo managed to say. She had regulated her breathing, but I knew talking was a difficult task for her. "Until now, everything I've done has been wrong, but at the very end, I might be able to do something right."
"The very end?" I mentally repeated. "What does she mean?"
"Sunagakure and Konohagakure," she continued. "May the future that awaits them be different from our time." Her drooping eyes met Naruto's. "You can change the world. I believe in you. You will become a Hokage like none other than before."
A breath caught in his throat as his hands began to quiver. "Granny Chiyo…"
A soft smile formed on her cracked lips. "You two…I have a favor to ask. Naruto, you are the only one who knows Gaara's pain. And Kyan, your love for him is unlike any I've experienced before. Please, both of you look after him."
"Then allow me to help, even if it isn't much," I mumbled, placing my right hand on theirs. A sensation I'd never felt before hurled itself through my body. I instantly suffered from a headache and I could sense myself growing more and more fatigued as the seconds ticked by.
A hand on my shoulder caused me to lift my heavy head. I focused Haketa's smiling face, tears falling from her skin. "I'm so proud of you," she mouthed. Only then did I realize just how many people gathered around us. Kankuro, Temari, Matsuri, and countless other Suna villagers had traveled to come to Gaara's aid.
Taking a gasping inhale, Gaara's head shot up, his eyes wide and frantic. Chiyo slouched at his side. Silence fell over everyone as he glanced around at the familiar faces. Finally, he looked to Naruto, who gave a reassuring smile. "You had us worried there for a second, Gaara," he said.
"Why…are you here?" Gaara questioned.
"Its not just me. Everyone came to help."
Suddenly, the crowd erupted into thunderous cheers, cries of happiness, and thanks to the gods. Gaara's eyes settled on me and before I could control myself, I flung myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck in hysterical sobs.
"Whoa, calm down, Kyan! You don't want to hurt him!" Temari scolded me. Unexpectedly, Gaara snaked a rigid arm around my shoulders.
From Temari's side, Kankuro gave a wavering chuckle. "You know, you caused a ton of grief, little brother," he informed.
"Don't act so superior toward him!" Temari snapped, giving him a light punch to the arm. Beside him, my sister giggled and wiped her eyes. "He's the Kazekage after all, you dumb brats." She kneeled next to Gaara and me, but I refused to look at her. One, I had an ugly crying face. Two, I couldn't bring myself to detach from his body. "How do you feel, Gaara?"
Gaara stared at her for a long while, searching for the right answer. "I feel…tired," he finally answered. His arm dropped from my side and he tried to stand. I watched in caution.
"Don't stand up so suddenly," Temari told him. "Your body hasn't fully recovered from the rigor mortis yet."
Gaara seemed to be confused, to say the least. He gazed from his sister, to the surrounding crying villagers, then to me. "Why are you here?" he asked.
"Because I…" I sniffled, wiping away my tears with my shirt. I must've seemed so pathetic. "I couldn't live with myself if anything happened to you."
"I'LL PROTECT YOU NEXT TIME, LORD GAARA!" Matsuri's banshee voice echoed. Naruto was suddenly pushed to the side by her and another girl I'd recognized from my random walks around Suna.
"NO, I'LL PROTECT YOU!"
I grabbed at my tachi, which had been lying by my side, and stood up to face the two girls. Luckily, Temari had already beaten me to it as she stood in front of Gaara and me, holding out her arms protectively. "Why don't you two back the hell up?" she suggested darkly.
"Granny Chiyo saved him with this awesome medical ninjutsu," Naruto was heard saying to Kankuro a few feet away. It was said at the perfect time as the noise died down, so the crowd turned to him to listen.
Sakura held Chiyo in her arms not too far away. She did appear to be sleeping, but I couldn't sense any Chakra coming from her body.
"She fell asleep because you know, she's old. But I'm sure she'll be fine when she gets back to your village," Naruto said optimistically.
"No, she won't," Kankuro replied, his voice sounding deeper than usual.
Naruto stared at him in bewilderment. "What…do you mean?"
"Granny Chiyo didn't use a medical ninjutsu. It was a transference technique. She isn't sleeping, Naruto. She died." My sister returned to Kankuro's side, placing a hand on his shoulder. "She exchanged her life for Gaara's. There was a point in time where Suna's Puppet Master Corps was involved in the secret development of a technique that could put actual life into puppets. Granny Chiyo led that project. They were able to devise the technique, but it posed too much of a risk. It was eventually banned and sealed."
It was then that I realized that although some of the villagers were shedding tears of joy, others were expressing their grief in the same manner. They knew she had died long before we did.
I turned to Gaara, who hung his head. I didn't know what to say to him, so instead I only sat near him and grabbed onto his hand. He didn't hesitate to lock his fingers around mine.
"Naruto, you truly are different," Temari said, moving her attention away from the two girls. "You have the power to change people. Granny Chiyo always said she didn't care what happened to the village. She wasn't the kind of person who would give her life for Gaara."
"Granny Chiyo entrusted the future to you and Gaara," Kakashi added. "It was a death befitting a shinobi."
"Same as the Third Hokage," Naruto muttered. "Now I know what old Lady Chiyo wished for."
Struggling, Gaara attempted to stand again. I opened my mouth to tell him to stop, but he said, "I'm fine. Really." So, instead of arguing with him, I only kept my grasp on his hand, helping him to his feet. "Everyone," he called out, "let us pray for Granny Chiyo."
As I hung my head and closed my eyes, I pictured my father and my grandfather. They stood side-by-side in the darkness of my mind, their arms around each other's shoulders. The same idiotic grin was apparent on both their faces as they gave me a simultaneous thumbs-up.
Gaara's hand gripped tighter around mine.
()()()
"Stupid freaking hospital beds," I grumbled for the tenth time. Haketa and Sakura both sighed, shaking their heads.
"Will you knock it off?" my sister practically yelled. "You took quite a beating during this whole thing. Besides, Gaara insisted that you rest in the hospital as well."
"I think he just wanted you to suffer along with him," Sakura joked. "He isn't having the best time in his hospital room either."
I crossed my arms over my chest, looking away from the two. Sure, it made sense that Gaara spent a few days in the hospital. The kid died, for shit's sake. I, however, came out with only a black eye, a broken toe, and a few scrapes here and there. Okay, there was also a little internal bleeding and possibly an infection.
"So, the weirdest thing," Kankuro muttered as he opened the door. We turned to him, not even having to ask what. "Gaara's sleeping."
"What?" my sister replied. "He can't sleep."
"Well, he is. Come look, if you promise not to be creepy about it."
I struggled to place my feet on the ground. "Let me see him," I ordered. As I stood, I realized just how much bad shape I was in. My ribs burned in pain, as did my toe and my shoulders. "Its been two days. You have to let me see him." Rolling his eyes in defeat, Kankuro looped his arm around me, supporting me as we made the quick trek to Gaara's room.
As we silently opened the door, I rested my eyes on the redhead. Like his brother said, Gaara was asleep, but it wasn't the sort of peaceful sleep I'd always imaged, where he would be comfortably tucked underneath the covers, an angelic expression on his face. Instead, Gaara's limbs sprawled out in all different directions. His head tilted to the side, messy strands of hair beginning to cover his eyes. I hadn't noticed just how long his hair was getting. His mouth hung open slightly, a light snore coming from it.
"I guess it was because they took Shukaku from him," Kankuro suggested.
"Shukaku didn't let him sleep?" Sakura whispered.
"Gave him night terrors. I can still remember the nights when he did try to sleep." Kankuro shuddered and I could feel the goose bumps rise on his skin. Whatever had happened, I didn't want to know about it.
"I want to touch him," I mumbled, pushing myself from Kankuro.
"I told you not to be creepy about it, Kyan."
"I'm not!"
Slowly (because I couldn't really move at any faster of a pace), I advanced toward Gaara's bed, sitting down gently at an open spot. I watched from the corner of my eye as Sakura pushed the other two from the room, closing the door behind her.
"I'll have to remember to thank her later," I thought.
As I watched Gaara's chest rise and fall through the bandages, I wondered to myself if how my mother felt when she lost my father was the exact same way I felt when I first found out Gaara had been captured. Regret rushed over me as I pondered back to my words I shouted at her before I left home.
"YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND! YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW IT FEELS TO BE SO WORRIED SICK AND HELPLESS!"
My mother, more than anyone, understood it perfectly.
My sigh, although I thought it was a quiet noise, caused Gaara to stir in his sleep. He lifted his hands to his eyes, giving his own exaggerated exhale, and forced his lids to open groggily. I assumed he was awake, but he shut his eyes once more and drifted off into a much needed sleep.
Grinning to myself, I pressed my lips to his tattoo and returned to my room.
()()()
The journey back to Suna seemed to linger on forever. I kept my pace at Naruto's side, who hoisted Gaara's weak body along with Kankuro. The entire recruitment of villagers that had come to their Kazekage's rescue formed an army behind us.
Finally, as the gigantic sand walls came into view, I could see the remaining residents of Suna cluttered before it. As we came closer, cheers and joyous shouts echoed around us, causing our army to return with their own strident praise.
Kankuro chuckled, his cheeks tinted rose underneath his paint. "Now, that's what I call a warm welcoming."
"Look at how many people there are!" Lee exclaimed.
"Just what you'd expect for the Kazekage," Neji chimed in.
As if on cue, the villagers ran toward us, chanting Gaara's name. Some women cried tears of happiness and relief and children jumped up and down as they held onto one another. From the crowd, Baki stepped forward. If my vision hadn't been so hazy, I could've sworn I saw tears brimming his visible eye.
"I'm so happy you're safe," he told Gaara.
"Thanks to these people."
Baki nodded in understanding, turning his half gaze to Naruto. "Naruto Uzumaki, I thank you."
"Huh? I didn't…I mean, I hardly did anything at all," Naruto replied bashfully, looking away from the man.
"Lord Kazekage," Baki continued, giving the biggest smile I'd ever seen him wear, "your people are waiting to welcome you home." The gathering in front of us parted into two separate clusters, giving way for us to walk into the village. "Come, lead the way."
"All right then," Kankuro said, "shall we go?"
"No, wait," Gaara said hastily. He turned his head behind us, looking toward Chiyo's body. "Not yet."
"You're right," I muttered as we stood off to the side.
"Let us honor the memory of Lady Chiyo!" Baki announced. "A moment of silence!"
We hung our heads as four shinobi carried her body past us, giving her first reign to the village. I closed my eyes, knowing that I could never thank her enough.
()()()
"What, you're leaving already?" Kankuro questioned as we met the two teams from Konoha in Gaara's office. "You can stay a little longer, can't you?"
I took my place next to Guy and Kakashi, who were supporting each other. I wouldn't allow myself to cry anymore, for anything. My sister watched me from her husband's side, holding in her own tears through a smile. We had already exchanged our goodbyes that morning, so there was nothing left to say.
"Yeah, can't you stay another day or two? You should still rest a little bit more," Temari frantically suggested.
"Believe me, I wish we could," Naruto answered.
"We must report back to Lady Hokage as soon as possible," Sakura added.
"Besides, if the Akatsuki managed to penetrate this far into Suna, I'm worried about our own village," Kakashi stated.
I kept my gaze on the floor in front of me. I could feel Gaara staring at me, but I couldn't bring myself to look at him.
"I understand," Baki replied, a hint of concern lingering in his voice. "Even so, your condition…"
"Don't worry, I have comrades I can reply on to get me there." Beside him, Guy smirked proudly.
Their conversation faded as sand grains tickled the inside of my palm. I glanced up, finally meeting Gaara's gaze, only to see that sly smirk he often gave me when he knew I was upset but didn't want to quite say anything about it. I tightened my fist around his sand.
"Before we go," Sakura started, "is it okay if we visit Lady Chiyo's grave?"
"I was going to suggest the same," Gaara answered, standing from behind his desk.
Our trek to the graveyard was a silent one. I walked next to Gaara and noticed that every so often, whether it be on purpose or just from our stride, our hands would bump into each other. Knowing that I was acting as a bit stupid and childish, I counted down from three in my head, grasping his hand on one. He didn't pull away like I was half-expecting him to do.
Ebizo, Chiyo's brother, stood at a lone grave. At first, he didn't notice our presence. From beside me, Sakura asked, "Is that…?"
"Lady Chiyo's resting place," Gaara finished for her.
We stood at Ebizo's side without saying another word. I blinked back my tears and as Gaara traced small circles on my skin with his thumb, I began to wonder if he knew I was trying my hardest not to cry.
"She didn't want a headstone on her grave," Ebizo informed us, raising his hand to pat the headstone that had been placed for her. "But despite her wishes, I thought it was better to have one. I felt sure that people would want a place to come to remember her."
"Everyone," Kakashi addressed, "say your farewells."
As I hung my head for Lady Chiyo for the last time, the tears spilled over. I released Gaara's hand to wipe them away, trying to quiet my sounds of awkward sobbing. Gaara wrapped his arm around my shoulder, pulling me into his body.
In all honesty, I wasn't quite sure if I was crying over my grieving of Lady Chiyo and the fact that I would never have the chance to thank her for everything she did, or for the thought that I would be leaving again in a few hours. Both tore at my heart equally.
"Let's go," Guy muttered after our moment of remembrance was over.
We began to walk toward the ravine that served as the gate of the village, but stopped short when we noticed that two people were missing. Sakura and Naruto stood at the headstone, watching it as if Lady Chiyo would pop up from the ground in a fit of laughter.
"Sakura! Naruto! Let's go!" Lee called after them. Naruto nodded and returned to our group. After a while, Sakura did, too, after giving the headstone one final glance.
()()()
"'Well, so long," Kankuro told us as we gathered just outside the village walls. My sister grabbed for his hand and gave us a sad smile.
"Please be careful, everyone, and send my regards to everyone back in Konoha," she said. "Kyan, tell Mother I love her and I miss her."
"Okay," I muttered, watching Gaara and Naruto.
The uneasy feeling between the two was obvious to everyone. Naruto chuckled nervously and admitted, "I guess this is the part where people shake hands and get all choked up, but I've never really been good at that kind of stuff either, so let's just leave it at—"
He had noticed that Gaara extended his hand, and the only thought that ran through my head was how proud I was. Gaara started out as such a hateful kid who would kill anyone who breathed wrong around him to a man of honor and dignity - an absolute gentle person who teased me for the way I said "bad" like "baid" and for waking up looking like I'd travelled ten days straight.
I could tell how confused Naruto was when he continued to stand completely still, staring at Gaara as if he were trying to figure him out. Slowly, a gust of sand lifted Naruto's hand, placing it into the redhead's.
After they shook hands, my group turned and began to walk from the village. I couldn't find it in my body to go with them.
"You're going to write to me, right?" I asked as I threw myself into Gaara. I winced in slight pain as I did. My ribs were still sore.
"No," he replied simply.
I tilted my head back, staring up at him in distress and perplexity. "You're not…?"
"If I do," he started, pushing a stray cluster of hair from my eyes with his pointer finger, "it will be regarding your citizenship in Suna. And it will be to tell you to pack your things because I want you here."