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-Sand Siblings (day after Kazekage Retrieval)-
"I wasn't able to sense him..." Her words ran through his mind. The ANBU that followed under Maiha said that those had been her last words before she fell unconscious the night of Gaara's capture.
Gaara sat at his desk wearily, listening to Kankuro and Temari tell him what happened the past three days. Most of it was about the Leaf's help saving both him and Kankuro. He hadn't been able to go to the hospital and check on Maiha who was still out. Finally, his siblings stopped talking and waited.
"Has there been any news on Maiha's condition?" Gaara asked and his siblings looked at each other sadly.
"Sorry little brother, she's still out. I wonder if she really does need sleep," he teased trying to lighten the mood. "I remember Kakashi saying something about her actually sleeping a few years back. Wonder if she has a wound that can't be found..."
"Kankuro, quiet," Temari whispered. "Gaara, come back to the house after you visit her and I'll get some dinner for tonight. I know you've been meaning to, just been unable since your return."
Gaara nodded and smiled a little as he watched his sister drag his brother out of his office. He got to his feet, still slightly unsteady and headed out of the office to the hospital. Once he was there, a nurse squeaked in surprise and led the way quickly down the hall to the ICU. He past two of Maiha's men who stood outside the unit doors and once inside he walked over to the only room being used. Maiha had on her fabric mask and had several IVs in her left arm and hand. He studied the machines while the nurse wrote something down on the clipboard that was at the foot of her bed before leaving quickly.
He touched her right hand while he used his other hand to pull up her mask. He placed his hand on her soft cheek and slid a finger across her eyelids. He felt her hand move under his and he traced the bones of her cheek, making her hand move again. Curious at this reaction, he leaned forward and pressed his lips to her branded mark before pulling back and seeing her eyes open a fraction. Gaara found the call button and pressed it as he wrapped his fingers around hers and pulled the mask back down as the nurse came into view.
"Did you need something, Lord Gaara?"
"She's waking..."
"I'm not deaf, you nit," he headed her grumble softly as she squeezed my hand. "I hate hospitals though for this reason. They think something is wrong every time I have a mind overload because of Kenisho."
She released my hand and plucked out the IVs and sat up, pulling off the other wires. She ran her fingers through her slightly messy hair then turned her face to the nurse who seemed slightly surprised. Gaara felt like growling while Maiha hung her legs over the edge of the bed.
"Where's my uniform?" she growled at the nurse and she pinked a shaky finger at a cupboard in the room. "Great now get out and close the door."
The nurse scrambled out and the door closed. Maiha laughed as she slid off the bed and walked over to the closet and pulled out her uniform. She slid her pants on under the hospital gown before he turned to give her some privacy. He heard the rustle of clothes before she came around the bed to the mirror and grabbed her ANBU mask.
"Did you have to be so harsh to that nurse?" Gaara asked.
"You wake up and find yourself in a hospital," she growled as she opened the door and left the room, carrying her mask at her side then she saw the two ANBU at the door. "You two, go back to the house and rest."
"Yes, Captain Maiha." they bowed then left quickly.
"So you just plan to walk out?" Gaara asked.
"Nope," she smirked.
"Oh really what's your plan?"
"You're signing the discharge papers." He smiled at that as they walked to where the nurse sat putting a couple papers together.
"Lord Gaara will you be signing these?" the nurse stammered as she looked at Maiha nervously. He nodded and signed them before walking out with Maiha.
-Maiha-
"How do you have a mind overload because of your eyes?" Gaara spoke careful of his words.
"Seen too much without doing my jutsu to clear my mind of unneeded information. I was training your men at night, not exactly fun but necessary," I grimaced. Then I see the sand dome over the village and your capture. What else is my already stressed mind going to do?"
"I'm sorry," Gaara whispered as we jumped up to the roof we always sat on.
"The worst part is that I couldn't sense anything at all and now I can sense you like I can any other person. What happened?" I looked at him.
"Somehow the Akatsuki were able to extract the Shukaku, but in the process I lost my life. Lady Chiyo was able to bring me back by giving her life to me."
"Shukaku is gone?" I blinked in surprise.
"Why does it not surprise me you worry about that rather than me dying," he laughed softly.
"Well you're here now, that is what matters," I spoke, recovering from the shock and looked at the setting sun.
"Have you thought about what I had said before the second attack?"
I shook my head and pulled off my fabric mask.
"What are you planning?" he whispered as I turned around to face him. "I don't know what seeing the extraction may do…"
"I've gotten stronger and have learned how to bypass the emotion problem. Besides, I know you love seeing my eyes not hidden," I smiled.
"Maiha, I died…"
I silenced him by putting a finger to his lips. He blinked in surprise and I pulled my hand back and did my jutsu as I locked onto his teal eyes.
-Gaara-
He felt her in his mind as she held her jutsu which was cancelling out the emotions. Her face remained blank as she was locked into his memories. He straightened up, his face coming closer to hers. She closed her eyes and let her hands fall to her lap and took a deep breath as she ran a hand through her hair.
"Are you alright?" he asked, touching her cheek.
"Yes," she smiled as her hand came up and held his hand to her cheek. "I wasn't expecting that though. I want to kill those Akatsuki even more."
"Captian Maiha!" two ANBU from her team landed on the roof behind her and bowed. "Training has been completed with the Sand ANBU and we sent Lady Tsunade a message since you were unable to."
"Very well, get your things together, we leave tomorrow," Maiha spoke, lowering her head and closing her eyes as she lowered his hand to her lap.
"Yes ma'am," they bowed then left.
Maiha grabbed her fabric mask and pulled it back on before pulling on her ANBU mask as she stood up. She turned towards the setting sun and muttered under her breath several curses.
"You really have to leave?" Gaara asked as he stood up as well.
"Unfortunately yes, since my team notified her, she'll be expecting us in the next couple days, but for tonight, I feel like actually sleeping," she sighed. "Mind if I crash at your place?"
"Not at all," Gaara smiled as they jumped off the roof.
He led the way to his place and let her in before himself. She pulled of both of her masks and set them on the coffee table. Then she tugged off her gloves and chest plate and put them next to her mask. She followed him down to his room and sat on the bed as he walked into the closet.
-Maiha-
As soon as he walked into his closet, I slid under the covers and braided my hair. He came back out wearing only a pair of pants and I felt my face heat up a little as I saw his firm chest. He turned off the light then came over and laid next to me.
"How long has it been since you slept?" I asked.
He rolled onto his side to look at me before answering. "Since I was five."
I rolled onto my side and propped myself on my elbow as I looked at him. I kissed his cheek before lying back down. I smiled as I saw the pink tint spread across his cheeks and he smiled softly as well. He propped himself onto his elbow and looked down at me as one hand came to my cheek. My smile faded some as he lowered his head and pressed a soft kiss on my lips.
"Gaara, I want to sleep," I pouted and he shook his head.
"I don't know when I'll see you next."
"Gaara…"
"I want you to remember me, Maiha," he whispered before kissing me again.
I closed my eyes as I tangled one of my hands in his hair and pulled him closer to me and he deepened the kiss. I ran my other hand along his back and side as he pressed his upper body against mine. He shivered slightly as he hesitantly traced my lips with his tongue. He plunged his tongue into my mouth as he shook against me while my hand trailed lightly across his skin.
Finally we broke away gasping and he laid his head on my chest and took a few deep breaths, closing his eyes again. I ran my fingers through his hair as I regained my oxygen and felt him relax as sleep started to claim him. I closed my eyes again and drifted off as well.
-Gaara-
He opened his eyes and saw the sunlight hitting the wall. Maiha laid on her side infront of him with her back pressed against his chest and he could feel her steady heartbeat. His left arm was under her head like a pillow while his right was slung over her waist. He felt her hair tickle his stomach as she rolled onto her back and opened her eyes. She smiled as she looked up at him and shifted closer.
"How did you sleep?" she whispered.
"Pleasant," he smiled kissing her brow.
She took a deep breath and sighed sadly. "I don't want to leave."
"I know, but our duties to our villages come before relationships."
Gaara sighed as well as she sat up and got out of the bed. She stretched her arms above her head then looked back at him and smirked. She looked like she was studying him before she moved and crawled back onto the bed and kissed his cheek. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her onto him as he kissed her deeply.
"Gaara!" the voice of Temari made Maiha jump in surprise as she got back off the bed. Gaara slid out of bed and hurried into the other room as Temari walked into the entry hall. "Why didn't you come over last night?"
"I got distracted," he replied as they walked into the kitchen. He felt Maiha walk past and into the living room to get her things while he talked to Temari.
-Maiha-
I pulled on my boots and chest plate before I grabbed my fabric mask and pulled it on. I heard temari talking to Gaara and smiled as I pulled on my mask. I heard them coming back into the living room as I finished pulling on my gloves.
"Maiha, you're finally awake!" Temari gasped in surpsie. "Why didn't you just tell me she woke up?"
"He fell asleep, he couldn't exactly do anything about that,"I smiled. "I must go make sure my men are up and ready. Thank you both for letting us come and help."
"You're leaving?" Temari growled.
"Our mission is complete and Lady Tsunade is expecting us," I bowed then left.
At the house where the eight ANBU were staying, they were just barely getting out of bed. They all bowed to me as I strapped my blades to me.
"I'll be waiting at the gate. We don't want to keep Lady Tsunade waiting," I spoke then left quickly. I walked though the Suna gates and stared out over the desert as I felt a familiar presence appear behind to me and ran his hand down my arm. I turned around to look at him and saw sadness and hatred. "I don't like this anymore than you do."
"I know," he sighed then slid something around my neck then showed me the vial at the end of the chain. "This has some o my sand in it. If you need something, break it and I'll come find you."
"Thank you Lord Gaara," I bowed formally as my men appeared around us.
-Gaara-
He watched as the team start running off into the desert, Maiha in the back. She turned and waved before catching up to her team and took point as they headed back to Konoha. He sighed and turned back towards the village only to see Temari walking towards him.
"Between meeting her, Naruto, becoming kazekage, and beastless, you have changed a lot little brother," she smiled and he nodded. "Don't look so sad, she'll be back soon. Especially if she cares for you as much as I have seen."
"How would you know that?" he growled annoyed, thinking she was just trying to make him feel better.
"I've seen the two of you on the roofs, talking all night. I've seen the look in your eyes when you look at her and I saw the concern and guilt when you came back and heard that she was in the hospital. Trust me little brother, she'll find a way to come back."
"Thank you Temari," Gaara smiled a little and they walked back towards the village.