Ange Clair
Chapter 25
Gaara's Birthday
Gaara took Sune straight to the hospital where they were ready for her. He carried her all the way to a room and set her down on the bed before leaving and telling her that he would be back soon. The medics that had been following got straight to work, starting with some medicine for the pain, telling her that it would also make her sleep for about thirty minutes while they healed her. The medics were right, as it made her very drowsy as she removed most of her dirty clothing and put on a gown they gave her. Luckily both the medics were female as they had to help her. Within ten minutes she was asleep and the medics got to work on healing her with chakra.
She woke up to see one of the medics standing next to her and taking her temperature, "You sure had a rough day yesterday, but you're all fixed up now, just try to go easy on that ankle for a while," she smiled and Sune blinked having to remember what she was talking about.
"Yes, thank you," Sune said.
"There's someone who has being anxious to see you," she smiled again, "I'll go tell him you're awake," she finished before leaving the room. Sune wondered who it could be before the medic returned and entered with Gaara, "Here she is Kazekage-sama, would you like the papers for her release?" she asked.
"Yes," he said and she bowed before leaving again. Sune noticed that he changed into a clean dark long-sleeved shirt and dark pants.
Gaara sat in a chair next to Sune, "What's up?" she asked sitting up.
"I am taking you off active duty for a while," he said and she looked at him shocked.
"W-why?" she asked and he simply looked at her, she understood why so she backed off.
"Temari put together some clothes for you," he said handing her a bag with the items.
She took it and looked through it, making sure it had what she needed, which was clean underwear, shirt, and pants. It also had a pair of sandals, a hairbrush, and some makeup. "Good, thank you for bringing it," she smiled.
"I picked this up for you," he said handing her a small package. She took it and looked at it, it was a package of hairclips. It had four, two were pink and the other two were green, and they all have a diamond shape in the middle and were shiny.
"Thank you," she smiled brightly, she almost forgot that the sand clip was gone, "Too bad these weren't made of sand to save me in a pinch," she laughed and opened the package and pulled out the green ones as well as her hairbrush.
"I will put together more sand for you later, this time enough to block more than once or twice if needed," he told her as she quickly brushed her hair.
She nodded, "Sure," she said before sighing, "Too bad there isn't a mirror," she said looking around so she put the clips on right. She noticed Gaara holding out his hand so she gave him both the clips and he did it for her.
He sat back down and looked at her, "Perfect, matches your eyes," he said and she blushed.
"Thank you," she said again before the medic returned with the paperwork. Gaara quickly signed it and gave it back before leaving the room to let Sune get changed so they could leave.
Soon they were back in the Kazekage building heading towards his office and Sune had crutches to help her stay off her ankle for the next couple days. Once inside she plopped herself down on the couch and he sat next to her instead of going to his desk. They were quiet for a bit before Gaara decided to explain what happened on his side of the events from the day before. He told her about how Yura did a terrible impression of her and how it was finally her scent that made Gaara know that there was no way it was her.
"You really know my scent?" Sune asked when he was finished and he nodded making her blush, "How?" she asked.
"I am able to smell you every time you are close to me, how could I not know it by now?" she nodded still blushing and decided to tell him everything from her side.
She told him all about what happened with Yoshiko, Yura, and Ryu. Adding in some explanations from the past. She also told him about of her new glass jutsu, the kiss Yoshiko stole while he was transformed, and how hearing her dead aunt gave her the strength she needed. He was pleased to hear about the glass jutsu, not so pleased about Yoshiko, and surprised to hear about her dead aunt talking to her. She asked him if she was mad about Yoshiko kissing her and he claimed he wasn't while cracking his knuckles and glaring at a wall. With Yura dead, Sune thought fighting her was punishment enough for kissing her man, but Gaara didn't get to do anything to Yoshiko.
Soon Gaara left again after kissing her forehead and telling her to rest up in her room. Just after he left, Raven and Suki entered and greeted Sune. Sune asked them if Gaara had a meeting to go to right now and they both said no.
"Where do you think he went then?" she asked.
"Probably to visit his mother's grave," Raven answered.
"He does it every year on this day," Suki added.
Sune frowned until they handed her a large envelope, "What's this?" she asked.
"The pictures we took this morning," they answered, "We thought you might want a copy since you're in them."
"Oh no," Sune sighed and immediately went through the pictures. There were some of the people who were waiting at the gate for them as the sun was coming up. She had to take a double-take at one of Kankuro and Cholandra looking at each other, it made her smile to see them together. Most of the pictures of her were when she was still asleep as Gaara was carrying her. She couldn't believe how beat up she looked. She stopped when she saw one where they were entering the village gates and she was leaning her head against his shoulder, asleep, and he was looking down at her.
"I can't believe we missed all the action!" Suki pouted crossing her arms.
"We'll get a chance to kick butt next time," Raven told her.
"Yeah, but we would've swept the floor with them in no time with a Hiya! And Whoya! And a-"
"And awesome matrix moves?" Raven added.
"Yeah!" And then both pulled out sunglasses and started a play sparring match in slow motion while in midair.
"Um guys?" Sune said getting their attention. They both looked at her and in a flash the sunglasses were put away and they were standing in front of her normally.
"If I was there I would have used my super cool new jutsu that I call Pink Snow!" Suki said.
"Pink Snow?" Sune repeated curious.
"Yep! It's poisonous, that's why it turns the snow pink, cool right?" Suki smiled.
"Yeah," Sune nodded, "You sure like pink," she said and Suki nodded. "By the way, were you listening at the door by any chance?" she asked knowing the answer.
Raven and Suki stiffened, "Maybe…"
Sune just sighed, "Well I should go and take a hot bath now, I'll see you later," she said picking up her crutches and leaving.
"Do you want some help getting up the stairs?" she heard them ask.
"Nope, I can do it," Sune called back.
Soon Sune was relaxing in a nice warm bath with Bo sitting on the edge of the tub licking his paw. She had got up the stairs pretty quickly since she used her ninja skills and simply used her good foot and the crutches to jump up each section.
"This feels great," Sune sighed sinking in to her chin. ~'I wonder what he's doing right now…'~ she thought and debated whether to use her telepathy. She decided that if he is at his mother's grave, then she should give him some privacy, since she could probably just ask him when he got back. Remembering that it's still his birthday, she thought it would be a good idea to do something nice for him and tell him happy birthday tonight. She wondered if his siblings got him anything or if they have any traditions.
~~~ Karura's Memorial ~~~
Gaara was standing in an all too familiar place at his mother's grave. Like he did many times before, he apologized for being born, causing so much trouble, for being the reason she died and taking her away from his siblings. He would add his father but he still held a grudge against him and would for some time. But this time while he was there, he said that he is no longer a monster, and as the Kazekage, he will atone for his crimes and do what he can to ensure that there will no longer be the need for people like him to even be born.
After about an hour of standing in respectful silence, with the intention of staying there until the sun went down, he soon heard two sets of footsteps coming up behind him. He looked up and spoke as they stood on either side of him, "What is it?" he asked his siblings.
"We're wondering if you're going to come back this time," Kankuro said.
"Doubt it," Gaara answered.
"I know you told us not to, but we got you gifts," Temari said and Gaara didn't respond.
"Sune is making dinner, at least come for that," Kankuro added.
Temari nodded as Gaara looked at them, "If you don't come back soon, her hard work will go to waste, you should've seen her hopping around the kitchen with only one crutch," Temari laughed.
"Anyway, food will be done soon, see you later," Kankuro stated before leaving, he was confident that Gaara would at least come back to eat, especially since it was Sune's cooking.
~~~ Later ~~~
Soon that evening Gaara returned through the front door and as he leaned back up after taking off his shoes, he was nearly tackled by Sune who fell as she stepped into the entryway to greet him. "Oh sorry Gaara," she quickly apologized and blushed as she noticed that she had her arms around his neck and his were around her waist as he held her up and kept her falling to the floor.
"Are you alright?" he asked and she nodded so he let her go making sure she was balanced before he reached down and picked up her crutch.
Next Temari and Kankuro came in and greeted him just before dragging him into the dining area, "Just in time, Sune and I just finished putting everything on the table!" Temari smiled. He had to admit, it did smell really good, and looked even better.
Before he could say anything, whether it be compliment or a decline, he was forcibly moved into a chair as a prepared plate was placed in front of him and utensils were shoved in his hands. Next a much needed, small bottle of sake was set next to him. Sune poured him a serving in his sake dish before she sat down with him and his siblings.
"It's time to eat," they said.
"I don't know if your family has any traditions for birthdays, but the men in my family would always drink some traditional sake," Sune explained.
"I just can't believe he's here," Temari said and took a bite, "Delicious!" she exclaimed followed by Kankuro.
"Thanks, it's my mother's recipe," Sune said before Gaara said it too, making her smile, "I'm glad you like it."
After they were finished, Gaara left to sit down in the living room, taking the unfinished sake with him. Sune sat next to him and spoke, "I would have made a cake but I didn't have enough time, sorry."
"You do not have to do anything for me," he told her.
"That won't stop me from wanting to," Sune reminded, "Instead I made cookies," she said before picking up a plate that had been set on the coffee table, "You should try one if you're not too full," she said.
He obliged and took one and just as he started eating it, his siblings came in with what could only be gifts, ~'Oh no,'~ he thought and Sune looked at him wondering why he thought that. He was going to stand up and take the sake and cookies with him to his room to avoid this, but Kankuro pushed him back down and all three of them pressured him to accept them.
After much complaining and arguing, Gaara gave up, "If I do, will you leave me alone?" he finally asked and they all nodded. "Fine," he sighed and held out this hand to get it over with. He was handed a card that the elders and council members all signed a card. Even Aiya, the bookshop owner, gave him something, how she found out when his birthday is he didn't know. She gave him a book that read "Understanding Women, a book for men", the others laughed seeing it while he sweat dropped.
Raven did a painting of him and his siblings as a gift. Suki gave two pastel colored shirts and on the card it read, 'You need to lighten up and wear more COLORFUL clothes ^_^'. Naruto, Lee, and Sakura signed a card and Sakura also sent some insomnia eye ointment while Naruto and Lee sent a bright t-shirt that had 'Vote Naruto 4 Hokage' printed on the front along with a picture of themselves wearing their own and giving a thumbs up. While the others laughed, Gaara flipped over the picture and saw that it said 'You won't beat me Believe It!', he sweat dropped again. Matsuri came by the day before to drop off a gift card in a birthday card. Temari got him a certificate to a tanning salon, Sune laughed making a comment about him being so fair skinned despite living in the desert. Last, Kankuro gave him a book on paper folding and explained that it's just like the one that got destroyed when his room blew up once during a assassination attempt.
"I didn't know you did anything like this?" Sune said looking at the book.
"I have taken up quite a few hobbies in the past," he said and she looked at him shocked, "What? What did you think I would do all night when I never slept, sit patiently and twiddle my thumbs?"
She laughed nervously, "Hehe, I guess not. By the way, how did you start this?" she asked.
He shrugged, "I was just sitting there, and I started to fold this paper with me, I had nothing else to do at the time since I was on a mission with Matsuri."
"When I was younger I tried to make a thousand paper cranes for Aunt Amarante, but it didn't turn out too well," she said remembering the pile the crinkled papers that were supposed to be cranes.
"So Sune," Kankuro started, "You going to give my little brother a nice birthday kiss?" he grinned and Sune turned red.
"Actually," Gaara started, "She alrea-"
"Gaara!" Sune shrieked making Temari run back in from the kitchen carrying a couple large bottles of sake for the refills.
"What's wrong?" she asked seeing Sune hiding her red face in her hands, Kankuro snickering, and Gaara just confused. "What did you do!" Temari yelled at Kankuro and set the bottles on the table then place her hands on her hips.
"What! I didn't do anything!" Kankuro defended, "All I said was for Sune to kiss him on his birthday and then Gaara started to say something when Sune freaked out!"
"Hurm," Temari thought before turning to Gaara for answers.
Gaara shrugged, "I was trying to say that she already-"
"Gaara!" Sune shrieked again turning redder.
"Oh…" Temari said understanding.
Kankuro was still oblivious, "Com'on Sune, give him a nice big one!" he grinned and Sune turned redder, if that was even possible by now.
"Oh shut up and drink, Stupid!" Temari yelled at him as she grabbed one of the bottles of sake she just brought in, and she forced him to chug it by holding it over his mouth and pouring it down his throat.
Gaara was confused, "But last night after she found out about today she-"
"Learn to take a clue, Stupid!" Sune shrieked again and followed Temari's example by grabbing the last bottle of sake and forced him drink all of it.
When Temari and Sune released them, they both sputtered and coughed. "What the heck is wrong with you?" Kankuro shouted clutching his throat. Gaara was rubbing the spot below the collarbone as it stung to swallow that much.
"That'll teach both of you!" Temari said.
"What did we do?" they both demanded.
The girls sighed hopelessly, "We'll tell you later…" they said shaking their heads.
Kankuro and Gaara looked like they were about to say something until they both hiccupped and their faces became flushed in their intoxication. Luckily there was no more sake because all Sune and Temari had bought was just ceremonial, not enough to get wasted off of.
The rest of the night was eventful for everyone. First Kankuro just had to make sure everyone knew everything he liked about Cholandra. This consisted of her body, clothes, the way she walks, talks, and laughs, and also so far everything he knew about her, which was quite a bit since they had already spent hours talking in just the few day they knew each other. Sune blushed as Gaara said that he feels the same way about her. It almost earned him another birthday kiss whether his siblings were right there or not.
Soon Gaara went to the bathroom, or more like the nearest wrong bathroom and when he came back Sune saw that he was holding a box of tampons. "Um Gaara, what are you doing?" Sune asked him.
"What are these?" he asked looking at the box and read something about 'absorbing more blood than before', "Are they bandages?"
Sune didn't say anything as she stood there more shocked than anything else. Kankuro heard this and laughed before coming over and tried to tell Gaara that he should've got out more and continued to explain a little piece of information that Gaara obviously missed.
Temari snickered, "Don't worry, a good thing about sake is that even though you can get drunk quickly, you sober up quickly too," she told Sune before saying that she was going to go to bed.
Sune turned around to see Gaara looking at the box shocked, "So while they're…" he said and Kankuro nodded, "They put these in their…" Kankuro nodded again trying to keep from laughing at his own brother's denseness on the opposite gender. "Oh…" he said and he looked like he wanted to throw or drop the box right there. He learned something new today.
It was late now, so Sune told Gaara and Kankuro to get ready for bed since they had to work tomorrow and she was going to clean up and go to bed as well. Kankuro agreed and thanked Sune for dinner and told Gaara that he hoped next year would be even better with Sune around to keep him happy. Gaara insisted on helping Sune clean up since she was wounded and already did so much. Once they decided they did enough, he walked her to her room carrying her unused crutch. Outside her door she hugged him and said goodnight and he thanked her for everything.
"I hope you had a good birthday, goodnight," she said again and closed the door behind her.