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Each day, he got worse. When he didn't have work, he'd stare vacantly out the window. It had been two months since Aiko left. Temari didn't help any and she only criticized him for being so helpless. Today's argument was just like the rest.
"Are you sure she'll come back Gaara? She's an immortal, maybe she went to her home," Temari snapped, standing in front of his desk.
"She promised…" he muttered.
"You sound like a kid when some adult promises you something! Promises are broken easily. Even if she does come back, how do you know it will be in your life time? I highly doubt she'll come back, grow up and move on," she growled before leaving.
Temari had no idea what I knew, nor did Gaara. Aiko checked in with my through thoughts. I hated lying to Gaara and seeing him like this but Aiko needed space, especially after what happened two months ago with her lust possession. It was hurting her to see Gaara like this.
'How is he today?' her voice came into my head.
'Not well,' I thought, replaying what had just happened. 'She might want to kill you when she sees you again. When are you coming back? He's starting to cry at night.'
'Soon… I'm sorry for all this pain and lies, Kankuro.'
'It's not me I'm worried about. It worries me that he's like this and not yelling at people, especially Temari every time she bites at him.'
'He'd lose the title of Kazekage if he did that, plus he doesn't have the Shukaku anymore. See ya soon.'
I sighed and looked at Gaara. If only I could talk to him, but Aiko made me promise to say nothing. A week went by after that conversation and she made no contact. She usually checked in a couple times a week and I became worried.
"Lord Gaara, there is a girl in the lobby who requests to see you, but I've never seen her before. The mask she wears is like an ANBU mask but it has the strangest markings on it," the secretary, Reika came in.
"Name?" I spoke, feeling my hope on Aiko start to fade. It had been nine weeks since she had left to go deal some things.
"No, milord," she spoke sadly. She knew some of my situation.
"Village?"
"She wore no markings of any village."
"Very well, bring her up."
"Yes, milord," Reika bowed and left.
I looked over at Kankuro who had hardly left my side. His face showed some shock as he started at the opposite wall then he looked at the door seconds before it opened. I straightened up in my seat, curious about Kankuro's reaction.
A girl came in and my shoulders slumped. She had black hair and wore a strange mask. She looked at Kankuro and gave a slight nod to him and he left with a smirk on his face.
"I'm sorry, Gaara," the girl bowed, and I caught a hint of sadness in her voice. "It took me longer than I thought."
"Excuse me?" I blinked. She acted like she knew me but I had no recollection of ever meeting this girl.
She lifted her mask so it rested on top of her head, still hiding her forehead. Her eyes were the same eyes that Aiko had, but this girl's tears were clear. I sat there trying to figure out this girl was when Reika came in.
"I'm sorry my lord, but two men have arrived. They look like those two winged men who came a few months ago."
"Have them come up," I spoke standing up. The girl smiled as the door closed.
"Hey Gaara," Kaume came in smiling. He looked past me to the girl and I saw her shake her head, grinning. "I'm guessing you haven't figured it out yet."
"You haven't told him yet?" Sora exclaimed, looking at the girl.
"What's going on?" I growled looking at the three.
"I was waiting to see if he'd just piece it together. I just got here you idiots," she laughed and pulled her mask all the way off. The sapphire head piece that Aiko wore was on her brow.
"A…Aiko?" I stammered and the two men started laughing.
Hours Earlier:
Kaume got me a new ANBU mask and we had a plan to surprise Gaara. I hurried back to Sunagakure and as I neared the gates, I put away my wings and ran to the village. I entered the Kazekage building and walked up to the secretary.
"May I help you?" the girl looked up.
"I need to see Lord Gaara," I spoke.
"Who are you?" she spoke quickly.
"It doesn't concern you," I smirked.
"I'll go see if he'll allow you to go up," she stammered and walked down the hallway.
'Kankuro, you'll see me very, very soon,' I thought as the girl came back and said I could go.
'What do you mean?' I thought but I pulled out of his mind and walked down the hall and entered Gaara's office.
'Leave so I can talk to him.'
'Aiko?'
'yes, get out of here,' I laughed nodding to him. He smiled and left.
I looked at Gaara and saw him slump against his seat. In his eyes, I saw hope die because he didn't recognize me because of the new mask and my hair.
"I'm sorry, Gaara," I bowed, sadness in my voice, knowing that I was the reason he was like this. "It took me longer than I thought."
"Excuse me?" he blinked, shocked.
I lifted my mask so it rested on top of my head, but kept my head piece hidden by the bottom of the mask. His eyes narrowed as he looked at my eyes and I wanted to just kiss him. He was confused that my tears were no longer silver. Gaara sat there trying to figure out me out when the secretary came in.
"I'm sorry my lord, but two men have arrived. They look like those two winged men who came a few months ago."
"Have them come up," Gaara spoke standing up and coming around the desk. I smiled as the door closed.
"Hey Gaara," Kaume came in smiling.
'You're early,' I snapped in his mind.
'We couldn't wait, we wanted to see his reaction,' he smirked as he past Gaara and looked at me. "I'm guessing you haven't figured it out yet."
"You haven't told him yet?" Sora exclaimed, looking at me.
"What's going on?" Gaara growled looking at all three of us.
"I was waiting to see if he'd just piece it together. I just got here you idiots," I laughed and pulled the mask all the way off exposing my sapphire head piece.
A…Aiko?" Gaara stammered and his eyes widened while Kaume and Sora started to laugh.
"Aiko, it's the hair. No one would be able to recognize you with it. I wouldn't have recognized you if I hadn't been there for your transformation. Maybe that's why he changed it, so you could live a normal life," Kaume smirked.
"Maybe, now get out you two," I growled.
Gaara stood there frozen on the spot as they left. I locked the door then went to Gaara and stood a foot away. I looked up at him and he focused on me.
"Gaara…" I placed my hand on his cheek. 'I promised to come back, didn't I?"
He blinked a few times and took a shaky breath. "You're really here…?"
"Yes," I smiled.
He pulled me to him tightly and took a deep breath. I relaxed and rested my head on his chest. His body trembled and I looked up at him. Tears welled in his eyes and threatened to spill over.
"You have no idea how hard it has been for me," his voice shook.
"Actually… I do," I whispered, pulling away from him and sat on the couch. "I checked in with Kankuro every now and then. He didn't know about my changes and I only checked on you. I thought I'd be able to come back earlier but my changes took a lot out of me and we had to do a bit to get my brother to come."
I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around me. I couldn't look at him as my guilt raged through me. After a few minutes of silence, there was a knock on the door. Gaara composed himself and went to unlock it and Kakashi Hatake came in.
"Kakashi, what is it?" Gaara spoke, standing in front of his desk.
"We need Aiko for a mission. This was the last place she was… Who is she?" Kakashi stopped talking and looked at me.
"A friend of mine. I haven't seen Aiko for a couple months," Gaara lied easily.
"Do you know where she is?"
"She never told me and no I don't know when or if she'll be coming back."
Kakashi growled and ran a hand through his hair. I felt a pain in my chest and I gasped. I bolted past Kakashi and out of the village while calling out to Kaume. I jumped into the air and flew towards Kaume as he flew towards me. it was difficult to focus as the pain intensified. I fell to the ground as Kaume neared.
"Aiko…what's wrong?"
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