A few days passed and Aiko found herself feeling more lonely than usual with Gaara's absence. She tried to calm herself and focus on the painting she was working on. It was coming along nicely. It was another watercolor but it was more scenic. It had many bright colored blues and greens from the shimmering pools of water and the large rich fantastical trees that resided in the image.
She had been enjoying the painting, but she still found herself extremely distracted. Sango was in the back with Aiko today. The shop was closed and she had been working on a few pieces to sell. She noticed Aiko's odd behavior. Her eyes reflected distance.
"How are you today Aiko?" Sango asked in a light friendly tone.
Aiko looked up and smiled at her. "I am well." She said happily. "How are you?"
"I am very well." Sango said with a smile. "Though I do believe you are not quite yourself today."
Aiko looked down and sighed quietly. She was not surprised that Sango picked up on her strange mood. She was an elder woman. She was experienced and intuitive. Aiko did not really feel like she was all that complicated.
Sango remained patient. She knew Aiko would speak once she was ready, and she was right. "If I tell you, you cannot mention anything to anyone." Aiko explained. She looked at Sango now with a serious expression. Sango agreed to the conditions presented with a nod of her head. Aiko looked down at her hands again hesitating before speaking. "The Kazekage and I are seeing each other in secret." She began quietly. "Our relationship has... matured but I feel so uneasy and on edge now."
"By matured, you mean..." Sango watched as Aiko blushed deeply. "I see." She understood and smiled. She even laughed a little. Aiko looked up at Sango confused. She did not understand why this was a situation that the woman would find amusing. "Do not fret Aiko. What you are feeling is very normal. Of course, the secrecy has likely added some extra stress, but it is very common what you feel."
Sango spoke gently to Aiko. She could see all to well how insecure the young girl felt. In all honesty, Aiko made her remember herself and her first romance. She remembered her late husband and how different things had been before. Sango had never been happier.
"So, am I just overreacting then?" Aiko asked suddenly feeling a little guilty. She didn't want to bombard Gaara with silly pointless things. He was busy enough.
"No my dear. Like I said, it is normal." Sango went on. "You have opened up yourself quite a bit to Lord Kazekage. It sounds as if he has done the same. It would not surprise me if he is feeling a bit similar." She said with a happy smile.
Aiko pondered on Sango's words. She tried to imagine Gaara insecure. It was difficult. The only time he even seemed close to that was when he was younger. Things were much different then though. He reacted in negative ways to most things for a long time. He was not the same as back then. She began to wonder if there was a more subtle way of knowing what he was thinking for sure.
"Thank you Sango." Aiko finally said. She smiled sincerely at her and then she began cleaning up her work space. She needed to speak with Gaara. She wondered how he was feeling about everything that had occurred between them.
Sango watched as Aiko finished cleaning up. She had been there at the shop most of the day, but it was getting dark. Sango was ready to go upstairs and unwind for a while. She had gotten a lot done and having Aiko around was very pleasant.
"Goodnight." Aiko said with a smile as she grabbed her bag.
"Goodnight my dear. Be careful." Sango said and then Aiko left.
Suna was fairly quiet this evening. The sun was almost completely gone now and Aiko knew that once it was, a whole different crowd of people would come out. These types were not the kind that Aiko wanted to interact with. It wasn't that she had anything against them, but they did make her nervous.
The Kazekage's building was close now. Aiko was glad. She hoped that Gaara wasn't too busy right now. Even if he was, she knew she would still be able to talk with him. It just might have to wait a little longer than she would like. She sighed quietly to herself.
"Do you need some cheering up little lady?" An unfamiliar male voice said. Aiko turned to see a man approaching her. He had silver eyes and long blonde hair that was pulled back in a loose ponytail. He was older than her, but not by much and it was clear to Aiko that the stranger had been drinking.
Aiko swallowed her anxiety and smiled kindly at the man. She felt she did not need to panic. She was not completely helpless and the Kazekage's building was so close. "No thank you." She said clearly and politely to the man.
The man smirked a little and Aiko's expression grew very serious and brave. He stepped closer and she moved away from him. "Come now sweetie. We can have so much fun together!" He continued moving closer. "You won't regret it." He reassured.
Aiko was disgusted. "Leave me alone." She warned with a dark harsh tone. The man continued grinning and moving closer to her. She was losing her patience. Before she could act though, someone else did. A wall of sand shot up in front of her. She heard the man gasp and then she heard him quickly run away. The wall dropped and the man was gone.
She turned to see Gaara standing behind her. He looked frustrated. It was strange to see. He was looking past her where the man had been. For a moment, he contemplated going after the man but then he caught Aiko's gaze. She looked at him with worried eyes and his expression softened.
"Are you alright?" He asked. Aiko looked at him and simply nodded. She looked a bit stunned. Gaara decided to approach her. He placed a hand gently on her shoulder. Aiko immediately put one of her hands on top of his. She closed her eyes and calmed down.
"Thank you Gaara." She said quietly. Then she stepped closer to him and rested her head on his chest. She felt safe and secure once more.
Gaara put his hands around her waist and embraced her for a short bit before walking her the rest of the way home. They walked in silence. Aiko didn't want to speak with Gaara out in the open like this. It might make him more uncomfortable and she certainly would not be comfortable either.
Once home, Aiko stopped Gaara. "Are you very busy right now?" She asked trying to hide the anxiety she felt.
"No." Gaara answered stoically. He waited for Aiko to continue.
"Could I speak with you then? Privately?"
Gaara felt that Aiko was behaving a bit strangely. "Of course." He said and then they went to his office. Once inside, Gaara shut and locked the door. Then he walked up to Aiko and gently kissed her lips.
She felt like her whole body was on fire. As much as she wanted to act on it, she didn't. There was another goal still in her mind and she needed to deal with that first. When he pulled back, Aiko looked up into his eyes. Then she blushed and looked down at her feet. "H-how are you feeling since..." She trailed off not really knowing how to word her question."
Gaara realized immediately what she was referring to. He had been wanting to ask her the same question. Aiko had beaten him to it. Now he was standing in front of her trying to remain calm about everything that had happened. They had moved forward a great deal.
"I am feeling very well." He said calmly and even gave her a gentle smile. He hoped that it might reassure her. Aiko's unusual mood had not gone unnoticed to Gaara. He could see that she felt vulnerable. Honestly, he had been feeling vulnerable too but he did not intend to reveal that to Aiko. He didn't want her to worry more.
Aiko was surprised at how calm Gaara seemed to be. She had thought he could offer reassurance, but now she felt more anxious. Was there something wrong with her? If he was so calm, shouldn't she be too?
A look of disappointment crossed Aiko's pale face. Gaara showed a slight concern with his eyes. He was confused now though. "What is it Aiko?" He asked with a calm tone.
She quickly looked up and her light eyes widened. Then she smiled. "It's nothing really." She said with fake cheeriness. He responded to her with a more serious expression. Aiko looked down still smiling but hiding her eyes behind her long layered bangs. Her cheeks flushed and she felt very nervous. She could still feel Gaara's gaze on her. "It's just that, well... it's been a few days now and we hadn't spoke of it." She began to talk a little faster. "The more time passes, the more vulnerable I feel, and you are so calm! How can you be so calm?"
Aiko had looked up at him again. This time, her eyes were honest and worried. Gaara was trying to give Aiko space but apparently it was not doing her any good. Since their encounter and confessions, they had seen one another but they were quiet. More so, Aiko was unusually quiet. Gaara had assumed that maybe she was a bit overwhelmed. "Calm down Aiko." He said in a gentle and soothing tone.
She looked at him for a moment, but then lowered her head once more. Gaara stepped closer and then he brushed her bangs from her face. "I'm sorry." She said quietly. Her eyes were glued to the floor.
"I did not intend for you to feel this way." He began. Aiko looked up curiously at him. Gaara then gently touched her cheek. "You were very quiet after everything, I thought that you needed some time." He closed his eyes for a moment. Then he looked at Aiko again. "I did not want you to feel overwhelmed."
"Are you overwhelmed?" She asked.
He paused. Then he spoke. "No. This is new, and... intense. It is not overwhelming though." Gaara was not the type to be easily overwhelmed. There were a lot of reasons as to why that was. His ability to remain calm certainly served him well as the Kazekage.
"How do you feel then?" Aiko knew he had to have some kind of feelings about it. If it was intense, there had to be a reason. That was at least how she felt about it.
Again, Gaara paused. "I feel..." Without thinking he put his hand over his heart. For a moment, he stood silently and seemed to be thinking. Then he continued. "Warm but nervous. There is not much that causes me to feel fearful or vulnerable. You make me feel those things, but also, you bring me great happiness and peace." He dropped his hand back to his side. He looked at Aiko.
She was stunned. That was very revealing for Gaara. Normally he was not so open. Aiko knew he was being honest. She smiled softly and then reached up and put her hand on his cheek. "Don't worry, I will protect you."
He smiled now and put his hand over hers before stepping closer and pulling her into an intimate embrace. His hands were on her lower back and holding her close to him. Aiko had pressed her hands against his chest but they slowly slipped under his arms and around him. She could hear the steady beat of his heart.
Aiko meant what she said. She would protect Gaara, no matter what.
