Chapter 29: Feelings
Lady Chiyo puts her hands on Gaara's chest and starts performing a jutsu.
Lady Chiyo: "I don't have enough chakra… Boy, put your hands on mine. I'll channel both our chakras."
Naruto rushes to Lady Chiyo to give her his chakra. I have Gaara's head resting on my lap. I was caressing his hair. It feels so soft… He has to come back. I'd lose myself if he didn't…
Lady Chiyo finishes performing the jutsu and passes out. Did she just pass out…? I don't feel any life force emanating from her anymore… Gaara, on the other hand, started breathing again and his heartbeat came back.
He's safe. He's alive. He'll be fine. But… Lady Chiyo… gave her life for him? Is it selfish of me to feel more relieved than sad? Would it be a bad thing to say that Gaara's life counts much more to me than Lady Chiyo's? It's the truth… And I hate myself for thinking like that… but I'm so relieved.
Gaara starts to slowly open his eyes. He looks at Naruto and then he looks at me. We keep eye contact for a while until…
"The Kazekage is alive!"
The crowd of Sand Village residents cheers out of joy and relief. Gaara sits up with my help and sees how everyone came for him. Temari and Kankuro come and tell him how relieved they are as well. In the middle of it all, I can't help but feel like I've been a little left out, but the happiness that I'm feeling right now won't let anything else ruin this moment.
He looks back at me.
Gaara: "Akia… I heard you when you screamed my name back there. It was the last thing I heard before I…"
"Gaara. I'm so glad you're back."
Gaara: "Are you crying…?"
He wipes away my tears and I try to hide them and keep them from coming out.
Matsuri, Gaara's old student, and a few of her female friends come and start fangirling over Gaara. It got me a little annoyed. Is that what they call jealousy? Because I don't like it one bit.
In the end, Lady Chiyo is carried away to the village with Gaara following and finally all those who were on the retrieval mission. I got there last. I was already embarrassed enough that Gaara had to see me crying. It's so unprofessional of a chunin or any ninja for that matter of fact, but it was a little more forgivable for a genin.
At the Sand Village, we all focused on regaining our strength and Lady Chiyo's funeral was scheduled a few hours later. We all rest until then.
At Lady Chiyo's funeral, it was all very solemn. Sakura in particular was very down about Lady Chiyo's death. After the end of the funeral, we all get ready to say goodbye.
Gaara: "You all are welcome to stay a little longer."
Kakashi-sensei: "We appreciate your hospitality, Lord Kazekage, but Konohagakure needs its shinobi."
If it was up to me, I would stay a little longer. Gaara then shakes Naruto's hand, after much hesitation. He's not very used to that is he. I can't help but smile at that.
Gaara: "You should smile more often…"
I look at Gaara, surprised by what he said.
"You should try smiling more often too."
Gaara: "Heh…"
He looks down and I spot a small smile on his face. This triggers an even bigger smile on my face that I try to hide with my hands. Gaara then takes my hands away from my face.
Gaara: "You don't need to hide it."
My cheeks are flaming… I realize that I'm blushing again… a lot.
Temari: "Ahem…"
Temari's interruption makes us both look away from embarrassment. Gaara lets my hands go and starts scratching the back of his head.
Gaara: "Well… Uh… I'll contact Lady Tsunade and thank her for sending you to help."
Kakashi-sensei: "Yes, thank you. We will be taking our leave now."
On our way back, Sakura was pretty quiet because of Lady Chiyo's sacrifice. Naruto, on the other hand, didn't stop teasing me about the way I act around Gaara… and the way Gaara acts around me.
Naruto: "Akki-chan, your face was priceless! I've never seen you blush before and it was a spectacular blush at that, haha!"
"Naruto, if you say one more word about this I'll make you snake food!"
Naruto: "Hey you know I'm right. You like him don't you?"
"…I never said that!"
I can't have feelings like that right now… I should focus on my job as a ninja. Feelings will just slow me down. I can't deny the fact that Gaara makes me feel… weird… not like how I usually am. He's different. I can't help but feel like I'll miss him…
In any case, I need to focus on my future missions and accomplish them in the best of my ability. Next time I see Gaara, I'll try to figure out what those feelings are, but, for now, I should stop thinking about them.
