Author Note: I do not own any of Naruto what so ever.
We Were Meant For This Part 2: Sun and Moon
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'Cause even though you left me here
I have nothing left to fear
These are only walls that hold me here
Hold me here, hold me here, hold me here
Only walls that hold me here
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Two months before…
The howling winds battered the darkly clad visitors brutally with its vicious grains of sand that felt like needles pricking the skin and growled with the ferocity of a wild beast, warning the visitors of their destination and its consequences.
Gaara's green eyes simply narrowed in determination, his hands gripping the black clothe covering his mouth tightly and motioning for his trusted confidante and former trainer Baki to follow. Kankuro had unwittingly brought up the idea to pay a call to Honored Grandmother Chiyo, the retired and well renowned poison and puppet master that Sunagakure had ever witnessed. Kankuro had protested violently about paying a visit to the hermit but Baki agreed upon calling for her assistance in redoubling the village's defenses and weaning the village off aid from others to make the village much stronger. Gaara, in his distinct monotone, had nodded and replied that it was a logical choice.
Thus they found themselves out of the angry sand storm and at the clay hut next to a crystalline pond with flourishing vegetables and flora. Gaara shook off the haunting near hallucination that came before him of the strong scent of lavender and pale hands caressing lilies. He remembered vividly her soft smile, her soft words, and her sadness that reached her lavender tinted eyes when she came upon the abandoned gardens at the Kazekage residence he had grown up in as a young child. Gaara shook off his head wrap and ran a thin hand through his mussed hair, escaping the images that came across his mind like a hot poker that prodded him every day, every hour, and every minute of his life.
"Baki, this is Honored Grandmother Chiyo's residence?"
Baki nodded curtly, removing his own head wrap and quickly trudging forward to rap roughly against the hut's wooden door that looked as ancient as the woman who opened it. The woman before them was short and stout with heavy creases along her forehead and cheeks. Her gray hair fell along her cheekbones from her own worn head wrap and skimmed the surface of her thick woolen neck scarf. Her eyes and thin, chapped lips looked carved out of ivory but worn to the bone from the sandstorms and years of war and suffering.
"Baki, I assume?" Chiyo's voice crackled.
Baki nodded and responded diplomatically. "Yes, Honored Grandmother Chiyo. I have sent many scrolls to you without response-"
Chiyo smirked and cackled. "I know because I burned them all in my fireplace."
Chiyo's cold eyes surveyed Baki's reddened face before landing on Gaara's empty expression that bordered on thoughtful to absent. Her mouth twitched sourly, her eyes briefly moistening in sadness, before she hardened her features once more.
"I am about to go fishing in my pond. I don't have the time to help your generation figure out your own mess this go round. In my opinion, you've relied on other nations too much for my taste. Good day."
Before she could close her door, Gaara's pale hand shot out to grip the wood firmly. His sea foam eyes had darkened and narrowed even though his face remained as lifeless as before, even eerily calm. Chiyo had to raise her head to look at him hard, her arms crossed yet she waited. She wasn't known for much patience the past few decades but she let the moments pass before Gaara spoke in his usual flat voice.
"I am Kazekage Sabaku no Gaara, the newly elected leader of Sunagakure,"he spoke smoothly with little inflection.
Chiyo grunted. "I know who you are, Gaara of the Sand, the man who holds the One-Tailed beast, Shukaku."
"Then you would permit me to speak to you in a civil manner in your own home."
Chiyo stood still for many moments then slumped in defeat to let Gaara pass under the doorway. She quickly blocked Baki with one foot and shook her head defiantly.
"One visitor is enough for this old woman today."
Baki looked to Gaara for instruction and received a slow nod in response. Baki thinned his lips, none too happy about the situation, and then turned away to stand sentry at the doorway to Chiyo's rural hut.
"At least the old woman isn't playing dead like last time,"Baki mumbled to himself as he listened to the door shut behind him.
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"You can present your village's case as many different times as you want but I am not budging or helping. That's my final word on the matter, young Kazekage."
Chiyo watched Gaara with sharp eyes, waiting for any moment when the Kazekage might erupt in rage. She may have exiled herself years ago but she was still shrewd and wily. She wasn't deaf to the news that had been seeping out of Sunagakure and around the nation, much to her chagrin. She had heard of Konoha's ninja assisting when that crazed cult kidnapped Gaara's student, of the journey and obstacles put forth by the council to stop Gaara becoming Kazekage and also the new developments occurring at the village itself. The economy was flourishing, infrastructure and aqueducts were being rebuilt, and the academy was being remodeled after Konoha's own renowned academy. Gaara didn't need to explain calmly with great eloquence the developments currently going on.
Chiyo was only curious about the developments occurring with the newest Kazekage. The constant rumors and nasty tales to scare every child certainly fell to pieces once she finally had Gaara inside her home, calmly sipping tea and occasionally displaying a nervous habit, it seemed, of absently rubbing some sort of trinket around his neck. She hadn't seen a man so relaxed and yet quite alert to his surroundings in some time. The bloodthirsty Gaara was very unlike the rumors and even his own father, whom she wanted to forget bitterly.
"You are reluctant to assist your nation. I understand the reluctance given the old history of our village and our nation even in recent times. You are renowned and respected for your wisdom, your craftsmanship, and your talent that you willingly used during the Second Shinobi World War. I cannot force you to offer aid and guidance against your will. I will not berate you either or show petulance. I ask you think over helping to restore Sunagakure's honor,"Gaara spoke with finality, indicating the end of the conversation.
As Gaara bent down to place his cup of tea on Chiyo's shabby clay table, the cord holding his trinket snapped. Chiyo shot a hand out with swiftness unusual for her age and caught the trinket in her wrinkled hand. It was a peculiar object for a man to carry around. Pressed flowers, she thought, were for women and typically rather noble ones. She let a side of her mouth curl up before regarding Gaara's stiff posture and sharpened eyes.
Chiyo dangled the trinket in front of him and gave him an owlish look. "This trinket is of great importance to you, Kazekage."
"Yes."
Chiyo gazed deeper into Gaara's lit eyes and frowned. This trinket was indeed quite valuable to him and very beloved by him considering how stormy his eyes were becoming. The tumbling of emotions rolling through his pupil less eyes was enormous, despite his blank slate of a face. Chiyo made a nearly silent noise and threw the trinket to him. Gaara silently motioned for his bloody sand to uncork from his gourd and retrieve the trinket, which he rubbed fondly between his thin fingers.
"You look lovelorn. This little trinket is indeed very precious to you, young Kazekage."
Gaara looked up silently and turned away, his footprints barely echoing any sound. His hand rested on the door before he turned his head to the side to leave only a small profile of his face, the shadows dancing on the wall by the puppets that hung and twirled as if animated.
"This is more precious to me than power, status, or wealth. The person is much more precious than even all of those trivial desires men desperately fight for. I seek peace and justice. I seek life, for this person gave me life and I wish to use that newly given life to do all within my power to see Suna restored as a just, noble and independent nation. Good day, Honored Grandmother Chiyo and do consider once more my offer."
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The sun was beginning to set, the arrays of soft orange, yellows and golden rays casting streams of light across the horizon and letting shadows dance across Sunagakure's adobe buildings. The largest shadows fell from the rotundas of the large Kazekage household. All ready the warmth of the sun was departing and the cold settling in. People shivered in the streets as they sold their last goods and children finished their last lessons at the new academy.
Temari eyed all of the activity with pride while shaking off the last grains of sand on the emptying streets. She had made a long journey from Konoha to confirm goods with their respected tradesmen would be making their way to Suna among other things, both private public. She was more than smug about the level of performance of the Suna students and didn't mind sharing the village's expectations of the genins' performance at the next exams. Lady Tsunade was equally smug about her own but gave her wishes of good luck and equally her own praise on Suna's growth. Temari had bowed and made sure she would convey her praise to her brother Gaara for it was by his determination and wise decisions that the village had flourished so quickly.
Temari entered the compound, throwing off her black cloak to a servant and took quick steps up the stairwell to the Kazekage office where she knew Gaara would be. From Kankuro's own letters, she learned Gaara was up at all hours constantly seeing dignitaries and men of great import discussing trade, infrastructure, bargains among going through heaps of growing paperwork he needed to sign off and private intelligence he gathered from other nations. There was little information regarding the rogue nin Sasuke or Orochimaru, but there possible sightings. Vague information also came from Tsunade regarding the beginnings of new cult and new murders occurring in other nations. Gaara was up late at night consulting these pieces of information and would be found by Kankuro sitting on his balcony looking into the distance with faraway looks.
This troubled Temari but she hoped her own news would lighten up her brother. She knocked on his door briefly, smoothed her spiky pigtails, and kicked her way in. The office was lit up by candles around a large desk covered in paperwork and scrolls that spilled on the ground. Gaara sat behind his desk, leaning back against his chair. One hand held a pen in his hand that he rolled around between two fingers while the other rubbed his necklace. His white robes were slightly wrinkled with bits of ink staining the edges of his sleeves. He had been working hard, if his pensive expression didn't give it away.
"Gaara, the prodigal sister returns."
Gaara opened his eyes and let them slide over to her slowly before twitching his lips. He set his pen down and sat up straight, giving her his full attention. He eyed the scroll Temari handed to him while she took a seat on the edge of his desk and began tapping her fingernails along the top of her small fan. He scanned the scroll quickly, his hairless brows knitting together and his nose crinkling. He set the scroll down and coughed lightly.
"I am proud of your gift for a silver tongue and delivering our reports on the village. This eases further talks."
"Of course, little brother. Don't you want to hear my other news?" Temari asked with mild irritation. She raised one arched eyebrow and watched him remove his robe. He placed it on his chair, revealing his casual black wool sweater and pants. He seemed to not hear her last words as he paced over to his balcony and leaned forward on his elbows on the iron granite railings. Kankuro had been correct in his rantings that blasted away at her in his badly inked scrolls to her.
She leapt off the edge of the desk and moved to lean her back against the railings. She let the silence carry for a few long moments before huffing and slamming a hand down on the railing.
"The Hyuga compound will be celebrating the success of Lady Hinata passing her chunin exams, which have been long overdue. They have been quite exuberant about it. No expense spared despite their usual modesty and frugality," Temari spoke wryly, hoping to prod Gaara into conversation. She saw no response other than a small intake of breath.
"Gaara, why don't you write her? Do not think your siblings do not notice your despair and loneliness. You've been pushing yourself to the edge with fixing the village. You are either here or pacing the hallways at night. Sometimes I think you are trying to escape your memories, your pain,"Temari whispered gently with her eyes downcast but still on Gaara.
Gaara took another sharp intake of breath before letting his eyes close tightly. His body was like a coil sprung too tight and about to snap. He looked over at her, the pallor in his face whiter than a sheet and his eyes glassy. Temari noticed the bloodshot veins in his tired eyes and the small wrinkles beginning at his eyes.
"And what would I write, Temari? Since you have pushed me into this awkward conversation, you might as well have an earnest answer in return. What would I write? Should I start like this; Hinata, my precious crimson butterfly, the pale gentle moon I wish I could hold despite the fear of burning you like the brutal sun. I am not a man that is prone to begging, a man that is not prey to his emotions or even understanding them fully, but yet I would fall on my knees and let my scarred heart break from their badly woven stitches so that you may return to me that I may have solace once more and your honest faith in me. Hinata, stay with me so that I will not have the one fear inside my locked mind, that is that I cannot protect you from the terrifying dangers lurking on the edges who will make themselves known soon."
Gaara paused, breathless and one hand ripping through his hair as he jerked his head to the side and took deep inhales of air into his lungs. Temari sat frozen, her eyes brimming over before she inhaled sharply and tried to shake off her emotion in response to one of Gaara's rare vulnerable moments. She smiled lightly and punched Gaara on the shoulder.
"Yes, you should write exactly that. You are such a softie for Hinata-chan. No worries, I won't tell anyone."
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Temari waited hours before Gaara lifted his head after heatedly pinning his letter to Hinata and placed his pen on the top of his desk. He rolled up the scroll and placed his seal on the edge. He hesitated, but quickly handed the letter to Temari. She tapped it to her temple and smiled widely.
"I will give this to my trusted courier Ataki to deliver this directly to Hinata at the Hyuga compound. I'd expect a quick response, maybe a visit even. You never know with her. She's a bundle of surprises."
"I know,"Gaara replied evenly before dismissing Temari.
Temari shut the door, letting her heels click on the stairwell before waving over Ataki. He was young with a slender body and dark boyish eyes. Temari trusted him for his loyalty to the Kazekage and his swiftness. He would make a great assassin one day if she had it her way. She quickly handed the letter to Ataki and locked eyes with him.
"Deliver this to the Hyuga compound for Lady Hyuga Hinata's eyes only. Spare no expense, carry little and waste no time either. This is of great importance, directly from the Kazekage himself. Understood?"
Ataki nodded and took the letter. "Yes, Temari-sama."
Temari smirked. "I will be in Konoha in two months for the Chunin exams. You may linger there and enjoy Konoha's hospitality. I need company to walk back with me anyway so I'm not bored."
Ataki lifted the corner of his mouth. "Of course. It would be a pleasure to watch Suna's students at the exams and escort you back to the village."
Temari nodded, watching the young courier sprint from the large foyer. She let her eyes carefully glance around the room, the springing feeling of eyes upon her lifting the hairs on the back of her neck. She noticed no one being in the room and made her way for a long bath and rest in her own quarters at the far end of the complex.
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Jai smiled icily, his eyes narrowing as he watched the hushed conversation between Lady Temari and her private courier end. He hung outside of the roof, his hands gripping along the adobe material and his head near the overhead window. He glanced over at the creaking puppet beside him and crooked a smirk.
"Your master Sasori will be most pleased on these developments. The Kazekage is vulnerable. I have my own…private business to attend to in Konoha. Make sure this scroll with my instructions and news reaches Sasori. He will be satisfied knowing about my little visit with Yura and the success of that task."
Jai slid the scroll into the chest of the wooden puppet. He leapt off the wall, leather boots softly hitting the sandy earth. He swiped a hand over his hair, popped his neck and jerked his jacket forward before strolling calmly towards the gates of the now sleeping village of Sunagakure.
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One day soon I'll hold you like the sun holds the moon
And we will hear those plans overhead
And we won't have to be scared
'Cause we won't have to be scared
We won't have to be, yeah, scared, no
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Author Note: This chapter is long overdue and I apologize. I moved to Italy a few months ago and I have been busy acclimating. I have also been busy with rehearsals for plays and ensemble, music lessons, and travel. I decided to break this huge ending into three parts with an epilogue. Please enjoy, thank you for your patience and following me, and please stay tuned! Please expect the last two chapters next week. XOXO.