Under the blue sky and as we all live our daily lives; there are things that we know with absolute certainty. The sun will rise tomorrow, we will eventually get hungry and sooner or later someone will say something that will ruin a perfect day because let's face it; we all know at least one douchebag.
As Matsuri rested her back against the cold hard wall- her eyes teary and the memory of Gaara's lips on her own still fresh in her mind- she was certain of two things.
One- Gaara knew exactly how to kiss to drive a girl crazy.
And two- she definitely had feelings for him.
So why then had she not just told him that? Why then had she not just jumped into his arms and continued their sweet embrace. And more importantly why was she not running after him right this second to tell him that she did not care if the story Sari told her was true or not?
Insecurity, that's why not.
Matsuri hated to admit it but she found it hard to believe that Gaara had been hanging out with her and not have any ulterior motives, so when Sari made her shocking revelation it all kind of added up. What other reason would a filthy rich, drop dead gorgeous, sex oozing piece of man candy have for spending the times he did with her. In her mind she was after all…just average.
When she finally decided to get down from the memory filled roof, her mind still thinking about her decision to let Gaara walk away, Matsuri found a blonde haired boy sitting on one of the steps below her. In his hands he held a PSP and was furiously clicking away at the buttons in a manner that made Matsuri conclude that he was probably playing some zombie video game.
She carefully tried to pass around him, making sure not to draw too much attention to her or worse disturb his kill streak. But the blonde noticed her presence and looked up. He had a huge goofy smile on his face but as soon as he saw her puffy eyes his face dropped and a concerned frown appeared.
"Hey are you okay?" he asked.
"Oh, yes. I am so okay." Matsuri said, "I am in high school hell but I am okay."
The blonde guy laughed hysterically like he was privy to some inside joke.
"You are funny." He said, wiping a tear from his face.
"Thanks dude, glad you find my misery funny." Walking on past him and just wishing for the day to end so she could go home.
"Wait…" the blonde called out, "it's funny because you are so blind. I mean I am an annoying, clueless goofball, well so people say, but even I can tell that you are treating Red unfairly."
Matsuri was stunned for a second, what did he know about anything? But still she was willing to hear where he was coming from.
"What do you know about Gaara?" she asked, turning back. Curiosity getting the better of her.
"Sit with me," He said, indicating the space next to him, "well, I know he cares about you somehow, judging from how he looked when getting down from the roof. I am not one for rumours but the ones about Red are hard to avoid, it's all the girls are talking about and I am found with Sakura a lot so I know a thing or two."
Matsuri sat down next to him, "You said I am treating him unfairly, what makes you say that? My friend told me what he did to her after they…umm well you know. He used her."
"Did you guys pork?" the blonde asked, once again showing her his huge smile.
"Excuse me…that is none of your business." Matsuri felt uncomfortable discussing her sex life, well her none existing sex life that is but still she added in a whisper, "No we didn't."
"Great, we are making progress," he stared carefully at her, "Now if the rumours about the two of you are just that rumours, with no truth to them, why should what your friend told you be the absolute truth?"
"Well…it's…umm…well…"
"Exactly, you said yourself that you are in high school hell, how sure are you that you haven't been socializing with the demons?" he gave her a warm friendly smile.
And just like that Matsuri knew she had to talk to her friend Sari. She had to know why.
"Thank you, Blondie" Matsuri said, "Why were you even hiding out here in the first place?" She said, wondering why he couldn't just be in the cafeteria or class with his little video game.
"Believe it or not, not that many people like me," he said, putting away his PSP. Then he moved closer to her ear, "I am a bit of a nobody who likes attention, you see and that doesn't sit well with the snobs and popular kids of this school…so I do stupid shit to be talked about. Everyone ignores me and no one ever acknowledges my presence so I do silly pranks and stuff to be seen."
"That's terrible. I guess we are all fighting our own version of this high school unfairness, huh? But you don't have to resort to that."
"I know, I just sort of enjoy it now. This school is full of dicks and lame bitches anyway but we all gotta belong somewhere, don't we?"
"Yeah, I guess. I have to go now, and thanks for the chat. You are a nice guy…weird, but still nice."
"I am Naruto by the way." He said, getting out his game again, "and stop being silly and go talk to the red haired rich kid. Otherwise you might have some major regrets."
Matsuri finally got up, dusted her bottom and bid goodbye to the blonde, blue-eyed Naruto.
She was fortunate enough to see Sari standing by her locker, getting a book in preparation for her next class. Without wasting time or hesitating, Matsuri walked over to her friend and with hands folded across her chest, she was intent on figuring out why she would lie.
"Oh, Matsuri hey, I didn't see you there."
"So I talked to Gaara," Matsuri started, "is there something you want to tell me?"
Sari's friendly face changed and Matsuri knew with certainty that she had made a mistake.
'Y-you confronted him about what I told you? What is wrong with you?"
"Of course I confronted him, what did you expect me to do?"
"I expected you to ignore him, break off your little stupid relationship but I didn't expect you to act like a little bitch and go running to him…expecting an explanation." Sari vented, "You are so annoying."
"Wow, I did not expect that. You are cold." Matsuri responded. She was done with all of this. She had to talk to Gaara, she needed to apologize and hopefully he can forgive her.
"And you are a money loving slore. Date someone you are in the same league with bitch, stop being an irritating social climb…"
Matsuri lifted her hand and landed one good slap right across Sari's face. Then she just shook her head, she really had not expected Sari to be like that.
She slowly turned away from someone she thought was her friend and though she was hurt, she was happy to know for certain that Gaara was a decent guy…an amazing kissing, decent guy.
"So what, you think you are so special, don't you?" Sari shouted in the hallway and it got everybody's attention. "You are nothing; you are just some poor girl, with a mom who works in some hospital. My family is rich and I wear the best clothes but Gaara never even looked my way. But you…you come here from God knows where and on your first day, Gaara walks over to you…he actually talks to you. Do you have any idea how that made me feel?"
Matsuri was speechless, had Sari really been bottling up all that anger towards her? How could the sweet innocent girl she knew suddenly turn into this maddening banshee?
"Then as if…as if that wasn't bad enough, you start rubbing your little relationship in my face as if I wanted to hear how your stupid little dates went. But then…then," Sari laughed maniacally and in that moment she really did look crazy, "even then, after all that when I was standing right there with you, standing next to you at your locker, he never once looked at me…ever bothered to even know my name. I hated it. I have always loved him and he doesn't even see me."
Matsuri just shook her head, tears forming in her eyes. She also had feelings for Gaara but there was nothing she could do to ease the hysterical girl in front of her. A quick look around the hall made Matsuri realize that a lot more people hated her than she thought.
The girls were all looking at her, their piecing her stares unnerved her. If looks could kill, she would have been six feet under by then.
She walked over to Sari with the plan of hugging her, she might have lost it but everyone needs a hug when they break down like that.
"Don't…just don't." Sari said, putting up her hands to keep Matsuri at a distance.
"I…I…" Matsuri didn't even know what to say. What would one say, after such a revelation?
So she did the one thing that she could, Matsuri walked away.
She got back to their class, hoping Gaara was already in but life really never works out like that, does it? He was nowhere to be seen and Sari also never showed up.
When the class progressed, Matsuri kept staring at the door expecting it to open any second as the red haired hottie walked in but he never showed up.
The door did however open later to let in a distraught Sari. She had raccoon eyes as the mascara dripped down her face.
"Gaara has…been…involved in an…an…accident." She said and the class was full of murmurs and gasps of shock.
Matsuri's heart dropped and she felt like she was going to faint. She needed to get up, she needed to go find out how he was doing. She needed her body to work but in that moment all the energy was drained from her and her legs and arms were not listening to her.
"What exactly happened?" one girl asked. From the way she sounded hurt and concerned it was clear to tell that she was also a secret admirer of Gaara.
"He…he probably…decided to ditch school…and just got in his car and…I guess he must have been speeding when…when…when it happened." Sari was barely able to speak in between her sobs. "He is being rushed…he…oh god, the hospital."
She walked straight to Matsuri's seat, "This is your entire fault…before you came here nothing like this ever happened. If he does not pull through I will make it my mission to make your life a living hell."
Matsuri couldn't believe her ears and as she slowly moved her head around the class, she could see that they all thought the same. How could they put this on her?
"Hold on just a second, I wasn't the one who made up stupid rumors about him and totally alienated him." Matsuri retorted, clearly getting upset that they were blaming her for this. "I was the one person in this entire school who treated him like a person. You all avoided him like the plague and never even attempted to understand him."
By then tears were freely falling from her eyes and she felt no shame in it at all…Gaara was hurt and probably fighting for his life in some hospital. She had to get out of here.
"He always had his walls up, he never let anyone close to him…it's not like we hated him or anything. He was scary of course, I will give him that, I mean he beat up more people that a professional boxer, but if we are going to be honest most of the assholes he got into fights with deserved it. He was… a mystery" another girl said.
"Yeah well, that mystery is lying in a hospital bed, thinking this whole school hates him and it will be a cold day in hell before I let him lie there thinking no one cares about him." Matsuri said, her determination pushing her to be stronger.
She got the strength back in her body and gave a quick apology to the teacher as she excused herself from class.
The rest of her classmates were shocked at how the girl they had been making fake stories about had suddenly made them see the errors of their ways. Jealousy, unrequited love and the badness in their own lives had made them take their frustrations on each other…especially on Gaara. Spreading sick gossip and treating each other badly was what they made school about. It was really a sad type of existence.
Sure the rumour about his uncle had to have originated from somewhere and Gaara openly admitted it but still none of them really knew the full details of what happened. None of them even dared to try and break down his walls so he would know that they were interested in being his friend.
All they did instead is to make him feel more alone. High school really was hell on earth.
Matsuri got out her phone as soon as she left class. There was one main hospital in the area, the same one her mom worked at and she had to find out the ward and room that Gaara was being taken to.
She just hoped her mother wasn't too busy and that she would take her call. The phone rung and after five rings, her mom picked up.
Sweetie, is everything okay?
Her mom sounded worried.
"Yes…I mean no…I mean, oh crap…a friend of mine has been involved in a car accident."
Oh baby I am so sorry to hear that. But do not worry, I am sure she will pull through. Do not be…
"Mom, its not really about that. I just wanted to ask if you can find out the room number for a young man who was just brought in, he has red hair and…well I really need to come and see him."
Of course, I remember him. They just brought in one red haired male. Just get here when you can but I don't think he can have visitors yet…honey I have to go now. Tell me when you get here.
"I understand, and mom thanks. I will see you soon." With that she cut the call and started rushing to the hospital.
This was one moment that Matsuri wished she owned a car. The bus ride to the hospital had to have been the longest, most stressful ride of her life.
When she reached the hospital, she was not really sure what to expect. Her heartbeat was going nuts and she quickly told her mother she had made it. Her mother met up with Matsuri in the visitors lounge and Matsuri ran straight into her welcoming warm arms.
"Mom, how is he?" Matsuri broke down.
"Oh Matsuri, stop crying baby… he will be okay. He just has a fractured leg and a minor concussion but he will be okay. The doctors who worked on him say he just needs to stabilize and the trauma to him body will pass soon. He will be okay."
"Oh thank God." Matsuri had never been more relieved to hear something in all her life.
"When can I see him?"
"He is in recovery at the moment, they had to put him under an induced coma just to help with the swelling in his head. It might be a while before he can wake up."
"Swelling? I thought you said he was okay. How is the brain swelling a good thing?" Matsuri started freaking out again and her mother hugged her tighter.
"Just give it time, everything is going to be okay."
"Oh mom, I hope so. I like him."
"I know honey. I know."
"WHERE IS HE? WHERE IS THAT LITTLE SHIT?" a voice sounded from behind Matsuri and her mother let her go.
Behind them stood the most intimidating man Matsuri had ever seen. In his Armani suit and expensive Italian shoes, he looked like he ate poor people for breakfast, lunch and supper.
"WHERE IS HE?"
Matsuri's mom walked over to the man in the suit hoping to calm him down, "Sir, please come down. You are in a hospital."
"CALM DOWN?" he laughed sadistically, "Picture this messed up scenario. I am in an important meeting when I get a call from some medical person saying my son has once again crushed another one of the cars I spend money on. So tell me…nurse…should I really calm down as my son once again tries to make a fool of me?"
"Mr Kazekage?"
"BINGO! You see, I mention the act and you easily guess whose father I am. So where is he? And how much money do I have to give out to pay for whatever damage he caused? I hope he didn't kill anyone…the boy is the thorn in my life."
"Sir, that is no way to talk about your injured son. Children are a blessing and they should be a parent's true pride. No parent should say such a cruel thing about their child…no matter how much they hurt you." Matsuri's mother tried to reason with him.
"Ha, is that so?" Gaara's estranged father said, "And who the hell are you to talk to me like that? Do you know who I am? I can buy this stupid hospital and fire your talkative ass with money that I have as change. DON'T BUTT INTO MATTERS YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND WOMAN."
"Don't talk to her like that," Matsuri finally said. 'With all due respect Mr. Kazekage, you are a bully and Gaara does not deserve the words coming out of your mouth. What kind of a parent are you? Gaara is an amazing guy and a good person"
She could not believe this was the kind of abuse that Gaara grew up around. No one can stay sane if they lived with this kind of talk; it was all clear now why Gaara kept people away. He didn't know anything else. He didn't know what care looked or felt like. Matsuri felt sick. She would make the jerk in the suit in front of her see reason even if it was the last thing she did.
Gaara did not deserve all this animosity.
"Well, well, well…what do we have here?" Mr. Kazekage said as he folded his arms on his chest in a condescending way that made Matsuri hate his demeanor even more. "My good for nothing son got himself a little girlfriend…how quaint. Well get it from me girly, the money may attract you now but in the end you will see that my son brings nothing but pain and suffering to the people he gets close to. Do yourself a favour and ditch that train wreck of a son. He will never amount to anything. He is pain incarnate. The money that is drawing you to him isn't even his, it is mine and you need to wake up."
"I don't like him because of his money, sir. No offense but unlike some people he does not go around flashing his money around. He eats burgers from cozy little diners that most people don't even know about, and likes Breaking Benjamin and he was even willing to sample songs by Taylor Swift…for me, he watches action movies and likes anime and manga and anything to do with ninjas. He is one of the most real and decent guys I have met and I regret not telling him that sooner." Matsuri almost smiled to herself as she realized how stupid she had been. Gaara had been a great guy and this douchebag of a father could not even see that. It broke her heart.
"You know nothing, young girl." The hard man said.
"I know enough, I know that because of you, your son's life has been a living nightmare."
"Nothing more than he deserves." Gaara's father said flatly and it shocked Matsuri so much.
Her heart ached for the pain that Gaara must have felt his entire life. Never knowing what family was, never experiencing the love of a parent. All he must have known was emptiness and a feeling of being seen as a plague. Why was he hated so much?
"If you must know, Gaara was hurt real badly. He could die." She knew she was exaggerating but she had to make this man feel something other than hate toward his son.
"What?" Gaara's father said. Showing an emotion that Matsuri interpreted as concern…well at least she thought it was. The business tycoon was hard to read.
"Yes, your son is in some bed, fighting for his life and you are out here acting like a giant…dick." Matsuri said, feeling bad that she had insulted an adult so she added quickly, "No offense."
Gaara's father looked at the young girl standing in front of him, challenging him and part of him liked it. It wasn't often that people stood up to him but she did not understand. How could she? She was just a little girl in love with his son.
Without another word he just turned and started walking away.
"Where the hell are you going?" Matsuri called out, "Your son is in a coma…mom, where is he going? What…" Matsuri looked at her mother for some assistance.
Her mother just took her in her arms and tried to comfort her, her screams of pain and grief muffled in her mom's chest. Poor Gaara. Matsuri couldn't imagine how Gaara would feel when he woke up and found no one there for him. How much more abandonment can he experience before he completely lost it?
"People deal in different ways baby…he will come around." Her mother tried to assure her. "Shhh…he will come around."
Matsuri cried some more, wishing there was a way she could make Gaara's life worth living. It must have been tough for him.
When she finally got the courage to walk up to his hospital room, her legs felt weak when she saw him lying there. His head bandaged up, his leg in a cast and the drips connected to his body, he really did not look anything like the cocky, handsome red head she liked.
Yes, he was still handsome but he looked so weak and so alone it made her want to cry. She walked over to his bed and held his bruised hand. She dropped her head to plant a kiss on his cheek and another tear dropped.
"I am so sorry Gaara…for everything. Pushing you away and not believing you was a mistake I will always regret. I am so sorry." She wept.
"I am here for you okay. I don't know if you can hear me but please know I am here for you…I will always be here for you." Matsuri squeezed his unmoving hand and started counting down to the day he it would be safe for him to come out of the coma.
Xoxoxoxxo
Five days, for five days Gaara lay in his unfamiliar hospital bed, unmoving except for the even rise and fall of his chest as he took in oxygen. Unaware of the world around him, stuck in the cold, dark emptiness that he was forced in to heal the swelling in his skull.
For five straight days, his father had not come back since the day he left in such a rude and disrespectable manner. Matsuri cursed each time she remembered it.
For five days, his classmates and school mates had stopped being douches and hateful bitches and had actually dropped by the hospital in their own time. They visited they guy they secretly admired but treated badly for reasons that did not even make sense, bringing with them balloons, cards, flowers and other well-wishing presents.
After five days his room looked like a gift shop and as Matsuri sat on the chair next to his bed and holding his hand, she wished he could see the many gifts around him. She bet he would think he was dreaming and the thought made her smile.
Her mom had assured her that the swelling had gone down and that he was more than stable now, they just needed to wait until he wanted to wake up and so Matsuri had decided she was not going to leave his side. So that was why she was sitting by his side at such an ungodly early hour.
"Hey." Her mother said to Matsuri when she walked in his room, looked at his chart and smiled. "How are you doing?"
"I am okay…he is the patient remember?" Matsuri said, she had started smiling again once she found out the swelling was down, that there will be no permanent damage to his brain.
"Ha ha…very funny." Her mother said, "So what present did you decide to get him?"
"Present? Well I got him this get well soon card." She lifted the huge card from the side table next to his bed, "and those flowers. I know they are plastic but I figured better something that will last forever than something that would have died before he saw them"
Matsuri's mom laughed, "No, honey, I meant for his birthday. It's today."
"What?" she said, getting up and grabbing his chart to confirm, "Mom why didn't you tell me sooner?"
"Don't freak out, I am sure the shop near the chapel will have birthday cards." Her mother was almost laughing at how her daughter was acting.
"A card is not enough, he should wake up and find a huge present…what should I…"
"No…presents." A rugged, low voice came from behind Matsuri.
Matsuri almost jumped up and screamed as she saw Gaara's blue-green eyes staring at her and tears of joy started falling down her cheeks. She had cried so much those five days she was surprised how her tear ducts had not dried up by now.
She swiftly ran to his side and dropped her body down to the bed, taking him in a hug that almost took all the breath out of him.
"N-not that I am not…enjoying this but…I can't breathe." Gaara said, getting more of his fire back as the minutes passed.
"Oh, sorry' Matsuri quickly got off of him, her face immediately turning red.
"Still with…the…blushing, huh?"
Matsuri smiled, "Yeah, old habits and all the jazz. And stop forcing yourself to talk; you sound like batman on life support."
This brought a smile to his face and in his attempt at trying to imitate Christian bale as The Batman, he made a serious face and said "I'm Gaara."
"Oh wow, hilarious. But seriously you don't have to talk if its causing you trouble."
"I'm fine." He gave her a smile that made her legs turn to jelly.
"I am so glad you are finally awake, it's good to see you with open eyes."
"Could it be? You…missed me?" Gaara teased.
"In your dreams."
"In my dreams…" He smiled and as he tried to shift in his bed he winced in pain, "…you do a hell of a lot more than that." He winked.
Matsuri's mother faked a cough at that moment and Matsuri's face looked just like the teasing boy's hair.
"I think I will…um…take my leave now." Matsuri's mom said as she left the two alone.
"You are incorrigible you know that? You just scared off my mom."
"What did…I do?" he feigned innocence. And at that moment Matsuri thought he looked so cute. So adorable and she liked how it made her feel inside. She probably looked like a pervy starer but she didn't care.
'Why are you looking at me like a piece of meat…" Gaara pretended to be spooked, "stay away from me. I am not an object…I am a Human being"
"Oh just shut up will you. I was just thinking." Matsuri said, 'Um I want to apologize…for how I acted, accusing you of those things…I am so sor…"
"Matsuri, stop." Gaara said, "I know…I can't really explain it but I…think I heard you. In the darkness…I used to hear your voice…talking to me and I know you are sorry. I heard that word so many times it sounded like a broken record."
"Like you know what a record is."
"It's a figure of speech miss smarty pants." Gaara looked at her, "Anyway, I am being honest. There were times when I was in the dark and I did not want to come back, hearing your voice made me want to live…your voice helped bring me back."
Matsuri was so touched hearing that. Now she definitely knew she had to buy him a worthy present.
"So about your birthday, why don't you want any presents? Because believe me, I can afford a decent one." Matsuri said with a smile on her face.
"It's not that. I just don't celebrate my birthday."
"O-kay…I don't get it, what are you, a Jehovah's Witness?"
"Matsuri just drop it okay." Gaara said, getting agitated a bit.
"No, I want to know. Why do you always have to keep things to yourself? What's the big secret Gaara?"
"Oh my God, do you ever stop? Why do you always have to probe and pry and make me feel so vulnerable? More importantly why do I always find myself opening up to you? Today happens to be the day I killed my mom okay."
Matsuri was stunned. She really should learn to keep her mouth shut at times.
"How do you expect me to celebrate the day that my being born ended up killing my own mother? Really, what's there to celebrate?"
"Gaara…" Matsuri suddenly saw the whole situation as it was. His father's anger towards him, he blamed his son for his wife's death. But that was just wrong.
"There is nothing you can say to me now that my hundreds of shrinks haven't already said. It wasn't your fault Gaara. You shouldn't blame yourself Gaara. This is just how some things turn out Gaara. Fuck it all. I know it and my father knows it. I am a killer."
"Gaara, don't say that. It really was not your fault. You have to understand that. You were just an innocent baby and you didn't have to carry such a weight on your shoulder."
"Tell that to my father, he hates me. He thinks of me as the demon child who took his precious wife from him. When I was driving away from school that day and I lost control of the car, I didn't even care if I lived or died because I knew my death would make him happy. I wouldn't be surprised if he is having a party right now because he thinks I am finally out of his life. He hates me Matsuri…he…"
"I don't hate you…" a voice came from behind the door.
After a second, in walked his father. He looked a mess, clearly he hadn't shaved in days and his eyes were red like he had been crying.
Matsuri looked at the males in the room, first at the tortured and hurting Gaara and then at his equally hurting and tired looking dad.
"What are you doing here?" Gaara asked.
"I understand why you wouldn't want me here…in your shoes I wouldn't want me here either but I had to come see you. When I heard that you were fighting for your life, I just couldn't take it…I couldn't handle it. In that moment I felt the exact same way I felt when I found out that I had lost your mother. I loved her so much."
"And you hate me for being born… you wish now that on that day, that I had died and she had lived." Gaara looked at his father. All the pain he had experienced in his life coming rushing in all and once and his body ached.
He wanted to cry but he couldn't, tears were not coming out but his heart ached and he wanted to just scream out in frustration and years of bottled up anger.
"No, Gaara. It was never like that. I just didn't know how to act around you. You reminded me so much of your mother that looking at you physically hurt. I did not hate you…I could never hate you. I just didn't know how to love you. The pain I felt when I lost Karura was too much for me. It ripped my world apart. I just couldn't let my heart to ever care again because it hurts too much when the people you love are taken from you. And your birthday shouldn't be a day we hate, I should be celebrating that I have you in my life. You are my greatest gift. I don't want to lose you."
Gaara could not believe what he was hearing. His life had been cruel because his father was afraid of caring for him, afraid to love him because he was afraid of getting hurt. That was just screwed up and it made him boil.
"That is bullshit…exactly what do you want me to say to that?" Gaara said.
"I want you to forgive me. I know it's a stupid excuse but I was filled with so much pain, so much anger, so much hate for the world and everything when I lost karura and I didn't know how to feel all that and still be a good father to you. I am so sorry Gaara. It was really selfish and unfair of me and I know now I could have handled it better. We should have been there for each other, I know that now." Tears started falling down the big man's face and Gaara couldn't help but have his eyes also water up.
"Your mother loved you…so much, and when I was told that you could die I realized I love you just as much. These past five days have been some of my hardest. I just didn't know how I was going to cope with losing you. You are all I have…I am so sorry."
While he had been talking, tears falling down his face and looking broken and hurt, he had been walking slowly towards his son and when he was close to the bed, he carefully dropped his body and took his son in his arms.
"I am so sorry…I don't wanna lose you too son. I am sorry…so sorry…so sorry."
At first Gaara didn't know what to do, but after a while he did the one thing he had always wanted to do since he was little…he hugged his father and all the pain, hate and anger gently passed away and he cried with no shame. This was what he always wanted.
He did not feel hated…he was not looked down on. He felt loved…and appreciated. And in his books that was a damn good feeling.
All his life all he felt was alone, and now in that moment all that did not really matter. That past would be in the past. The Kazekages were crying and washing all their problems away and in the same room he knew there stood someone else he cared about apart from his father.
Gaara could get used to this feeling.
His father finally let go of him and awkwardly scratched his head, "I…um have to see the nurse about your discharge...have to do some signing and all that other official stuff." He looked at Matsuri and he felt remorseful "I am sorry for how I acted that day. I hope you forgive me too and keep an eye on my son for me, you seem to be just what he needs." And then he left.
Gaara did not even know what to make of what just happened. He wiped the tears from his face and a huge smile formed on his face. How was it possible that he was smiling on his birthday?
"Now before you say anything…I just got some sand in my eyes okay." Gaara said as he looked at Matsuri's equally tear filled eyes, "What is your excuse?"
"Allergies" She said, sniffing and wiping her tears and then smiled, "pollen and…disinfectants and…stuff."
"Sorry about that, but we are in a hospital so maybe you should get some allergy pills."
"I'll survive."
"What the hell is all this?" Gaara finally looked around his room and noticed all the balloons and flowers and cards and teddy bears, "did you rob a gift store."
Matsuri laughed, "No they are not all from me, most of them are from our classmates."
"Well I'll be damned." Gaara said and he couldn't stop the emotion that came over him as he picked up a random card and read.
The gifts really were from his classmates. He looked at Matsuri and loved how she looked.
The two shared a loving smile and Gaara knew his life of pain and being alone was slowly coming to an end.
Xoxoxoxoxooxo
"Gaara come on, stop acting silly…it's been six months and your leg is completely healed so stop faking it." Matsuri lectured him as she dragged his silly-acting butt to the diner. "Stop with your fake limping."
"But I don't wanna…" he whined, "I don't get why we have to do this stupid double date in the first place."
"Well because it's what normal people do when they want to hang out with their friends and because I said so." She pulled him some more.
"I still don't understand how you can be friends with that lying psycho, and FYI I think her boyfriend is a douchebag. What does she see in him anyway?" Gaara asked genuinely confused.
"Hey, Sasori has changed his delinquent ways and I guess she just has a thing for redheads. I mean who can blame her?" Matsuri said giving Gaara a teasing look. She really cared for this fiery hottie.
"And about being her friend, you know me…I never hold grudges, so when Sari apologized to me I just had to forgive her. She was sorry, besides its all your fault for being so cute in the first place and treating people like they don't exist."
"Great, blame the guy who was treated like a leper most of his school life." Gaara said sarcastically.
"Come on, you know what I mean. I just understand why she would do that, yes it was a bitch move but love makes us do crazy things." Matsuri said as they slowly neared Gaara's favourite diner.
"More like being a freaking psycho makes us do crazy things."
"You are hopeless. I will text your dad and tell him you don't want to be socializing."
"I don't mind socializing. I just don't wanna share your presence with other people. Can't we ditch these two and go watch the new Avengers movie?" he looked at her, hoping she agrees to it.
"Gaara no, we are doing this…now stop being a big baby."
Soon they were at the diner and Gaara knew he had to tell Matsuri the thing that has been on his mind for months now.
"Hey play nice." Matsuri said to him.
"I will…but only because I love you."
Matsuri stopped in her tracks, unable to breath normally "W-what?"
"I said I will."
"No, not that…the other thing."
Gaara couldn't help the goofy smirk that formed on his face. He knew his first I love you to the girl he felt so strongly about should have been done in a more conversional manner but he wasn't a conversional guy. Besides he loved the look on her face at that very moment.
It was priceless.
"Umm I love you?"
Matsuri staggered a bit and almost dropped to the ground as she heard those words.
"Whoa…if I knew that would be your reaction I would have remembered to tell you when you were seated." He teased.
"Y-you…you love me?"
"You are really having a hard time grasping this aren't you? Yes Matsuri I love you…I love you so much that I can't even imagine a life without you in it. It would feel empty…incomplete. Did it sink in now?"
Matsuri had tears in her eyes, she didn't think hearing him say those words to her would make her feel so good…so happy…so consumed. She did after all love him too.
Gaara could see the look on her face and it pleased him. He loved how seeing her like that made him feel. He did not even care if she did not say it back right there and then, he was just glad to have finally told her how he felt.
So when Matsuri pulled him to her in a gentle kiss, Gaara opened himself up to it and let the taste of her consume him. He put his arms around her and deepened the kiss. Making sure that she felt the love that he had for her…and only her. A small moan escaped from her and it drove Gaara almost mad but they were standing outside a diner and he did not want to end up in jail for what he was thinking of doing to her right there and then.
He slowly drew his lips away from her and looked at her face, she really was something else and he was grateful that she had come in his life.
Matsuri opened her eyes and breathless said, "I love you too."
Gaara heard those words and he felt so alive…he couldn't have asked for a better night. He was according to him…happy and it felt amazing.
"Come, let's go in." he gave her one finally quick peck, "the sooner we live through this double date, the sooner we can leave."
"I see you are still not happy about."
"I am never happy each time I have to share you with other people." Gaara said as he took her hand in his own.
"Possessive much." Matsuri laughed.
"Just telling it like it is."
Matsuri just shook her head and squeezed his hand gently.
Gaara's couldn't help but smile. He was never going to let the girl walking besides him go…she had broken down his walls and gotten to his cold heart…melted it and brought so much joy and happiness in his once unfriendly, depressing life.
At that moment Gaara was in love and there wasn't a goddamn thing anyone could do or say to change his mind. Life was perfect.
He was after all, angst teen no more.
xoxoxoxooxoxoxo
AN: Well guys we have finally come to the end of our story. I hope you liked the ending…our final chapter and all. I know I started out challenging myself by trying to tell a story in 100 words or less but after a while I thought Gaara deserved more…hence this longer chapter. I am also sure you noticed that I changed the tense in my writing, I I just find it easier writing long chapters in past tense. I hope you didn't mind much. Thanks for reading it
I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it. Do leave me a review.
And thank you so much to ALL the people who followed, favourited and most importantly left me a comment. It was awesome reading what you thought. It helped me improve. Anyway look out for more stories from me. until next time
-kisses
WRITOPHRENIC.