Chapter 10
"You!"
The man, frowning, ran down the dune, fast. Before he could reach Aby, a red shadow moved in between at the speed of light. Gaara grabbed him by the arm in full flight, and the man was on the ground facing down on the burning sand, a kunai on his throat, a foot on his back and his arm held tight.
The man on the ground smirked while coughing sand out of his mouth.
"Well, hello to you too!"
"It's him! Kiyo!" Sofia gasped.
"Seriously, why do you keep calling me that?" he replied, his face still on the sand floor.
"It's OK, he's with us," Aby put her hand on Gaara's, holding the kunai. "Well kinda … he's an acquaintance."
He met her eyes and softened his facial expression. He cautiously let him up.
"People here don't usually come flying at female acquaintances they barely know," he said glaring at him. Aby couldn't help but feel excited at this sudden cool outburst of heroism towards her.
"Yeah … sorry, I got a little overexcited to find people I know," he replied looking embarrassed. He got up and looked at Gaara from head to toe. "Cool cosplay man! And you got the ninja moves to go with it! "
"Excuse me?"
"Lucky me that wasn't a real knife there, ha ha!"
"That kunai is real."
"..."
"Hum, he's actually the real deal … we'll explain to you later." Gaara shifted from the man to Abigail in surprise. Later?
"This is Gaara! You know?" she continued, "from the anime Naruto?"
"No"
"Come on! You're Japanese! You have to know Naruto!"
"Never heard of it … I'm not really into anime … sorry. But It sure looks interesting!" he said looking back at Gaara who was still staring at Abigail, seemingly angry.
"Gaara! This guy's family is the owner of the Onsen I told you about … uhh …"
She realized she still didn't know his name.
"Chris! My name is Chris Nakimura!" he said smiling.
"Hey guys! Come say hi!" Aby waved her hand at Toshiko and Tori. Gaara, who was now watching Chris, noticed the children's shy reaction to him.
"Oh come on! Guys, he's the reason why you got your belly full when we first met!"
"Awww, only partly," he said, "how can one refuse an angry lady! I wanted to see the pretty smile again," he winked.
Akio glanced at Gaara and smiled at his disgusted expression. Yashiko got closer to Gaara, raising an eyebrow.
"This guy sounds like a total womanizer," he whispered.
"Hello," the kids said shyly.
"Oh good! You guys are learning English! That was good!"
"No, you are all speaking Japanese!" Toshiko said.
Chris shrieked in surprise. Sofia gasped and pointed at them.
"Oh my God! That's … how is that possible?!"
"You only notice now?" Abigail said.
"I never even realized!"
"I don't know, I don't understand either. Come to think of it, at the time I wasn't well, so I didn't want to ponder on that. Toshiko said they don't speak English, but we sure don't speak Japanese, so … I don't know."
"You are both speaking your own language …" Everyone turned to Akio once more. Now what?
"I can explain while we are on our way, I believe Lord Gaara is anxious to get back to Sunagakure."
Gaara just stepped forward towards Sunagakure, visibly annoyed; but Aby didn't seem to notice.
"Oh yeah, I can't wait to see it!" Abigail said, excitedly, "let's go! There'll be food and shelter, then you can tell us what happened on your side!"
Gaara stopped, took a loud deep breath and sighed heavily, Yashiko almost bumped into him.
"Who said he was coming?"
A heavy silence fell on the desert floor. The wind picked up and made Gaara's hair move. His eyes, fixed upon Aby's, showed annoyance. Obviously, in normal circumstances, he would have welcomed the stranger in his village, but once again, his head played tricks on him. There was something about that guy he didn't like. He was waiting for Aby to reply, itching for a confrontation. So was everybody else, as they looked at her.
I made him angry again, she thought. She felt she might have overstepped her boundaries, again; this time for assuming Chris was invited. However, she felt it couldn't be otherwise.
"He has to!"
Maybe not the best way to put it, she thought, too late.
Gaara's annoyance turned to anger. He stepped towards her to confront her.
"The last time I checked, 'Gaara of the Sand' was Kazekage, not Abigail of … whatever you're from!"
"Yes but ..."
"No, no, no … you and your friends come here and decide that you are from the real world, insulting us by insinuating that this one is not; Then you go showing off that you know everybody and now, you get to decide who is coming to my village? And offer him shelter and food, ON MY BEHALF?"
Aby turned red; as she thought, she overstepped her boundaries. He was very close to her and she couldn't look him in the eye. She lowered her head.
"I'm sorry. You are right. But please, do not leave him to fend for himself just because of my behavior."
Gaara blushed at the sudden humility, hiding his own motives … for some reason, he simply did not like him.
"Who do you think I am? I wouldn't act upon pride! What kind of leader would I be?"
Surprisingly, Tori took him by the hand, which startled him. She looked up to him seemingly seeking comfort. From what? The fight? Or from the new guy?
Something is wrong with this 'Chris' guy … he thought.
"So then why do you want to leave him behind?"
"... I don't know him!"
"You didn't know me and Sofia either! You even distrusted me so much you tried to kill me! Twice!"
"He did what?!" shouted Sofia and Chris at the same time.
"Only once," corrected Gaara, flustered. "But you are women and children and wouldn't last three days on your own!"
"What makes you think he could?" she retorted waving toward Chris.
"Look at him! He looks pretty good for a guy who walked in the desert for days! Besides, how can you trust him so blindly, you didn't even know his name until now!"
"But he's part of my world! How will he know how to go back if he doesn't come with us?"
"Not my problem …"
Chris backed up, both hands raised, and chuckled. He let out a "ishhhhh", remembering how Abigail felt about the "not my problem" people.
Aby stared in disbelief. Did he really just say that? Did Gaara, the calm and wise and gentle Kazekage, whom she admired so much, really said such a thing?
"Well I shouldn't be your problem either!" She said it out of spite, which was really stupid; she knew that much. She should have been grateful instead of throwing a temper tantrum. She should have pleaded some more to the person who was saving her and her friends life. Unfortunately for her, she watched Gaara stiffen at the insulting ungrateful comment.
"You know something? You're absolutely right! You and your friends are not my problem. Why don't you stay with him? Perhaps start a new colony and become a brand new Kage!" He watched her concerned expression, as he turned and walked away. "Yashiko! Let's go!"
He broke free of Tori's hand. The lack of compassion on Gaara's face towards Tori broke Aby's heart.
"You're joking! Right?"
"No"
"You can't do that!"
"I just did." He said, still walking away and fuming.
"But we'll be doomed! My friends will be doomed!"
"Still not my problem."
"And you're ok with that? Letting us die?" she said, chasing after him.
"I don't know any of you. You are not from here but you are acting like you are conquering this place. For all I know you'll be more trouble than anything. So … yeah, my conscience is clear."
Aby looked at Sofia, seeking support, but her friend was glaring at Gaara, still brewing over the fact that he tried to kill her. Her gaze turned to Akio, who observed the scene, as if watching an interesting development in a movie. Chris's face was neutral, unimpressed. She started to cry.
"Gaa … Lord Gaara, wait!"
He did not. He put on his cloak's hood as the sun scorched the ground.
"At least take the children!" She grabbed both by the hand and ran towards him. Tori tripped, not being able to keep up but she was so desperate that she just dragged her along in the sand.
"Abigail!" Toshiko yelled as he tried to pull back.
She turned around and fell to the ground near Tori who was holding her knee and looked frightened.
"Please!" she whispered, cursing her own stupidity. She looked up at Gaara in the distance. He had stopped and was watching her.
He stopped!
"I'm sorry! I really am! I can't take care of them like that! I can't even make a fire! They won't survive with me."
"Actually I know how to make a fire," said Chris. She ignored him.
"Please, they didn't do anything wrong. They were just dragged into this! They have nobody, even in their own world. They won't make it! Take them, OK?"
She was kneeling on the burning sand, still crying and pushed them both forward, as far as her arms could reach, towards Gaara. He softened his expression and watched her body jerk with every sob. He finally moved after a few seconds and came back. He took Tori's hand and stared at Aby for a few more seconds.
Why does she care so much for these kids? He looked at Chris who did not show any expression. Maybe she was just a naturally caring person …
"Are we gonna have anymore problems?"
"What?"
"If I let you tag along, are you going to give me problems?"
"... N … No! It's not my intention! It was never my intention! Never! I'm not a troublemaker!"
She wiped her face with her hand and he suddenly felt guilty to see her like that.
"Then come."
She hid her wet eyes with her hands for a few seconds, stood up and walked towards him, still wiping her face with her sleeve.
Gaara then pointed at Chris.
"You! I'm watching you! If I ever see you behave in any weird matters, I swear I'll te ..."
His threat was cut short. His eyes grew wide as Aby embraced him suddenly.
"Hey!" Yashiko said outraged, "that's … that's too close! Don't be so personal with Lord Gaara!"
Gaara froze, shocked. Nobody hugged him before. He never felt that kind of connection; except from his sister, Temari, once or twice. However, it always felt awkward to him. Gaara was not worthy of embrace. That's how he always thought. He inspired fear and respect, not a hug. Moreover, thankful gestures were done by bowing. Ultimate gratitude was done low, head to the ground …
Yet, there she was, holding him tight, her face wet with tears. She closed her eyes and hid her face in his chest. He was too shocked to know what to do. He knew one thing. This didn't feel out of place. Not really. It felt … good.
"Thank you" she whispered in his chest, then she let go and walked away, her hand down, sniffling.
