Ahhhhh - I worked a couple hours editing this thing and it deleted! T_T
Anyway, if it seems late when I said it was written that's why. My poor heart!
...
Yumi's heart beat heavily against Sabaku's back. They dashed across the terrain, the monsters still attacking. Somehow Gaara was still able to maneuver and fight even with carrying her. The puppets flew in all directions providing defense and distraction. A massive ape swung at the blond woman, she jumped over his paw and kicked him in the head. A second feline pounced, and then an armadillo. She jumped over the creature and grabbed it by its tail. She heaved, swinging the monster by its tail at the other advancing predators. Then she threw it into the front of the charging mass.
Gaara took two steps back as the fiery cyclone changed direction.
"What direction do you think he's hiding in this space?" The woman landed beside them.
Gaara shook his head no, his hair brushing her arms.
"We really should move." Kankuro glanced towards the raging fire cyclone that was heading their direction.
Yumi's head turned to the flames that threatened everyone. Heat and wind picked up around them. She felt Gaara again step back. The raging flame prowled as it towered. Emotionlessly Yumi watched it spin. If water couldn't kill her, fire was probably the same...
"Let's go." The five ran.
Both of Gaara's arms held tight to her legs that were wrapped about his waist. Her skirt had pulled up showing her bare calves. Her gaze caught sight of her own scars. The vague recollection of the moon's torture feathered within her. The horror of the full moon that repeatedly plagued her clinched her lungs. Compared to that, this was nothing.
Yumi's eyes raised to the cyclone that was plowing towards them. Then it turned to the distorted creatures that were chasing them. The creature's claws that had sliced into her hadn't really hurt at all, compared to the memory of the moon. And the fire, she doubted that was any threat to her too.
"It will be okay, Yumi." She felt him speak as much as heard him.
Gaara, her head ducked back so it was tucked between him and her own arm. He could get hurt. He could get killed... He was already hurt... Her heart beat as her hands squeezed her own arms. Could maybe she shield him somehow? Since she couldn't die, could she keep him safe too? Was there a way she could just take on his injuries for him or replace herself with him in those moments? But she wasn't fast nor strong, and she just didn't know...
"I refuse to be literal toast!" Kankuro cursed, jumping up. His head and body turned in all directions, searching.
"Are you hurt anywhere, Yumi?" The woman she didn't know asked.
"Yes, she got hit earlier. You'll need to check her out once we finish this." Gaara eyed the woman.
"I'm- I'm- I'm fine." Yumi immediately corrected. "But, G-gaara's hurt."
"Don't worry, once we take care of these guys I'll fix you both up. I'm Tsunade, Konoha's best medical master after all." The woman smiled while Yumi immediately tightened her grip harder about Gaara. Konoha!?
"It will be fine. Trust me." Gaara felt Yumi's panic immediately.
Bobbing her head, she buried her face between his neck and her own arm. These monsters were nothing compared to Konoha. Claws and fangs meant little to her, but Naruto would bury her alive and dance over her tortured body!
Without warning, Shikamaru carrying Shikadai popped into her head. The boy in her mind waved to her, his chubby cheeks holding a slight smile. Her heart beat felt heavy as she remembered them. They were from Konoha. They weren't bad. Still, Yumi hesitated.
"Watch out!" At Kankuro's shout, Yumi felt Gaara leap. Her body was launched up by his. His arms tightened about her allowing her to feel secure. Her hair plunged up as they plummeted back down. Gaara's knees bent to reduce the impact of their landnig, but still she was pressed into his back, the air squeezed from her lungs. Then with ease, Gaara dashed while making sure none of the attacks even brased her.
Fangs and claws came up from the ground. A mole with spinning teeth and razor sharp nails popped free with three more behind him. They dashed towards the masked men. The fireball cyclone cut hard right unexpectedly. Tsunade hissed, flames ate the leg of her pants. With a wave of her hand, she extingished them to reveal blistered skin. The smell of burnt flesh wafted through the air. Then the smell of wood joined it as two puppets were splintered by the moles' attack.
A snake spit stakes towards them and her voice broke, "Gaara!"
His arms moved from her legs, blocking every single spike from hitting her. He threw his Kunai which landed perfectly into the viper's throat killing it. Then, emotionless, he pulled a long spike from his arm, a second from his side, and the third from his leg. He held them as if they were blades between his fingers, ready to use them as he had been the Kunai.
Yumi's eyes fell on the blood drenched spikes. This was nothing compared to the moon. She couldn't die. And yet- she could do nothing for him?
Yumi's heart hurt. Why couldn't she take the attacks for him!? They weren't anything. She already knew they wouldn't kill her!
"Look at me," Kurokawa Taiki snapped his fingers before pointing to his own dark eyes.
"LOOK AT ME!" He bellowed out with a bloodthirst that meant nothing to her.
Young she looked at him. Frowning. How would a stare help her win against Genjutsus?
"You are in a genjutsu right now." His voice was cold. "Someone is in your head searching on if you are a threat. Are you a danger to them?"
"No. Jieti protect others." Her head shook, her long pigtails flew.
"Now GET OUT OF HER HEAD!" Kurokawa screamed at her.
Yumi blinked. There was no genjutsu right now and so far against them she was weak. So how was this helpful?
"Pay attention." Kurokawa crouched down. "Think of me if you are ever stuck in one. If you cannot fight it, just remember me. With your every thought, every fiber, remember me. Hear my tone. Know my breath. My axe. My power. Think of me, and I will appear."
Yumi couldn't help but scrunch her face. If that was the case, why did she get left alone so often while he was at work?
"Don't you fucking do that. Now say it?"
"I'm not a threat?"
"No, say when I think of you, you'll appear."
Yumi half frowned, "when I think of you, you'll appear."
"Jieti can't be jieti if they don't believe the crap they speak. Now say it again, with conviction. In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear!"
"In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear."
"Again."
"In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear."
"Again"
"In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear."
"I CAN'T HEAR YOU!"
"IN A GENJUTSU, WHEN I THINK OF YOU, YOU'LL APPEAR!"
"AGAIN!"
"IN A GENJUTSU, WHEN I THINK OF YOU, YOU'LL APPEAR!"
"Now, say that 10,000 times!"
Yumi's breath shook. As she watched Kankuro's puppet crumble. That could be one of them. Not her, but them...
Laughter vibrated the space all around them.
"We got to be getting close." Kankuro wiped blood off his shoulder.
The laughter reduced to a chuckle, "close? Close in a genjutsu is not close enough! Soon you will all be dead. Where's your ultimate defense now, Sabaku no Gaara!"
"In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear." The words poured out of her mouth as her eyes held set on the fiery cyclone.
"Hn?" Gaara's head turned.
Yumi hugged him. New monsters rose up from the ground, these larger, spiker, violent-er.
Ducking her head, she prayed for something to help them, him. "In a genjutsu, when I think of you, you'll appear."
"Don't worry." Kankuro's voice spoke beside her in a comforting tone, "we'll protect you. More are coming. It's going to be okay."
Except Gaara was already hurt. Kankuro was hurt. That woman was hurt. Those two men she didn't know were also hurt!
But she, she who they kept consoling, was fine.
Aggrieved, Yumi's mind pictured Kuro. His shrills brought down birds. He had changed into that thing and killed the group that had attacked her. So if he was here, all the monsters would be defeated and everyone would be safe.
She thought of her memories of Kawa. He too towered over her, protecting her. He had said he would appear. She believed it. He, they, would come if she just willed it enough. Why would he tell her wrong?
Squeezing tighter to Gaara, afraid he was going to get hurt even more, Yumi believed Kuro and Kawa would come. "When I think of you, you'll appear. When I think of you, you'll appear. When I-"
"What the?" The voice that was one with the plane spoke confused.
An ominous dark cloud towered. A wide body with even broader shoulders stood tall. Black eyes of a devil gleamed as a white blood thirsty smile parted from the giant's lips. Massive hands clenched into fists as his feet widened into a powerful stance.
Kawa's head cocked. The ogre of a man chuckled darkly, "shouldn't I be saying that?" His teeth bared the snarl of a vicious predator. "Or MAYBE I SHOULD SAY- WE SHOULD BE ASKING YOU WHAT!"
The man bellowed and all the charging beasts briefly cowered confused.
Laughing his stance lightened just enough for his fist to raise up. Opening his calloused hand, he reached back to his shoulder, and gripped a small gray body that immediately clicked in protest. Throwing it forward, the cat-like creature landed on all four claws before the cyclone.
"Walk your own damn ass." Kawa growled at Kuro
Irate, Kuro, clicked curses to Kawa, promising him scars later.
Kankuro took a step back. Tsunade, that Konoha woman, did too.
On high alert, Gaara also jumped away. The two that obviously had to come from the genjutsu user's probe into Yumi's head.
"Wait," Yumi realized they all were going the wrong way. "It's Kuro and Kawa. They will help us!"
No one stopped their retreat, choosing the direction of the monstrous animals.
"Gaara!" Yumi pulled on his robe.
"Yumi, it's a trick. The genjutsu user probed your mind; they aren't who you think-"
Kuro's eyes narrowed upon their retreating forms. Angered, he shrieked a murderous tone. The mass of raging creatures in front of them fell and withered almost as if they were in agony.
The fire cyclone immediately cut left. It ran over the small gray cat-creature, engulfing him in its molten raging flames.
"KURO!" Head one-eighty, Yumi watched the horrific scene unfold. Immediately she tried to launch herself off Gaara, but he wouldn't let her.
"It's not him!" Keeping a tight grip on her arms, he kept pace.
Tears welled in Yumi's eyes. The monsters that had been attacked by the shrill began to rise. But Yumi's craned neck only watched where Kuro had once been.
Had she killed him?
"Kuro" Her voice cracked as tears slipped down her cheek.
Gaara's hand squeezed her, as if to offer condolences. Feeling his comfort, her tears poured.
"Why the FUCK are you crying!? ARE YOU ACTUALLY CRYING!?" Kawa's frame spun to watch their retreat and her tears. Then his head jerked towards the cyclone. His arm flew out with his finger pointed directly at them, "DO YOU SEE WHAT YOU DID!? YOU ARE MAKING HER CRY!"
A black outline of a monster with four arms bloomed within the flames. And then another scream occurred. Spinning in the reverse, the monster's outline blurred. The cyclone's rampage forward paused. It shrunk as it began to collapse in on itself. The tornado became a ball which became whiffs of flame, which evaporated into nothing.
The spinning four-armed Kuro stopped. His four arms waved his four sets of fingers as if to mock any dared celebration. His massive egg shaped head tilted to Yumi as if to say see, still here. Then his gaze looked past them. His face cracked hungrily as he glared at the numerous raging creatures before them.
"I think we need to get out of the way," Tsunade looked back. "Like right now!"
Kankuro turned back as well, "oh shit."
"Who are they?" One of the masked men asked.
"Kuro and Kawa," Yumi answered immediately. "They will take care of everything."
Gaara frowned. With his eyes, he indicated to Kankuro they should take a sharp right.
Crack, Kawa's hands jarred his own neck to the left and then the right, crack! His fingers joined together in front of him before he stretched his arms and hands out as far as they could go, crraaaaaccckkkk!
Taking one massive step forward and then another, "one should never mess with the adopted daughter of an ex-mass-murdering-assassin." He smiled viciously, "because I have never forgotten what all I used to do for fun."
Then the ogre of a man ran wildly forward into the monster horde that surrounded them. A wolf-like thing attacked him, but Kawa's hand encompassed the creature's skull. It whined before the bones of its face cracked. Kawa's other hand grabbed the wolf's shoulder. Then with a pull, he popped the neck and all the vertebrae of its spine out of the creature's body.
"We need to find the master of this place, now!" Strain entered Kankuro's voice. His eyes were locked on the ogre of a man who had just kicked his foot into the side of a boar and launched its heart out.
"Yep," Tsunade nodded her head, "agreed."
Yumi eyed them briefly before looking back towards Kawa. Kuro was now dashing into the mealy. The four-armed-pet she loved so much was even more violent. Independently all four of his hands worked on shredding the creatures limb by limb. Blood splattered and soaked the ground. Claws were torn out from paws. Fangs flew out from their jaws. Fur and scale and skin were torn piece to piece from the monsters.
In seconds, the horde had been cut in half. Creatures that were just illusions were running away. But neither Kuro nor Kawa let them. All near them were slaughtered.
Relief flowed through Yumi as she lowered her head down onto Gaara's shoulder again. Now he and the others would be safe.
"How are you doing this!" The voice snapped angrily. "How is this possible!?"
Kankuro's gaze went to Gaara's immediately. His run slowed until he stopped.
"They aren't his?" Tsunade also stopped and eyed Gaara, as if he was supposed to know.
The two masked ninjas flinched as Kuro and Kawa continued to work. "Are they special forces?"
Gaara gently let her slide down before turning towards her. "What were you saying before?
"Uh, what I remembered Kawa said. That if I'm in a genjutsu- then when I think of him, he appears." Her hand raised in the direction of the two butchering monsters. "Just like that."
His teal eyes studied her.
"This is a good thing," Yumi felt hope for the first time since this all started. "Kawa was my bodyguard, he'll protect us. And Kuro liked to kill things, so he'll help us too."
A flabbergasted Kankuro turned back to the slaughter. Protect? Just Kill? It was a horrific and gruesome massacre that was occurring before them! Plus, his gaze went back to Yumi, what she had described wasn't how genjutsus were supposed to work!
"I mean, technically in theory-" Lady Tsunade broke the stunned silence, "if someone who is trapped believes something as much as their own existence, thennnn technically it's no different than us being able to fight. But most just don't fully believe or have that will to-"
"WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE!?"
The earth rumbled. Immediately Gaara scooped her back up. Automatically Yumi wrapped her arms about his neck.
Mountains sprouted up. Lava spit, rocks flew, and lightning cracked down. Kuro jumped into the sky, while Kawa battled the ground. Ridges, valleys, and peaks skyrocketed in all directions separating them.
"Hold tight," Gaara navigated the changing terrain.
One of the lone monsters rushed towards them, expertly the three needle spikes flew from Gaara's fingers into its skull bringing it down.
A rock monster rose next, which Kawa immediately beheaded. A lighting arm reached and Kuro appeared to slice it down. But Kankuro, Tsunade, the others - were nowhere in sight.
"Can you have them find the genjutsu user?" His calm voice permeated through her.
"Uh," Yumi's gaze searched. "D-do they know who that is?"
His head turned just slightly to eye as he jumped over a lava river. Heat reflected off his face showing the lightest specks of stubble. Meeting her close inspection, he quickly glanced away and then out to Kawa.
"Kurokawa!"
Both glared at him with disdain. Yumi swore Kuro's claws grew another three inches at his summon.
"Are you able to locate the Genjutsu user? Until he is found, it won't be safe for Yumi in here."
Kawa's brows furrowed, darkening his gaze, "I'm a bodyguard. Do you think I would fail her!?
Kuro egg shaped head razored, clicking equally as insulted.
Gaara's left cheek twitched right before he pivoted left to avoid an onslaught of scorching spikes.
A roar sounded from the sky. Yumi gripped Gaara tighter.
"It will be okay. Close your eyes-"
Her breath held as the thunderous noise from the illusion racked her brain. Gripping him tightly, she prayed-
Suddenly she was back! The warm night air tickled her face while the sand held firm below her feet. She stood slightly in front of Gaara. Before her eyes were three men with water shields attacking a group to the right-
Gaara's hand grabbed her arm and spun her immediately into his side. Confused, she accepted being tucked into his chest.
Sand erupted around them. It flooded.
"Did you find him?" Kankuro's voice sounded next to them.
"No," she felt the vibration from his chest as he spoke.
"Me neither, one of them must have struck him," a woman's voice, Tsunade's, spoke up.
"Time to take care of the rest then," Kankuro's feet sounded like he was jumping off or down.
Sand encased them, blocking the stars and all around.
"Wrap your arms around me." His arm removed itself from her.
Without question, she complied. Hugging him, she breathed as she felt his arms move. The sand bubble protecting them also moved. Unsteadily, she used him to stabilize herself as she felt the movement push her weight about.
Inhaling and exhaling normally, she did not feel afraid. People were fighting around her, and yet she felt more nervous about how she was holding him. Would he notice she liked him?
Should she stand more in front of him so her body could be a shield for him, just in case?
But then, what if he was attacked from the back?
Couldn't there be a way that any injury he got would just get passed to her instead? She wouldn't die from injuries and compared to the torture the moon put her under, they were nothing-
"It's done." With his announcement, Yumi still didn't let go but his arm returned about her back.
She felt the sand lower them and then the light that was the night's sky returned.
"Yumi!" a man's, Tomohisa's voice sounded.
Turning her head, she met the elder's gaze.
"Are you okay!?" Anxiety coated his poorly lit features. Paper fluttered across the sand around them.
Mute, she nodded her head.
"She was hurt in the genjutsu; Lady Tsunade should look her over-""No!" Yumi tightened her grip on him as if it would cease his words.
"No," she repeated, "I-I wasn't. G-gaara was though!" She pulled back from him to look at his arms. They were blood soaked, "he's bleeding."
"She was-" "Fine!" Her hand tightened on his robe, pulling it as if it could close his mouth.
His jaw clenched as he eyed her in annoyance. Then he glanced up and out, "are any others injured."
"No."
His head nodded before his gaze scanned the desert. His hand moved. Sand moved.
"Yumi," his tone quieted.
He loosed his grip on her, his gaze gesturing to behind her. Turning she was met with the sight of people, four dead bodies, and two sand spheres. The two sand balls floated gently towards her and then stopped at eye level. They opened into little platforms, each displaying a tan and black scorpion.
"Hisa! Jinkun!" Their little pinchers went up while their tails swooshed at her greeting. Immediately her hands moved to each one individually, scooping them up. "Are you okay?"
With a slide wag, they answered. Then they carefully crawled down her arm onto her shawl. Hisa went left and Jinkun went right, into different pockets. Both stuck their heads and pinchers back out like two little guard dogs.
Gaara watched the scene silently, before glancing at the dead man's body, "take them for autopsy and investigation. Check their blood stream for scorpion venom and their bodies for stinger marks."
Tsunade eyed the Kazekage with a smirk, "so new pets huh?"
Not nearly as friendly, Yumi pressed back towards Gaara. Tsunade, taking their silence as a yes and an unwilling yes, smiled.
"Well," she cracked her hands, "the Kazekage said you were injured?"
"No!" Yumi immediately tucked herself behind Gaara, and half shoved him forward. "He is. He, uh, he got hurt by those things. See? He's bleeding."
Easily seen behind him, she still hid. No one from Konoha could find out she couldn't die. They would give her up to Naruto and he'd bury her alive!
"Yumi, you were-" "fine!" While Gaara turned his head, she again interrupted, staying hidden behind his frame.
"How about I check you first, Kazekage." Tsunade smiled. It was obvious Yumi believed the worst about her and her profession- which made it the same as before. However having been through this previously, the former hokage was certain she would win the girl's trust again.
"Alright." Gaara conceded, his eyes scanned the scene before landing on Kankuro. "Good?"
"Good." His brother nodded.
With a wave of his hand, sand pooled at their feet.
Tomohisa stepped forward, "I'd like to go back with you too."
Giving the elder a nod, the jieti joined. As the platform raised, Yumi felt Gaara's arm go about her once again. Its movement swayed her balance, but he kept her strong.
"Tomohisa," Gaara tucked her to him a bit further, "in the genjutsu Kurokawa appeared…"
The elder's eyes narrowed slightly before opening in understanding.
"That's because Kawa said that if you think of him, he appears. So him and Kuro came cause it was a genjutsu." Yumi not realizing his question was actually about her, answered.
"Yeahhhh," the elder played with his cyan balding hair. "Yep, that was true. Ikiryo told me it was cheating so- um, umi-yay stopped doing it after 15 or 17 to show it wasn't needed for passing the certs… Uh, umi-yay always got the highest marks on mental and psychological resilience. Ikiryo assumed the same skillset that allowed high marks of passing mental torture was what made that ability."
Out of nowhere, Yumi felt Gaara grip her tighter. Looking up to him, his gaze had hardened.
"Something wrong?" The emptiness wrung her soul.
His head moved slowly side to side.
The sand landed and as normal she felt her body start to fall forward. As normal he held her up. The other two walked with ease, but he waited for her to regain balance first.
"Shall we borrow Fujimoto's office?"
Naturally her head shook no.
Both Gaara and the woman from Konoha frowned at her.
"Well I can walk you home." Tomohisa smiled.
Immediately Tsunade sent him an annoyed look, while Gaara silently glared at him.
"Yes! Thank you," Yumi smiled, happy for the escape. She walked forward out of Gaara's half-embrace, towards the bodyguard who would escort her away.
Holding her annoyed look a little longer, Lady Tsunade barely fixed her face back to a smile before turning to Yumi. "Actually I was hoping that you would help me tend to Lord Kazekage."
Yumi paused midway to Tomohisa.
Tsunade's eyes went to Gaara's, and then indicated at her.
As if he were a puppet, a very dry sentence came from Gaara's lips. "I would appreciate the help."
"Ah," Yumi turned towards him. If he needed her help- She glanced to Tsunade, debating.
"I'll be able to heal him better if you are there." Tsunade smiled sweetly.
Yumi blinked before glancing towards Tomohisa. Nervousness and emptiness coursed through her, "um. T-thank you Tomohisa. B-but Sabaku needs help…"
The elder's head nodded, before his eyes went to the Konoha woman's. Yumi watched carefully, still uncertain.
Far slower than she had left him, Yumi returned to Gaara's side. Then she untrustingly stared at Tsunade.
The blond sighed, "alright."
They didn't enter through the hospital doors, but again his sand teleported them. The moment the sand cleared, Tsunade's eyes widened.
Yumi recognized Fujimoto's office before she noticed Gaara and Tsunade's horrified look as they stared at her.
"Yumi!" The Konoha woman rushed forward.
Seeing only an attack, Yumi tried to duck behind Gaara but he suddenly grabbed her. His arms moved her to the side of him so the Konoha woman could advance. His eyes held fear as they scanned her chest. But Yumi only noticed her own terror.
Betrayed, her voice ceased. The Konoha woman's hand moved to her blood soaked chest. Gaara's wasn't letting her escape.
Panic surged through her at the unwanted touch. Yumi's vision blurred as her Konoha-nightmare was about to become true. The woman would find out just what a monster she was! She'd realize she was a sin against nature! She'll tell Naruto. They would bury her, not giving her a chance to change like Kawa had done-
Hisa and Jinkun launched! Jinkun's small body landed on Tsunade, his stinger embedding into her leg. Hisa landed on Gaara, his stinger rapidly attacking, unable to break through his sand.
Sand responded! First, his sand wrapped about the scorpions. Then it made sure the former hokage was only paralyzed, and not dead. Then immediately moved the two little creatures away. Making two little cages, it trapped them on the other side of the room.
"Don't hurt them!" Yumi tried to pull from Gaara, disrot.
"They attacked the former Hokage."
"You attacked me!"
"Yumi! You. Are. Hurt!" Roughly he jerked her, his tone shocking her. Horror filled his gaze at what he saw.
Blood soaked her clothes. It originated from her chest and had poured down her skirt. Before Yumi could register his intention, he roughly picked her up. He set her on the hospital bed. With zero warning, he cut through her shawl, dress, and bra.
Air touched her blood soaked skin. His hand with a wet rag that had appeared out of nowhere pressed on her sternum then gently moved down. Then it moved again, and again over her chest, breasts, stomach- Blotting, pressing, touching-
Yumi felt her face inflame in embarrassment and confusion. Her head jerked up to meet his face. His gaze stared at his own hand, her chest, and skin.
She felt his hand stop. Every part of him paused before her. And Yumi too froze. The awkward position they were in held as both became aware just what had occurred.
He could see her chest. Her stomach. Her sternum. Her breasts. Her fat. Her Scars. He had felt them! Froze because of them.
Yumi felt her heart break. She wasn't pretty, nor able. The sight of her skin probably horrified him-
Ignorant of her crestfallen gaze, Gaara stayed frozen. His relief of her being uninjured, stormed into embarrassment, mortification, and fluster. He could feel heat rise to his face and steam his ears.
Yumi blinked. He was blushing. Even his ears were red! Before her eyes, his hand jerked back as if her skin burned him, he straightened, pivoted and, without a word walked. He left the office, saying nothing.
Confused Yumi blinked. Watching the vacated door, she half expected him to return. But he did not.
Air brushed her exposed skin, reminding her of her nudity.
Her own face flushed again. Hopping down off the bed, Yumi tried to close her torn clothing. It would not hold. Giving up, she just rotated the shawl so the back of it could cover her front. Covered, she eyed the little sand cages. Crossing the room, she leaned down to them. Uncertain, she tapped the sand. It fell at her touch. Hisa and Jinkun raised their pinchers in praise.
"Good job." She informed the two. Then she picked them both up and placed them carefully in her pocket. Her eyes then went to the blonde woman wary. Going to the furthest wall, she crept slowly past the still paralyzed woman. Once at the door, she too escaped.
In the hall, Sabaku had his back against the wall and his hand over his face. Carefully she observed him; he was only ten feet from her. Droplets of blood fell from his bent arm. His hair was still plastered with sweat. And on his pants and side were blood stains where those snake spikes had entered him. Slowly Yumi tip-toed forward, cautious. A jumble of emotions shuffled within her as she slowly closed the distance.
He had trapped her, and let that woman near.
He thought she was hurt, and had been horrified.
He had been afraid for her, and tried to treat her quickly.
He had seen her scars, and froze.
He had seen her bare flesh, and blushed?
Frowning, Yumi still didn't know what it was she was feeling, "I told you I was fine."
His head turned away from her, his ears slightly red. "You were covered in your own blood."
Annoyance flushed through Yumi and she crossed her arms. The shawl touched her bare chest. "I told you"
His head snapped back at her, his gaze equally frustrated. "Only Lady Tsunade heals without hand signs. I said I would protect you and you- you! You got yourself attacked!" His head turned away again, "What we were supposed to think? I thought you were hurt."
Yumi's heart fluttered as the emotional storm within her turned.
"I," she felt her cheeks flush again. "-thank you." Her own gaze looked away as her face felt hot, "and now you know."
She touched her own cheek to cool it. He now saw her scars there too- That thought plummeted the wishful feelings within her. It was Jun's clothing that made her attractive… No one could find a stitched and patched together person appealing.
"Sorry." He spoke to the wall.
Yumi's head bobbed accepting his apology. Her hand went about herself protectively, but it felt lacking compared to his embrace. Her gaze studied him. It was okay that she liked him and he didn't like her...
Rallying herself internally, Yumi gave her head the slightest of shake. She already knew someone like him would not be interested in someone like her. But still, in that genjutsu, he had protected her even though she couldn't die. And believing that she was hurt, he had rushed to treat her quickly. Believing in him, Yumi glanced up to his face, "Um, you still need healed."
Gaara frowned. He was going to have to get Fujimoto to help with Lady Tsunade, and then one of them would need to heal him. "I'll take you back to the house first."
"Are you sure?"
His head nodded, but didn't meet her gaze.
The memory of what he had done was still too fresh in his mind.
…
…
Yumi showered and changed, sat with her legs beside her on the couch. To keep the embarrassing memory at bay, she worked on embroidering the small cloth coin purse. This product had been Matsuri's idea, one Asami had begrudgingly stated it was a good idea.
For some reason though, even the little embroidery was looking as if it was both pining and embarrassed. With a huff, she continued on. Every finger had already been pricked once and she was well on her way to pricking them all a second time too. Distracting sewing was a dangerous activity.
The door finally clicked and Yumi jerked up towards it, stabbing herself yet again with the needle. Remembering earlier, she immediately turned back to her work torn. Still as the door opened and Gaara stepped through, she placed her sewing aside and rose to meet him.
"You are still up?"
"Are you good?" They spoke at the same time.
"Hn." He answered her with a nod. His now blood free arms moved without a hint of injury.
Yumi bobbed her head. If only she could heal more than just herself-
His eyes scanned her carefully. "Are you okay?"
Her head nodded naturally.
The two paused.
Thinking of before, Yumi felt her face flush. Immediately her hand went up to hide it and she turned to face the couch. "Ah- is- um, that woman okay?"
"Lady Tsunade is just fine. It would be best if the scorpions don't do that again though."
Yumi's head nodded, before her eyes slowly tracked over to him. "Is she going to come after me?"
He frowned. With confident steps he walked into the living room and stood before her sideways frame. "She understands we caused Jinkun and Hisa to think you were getting attacked. She's not mad. And I told you, I'll protect you. To come after you, she'll have to get through me and that's not possible."
Relief Yumi didn't realize she needed, flooded through her. She turned back to him, "Thank you."
His head nodded, before he inspected her carefully.
"Yumi," His voice held a tone that paused her heart and put butterflies into her stomach.
Slowly she met his solid gaze.
"When we were in the genjutsu, you moved in front of an attack meant for me."
Slowly Yumi nodded.
Gaara frowned with a complicated look, "you can't do that again. Promise me."
Yumi's own stare became complicated. He had said that before too. But why? She couldn't die. She didn't want him to die. So, it the most logical choice for her to do what she had done. In fact, she wanted to do it more, better next time.
"Yumi." His tone changed.
Yumi's head shook.
"Yumi."
"Don't ask me to do that." Her head turned away as her heart felt bothered.
His hand touched her face guiding it back towards him, so she had to look at him.
Yumi's lip pouted down. She could feel her scars of her wet drying skin reminding her that she was broken.
"Yumi, I care for you. I don't want to see you hurt for me. I can protect myself."
Stubborn, she still tried to look away refusing to agree to such illogical nonsense.
Suddenly he was embracing her. His arms wrapped securely about her shoulders, his space in hers. He hugged her, almost affectionately?
"I love you."
What- Yumi's mind paused.
"It is okay that you do not feel the same way about me. But don't risk your life for mine. You are too important to me."
Yumi flushed in Gaara's embrace.
"Sorry." His arms relaxed. "You do not have to feel anything for me. But I needed you to understand-"
"No- I don't-" Yumi saw his gaze reflect rejection. "I mean, no- I-" She struggled as the butterflies within her thundered. "I-too." She felt herself turn redder. "I… don't remember… but I…" Her face was intimately hot. "Likeyoutoo."
Again, she felt his hand on her face. His thumb gently caressed her.
It felt like his eyes were gazing into her soul, and then locked on her lips- Yumi's heart beat slowly in the spaces between the awaiting seconds. Swallowing lightly, her eyes lowered to his lips too. Was he going to-
Then suddenly he turned away. "You should get some sleep. It's been a long day."
Yumi eyed his back. Her mind still paused. With a dumbfounded nod, she picked up her stitching again. The needle pierced her hand but all Yumi could feel was the thump of her own heart.
"Yes- Goodnight."
"Good night Yumi." The look in his eyes… It made her wonder what would happen if she approached him.
But instead, Yumi cut around the couch to the door of her room. Her hand touch the handle before glancing back at him one more time, "Night"
...
Kankuro: Wait, repeat that?
Gaara: *refuses to repeat the statement* *remembers the incident* *desperately tries not to flush*
Kankuro: Dude.
Gaara: I thought she was hurt.
Gaara: *remembers Yumi's D-size breasts* *Turns head away, embarrassed and flustered*
Kankuro: Huh, must have gotten a good eye full then too-
Gaara: *glares* *Tries not to think of Yumi's D-size breasts*
Kankuro: *Raises hands up innocently*
Gaara: *murderously glares*
Kankuro: You need to apologize-
Gaara: Of course I did.
Kankuro: And she just accepted it?
Gaara: *nods head*
Kankuro: *eyes narrow skeptically* I'm very certain girls don't just accept something like that. Not that I've done that particular thing before. But typically they don't appreciate being stripped, groped, and peeped at-
Gaara: I THOUGHT SHE WAS HURT! *Sand attack*
Kankuro: !
Sand: *Drowns Kankuro mercilessly*
Kankuro: *dying* *yo brother* *dying*
Gaara: *Glowers*
Gaara: *Glares*
Gaara: *frowns*
Gaara: *finally frees his brother*
Kankuro: *coughs* *hacks* *gasps* Ah shit. *coughs* I just meant, girls don't normally forgive that easily.
Gaara: *glares annoyed*
Kankuro: I mean unless they like you-
Gaara: She did say she likes me.
Kankuro: !
Gaara: I told her that I love her.
Kankuro: !
Kankuro: *suffocates his younger brother in a too-enthusiastic hug*
Sand: *Attack!*
Kankuro: *WFT* *Holds breath* *But still, Go my love-dense little bro!*
Gaara: *Ignores the sand pool that is his bother*
Gaara: *Suddenly, yet again remembers Yumi half naked. His hand on her while she stared at him with those mesmerizing mix-matched eyes*
Gaara:*blushes flustered*
Kankuro: *Why is it trying to kill me harder!* *Ah!* *I'm your ONLY brother!*
Sand: *nom nom* ^-^
Anyone else going awwwwwwwwww. Or Yay Kuro & Kawa? Or Double Yay Hisa and Jinkun!? And Poor Tsunade & Kankuro!
I look forwarded to hearing your thoughts & seeing your reactions!