Disclaimer
I do not own any rights to Naruto (story or characters). Just the characters I make up along the way! I have full love and respect for Masashi Kishimoto!
இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ—இڿڰۣ-ڰۣ
I loved the view from the top of the Kage building, especially first thing in the morning. High up above the bustling city I could sit against the railing and look out onto the village without being disturbed. The sun was just coming up over the horizon, kissing the edge of the cliffs surrounding the city, not yet heating up the air. A breeze was blowing in a storm from the north but for now, I still had clear skies and a cool breeze to soothe me. It was the one moment I could find peace in the chaos my life had become. I don't regret the decisions I made, but there are moments where I miss the quiet solitude of my caves.
It's been weeks and the wounds are healed but I can still feel them. There are moments where I wake up with the feeling of my blood covering my skin, burning my throat as I gag with my mouth opened in a silent scream. I haven't slept more than a few hours since. Kaiyo tries to help, but how do I begin to explain the feeling of utter failure. Before I would have never let someone sneak up on me like that. I was constantly aware of the world around me, even in my sleep. I had become so useless since I became a part of Suna since I let myself connect to other people. Being surrounded by those I love has made me soft, but I could never go back. Instead, I felt lost.
My maudlin thoughts were interrupted by a warm hand on my shoulder. Gaara's chakra soothed my torrent thoughts better than any drug. Sighing into his touch I let the tension in my shoulders ease. Joining me on the balcony Gaara sat next to me, his hand running down the frozen skin of my arm until he could circle my wrist. He looked as exhausted as I did, the dark circles under his eyes stark against his pale skin. The stress of the last few weeks was weighing on him as well. It didn't help that he was leaving for Konoha in a few hours.
"Don't go." I whispered letting my fears be voiced. Gaara didn't say anything but his grip on my wrist tightened. We both knew he had to go. The Kage were meeting about the Omoikane' s attack, a meeting the likes of which hadn't taken place in years. Kankuro was heading to Konoha with Gaara and two Jounin. I should be going with him. My body was betraying me at the one moment where I needed my strength the most.
When I woke after the attack in the hospital, Gaara was the first face I saw. He was pale and rumpled like he had been there for days, but he was unharmed and that was all that mattered. I tried sitting up reaching out to take his hand, but agonizing pain sent me falling back to the bed. My cry of pain was more of a whisper but enough to wake Gaara from his slumber. I could hear him calling for a nurse before a warm hand gripped my own. Kaiyo's chakra poured through me, her fingers pressing against my own as she soothed the ache away. Gasping I tried to speak, asking where I was and what happened, but pain stole my words.
"Don't speak." Her voice called through the pain fogging my head. It took maybe minutes for the pain to slowly fade but it felt like hours. When I could finally open my eyes again Kaiyo was staring down at me with barely held back tears. Reaching up I wiped away a stray tear that escaped trying to ask with my eyes what happened. Kaiyo went about checking me over, helping me to sit up, and explaining what happened after I blacked out. All the while I kept my fingers on the healing wound feeling the sharp sting of pain with each touch.
Whatever Omoikane did more than wounded me, it stopped my body's ability to heal. Kaiyo said that she barely made it to me in time to stop the bleeding and it took two transfusions before my body was able to produce enough blood to keep me alive. Shocked I stared up at her trying to ask with a look why I wasn't healing? She refused to meet my gaze, upset with herself for not having the answer. Reaching over I grabbed a kunai from her holster pressing the blade against my skin.
"Stop!" Kaiyo yelled grabbing for my hand but it was too late. I watched as blood pooled in my palm, the sharp pain of the blade slicing my skin startling enough that I dropped it. Staring in shock I watch as the blood dripped off the side of my hand my body not healing a wound for the first time in hundreds of years.
My healing may have returned now weeks later, but the pain still lingers. Even now, I can feel the rough pad of Gaara's fingers as they press against my wrist. The familiar touch was grounding when my world had turned upside-down. My thoughts suffocating me I turned to bury my face in Gaara's chest, letting out a sob I couldn't stop, escape. The scent of sage and sun-kissed earth enveloped me, pushing all my fears away.
Gaara's arms were hesitant but when they closed around me tight, I felt safe for the first time in weeks. I could feel his steady pulse and the warmth of his neck against my forehead, the gentle sand moving against my skin in almost a caress.
"I can't lose you," I whispered in confession. His arms tightened around me, pressing me tightly against his chest, the beating pulse of his heart picking up speed. Pulling back, I looked up trying to show Gaara everything that I was feeling without words. All I wanted was to tell him how much I loved him, how the thought of losing him threatened to shatter me. Jade-eyes met mine, dark with something I dared hope matched my own gaze. Before I could speak the words echoing in my heart Gaara leaned forward, his lips pressing against mine.
Electricity spread from where our lips connected ricocheting through my body until it hit the center of my chest and exploded. Whimpering I pressed against him, my eyes squeezed shut as tears of bliss-filled them. My nerves sang with just the press of our lips, his rough but full as they moved against my own. Digging my fingers into his jacket I pulled him as close as possible, my chest almost flush against his. Gaara's hand trailed up my spin sending shivers across my skin. Spreading his fingers against the base of my skull he angled my head to deepen the kiss and I was lost. The taste of him on my lips and the delicious lack of oxygen was making me dizzy, but I was never letting go.
Gaara was the first to pull back, the familiar feel of Kankuro's chakra coming from inside the building. Pressing his forehead against mine Gaara's dark eyes bore into mine. His hand cradled my head as he rubbed at the flush covering my cheeks. Licking my swollen lips, I tried to recover my breath.
"Gaara, it's time t-," Kankuro stuttered to a stop seeing the position we were in. I could see the gears turning in his head, but with a glare, Gaara sent a wave of sand knocking the man back inside. With a sigh I pressed against him one last time, absorbing his warmth in hopes it would last me until he was home.
"Three days," he spoke, voice rumbling against my cheek. Three days until he was home. I could handle three days. Nodding I pulled away from him pulling myself together to say goodbye. Sweeping me into his arms, warm lips captured mine again this time full of promise. Before I could fully settle into the sensation he was gone in a swirl of sand. With my eyes closed, I followed his chakra through the building, across the city, and as far into the desert as I could sense. Kaiyo found me there moments later, still sitting against the railing, a smile on my lips and sage scented sand covering my skin like a promise. Three days.