Chapter 4: Shiya's Story

"It was about 9 years ago. I was a little younger than you are now." She said, getting ready to go into flashback mode.

"You're older that I first thought, then." I said, not meaning to be mean, but it came out that way.

"Shhh! I'm about to go into flashback story telling." She said, now really wanting to share her story. "As I said it was about 9 years ago, her name was Kita…"

I remember the autumn leaves falling; I loved the sight of those dying leaves even more than the sight of cherry blossoms. That was when I met her; she turned my world upside down.

She had long raven black hair and pale skin. Which was a contrast to my mid shoulder length golden blonde hair and tan skin. But when I saw her that September evening, I knew she was beautiful. Not just outwardly beautiful but a beautiful personality. The leaves just made her beauty even more hypnotizing. I paused, seeing her walking towards me.

"Hey, are you new around here?" I said loudly, walking up to her. I was a big tomboy back then. I even hid my hair in a short ponytail. She looked at me curiously before answering.

"Yes, I'm new. Do you know where I can go to see Kazekage-sama?" She asked, her voice soft and musical. I nodded roughly and made sure my mouth wasn't agape. She was just so beautiful…

"Um, yeah, I know where you can go to see him. I could take you there, that is, if you wanted me to." I said, my voice growing quiet. I was feeling myself losing my masculine front and melting in front of her. She smiled and I felt as if my heart would explode.

"If it's not too much trouble." She said politely, extending her hand for me to shake. "My name's Kita, by the way." She said as I shook her hand. I could feel myself blush at her touch.

"Uh, it's no trouble at all." I said, taking my hand back. "I'm Shiya." I said, trying to stop my heart from beating so fast. It felt as if it would burst. No one had made me feel like this before, man or woman.

"Then let's go, I was supposed to be here this morning." She said, laughing a bit. "I got held up, I hope he understands."

"I'm sure he won't mind it too much. May I ask why you're here in the first place?" I said, feeling too girly for it to be comfortable. I started walking towards the Kazekage's place with her following behind.

"Well, I'm a replacement ninja for one of the ninja teams. I was told their third member died in a horrid accident." She said sadly. And that was when I knew it was fate. I felt myself sadden at the mention of my former teammate. I almost cried, but men don't cry and I decided I couldn't cry, either. It had been three months since he died. He experienced a horrid yet mysterious death. All we saw before we found his decapitated body was men in red and black coats rushing past us. When we turned to look at him he was already dead. Rihu and I both cried that day, and he continued to cry for several days after that. That was when I became even more of a man, but all that was seeming to fade around this new girl. I was almost ready to tell her all about it but I knew that the Kazekage probably wanted to tell her himself. So I just walked in silence, hearing her stepping on the fallen leaves behind me. Feeling awkward I turned around to walk backwards, so I could look at her.

"So, you just got here right? Why don't I take you to get something to eat first? You're probably hungry, aren't you?" I said smiling, trying to get my mind off my fallen comrade.

"Well, I think I should see Kazekage-sama first, but after that I'd be glad to get something to eat." She said, and I heard her stomach growl. I laughed as I continued to look at her and walk backwards towards the Kazekage's office building.

"Okay then, I'll hurry up and get you to the Kazekage and then we can go and eat something, alright?" I said, feeling myself smiling openly for the first time since he had died. But just as Kita was about to say something I felt myself run into someone. I turned to see my teammate, Rihu.

"Hey Rihu." I said, feeling my smile fade at the sight of his saddened face.

"You seem to be feeling better, Shiya." He said, trying to hide his sadness with a fake smile. He looked behind me to see Kita. "Who's she?" He said, his fake smile fading away into sadness again.

"Oh, this is Kita, Kita this is my teammate, Rihu." I said, turning so I could see the both of them. I expected to see Kita extend her hand to him like she did for me but instead she just bowed lightly to him.

"A pleasure meeting you." She said, almost coldly compared to how she had greeted me. Maybe I was just imagining it.

"Well, I'm in the middle of something, I'll see you later, Shiya. Nice meeting you, Kita." He said before leaving.

"Well then, let's go." I said, leading the way, we were almost there. She followed behind me and we walked in silence. Soon enough we were there.

Let's just skip it all, and I'll give you the shorter version. I was in love with her, she changed me, and for the longest time I thought she was in love with me, too. But when we were all 19 Rihu announced their engagement, and Kita asked me to be her bridesmaid. I had to refuse though, and soon enough we grew apart. I haven't spoken to either of them since then. But even now when I think of her my heart skips a beat at what never was.

"And that's my story, Gaara-sama." Shiya said to me and I just kind of blankly looked at her. That ending had thrown me for a total loop.

"How could she do that?" I said, now angry, for who knows what reason.

"How could who do what?" Shiya said, confused.

"How could Kita run off with that man when you loved her so much? How could she lead you on like that? That's horrible!" I said, now becoming concerned for Shiya, I hadn't liked her before now but after hearing that I felt we shared some kind of bond. Weirdest of all I felt is was a rather womanly bond. Like we were longtime girlfriends or something.

"It's okay Gaara-sama, I've gotten over it…" She said, faking a smile.

"No, it's not okay. What did you say her name was? Kita… I need a last name. She probably still lives in this village or one of the surrounding ones. I think I might need to have a meeting with her…" I started, planning on having her and that man of hers sent to live out in the surrounding desert, not allowed to come back here for any reason whatsoever. But I stopped when I saw the tears in Shiya's eyes.

"Please Gaara-sama, it's okay. I'm totally…" She paused to sniffle, "over her." She was now crying silent tears, wiping them off with the back of her hand. I almost wanted to go to her and comfort her but I didn't. I instead handed her a handkerchief, so she wouldn't dirty her nice suit with tear stains.

"Whatever you wish, Shiya. If you want to you can take the rest of today off and go see her." I said, almost reading her thoughts. Of course I knew what she really wanted, what she was thinking, because we were both in forbidden love. Hearing her story made me realize it. I'm in love with Lee. How far my love for him went was something I'd have to figure out myself.

"Thank you Gaara-sama. I really mean it, thank you." She said, wiping off the last of her tears. As she left I gave her a genuine smile. She gave me one in return and I watched her from the window in my office as she made her way to her love's home.

I notified a different woman to take her place at the front desk, and that I didn't need any help for the rest of the day. That'd I bring up the paper work for the next couple days myself. The girl nodded and I smiled at her as I went back to my office.

I drank the rest of my coffee, now cold, but still pretty good. And as I finished up the paperwork for tomorrow and the next day I smiled. Finishing this work meant I'd have more time to prepare myself for Lee. I picked up the heavy pile of paperwork and made my way up the front desk, which wasn't the same since Shiya wasn't there.

"Thank you." The woman I posted there said. The place was empty, since it was nearing 10 PM. I heard the woman yawn loudly and turned to face her.

"Miss, once you finish putting away that paperwork you may leave. I'll add something to your paycheck for helping me out." Her face brightened and she smiled, thanking me at least three times. "No, miss, I must thank you. Please feel free to leave the place as it is once you finish putting away the paper work. I'll lock up." She thanked me again and I left her, feeling very unlike myself.

I was never really nice to my employees like that before, and it felt kind of nice, to see her face brighten like that. As I entered my office and shut the door I felt myself yawn, which was also very un-Gaara like. Feeling like a completely different person, I decided to put on the pajamas I never used, since I never really slept. They were a lighter shade of crimson than my room, almost the same color as my hair. Before I put them on I took a quick shower, washing my hair and cleaning myself of any dirt that might have somehow gotten onto me. I got out of the shower and dried myself, putting on a clean pair of black boxers. I looked at myself, looking a sickly pale, but not as sickly as before. I guess my personality wasn't the only thing changing. My hair also seemed a bit longer than before, the back and parts of the side now lightly touching my shoulders. I felt weird, like I was…tired? I felt my limbs grow heavy and my eyes start to close. And without putting on my pajamas or locking up the place I crawled into bed, covering myself in the warm crimson sheets. And I let the unknown feeling of sleep take me over.