All I Ever Wanted Was Love
I'm Scared
Kisa's POV
To be honest, I don't know how to act around him.
Is that why I came out here?
Probably.
I guess I just don't to face him now… there's so much tension back there, but it's almost like he doesn't notice it at the slightest.
Sigh.
Really, there's no reason for me to be running away like this.
I really have missed him a lot.
All I want right now… all I want is… to be by his side…
Like the past three days.
He looked so peaceful when he was asleep.
I want to run my fingers through his hair again…
But when has he ever let me do that, especially when we were kids?
Never.
It's actually kind of embarrassing…
How I spent many hours during the past three days just sitting by the bed, staring at him.
I wonder how he would react if he knew that…
Still…
I'm glad we're together again.
Regular POV
Kisa shifted slightly in her spot up in the tree.
Being so high up gave her some sort of inner peace.
'Just like back then…' she reminisced as she remembered the times that she and Gaara sat on the rooftop of Kazekage's office.
It was almost as if she had some sort of connection with trees. She just simply liked being around the tallest of trees.
She lightly chuckled to herself as she remembered a friend that she had made back in the Hidden Leaf Village.
Perhaps one of the couple of friends she had left there.
Shino.
"You're being too loud again."
Kisa looked back at the usually silent boy who spoke so stately.
"I'm sorry," she apologized quietly.
"You're still too loud," he muttered as he walked past her.
Here they were, again, bug collecting- Shino's only (and possibly favorite) pastime. It was one of the few things in life that required complete silence.
Although bug collecting sounds easy and fun- it was definitely not easy doing it alone- which is why Shino required his best (though Shino would never admit it) friend, Kisa, to come along.
Secondly, silence was required because the 'better' insects came out only when they heard no danger approaching.
Her usual (and favorite) pastime when she was still living in the Hidden Sand was to laugh aloud with Gaara and seeing him smile. It had been such a great reward- better than having the many acquaintances she had obtained here in the Hidden Leaf.
Being quiet never suited Kisa… but Shino would never understand that.
Frankly, she thought she would ever be able to be quiet enough for Shino.
The bug boy gave a soft glare that Kisa couldn't see due to the sunglasses.
"Kisa…"
The little girl lifted her eyes that were full of self-disappointment.
"I'm not mad at you," he spoke gently, not turning look fully into her face, "and I'm not annoyed… if that's what you think."
His words trailed off into the silent void that stood between the two.
"… I know…" Kisa answered him softly, looking down.
His eyes softened. Something in the tone of her voice was pitiable, but her actions did not mimic her voice.
"Kisa," Shino spoke up again, breaking the peaceful silence enclosing them, "You're really strong- you know that?"
The brown haired kunoichi looked up blushing and surprised.
"Oh n-no," she stammered, "I-I'm not that s-strong, r-really."
Shino shook his head in disagreement.
"No, you really are amazing and strong," he politely explained, "You have such an incredible ability, but you're also able to keep a humble prospective of life. You're not… cocky… at all."
Kisa tilted her head to the side.
"Cocky?"
Shino smiled behind the large collar of his shirt.
"I mean, when I'm around you… I don't feel inferior at all- I don't feel less talented in any aspects… However…"
He took a step closer, his shaded eyes staring deep into her brown swirls.
"There is something else… something about you that is apparently scared…"
He paused for a moment.
"Scared… of being discovered… and of losing something…"
Kisa blinked and looked away.
"You are hiding something aren't you?"
The little girl seemed to be in deep thought for a moment, consumed by her own little world.
Then, she looked up and smiled.
"A loss is a loss, and what is hidden can always be found by somebody… but not all fears can be conquered."
"What you say is true. But you are not entirely correct. Fears will always remain unconquered unless someone takes up enough courage to destroy their own fears. And once they stand up to their fears, they will surely win."
The little girl looked terribly confused.
"Standing up is and has always been the hardest part- holding your ground is much easier than standing up."
Kisa stared at Shino in a certain sort of bemusement as he turned to go back to catching his bugs again. He really was too wise for his age.
"Thanks Shino…"
Kisa sat, leaning back on the bark of the tree, soaking in the last rays of sunlight.
It would be completely dark soon, and she had to get back to her cabin- Gaara might get upset.
'Oh yeah…' she remembered, 'Gaara…'
She had almost forgotten the reason she had come out here.
'I guess I can head back in a few moments…'
She wanted to stay out here on the tree that had given her strength on many occasions. She leaned even deeper back into the tree.
'It's actually really selfish of me… to want to hold onto something that doesn't belong to me…'
Though her fear of losing her cherished friend still loomed over her like an undying shadow, she felt a bit more courageous in some aspect.
Maybe… just maybe… she could stand up to her fears… and maybe they wouldn't come true.