A/N-Here's the second in the series of one-shots that accompanies 'When Reality Becomes Blurred'. Enjoy!
Summary-After Gaara reveals to Mika just how he feels about her, a discussion with Shukaku puts everything into a different light.
Bold lettering indicates Shukaku. Italics indicate Gaara's thoughts…his responses to Shukaku
Disclaimer-I own Mika…and my OC's but not anyone else.
He pulled the soft duvet cover over her body up to her chin. Gently placing a kiss on her forehead he waited until her eyes closed before whispering "Good night…Mika." Once he was done he went over to her closet and, taking off his gourd, sat down and closed his eyes to mediate-his own form of sleeping.
The instant he did, however Shukaku spoke up. "Do you know how abysmally stupid what you just did was?" The Raccoon growled.
Gaara opened his eyes abruptly and thought angrily 'Shut up you stupid raccoon.' He had a feeling he wouldn't be getting any rest tonight…Shukaku sounded like he had a bone to pick with the insomniac.
"Well…stupid for someone who is supposed to be a genius or a prodigy…at the very least. And someone who is in line for Kazekage."
"I. Said. Shut. It." Snarled Gaara under his breath. Mika stirring in her sleep caught his attention and he held his breath as she murmured some unintelligible nonsense in her sleep before turning away from him and settling down again.
"I mean…what would happen…if…" "Ok demon, I'll play your game. If what."
"What if one of your enemies got a hold of her? You know who I'm talking about…one of those bastards who don't want you in Suna. If they knew how much she means to you…what would they do to her, to get you to listen to them?"
His breath froze in his throat. "You didn't think of that did you?" said Shukaku smugly. 'No…I didn't. I've been in this world…safe…for too long. I'd forgotten that those people were after me' Gaara drew one leg up and draped his arm over it…thinking.
"Gaara, thinking is not going to do anything for you. Thinking about an alternate solution that is…there is only one thing you have to do…and you know it."
Gaara nodded slowly as he listened to Shukaku. He bent his head down until his chin was touching his chest, red bangs covering his eyes. If Mika had chose that moment to woken up and looked over at her new boyfriend, she wouldn't have been able to see his eyes. For the first time since his bastard of an uncle had betrayed him, he allowed a tear to slide down his cheek. Furiously though, he wiped it away the second it got halfway down her cheek. A thought occurred to him even as he did this. 'Why…why are you doing this. Is it too much for you that I'm going to be happy with her?' He thought, anger growing.
The anger was thrown away at one very sharp remark from Shukaku. Even as he had been accusing the demon of this, he had sensed Shukaku's own tremendous fury rising. "Of course not." Snapped the demon. "I am a demon…right? I know my lifemate the second I see her. I…" the demon trailed off.
'Finish your sentence.' Thought Gaara warningly.
"I already love her as much, if not more, than you do. I think actually think the reason that you love her is because I do. I only want what's best for her. Believe it or not."
Gaara arched his…where his eyebrow would be. 'Really' he could sense Shukaku nodding at this. "Therefore, to secure her safety…the best thing…" 'Do you know how much doing this to her will hurt her?' He asked Shukaku, in a last ditch attempt to dissuade the raccoon from the plan…but no dice. The demon responded in a dry voice "Would you rather the alternative. I know…it doesn't appeal to you or me either, to hurt her like this…But I will not see her hurt. Ever." Finally Gaara gave up the fight. He knew that Shukaku spoke true…that no matter how hurt Mika would be at what he did to her he would never allow anyone to lay a hand on her to hurt her because of him.
He spent the rest of the night steeling himself for what he had to do, Shukaku mercifully silent as he did.
He stood as the sun peeked over the horizon. Slinging the gourd over his back he watched as Mika stirred, pushing the errant duvet cover off of her. She rolled over and looked at him, almost instinctively knowing where he was. Before she focused on him, however, he took all emotion off of his face and put even a bit of chilliness in his gaze. He forced his heart to harden as she said "Morning Gaa-Kun." His eyes narrowed slightly and he said, "Don't call me that." She smiled and got up and, walking over to him, reached for a kiss. It killed him to not respond to her actions.
"What's…going on? Last night…" he interrupted. "Meant nothing. It was a mistake. Don't talk about it anymore." His heart snapped in two. He could see the tears forming in her eyes as she turned her back on him. "I…see."
He had then, abruptly left the room. When he had come back after she was dressed she had reamed out, seemingly having regained her temper. What she said had hurt him to be sure…but nothing had hurt him so much as what she said to him-"If you're leading me on…you're no better than Uchiha." That stung and forced him to finally speak. "Shut. Up Yourusashi." He snarled, using her clan name to make her think that he didn't care. He continued by just confirming that what he had said to her was a mistake the night before.
He had his back turned on her, unable to stand the look on her face. Once he heard her leave he lowered his eyes so that the red fringe of his bangs covered his jade eyes. "Hey kid. You said that last night was a mistake…why didn't you just out and out say it. Why didn't you just tell her you didn't love her?"
"Because I can't…" he murmured, glad that she was gone. "I can't lie to her any more than I already have."
"You're a fool."
It wasn't until the about midday when he lost her. He couldn't sense her anymore-couldn't make sure that she was safe…panic almost over took him when Mika had spoken to him and had told him that she didn't need constant monitoring like some child. He was distressed at the fact that she misinterpreted his intentions but he wasn't about to correct her-doing so would involve going there and if her friends were there…he wouldn't be able to say anything to her.
Then…he sensed blood. Shukaku almost lost it, the demon was screaming to be released so Gaara transported himself immediately to the place where the blood had been sensed, finding himself in a small alcove, in a staircase. Recognizing the place as Mika's school, his attention was distracted when he heard the sounds of a fight above him…and Mika's voice. She sounded extremely ticked off.
"I said shut up. I never want to hear those words again. He can love-I know he can. I mean look, he loved his uncle before the betrayal."
'They're talking about me…' "I can tell." He shushed Shukaku as Mika said something else.
"I guess…my problem is…my problem is that HE DOESN'T LOVE ME!" she yelled. "That's…why I'm having problems fighting. I'm hurting." He heard metal and then heard her yelp in pain. A rage took over his body at the thought of her being hurt. That and…
'She thinks I don't…' "Gaara…don't even think about it." 'TO HELL WITH YOU YOU STUPID RACCOON' He stepped out of his little alcove and looked up at the scene. The ninja had Mika by the hair and was about to kill her. He narrowed his eyes and said in a voice that barely contained his rage "Get your filthy hands off of her…DESERT FUNERAL!" As the sand surrounded the enemy nin, he met Mika's eyes for a brief second before she hit her head and blacked out.
When she woke up, she healed her leg and spoke with her friend for a moment before coming down to see him. After she demanded why he came he avoided her eyes and informed her about the whole 'I sensed and I came' situation. She looked away from him-she had been staring intently at him this whole time, waiting for a reaction of some kind and not getting it. Finally she just whispered, "How much did you hear?"
Going against what Shukaku was yelling at him as well as every instinct he possessed, he took Mika's chin in his hand and turned her face so that he could see it. "Mika, I never said I didn't love you." When Mika wanted to know why he had done what he had done, he explained about his conversation with Shukaku and what the demon had persuaded him to do. As the stopped talking and Gaara held her close and asked her forgiveness, Gaara could've sworn he sensed Shukaku purring. Especially when Mika drew back and kissed him.
"Ok kid. From now on we go with your instincts. I like this much better."
'Shukaku shut up.'
For once, the demon was all too willing to oblige.
A/N-So yeah…that's why Gaara was an Asshole. Idiot. Everyone knows you don't listen to Demons. R&R
