Chapter 20

"Can we go into town today?" We stayed in the room all day yesterday and the day before when we checked in, I'm starting to get antsy, "I want to look at the shop stands." The morning sun is filtering in through the windows leaving a rosy-orange hue. Its early enough that the sounds of songbirds drown out the hustle and bustle of the morning traffic. I can here the bubbling from the creak outside as well. The air smelled crisp and new.

Gaara was laying next to me; his arms wrapped around my back, pulling me flush against his chest. His eyes were closed but the small circles he was rubbing on my back let me know he was awake. He always seems to wake up before I do, although most people tend to. I shift up to kiss the tip of his nose, he looked so peaceful. Before I could pull away Gaara captured my lips with his own. I close my eyes and let his lips overtake mine. As quickly as the kiss started, it ended.

"We can go after breakfast." He sounded so sleepy when he said it; it was honestly the cutest thing I've ever seen him do. His eyes are still closed and he doesn't make a move to get up anytime soon. I wonder how much he gets to sleep in. He works so many long hours and he's up pretty early. Even on Saturdays he's up early and working, just at home instead of the office. His only real days off are on Sunday, that schedule has to wear him down eventually.

I should let him sleep; I can get breakfast for him. I move to get out of bed but Gaara pulls me back into him. His eyes open for the first time this morning, "Where are you going?" He's curious and worried, more curious than worried. Hmmm, he's probably going to make a stink about me going alone but maybe I can convince him its fine. Probably not but maybe.

"I was going to get breakfast for us." Immediately he sits up, "Let me get dressed and we can go." I push him back down on the bed and he looks up at me with a confused look on his face. "No, I want you to sleep in." I try to get off the bed again, "I can get it myself." At that, Gaara immediately pulled me back to his side and sits up again, "If you want me to sleep then I'll sleep and we'll get food later. You're not going by yourself."

He pulls me into his chest and lays us both back down. His eyes are closed again, and he goes back to rubbing circles on my back. Let's try this again. "Gaara," He cut me off before I could even say anything, "No Aiko." Ugh Gaara! I push him on his back so I can straddle him. His eyes are open again and he has an amused look on his face. I smile down at him before leaning in to whisper in his ear, "Gaara, I'll be fine."

"Of course you'll be fine, because you're not going alone." I kiss his neck and he lets out a sigh. His hands move to my hips and pushes them down so I'm grinding against his crotch. Feeling encouraged I kiss and suck on his neck before whispering in his ear again, "I'll be fine. I'll only be gone ten minutes and I'll be right down the hall." I only got a hum in response before Gaara bucks his hips into me. Oh man does that feel good.

This lasts for a while, me kissing him and Gaara grinding against me. I almost forgot that I was asking to get breakfast by myself; almost. I whisper in a sing song voice, "Gaara," kiss, "I'm going to go get breakfast." I sit up and see him thinking about what to say and do next, racking his brain over if he'll let me go or not. After a moment he closes his eyes and sighs, "Fine." Yes!

I kiss him again, "I'll be right back. You sleep." Gaara flips me onto my back and grinds against me again; I shudder at the contact. I whine when his breath hits my neck, "I'm awake now." My breath catches in my throat when he bucks hard against me. "Gaara…" I barely get his name out when he attacks my lips with his own. His hand snakes up to my breast and begins fondling it, pinching and pulling at my nipple to get a reaction out of me. Oh does it all feel so good.

"Yes, we need it delivered to room 104." There, all done ordering breakfast. Didn't even take five minutes, Gaara was worried for nothing. I'm walking back to the room when I feel it again, that angry menacing aura. It's closer this time, right outside the hotel lobby. Again it chills me to my core and the fact that its so close freaks me out completely. Why is it so close now? When I feel the malice come closer it scares me even more. I rush back to the room.

Before I can open the door, Gaara steps out. I was going so fast that I couldn't stop in time and crashed into him. Immediately he pulls me back into the room, "What happened?" The only emotion he's emitting right now is fear. He looks my entire body over; I'm assuming searching for any injuries. After a thorough examination he seems satisfied so he then looks expectantly at me, waiting for my answer.

"U-uh" Again as quickly as the malicious emotions came, they disappeared. The only person around me now is Gaara. Why does it keep disappearing? I've never had this happen before. Feel the person walk or run away, sure, but never just outright disappear. Am I going crazy? I feel kind of silly being freaked if this is all in my head; I've just scared myself out over nothing. And now I have a freaked out Gaara to deal with. I can't tell him the person was following me. he'd never let me be alone again, here or in Suna.

I sigh, "Nothing. Everything's fine." He had a look on his face that said he didn't believe a word I was saying. Fair. "Really, I'm fine. That angry person from yesterday is just still angry." With an incredulous look on his face he asked, "And that scared you enough to cause you to run back to the room?" I nod my head, "I scare easily." I mean what else can I say? I'm going crazy? I'm scared of ghosts? My powers are getting faulty? Definitely not that someone was following me.

Gaara crosses his arms and assesses me a second time, "You won't be going out alone again." The tone of his voice let me know that his word was final and he wouldn't back down. Great. I sigh and hug him, "I figured you'd say that." I lay my head on his chest and look up at him, "Breakfast will be here in ten minutes." I can see the gears in his head whirl as he contemplates our entire conversation, "Are you sure there's nothing else?" He feels so worried, it makes me feel bad. I didn't mean to scare him.

I nod my head, take his hand, and pull him back towards the bed, "I thought you were sleeping." I want Gaara to relax on this vacation, not worry about me. "You work so hard," he sits on the edge of the bed and I sit on his lap, "you should relax." I kiss his cheek then lay my head on his shoulder. He gives me a peck on my forehead then rests his chin on my head. One of his hands is on my back, the other resting on my thigh, his thumb rubbing circles on me. "I am relaxed." I don't know if I believe that at all.

Everything in town was so amazing. So many different restaurants and stalls. I kind of feel bad for Gaara, I'm just dragging him along with me. He doesn't seem bothered by it, I mean his emotions aren't taking a turn for the worst because of it, but still. He said I could get whatever I want and he'd buy it for me, but I feel guilty about that too. I'm fine with just window shopping.

We're at a jewelry stand now and I'm looking at the rings. I never got an engagement ring from Gaara, but I also didn't get a normal engagement. Everything happened so fast and I doubt he had time to get me one. I wonder what type of ring he'd get me if we had a more normal engagement. He seems like someone that'd go for practicality and durability. Or maybe he'd get something dainty, he seems to think I am. He could pick a ring to match that.

"I can get you a ring if you'd like." I jump a little when I realize Gaara is behind me, he's way too quiet. I look back at the rings. The offer is tempting but I don't know, it feels like I'm asking for too much. But I am pretty curious about what he'd pick out; not enough, though, to ask for him to buy one for me. Looking at all the prices there really aren't any cheap enough that I'd be comfortable asking for. Before I could tell him no the shop owner came over, probably sensing a sale.

"Is there anything I can show you?" And now, before I could tell the shop owner no, Gaara piped in, "We're looking for a ring for my wife." My face heats up. That's the first time I heard him call me his wife. I shuffle closer to him and take his hand. They continue to have a conversation without my input. Engagement ring or wedding ring? What's the budget? What type of wear and tear I'll put on the ring? I had gotten so used to them talking without me that I was caught completely off guard when they finally asked for my input.

"What style of ring are you looking for?" they were both staring at me, waiting for me to answer but I don't know how to answer them. "Oh um, I'm fine with anything." I don't think that was the right answer because they are still staring at me expectantly. What should I say to them? I really don't want any part of this decision on me, and I'm still curious about what Gaara would buy for me. I turn towards him, "I want you to pick a ring for me."

Gaara looks me over, "Are you sure?" I quickly nod my head. I do want him to pick one out for me. I want to know what he'd pick and what type of person he thinks I am. Gaara looks over the rings slowly and carefully, contemplating each one. He's taking so much care in it, in something for me. I can't help but feel incredibly special. Would he treat any of his wives this way or am I just special to him?

After a lot of thought, Gaara found a ring he liked. It was dainty and I definitely feel like it's a reflection of how he sees me. The ring was beautiful and set in silver. There were three stones on the ring: a larger light blue center stone with smaller diamonds on either side. There was filigree on the band and it was patterned in the shape of flowers. It was honestly the ring that first attracted me to the case. Did Gaara see me looking at that ring in particular or does he just know me more than I originally thought he did?

He put the ring on my finger as soon as we left the shop, "Do you like it?" He kisses my fingers and my stomach flutters. He's looking at me so intently that I might melt where I stand. I smile brightly at him, "I love it." He looked relieved. He must have thought really hard on what to get me, which means he didn't notice me looking at this particular ring, which means he might just know me better than I originally thought he did. How did he learn so much about me when I feel like I barely know him?

Suddenly, there's a loud crash and shouting from behind us. A large crowd of people came running, screaming and yelling the entire time. "Fire!" "Bandits!" "Run! Run!" What's going on? Before we could figure out what was happening the crowd ran past us, separating us along the way. I move back to keep from getting trampled, but this only separates Gaara and I more. Everyone's emotions are going wild and I can't sense who is who. I've lost Gaara completely and its terrifying.

I have to calm down. I may sense everyone, but Gaara can only sense me. That must mean I'm a beacon for him, right? He has to be able to find me. I just need to wait or get to a less crowded area so he can get to me easier. Think fast, where would be the best way to go? Probably away from where everyone is running from. I look around and spot a break in the crowd near an alleyway. Perfect, I can get away from the crowd and hide at the same time.

Everyone is rushing about and I can't see through the crowd. I keep searching for a head of spiky red hair but no one like that is coming this way. There's still too many frantic emotions about for me to get a lock on Gaara. That's when I see them, men riding horses dressed in all black. They're raiding stores and setting buildings on fire. I back further into the alley to keep from getting spotted. Gaara where are you?

I notice it too late, that ball of malicious emotions from before. I was too focused on what was happening in the street to notice the person creeping up to me. Now they're standing behind me full of anger and hate. They pull me towards them and their hand covers my mouth to keep me from crying out. I can feel a kunai poking me in my back, threatening to stab me through.

"I've been looking for you." My blood runs cold and the color drains from my face once I hear his voice. I know that voice all too well. Kaito. My heart begins to beat out of my chest and I try to think of a way to get away. I know its useless though, he'll never let me go now that he has me. What should I do? What should I do?! I can't help the tears that fall down my face when I realize how much trouble I'm actually in. "We're going to go on a little trip, that sound good to you?" I could only nod my head, even if he wasn't covering my mouth I wouldn't be able to form any words due to the fear. Gaara I need you.