Gaara solidified the last bit of sand. He had been working to compact the gourd where it no longer had cracks in it and sealed only the necessary amounts of sand. The new gourd was more portable and light. It had a reddish coloring as he used some sand from Kori's wound.
He had been delaying wrapping Kori in gauze. He felt not uncomfortable for himself, but for Kori. After all, he was The Kazekage, The formal One Tails Jenchuriki, and Gaara of The Sand Waterfall. She could be disgusted at the idea of him wrapping her. Disgusted like everyone else when he was there. Gaara could understand their hate for him. He usually didn't care, though he tried to make amends. The Oasis was humid. The water that made the jungle in the desert had murky and mineral-rich water. It was also known for the red color it was.
I wonder if the minerals would be helpful to the wounds. In a book, I read salt can help in the healing process.
Kori awoke to Gaara whispering, "I guess I am in debt to you now."
The ice ninja processed his words before opening her eyes. The surroundings were moist. She felt tired.
Kori sat up, dazed. Her vision was blurry. "Gaara, you are alright?" She turned to the Kazekage with concern. Gaara looked into her pitch-black eyes. He placed a hand behind her back. "Concern should lay with yourself. You lost a lot of blood."
Kori looked down at the water nipping at her feet. Good, water helps me heal faster. Kori turned once again to the Lord. "You are not hurt, right? No scratches, bruises, anything?"
Gaara had a hard time understanding why she was asking about his well being. "I am fine. How about you?"
Kori looked to her legs. Gaara gazed as Kori did. Feet, to calves, to her thighs, soon to her hips.
He realized how concentrated he inspected her legs other than wounds.
Kori stood up, unexpectedly. She limped to the very edge of the mineral water.
"What are you doing?"
She jumped.
Gaara stood in shock. He rushed to the edge. Air bubbles popped at the surface. A second felt longer than a million minutes.
She slowly emerged to the surface. Her black hair shined under the desert sun, drenched in oasis water. The calm water rippled with the disturbance. A pair of deep cobalt pools that faded black in the center emerged against paper white skin.
As soon as her rose petal lips reached the air, she spoke in a sing-song manner. "Ever better, never better, rise and fall. The grass is only green on your side of the brawl."
Gaara did not pay attention to the small chant. He was trying to distract himself.
Kori swam back to the edge. "Want to join?"
Gaara shook his head. Kori got out of the water. "Thank you for taking me to this place." She smiled. Water droplets graced the ground. Gaara equipped the new and improved gourd to his hip. Kori noticed the gourd and remembered her water pouch.
The water pouch Aoi made for Kori on her seventh birthday. Kori had promised her sister she would keep it always.
The sapphire eyed beauty frowned at the memory. Gaara noticed the shift. He wanted to ask what was wrong but was afraid of the answer. Kori looked down at her clothing. They were torn significantly. Gauze now hung loose, drenched in saltwater.
She collected the pieces of the situation together. A medical kit sat white among the grass. Kori bowed. "Lord Kazekage, you didn't have to wrap my wounds. I am sorry for being such an inconvenience."
Kori felt her mood cascading into despair.
The Young Lord did not know how to tell Kori how much he owed her. "Please, do not bow." He started. "It was no trouble. Bikkyri needed to rest. I get a small break from normal delegations."
Kori raised her head. "Really?"
Gaara nodded, managing a smile. She blinked. Reaching behind her back, she felt an abnormally warm spot.
Her fingers had light red.
Gaara looked at her inquisitively.
She didn't want to concern him. As she thought he had paid her more attention than due. "Um, can I get some privacy to bathe?"
Gaara's spine straightened. He could feel his head get hot. He turned around walking at an even pace. "Lord Kazekage?"
Gaara dared not turn. "Do you know where my bag is?"
Gaara felt his face. "I placed it next to the aid kit."
"Thank you."
Gaara reached the camp. He felt an odd feeling of relief. The tents were set up. Bikkyri had gotten a fire going. The loyal bodyguard sat poking the flame. Gaara sat on the plain sand.
Bikkyri saw the bashful expression. "Everything went well?"
Gaara buried his face in his hands, sitting in more of a fetal position.
"Lord?"
Gaara thought he might explode. He knew how he felt, but not exactly what he felt. The entire time he was around Kori, his pulse was rushed. His heartfelt like a tree being hollowed. It hurt, but something else replaced the hollowness when Kori smiled. "I don't know," Gaara responded. In half an effort, he recomposed himself. He sat crisscross leaning his weight on an arm. "At first, Kori inquired after my health. Then she apologized for being an inconvenience."
Bikkyri wanted to laugh."Really? At any point, did you bring up the offer for citizenship in Sunakegure?"
Gaara called upon some sand around him to morph. "The offer wouldn't have sounded natural in the conversation. Besides, we don't know if she belongs to another village."
"Why would you think she belongs to a village?"
"Her Kekkei Genkai is controlling water and what I saw back in the dune crater, ice release. Wouldn't she be from the mist?"
Bikkyri knew Gaara was right about the region she was from, but not where she belonged. "If I may, Lord."
"You may."
"Kakashi Hatake has lightning nature chakra. Naruto Uzumaki has wind nature chakra. If we went solely on nature, Naruto would be our citizen and Kakashi of the Hidden Cloud."
Gaara gazed at the endless sea of sand he called home. "I see. Do you think she was running from something?"
Bikkyri stopped poking the fire. "Sadly, I believe so. She speaks of a sister, and yet the sister is nowhere to be found. I think they split ways."
Gaara's stomach growled. Bikkyri jumped at how loud it was. "Are you hungry?"
"Define hunger," Gaara muttered, thinking back at Kori, stirring a pot of delicious food with a smile.
"Gaara, Bikkyri!" Kori's shout turned the two sand ninja's full attention toward the lush paradise.
Kori held a fruit in hand. "I found Papaya and multiple beehives. Coconuts should grow around here. The water is salty and it is hot."
The Kazekage inspected her wardrobe change.
A long white cloak splitting near her thighs, clinging to her figure with a purple rope, mesh net gloves, mesh net stockings, and brown colored boots.
Female ninjas usually dress a bit revealing for mobility. Gaara never cared. But, after her change from a modest fully covering cloak to mesh and split-skirt, her paper skin looked exposed. And it had shorts and entire coverage over the torso. Gaara put his hands over his face. What is wrong with me today? She is just another girl.
An able, caring, strong ninja girl.
Before Gaara knew it, he was convincing himself how able an ally Kori would make to Suna.
Kori was busy preparing the meal. Bikkyri had been tasked with finding fresh water. Gaara sat in the same position, in confused silence.
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Gaara laid down to sleep. Night had fallen over the desert. Sand crystals took on the pale blue light of the moon. The lord, once again, found it difficult to drift on into peaceful slumber. The Kazekage got up to walk a bit.
Going a small distance from camp, he spotted a light figure walking in the far distance. Gaara called upon the sand to lift him into the air.
No sooner than he had caught up, the figure disappeared. "Still awake?"
Gaara turned to see Kori, shining bright from the white reflective clothing. "You have a bed-time, remember?"
Gaara became wary of the siren. "Those who create game rules only to break them, are not playing the game."
Kori started running. Gaara commanded a wave to oppose her side. She raised her hands, and two blobs of water swirled around her, deflecting the monster wave. She continued to run. Gaara followed closely, evading left behind the ice. Kori made it to a place of even sand level. Gaara made walls surround her and make a prison. Little bars were open, with the roof spilling over excess sand. The ice ninja was trapped. Gaara got close enough to see her face.
"It hurts." She whimpered. "My back, the sand wall is pressing. It hurts. Please-"
The sand structure receded. Kori panted, untying the purple rope around her waist. She laid half-strewn.
The Kazekage wanted desperately to clarify the situation. "Why did you run?"
"I was going back to Itsuki. He had something of mine."
Kori sighed, putting a hand behind her back. Gaara started walking closer. He was still expecting her to rebuke him. Instead, she sat up. "Itsuki gave me a parting gift."
Kori's back was soaked with red. Fresh blood. "I am sorry." Gaara apologized, knowing what he had done to open the wound.
Kori knew, as Sombra Fragments had done some questionable choices, how much more difficult it was to handle missions without reverting to old methods. "No, I am sorry, I ran. I didn't give any context. It was your right to be suspicious."
The sand ninja sighed, hugging Kori. The ice ninja was surprised. She relaxed and embraced the red-haired ninja back. She wanted so badly to run her fingers through his red fluffy hair.
The Kazekage let go with slight embarrassment. "What were you getting?"
"My sister gave me a special water pouch. I promised her I would always keep it with me. And… I never go back on my promises."
Gaara stood and helped Kori up. His hands felt hot. He saw red in the pale moonlight. Kori was wincing in pain.
The Kazekage made a resolve. "You promise to come back?"
The ice ninja fidgeted with the rope. "What if I don't promise?"
Gaara realized how powerless he was in her life. He had no position held above her. Being the Kazekage meant nothing to a free spirit. She saved him twice. Nothing tied her down. Gaara realized she must not have anyone.
"Then you will be turning down the chance to become a Sunakegure citizen."
Instead of Kori running off, she stood ground. She held a relaxed and happy smile. "Then I promise on my grave. I will return."
Gaara took a step back. Kori planted a light kiss on the red-haired ninja's cheek.
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Gaara disassembled the tents by loosening the sand around them. Bikkyri clicked his tongue. "The time it takes to build something can always be calculated in turn tenfold less in its destruction."
The Kazekage laughed at the thought. His guard turned to the young master. "I hope you continue this behavior. It is quite becoming of you."
Gaara realized Bikkyri was speaking of how Kori affected him. He did not respond. The sand guard laughed in turn. "Where is Kori?"
The redhead looked at the split between sand and sky. "On her way."
Bikkyri shrugged. "She better be. Your brother wants to see you immediately. A hawk came with this scroll."
Gaara read the contents.
Dear Lord Kazekage,
I have received word from the representative of The Mint village, Lycra Naveen, you are not there. The inquiry after your disappearance has also lead to a search. Ten out of twelve of your bodyguards were found dead on the former land of demons. Please write back at once.
Your Loyal Brother,
Kankuro
After Gaara met Naruto Uzumaki, Kankuro and Gaara began to make amends. During the Great Ninja War, Kankuro had on all occasions made it a point his brother was safe. The Kazekage knew how scared he must have made Kankuro. This was the first time Gaara had convinced he hadn't need of his brother or sister's protection. So, instead of the siblings and two other bodyguards, Kankuro made Gaara go with twelve bodyguards.
Bikkyri waved towards the oasis. Kori had arrived. "Good morning BIkkyri, Lord Kazekage Gaara. Are we leaving now?"
Gaara did not speak back. He placed the small gourd to his side.
The three headed to their final destination.
A place where everyone could call-
Home
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