The village was alive.
They rarely had feasts and parties, but ever since peace came- the village had more time to enjoy being alive. Even the Kazekage did not keep to himself as much as he had before. He was very peculiar, as some villagers would say.
He'd sometimes be surprised over the simplest things, like a greeting from one of the villagers. He would also get flustered at the smallest of compliments. Yet, they had never loved and cared for a Kazekage as much as they did with Gaara. He was old enough to be a father now, yet he did not seem even the slightly interested to go on that path.
Villagers have flirted with him, practically thrown their daughters at him, and even go as far as offering the idea of marriage- yet he would see every action as kindness and would decline almost instantly, saying things like 'there is no need', 'she would fair with someone better' and 'I think it is her choice, and I am not the best- I assure you.' No one dared to argue, yet for all his strength and kindness, he was still clueless in most ways.
"Are you sure it is okay for Hinata to be walking around in her condition?" Temari placed her hands on her hips, her stern look making Naruto scratch his head, embarrassed. She glanced back at Hinata with a swollen belly as children flocked over to her now, wanting to feel the baby kick. They would giggle and gasp when they did. The little one was well on the way, and seemed like a strong one too, yet here Hinata was, getting dragged by her husband to another village.
"She insisted," Naruto explained now, throwing a nervous look at Kankuro who shrugged and shook his head slightly, indicating he did not know why Temari was making such a big fuss about it. "Besides, she is perfectly safe here and I won't ever leave her side."
Temari let out a soft whistle just as Hinata had joined them. Temari eyed her belly, pursing her lips. She was the one who looked nervous now.
"It looks…heavy," she lamely commented and for the goodness of her heart, Hinata had laughed at it.
"Not at all, would you like to feel his kick?" She had asked Temari then who smiled nervously before nodding and placing an awkward hand on Hinata's belly. She felt the baby kick and could not hide her wonderment.
"I remember I used to do this to my mom," she stated wistfully, a small smile on her face. "Gaara was kind of as mysterious as he is now. We didn't feel him kick at all, but felt him move. He was such a kind baby, mom said so. I was somehow the menace."
They all laughed as Kankuro placed a hand on Temari's shoulder, "You still kinda are, sis." She turned to glare at him when something had caught the attention of everyone around them. They turned to meet their guests. The girls had changed into colorful garments that made it easier for them to move around. Their faces were clean, their hair swept away and tied neatly.
Kankuro let out a breath, seeing Kei among them.
"Are those the guests you guys were talking about earlier?" Naruto inquired, looking at the lined up girls looking like they were about to break into a dance. Kankuro simply nodded before scurrying off towards Kei. Temari watched him go with a frown.
"So much for never gonna leave Gaara," she muttered before she turned to Naruto and Hinata with a smile.
"I hope one of them manages to woo Gaara," she said sarcastically but there was a hidden wish there. Naruto and her share an amused chuckle, their faces turned into teasing as Hinata felt a strange kind of worry for the Kazekage. Just looking at the two of them in front of her and she knew they were going to make sure of it. They were indeed scheming.
"Which one are you betting on?" Naruto asked, further convincing Hinata they were up to something. She sighed and turned to look at the girls, now talking to the villagers like they actually have been living here for years, except for one of them.
It was the girl at the back of the line. She was the only one who wore a plain color- white. Hinata observed the girl and noticed she kept her head down, and her eyes were wrapped in cloth. She heard Temari think and point out, when she glanced at where she was surprised to find her pointing at the very same girl she had been observing.
"Is she blind?" Naruto asked, his tone seemed to imply he was surprised at Temari's choice as well. Temari nods after a moment, like she was unsure of her answer. Hinata decided to use her byakugan and the gasp that escapes her lips goes unnoticed.
"What is it, Hinata?" Naruto whispered beside her, he stepped closer; seemingly covering his wife's spying ability. Temari smirked at it. They were a good pair alright.
"It's her…chakra…" she replied slowly, confusion dripping out with her voice. "It looks different- peculiar, I have never seen such…"
"Why? What's wrong with it?" Temari was asking now, wanting to know if that was what made Gaara curious. Hinata shook her head.
"It is not only flowing inside her, but also around her like a protective shield," she explains. "Like Gaara, but Gaara has sand to explain the chakra around him…she-"
"Doesn't," Temari finishes for her but before they could talk further about it the Kazekage had appeared, prompting a few of the girls from the village to squeal and talk excitedly like they were still not used to seeing him.
He had changed out of his Kazekage clothes, and donned on a simple long sleeve crimson shirt, with several buttons and same colored pants. He seemed tired as he walked over to where Naruto was. But Temari was distracted, she noticed Miyuki glance up ever so quickly towards where Gaara was now walking before she quickly glanced sideways, as if realizing her mistake. Could she see? Her doubts were momentarily forgotten as he approached and Naruto hugged him out of habit, making Gaara tense and awkward.
"Gaara!," he greets cheerily as Hinata bows to him with a smile.
"Lord Kazekage," she greets to which Gaara makes an uncomfortable face.
"Please, call me Gaara," he says to her. Hinata quickly covers her surprise with a kind smile and nodded.
"Naruto seems to have no problem doing so," Temari commented with a laugh just as Naruto smiled sheepishly.
"Kazekage," a man, who looked quite old and strong, approached them.
"Eiichi," Gaara acknowledges the man before turning to his friends, making a quick introduction. "He is the leader of the group of girls before you right now."
Naruto frowned, remembering Jiraiya and his stories about group of girls who stay in houses and offer something for money. Could this be one of those groups? He glanced at the girls and doubted it. They don't look like the type, he thought. But he never really got Jiraiya to explain further.
"They insisted on a performance," Gaara was saying now as Naruto's frown disappeared. "Let us go get seated for it, shall we?"
Naruto nodded, taking Hinata's hand in his a giving it a quick kiss. Gaara lead them to an open courtyard in the middle of the village. Lights were hanged everywhere. People were dancing, eating and drinking.
"For someone who keeps most to himself, Gaara," Naruto starts. "You sure know how to throw a party."
Gaara ignored his comment as they sat in futons spread around the courtyard. Carpets were placed everywhere, where people could sit without getting sand in their clothes. The girls positioned themselves in the middle, Eiichi standing at the far corner- pride on his expression.
Some girls sat on a splayed out sofa, carrying various instruments. Two girls held up two long cloths, covering the Kazekage's view before him, along with his friends. Kankuro sat next to Temari, waving at Kei who was standing at the left side. She smiled at him.
Then the music began.
The two girls let the cloth down to reveal Miyuki standing in the middle, her back to them. Her bare arms revealed tattoos over her bare skin. Her hair was loose, unlike the others and the ends of the blindfold dangled. One of her hands were pointed upwards, the other folded on to her back. The rest of the girls were in various positions in front of her, by pair as it seemed.
The music started with a soft tempo, hushing everyone around them to stop talking. Kei and her partner had been the first to move, swinging fans in their hands. The next were the pair closest to Miyuki, who held on to long pieces of cloth before their faces hardened, and they pulled the cloths on both hands to reveal chains. They whipped at Miyuki, who moved so quickly and so gracefully- everyone stifled a gasp as the song grew more quick. The chains flew in the air, passing over Miyuki's head and under her feet, she avoided them. They were just performing, but it did not stop their audience from growing tense.
Each pair moved as Miyuki advance. Each pair holding a different sort of obstacle for her. She danced gracefully, never missing a beat. Never getting hit. Temari had noticed Gaara staring. He had not moved since Miyuki had begun dancing. She smiled at the thought, but could not shake of the feeling of the doubts that manifested a while ago. She watched Miyuki now, realizing how close she was coming to Gaara.
Temari tensed, holding on to a Kunai she kept hidden in her skirts. The crowd was too focused. Everyone was. Was this a trap? She watched Gaara's sands around him, they seemed undisturbed. Yet, she held on to the kunai. Just as Miyuki passed the last pair, Kei and another who shot sharp shurikens at her which she deflected using the silver fans she had procured a while ago.
She held her breath, so did the rest of the villagers. Naruto had made a motion to stand, feeling a threat to Gaara as Miyuki gently twisted the fans in her hands as she leaned down, a step away from Gaara. She placed her hands at her back, the fans away- she bowed them. Igniting everyone to cheer and for Naruto to relax back.
Then there was a moment as Miyuki's head shot up. She heard it, and it was coming. A single kunai, straight for the person in front of her- her hands reaching out instinctively and landed on Gaara's chest as she pushed her weight towards him. Temari was on her feet, her Kunai out when another Kunai sliced through the air, slicing through Miyuki's blindfold.
Temari turns, as all the other guards come to life. The sand around them rises, reaching for the attacker and finding someone familiar.
Matsuri stood far away, Gaara's sands keeping her in place. She fights against it, her expression angry.
"I was aiming for her!" She shouts, nodding to Miyuki who was now on top of Gaara. Temari blushed at the sight before realizing Miyuki no longer had her blindfold on.
Gaara couldn't move.
Just one touch, and it was to protect him at that, was enough to surprise him. The sand that usually surrounded him like a secondary armor had quickly parted for her. He stiffened, and so did she as pieces of her blindfold fell on him. Her eyes remained close.
Matsuri was free now, muttering how she felt the Kazekage's life was threatened. Everyone stared, why had Gaara's sands not deflect the strange blind girl?
Slowly, Miyuki opened her eyes. She saw everything differently, because of her gift. She was not blind, in fact, the world she saw was almost blinding as colors flew around her- everywhere.
She squinted at the sudden brightness as Kei rushed over to pull her off the Kazekage. As she did so, Gaara met her eyes, and she mistakenly stared right back. Gaara frowned.
Miyuki blushed before Kei had covered Miyuki's eyes with the sleeve of her shirt.
"I am so sorry," Kei had started to apologize. Gaara took a moment before pushing himself up and shaking his head.
"She didn't know," he started then just as sands began to form around him. Kei stared, amazed by it all.
"His sands would protect him," Naruto had explained further before Gaara stood, stopping Kei's quick escape.
"Is she really blind?" He asked and Kei felt her heart plummet to the ground. One mistake. Temari was beside Gaara now, waiting for the answer as well. Eiichi was silent, watching as the other girls seemed to hold their breath.
"No, not completely…but she might as well be," Kei explained sadly before pulling Miyuki away from them before Eiichi jumped in to apologize.
But Gaara had his mind elsewhere. He placed a hand where Miyuki had touched him. How the sand had parted and not reacted to her.
And her eyes…