Kaoru wake up with another headache. She felt the sweat on her forehead, it was starting to bother her. At least this will be the last day that dream will bother her, or so she hoped.
The door opened, footsteps closed the gap and the cold hand touching her forehead was refreshing. She turned to met Temari tired gaze.
"Another nightmare?" She asked softly, trying to cover the somnolent tone.
"I'm sorry, did I wake him up?" Kaoru turned, ready to leave her bed. She stretched to fully wake up and walked to the old wardrobe searching her clothes.
"No, but Gaara said to check on you. He just left a bowl for us" Temari replied sitting on her bed while Kaoru went to the side bathroom to clean herself quickly with a towel.
"He could not sleep again?" Kaoru asked as she took off her clothes off and the cold water created goosebumps.
"That's not it. He just got up early, he already took the little rascal with him so don't worry" Temari voice was strong enough, she didn't closed the door knowing it was unnecessary. She smiled relieved and wiped out the remaining water from her body.
"Ok, thanks... I'll be down in a minute" She said putting a fishnet chest cover and her scarlet shirt with a low neckline.
"Yeah, be quick before Kankuro wake and stole your food." Kaoru heard Temari said and when she put her shorts she realized she left her skirt aside. Leaving the bathroom to look for it she heard Temari laugh at her.
"Ugh, just go already" Kaoru said embarrassed, yet Temari laugh persisted all the way to the stairs. Echoing in the silent room, finishing clothing she put her old wristband first. Then, went to the other bureau retrieving her weapon case, attaching it to the golden waistband around her hips, besides her Konoha band. Then she adjusted the weights on her legs , putting her sandals she went down feeling fresh.
Temari was on the table already picking from her bowl, Kaoru took a sit in front of her and munched the contents. Smiling when she tasted the sweet traces of apple juice in the bottom. Kankuro yawn loudly and took the last bowl scoffing.
"Apples... I hate apples."
"Don't eat then, not my problem" Temari said smiling, Kaoru was savouring her portion, Kankuro inspected her bowl and pouted.
"Not fair... she gets flakes, mine is JUST apples" He reluctantly munched them and scowled to her.
"You're such a baby... jealous he LIKES us more than you?" Temari mocked him with a huge malicious grin, Kaoru silently enjoyed this morning routine.
"That's not true! I think you set me up" Kankuro pointed out angry, Kaoru finished up and took her plate to wash while they continued fighting each other. Oh, I forgot. Did he took his lunch? She walked to the fridge and smiled. The bento was gone. Thank you Gaara...
"Don't be a PIG!" Suddenly Temari shouted and Kankuro grunted in pain, turning to see him caressing the bump in his head.
"I just said..."
"Don't make me hit you again" Temari vein almost pooped out.
"What is going on?" Kaoru asked unsure of what lead Temari to punish his brother this time.
"Nothing... come on we have work to do." She paused and threatened Kankuro "YOU... will clean this floor BEFORE you go or else" Kankuro just nodded but I waved at him feeling pity for the scared face he had.
Gaara finally had some free time to spend out of his office. Walking leisurely as he passed his people, some politely nodding and others waving at him. The mood had improved over time and he was glad they were actually motivated in their work. His feet brought the Kazekage in direction of the botanical garden base, while he passed the murmurs began to increase, it had been a recurrent event that didn't took his attention until he hear some whispers.
"...so nice to be around her! She is very patient and caring"
"do you think she will say yes?"
"Man, she is so out of your league"
"It's just that she is very beautiful..."
"Those legs and that chest... man I want to jump..."
The man mouth was covered in sand, their friends frozen like marble once they turned and found their Kazekage behind them. Gaara didn't appreciated anyone being disrespectful to someone he know, especially Naruto's teammate. He just had to remind them to keep their thoughts to themselves, and send them to patrol. Once they were gone he opened the crystal door, they were another 4 people there in uniform but one highly contrasted their surroundings.
The previous comments came forward to his mind, stared he tried to critically recall physical differences. The Konoha kunoichi had grown a bit taller, not much to reach him, maybe similar to Temari. Her hair growth longer, reaching her hips when she was relaxed but when she worked tied two long strands with one golden piece of metal. The girlish face was replaced with an air of soft elegance, her almond skin a bit more tanned almost like leather. Still the sun had not tarnished her natural color, maybe what contrasted his past image and the actual person was... the obvious notion she was a woman. Curves that could not be hidden, hard to ignore now. Temari is a woman too. Gaara reflected, while looking them work along the table, Kaoru retrieving seeds, soil, bottles, and everything she encountered around.
They were so focused listening to the raven haired kunoichi neither had noticed his presence yet. Curious he approached silently, her voice had an edge of excitement and wonder as she explained "It's important to not mix more than 5" She took 5 seeds and put them in a tiny stone bowl "Then mix just a half of the emulsion we have prepared and grind slowly" With expert hands demonstrating the movements and the force it had to be done "We have to achieve a texture similar to the red bowl I have here, if not add just a spoon of emulsion, it will be enough" Kaoru passed the stone bowl to the young man at her side and he continued working on it. She took the finished bowl and the bag of herbs and water. "Here I need perfect focus, Ari and Tsume your work starts here. Once we mix the herbs with our formula..."
"Ka-Kaoru-sama I was wondering..." Another man at her left asked while taking a glance at the water on the table "We have not fully mastered our Futon jutsu, I'm not sure how can we freeze..." He was punched by another girl with grown short hair "Talk for yourself, I can do it... don't mind him Kaoru-sama"
She smiled softly leaving the tools aside "It's a team practice for you, but if you don't feel like it. Maybe I can ask someone else help, but If you need more practice I'm sure that I can ask Horoki-san for help. Would you prefer that?" Gaara lifted an eyebrow, he had heard rumors before but watching one of them being true was strange. Not that it was bad, but usually rumors tended to be overly dramatic.
The personal smiled and bowed, truly grateful and the atmosphere was so calm, it felt safe. He contemplated then if maybe this was the reason Temari had not received a similar attention. His sister wasn't exactly nice to anyone she did not like, she was strange at times but he did not felt the same safe aura around her. It was like you could told anything to Kaoru and be sure she won't take any advantage. Why? He thought. Maybe he will never know for sure.
Finally her green eyes meet him in surprise, soon she grinned and excused herself from them after leaving few commands to work on. He pretended not to care when the little group started whispering and focused his attention on the little kunoichi in front of him.
"I'm so happy to see you. Thank you so much, I thought for a second he left without his lunch again..." She took out the pair of gloves and kept them aside in her pocket.
Gaara nodded, not comfortable to talk with people around. Besides he was just taking a break, there was no reason to cut short a nice stroll. The raven tilted her head and a second later of watching him she pulled slightly his red sleeve and walked to the door saying "Hope you are hungry, I have a whim for adventure!" She was almost out when she turned, like remembering something "Oh, please once you finish leave everything in place. Don't over work yourselves" Their agreement was all she needed and Gaara followed knowing where her feet will lead them.
Gaara left his fork in the empty plate, glancing at her female companion who was munching a piece of sweet red buns. The little establishment, private and amiable to pass the time enjoying the light sun and the breeze, the heat didn't felt as bad. "I like this buns, sure you don't want one?" He denied politely, she sighed but grinned softly. No, he won't say he prefered the strange sweet she prepared that Temari was obsessed and Kankuro could not reply or stole.
"Gaara... do you think he will... you know... have luck?" Kaoru asked, a little frown of worry in her face. He was expecting her nerves to emerge since last week, not today.
"I do. It will be his first, he is stubborn enough" Gaara waited for her reaction, her features relaxed and sighed in relief.
"Thank you... you're more reliable than Kankuro insight."
"Technically, this is our first official ceremony." Gaara reminded her, taking some money and leaving it near his plate.
"I know, but... I'm still nervous. Hika said I could do it, but... I don't want to scare him. Or fright everybody, or made someone explode, what if he decides to.." Gaara had to stop her rambling, the easy and fast way he discovered months ago was to simply touch her wrist with his fingers. It always worked, she jumped and blinked, then blushed and bowed. It almost made him grin, her reactions more open and natural. Curiosity to know how much could she resist until she finally fight back.
"Someday you will get tired of me. I swear... how embarrassing" Kaoru still blushing, eating the last portion of bun and glancing outside in the sky. He noticed the sunset, time was almost up, he had to go back to his office, retrieve his attire, then go to the underground. His companion had put money as well in the table and stood up.
"Guess I see you later." She bowed and both went out in separate ways.
Usually he did not mind the sound in his home, it was a welcomed change from silence. This was one of those times Gaara wondered why did his siblings had to be so loud. Often their bickering did not bothered him but it was one of those moments when he just failed to understand what was the big issue.
Temari had her usual scowl, Kankuro was looking at him with incredulity, or so he thought. Both had a blush on their faces and were trying to explain at the same time, of course he did not get anything from such nonsense. His sister was the one who shut up Kankuro and asked again.
"Ok, maybe we just misheard you… so Gaara, ask again"
He sighed and said "I… don't want to repeat myself" Gaara was feeling like he might be stepping on something very dangerous. Not that it would stop Temari temper, he faced her fierce eyes.
"Don't even think about it… if I heard you right, this will be a huge headache" His brother said, glancing at Temari with caution, she was the most perturbed of both.
"Gaara, just tell me… what exactly do you think when Kaoru is around?" She asked with a gentler tone.
"She attracts attention, I had to shut men who were disrespectful, maybe I have to ask for Hikaru help on that matter" That was an idea he had for weeks, it was a bit exhausting to act like a bodyguard, but nonetheless he did it for her sake.
"Not that! I mean, why did you have to ask about women?" Temari said with a slight blush, Kankuro had an expectant face, he was just not sure why the topic was so strange for them.
"I… try to understand what is different on her. Besides the physical traits a woman has, I don't get why… she's unique"
Well, it was the best way he could put his musings. Obviously it was not enough for Temari, she made him sit on his bed, Kankuro and her clearly had more to say.
"And I thought you just were blind … my brother is growing" Kankuro grinned strangely, Temari hit his face angry.
"Don't dare to taint him!" His sister turned to him and was biting her lip, that was new.
"Ok, we will make it simple for you. What do you felt different with Matsuri and Kaoru?"
Gaara though long and hard, placing his words on sensations he had, preparing his impression for them.
"Matsuri feels like she needs protection, sometimes it is overwhelming the attention she places on me. But I think she is a good student." Temari nodded, Kankuro was listening, that encouraged him to continue. "Kaoru is… safe"
He waited, but neither answered. Until Kankuro said "Safe… is that all you have to say?"
Gaara was not… fond to elaborate because even he did not fully describe it. Temari eyes waited, he felt the pressure of that gaze. "I don't know, it just… felt safe to be around. It's easy talking with her."
Honestly, it wasn't like that at first. It took like 3 months for him to open himself to her, nothing hard when she was the one that sometimes encouraged him to do something else than looking at the moon in his insomnia. She offered to teach him cook, he denied at first until she mentioned Naruto was quite good at it. Gaara was not the fast learned but Kaoru did not lose her patience, and sometimes talked about his blond friend cooking experience. It encouraged him to do better, those were the first good impressions in his mind.
"She is… a gentle mother" That was no secret. He was one of the few people she revealed how they found Yue. The first time he heard her voice struggle, but she did not cry. That was why he decided to trust her. How he learned from their interactions and her longing glaze at Yue, her her eyes craved for him to call her… mother. She already felt like that, but the boy was reluctant.
"She… is loyal" It was something he learned when she told her stories to Yue at night. It was strange in a sense that her loyalty was directed to individuals, not a village. Not that he could imagine her turning rouge and dispel Konoha secrets, loyalty for her was personal. If not, how could she continue trusting her teammate, Sasuke Uchiha. The boy who decided to follow Orochimaru. For that reason he stepped forward to vouch for them, once the council tried to kick them out.
Gaara realized the kunoichi from Konoha was similar to Naruto. She had a way with people, just being honest. Temari hand on his shoulder returned him to his room, she had a different face, a strange combination of happy and doubt. Kankuro was crying, trying to cover his face looking elsewhere, not sure what to think about it.
"Gaara… I think you already know the difference" Gaara made a face, if he knew he won't be asking them. Temari sighed and smiled.
"When you get it, please tell me. I want to see the face of that lazy friend of hers once I spill the news" His sister was grinning with delight. Kankuro tears were gone, he scoffed and rebutted
"That won't help at all… he won't notice you even if you transformed on a pretty woman" Gaara had the slight impression Kankuro liked to be punched around by her sister. Is that what people call a masochist?
"Ugh, I swear Kankuro… you have just crazy ideas. As if I will like a scrawny, lazy and boring man like that Nara"
Kankuro then smiled to both, he put a hand in his shoulder and whispered "I totally support you, go for it my little brother. Just be sure she is not already taken"
Taken? He was left thinking once both parted to dress up for the night. Just what did they were thinking? Gaara asked himself if he will understand his siblings. Now he had to do another research, because how could someone take a person exactly? He doubted that Konoha would take kindly if the Kazekage took captive two shinobi.