I'll start b y apologizing by taking so long to update… as a better apology, I'll be posting chapter 30, the final chapter of this story, tomorrow or after tomorrow, I just need to get a few details checked…
Also, after I posted chapters' 27 and 28, I got really demoralized because there weren't any reviews… at least 1 in each chapter would have been nice…
Anyway, the ideas I had at the time all disappeared and I couldn't think of anything… until I met a really nice girl, who, coincidently, happens to be a fan of this story, and as I talked to her, the ideas started slowly coming again, so it's thanks to her that I'll have this story finished by the end of 2008!!
So, thanks Rime, for kinda being my muse, and even though you'll probably won't read this right away since you have to worry about school, I'm dedicating this chapter and the final chapter to you!!
In a smaller note, I've very grateful to all the readers and reviewers that followed me until now, I hope I did a good job in entertaining you guys!!
Also, please review, reviews would make me extremely happy!!
I'd also like to ask everyone who read my story to tell me what they thought of it, and what they thought about my writing, because all that matters to me is that:
ONE- I had fun writing, even if sometimes it's hard and
TWO- that everyone who read what I worked so hard on is pleased with the result and had fun reading it!!
Enough talk, just enjoy the chapter and please review and let me know what you think!
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto, I just own the plot!
Chapter 29 – Friendship and love
3 weeks later – Friday, June 13th – 3 p.m.
The sun shone bright in the sky, warming everything below as the Summer breeze gently flew by. A few white clouds drifted in the sky, causing the occasional refreshing shadow to the bustling town.
A teen with pale blue, almost white, hair and light purple/blue eyes squinted as he stepped out of the building he had been on, the breeze making his hair move softly.
"Nice job today!" a man leaving the building behind him commented, and he grinned, sharp shark-looking white teeth showing. "I'll see you tomorrow Suigetsu-san!" the same man told him, turning right with a light wave.
"See ya tomorrow Iwashi-san!" the teen replied with a wave of his own.
As the man started fading in the crowded streets, Suigetsu turned left and started walking, his mind going through the events of the past weeks.
After Madara had last spoken to them at the cliff, Karin had snapped, screaming and screeching… Jugo and himself had tried to calm her down enough, but her tantrum had just gotten worse. And then she'd just gone off into the woods, and the 2 of them hadn't been able to do anything about it.
After resigning themselves to the events of that day, camping near the lake below the waterfall of the Valley of the End for the night, Jugo and him had talked about what Madara had told them, and as the days Madara had given them flew by, in the due date, at noon, they found themselves in front of the massive gates of Konohagakure, not really knowing what to expect.
There had been a minute of silence before the gates had opened, revealing a team of masked ANBU and the Godaime. At the lack of anything to say, they bowed in respect for the Hokage and followed the ANBU willingly. Not many chances, if any at all, would come for them to have normal lives, or as normal as their lives could get, so they'd take this one.
They'd been led into underground cells, where they had been, he found out once they were released, held for interrogation for 3 days. Like Madara had told them to, they hadn't held any details, whatever the question, both he and Jugo answered truthfully. Of course, he being himself, in his answers there was always the ironic and sarcastic retorts here and there, but besides pissing the interrogators off with that, it hadn't been a big deal.
The days that followed, Jugo had been sent into the hospital and the best medics were working on his case. As for himself, he had had a few talks with the Lady Hokage, in which she restricted him from leaving the village until she saw fit, put a bracelet on his wrist (which, as far as he was told, was meant to monitor his whereabouts and his chakra levels and activity), and told him he would be working at the interrogation unit.
Once he could go on missions, he could choose to either get a 'standard' job (meaning he would be a shinobi like any other) or he could stay in interrogation… turns out, he wasn't so bad at interrogation as he would have though, especially when it required some 'persuading' involving a chained prisoner and a very eager and non-caring-for-the-prisoners health interrogator.
And few weeks ago, 2 to be exact, there had been shocking news being whispered around the village, news, he knew, were completely forged, because he knew it was all Madara's work.
Danzou, the creepy old guy that should have stayed dead in the battlefield, had been found in his office at the Root ANBU headquarters, a dagger stabbed through his gut, is hand still holding the dagger in place. He had been hunched over his desk, and a pool of blood had been formed under his chair. Suicide, the reports said.
Mitokado Homura, the male elder that should have died long ago, had been found in his living room, hanging from a rope held to the ceiling. Not much of a death if you asked him, but anyway, Madara liked his little mind games…
As for the old hag of the council, Utatane Koharu, she'd been found in her kitchen wearing her finest and most expensive kimono, an empty cup of tea in front of her, poisoned they said, a mixture of herbs she had made herself (based on the residues in her fingers) and drank, killing herself in the short time of minutes.
Madara had probably used his sharingan to make the old farts kill themselves, so no suspicions could be brought up. The bastard was smart.
Rumors said the 3 suicides were something planned by the 3 old geezers, for what reason, no one could tell, only speculate.
Coming back to the real world and scoffing to himself, Suigetsu entered the hospital, scrunching his nose at the small of sterilization, medicine and, in the background, sick people.
Kami, he hated hospitals.
He didn't bother to stop at the front desk and engaged into a hallway, walking until he reached the door at the end of it and entered, to reveal Jugo, sitting cross legged on the floor, said floor containing innumerous kanji forming a round diagram on the floor.
Vaguely, he wondered if the blond Hokage was the one treating his friend today.
"Suigetsu-san, konichiwa!" one of the nurses greeted, carrying a few scrolls to where Jugo sat. He greeted back politely.
It was amazing how he wasn't even an official part of this village yet, but everyone treated him as such, accepting him… the feeling of belonging was nice.
He was brought back from his musing when the door slammed open… well, not slammed, just opened loudly.
"Hey everyone!!" he was surprised for a moment as the pink haired kunoichi barged into the room, her white labcoat flowing around her for not being buttoned. He swore that if she had a weird hair cut like Karin she would pass as a crazy scientist.
Shaking his head to not think about his former team mate, he focused on the pink haired lady.
"Hello Sakura-sama!" the nurse that had been in the room greeted, and the girl frowned but said nothing.
"Ok, let's see…" she mumbled under her breath and reached into one of the cabinets in the room, taking out a pair of silicon gloves. It was as she turned around that she saw him, leaning against the wall watching her.
She frowned at first, but then smiled, a smile that could make any man fall on his knees, even if she didn't intend it to be like that.
"Hey Sui-chin!!" he narrowed his eyes at her while she giggled. She'd started calling him that a few days ago.
"Ok, Jugo, have you had any headaches, pain anywhere?" she asked, ignored his narrowed eyes and focusing on the subject on the floor.
The 20 year old shook his head and then a pink blush covered his cheeks when Sakura smiled and plopped down in front of him, after all, the big guy was actually a shy person.
"That's good!" she grinned again and reached for a scroll next to them, them she unrolled it and put it between them. "Let's start then." Jugo nodded and she started doing hand seals.
Suigetsu looked around the room and noticed several people around the diagram, sitting around it and their chakra going into it, as most of the times, it was made so Jugo couldn't move during the procedure.
After that he moved his gaze to the 2 in the center of the diagram, Sakura having one hand over Jugo's chest and the other over the open scroll, dark kanji moving between Jugo's and Sakura's body, to then go into the scroll again.
He'd watched this procedure a few times, but it still amazed him how good the pink haired girl, 18 like him, was at what she did. That and the fact that she had a cursed seal (he was still trying to get details about it) and she didn't have problems controlling it.
The procedure never lasted more than 3 hours, Sakura had told him it was exhausting, she didn't give details, and he didn't ask for them, but he liked to be there, even if it was just to give Jugo peace, because the big guy was always afraid of going berserk, and him being there calmed him down.
Friday, June 13th – 6:02 p.m.
The sun shone lower, deep orange golden rays giving the world a peaceful glow. The warm breeze could barely be felt and there were only a couple of clouds floating by as the 2 of them walked down the streets of Konoha.
She was the one who broke the silence.
"I know we're not really friends yet, but…" he glanced at her as she looked at the sky, searching for the right words. "I don't like seeing my friends sad or hurt or feeling down." She cocked her head to the side, deep sapphire blue eyes staring into his light purple/blue ones.
"I'm fine Haruno." She frowned and narrowed her eyes at him.
"Please stop calling me Haruno, Sakura is just fine." She mumbled the last part and he sighed, she was just so stubborn.
"Fine, Sakura. And I'm fine." Her frown deepened and she sighed, looking back to the street in front of them.
"You're not fine." She said softly, glancing back at him as they walked slowly. "I can see it in your eyes, the sadness and heartbreak." He scoffed, more to cover himself then because he wanted to, she was reading him too close to home, and he didn't like that.
"And how, may I ask, would you know that?" he asked mockingly, the sarcastic part of himself showing.
He was expecting her to glare or lunge at him, but instead, she smiled… smiled for Kami's sake.
She looked at him again, her eyes soft… understanding… sympathizing. And then she spoke, softly and gently.
"Because, for years, I saw that same look every time I looked at a mirror." She smiled and then looked at the sky, her hands joining behind her back.
"Life's a bitch." He muttered, and she giggled softly, the sound light and melodic.
"Yeah, it is…" she paused. "But sometimes, good things happen." She shook her head then and turned fully to him.
"I have to get some groceries, care to help me?" he shrugged and then grinned.
"Don't you have a personal slave now??" she laughed and shook her head, the mood lightening instantly.
"C'mon, if he heard you-" he cut her off, his grin widening.
"What if he heard me?" she shook her head at him. "You know, I could kick his ass any day." She giggled.
"Let's not go there, threatening to beat him is Naruto's job." He pouted mockingly.
"Aww, c'mon, I want in on the fun." She smacked his arm playfully and entered the grocery shop, him following behind her.
"What is it with guys and beating each other?" she mumbled, shaking her head while taking a basket near the entrance of the store.
"And don't think our previous conversation is over." She warned, and he sighed, she just wouldn't give up now would she?
"Fine, fine." He muttered dismissively and followed her, narrowing his eyes when she shoved the basket in his hands, and narrowing them further when she stuck her tongue out at him.
He huffed when she turned back around, going through the halls of the store and shoving things he didn't even bother seeing what they were in the basket.
That is, until she put ice-cream (he raised a brow at this, to which she shrugged), cookies (he eyed her suspiciously, but she just grinned), chocolate bars (he kept eyeing her suspiciously, and her giggle just proved him she was up to something) and then strawberries (he narrowed his eyes and she refused to look at him).
She also made a quick stop near the vegetables and took a bag full of tomatoes ("For the slave boy-toy—OW").
And then they—she— paid and they entered the streets once again (6:43 p.m. he noticed on the clock of the shop before leaving).
As they walked, she carried some bags (the lighter ones— she just shoved the other ones in his hands) and he tried to rub his arm the best he could with the bags he had in his hands.
"Did you have to hit so hard?" he muttered and she looked at him with an innocent look.
"But I didn't even use chakra." She whined, and he huffed, what was it with this girl and being all sadistic-goody-goody?
As they kept walking, now in silence— let's rephrase, with Sakura giggling and Suigetsu looking at her suspiciously, he could bet his water bottles she was plotting something.
And indeed, she was, which he started finding out once they reached her house and she started putting everything in place, except the ice cream, the cookies, the chocolate and the strawberries.
"Ok, I'm leaving." He declared when he saw her reach for a bowl to put the cookies in, 2 spoons already on her hands.
"Aww, don't be like that Sui-chin." She whined with a mock-pout (because with all the plotting she couldn't be serious right then).
He raised a brow.
"Watch me." He stated and started walking to the door, only to be yanked back by his collar as Sakura huffed.
"Go sit on the living room water-boy, we weren't done with our conversation." She tapped her foot on the wooden floor while pointing to the living room, and with a sigh he huffed and walked to the living room, plopping down on one of the couches nonchalantly, feet going up and into the low glass table just to annoy her.
And as he crossed his arms in front of his chest, he heard her humming contently in the kitchen.
With an annoyed and frustrated huff he looked at the ceiling and glared murderously.
Somewhere in the forest over the mountain of Konohagakure, an ant climbed over a tree bark, a leaf being carried. As it reached a branch, a bird chirped, bounding over said branch, to then spread its brown wings and taking flight, going above the trees.
As the bird flew, on the ground, a rabbit jumped around a couple of times, before a tiny rabbit joined it and the two disappeared under a bush.
Another bird joined the first, chirping contently for finding a partner, and the 2 reached the edge of the mountain that hovered over the village.
The first bird, brown, chirped and then went down, to stop at a tree, where a small nest made of small pieces of wood and branches stood.
The second bird, yellow, chirped, made a couple of loops in his flight and then started descending over the village. It flew between buildings, maneuvering as to not hit the drying clothes hanging from ropes held from one building to the other, and then did a few turns, until he reached a spacious area and landed on a balcony railing, chirping happily. It bounded on the railing a few times, dark sparrow eyes looking around, and then it flew away with a content chirp.
Past the balcony and into the living room, glass sliding doors open to refresh the apartment due to it being summer, sat a blue, almost white, haired teen, eyeing a pink haired girl with a suspicious raised brow, feet still settled over the low glass table, where, by coincidence, the pink haired girl was laying several things (he wondered how she could carry so much without making a mess).
Sakura lay the small bowl filled with cookies on the table, maneuvering her hands and arms so she could lay, on the same table, 2 bowls, one over the other, with 2 spoons on top, a round vanilla ice cream container and a plate with small square-ish pieces of chocolate in it.
With a low giggle and a smile, she looked at Suigetsu and then plopped down on the couch next to the one he was in.
He continued to eye her suspiciously, but decided against further provocation, which would lead to violence from her part and pain for him. And he didn't want that, because, fuck, she could hit hard.
"So…" she started, and his eyes started narrowing.
"What?" he was blunt and harsh, and if he wasn't not willing to get beat, he would have said some sarcastic or ironic.
To his growing irritation, she grinned. And then, to his utter… something, she said something that threw him completely off guard.
"Who's the moronic girl who has your heart?" he stared blankly, and an awkward silence (at least for him) settled.
After a while, in which she eyed him curiously, he slowly straightened and got up.
"I'll be leaving now." But (there always had to be a but with this girl), she stopped him with her next words.
"Talking about it helps…" there a tiny pause from her, and when she spoke again, her voice was soft. "It helped me."
He stayed put, as if frozen in place and rooted to the ground, and he honestly had no idea how to react when he felt her hand in his shoulder, guiding him back down on the couch.
"I'll tell you a secret if you tell me yours!" she smiled at him, a friendly smile, one that irradiated trust, and he found himself nodding, his body relaxing as she handed him a cookie.
Maybe the ice cream, cookies and chocolate and all her plotting weren't so bad after all.
A few days later – Tuesday, June 17th
He watched from afar as she giggled, the small kitty she was playing with amusing her.
The warm summer breeze blew, below, on the streets, a small girl ran, trying to catch a small boy, an old woman shook her head, a smile on her lips and a dog barked contently as he finished eating the treat a random woman had given him.
On the balcony where the girl stood, the warm summer breeze blew as well, and the small kitty wavered, small grains of sand detaching themselves from it.
She giggled again, petting the sand kitty as it rubbed its tiny head to her hand.
She looked up and to a particular rooftop a little away, where the one who made the kitty stood, sitting at the edge and watching her.
She waved, a smile on her face and he raised his hand up. She frowned when the next second he disappeared in a twirl of sand.
"…hate it when he does that…" she mumbled under her breath as she turned her attention back to the kitty.
She pouted when the kitty vanished as the breeze blew again, small grains of sand wavering, and kept pouting when the red haired teen appeared in front of her, sitting cross legged on the floor.
He tilted his head slightly to the left, his bangs moving and revealing more of the kanji on his forehead.
"Your eyes are blue." Were the first words he spoke to her, and the way he spoke made her pout disappear, because he sounded like a child, so innocent and cute with his curious gaze looking right into her eyes.
"Stuff happened." She mumbled, and silence settled, and that was ok, because their silences were never uncomfortable or awkward.
His hand reached forward after a few moments, and his fingers touched her hair, holding the meshes of artificial color, his jade eyes moving from her current dark blue ones to the strands of hair in his fingers.
"It suits you." He spoke in almost a whisper, and a smile adorned her face, because he was always so straightforward and truthful, and he just seemed so cute, like a curious kid.
She had been afraid of him at one point, during the Chuunin exams, but after that mission when they had to save him from Akatsuki, he didn't seem a monster anymore, not because he didn't have the Shukaku, but because he wasn't bloodthirsty anymore… he was someone who wanted to be accepted. Naruto truly did change people for the best.
"Shouldn't you be with Shishou?" she asked quietly, liking the comfortable feeling that came with his calm presence.
"I will be meeting Tsunade-sama again later." She nodded slowly and moved closer to him.
"Anoune." She started, and his eyes moved from her hair to hers. "Were you worried?" she whispered hesitantly, knowing he would understand, and he tilted his head.
There was a small silence, his fingers sliding from her hair to touch her check.
"How could I not?" he replied just as quietly as she had asked. A smile curled at his lips, the serenity that irradiated of him soothing her.
She stared at him for a few seconds before a grin etched itself on her face and she lunged forward, wrapping her arms around him in a tight hug.
They remained silent as he returned the hug and she buried her face on his neck, her eyes closing as the happy grin never left her face.
"Daisuki, atashi no Tanuki-kun! (1)" she murmured against his neck. Small grains of sand flowed around them, running against her skin occasionally as the red haired teen let a smile curl at his lips.
"Daisuki nimo, boku no Usagi-chan. (2)" he murmured just as softly, settling his head on her shoulder.
(A.N.- (1)- I like you very much/I love you, my Raccoon.
(2)- I like you very much/I love you too, my Rabbit.)
On the sky, a cloud floated in front if the sun, temporarily shadowing the pair, and a couple of rooftops away, a raven haired teen watched in annoyance, glaring murderously at the red haired Kazekage, cursing the ranks and the effin' trouble he would get in if he did anything.
Taking a deep breath he moved a little closer, his inner self coaxing him into calming down and just watch, because there was a sense to what they had just said.
Back on the balcony, after the sunlight slithered through again as the cloud floated away, Sakura pulled back, giggling lightly while sitting back, then pouting lightly, innocent eyes staring at the quiet boy in front of her.
"Why do you still call me Usagi??" she whined, her pout never leaving. "I'm not a bunny." She exclaimed, mock-mad at him, to which he chuckled quietly, his hand coming up so his index finger could poke her forehead.
"I call you Usagi because you call me Tanuki." He explained patiently. "And I'm not a raccoon either." She sniffed and looked away from him, causing him to roll his eyes.
Staying in place, his sand started flowing around her –a sly smile crossed his features- to settle on her nose in the shape of a small butterfly, its wings moving softly.
She blinked twice and tried to shoo the sand butterfly away, only for it to avoid her hand and settle on her cheek instead.
"Ah, mou, that's not fair." She whined and turned to face him again, her defeated pout in place. His sly smile returned as he kept quiet, waiting for her next reaction. And it didn't take long for her to change –if even slightly- the subject.
"Ne, ne, I know I say you're my Tanuki-kun 'cause you're one of my best friends." a tiny pause followed by mumbled words, barely audible. "And 'cause no one else as the guts to call you anything other than your name or Kazekage." She straightened and faced him head on, her curious, inquiring gaze never wavering. "But why do you call me your Usagi-chan?" he tilted his head then, contemplating what to tell her.
A few seconds passed, in which Sakura fidgeted in place (on a rooftop to their left, the raven haired teen clenched his fists, anxious to hear the answer) and, after those seconds, the red haired Kazekage shrugged, not a word passing his lips.
The pinkette stared at him, her mouth slightly open, as her shoulder dropped. She was dumbfounded.
One second passed, silence settling seemingly over the whole world, even the breeze stopped flowing.
Another second.
And another.
A bird croaked into the distance.
"Are you serious?" she bluntly blurted out. "You're not even gonna give me a hint?" he stared at her, innocent, wondering eyes looking into her own agitated ones. But no words were said.
"Ah, come on, give me something." She almost yelled, exasperated and got up. His jade eyes followed her, never leaving her as she passed back and forth, and rambled, complaining and just plainly making a fuss out of nothing.
"… are you even listening to me?" she screamed at him, her cheeks flushed in anger and her hands on her hips as she stood hovering over him. He stared up at her and tilted his head.
There a moment of silence in which she glared at him.
"Please don't be a banshee like that blond friend of yours." He paused. "Ino was it?" he mused, and, as a reaction, she screamed in frustration, her hands going up into the air wildly as she started her passing and rambling again.
The raven haired teen on a rooftop to their left was staring, his inner self reminding him that he couldn't just murder the Kazekage and that it wasn't Sasuke-ish at all to pull the knight in shining armor act.
As for the Suna-nin, he decided to put an end to her… whatever it was, and got up, calling her name.
"Sakura." But she didn't listen, nor stopped pacing, nor stopped her rambling.
"…ays frustrating when people don't just ans…"
"Sakura." He called again, to which there was no reaction.
"…ing ignored and then not answering the question ask…"
Considering he wasn't just about to yell her name like Naruto would, he took an approach he was certain would calm her down.
And so… he walked up to her, and as she turned in her pacing, turning her back to him, he snaked his arms around her waist (pulling her back and against him) and his sand retained her hands in mid-air, preventing her from brutalizing him as a reaction.
"Relax Usagi-chan." He told her softly, and even if she huffed and, still with the sand on her wrists, crossed her arms in front of herself, she still relaxed.
"You really want to know?" silence… and then a nod.
"Then I have a request." He murmured low enough that no one but her could hear, his head resting on her shoulder as he tilted his head to look at her face.
"What?" he inwardly chuckled at her whinny voice. "And don't ask anything stupid." There was a threat of pain under her annoyed tone, and he believed it.
On t a certain rooftop, a certain Uchiha was fuming, his fist clenched as tight as he could, and his teeth grinding almost painfully due to the pressure, a murderous glare directed at the sand-nin, the black comas of his sharingan spinning wildly.
"I like them better the color of the forest." He whispered against her cheek. She tilted her head to look at him, confusion in her blue eyes, until his sand lightly flowed over her lashes and under her left eye, then flowing through her cheek before vanishing into the air around.
"Oh." She murmured and lowered her head, and for a moment Gaara wondered if he had done something wrong, until she leaned back against him.
"Ok." Her left hand lowered and her fingers traced his hand, feeling the warm skin under her fingertips. "And then you'll tell me?"
He nodded against her cheek and she smiled, unable to be mad at him. Turning in his arms she buried her face on the crook of his neck (there was only a 5cm/2inches gap between their heights, which wasn't much), her own arms wrapping around him, settling on his back.
She liked hugging Naruto because he always had that hyperactive aura that cheered you up instantly around him, and you felt save in his arms.
She liked Kakashi's hugs because they were always comforting and understanding to some degree.
She liked Hinata's, Ino's, Temari's and Tenten's hugs because they were all girls and had some level of complicity that gave them understanding over some situations.
She liked Sasuke's hugs very much because she felt loved (in his own Sasuke-ish way), and she, in a way, liked the protective and possessive way he held her, that and the way that, when he held her, there were always small lingering touches so she couldn't forget his presence even if she wanted to.
But, even if she liked all of those, she liked Gaara's (her Tanuki-kun) hugs on a whole different level, because when she was in his arms, it wasn't just friendship (that particular family-love) like with the girls or Kakashi or Naruto or any of her friends. It wasn't romantic love like with Sasuke either.
Of course she loved her friends like family, they were important and special people, and she loved Sasuke (was in love with him… she probably always would be), because he had her heart and she had his. But Gaara was different because, yes, he was a friend (one of her important and special people), but she didn't love him just like family.
Between the both of them there was a something that would never reach the definition of romantic love, and they would never think of the other that way or want them as a lover and such, their love was platonic.
It was the conversations, the moments of silence, the small things that, to everyone else, were unimportant.
It was love, beyond friends or family, but not as lovers. It was special, and no words in the world could describe it.
She liked his hugs because she felt safe, comforted, loved (in that platonic way they shared), she felt understanding and understood, she could stay quiet and they would still talk to each other, a silent way of conversation. She felt protected too.
But most of all, his hugs, his presence in general, was always soothing, calming, peaceful and comforting, because he was him and he accepted her and her ideals even if sometimes he didn't understand.
"You do not have to understand to trust, you only have to accept." That's what he had told her, and, really, as long as they trusted each other, she would always have her personal get-away-from-the-world, and he would always have his.
She finally opened her eyes and with a wide smile nuzzled his neck, because he was just too cute and adorable when he wasn't being all stoic like in front of most people (due to the unconscious reluctance he had to trust other, he didn't notice it, but it was there because he feared getting hurt like he had in the past).
"Hontoni daisuki, Taniki-kun! (3)" she murmured softly and kissed his neck, she would have kissed his cheek but she was too comfortable where she was.
(A/N- (3)- I really like you very much/love you, Raccoon
(4)- Me too.)
"Boku mo. (4)" he replied just as quietly, and she knew he was smiling because of the way his sand danced across her skin and his cheek pressed to the side of her head.
Not really meaning to, a giggle escaped her lips.
"You're so cute and adorable Tanuki-kun!!" he pulled back lightly, a mock-frown on his face.
"I am not cute and adorable." He stated firmly, but she shook her head.
"Yes you are!!" she grinned at him and kissed his cheek. "But just for me!!" she giggled again, and their embrace never broke.
A calm aura surrounded them, and she looked at his jade eyes, seeing the happy and content glint that seemed to radiate brighter now.
A happy and content glint caused by the shining forest green of her eyes.
"So…" she started. "Why do you call me your bunny?" he tilted his head and grinned a boyish grin at her, it looked un-Gaara-ish, and it slightly confused her because he reminded her of a Cheshire cat, but somehow, it was nice to see him that way.
"Because you're my best friend and no else would have the guts to call you anything other than your name or status."
There was a moment of silence, and then he gracefully moved away, avoiding the incoming hit from her hand as she half-heartedly glared.
"Ah, mou, you are so frustrating." He chuckled and settled leaning against the balcony railing.
"Would you rather I have lied to you?" she raised a skeptic eyebrow.
"No." she crossed her arms and glared. "But at least you could have said something that wasn't what I said." He rolled his eyes.
"You can't blame me for having the same thoughts as you." She sniffed but gave in.
"Fine. Killjoy." She mumbled the last part. "Would it kill you to rephrase it so it didn't seem like you copied me?" he raised a brow at her and wrapped an arm around her shoulders when she settled on the railing next to him.
Thinking for a few seconds, he turned to her, the boyish Cheshire grin back to his face and he poked her cheek.
"You're my Usagi-chan, and no one else's, because I really, really like you!!" she giggled as he poked her cheek again, acting like a kid, it was rare for him to act this way (and it was only with her) but she enjoyed it.
"And because I trust you and admire you-" she raised a brow at the last part and his grin only seemed to widen. So Un-Gaara-ish. "You're the only one that actually screams, and threatens me you know." She giggled and smacked his chest playfully.
"I only do that when you deserve it." He moved a strand of her pink locks behind her ear.
"I know." He murmured and kissed her cheek. "I'll see around." She turned to him with a confused expression, but he was back to being passive.
"Wha-? Why are you leaving?-" he cut off her whine with a poke to her forehead.
"I don't think your boyfriend wants me here." He stood over the railing and shoved his hands over his pockets. "'Sides, I really should be going to meet Tsunade." He grinned again and her jaw dropped.
"You didn't-" she accused, her finger pointing at him, but his grin didn't waver, confirming her suspicion. "NO WAY!!! You're late!?!?!?" he rolled his eyes.
"If you put it that way you make it sound like I'm slacking off…. Geez." His sand started whirling around him and the small sand butterfly was back, this time holding a small strand of her hair as if it was a side comb. Its wings fluttered softly once in a while.
"I- you- but- and-" she spluttered a few times, until the accusatory finger was back.
"How-" he cut her off and took a step forward, his sand having already made half of his body disappear.
"3 hours." Her jaw dropped even more, and with a last grin at her, he disappeared.
She stared at where he had been for a while.
"Uso! (5)"((5)- No way!) she mumbled in disbelief after a while, coming out of her daze, even though a grin broke through her face. No one would say anything because he was too intimidating, but over all-
"He came to see me before getting locked for the rest of the day!" and he was back to being cute and adorable.
With a giggle she turned around, only to frown when something registered in her mind. "I don't think your boyfriend wants me here." But Sasuke was still out doing his community work, and she wasn't expecting him for at least an hour.
She was about to consider the bright idea of going after Gaara to ask him, when she was literally swept off her feet and into someone's strong arms.
The person who took hold of her spun her around in his (it was clearly a man, but it was all happening so fast her brain wasn't having time to process who it was) arms and then she felt the familiar metaphoric electric shock that only the one who held her heart in his hands could cause her when he kissed her.
Her eyes stayed open only a couple seconds, only enough to see a glimpse of onyx and then she closed her emerald orbs, feeling the possessiveness of his kiss.
"So that's what he meant…" she let herself loose herself in him, in his fragrance (so Sasuke with his aftershave only making it more yummy for her), in his warm embrace, in his possessiveness and most of all in his kiss.
It was as if he was angry and furious and passionate and possessive all at once… his kiss was filled with strong emotions, and if it had been someone else, she would be punching the daylights out of them… but it was him, her Sasuke-kun, and it was his way of showing his growing affection for her, so… she didn't mind one bit.
Her arms snaked to wrap around his neck as he kept his around her waist tightly (almost too tightly) and possessively.
She breathed his name when he broke away momentarily, and the sole word he murmured against her lips had her nodding meekly and pressing herself more into him, tiptoeing for another mind-blowing kiss.
"Mine." She wasn't sure if it was a growl or a groan, but one of those followed his word, claiming her as if he was a child claiming ownership over his toys.
Just like a selfish child unwilling to share.
But just like she was his, his selfishness unwilling to share and wanting her all to himself, he was hers, and she was selfish too, because she would never share him and she wanted him all to herself just as much as he wanted her.
High in the sky, a bird flew over the couple, chirping and doing a loop before heading towards the Hokage mountain.
As it passed the sculptures and flew over the forest, a deer walked calmly through the forest, a curious rabbit following only to hide under a bush when the deer turned as it heard a branch snapping.
On the highest branch of an oak tree near the cliff, a man stood watching the city, a smile on his lips.
"And all is well…" he murmured with a low chuckle.
This city… he would protect the important person that lived here with all he could, and by extension, he would do his nest to protect the village as well. For her.
As the small bird flew by, the man disappeared.
Uchiha Madara was not the same man, he was a new man, a better person.
I hope everyone enjoyed, I really liked the last part with Gaara!!
I'll be posting the final chapter tomorrow or after tomorrow, but you can be sure it'll be in 2008!! I made a promise to myself that I'd finish this story before New Year's so I could focus on The Secret Behind and on my new project (something original without already existing characters or plots) let's see if I can keep up!!
When I get my head into it I'll also re-write the first chapters, though I won't change the plot, it'll only be slightly better since my writing is better than before!!
Anyway, it'd be great if you reviewed, and I'd really appreciate it!!
Thanks for all the support and putting up with me for so long!!
Love you all very much,
Kimi-chan!!