New Chapter! I am so happy that people are reading this! ^.^ In case you haven't noticed by now I try to update once a week but I would love reviews, they make me feel warm and fuzzy and inspire me to write more. Another thing, Gaara might seem a bit OOC, but I don't really care overly much. So until next week, read, review, and give me much love so that I will write more.
P.S Whilst constructive criticism is taken under serious consideration, outright flaming will simply be used to keep my toes warm as I continue to write. Enjoy!
Chapter Four
Kohana happily used the crutches to swing her way down the street towards the hospital on her way to see the doctor. After all it wasn't often that she got to use crutches and there was a certain amount of fun to be had with them. Kuro just walked beside her, trying to convince her to let him have a go. Kohana had refused him.
"No, medical equipment are not toys." Kohana told him.
Kuro just shot her a look, "And what do you think you are doing?"
"I'm using them. I am the one with a crippled foot, remember."
Kuro just gave a snort as they arrived at the hospital and walked in.
"Crippled, my ass." he muttered.
Kohana 'accidently' stepped on his foot with one of the crutches.
"Ow!" he said, hopping back from her, "You know, violence is the last refuge of the weak witted."
Kohana poked her tongue out at him, "Yet violence is so more effective and satisfying." she said before walking over to the front desk. Kuro sat down in one of the waiting area chairs with a grin, stretching his feet out before him and tucking his arms behind his head. Last night had been the first time that he had slept in human form and it had been a very interesting experience to say the least, not to mention really weird when he woke up. It had been a brief moment of panic, followed by some flailing and falling out of the bed to end with a sheepish look around in case anyone had entered and seen him make a complete fool of himself. Kohana came back and sat down next to him to wait. Yes, Kuro was very glad no one saw him this morning, because if Kohana had gotten wind of it she would've laughed herself sick.
Ten minutes later Kohana was in the doctor's office, leaving Kuro out in the waiting room by himself, with her unbandage foot in the doctor's lap, his hands glowing green with chakra as he examined it.
"Well, this is in very good shape now. I've just strengthened it, but you can walk normally on it now." he let her foot drop and grabbed his stethoscope. Placing one hand just beneath her collar bones and the stethoscope on her back he said, "Ok, now breathe deep."
Kohana could feel the chakra from the hand on her chest as tendrils wove their way through her torso, giving her a peculiar itching feeling. She wanted to just reach in and give it a good scratch; instead she took a deep breath. The stethoscope moved lower down her back.
"And again."
She took another deep breath.
"Ok." The doctor removed his hand, pulling back the chakra tendrils, and sat down on the seat in front of his desk writing something down on the paper, "Well, you are the picture of health, which is more then I could say when you were first bought in here." he looked up at her, "I now declare you fit enough to travel."
Kohana jumped off the examination bed with a grin. "Thank you." she said before walking over to the door.
"No problem, just doing my job. Good bye now and travel safely."
Kohana let herself out and strolled out to the waiting room and collected Kuro before walking out of the hospital, heartily glad to be seeing the last of it.
Soon they were back at Gaara's house and Kohana flopped herself down on the couch. Kuro remained standing.
"Now all we have to do is deal with is Sensei." she muttered. She covered her face with her hands, "Do you think we should warn them?" her voice was muffled.
Kuro crossed his arms, "It would be the polite thing to do, wouldn't it? Personally, I think you get funnier reactions from people if they're not forewarned."
Kohana snorted, "Not everyone is as fond as unusual and unexpected surprises as you are." She sat up properly, letting her hands fall away from her face, "I'll have to tell them this afternoon."
"Ok." Kuro said with a shrug, "Meanwhile, I'm not going to sit here for the rest of the day twiddling my thumbs."
"Your right, I don't wanna do that either. I'll just keep thinking of all the ways this visit can go horribly wrong." She jumped up, sliding her arm around Kuro's, "Come, I'll take you on a tour of the village as Kankuro showed me."
Kuro gave a one sided grin, "I think I've seen more of the village then you have."
"Ah, but you haven't seen it from ground level."
"True."
"Then let's go." with that Kohana tugged him out the door.
***
Gaara massaged the bridge of his nose.
"So, let me get this straight. Your Sensei will be here this evening."
Kohana and Kuro nodded.
"And she is here to see... me?"
More nodding.
"Why?"
Kuro suddenly found the ceiling to be most entertaining and Kohana nervously scratched the back of her neck.
"Well..." she trailed off.
Gaara crossed his arms and gave her a level stare. Kohana figited with the hem of her shirt.
"She wants to talk to you. Just to get some information, that's all."
His eyes narrowed, "What kind of information?"
Kuro gave an exasperated sigh, throwing his hands up in the air.
"Sensei just wants to know about the demon that you had locked inside you."
Gaara went deadly still, staring at both of them intently. Kuro just returned the stare. Kohana laid her hand lightly on Kuro's arm and looked at Gaara.
"She just wants information. That's it." she said softly.
After a few more tense moments Gaara relaxed, running his hand through his hair. "Fine. I suppose she wants to stay here as well?"
"Oh no," Kohana said, waving her hands, "Sensei and Grey will be staying at the inn."
"That's good. When did you say she would be here?"
"Sometime in the next couple of hours." Kohana replied with a cheery smile.
Gaara just gave an absent nod.
Forty five minutes later Kuro jerked to his feet.
"She's here."
Quickly Kohana surged to her feet and followed Kuro out the front door. She looked down the street and could see her walking purposely up the street. Walking beside her, hands stuffed into pockets, was Grey. Kohana gave a shout and waved. An answering shout and wave was received. Gaara strolled out of the house to look at the woman who wanted to question him. As she got closer, he was struck by how young she was. She looked only a few years older than his tender age of nineteen. Her hair was a dark red colour pulled into a high ponytail. Her eyes, when she was closer, were a light spring green colour. She wore a long skirt and a top which was nothing more than a strip of material that wrapped around her breasts. Kohana and Kuro stood respectfully whilst their teacher approached, but when they were within range Kohana threw herself at her teacher, wrapping her arms around her. Her Sensei returned the hug with an equal amount of affection.
"So," the other woman's voice was light and sharp, "Where is this Gaara fellow?"
Kohana pointed to Gaara, whom was standing behind both her and Kuro, "Sensei, this is Gaara. Gaara this is my Sensei."
The woman moved past her student and grabbed Gaara's chin with one of her hands. She tilted his head from side to side and hmm'ed for a moment. Gaara offered no resistance, too surprised by her manner to do so.
"Well," her hand fell away, "You can just call me Azami. Shall we go inside?"
Dumbly Gaara reacted automatically, shifting aside and holding his hand out to indicate that she should go in first. With a smile and a pat on his cheek, she walked in followed by the man that arrived with her. As he walked past he gave a wolfish grin at Gaara. Kohana and Kuro followed after with Kohana gently touching Gaara's arm.
"She is a formidable woman, but she is kind. Try not to let her phase you too much."
Gaara shook his head, "I'm fine, I was just taken a little off guard."
Kohana grinned and linked her arm through his, walking into the house with him. When they got inside, they found that Azami and Grey had already made themselves comfortable on the couch, whilst Kuro had settled himself on the floor. Gaara sat himself down in the armchair as Kohana settled on the floor next to Kuro.
"Right." Azami said once everyone was seated, "No point beating around the bush, Grey." Grey turned to her, "Tell me what you sense from the boy."
Grey turned to Gaara, fixing him a predator's stare. He cocked his head to the side as if he was listening to something.
"A lot of anger. Pain. But it is fading. The demon soul has been gone for only a few years."
Gaara went pale, an extraordinary feat considering his complexion, "How do you know that?" he asked hoarsely.
A look of surprise planted itself on Azami's face, "How else, Grey's a... "She trailed off when she saw the Kazekage's face. She turned to Kohana, "You didn't tell him, did you!"
Kohana gave a shrug, "You told me not to tell anyone."
Azami slapped her hand to her forehead, "Given the circumstances, I think it would have been somewhat alright to tell him."
"Tell me what." Gaara demanded, regaining some colour.
Azami made a little noise of annoyance, "Grey here is a demon. So is Kuro. That's how they can sense the residual demon chakra that's still in your body."
Gaara just froze up; whatever colour he had regained was quickly lost again. Suddenly a piece clicked into place in his head. He looked to Kuro.
"You're the crow." he said, his voice no louder than a harsh whisper.
Kuro nodded, giving a cheeky grin. Kohana crawled over so that she was next to Gaara's chair, a worried look on her face.
"Sensei, I think you broke him." She said with concern suffusing her voice.
"Nonsense," Azami said with a wave of her hand, "He'll be fine. Although perhaps I should give him the night to let this new information settle in." she stood up and walked over to Gaara, crouching down in front of him.
Gaara could only stare wide eyed into the sharp green eyes of the woman before him. She gave a soft smile and patted his cheek.
"You'll be fine boy; we'll talk more in the morning." She stood up, "Come Grey, we'll go get ourselves settled into an inn."
With that they exited. After they had gone Kuro shifted himself to the couch, but Kohana stayed kneeling beside Gaara. She rested her hand lightly on his knee.
"Are you alright?"
A shudder ran right throughout his body.
"No." Was all he said.
His mind was racing around in circles. Demons! Two of them! Right here in his village! He looked at Kuro, that one had been here for several days! He was confused, everything that he had learned and experienced in his life all said that demons were bad news. They were nothing more then monsters that seek destruction.
But... Kuro hadn't done anything destructive, hadn't gone on a killing rampage. The worst he had done was be annoying. Gaara's arms wrapped around his torso, hands fisting up in the fabric of his shirt as he leaned forward over his legs. What was he suppose to do? He was the Kazekage, for fucks sake, it was his job to protect the village!
"Gaara?"
That soft gentle voice pierced his chaotic thoughts and he turned to look at Kohana. He saw her face full of concern. Those dark midnight blue eyes searching his.
"There are demons in my village." He whispered, only just barely loud enough for her to hear, turning his head away from her.
Her hands shot out and grabbed his head, forcing him to look at her again. As he was forced to look at her eyes again he noticed that with the worry that she had for him there was something else lurking beneath. A determination; something steely, feral and fierce. Something that gave him shivers - although he wasn't sure if it was a bad thing or a good thing.
"Listen, and listen well." her voice was just as fierce as her gaze, "Not all demons are bad! They are just as varied in their personalities and attitudes as people are, and in most ways people are much more destructive then demons."
Gaara gave a small sound of protest, but before he could continue he was cut off.
"I know that you have seen the very worst sides of humanity and demons." Tears were staring to leak from the corners of her eyes, "But you found a way to forgive humanity, can you not do the same for the demons?"
She released him then, her hands falling to lie in her lap as tears continued to leak from behind her closed lids. Gaara continued to stare at her, his fists slowly unclenching.
She was right. He had found a way to forgive humanity, because of one golden-hair boy who had shared the same fate as his but had still seen the very best that life could offer him. Just as Naruto had steadfastedly believed in the good of humanity, so too did this woman believe in the best of demon kind. When faced with the kind of steady and strong faith that Naruto had, he had changed his perceptions and beliefs and had been the better off for it. Now again he was faced with that same strong faith, so how could he do any less?
Gaara reached out a hand to brush Kohana's cheek, but before he could she turned away and stood up. Without a word she walked out the front door, Kuro close on her heels. He sighed and ran his hands through his hair, he wanted to talk to Naruto, he could help him clear his head and thoughts. Yes, he thought firmly, he would send a message to Konoha requesting Naruto come as soon as possible. He stood up and walked out of the house, heading for his office, all the while thinking...
Could he do any less?
***
Gaara sat in his office, too distracted to work but unwilling to go home. He had sent off the letter to Konoha via a very swift messenger bird and had received a reply the next day saying that Naruto was on his way. He leaned back and rubbed his face, that was three days ago. After he had sent off the message he had gone back home and a few hours later Kohana had returned. Without saying anything she had gathered up her things and walked out. It was Kuro who told him that they were going to go stay in the same inn as their Sensei. Not knowing what else to do Gaara had allowed her to go. The next day, just after he had received the reply from Konoha, he had met with Azami.
Four days. He had asked her to wait four days. She had asked him why and he told her the truth, that his friend from Konoha was on his way and that he also was a Jinchuriki. She had given him a measured look for a few long moments before accepting the delay. Now he sat in his office, waiting for Naruto, his thoughts and feelings about the fact that not all demons were evil monsters were still churning in confusion. Once Naruto arrived, however, he would have a day to talk to his friend and get his thoughts and feelings in order.
He leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes. Just a few more hours and Naruto will be here.
Kohana lingered outside the door to Kazekage's office. She was in turmoil, it had been three days since she had talked to Gaara and she wanted to talk to him again. She rested her forehead against the wood of the door and gave a quiet sigh. She wasn't even sure how she should approach him, she hadn't said anything when she had gathered up her things and taken them to the inn. She was too upset at the time and was afraid of saying something that she would regret. Since then she had hidden in her room with only Kuro, Grey and Azami to keep her company. Reaching up her hand she let it rest lightly on the doorknob.
Should she?
Suddenly she heard the sounds of hurried footsteps coming her way. Startled she pulled away from the door like it had burned her and set off down the hallway in the opposite direction of the footsteps. It would seem that the decision was made for her. Not today then, maybe tomorrow.
Gaara's eyes flew open, he could sense someone coming to his office very quickly, someone he knew. A few seconds later the double doors to his office flew open. Standing there, framed by the doorway and looking a bit out of breath, was Naruto. Walking in and flopping down in one of the chairs that was in front of the Kazekage's desk he gave his wide trademark grin.
"Well, I'm here. Got anything to drink?"
Gaara simply gave a smile of his own, Naruto was earlier then he expected, but then again he should have expected that. It was Naruto after all.
"I think we should adjourn to my house, this is mostly a personal matter that I want to discuss with you."
Concern crossed Naruto's face, "Sure."
An hour later they were seated in Gaara's lounge room, empty glasses sitting on the coffee table as he finished relaying to his friend the events that had transpired over the last week regarding Kohana and her demon crow Kuro.
Naruto just sat there, hands clenched over his knees and a serious, strange look on his face.
"Woah, this is... is..." Naruto trailed off unable to find adequate words to describe the situation.
"I know," Gaara said dragging both his hands through his hair, "I still feel like that and I've had three days to adjust to it."
A look of deep thinking crossed Naruto's face, making him frown a little, his hands unclenching to relax on his lap as he absorbed the information. Gaara leaned back in his armchair to wait patiently. Naruto had changed in the past couple of years. Not only physically but also mentally. He had obtained some measure of maturity and a deeper sense of responsibility; he thought things through a bit more before committing to action. Oh to be sure he was still impulsive, loud and quick to smile, he wouldn't be Naruto otherwise, but Gaara could see the makings of someone who would one day make a truly good Hokage.
"I think I would like to meet them." Naruto said suddenly, breaking Gaara out of his musings.
Gaara gave a nod, "I'll be meeting with them tomorrow. Would that be alright?"
Naruto gave a nod of his own, "Yeah, that'll be fine."
Suddenly Gaara saw just how weary Naruto looked; he must've lost sleep to get here quickly.
"Why don't you take the spare room and get some rest?" he offered.
"Spare room? Who moved out?" Naruto asked, slightly surprised and curious.
"Temari. She said she wanted some privacy in her life for once." Gaara said, his face completely straight, "She also seemed to have something wrong with some of the comments that Kankuro and I made after the nights that Shikamaru stayed here."
Naruto gave a snort and a laugh whilst Gaara gave a grin of his own.
"I'll accept your offer then." Naruto said once he calmed down, "and some sleep would be welcome."
"Then go."
Naruto stood up and gathered up his back pack and turned to walk off.
"Naruto," Naruto paused and turned back to Gaara, "Thank you for coming."
Naruto grinned, "Your one of my closest friends, how could I do any less?"
He turned back then, heading off for the spare room whilst Gaara remained seated his thoughts turning inwards. Even though he had done nothing more then to listen to his story, Naruto had been an immense help already. Gaara found that laying out is story such had helped to bring it into perspective for him and he saw that Kuro could have had a hundred chances already to do serious damage to his village.
Then there was Kohana. She had claimed that Kuro was her partner, got quite offended by the assumption that he was a pet. She had shown him, with her words, that she saw Kuro as an equal. Not a monster, not an abomination, she treated Kuro like he was human. He had seen it, in the way she had bantered, teased and laughed with and at him.
Resting his elbow on the arm of the chair and his chin in his palm he stared off into space.
"... you found a way to forgive humanity, can you not do the same for demons?"
She had asked that, with tears falling from her eyes she had asked him. But could he? He closed his eyes as one simple realisation suddenly hit him with enough force to steal his breath for a moment.
Yes, he could.
And that was Kuro's doing. Kuro, who had been nothing but polite and kind towards Gaara. Who had proven that he was no better and no worse than the average human. Kohana had told him that the personalities of demons were as varied as humans were. He had just had bad luck to be exposed to the worst side. But, like Naruto had shown him the better side of humanity, Kuro had shown him a better side to demons.
His thoughts churned endlessly for hours. But it all came back, endlessly circling, to one thought.
How could he do any less?
He couldn't.
