I'm finally posting the next chapter. I'm glad you guys are enjoying the story so far.
Disclaimer: don't wanna say so I won't. Just look at the other chapters to see that i own nothing...damn it. I just said it. Oh well.
Ch. 4: Aya's World
It was another month before Aya saw Gaara again. She spent the time on the cliffs with a canvas working hard. She had finally come up with a present for Gaara and she wanted it to be perfect. Usually, Gaara might have accidentally stumbled onto her and her work but he was gone on a mission. He was also busier than normal since the Chunin exams were coming up in a few weeks. That meant it was safe to make the surprise. She didn't want Gaara to see it until she was finished.
Someone called and she looked over her shoulder. It was a friend of hers from the village. Hana was a nice girl with shoulder length brown hair and almond-shaped, brown eyes. Her clan lived next to Aya's so the two had met on Aya's first day in the village. They had become friends almost instantly. Hana stopped beside Aya and glanced at the painting with interest.
"It's beautiful, Aya."
"Thanks. I'm almost finished with it. Just a few more strokes and it'll be finished."
"You've been working on it nonstop for a month. Who's it for?"
Aya hesitated before answering. She wasn't sure she should tell anyone that she was making the painting for Gaara. They would think she was nuts. Then again, they thought that anyway since she talked to him three times now and lived. Her clan had softened it's attitude towards him after the dinner but they were still afraid. Not that she could blame them. Gaara had that effect on everyone. Everyone but her that is.
"A...I would say friend but that's not an accurate description. It's a thank you present for someone."
"Who?"
Again Aya hesitated but answered, "Sabaku no Gaara."
"WHAT?! HAVE YOU LOST YOUR MIND?!"
"No need to shout. I can hear just fine," Aya grumbled. "No I haven't. He helped me so I want to thank him. How does that make me crazy?"
"You're delusional. Gaara doesn't help anyone."
"He did help me...twice." Aya turned back to the painting as she explained what had happened when she saw Gaara the first two times. Her voice trailed off as she got lost in the painting again. A little red here, some yellow hear. There needs to be more blue right here. The canvas became her world as she worked. She forgot that Hana was standing behind her staring at her in shock. She forgot that she was hungry and had missed lunch. None of that mattered. In fact, nothing mattered expect the canvas in front of her.
Hana listed to her friend's story and could only stare in shock. Aya had talked to Gaara. Aya was making a painting for Gaara. That was just too much to digest. How in the world had that happened? Silly, Aya just told her how it happened. Hana still couldn't believe it. She focused on Aya. That at least wouldn't overload her circuits.
She watched as Aya's eyes became focused and distant. Her friend wasn't here anymore. Aya was in whatever world she saw in front of her. Hana admired Aya's abilities with art. Her friend could make anything seem beautiful without any effort. Where anyone else would see just a plain old yellow flower, Aya would see a radiant yellow blossom. Hana wondered if all artist could do that or if that was a talent unique to Aya. Hana settled down and watched as Aya painted.
After what seemed like hours, Aya stepped away from the canvas with a satisfied smile. "There. It's finished."
Hana stood and walked over. It took her breath away. "It's beautiful."
"Thanks. Now I just have to find Gaara. Do you know if he's returned from his mission yet?"
"Yes. He's back. I believe his team has the day off today."
"That's great. Can you help me wrap it up." Hana and Aya wrapped the painting in a cloth to protect it during travel. Once that was taken care of Aya lifted it and turned to rush down the path of the cliffs. "I have to go."
"Hey, Aya!"
Aya stopped and looked over at her friend.
"Here. The reason I came up here was to bring you something to eat." Hana pulled out a cookie from her bag and passed it to Aya. "Your mother said that you missed lunch."
"Thanks."
"Hey, are you sure about Gaara. I mean, some of the stories about him are terrifying."
"I'm sure. I know that he's scary to other people but I can't see why. He hasn't done anything to me or anyone I know."
Hana considered what Aya said and shrugged, "Maybe the stories are just that...stories. But still. He's...he's terrifying. When he looks at me, I feel like I might die of fright."
Aya shrugged, "I think it's because he knows you're afraid. It's like an animal. They can smell fear you know and they react to it. I think that's what Gaara does. When he knows you're afraid, he reacts with anger and hatred." She looked up at the sun. "I really need to go if I'm going to talk to him before dark. I'll see you later, Hana."
Aya rushed off. She only had a few hours before the sun completely set. All she had to do was manage not to get lost between here and Gaara's house. She knew he was the Kazekage's son. The Kazekage and his family lived in the large manor on the northern end of the village. She ran and luck was with her. Every time she got lost there was someone there to point her in the right direction. They gave her strange looks when she asked for directions to Sabaku no Gaara's house but didn't ask any questions.
By the time she reached Gaara's house the last of the sun's rays were disappearing. She was going to be very late getting home, but it would be worth it. She knocked on the door and waited. The Kazekage himself answered. That surprised her but she smiled and greeted him with a bow.
"Good evening, Lord Kazekage. I was hoping to speak with Gaara if it's alright?"
He gave her a look of surprise, "And why would you want to do that?"
"I have something for him."
"He probably won't want it."
"I know but I want to give it to him anyway. May I please see him?"
"I don't think that's a good idea. Gaara doesn't like others. He might be unhappy with visitors at his own home. I wouldn't want him to harm you."
Aya's eyes narrowed. She couldn't believe Gaara's own father thought he was a monster. No wonder Gaara had issues. Who wouldn't with a father like this? She restrained the urge to shout and scream. That rarely got anything accomplished. Instead, she gave the Kazekage the sweetest and most innocent smile she had.
"Oh, but sir, I just have to give it to him. I've been working on it for a month. Please. It'll only take a minute. Then I'll be gone. Cross my heart. And if Gaara causes any trouble you'll hear it, won't you? I mean, you're the strongest shinobi in our village. Gaara wouldn't be able to hurt someone in your own home."
His eyes narrowed. Part of him suspected that he was being manipulated. However, the girl's smile and eyes betrayed nothing but sweet innocence. With a sigh he motioned for her to come in. She bounced past him and asked for directions to Gaara's room. He told her and watched her walk off. Why did he get the feeling that he had just lost and argument?
Aya paused in front of Gaara's door to calm herself. She didn't want to give Gaara the gift while still annoyed. Once her temper had cooled, she knocked on the door. The door opened seconds later. Gaara looked at her in surprise. He had expected one of his siblings or his father. Instead, he found Aya standing at his door.
She smiled, "Hello, Gaara. I brought you something."
He stepped aside simply because he didn't know what else to do. She walked past him and turned as he shut the door. His eyes bore into her with curiosity. "What are you doing here?"
"Remember on the cliff the second time we met. I told you I was going to give you something a as a thank you. Well I finished it." She was brimming with excitement now. Aya loved giving presents more than she liked getting them. There was something about seeing someone's happy face when she gave them a gift that always made her smile. It had never occurred to her that Gaara might not like the gift and it probably never would. "Here."
She placed the canvas on the bed and began to untie the strings. Gaara walked over so he could get a look at what she had. When she pulled the cloth off, he could only stare. The girl was very talented. One the canvas was a painting of Suna. An orange sun was setting the background, providing many different shades of yellows, reds, and blues. The village itself seemed to be brighter somehow. As if someone had taken the plain old sand colored buildings and turned them into something wonderful. Never before had he seen Suna quite like this. Aya had put every detail in there making it seem real. He almost reached out and touched it, just to make sure it really was a painting.
He looked up at her, "You did this?"
She nodded, "I've been working on it since you left on your last mission."
"A month?"
Aya nodded again. "I wanted it to be just right. It's for you."
"Why?"
"To than..."
"I mean why this? Why not something else?"
"Because you once told me that you thought the world was an terrible, cold and cruel place. I disagreed with you. Since you didn't believe me, I wanted to show you what I saw when I looked at the world. See? It is beautiful." She looked at the painting with a satisfied smile. "I haven't named it. I wanted to let you do that."
He glanced back at the painting. No wonder she wasn't afraid of him. If she this is the world she saw, how could she be afraid of anything? For her there were vibrant colors and graceful curves everywhere. How could someone fear anything in that world? How could someone see this world? It wasn't the world he lived in. This was...
"Aya's World."
She blinked, "What?"
"The name. This is your world."
Aya tilted her head, "I never thought of it like that. Anyone can see this world, Gaara. You just have to know how to look."
He looked at her and shrugged, "I can't."
"Yes you can." She looked out the window and squeaked. She turned and rushed towards the door. "Oh. I am so late. I have to go home."
"Aya." Gaara's quiet voice stopped her when she opened the door. She glanced back at him with a curios expression. He looked up at her, "Thank you."
Her eyes widened in surprise then she smiled brilliantly. Aya turned and left Gaara alone in the room. He reached out and brushed a hand over the painting. It was his first gift of any kind. The monster of Suna allowed himself one small smile. The world in this painting was one he wished he could live in. There was probably no pain in there. No one would hate him for things he couldn't control. He wouldn't need to be a monster. He could just be Gaara. Gaara turned to the door. He would walk Aya home. Otherwise she wouldn't make it there before midnight.
Aya rushed down the stairs and paused whens he saw the Kazekage with his other two children. They looked at her with identical expressions of curiosity. The Kazekage stepped forward, "You looked panicked. Did he hurt you? I'll see that he's punished...."
Aya shook her head, "He didn't hurt me. I'm panicked because I'm going to be late getting home. I just know I'm going to get lost. I always get lost. I'm sorry, Lord Kazekage, but I really must go or my mother will start to worry about me. She always worries when I'm out after dark."
The Kazekage wasn't buying it. "Look, if he threatened you to keep you from telling me don't listen to him. Gaara can't hurt you while I'm around."
She looked at him. For a moment, everyone held their breath, waiting for her to tell them what Gaara did to her. She drew in a breath and said, "Lord Kazekage, let me tell you what your son did to me since you're so eager to hear it. He helped me. There. Are you happy now? I was lost so I asked him for directions and he showed me the way back to my clan's compound." Her blue-green eyes flashed with temper, "Contrary to popular belief, Gaara is not a monster and I'm not afraid of him. Quite expecting me to tell you he beat me or something. He didn't and he wouldn't."
They looked at her in shock. She started for the door but saw something out of the corner of her eyes. Aya looked up the stairs to see Gaara standing there. He was looking at her as if he didn't know what to make of her. She smiled and waved. He disappeared in a swirl of sand and reappeared next to her. She jumped in surprise.
"Come on," he ordered her as he walked towards the door.
"Huh?"
"I'm taking you home."
"But..."
He gave her a look, "You won't get there by yourself."
She opened her mouth to object but stopped. He was right. Chances were she would be lost before she even got started. So she smiled and fell into step beside him. Gaara's family watched them leave with identical expressions of shock and wonder. Sabaku no Gaara was taking someone home without intending to kill them. Their world had officially been turned upside down.
That's it for now. Don't forget to send me a review.
