How To Sway The Innocent
Chapter 4
Gaara
"Lord Kaze- kage." asks someone. I look up from a report over a recent incident to find a guard looking shy. "I'm very sorry for interrupting you."
"What is it?" I ask a sigh escaping me. I get directly to my point. There is no use wasting time on formalities and small talk, especially this late. What time is it? About nine or ten? It's much too late for anyone of importance to seek my console. So what could he possibly want?
"Well you see there's a girl." he tries to explain moving his hand. I give him a questioning gaze to get him to get on with it. "Ms. Omoi." He speaks as if he's going to go on. But I understand now.
"Oh, yes. Go ahead."
Lace
"What makes you even think they're even going to tell him?"
"Lace, calm down. Your doubt is becoming repetitive and annoying."
"Sorry. I'm just nervous."
"About what? What could go wrong?" she watches as I pace the room.
"What could go wrong? I could go up there thinking everything's all okay. But oh no, it turns out he really is over me. And not just that but he hates me for not answering his letters."
"Dammit Lace. What was in those letters?"
"I don't even know. I've only read the first few." I stop pacing to put my face into my hands.
"Then why don't you read the rest?"
I blink up at her. That's a great idea! Then I'll know before I have to face him.
Lace,
I've heard that you took part in the Chunin Exams this year. I would be most fond of hearing how it went directly from you.
You must have heard something of my most recent events. How my little student was taken just to tempt me into their grasp. I'm not even exactly sure who 'they' were. Why is it that everyone sees me only as the Shakaku? It would almost be refreshing if someone were to kidnap me for what I know, or to hear my life's story. Something like that. You understand, don't you?
How so ever truthfully,
Gaara
"Next one." Harano says passing me the next letter.
Lace,
I had a discussion with my brother. It brought up some neat thoughts that hadn't occurred to me. I have been dwelling on how I am to prove how much I have changed. And that answer finally came to me. I am to become the next Kaze-kage.
It's ironic isn't it? That is what I was born for. And now I come back finding that that's what I want.
I would be happy to see you again. There are many people who hear stories from Temari and Kankuro about you. They always turn the smallest things into great epics. They would really like to make your acquaintance too.
How so ever truthfully,
Gaara
There's a knock at the door.
"Ms. Omoi. The Kaze- kage can see you now." someone says from behind the mahogany. I look at Harano in surprise. She shakes her head.
"Just go." she waves me off.
Gaara
The door creaks open and I find my mind beginning to go over possible directions for this conversation to go.
"Lord Kaze- kage." she bows with what can be considered a sarcastic grin.
"Ms. Omoi." I retort straightening papers. I look to find her trying to hold back her laughter. "Go ahead." I tell her. She laughs covering her mouth with a hand. It is fairly amusing. I stand to get another stack of papers.
"Gaara." she re-addresses letting it become more personal. "I've really missed you." she sounds sad.
The documents slip through my fingers and spread out about the floor. Some linger in the air before falling into the mess. I've never dropped my papers before. I get down on my knees to begin picking them up. Lace joins without being asked.
We just sit there for a while in silence putting the stack on spreadsheets back in order. When I finally get it back to the way it was Lace stops me from standing.
"Please Gaara." I make the mistake of looking her in the eye. "I need to know what you're thinking. I have to know where we stand."
I allow myself to sigh. I don't like being put on the spot. Maybe I can just ignore the question. No, she seems so insistent. So I do the next best thing.
"Do you mind if we change rooms? I feel like I'm at a press conference."
She notices that this is my way of giving in. So a small smile touches her lips.
"We can't go to my room, Harano's in there. How about yours?"
My room? I spend very little time in there. Only to change clothes really. The room would be covered in dust if there wasn't someone in there cleaning every day.
I look over her face. She seems serious. But why not my room? I won't have to worry about being over heard.
"I suppose so." I tell her. She jumps to her feet.
"Which way?"
I think. I really don't want anyone seeing me slipping me into my room with Lace tailing me. I offer her a hand. She is without question. But is confused when I don't move. I move her tentatively toward me.
Lace
Everything sort of turns black for a few seconds. Like I'd blinked for a really long time. And once I open my eyes again I'm in a completely different room. Gaara's bedroom? It looks more like a guest room than an actual person's room.
"Nice bed." I say going to go feel it. It's way bigger than mine. And so much more comfortable looking. I'm struck with envy. My beds a piece of crap, but his is fit for royalty.
I sit and fall back onto it.
"You're so lucky. This is so comfortable!"
Gaara watches me for a few seconds. "You can sleep in here if you want. It's not like I ever use it."
Oh yeah, Gaara doesn't sleep.
"Really?! Won't someone find me in here and think it's weird?"
"I don't ever really go in here. They'd only look in here if they couldn't find me at my desk."
"Yay! So what's been going on with you Gaara? Tell me about life as the Kaze- kage." I pat the space next to me.
"Well." he begins taking the spot. "I expected it to be hard. But the paper work is endless. The genin here can often be troublesome. And disputes are always a constant threat."
"Gaara." I say looking at his eyes that seem troubled. I sit up carefully not to move too much and I tentatively touch his shoulder.
"It's the most stressful job anyone can have." he finishes his body tensing under my touch.
"Well you're taking care of your stress right? So you don't have a break down?"
"What do you mean?"
"Gaara! You mean you're not doing anything!"
"What do you expect me to be doing?"
"I don't know. Some people read, or run. Harano takes baths. Sy... well I don't really know what he does. But I run."
"You run?"
"Yeah. I feel like with every step I'm further from my problems. It makes me feel alive. Not to mention that the running itself makes me feel fast and powerful. But I don't think something like that will work for you."
"Plus I'm not supposed to go anywhere without an escort."
"Yeah. You don't really have time to read either do you?"
"And sands useless when wet."
"Unless you want to build a sand castle."
He doesn't laugh.
"So I guess you don't have many options. So Gaara..." He meets my eyes as I get serious. "You don't hate me now?"
"No."
"So we're okay?"
"Yes."
"Do you still like me?" I hate how it comes out. I sound shallow and childish.
"Of course." It seems almost like 'you're alive, aren't you?' His answer is somewhat shocking I had purposefully not said love. But I have a feeling he would have answered the same way if I had.
An awful idea forms in my mind.
"Gaara?" I say softly after about a minute of silence.
"Hmm?"
"If I want to try something can you humor me for a few minutes?"
He looks at me with curious concern, but he nods.