Will it be a very Merry Christmas after all?

By: .Rinjii

Disclaimer: i dont own Naruto or those characters. just Teiraa and the story :)


Chapter 2: Disaster Strikes Teiraa

I woke up Saturday morning and felt like crap. It's so cold in here! I definitely should have turned on the heater. I went into my bathroom and took a shower. At least the water's warm.

I put on my thickest sweater, warmest jeans, a hat, scarf, and gloves. I glanced at the clock. "Holy crap it's late! I wanted to be there at least an hour early!" I shouted. I grabbed my keys, my phone, and a pastry from the night before and ran out my door. Eh, my hair is still wet. I hope I don't get sick, but I need to leave now or I'll be late for Saturday work at the café! I ran as fast as I could to the closest bus stop and sat on the bench, munching on my pastry as I waited for the next bus. I guess I deserve to ride the bus after walking home last night. Plus, I'll get sick with my wet hair and I can't afford to be sick, so I'm riding the bus. I kept trying to convince myself it was okay to ride the bus, just this once, because my hair was still wet.

The bus finally arrived and I decided I would ride it. I got out the spare change from my pocket and inserted it into the change slot. I took a seat near the front of the bus. There aren't many people on the bus. I guess they're all asleep or something. I coughed. Shoot, I think I'm getting sick. But, now that I think about it, Gaara and Temari seem familiar. I wonder why?

I arrived at the bus stop across the street from the Sand Cafe and got off coughing. My hair is still wet! This day couldn't get any worse. I run across the street after I made sure not cars were coming. I opened the door and immediately smelled the sweet pastries that were probably being cooked in the kitchen right then. I hurried into the employees' lounge and threw my coat, hat, gloves and scarf onto the couch then ran into the kitchen. I wonder if he remembered… I walk around the corner of the kitchen just in time to see Gaara setting a large bag of flour onto one of the top shelves. "Hey, Gaara!" I couldn't stop myself from yelling. I guess I was just excited.

He flinched from surprise and the bag of flour he had in his hands slipped and landed on the counter in front of him, dusting him with a thin coat of flour. "Don't sneak up on me like that." He said sounding a little agitated.

I mumbled, "Sorry, I didn't mean to surprise you." I walked over to the sink and grabbed a towel to give to him. "Here." I said as I held out the towel.

"I can't see."

"Oh, uh, sorry. My bad. Your eyes are still covered in flour. Let me help." I leaned in closer and wiped the towel gently over his eyes. He opened his eyes and grabbed the towel.

"That was unnecessary," He mumbled, "but please clean up this mess while I go change."

I nodded my head and got another towel to clean up the spilt flour and then I swept up the flour that got on the floor. I heard a timer go off for the top of the double ovens. "Gaara? The timer went off!" I yelled. I guess he can't hear me. I'll help him by getting it myself! I ran over to the cabinets beside the oven a snatched up the oven mitts so I could get the pastries out of the oven quickly. I opened the oven and a blast of hot air and delicious scents hit my face. I quickly grabbed the pan from the oven and set it on the counter. I remembered I left the oven open so I ran back, shut it and threw the oven mitts on the counter beside the ovens. I turned around and saw that the pastries were about to fall off the counter and I rushed over to push them back. I felt a great stinging sensation come over my hand and I remembered that I had forgotten to put the oven mitts back on. I started yelling; I let go of the pan quickly and I glanced at the palm of my hand. Oh, crap! This is a nasty burn! The palm of my hand had a very distinct, thick, red line across the middle and the skin had already started peeling back. Gross…

I heard the kitchen door slam as Gaara ran and asked me, "Are you okay? I heard you yelling."

I didn't know what to say. I felt so stupid for getting hurt like that. "No, no, I'm fine. I just…I hit my hand…?"

"Let me see it then."

"Uh, no! I mean its fine. I'll be okay." I put my hand behind my back so he couldn't see it.

He frowned at me and grabbed my wrist and pulled it in front of me so he could inspect my hand. I winced from the pain of the sudden movement. His eyes widened and he dragged me over to the sink. He turned on the water and stuck my hand under it which caused me to want to scream, but instead I just shut my eyes very tight. I must have looked like I was in a lot of pain because when I opened my eyes, he had a look in his eyes that I had never seen before. I realized he was still holding my hand. The pain was subsiding, I mumbled, "Gaara, you know you are still holding my wrist, right?" He let go, his hand slid down to his side and he looked away. I didn't say let go. "Thank you." I whispered. The pain was back again, but why? When he was holding my wrist, it didn't hurt so bad. It must just be my imagination.

Gaara asked if I needed anything, but when I said no he walked out slowly. Is something wrong with him? He looked so, I don't know, maybe different? He looked so angry and confused for a second there. But when he saw my hand, he looked like he was the one that got hurt; the pain in his eyes was obvious. I am so clueless. Maybe I'll ask him later.

Kankuro and Temari burst into the kitchen ripping me from my thoughts. Temari looked pretty funny with a worried look on her face, but really shouldn't be worrying about that right now. Kankuro my boss was running at me with a first-aid kit in his hand and that worried me. I hope he isn't upset I burned myself.

Kankuro stopped directly in front of me and said worriedly, "Teiraa? Are you alright?"

I laughed, "Yeah, I'm okay. I just burned my hand a little."

I showed them my hand and they both gasped.

"What?"

Temari spoke first, "You burned your hand! It looks awful!"

"Well, it doesn't hurt too-"I gasped in pain when Kankuro pulled my burned hand from the cooling water and out into the open air.

"This is a pretty bad burn." Kankuro stated. I winced for the third or fourth time today.

"Can I have my hand back? I want to put it under the water again." I asked.

"We should cleanse it and bandage it so it doesn't get infected." Temari stated.

I pouted, "I don't want to."

"So you'd rather it be hurt longer and it hurt worse?" Kankuro asked.

"Of course not! Fine! I'll let you clean it and put a stupid bandage on it." I gave in. I mean, how bad could it really be?

Kankuro and Temari started fighting over who would clean it and put a bandage on my hand.

"I'm her boss! It's my responsibility to!"

"I'm her older sister!"

"No you aren't! You just met her yesterday! You aren't even related to her!"

I cut in, "Uh, guys, does it really matter? I mean I can do it by my-"

"YES IT DOES!" they both interrupted me.

I gave an exasperated sigh before leaving the kitchen with the first-aid kit and the two siblings still arguing. I walked into the women's bathroom and went straight for the sink. I silently cursed all things that burn hands as I pour the Peroxide on my burn. "Man, this hurts like-"

I was cut off as Temari ran in yelled, "Yes! Here you are Teiraa! Let me help you!"

I rinsed the Peroxide off in the sink as I replied, "Um, thanks, but I think I've got it covered." I gave her a smile as reassurance. She still seemed worried, but she left me while mumbling something about not being wanted. Maybe it would be easier to put the bandage on if I were sitting down. Man, I should've just asked for help. I glanced in the mirror and was horrified. I look awful! I used my uninjured hand as a comb and tried to fix the mess I called my hair. I walked out of the bathroom with the first-aid kit in my uninjured hand and sat down on one of the couches. I attempted to wrap the burn myself, but it was too tight and when I redid it, it was too loose.

I sighed, "This is impossible! I wish I had just asked for help"

"Would you like me to help?" Gaara asked.

"No, no-"

"You were just saying how you wished you had asked for help. I'm offering to help you. Do you want it or not?"

I sighed. "Well, if you put it like that, then I guess so."

I held out my hand, which, by the way, now looked very red and swelled up from the burn; I had the most pitiful bandage ever wrapped around it. Gaara's face remained emotionless, but his eyes had that same pained look again. He took my hand and gently unwrapped the bandage. He opened the first-aid kit and pulled out some clean bandages and re-wrapped my hand tighter, but not too tight. He kept holding my hand after he was done; I was puzzled, the pain was going away again.

I slid my hand out of his before I whispered, "Thank you. Again." I gave him my best smile. I hope that was sincere enough, I don't know what else to say though. The pain started coming back and I still had no idea why it would come in and out like this.

"It was no problem. I was partially my fault because I left you alone in the kitchen and completely forgot about the pastries." He wouldn't look at me while he was talking.

I replied quickly, "It wasn't your fault at all. I'm just a klutz."

"Well, well, what have we got here? You two look just like lovebirds!" Temari had snuck up on us. I grimaced, and Gaara started to look angry. Temari, you sure do pick bad times to tease! Gaara stood up and went into the employees' lounge.

"What's his problem?" Kankuro pondered aloud.

I gave an exasperated sigh. "You two are hopeless." I suddenly remembered that I wanted to ask Gaara something. Kankuro looked to Temari for answers, but she only shrugged. I jumped up, gathered all the supplies back into the first-aid kit and ran into the employees' lounge.

"Gaara!"

He turned around slowly. He had his coat on and had his scarf and hat in his hands. "What?" he said in a monotone voice.

"You're leaving?"

"I don't have any other business here."

"Oh, well can I ask you something before you leave?"

"Make it fast." Why is he acting so weird? He wasn't like this before.

"Oh, well I wanted to know why you left with that strange look in your eyes earlier."

He looked uncomfortable while he stuttered, "I guess, I, uh, just needed to find Kankuro." I was surprised. So he wasn't worried about me. Then he whispered something he obviously didn't want me to hear, but I did. He said, "…and I was kind of worried…" I smiled. That's all I really needed to hear.

He started to make his way out but I put my hand on his shoulder. "What?"

"You can tell me anything." I said.

He nodded his head and left.

"Teiraa! Hurry up and open up the café! Customers will be here any minute!"

Much later, at closing time.

Temari came down the stairs and told me I didn't have to clean up today, since I was 'injured'. I gave her a smile and told her I would rather stay here and help. I picked up a dust cloth and dusted off the tables, but I started coughing again. These stupid bouts of coughs have been coming and going all day. I started to pick up one of the chairs to set it on the table, but my vision blurred and I got extremely nauseous; I was starting to fall over when I felt someone take the chair out of my hands and catch me. I could hear the faint sound of yelling as my vision turned to black.


Please leave a review! hopefully chapter 3 will be finished soon!