Turning point: Chapter 12

:Guidance:

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The remainder of the day's hours ticked by at an agonizingly slow rate, with little else to do than wait for seven o'clock to roll around, Tayuya found herself wasting the time away in her house. She'd put away what was left of her shopping, she'd cleaned herself up a bit after her little 'encounter' outside, she'd even killed some time rearranging some of the furniture that didn't quite feel right to her. The fact that Temari had offered her dinner rather than just a walk or something, meant that she was also purposely not eating so not to spoil her appetite when the time finally did arrive. Something she was starting to regret more and more each time she glanced up at the clock.

With just over an hour left until Temari was set to arrive, Tayuya found herself feeling like she was slowly losing her mind in boredom. Back when she was with the sound, thanks to the fact that everyone around her was either a thief or a murderer or both, there wouldn't be time to be bored, any time she had to herself would've been spent watching her back or protecting what little she actually had. Orochimaru didn't stand up for anyone in his forces, if you couldn't look after yourself while surrounded by scum then you simply weren't cut out for life in the sound, if you weren't killed by the lesser men then he may have just ended you himself, Tayuya knew the snake wasn't above getting his hands dirty, she'd seen it up close more than once.

The redhead felt a shiver down her spine, though she wasn't entirely sure if it was from the memory of her old life as looking out the nearby window showed that the sky was starting to turn a much darker blue and the lights in the street were starting to flicker on one by one. The same chill ran down her back and she found herself instinctively rubbing her arms, glancing around, she thought she could hear the faint sounds of whistling wind, despite the plants and signs outside looking relatively calm.

"Did I leave a window open or something?"

She looked around again, the windows and doors of her place were firmly shut and there didn't seem to be any kind of draft, at least not one big enough to make the whole house feel cold. She frowned slightly as the confusion of the situation started to agitate her. Standing up, she listened carefully to where the sound seemed to be coming from, keeping quiet until the groan of realization when it became clear that it was coming from upstairs. Rolling her eyes, the irritated girl made her way up the wooden staircase, since the house was still new there was barely a creak, which only made it feel more eerie when the sound of the wind seemed to get louder the closer she got to her room.

"I'm pretty sure I locked that window this morning.. after Temari..."

She stopped for a moment as the morning's events replayed in her mind once more, as much as the blonde had provoked her, she really had felt terrible after the outburst she'd had, like she may have just driven away the only person in years who had actually shown her some kindness. Catching herself staring at the floor, Tayuya frowned and shook her head, this morning hadn't gone well but Temari had forgiven her already, so long as she didn't get angry again this evening then everything should be fine. Giving a long sigh, Tayuya stepped into her room to close the window she'd left open all day.

Only to stop dead in her tracks when her eyes met the cold stare of Temari's brother, Gaara, who stood silently at the far side of the room.

The white curtains of her room floated quietly on streams of gentle wind that flowed freely through the wide open window, the chill of the evening air piercing the thick tension that fell around the unmoving girl, the boy's arms sat folded calmly across his chest, keeping his posture inward and unreadable. Feeling herself unable to tear her eyes away from her silent intruder, Tayuya could feel herself starting to sweat, her throat felt dry and her hands were starting to tremble, the feeling she hadn't encountered for years hit her full force in this moment that felt like an eternity.

Fear.

She didn't even know what it was about the boy that was so intimidating, she knew he was calm and even seemed to have something of a sense of humor, but something about his almost ghostly appearance and his eyes that stared right through her, it was almost like she was being pinned down by nothing but his glare.

The few seconds that felt like minutes to her, passed with Gaara taking a step forward, his arms falling to his sides but his stare never leaving her. Her body moving on its own, Tayuya instinctively took a step back, wanting to be ready to defend herself if she needed to, but knowing that if he made a move, she was ill prepared to do anything about it. Seeing the state the girl was in, Gaara stopped and raised his hand, his expression unchanged but his actions seemingly aware.

"Relax. I'm not here to fight."

Even after he spoke, it took a few moments for Tayuya's mind to register what he actually said. Slowly managing to calm herself down, she took several long breaths she realized she was missing.

"Why.. are you here?"

She couldn't stop her voice from cracking, slowly standing up straight as the pale boy before her motioned his hand towards her bed.

"I came to talk."

She gave a slightly confused look, from what she'd seen before he didn't seem like much of a talker, but after swallowing hard and hastily nodding, she made her way to sit at the foot of her bed, looking up at the boy like a child waiting to be scolded by her parent.

"Kankuro was out of line, attacking you the way he did."

She couldn't help but tilt her head slightly at the comment, it wasn't exactly the way she thought he was going to lead whatever he came to say.

"But even so, you hurt our sister today."

Tayuya winced, she knew he wasn't just going to pass it by.

"Look, I know it was bad and I felt bad about it too. But I didn't mean to hit her like that, I just.. Lost control..."

She thought back to the same words she'd used to explain her outburst the other day to the Hokage, as true as they were, it was starting to feel like losing control was becoming an excuse.

"Temari is a shinobi, she's suffered injuries in battle far worse than what you gave her." His eyes moved away from hers for a moment, almost as if he was contemplating whether he should continue, but his pause was brief as he stared her down once more. "But I've never seen her more hurt than when she returned, saying that she may have lost your trust."

For the first time in a long time, Tayuya felt her heart sink and her stomach tighten in such a way that she thought it was going to burst. It was true that Temari was the closest thing she had to an actual friend, but she'd never really thought about just what she actually meant to the girl.

"I just wanted you to know, before she tries to blind you with her smile again. My sister is in pain, and all she really wants tonight is to make things right between you and her."

Tayuya stayed silent, staring at her feet while her hands occupied themselves with handfuls of bedsheets, she took a few minutes to clear her head enough to reply.

"I... Want things to be alright between us." She glanced up at the boy, who had his arms folded again. "I don't know if we can be good friends, but I don't.. want to hate her."

For the first time, Gaara's lips curved ever so slightly into a faint smile, giving her a slow nod.

"I was full of anger and hate for most of my life, to the point where my family feared me." His hand reached to gently touch it's thin fingers to her shoulder, her eyes fixed on his as he spoke. "I learned through the heart of another, that my soul could be saved from the darkness. By a friend."

Gaara stood up straight and turned away from the dumbstruck girl, stepping towards the window before glancing back one more time.

"Maybe, she can be your light in the darkness, if you give her the chance."

With that, he was gone, Tayuya barely even registered him leaving before all that was left was a few wisps of sand being picked up on the breeze.

Brushing her hand through her hair, Tayuya calmed herself as she stood to close the window. She sighed heavily against the varnished wood and looked over at the clock sat on her bedside table, after the conversation she'd just had, there was only ten minutes left before Temari would be arriving to pick her up.

Deciding that the intensity of Gaara's visit had taken a lot out of her, Tayuya decided that she'd need to wash up again before the impulsive blonde appeared.