The Life and Times of the Kazekage's Assistant
Disclaimer:I don't own Naruto. This story is inspired by a novel by Lauren Weisberger. I do own Tsubasa Imamura, any other OCs in the story, the designer labels and names of the magazines/newspapers, and the plot.
Author's Note: Things are going to get very thrilling, very soon!
Chapter Thirty-Two: I Want You In My Bed
I stood back to admire my handiwork, allowing the paint brush I held in my hand to lazily dangle at my side. The building looked wonderful. I glanced over my right shoulder, spotting Gaara, Temari, Kankuro, my teammates and many other friendly faces. We had all done magnificently in the restoration of Old Town.
Even Temari's eyes crinkled as a small approving smile fastened itself to her features.
After placing the brush back in an almost-empty canister, I wiped the sweat from my brow. I noticed Sanosuke-Sensei and Tazuna approaching from my left. My Sensei held a large pair of golden scissors in his large hands as Tazuna motioned us all over to a absurdly enormous red ribbon.
That's when I really took in the scene before me. Every building looked polished and sturdy, back to their original splendor pre-Akatsuki attack. I felt breathless nearly, and emotional, from the wave of nostalgia. After a quick few weeks of hard work and cooperation from every resident of Suna (and even some outside help from our Konoha neighbors), Old Town had been restored.
A hand gently rested on my shoulder, stealing my attention.
"Could I trouble you to cut the ribbon with me?" Gaara asked, decked out in his full Kazekage garb. He looked so remarkably regal and handsome.
I shook my head politely. "The honor is yours."
"I'd like it to be ours," he replied, and without waiting a further response from me, his hand slipped from my shoulder and gathered my nervous fingers. He led me to the grandiose red ribbon where the crowds of people had gathered. Their beaming faces made me feel even more enthralled. There was nothing like a sense of unity and togetherness, especially in such a triumphant moment like this. Although years after the attack, our efforts showed we had survived and moved on.
I complied, and together, we cut the ribbon to Old Town. The entire village seemed to roar with rapture and glee in celebration of the unveiling.
Dozens rushed past us to explore our renewed gem, our transformed piece of heart in Suna.
Temari, hand to waist, sidled beside me. With a calculating look, I almost wondered if she would have something unpleasant to say. She took me with surprise instead.
"Imamura-san, good work." She gave a single nod, then left to do some exploring of her own. I couldn't help but note the cheerfulness in her step, which was a rare sight. I'd have to say this was perhaps the second time I had ever seen the excess pep.
I was greeted by a secondary surprise when an ANBU of Suna suddenly approached us and handed Gaara a letter before disappearing as quickly as he (or she) had appeared.
Gaara was silent as his eyes scanned over the contents of the message. A frown etched onto his face, and I realized that it couldn't have been good news. I had hoped it wouldn't sour the joy of the day.
"It seems you and I have been summoned by the council for a meeting this afternoon," Gaara murmured, eyes still glued to the letter as if dissecting every word bit by bit.
"Is that bad?" I asked. I shifted my weight to the other foot uncomfortably and picked at my clothes in worry.
"I don't know," he said. His eyes lifted to mine and he held me there in his inescapable gaze. "It's odd."
"When's the meeting?" I didn't like the way his words had sounded. 'It's odd.' Gaara was never one for many words, but there was something so indescribably worrisome about that two-word phrase. He seemed anxious, but I didn't want to push him for more details.
"In a couple of hours." He folded the letter and tucked it into his garb. "Let's get lunch in the new café." He tried to brighten, attempting a more positive attitude, but I could see that whatever the message had read, it wasn't good and had caused some concern.
Still, I didn't push the matter further and allowed him to escort me into the newest café of Old Town Suna. I'd have clouds in my coffee and clouds in my mind until the meeting, but I also tried to remain upbeat. After all, this was supposed to be a celebratory day, not one of paranoia.
-The Council Meeting-
I nervously twiddled my fingers as I sat beside Gaara, waiting for the council members to all arrive and take their places. In the council room, a room I had once considered to be so majestic and prestigious, it felt ominous and intimidating. I felt small, very, very small.
Gaara had been mostly silent, offering no inclination as to what the letter he received stated. Temari and Kankuro, who had joined us, exchanged uneasy glances with one another and were uncharacteristically somber as well.
That put me even more on edge. I would have preferred them to be bickering and boisterous rather than solemn and anxious.
After a few more minutes of waiting, the last council member had taken her seat. She cleared her throat and greeted us in her clipped serious tone. She began by thanking us for arriving early, apologized for her tardiness and went on about certain duties of the Kazekage. Not all the duties were written on paper, but were still expected of Gaara, such as the necessity for him to produce an heir. It was their hope that his seed would one day also become Kazekage.
I hate that they used words like seed and heir. It sounded so emotionless, so loveless. As if they weren't entirely sure that Gaara was capable of love although they expected him to reproduce.
"With all the said," the bird-like council member spoke, "we have been tipped off that your relationship with Miss Imamura is a farce."
Her cold keen stare was joined by the other council members, all upon me as they attempted to dissect me. I wasn't the first to react though.
Temari slammed her palms against the table. "That's bull shit!"
"Please, Temari," offered one of the members. He was younger than the rest of the members, around 35 or so, but still held the same respect as the others. He carried himself straighter, more strongly and proudly. "There is no need for yelling or pervasive language. Please, sit down."
Wordlessly, she complied, but her angered expression remained.
Kankuro chuckled nervously beside her and said, "I think what my hot-tempered sister is trying to say is that we find that accusation ridiculous. My brother and Imamura-san are very much in love with one another."
Even as he spoke, the words fumbled out of his mouth. Birdie, my nickname for councilwoman Minami, seemed to detect the lie as if by prehistoric instinct. Her features sharpened into a displeased appearance, making her seem even more predatory.
"That, Kankuro, is for us, the council, to decipher."
Gaara cleared his throat and rose to stand. "If I may speak?"
They all nodded in unison.
"Tsubasa-san and I are the best of friends. Our relationship goes beyond superficial infatuation because what we have is solidarity. Our love was built upon a foundation of friendship. Please, if you can allow us a way to prove the genuineness of our bond, I urge you to." Expectantly, he looked to me and held his hand out for me to take.
I knew what he was doing. He was putting on a show for the council. It was a bold and smart move. I had to give him props for his small speech too. I even almost felt convinced we were the long-lasting, true romance kind of in love.
I took his hand and stood beside him. His fingers laced around mine. He cocked his head toward me and gave me a soft small smile. I couldn't help but feel myself blushing before him and before the council. There was no need for acting on my part. However, I did have to applaud Gaara's superior skills.
The council asked us all to leave the room temporarily to discuss what method of action to take. After what seemed like countless minutes waiting for them to deliberate, we were called back in.
Birdie announced their decision. "We will keep a close watch on you the next few weeks, while also subjecting you to random tests of our choice. If we find that you two are lying about your relationship Imamura must be removed from her position as assistant, she will be placed on probation as a shinobi until further noticed. The Kazekage will also be put on probation from his position and tried before a jury of his peers."
I think I almost exploded into a thousand pieces of very sorry, very anguished and very terrified Tsubasa Imamura.
I didn't understand what putting the Kazekage on probation meant. It had to be a bluff. They wouldn't hold Gaara accountable. It would end up being a slap on the wrist for him, but for me the consequences were more than real.
If I was removed from my position as assistant by the council, there was no way in hell I would ever become a council member. It would be a total embarrassment. I'd be shunned, totally exiled and booted from the system. I may as well pack my bags, change my name and relocate to another village where I could learn to make something stupid like purses and sell them on a street corner.
I tried not to show my fear or how paranoid I was. I can't say I was doing well with that though. My eyebrows were furrowed; my eyes themselves wide as moons and my lips were trembling.
Gaara, once again, was a better actor than I. With a careless shrug he said, "Be our guest. We have nothing to hide."
My eyes fell downcast. Temari and Kankuro escorted me out of the room, and then quickly rushed me into Temari's office. Gaara joined soon after. With his sand, he gently rested me into a seat. Apparently, I was shaking and he had been worried I'd collapse. I almost wished I would have collapsed and stayed that way until all the bad just went away.
Temari paced back and forth. It was difficult to make out her expression with her abrupt turns and pivots. Kankuro appeared fretful, a look I would have never painted him. Gaara was quiet and contemplative, sitting with his hands folded neatly under his chin as he likely assessed the situation.
I, however, was falling apart.
Gaara slowly reached out as if to steady me. I probably looked like passing out again.
Suddenly, both Kankuro and Temari stopped what they were doing, looked to each other and grinned.
"We've got it," the siblings exclaimed together. And for a moment, I wondered if we were going to face the apocalypse. I was in total disbelief the pair could come up with some strange telepathic idea to save me.
Temari snapped her fingers together excitedly. "Its genius," she purred, back to her former self once again.
"You two will room together while the heat from the council is on—Gaara's room since his is the bigger suite. They can't be suspicious for more than a month. I'd guess it'll last only a few weeks." Kankuro rested his hand underneath his chin, looking pensive. His thought process must have ended there.
Temari took over. "During your joint occupation you will learn as much about each other as you possibly can—more than you know about one another now. Plus, sharing a room will make a physical relationship between you two more probable, which will also make your supposed boyfriend-girlfriend commitment more credible as well."
Kankuro smiled wryly. It was almost perverted. "I doubt my brother minds shacking up—Tsubasa it's your call."
"Please refrain from such crude language," Gaara warned, rubbing at his temples. I could tell that he wasn't as thrilled over the idea as his siblings were.
I can't say I was either, but what other option did we have? There were no other solutions, at least none that we could muster now. And immediate action needed to be taken. Too much was at risk for us to procrastinate.
"Thoughts, Tsubasa-san?" His voice erupted through my sea of thoughts, calming the storm.
I gave a meek smile. "Not like we have much choice."
He nodded. "If you're okay with it, then we can proceed."
-Gaara's Room-
With heaps of clothing gathered in my folded arms, I waddled over to a dresser. I maneuvered the bundle around some to eventually work my hand toward the handle of the drawer which lazily pulled out from its place. Sighing, I heaved the clothes into the drawer and glanced back at Temari.
Her fingers tapped at her chin. She was giving thought to every measure, every attempt at making this appear real. My toothbrush had been placed in the bathroom along with my dozens of lotions, hair care products and other beauty necessities. My lady things (yes, I'm referring to shark week products) were stowed away in a wicker box. She'd set up his and hers towels too.
She had stolen a picture frame of my Sensei, teammates and I, placing it somewhere obvious and visible within Gaara's room. She had some of my shoes casually strewn about, typical of a woman's presence, and even a couple of my favorite books were left at the coffee table.
After her moment's pause, Temari disappeared from Gaara's room. I guessed that she had gone back to my room to steal more remnants of my life. She returned with several of my lingerie pieces, opened Gaara's underwear drawer (which I blushed at and would probably sneak my own glances—longing gazes—at later) and shoved his boxer briefs aside to make room for my lacy panties and bras.
What stunned me even more so was that she also had a box of condoms under the crook of her arm, which she tossed atop our under garments. I assumed she had borrowed them from Kankuro's stash (or, and I dread to think this, her secret hoard) and by borrowed, I mean stole.
"Is that absolutely necessary?" I asked with a shaking voice. I didn't need to see my reflection in Temari's darkened eyes to know that I was blushing.
Instead of replying, she gave me a look as if to say, 'Don't question me.'
"I understand," I murmured.
She closed the drawer firmly and turned to me. "I'm pretty sure we've covered everything. If something else comes to mind, I'll text you and let you know."
She ran her fingers along the dresser and glanced unmistakably to the bed. I could only imagine the thoughts she was having, pondering her brother's celibacy. She didn't seem to like entertaining the idea of something intimate occurring between us although it was more than obvious a situation like that was impossible.
Temari's lips parted. She looked awkward for a moment. I had never seen her so uncomfortable, so oddly ill at ease. She wanted to say more, just was unsure of the wording or how I would take whatever it was.
"Yes?" I prompted.
"It's probably best you two sleep in the same bed. The council may have the servants check up on you from time to time. They'll know if your side has been slept in or not." She grew quiet before her confidence replenished itself. She gave a haughty huff, tossed her hair about and placed her hand to its usual position at her hip. "Well, that's all."
I was left alone in Gaara's room.
The very idea almost made me laugh. What a girl wouldn't give to be by herself in the Kazekage's room, exploring through it as if on an adventure.
And as if Gaara was going to just comply. As if he would say, 'Oh yes, Tsubasa-san, please come to bed and let's never leave it.' In my dreams… and probably not even there!
I gently dragged my hand across the wall, examining it for the first time since I'd made so many trips back and forth between my room and his. Gaara was very neat. It was evident in the pristine condition of his quarters, everything in place. Not a trace of dust or untidiness.
Usually a room gives hints, splashes of the inhabitant's personality. Mine was often chaotic, makeup sprayed across the bathroom in desperate attempts of finding their way to a canvas, clothes carelessly tossed everywhere, piles of shoes spilling from the closet, purses randomly sprinkled throughout, hair ties all over the floor and several posters someone may consider random or peculiar invaded the walls as if by hostile takeover. Lanterns hung from the ceiling of my room and I often lit them at night as I sipped tea during bath time. It helped me relax if even for a little while. Whatever my current projects were, they were often scattered from my desk to my coffee table as if I couldn't decide which station to work at. Books nestled themselves upon my nightstand, typically romance novels and self-help literature, alongside stacks of paperwork that I often stayed up late with for Temari or for the Kazekage. Even during my time off, I was working.
My room was an expression of me: pandemonium graced by subtle hints of order, unsystematic flares of my uniqueness and fashionable furniture, my lack of structure although I desperately wanted it, and even how I brought my work home with me.
I wasn't sure what Gaara's room expressed other than someone who was contained, restricted from illustrating anything but a controlled environment. I supposed that I would have expected more articulation, greater representation of who Gaara was as a person.
Then I realized that perhaps Gaara hadn't quite figured out who he was yet. He wasn't fully recognized.
"Have you taken care of everything?" I already knew the owner of the voice, the source of the intrusion.
Speak of the handsome devil himself, Gaara stood in the doorway, magnificently clad in all black. It reminded me of his youth. I hadn't known him then, in the times when the village saw him as a monster and not a protector, but I'd seen many photos from Suna's archives.
"Temari helped me," I replied, taking a seat at last upon the edge of the mattress we were supposed to share. The very thought brought back my anxiety about that. "I think we got everything."
He gave a short nod. "I spoke with her a few moments ago. She was very particular about the instructions she gave me."
"Instructions?"
"Yes," he stated unblinkingly. "We're sleeping together."
Author's Note: I'm sure you can only imagine what kind of trouble will ensue next. Stay tuned to see how Gaara and Tsubasa will acclimate to one another as newbie roomies!
Also, as promised, I will post the second chapter of "A Kind of Magic," my KakashixOC story. If you haven't checked it out yet, I really hope that you do.