"You need to eat something before we release you."
Kiku's statement was met only by silence and she let out an audible sigh. Gaara had only been required to spend one night at the hospital and was scheduled for release the following afternoon...under Kiku's orders. Gaara had never been injured before and she wanted to be sure he was ok.
She also wanted to spend more time caring for him, though she'd never tell a soul that reason.
She had sent Kankurou and Temari home with the promise she'd stay overnight to keep a watch after Gaara. Her mother and sister were away on another trip so she was happy with the idea of staying overnight at the hospital...but Gaara wasn't. He wanted to leave and probably saw the extended stay as an insult, but he hadn't put up a fight. So Kiku had gotten her way.
However now, as she tried to give him his dinner he was completely ignoring her. The thought aggravated her to no end.
She wanted to talk to him more but he didn't seem to be in a talking mood. He looked like he was thinking about something and didn't want to be bothered.
She finally set the bag of food on his lap.
"Try to eat, Gaara-kun...please. At least see what I brought, alright? I'll be back in a little while."
Gaara finally looked at her and nodded so Kiku left the room. She shut the door and leaned against it, eyes closed. Her heart was still running a marathon in her chest whenever she was near him. She still couldn't believe it.
"Please don't be a dream." she muttered to herself.
A sudden pain on her arm caused her eyes to open wide and Aya started to laugh.
She stood in front of kiku and pinched her again.
"Proves you're awake, doesn't it?"
Kiku rubbed the sore spot on her arm and laughed.
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Aya sighed. "Proves you're still alive too...you know how stupid that was, don't you? He could have ripped u to shreds if he had wanted to."
Kiku nodded in understanding. "I know...but he's not like that now. Temari said...and I saw it with my own eyes. He's like how he was when he was little."
"What do u mean? He's always been a killer." Aya said, shaking her head.
Kiku smiled ever so slightly. "No not always...he used to be really kind. Very sweet and gentle...until Yashamaru..." her face turned serious and she looked towards the door.
"Well I don't really get what you're saying, but if you say he's not dangerous I'll try to believe that." Aya said, patting Kiku's shoulder. "But just in case...be careful alright?"
"I will...but I want to talk to him about what happened in Konoha. I just have to get him to talk first."
"He's probably in a bad mood...being forced to stay here. You're treating him like some delicate little child." Aya's face went blank for a minute before she erupted into peals of laughter.
"I can't even imagine Gaara being delicate...I tried and it just...no, doesn't fit. You could drop a building on that boy and he'd probably survive. He has more lives than a cat."
Kiku smiled at Aya's comment and nodded. Gaara could take anything thrown at him and he could still survive. He was so powerful, and if he really wanted to leave then he would have left...he wasn't horribly hurt, and Kiku had already healed his visible injuries to the best of her abilities. Maybe he wanted to be near her too.
The thought was so unlikely, but Kiku couldn't help but smile and hope.
Aya simply sighed and pat Kiku on the shoulder.
"Well our shifts are over for the night and I have to get home before my brother comes looking for me...just...be careful Kiku. I don't want to be at your funeral tomorrow."
"I'll be fine Aya. Don't worry. You hurry home. I'll just stay here tonight. Nothing bad will happen."
Kiku stood firm and smiled. She knew that she was in no danger and she would much rather spend her night at the hospital with Gaara than in her empty house.
With little else to say Aya waved goodbye and left the hospital, followed by several other medics. There was never very many people on the night shift. Just enough to get by. If there was an emergency the others could always be contacted, but now, after all the drama of the day, it was finally starting to quiet down.
With little else to do Kiku sat on the floor against the door to Gaara's room with the intention to check in on him after giving him time to eat.
"I'll just give him a little time." she thought. "He's not used to being cared for. I'm probably just making him uncomfortable."
She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head against them as she waited. Minutes passed by slowly as she began to drift off to sleep.
She awoke to the feeling of herself falling backwards. Her eyes flew open and she gasped, expecting her head to crack hard off the ground behind her, but when she finally assessed the situation she realized she was resting against a pile of sand, her head nestled against the grains.
"Kiku-chan..."
Tilting her head back against the sand she found herself staring directly into Gaara's eyes. He was kneeled behind her, his face only inches away.
She intended to order him back to bed, but the speech she was preparing in her head came out as a single quiet squeak as she stared into his eyes.
Gaara stood back up and the sand wound itself around Kiku, slowly helping her off the ground and to her feet before disappearing into the gourd on Gaara's back. She slowly turned to face him.
"How long since I gave you your dinner?" she asked, trying to guess how long she'd dozed off.
"Five hours."
She groaned and looked down.
"Five hours without even realizing...I'm the worst kunoichi ever..." she mumbled angrily at herself.
"You're a fine kunoichi."
Just a simple statement but Gaara's comment caused her lips to turn up ever slightly into a smile.
"I want to talk to you." he said quietly and her smile grew.
"Alright, go lay back down and we can talk." she said, pointing to the hospital bed. Gaara shook his head.
"Not here." he said, eyes looking in the direction of the exit.
"But I told you that you can't leave until I'm sure you're better." Kiku responded a bit forcefully. "I wouldn't be doing my job if I let you leave now."
"I want to talk to you...but not here." he repeated, looking around. Kiku nodded in understanding. He didn't want to be overheard, and it was possible at least one other medic was monitoring him tonight. Kiku was still rather inexperienced and dealing with someone who'd tried to kill her...if Emiko hadn't suggested someone watch after her Aya probably did.
Kiku stepped out of his way and started to walk towards the door.
"Alright, we can go somewhere to talk, but we have to come back here. I promised Temari and Kankurou that you'd be here with me."
Gaara nodded and the two of them quietly left the hospital.
Once out in the streets of Suna Kiku turned to Gaara.
"So what did you want to talk about?" she asked,head tilted to the side as she stared at him. He just kept walking forward.
"Not yet." he muttered.
Kiku looked around. It was dark and the streets seemed empty, but maybe he knew of something she didn't. So she turned back to him.
"Follow me." she said, heading to the one place she knew they could speak privately.
Upon reaching the house Kiku swiftly unlocked the door and let Gaara inside.
"Nobody will hear us in here." she said, but he still didn't talk. Kiku frowned.
"This wasn't just some elaborate plot to murder me in my own home was it?" she asked, arms folded across her chest. It had been meant as a joke but her tone was more serious than she had intended.
"I won't hurt you." he said firmly and Kiku looked down, ashamed for even making the accusation in the first place.
'I'm such an idiot.' she thought before nodding and reaching for his hand. He looked at her and pulled his hand back a bit before letting her take hold of it.
"I trust you, you know? I wouldn't have brought you here otherwise. Sorry I said something so rude."
"But it's true. I could kill you right here and..."
"But you won't. You said you wouldn't." Kiku cut him off, gently squeezing his hand. Gaara pulled his hand free and walked away.
"Yes, I won't harm you. I...learned something in Konoha and I will not hurt you ever again. You never deserved it...like so many others..." Gaara's voice got quiet and Kiku could see the regret in his eyes. She was almost hesitant to interrupt him.
"W-what happened in Konoha? Everyone said there was an attack, but nobody would give any details."
"There was a surprise attack during the Chunin exams. I released Shukaku."
Kiku's eyes widened at the thought of the monster she'd seen as a child, of Gaara's other half. She couldn't imagine a reason for him to come back to Suna so injured, with so many following behind, if he had released their village's ultimate weapon. There was no way.
"But if you released Shukaku how come we lost? Konoha should have been destroyed. Are the ninja of Konoha that strong...what stopped you?" Her mind was a flurry of questions and she sat down in the nearest chair trying to focus.
"Naruto Uzumaki..." he said, looking up at the ceiling, his back to Kiku.
"Naru...to..." she repeated slowly, trying to recall why the name seemed so familiar. Then it hit her. Naruto Uzumaki, Konoha's own jinchuriki. Okarina had mentioned him a few times in her letters.
Okarina had called him a pervert, a goofball, and the most knuckle headed of all her friends. None of the letters had made him seem that terribly impressive. Kiku couldn't understand how Gaara could have lost to a guy like that.
"What happened...? I don't understand." she said, shaking her head.
"We were matched perfectly...both jinchuriki. We fought to a draw but he wouldn't give up. His friends were in danger of dying and he built up enough strength to keep moving because he had people to protect...and I lay there unable to do anything because I had nothing to fight for...only myself. I spent so long thinking that by killing everyone who got in my way that I could prove my existence and show my power...but in the end that way of thinking made me powerless. There is no meaning in fighting only for yourself."
Kiku watched Gaara silently. She had never thought of him as powerless, but she understood. Much of what she accomplished was thanks to him and Okarina...and Aya. Without her friends she would have had no drive. She would have just given up and settled into the life her mother had chosen for her. It must have been the same for Naruto.
"He and I are the same," Gaara continued. "...we grew up hated and faced the same cruelty from our villages...but while he stood by his village I forced mine away."
Kiku stood up and walked to him slowly. She placed a hand on his arm and he turned to look at her.
"I can't change the past, but I can work hard for this village from this day forward. I may never be able to make up for the horrible things I did and mend the ties I broke with the others of this village, but I will try."
Kiku gripped his arm gently and he looked down into her eyes.
"I would like to start by mending the ties I broke with you...I hope I can consider you a friend once again."
Kiku nodded slowly, still registering what he'd said before allowing the smile to spread wide across her face.
"Yes...of course we can be friends."
A/N: sorry for taking so long to update. Haven't had much break from work and school...didn't get any time to edit this either but figured I'd post it since I don't know when I'll get the time to again...hopefully this chapter doesn't suck too bad. I might edit this later if I get time. Also thank you to everyone who's left a review! I really appreciate the feedback. ^^