Chapter 2
Yuka went back to her apartment feeling more tired than ever—even after saying that she had just returned from a mission and she hadn't rest yet.
'Ah…Troublesome mission…one after another…Can't a girl have her rest ?' She thought to herself.
She looked at her bed with a longing expression. Although she really wanted to have a good long rest for a day, she still had the 'troublesome' mission which had started today. She didn't think the Kazekage would tolerate her tarry in a mission.
She sighed before she quickly took a bath and changed her clothes. She discarded her rather sweaty and bloody ninja vest to a corner in her messy bedroom and wore a yellow t-shirt with dark brown short—a civilian clothing—instead. She also tossed her ANBU mask away and pulled her long green hair into a ponytail with a white ribbon.
The Kazekage had told her that it was up to her choice on how to finish the mission and even though all the ninja who took the mission to guard Gaara before always chose to shadow him—more like a stalker—without even going near him if they could help it, she had already planned on how to do this one. And she sure as hell wouldn't be stalking anyone soon, it was really boring, tiring and too bland for her taste.
She would make this mission interesting though. Maybe she could even turn this one into a little vacation from the usual bloody mission. 'Of course, if I don't then I wouldn't be the ANBU anomaly won't I ? Still have a reputation to uphold.' She chuckled to herself.
She opened her wardrobe and grabbed an old and dusty handbag. Without even bothering to clean it, she filled it with kunais, shurikens, exploding tags, ninja wires, bandages and some money. After all, if she brought a kunai pouch, it would be too obvious—like flashing a sign 'I'm not a normal civilian. Come and get me', and that would just ruin the purpose of wearing a civilian clothing.
'Where's the fun of it if I went in with ANBU gear ?' She thought.
She swung the handbag over her shoulder and went out of her apartment, searching for her 'mission target'.
The street to the playground was eerily empty and quiet. Most of the peoples were inside their houses or shops, the others who were outside were running to the other direction, dragging their children who wanted to go to the playground. It was as if they were all afraid of something.
Murmurs passed as Yuka walked towards the playground. Something along the line of 'Demon.', 'Monster.' 'That monster in the playground. ' 'Let's get away from here.'
She ignored all the murmurings, kept on walking and went into the playground expecting to see Gaara alone—however she clearly didn't expect to see four 5-years-old kids not far from Gaara, playing a ball. She stopped behind the wall nearby and watched in amusement as they kicked the ball too high and bounced up the wall. A trail of sand shifted and engulfed the ball in a blanket., then the sand pulled the ball into Gaara's arm.
She saw the children stiffened, " It's Gaara the monster. Move ! Move ! " one of them cried out.
The children shook out of their stupor and ran away, almost tripping over themselves.
"Wait ! " Gaara protested, " I just want to play. " He added quietly, her ears strained to hear the soft voice even with the ANBU trainings.
His eyes emitted utter sadness and loneliness as he watched the children went away.
Yuka frowned at the running children. Really, if there was one thing she hate, that would be loneliness…, and pity.
The ball fell from Gaara's arms, bouncing across the playground and stopped at her foot.
She heard Gaara's silent sniffling, struggling to keep from crying. She wondered for a moment, her plan today was actually to just find Gaara and went back for a nice sleep, this was out-of-schedule—although maybe she should have count this would happen. She really wished to leave him alone even though she loathed to make someone felt lonely if she could help it. Was she a hypocrite then ?
She looked at the ball hesitantly, before picking it up. She trotted her way to Gaara who still stood at the same spot before.
"Here. " Yuka said, putting on her signature grin.
He hesitated, his head upturned to her. Teal green eyes glistening with tears at the corner looked at her blue ones directly. Behind the pain and loneliness in his eyes, there was a spark of…hope…directed at her.
Yuka winced internally. 'How could I contemplated to leave Gaara alone before ? I always thought I'm different, but then again what's the difference between me and the others ?'
He accepted it, his crying had reduced into a few sniffles. She waited, her grin faded as she felt the sand beneath her shifted ever so slightly.
"Why ? " Gaara asked.
"Because I'm just in the mood to be nice to anyone I met. " Yuka drawled, albeit a little sarcastic—saying the first excuse that came into her mind.
"Nice ? " He repeated. Yuka felt the sand coiled around her feet and took a step back.
"Wait !" He shouted. The sand tightened around her feet, freezing her in her track. It travelled up her legs and then to her body. Yuka paled a little, truthfully she never saw Gaara attacking anyone—and now that she had experienced it first-hand, no wonder other people called him a monster.
Then she felt the sand around her loosened a little. She breathed in relief as she felt herself able to move again even a little.
"Look, Gaara. Wrapping people in sand-crushing grip wasn't the best way to greet someone. " Yuka growled out pointedly—pissed that she was caught unaware by a five-years-old boy.
"Sorry. " Gaara said, looking down, " I just…don't want you to run away. "
She looked at his downcasted-guilty look and sighed.
"Why should I ?" she said exasperatedly.
Gaara looked up, " But everyone else…"
" Yeah, yeah…" she waved her hand off," But my motto is to be different from everyone else, brat. "
Gaara quietened, his sand still wrapping around Yuka's feet loosely. She looked at it idly. She could just jump and run but she didn't think that will end well for Gaara's end—especially for his ever-growing loneliness.
"Hey, Gaara. " she called him. He looked up at her.
" You mind lettin' me go now ? " she gestured to the sand with a bored façade.
"Oh…" He trailed off, the sand around Yuka soften and fell to the ground, pooling under her feet.
She shook the remaining sand away and dusted herself.
" What's your name ? " Gaara asked.
She looked at Gaara in the eyes, an ear-splitting grin broke on her face," Kazuno Yuka. Nice to meet you."
"Kazuno Yuka. " Gaara repeated, almost chanting.
"Oh yeah. Just call me Yuka. " she added as an afterthought.
"Yuka…, " Gaara called out, then he looked down again. The sand started to shift uneasily.
"What is it ? " she asked him albeit with a little worried tone—both for herself and for Gaara.
"You…want to play ? " He asked hesitantly.
Yuka cocked an eyebrow, " Sure thing. It's been a long time since I had my last game. "
Gaara looked up again, his eyes glistened full of hope, as if she was the first person to accept playing with him—'which considering the villager's reaction may be right.' She mused.
"What do you want to play ? " she asked him.
"Uh…I don't know. " Gaara said looking downcasted again.
She sighed, and glanced at the ball at Gaara's hands, " Let's just start with good ol' passing. "
Gaara nodded, a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.
A/N : Okay, this is it ! What do you think ? Is it good or bad ? Please review, okay ! Btw, I'm not gonna make a pairing between Yuka and Gaara. I don't think it will be suitable. Maybe they'll just stay as friends forever until a new idea emerged in my mind. Anyway, anyone are welcome to give ideas to me and constructive critics too !