Back to the non-filler chapters. Hurray! We're starting to get really close to the romance here, just a few more chapters...
I closed my eyes and concentrated. I could hear the bird flying above me, I could see through his eyes. All of Suna lay before it, spread out flat and planned out. I could see the market street, the Kazekage building, the training grounds, and the academy. The cliffs surrounding the village, more like walls in actuality, were reddish in hue. Seeing through a bird's eye was strange. Their colors were much different than mine.
Now it was time to practice the justu I wanted to perfect. In the scroll labeled "Hidden Jutsu", there was mention of a jutsu where one can take over the body of an animal. How the jutsu worked and how to use it had been lost, but it was possible. There were other jutsu that should give me the ability to project my thoughts into others' minds. Neither had worked for me as of yet.
I concentrated on the flapping of the wings. I tried to intertwine my mind with the mind of the bird. His breath was my breath, his wings were my wings. Every instinct, every shift in position was intensified. The smells, the hunger, the heat. This was all distinct, all helping me to become the hawk. I was circling above a strange figure who is so still she might be dead. I do not want to swoop down and check on her, she might be dangerous. But part of me does, part of me needs to.
I focused intensely, making the bird change his wing position, to begin to swoop down. It came lower and lower and… "Damn it! I lost it again!" The hawk immediately began to propel itself upward, away from the figure. I let the bird go. My head hurt from the focus and trying to block out everyone else. The council, for the past hour or so, had been deep in the discussion over the matter of the Kazekage. Gaara had officially put his name in for the running and the debate within was as heated as ever. I had already done all I could do with my limited gifts.
It had been months since Gaara had join the regular forces. He had a student now, Matsuri, and was often busy. That was good for him. Keeping him busy and with others was useful for those who wanted to control him. Of course, it also helped me to get a little bit of peace and quiet since Kankuro and Temari couldn't put forth their plan. And thank the gods for that, I thought.
Speaking of the sand siblings, they were gathered in a room a few floors below me. Kankuro was playing with his newest puppet, Salamander, while Temari was daydreaming about Shikamaru. Poor girl was lovesick. Gaara, who I observed through Temari's eyes, was playing with some sort of bracelet. In fact, as I looked closer at it, it was an exact replica of my left cuff. I wondered what he was doing. Time to find out, I told myself, leaving Temari's conscious. I slipped back into the building through a porthole and headed down to the room. The Kazekage building was like home to me. I could traverse it with my eyes closed.
"What are you up to?" I asked, slipping into the room. I wasn't dressed in my normal attire. The heat of Suna had finally started to get to me so I was wearing only a short, black skirt and a tank-top. I'd burn if I stayed outside long but I was usually stuck inside until night anyway. My two headbands were in their regular places and my black sandals had been replaced with a pair of white ones.
The jinchuriki glanced up at me momentarily before refocusing on the cuff. I couldn't tell what he was doing with it so I imagined it had to be involved with chakra. "Hey, Nari," Kankuro stated, glancing up at me. "What are you all dressed up for?" I looked prettier than normal from his point of view. Kankuro wasn't really sure what he thought of me. I was too creepy looking to be pretty, too pretty to be ugly, and too innocent looking to be creepy. I wasn't average either so, to him, I was "eh".
"I'm not. It's just hot."
"Ten minutes outside in that and you'll be crispy," Temari stated.
"Thirty minutes. Surprisingly, I don't burn easily."
"It's because you're half-demon," Kankuro figured. Only the sand siblings knew the specifics of my situation so he whispered it.
"Probably," I agreed. "So, why are all of you inside?" I received three sets of glares. They knew I knew. Asking pointless questions was becoming a habit of mine. That was good when I wanted to disguise my gifts but to those who knew, it was annoying. "Sorry."
"How's it going?" Temari asked.
"It's… going," I muttered. "Actually, I think I'm going to get involved again here soon."
"You're not going to give us any details," she assumed. I confirmed her suspicion and she let out a low sigh. She honestly wanted Gaara to succeed. In truth, he didn't have much opposition. They were running out of options. I sat down, cross-legged, next to Gaara and closed my eyes. Time for more politics, I sighed.
"But to make him Kazekage!" one protested.
"He's done outstanding on all of his missions. Reports say he used his sand shield to protect his teammates as well as himself. In truth, we have no reason to oppose him other than because of what he is." So my earlier memory tweaking had worked. They were taking notice of all the good he had done since joining the regular forces. That was good.
"Not to mention, putting Gaara into the position as Kazekage gives us a direct link to control him. Have him there and, as Baki pointed out earlier, he would act under our council. Not to mention, that binds him to the village and eliminates the threat Nari mentioned so long ago," the eldest member pointed out. He didn't like Gaara but he saw the profits all could reap from his promotion to Kage.
"This conversation isn't going anywhere," one lady said. "All in favor of Gaara becoming Kazekage." Hands rose and the few that hesitated, I spurred forward with good memories of him. Astonishingly, only three were in opposition. Gaara had succeeded. "Then this meeting is resolved." I opened my eyes and left the council.
"It has been decided," I stated calmly. All three of them granted me their full attention. "I expect that Baki will give you the results." Three glares responded. "I wasn't a part of this meeting, remember? I'm not supposed to know how it turned out and neither are you." At that moment, Baki came in. We were only down the hall from the council chambers. "How'd it go?" I asked him. I was intending to tell him about my gift but I had to wait until after this decision was made, just in case.
"We would like to speak with Gaara," he said, not hinting who had won. Gaara nodded and handed me the cuff. I raised in eyebrow but got no response as he strode off with his sensei.
"He doesn't expect me to put this on, does he?" I asked, holding it up. Temari shook her head and shrugged. Kankuro smirked.
"I think he's trying to make up for how you received them last time."
"Doubtful," I argued. "He enjoys his power over me."
"You can't blame him. I'd love to have some power over you, too. You're too dangerous for your own good." I frowned at the middle sibling. I wasn't that dangerous unless someone pissed me off. That didn't happen often anymore. The longer I spent in politics, the mellower I seemed to become. Now, it took a lot to upset me.
I peered at the new cuff. It was identical physically, but as I analyzed the chakra within, something was different. I just didn't know what. "Nari, if Gaara becomes Kazekage, will you go to the celebration?" Temari asked randomly. I glanced up at her.
"Of course, I'd go. Sure, he annoys me with his 'I'm your owner' act but I still think of him as a companion." Her look was pointed. She didn't believe that I thought of Gaara only as a companion. Her insistency that I had an infatuation for the jinchuriki was admirable but annoying. It wasn't true.
"Nari, what would you do if you lost Gaara?" She wanted to prove her point that I liked him, at least as a friend.
"Like dead?" she nodded. I frowned at that and furrowed my eyebrows. What would I do? Well, first of all, I'd do my best to prevent such an occurrence. He was the new Kazekage, after all. I'd do anything to save him. The loss of Gaara could mean panic in Suna. But if I couldn't save him? If I couldn't bring him back? I felt a strange sensation in my chest at such a thought. It'd be like losing Miu and Takeo again but… worse. Much worse. "I don't know," I admitted. "That's not really an important question though. The odds are that I'll die long before Gaara." Temari smirked a little.
"You're just trying to cover up the fact that you care for him."
"He treats me like a pet," I retorted, crossing my arms and turning away.
"Only because you let him."
"I do not!"
"Nari, have you ever actually asked him to stop?" Kankuro demanded, joining in.
"Ye -," I paused, rethinking that. Had I ever asked? "No, but…"
"Maybe you should ask." I puffed at my bangs and tightened my ponytail by pulling on the hair.
"It's not going to have any affect," I told him. "Nothing I've said or done has had any affect."
"Nari, despite how you might feel, Gaara does regard you as a friend of sorts," Temari informed me. "The way he treats you like a pet might just be his way of staking a claim on you. You know he's new to these types of feelings." I rolled my eyes. That wasn't my fault. Why should I be treated like this? Suddenly, a very pleased Gaara walked into the room. Much to all of our astonishment, a smile was plastered onto his face. It wasn't like a big, toothy-grin but a small one that showed he really was human and had feelings. I smiled back, already knowing the news.
"You did it," Kankuro breathed in realization. He hadn't been sure that his younger brother could do it but he had prayed for his success. Gaara nodded. Temari was so proud and happy for him that she ran over and embraced him. I saw the flicker of surprise cross his features but it faded away when she released him.
"When's the ceremony?" she demanded.
"In nine days," Baki answered, coming into the room as well. "The night of the new moon." That was a suitable time. Gaara would have the least trouble that night. "Here's the catch, and I did try to have this removed, but as the Honorable Siblings, both of you are expected to have dates." He was talking to Temari and Kankuro. Temari's thoughts immediately snapped to Shikamaru but she pushed the thought aside and considered other boys that were already in Suna. She wouldn't have any trouble finding a date.
"You mean that Gaara is excluded from this?" Kankuro demanded, wishing that it wasn't so. That would've presented him and Temari with the perfect opportunity to force us together again.
"Yes, Gaara is excluded." Kankuro started complaining about how that wasn't fair and Temari joined in. Baki quirked an eyebrow, not knowing of anybody who would agree to go to the celebration with Gaara. "If he wants a date, of course he can take her but…"
"Yeah, yeah…," Kankuro muttered. "And Nari?"
"As far as I know, Nari will be returning to Konoha. She's only supposed to be ambassador until the new Kazekage is selected. She doesn't have to stay for the celebration or even attend, although you're certainly allowed to," he said, redirecting the statement to me.
"I should go send a hawk to Lady Tsunade about the news. If you'll excuse me," I attempted to slip away but Temari caught hold of my cuff. Even she uses them to disable me! I gave her my attention.
"I'd like you to meet me in my room when you're done, okay?" she said sweetly. I nodded and, before I forgot, tossed the new left cuff to Gaara. I surely didn't want it. His sand caught it for him and then I was gone.
When I reached the hawk tower, I began to regret not congratulating Gaara myself. I shrugged the feeling off. I'd tell him later. Besides, it's not as if he didn't know I was happy for him. I did smile, after all.
"Hello. Do you need something?" a hawk-trainer asked me when I got to the top floor.
"Yes, I have a message that I need to send to the Hokage."
"Of course," the woman said. She retrieved a tiny scroll, a brush, and a vile of ink for me. "What is it?" I had been here several times before and she knew I couldn't write. It was slightly embarrassing for a girl my age but it couldn't be helped. I had never had the need to write before.
"Tell her that the new Kazekage has been selected and that he is Gaara." The trainer gave me an astonished face. I nodded that she had heard me correctly. She closed her mouth and began to write again. "Also ask if I may stay for the celebration in nine days." She nodded, finished, rolled up the scroll, put it into a carrier-hawk's pouch, and let him fly away.
"She should receive the message in a few days."
"Thank you." With that, I took my leave and headed back towards the round building in the center of Suna. I slipped through the building unnoticed and reached Temari's room. I knocked.
"Come in." I pushed open the door and stood under her studious gaze. "You're staying for the celebration," she ordered.
"If Lady Tsunade is alright with it," I said, reminding her whose decision it really was. She nodded and beckoned me in further.
"Sit down, we need to talk." She pointed to her bed. I sighed, knowing where this conversation was heading. I did as she bid and waited. "You love him."
"I don't."
"You do."
"I don't." I let out an exasperated laugh. Why was she being so pushy? Couldn't she let it go? I had known Temari for more than a year now and still she believed the same thing, despite the lack of supporting evidence.
"You talk in your sleep," she snapped. I froze. My dream, since it was reoccurring, was still that hallway. Sometimes I did things differently but the ending was always the same. Gaara made it through the door, it shut in my face, and I was crushed by sand. "You call his name."
"That's ridiculous," I denied but I was secretly searching her memories for the occasion. She was correct. I did. Not very loud but once, when she had come to check on me, she had heard me. Apparently, Kankuro had reported such instances as well.
"You know what I'm talking about," she assumed, seeing my expression. I tended to call after Gaara once he went through the door. It was a nightmare, not a dream. I didn't like it at all. "Do you remember what you're dreams are about? Care to share?" I puffed at my bangs.
"I'm trapped in a hallway and all the doors are locked besides one. It's wide open and it's casting light into the hallway. Standing in the light is your brother. I try to follow him through the door but it always shuts in my face. I try to pound my way past to no avail. Then I wake up." I left out the cuffs, sand, and kanji on purpose.
"You've never made it through the door."
"No. It's been the same dream every time I sleep since the Sasuke Retrieval Mission." Her jaw dropped. That sounds miserable, she determined. "It is," I agreed in a low whisper. "And I don't like your brother showing up in my dreams either." At that, she smirked.
"Nari, you know you like him. At least a little bit."
"No." She shook her head and knelt down in front of me.
"Maybe, if you admit your feelings for him, you'll get to see what's beyond the door."
"I admit my feelings every day," I said harshly. She shrugged.
"Well, that's all I wanted. You can leave." I nodded and walked out, pulling my hair out of my ponytail and running a hand through my hair. It was only an hour after noon but I was exhausted. It had been five days since I last slept. That was partly because I was so nervous about the meeting today (don't ask me why) and because I hadn't been able to get in any physical exercise. Now, for whatever reason, I was exhausted.
I went across the hall to my room and closed the door. I went to my bathroom and stripped down, wanting to take a shower. I cleansed myself and then dried off and got into a pair of shorts and a clean tank-top. I laid down on top of the covers and pushed my wet hair to the side. I crossed my hands over my stomach and closed my eyes, starting to meditate. With all the distracting thoughts around, it was the only way I'd ever be able to sleep. I knew that from experience.
Suddenly, my door opened. I peeked at Gaara as he walked in. "Am I disturbing you?" he asked softly, noting my position. I shook my head and sat up. I had only just started my meditation. I noticed, in Gaara's hands, were four cuffs. Apparently, the left one wasn't the only one he wanted to modify.
"Do I have a choice?" I asked as he approached and took my left hand. He shook his head and took the cuff on my wrist off as simply as if anyone could do it. Then, he put the new one on. He did the same thing for each of my limbs and then added the old cuffs back into his sand collection. "What's the difference?" I wondered aloud.
"You'll see," he muttered. He turned to leave but I called out to him. He looked over his shoulder at me.
"Gaara, congratulations."
"Thank you, Nari," he replied somewhat solemnly.
"And one more thing. Can you, please, stop treating me like a pet?" Silence ensued. "Gaara?"
"You are a pet." I sighed and put my head in my hands. "Good evening, Nari," he told me before leaving me to peace. I plopped back down onto my bed and closed my eyes again. I meditated again, trying to find another dozer within the city. The only one I found was a baby. I took what I had and soon fell asleep.
I am in the same hallway as always. I look towards the door I know will open for me as soon as I try a different door. But, instead of following the usual routine, I walk towards the door. I put my hand around the knob and twist. There is no lock. I am astonished as I pull the door open. I place myself between the door and the room so that I cannot be barred entrance again. I peer into the bright white light.
Suddenly, a hand appears on top of my shoulder. I glance over at Gaara who is also staring into the white light. He urges me forward and I take a step, him directly at my side. The door shuts behind us. The light becomes brighter the further we step in and soon I must close my eyes. Then, I open them to a strange sight.
A little girl lays by a pond, running her fingers through the water. Tears stream down her face and drip into the water, but her expression is peaceful. It is as though she doesn't realize she's in pain. A boy stands nearby. He is crying as well, squatting with his hands rubbing his eyes. I recognize the children, myself and Gaara.
"We should…," I start but when I turn towards where my companion was, he is gone. I look around for him but find no one. I glance back at the children. The little boy is no longer crying. He is standing up, two people on either side of him. I recognize younger Kankuro, Temari, and Naruto. Lord Baki is also standing there. The girl, on the other hand, is pounding at the pond with her fists. No one is with her.
I go over to the little girl, ignoring the eyes of Gaara's family as I go. I sit behind her and begin to stroke her hair. "It'll be alright," I console her. She doesn't seem to hear me. That's when young Gaara comes over. He kneels down beside young me and shakes her. She looks up, trying to stop her tears. He holds out a hand to her. She takes it and he pulls her to her feet. Then, he takes her back to his family.
"You'll be happy here," he tells her. Older Gaara reappears by my side. He is watching the same sight I am. I wait for him to say something, to do something. He offers me his hand but I refuse. Everything fades away slowly.
"No, wait!" I scream, trying to catch them. No matter where I run, I end up back at the pond. I lay down by it like my younger self and start to cry.
As always, thanks for reading and please review. The next chapter is super cute!