Weapon Part 2: Like A Dream
A/N: I do not own Naruto or its characters.
The sky was so blue, the blue of the sea dabbed with the whispers of white clouds. He had never seen anything like it. His eyes looked around until he saw the field of flowers surrounding him. Pure white lilies in full bloom all about him as far as the eye could see. He never recalled such a sight like the one before him ever. Only the desolate tan of the desert and its harsh winds spraying grain blinding the eyes.
"Gaara, come see this."
Gaara turned his head to the pure, light voice beckoning to him. Through the tapered red slices of his hair, he saw the small female figure a feet away bent over the lilies. The long dark hair contrasted with the pale white of her kimono and her milk white skin. Her small hands brushed over a small lily gingerly, almost like a lover's caress. Gaara felt a tint of jealousy color his mind before he felt himself move to her through the field of lilies.
He took in the sight of the petite female before him. Her dress was the most elegant he had ever seen on a woman before, but still much more simple than a daimyo's wife. The intricate floral designs on the back were sewn with much care with lavender string. The sleeves were loose and flowing, falling to the grass. The woman's dark hair was also loose, falling freely down her back and nearly hiding the designs on the back and the off white obi around her slender waist. When she turned her head, large lavender eyes surrounded by dark long lashes fixed on him.
"The lilies are in bloom. Aren't they so beautiful?" Her voice tenderly spoke.
His breath was caught in his throat, which had gone dry.
Her eyebrows knitted before a smile graced her full pink lips. She laughed, the sound like bell ringing. The most lovely thing he had ever heard in his lifetime, but then she was only the beautiful thing he had ever seen in his lifetime.
"Gaara, you always look so serious. Take the flower. I gathered them for you."
Gaara blinked his eyes before raising his hand. "You aren't afraid?"
Her cheeks reddened and she tucked hair behind her ear. "No, Gaara-kun. Why would I be?"
Gaara stretched out a hand toward her own small hand holding the flower.
"Come to me then, Hinata."
Gaara felt his body move closer, his head tilting. Her hand moved to his, the fingertips almost touching before his nose flared. The smell was familiar and…terrible. He slid his eyes to his hands, which were now covered in blood. Both of his hands were. His wide eyes snapped up to her, before noticing the expression of horror and shock on her own.
She clutched her side then lifted her hand to her face, blood bleeding out and spreading on the kimono. She moved her mouth but nothing came out. He knew she was talking but he could not hear it. She lay on the lilies, blood dripping from the small flowers.
Drip, drip, drip.
Her eyes were open and frozen. Blood was on her mouth, the color making her lips a bright ruby red. Gaara knew he should have shouted, tried to cry, maybe collapse but something dark took over. Something he wanted to fight, but felt in himself as well.
He knelt down before her and stretched himself over her frail body. He used his hands to put his left arm under her to pull her up to him as close as he could and the other to lightly touch her cheek. A line of blood from his finger was drawn down her pale cheek. Still, her eyes were frozen and how locked on him.
His eyes closed and he shook before using that arm to encircle her, holding her head close to his chest. His nose grazed her bangs on her forehead. Gods, her hair was so soft just like her skin. He knew it would be.
He felt his head pound and his nose crinkle.
BLOOD, BLOOD, BLOOD. GIVE HER TO ME.
Gaara shook his head and closed his eyes.
NO SHUKAKU, ITS MINE NOW. HER BLOOD IS MINE.
A roar resonated in his skull.
OURS! I AM INSIDE YOU. WHATS YOURS IS MINE.
Gaara opened his eyes lazily and looked upon the pale female in his arms. He felt his lips shake and his eyes become hooded. He tilted his head and lowered it down close to hers, noses grazing.
"Gaara…"she whispered drowsily.
"Hinata...its like a dream…" He managed to murmur, almost to him self.
Gaara barely heard her. He pressed his lips on her bloody ones, feeling the soft fullness and tasting her blood. Blood…so pure, sweet and intoxicating. What had he been doing killing all those others his whole life for Mother, offering their blood to her? Well this would not be Mother's or Shukaku's. No one else's…but his.
Pure Hinata…her blood…so pure and innocent…was now his.
Gaara wanted to pull away and try to help her, but something inside fought him. Shukaku and something dark inside him, something he had pushed away and controlled. A tear slid down his face as his pulled away to lick the blood from her lip, went to kiss again and found himself clutching her harder to him. He bit down hard, feeling blood rush down his throat.
Shukaku purred in pleasure. Gaara purred…and shattered at the same time.
XXXXXXX
"Gaara, did you hear Baki? We are going to instruct at the academy here?"Temari yelled.
Gaara felt his eyes snap open and he moved in a fighting stance, his sand swirling around him ready to obey. He knew he looked wild and crazed…but lately he felt like he was.
"Gaara, what the hell is wrong with you? You, um, weren't sleeping were you?"Kankuro asked hesitantly while rubbing his head.
Gaara quickly collected himself, placing on his blank face and looked from Kankuro to Temari. Baki stood in the doorway of the office of the former Kazekage, their dead father. He had felt it necessary to meet with them in there, a room he deemed important as if to signify something of great importance to all of them and maybe one of them later.
Gaara could place a small wager it was on Temari. Despite her temper, she was quite clever and personable when she wanted to be. The village got along with her well and Kankuro was simply just meant to be fighting shinobi. Baki probably imagined her as applying for Kage one day. Gaara…well he knew the council's thoughts and even the villages'. No matter his achievements or his strengths…he was a dangerous weapon. A scary monster told as a tale to scare village children.
After that dream, maybe they are right. Naruto, what would you choose to do? You would be determined and keep trying to make them see your worth. Suna is different than your village…but I will try.
Baki frowned. "Gaara-san, the council asks that all three of you become instructors at the academy. The academy will be taught in the Konoha style. We want to test and see if our success rate rises. We want to raise more capable and talented shinobi, such as yourselves and the other shinobi you have heard of."
"Oh, like that old Chiyo, the hermit."Kankuro huffed.
Temari elbowed him and chimed in. "Like yourself, council member Jai and the former Kages."
"What Temari? She is an old hermit and crazy. Just because she was an amazing puppet master and a good medic doesn't rule out her wacko factor.
"You're just jealous that she can't teach you puppet mastery, you jackass."
"Acting like young children will not work if you are to teach young students and possible genin. Also, who can guess Chiyo's fate. She may return and prove herself once more. Lets not speak ill. Get ready because you will meet your students in one hour. Act like the shinobi I know you are and foughtto argue that you are."
Baki eyed Gaara with the last part of his orders and turned on his heel to leave. Temari and Kankuro gave smiles before checking their equipment. Temari yanked on her hair, brushed her outfit and checked her fan. She noticed Gaara standing still with his crinkled nose and turned head.
"Gaara, this is a good opportunity. Just…smile and you will get students to work with you."
"What are you thinking, brother?"Kankuro chimed in after strapping on his basket of puppets.
"I am preparing myself for this. I will not leave Suna for sometime if I do this."
I will not see Konoha. I will not see Hinata again. I will prove to the council that I am not a weapon or a monster. I will gain respect and make the council see my worth.
"Right on, brother." Kankuro gave a wink and left the door.
Temari raised an eyebrow and went to put an arm around Gaara before simply tapping her fan. She shrugged to him and moved to the door, waiting for Gaara to follow.
"This is going to be what Baki believes. You will be a good teacher. Prove that archaic council wrong, that you are NOT a monster. Lets go."
Temari trudged out of the office.
Gaara began to follow softly, arms crossed and his hand clenched.
But what if I am one? Not a weapon, but a monster?
Hinata…be afraid.
Fear me…as they tell you to.
A/N: Everything is really coming together slowly, but sometimes the muse takes her time. I like to take my time in thinking out the story even if I have up to chapter 20 planned out but I sometimes have to throw something out and try it again on my draft sheets.
Thank you for the reviews. See, it gets darker. Foreshadowing is amazing fun…