7. Starry Night
Hana walked slowly through the building, fascinated by how silent it was. Normally, she was asleep at this hour of the night, but she had felt Gaara leave the bed and she felt compelled to follow him. She found him sitting in his office, a familiar figure in the palm of his hand. He wasn't working, just sitting in silence.
"You shouldn't be up so early." Ice blue eyes peered up at her. Then he continued to play with the sculpture. "Where'd you get that?" Hana demanded, noticing it for the first time.
"I found it on our windowsill." He held it up to the light. "It's a very beautiful piece. Do you have others?" The girl gulped, eyes cast down. He glanced at her, curious to why she had fallen silent. "Hana?"
"I…" She took a shaky breath. "I have others."
"I would like to see them some time. This one is so incredibly detailed. Are all of them like this?"
"Most. I usually paint them as well." The redhead nodded, placing the figurine on his desk. He was unusually fond of the beetle, despite the fact that it was incomplete.
"May I keep it?" A true smile lit up her face, one of pure joy. He was taken aback by this, perplexed by why his request pleased her.
"Of course. You don't want me to finish it?"
"No. I like it the way it is." She glanced down before smiling at him again, violet eyes warming for the first time. She came forward, pulling a chair by his desk and sitting beside him. "Why didn't you tell us about your gift when we asked about your hobbies?"
"When my father found out about it, he destroyed half of my collection. I was afraid that would happen again." Gaara glanced at her.
"You're being very open this morning."
"Your sister gave me a talk." The Kazekage's lips twitched up. He knew she would do it eventually. Temari was determined to see him happy. Looking at Hana, he felt content that they were making progress. If he could just get her to let her guard down around others as well, she might actually become popular in Suna. She was rather charming when not on the defensive.
"So, why are you up so early? You didn't even come to bed until late." He shrugged, not having a real reason. Then, out of habit, he began to work on some of the paperwork on his desk. Due to his late hours, he rarely fell behind but his absence had allowed for the piles to stack up. "Can I help?" she asked, taking a stack of papers. Gaara showed her how to organize them, grateful for her kindness. Hana thanked him and they worked together until the building sang with activity.
"Gaara, have you seen…?" Temari stopped and then beamed as she noticed the civilian working beside her husband. "How long have you two been at it?"
"I have no idea, but we started before day break," Hana piped up.
"But I thought you and Kankuro got back late," Temari stated, redirecting the conversation to Gaara. He nodded.
"He didn't sleep much. He was restless again."
"It was a full moon last night," the redhead said simply.
"But you don't have Shukaku inside of you anymore," the girl protested. He shrugged.
"Once the inner clock has been set, it's hard to turn it off again." Hana rolled her eyes and handed him the last stack of papers. With her by his side, it had only taken a few hours to catch back up.
"I'm surprised. You two make quite a team. Paperwork trembles in your presence." The girl giggled at Temari's teasing. "You must have gotten a good night's sleep." As the kunoichi approached the couple, her eyes glimpsed the strange figurine and held it up to the light. "Where'd you get this, Gaara?" He ignored her, already walking out of his office to deliver the papers to the archives. The blonde glared at his back then gestured to Hana with it. She shrugged, not wanting to bring up her gifts. She was still wary of the others.
"Anyway, did you think about what I said yesterday?"
"Yes!" the civilian exclaimed. "I can do it. I'm sure of it." Temari nodded.
"Yeah, I can see it… Hana, do you love my brother?"
"Um…," the girl hesitated.
"It just seems as though you're happier with him than anyone else."
"Well, I suppose that's true." Green eyes searched the pale face for answers. She wound up with nothing, Mayonaka no Hana successfully hiding her emotions behind a mask. Though she had never succeeded in becoming a ninja, her training was evident.
"Anyway, I wanted to tell you that Kankuro and I decided that you would be going to the summit instead of us, this time."
"What?" Hana cocked her head to the side, utterly lost.
"Gaara didn't tell you? The reason why he got back so soon is because the other Kage have agreed to meet here in a few days. Everyone's allowed two guards but since we're in Suna, Gaara only gets one. That being said, we figured if we sent you, it would be seen as an act of trust towards the other villages. No offense."
"None taken."
"I was just wondering if you'd be able to do me a favor while you're there," Temari requested.
"What kind of a favor?"
"She wants you to try and remember the conversation so her and Kankuro can dissect it later," Gaara answered for his sibling. He turned towards the kunoichi. "I was going to tell her myself." The blonde shrugged.
"So…?"
"I guess," Hana supposed, putting the extra chair back where she found it. "I do have a pretty good memory when I try." Temari nodded gratefully.
►§◄
Hana stretched slowly, rolling over to find Gaara still fast asleep. She went to shake him awake but she noticed that his arm was abnormally warm. Concerned, she moved her hand to his forehead. It was feverish. Without a moment of hesitation, she hopped over him and onto the ground, padding her way to the bathroom to fetch a cold washcloth. She wringed it out before taking it back and laying it on Gaara's head. The redhead stirred a little, but didn't wake.
The girl tended over her husband for nearly an hour before the first person came in. "Lady Hana," the ninja gasped, noticing the way she sat on the edge of Gaara's bed. "Is Lord Kazekage alright?" The man peered at the teen and the cloth on his forehead.
"He's sick. Could you fetch Lady Temari for me?" Her voice was low so she wouldn't disturb him.
"What should I tell the other Kage? There was supposed to be a summit today."
"Let me speak with Lady Temari first." The ninja nodded and scuttled away. Just moments later, the blonde kunoichi stuck her head through the door.
"Manji said Gaara was sick. Is it true?" Temari whispered, slipping in silently. Hana nodded, touching his forehead to see if he had gotten any better. "Have you woken him?"
"No. I didn't feel him come in last night, which is strange. I think we should leave him be and postpone the summit."
"The other Kage won't be happy about that and they're not going to accept it from anyone else's mouth but his."
"I'll tell them."
"Hana," the Sand Sibling protested. "They're not going to listen to you. You're just…"
"I'm the Kazekage's wife. This is my decision and I've made it. I dare them to challenge that." Gaara's sister smiled, pleased with the woman her brother was tied to. "Will you watch over him for me as I inform them of the delay?"
"Of course." Hana nodded and stood, touching his cheek one last time before exiting the room. She had gotten dressed earlier when she and Gaara had been left alone. The summit was supposed to occur in the council chamber, so that was the first place she checked. When she strolled in, all eyes focused on her.
"What are you doing here?" the Tsuchikage demanded instantaneously.
"I've come to inform you that the meeting has been postponed until tomorrow as the Kazekage isn't feeling well." Her voice was smooth and emotionless, spoken in such a way that they hesitated to question her. However, the Raikage wasn't content with her explanation.
"He said that himself?" Lord Ay demanded.
"No. Gaara is asleep."
"Then who made the decision to postpone the meeting?"
"I did." Hana held herself with an air of confidence, so sure of her choice that she wasn't intimidated by the man twice her size, if not more.
"And who are you to make that decision?"
"I'm his wife."
"Oh you," he disregarded her with a laugh. "This is ninja business. Wake the Kazekage and send him here."
"No."
"Excuse me?"
"I said no. For one, this isn't ninja business; it's a political matter so your statement is invalid. Secondly, even if it were ninja business, I'm the Kazekage's chosen guard so I still get the final say. Therefore, I say no." The Raikage stood, glaring down at the civilian. She stared back, unwavering. Then she sighed, shaking her head. "That boy doesn't know what's good for him," she muttered under her breath. She turned around, hands on her hips. "Go back to bed," she ordered just as soon as the Kazekage rounded the corner.
"Hana," he argued softly. Dressed and standing, it was obvious that he was ill.
"You have a fever. Go lay down."
"Hana, I'm fine."
"Gaara," the girl's tone was stern, irritation slipping into it. "I'm not going to argue with you on this."
"You…"
"I will drag you back to bed by your ears if I have to. I may not be a ninja but my stubbornness overpowers yours. Trust me." Pale blue eyes flashed wide and then a soft smile touched his lips.
"Fine," he relented. "I apologize for the inconvenience," he said, redirecting his attention to the other Kage. Half of them, including their guards, had to cover their mouths to keep from laughing. Mayonaka no Hana didn't glance back as she took her husband back to bed.
"You can find me a wife any day, Ohnoki," the Raikage said, sitting down with a smirk on his lips. "Just make sure I get one like her."
"I wish I could take the credit, but I voted for her sister to be sent. The Council voted against me," the Tsuchikage admitted, laughing.
►§◄
Hana sat down by Gaara's side as he lay in bed, spreading another damp cloth against his head. He grabbed her hand and held it over his chest, closing his eyes. "Thank you, Hana. I think I do need a rest."
"Yes, well don't tell me who woke you. They'll lose a finger if I find out." He grinned, glad for this strange woman.
"I'll make sure they sleep with one eye open."
"Just make sure both of yours stay closed."
"Sing to me, Hana?"
"Of course," she whispered affectionately, smoothing back his hair with her free hand and beginning to sing.
►§◄
Hana woke later that night, feeling the spot beside her empty. Her eyes flashed open, momentarily alarmed until she saw her husband sitting in the window. One leg hung loosely outside the window while the other was bent, one arm resting on the knee. Without a word, she slipped out of bed, crawling to his side and sitting beneath him, back to the wall and knees hugged to her chest. Gaara glanced down.
"You should go back to bed," he muttered calmly.
"Come with me?" He shook his head. "I've been sleeping all day. I'm not tired."
"Then I'll sit here with you." She peered up at him, admiring the way the moonlight cast interesting shadows across his face, turning one half milky white, while the other was shrouded in black. His eyes, however, looked like little stars peeking out from their lonely spots in the universe. Her hand reached up, beckoning him to lower his head. She touched first his forehead, then both cheeks with the back of her hand.
"Do I pass your test?" he asked in his most gentle voice, not wanting to upset her, though he doubt he could at this point. She still looked half asleep. The girl's head bobbed up and down before she dropped her hand and rested her head on her knees. Then, she stole Gaara's free hand that was hanging limp by his side.
He stared back down at Hana, confused by this gesture. This was someone accustomed to sleeping on her own, without nightmares or torment. In fact, he knew that she had hoped for her own room when she first arrived. So, why was she choosing to sleep in a less comfortable position just so she could be with him? Was she just trying to comfort him or had she grown dependent on his presence just as he had become dependent on hers? Not wanting to overthink the issue, Gaara turned away and stared across the village he swore to protect.
So, I realize Hana is kind of taking a shift in character. If you feel that this is too sudden, please tell me, because I've been thinking about rewriting this a bit. Thanks for reading. Please review.