Keiko's POV
I could hear the pen effortlessly flow against the paper never missing a single beat, I couldn't even block the annoying rhythm out. And like every day almost as if it's a new routine exactly at 11:45 am the pen would stop in mid-motion, "Are you going to tell me where you got those wounds?" he asked. I could feel his eyes on me, studying me like I was some kind of wild animal.
My nails dug dangerously into the couch I was currently and unwillingly sitting on in his office. I been forced to sit in his office for the past week after I woke up from my injuries in the hospital. I was told until my wounds were healed I would be spending quality time with Gaara and to consider it as a time not only to heal my wounds but to bond with him. That part was not only disgusting but a lie, they just didn't have anyone to babysit me since Kankuro and Temari were busy with the preparations for the upcoming Chunin Exams.
His questions would be relentless until someone walked in, I didn't know why he asked I would always respond with the same answers every day.
"From the friendly sparring match with Yoko." I responded.
"Why didn't you say anything about being injured before the match?" he asked ignoring my previous answer.
"I wasn't hurt; why must we go through this every day?" I said, exhausted with his repetitive questions.
"Who hurt you?" he asked again ignoring yet again my question and answers.
"God dammit, I am perfectly capable of defending myself as if someone can hurt me" I snapped.
"Why did you let them hurt you?" He asked. I froze that bastard tricked me. "Was it your clan?" he asked not waiting for my response.
"Why do you care?" I asked. "Someone who made it awfully clear they didn't care what I did as long as I played my part is asking a lot of questions about things that doesn't concern him" I snarled.
"I" before he could finish Temari burst in with today's lunch. Lunch was usually disgusting, actually food in general was disgusting, I had a hard time stomaching it. But more importantly that woman, that dreadful woman who I think is called Sakura is right behind her. I really disliked her every since the episode in the hospital.
She plops herself right next to me. "Hello, Keiko" I could hear the smile in her voice. Just like Gaara she would ask the same questions every day, I hoped she leave the village soon. "I know you probably don't feel like talking but I also found these in your coat. I never seen anything like these before, they're not a secret right?" she asked while grabbing my hand in order to deposit a small round pill in my hand.
Every time she grabbed my hand I wanted to flinch, I really hated when people touched me. I felt the pill with my fingers. "They numb pain….for up to…four hours" I responded begrudgingly while handing the pill back making sure not to touch her. I felt the gazes of both Temari and Gaara watching our interactions.
"That's amazing. Where did you learn this, did someone teach you? She asked excitedly.
"No" I answered still annoyed, you would think she would get the hint. My clan never pestered me like this, they just left me to my own devices unless they wanted something or felt like punishing me for something I didn't do. So far I told her about the numerous pills I had in my coat the ones she found, they weren't any secret but I still hate delving any information about myself.
"Ohh, okay. Well, here's your lunch." She said pushing a brown, paper bag at me. I could smell the contents of the bag which made my stomach turn.
"Thanks" I replied halfheartedly taking the bag from her outstretched hand.
"Your welcome, um I'll see you tomorrow, Kieko" she said getting up. I had yet another day where she would pester me. "Temari are you coming, I'm sure Shikamaru is waiting?" Sakura asked innocently.
"Ahh, umm…. yeah. I'll I'll be… right... right with you. Give me a moment." She stuttered.
'Mhhh, interesting who was this Shikamaru to get Temari all in a tether.'
"Gaara, here's your lunch, I'll see you both tonight" She said in all one breath. I could hear the bag be flung onto his desk and her quick retreat out the door. My curiosity subsided when the smell of the paper bag wafted up to my noise, the smell of it making me sick. I was really glad they hadn't stayed for lunch like they normally did because I quickly tossed the bag onto the table next to me. Usually, I had to force the food down to be polite.
"You not going to eat?" he asked.
"No" I said annoyed. I thought he be done questioning me. I didn't know what was worse trying to eat food which made me feel sick or his never ending questions.
"Why?"
"I'm not hungry." I said still annoyed which was a lie. I was hungry but I couldn't stand the thought of trying to force food down my throat which was touched by others.
"You're too skinny, eat." He commanded.
"I said I'm not hungry" I said even more annoyed.
"Eat" He commanded again. I could hear the annoyance in his voice.
"Why" I mocked. I don't know what made me act like this, I was taught to listen and obey. 'To honor the Kinjo Clan' I thought bitterly. While I was lost in thought an incredible force threw me back, ultimately pinning me to the couch. It was his damn sand again; I was getting so sick of it.
I fought it but like every other time before my chakra felt so distant and unreachable. I stopped struggling figuring it was pointless to fight the inevitable. I was trying to figure the point in all this but my thoughts were once again disrupted when I heard his chair scarp against the floor as he got up. He walked over to me and I heard the paper bag I had thrown on the table being picked up and opened.
"No. You're not going to" I growled out. I quickly closed my mouth when I realized where this was heading.
My face was forcibly grabbed and squeezed. "Open" he commanded.
I gritted my teeth, I refused to let him get his own way.
When I refused to obey, he squeezed harder causing my lips to pucker in which he tried to force food in. The food smeared all over my teeth in which the taste of it caused me to gag allowing him the opportunity to shove the food in my mouth. Before the thought of spitting the food out occurred to me he covered my mouth with his sand forcing me to swallow.
The process repeated itself until all the food was gone, the sand slowly uncurled itself from me. I was completely exhausted, the fight gone from my body. I felt his thumb wipe remnants of food from my mouth, I shivered involuntarily. "Mhhh, that was quite enjoyable. I'll be sure to do it tomorrow" he said, a low chuckle escaping him as he got up and walked back to his desk.
"I hate you" I hissed.
"I know" he replied sounding amused by my response. I heard him sit back down and I also heard the awful noise of the pen again as he went back to work. But I also thought I heard him humming softly but I could have been mistaken, I was tired. Eating that disgusting food did a number on me and I soon found myself falling asleep unwillingly in front of an enemy.
'How odd' I thought once again before I gave myself to the darkness.
Author's note- This upcoming scene is in the past, I just don't want anyone to get confused.
They were in a private wing in Suna's hospital. They had brought Keiko here after she passed out after the match to check on her injuries. She had caused quite a ruckus after waking up when Sakura was about to remove her clothing and if it was not for Gaara grabbing her outside the doorway Temari and Kankuro weren't sure what would have happened. But fortunately Sakura was able to sedate her and finish looking and tending to her wounds. Now the three sand sibling waited for Sakura to report to them about Keiko's condition.
"Gaara, thank you for earlier." Sakura said referring back to when Keiko had tried to escape.
"No, thank you" Gaara said. He studied her, by just looking at her face something was bugging her. "What is bothering you?" he asked.
"Well, there's something you should know." She said her eyes now casted downwards.
"Yes?"
"Well, she has wounds on her back." She said pausing as if trying to figure out how to word her sentence. He waited.
"The wounds on her back are not from the match earlier." She said becoming really quiet. "They are old wounds….. Some of them really old wounds." she hesitated not sure how to continue.
"Wounds from a mission?" he asked not quite sure where she was heading. It was normal for shinobi to have wounds from previous battles.
"No… You see that's the problem, normally that would be the case and often the truth for many shinobi but unfortunately that isn't true for her." She said, anger now apparent in her voice.
"Gaara, someones been abusing her" she said not allowing him to get a single word in. Her eyes which were on the ground now focused on him, full of rage. "The wounds were placed on her back for a reason Gaara, they wanted to hide the abuse. The wounds are so deep but that's not all. " she said shaking in fury. "She been starved, she so thin but still in this condition she still fought today. She must have been in so much pain. I don't know, I'm just so mad at whoever did this." She spat.
Kankuro and Temari were off to the side their heads down listening to the conversation Gaara and Sakura were currently having. They were also thinking how lucky they were that Sakura just happened to be in town visiting Suna. They had a sheepish look and were trying to digest the same information Sakura was giving Gaara. They glanced up at Gaara their brother and also leader to see how he was handling the information about his future wife. However, his face was unreadable.
After a few minutes to let the information to sink in Sakura spoke again "I'm also afraid she probably suffering from PTSD"
"PTSD?" Kankuro asked.
Sakura turned and looked at Kankuro "ahh, yess" her voice having an edge of sadness to it. "PTSD is what we are calling it, it is short for post-traumatic stress disorder in which the individual has gone through a traumatic ordeal and with the right triggers they can relive the memory. We only recently discovered it after the war."
"Can I see her?" Gaara asked.
"Of Course. This way." Sakura said caught off by his question. Temari and Kankuro were left behind to think about the information they just received.
Gaara followed behind her without another word his presence unnerving her, she could never tell what he was thinking. She stopped outside the hospital door, "she's in there" she pointed at the room her head once again bowed down. He grabbed her arm causing her jump and look him in the eye.
"Thank you, Sakura. I truly appreciate it. If you weren't here today I don't know what we would have done" He said again before letting go of her arm and walking into the room. She stole a glance into the room before returning to where Temari and Kankuro were and what she saw stunned her.
Gaara lifted his hand to Kieko's face, his fingers brushing her check a gesture which couldn't be mistaken for anything but love and affection. Sakura's face turned a bright red before she turned and ran back to where Temari and Kankuro were.
"I guess we are a perfect match" he said sighing. He paused before continuing, "I'm also sorry I didn't know you were hurt earlier".
His other hand slowly became a fist. "I'll find out who did this to you but I'll doubt you'll cooperate with me" he said sighing again but this time in defeat.
Author Note- thanks for reading. Also don't forget to check out with the person's story i'm competing with. :) (Crazysenpai- devoted to a puppet)