Temari and Kankuro were both at the table discussing the Chunin Exams when they heard the front door open and close. They expected to see Keiko and Gaara but no one rounded the corner which peeked their curiosity. Curiosity got the better of Temari causing her to get up and look around the corner, she was silent for a few seconds until she started whispering excitedly to Kankuro "Psst, Kankuro get over here, hurry"
"What?" he whispered back not sure why he too was whispering now. He was also wondering what was making Temari so excited. He quickly got up and peeked around the corner along with Temari. What he saw made him smirk, Gaara who was apparently oblivious to his spying siblings was going up the stairs carrying a sleeping Keiko.
"See" Temari said looking at Kankuro sporting her own smirk, "They are such liars, the both of them are. They're getting along just fine" she added before pulling at Kankoru jacket hinting that before Gaara came back down they should return to their seats. Resuming their talk about the Chunin exam they acted as if they didn't see anything.
A little bit later, Gaara rounded the corner and waited for his siblings to stop talking.
"Ohh, Gaara I thought I heard someone come in. You want some coffee?" she asked. Then she looked around dramatically, "Ehh, is Keiko not with you?" she asked innocently.
"It's in bed sleeping. I'm going back to finish my paperwork." He reported then turned to leave.
"Wait, Gaara. I umm noticed Kieko's luggage hasn't arrived yet and it's been well over 2 weeks. I was wondering if you would bring her shopping you know cause she can't keep wearing my clothes." Temari said reaching out to him.
Gaara stopped and glanced back at Temari, saying nothing and walked away. Temari huffed in annoyance crossing her arms when she heard the door open then closed.
"Well, you tried right? I mean its Gaara we are dealing with." Kankuro said.
"Shut up, it's not like you're any help" Temari grumbled.
Elsewhere, a moth fluttered in the wind darting in out of the crowded night life of Suna. Swatted at by one shopkeeper than another until it was safely above all the bustle and hustle of the marketplace. It was lazily flapping it wings allowing the wind to do most of the work. Soon the moth was far from the marketplace and now flying over the homes of sleeping villagers. The moth fluttered its wings a couple of more times before coming to rest on an open windowsill. Moths were an ordinary sight in Suna especially on warm nights.
Back upstairs where Keiko slept a soft breeze blew in from the opened window playing with the curtains and her hair. Muttering in her sleep because of her hair tickling her nose she turned to her left away from the open window. What dreams she currently had were peaceful, dreams of the past when she was happy. Her lips were tugged into a slight smile as she relived happier times; however, sweet dreams can easily turn sour very quickly. On her windowsill a white moth lazily flapped its wings.
Keiko smile soon disappeared as peaceful dreams were eaten by nightmares. She started to toss and turn whimpering in her sleep trying to outrun the things that chased her in her nightmares. In her nightmares she called out for help but no one could hear her pleas, in the real world her pleas for help were just hoarse cries in which no one in the house heard.
A light sheen of sweat accumulated on her body from her struggles with unseen foes. Eventually, she was able to force herself awake. She sat up in the bed hands clutching the sheets and she drew her legs up to her chest protectively. Her arms instinctually wrapped around her legs as she rocked herself back and forth trying to remind herself that the nightmares weren't real.
The wind blew in once again tossing the curtain and her hair about and she realized how cold it was in the room. She was shivering uncontrollably; her teeth were chattering nonstop and the only way to prevent the cold air from entering was to close the window. She slowly slid off the side of the bed dragging the sheet and pillow with her and made her way to the open window.
Her movement near the window disturb the white moth resting on the window sill. She closed the window and instead of going back to the bed she went to the closet. She opened the closet and went inside closing the door behind her. She went to the far back corner and sat down, she was still very cold shaking and shivering. But she was also very tired and she slowly curled up in a ball but even though she was still exhausted she could not fall asleep. She feared the nightmares would return if she let herself drift back to sleep.
Knowing her coat hung up in the same closet she was in she reached up and unzipped a hidden pocket missed by Sakura. Her coat ended up slipping off the coat hanger and landing on top of her but it didn't bother her in the least it only brought her comfort. She dug around in the pocket pulling out a small container filled with bright blue pills. She poured a couple in her hand and brought the same hand up to her mouth swallowing the pills. It was not long before the pills took effect and she drifted this time into a dreamless sleep. The pills she took were to help her sleep but the pills would keep in her in a daze like state throughout tomorrow morning. She only took a enough so she would still be able to function somewhat. She would still wake up to Temari's obnoxious yells and pounding on the bedroom door tomorrow and also still be able to handle the everyday routine they go through everyday which consisted of Temari and Kankuro dropping her off at Gaara's office like a child; however, the pills would keep her out of it out till about noon time.
The white moth being disturbed and also having rested enough flew away into the dark night.
Keiko's POV
I was currently sitting on the couch in Gaara's office but I couldn't recall much about how ended up on it. I couldn't even remember how I got back to the house last night. My memories and thoughts were all hazy and jumbled even the noise of his pen on paper wasn't that annoying today. The constant noise was somewhat pleasant and I found myself drifting in and out of consciousness listening to it.
I would wake up time to time still in a dazed state to hear different sand ninja reporting to Gaara but their voices would fade into the background once I started to focus on the noise of the pen's fluid movement across his endless paperwork. And eventually, the sound of the pen would lull me back to sleep. The first few days being in his office caused me to be restless and on guard but the more time I spent in here the more I realized no harm would come to me even while I slept. Even he was more pleasant in his office.
My last coherent thought before passing out again was, 'It's the pills fault'.
"Wake up" I heard Gaara say but his voice was distant and I was debating whether or not I should answer him. I was guessing it was close to lunch time and he was beginning his normal routine. But unfortunately, the memory of yesterday rushed back to me replying the events which occurred at lunchtime which instantly pulled me back to a state of consciousness.
'I had to escape' were my immediate thoughts after the memory replayed itself several times in my awake state of mind.
"what?" I asked while I tried to conjure up some elaborate escape plan. I had to act like normal so he wouldn't expect anything.
"Who made the wounds on your back?" he asked. Does he not get bored with asking the same questions every day?
"My doppelganger during my friendly match with Yoko." I stated rather blandly, all the while planning my escape. I got up from the couch setting my escape plan in motion.
"Where are you going?" he asked. He was a controlling bastard even though he said he didn't care what I did as long as I fulfilled my role.
"Bathroom" I lied but it was not entirely a lie, more of a half-truth. I proceeded to the bathroom exiting the office all the while I could feel his eyes on my back. I believe he was still suspicious of me so I entered the bathroom like I said making sure he heard the door clicking open then shut.
I walked over to the window after locking the door, pressing my hand against the glass pane. I was on the top floor and far from the safety of the ground but I could make it to the ground without injuring myself. I took a deep breath and pushed on the glass making the glass liquefied. I pulled myself up so I sat with my legs dangling over the sill's edge, the glass parting for me as I did. I sat on the ledge for a long time before pushing myself off.
The air blew through my hair as I fell to the earth the glass from the window wrapped around my body slowing my fall. Even though the glass slowed my fall I still hit the ground harder than I wanted almost falling forward face planting in the sandy earth. My rough landing sent jolts of pain throughout my body, stealing my breath away. The pain originating from my wounds on my back wrack through my entire body for several minutes before finally dissipating.
After some difficulties I regained my balance and sent the glass back to the window, the glass solidifying and returned to its original state. I huffed in annoyance because something which should have been easy for me was exceedingly difficult. I had only used a little bit of my chakra yet I was already so worn out.
I stopped for a moment and thought about my weakened state. I knew very well I was weak and currently vulnerable if a strong enemy was to approach me, I was defenseless and would most likely be killed. The thought of dying sickened me, I couldn't die a still caged bird. I was angry I was like this but what made me weak was not the sparring match with Yoko but the nasty wounds on my back. He used poison when he sliced my back up but I couldn't dwell on the past but focus on the present. I already learned dwelling on the past does no good.
But before I could think about where I was going or doing I heard two people talking in the distance and when I listened closer to the voices I realized it was Temari and Sakura. I waited patiently for them to enter the tower before making a hasty retreat into the village because I knew rather sooner than later they would discover I had escaped. They were most likely bringing today's lunch but I would not be eating today and I would not be force fed by him either.
After a loud and short knock, the door to Gaara's office burst opened and in walked Temari and Sakura carrying lunch for both Gaara and Keiko. Temari immediately noticed Gaara wasn't working on any paperwork which was highly uncharacteristic of him. He was staring at the clock and didn't even acknowledge her or Sakura when they walked in.
The atmosphere was really tense but Temari spoke, "I have lunch" which also elicited no response from Gaara either.
Sakura was looking around the room and was the next to speak, "Umm, where's Kieko?" which drew Gaara's eyes from the clock to Temari and Sakura.
"Bathroom…for the last 21 minutes" Gaara stated.
"I'll go see if she is okay" Sakura said before leaving to check on her. It was only a minute later and Sakura was yelling, "She's not answering me and the door is locked."
"We're coming" yelled Temari before rushing out of the room going in the direction of Sakura's yelling. Gaara followed behind her. When Temari and Gaara both arrived outside the bathroom door, Sakura was banging on the door and yelling, "Keiko, open the door".
Gaara watched Sakura for a moment before placing one hand on her shoulder motioning for her to move. Sakura froze and stepped aside next to Temari wondering what Gaara was about to do. He put one hand on the door knob and both Temari and Sakura watched as sand from his gourd trickled out and slipped under the door. They heard the door lock click signaling it was unlocked now.
"Wait" Temari said but Gaara did not listen and pushed open the door and walked in and then walked immediately out. Temari and Sakura ran into the bathroom after Gaara walked out but like Gaara they saw no one was in the bathroom and the window was firmly shut.
"How, I mean she could have used a shadow clone but she doesn't have enough chakra. Still she would have to walk pass your office and you would have heard her right?" Temari asked after catching up with Gaara.
"Glass" Gaara stated as he descended the stairs.
Kieko's POV
"Hey you" I heard a voice say. I knew it was directed at me since I was the only one there. It belonged to a young male so I also knew it wasn't a guard. I didn't want to be bothered and pretended like I didn't hear it and quickly turned right into a deserted alleyway.
The moment I turned into the alleyway the person who called out to me started pursuing me. To lose the individual I turned right again and then another left. I ducked under some hanging clothes and entered another deserted street. Everyone must be at lunch I presumed before refocusing my attention on losing the individual tailing behind me.
I looked right then left and then straight ahead determining which way I should go and then I saw a tree next to a glass building. The pain was returning so I couldn't go too far and I was feeling drowsy too, yet I could also hear the person not too far behind me. I ran straight ahead to where the tree was climbing it, hiding myself within the foliage. I leaned back against the trunk believing I outrun the individual pursuing me and also go out of eating lunch with Gaara but my peace came to an end when the voice returned.
"Hey you, that wasn't nice" the boy said. Maybe if I pretended I wasn't here maybe he would leave but I was wrong. "Ya know I almost lost you but that's not important now. Will you hear me out…" he paused waiting for me to answer but I didn't so maybe he would get the hint. Yet again he didn't get the subtle hint I dropped by not answering him.
"I'm taking your silence as a yes. So I'm Hashimoto Daiki currently a genin but I really want to become a chunin so ummm… umm…" he said. I waited for him to continue wondering where this boy was heading in this one sided conversation but I also wondered what anything he just said had anything to do with me. I continued to wait for him to speak but all I heard was him sputtering umms and uhhhs.
"You took my silence as a yes but most people would have taken silence as a no but here you are talking to me so just spit out whatever you are going to say and be gone already" I snapped tired of waiting for him to continue.
"Will you be my sensei?" he blurted out. I felt like time froze and everything got quiet even the birds and insects seemed to still.
"What?" I said.
"Be my sensei, I really want to be a chunin and you are really strong." He said brimming with hope.
My response was quick, "No".
"But" he tried to protest but I cut him off.
"No" I said more firmly.
"If you won't be my sensei I'll tell Lord Gaara you snuck out the bathroom window." He said all at once before I could cut him off again.
I hopped out of the tree landing right in front of him and quickly closed the distance between us. "Ohh really?" I said.
"yes" he squeaked falling onto his ass, I probably looked really intimidating to him although I was actually harmless since I had little chakra on reserve and the pain messed with my focus.
"Lord Gaara probably already knows I'm gone by now so you lost your bargaining chip. Try again." I said.
"Umm… I can be your excuse to leave everyday" he said and then continued "Ummm.. that way you don't have to be stuck in the same room as someone so umm dull and boring".
"Dull and Boring?" I heard a voice belonging to someone I didn't want to see just yet. I'm sure the kids face must have paled when he heard his Kazekage's voice.
"Kid, I'll be your sensei" I said ignoring Gaara's presence.
"Thank you, so much Keiko Sensei you won't regret it" he shouted forgetting his Kazekage stood right behind him. The kid's joy was instantly squashed by his fear as he soon remembered who else was present. He scrambled to his feet bowing to Gaara, "Have a nice day, Lord Gaara. I'll be leaving" he mumbled before running to safety.
When he was far enough away he turned and yelled, "See you tomorrow at noon, Kieko Sensei".
"Sensei?" Gaara asked me.
"Yes. I mean who wants to be with someone so dull and boring all day long" I said emphasizing the dull and boring part. I tried to take a step forward only to stumble and instead of falling like I thought I would I was grabbed around the waist by a pair of arms.
"A person who can't even walk without falling is going to be a Sensei?" he said while wrapping one arm around my waist and pulling me close. I tried to pry his hand of my waist but it was no good, I didn't want to be this close to him.
"Behave for once, we have to appear like we are in love, remember." he said giving me a slight squeeze. I nodded my head acknowledging him wrapping one of my own hands around his waist while resting my other hand on the hand he had wrapped around my waist. I didn't want to but like Gaara said I had to fulfill my role.
But we were walking a bit too slow and I dug my nails in his waist. "Walk faster" I snarled under my breath since we were on a street filled with people. And instead of obediently listening to my request he entwined his hand with mine.
"Walk faster? I thought you enjoyed being with me, isn't it the reason why you accepted my proposal" he said amusement evident in his voice. The people parted for us in the street whispering, gossiping, and surely gawking at us as if we were oddities on display.
I could hear snippets of conversations such as 'look at how cute they look together', 'she strong with a good heart greatly suited for Lord Gaara', and another statement which sent shivers down my back, 'I'm so envious of her, I wish I could trade places with her.' I also wished for something but it was definitely not being stuck with him and his bi-polar ways. They could definitely switch places with me if only that option was available to me.
The walk back to the house was miserable and once entering the house he even refused to let me go. I attempted to struggle out of his arms but my struggles were shortly rewarded with being slung over his shoulder and carried up the stairs. The pain returned as a form of a constant throb from my antics and my current position which caused me to become still rather quickly. Moments later I was plopped onto my bed or I guess I should consider the bed as ours; however, I came to the conclusion he forfeited the bed since he never once slept on it.
He stood in front of me and I either expected him to say something or leave but he did neither. I got fed up and crossed my arms over my chest, "what?" I asked my voice clearly laced with annoyance.
"Show me your wounds" he commanded.
"No" I fired back because I was tired of him and his orders.
"Difficult" he huffed, annoyed too but with my disobedience. "No choice" he all but stated. The battle which pursued shortly after his statement ended quickly, I was the sore loser and he was the winner.
"Why" I whined, desperate for a reason.
"Your back was damp" he said as he removed my shirt with some difficulties since one of his hands currently held both my wrists and I was also still struggling. "Enough" he growled out yanking the shirt off and releasing my wrists.
I attempted to scramble across the bed but a hand grabbed my leg pulling me back across the bed dragging the sheets with me. Another hand pressed down on the middle of my back causing me to hiss in pain. I stopped struggling knowing he would press harder and would not relent until he was sure all the fight was gone from me.
"Good girl" he said sliding one arm under my stomach and pulling me into a sitting position, my back now facing him. The praise he gave me earned him a growl which he utterly ignored and started to unwrap my bandages. I wanted to struggle and fight but I was helpless and it would be pointless to do so. The bandages he unwrapped fell into a messy pile next to me, I didn't have to see to know the bandages were soaked and caked with my blood.
I covered my chest with my arms as the last bandage fell to the bed. I could feel his eyes on my disgusting scar-riddled back studying it but I didn't expect what he did next. His fingers ghosted above my wounds, tracing them but never touching them and the feeling of his fingers just above my skin sent shivers down my spine.
"Stay" he ordered as he got up. I heard him walk to the bathroom and rummage through some drawers. He came back with what I am guessing was bandages and ointment depositing them on the bed next to me. He popped open the lid to some type of ointment lathering the cream on his fingers. I held my breath waiting for the pain when his fingers would touch my back with the ointment but for awhile nothing happened.
"So many old scars coupled with fresh wounds" he informed me as one of his fingers skittered across a fresh wound leaving a trail of ointment. The action caused me to hiss in pain.
"What weapon did they use to cause this?" he stated instead of asking me while repeating the same action as earlier but doing it to a different wound. I gritted my teeth this time as the pain flared up again.
"A kunai? A knife?" he stated once again instead of asking me repeating his actions once again. I cringed when I felt the pain return again and I bit into my lower lip to stop my voice.
He paused before speaking again, "Did you sit still?" he asked this time, brushing his thumb over a highly sensitive spot and resting it on the same spot. The pain was excruciating and I bit into my lip even harder causing my teeth to slice my lip open in order to muffle my cry and when I didn't answer his question he rubbed his thumb in small circles on the very same spot.
"Yessss" I hissed in agony. "I sat very very still all the while they sliced and tore into my back with a blade and no it didn't happen just once but many many times" I hissed and screamed all at once. His thumb let up the moment I answered him and I let out a sigh of relief.
I sagged forward relieved for a brief amount of time before his fingers slathered the rest of my wounds with cream. I howled out in pain from his unexpected touch.
"Bastard" I muttered under my breath. I don't know if he heard me or not but if he did he choose to ignore it and then I heard him pick of the fresh bandages and I spoke up, "I can wrap my own wounds". I reached out with one hand to grab the bandages while my other hand still covered my chest.
He slapped my hand away which stunned me and started to wrap the bandages around my wounds. He began at the bottom of my back and slowly worked his way up. He was too close to my breasts now and I started to swat his hands away with one hand, "I can finish bandaging myself" I whined desperately.
"Stop acting like a child and move your hands away" he ordered and when I refused he captured both my wrists pulling them above my head while he continued to wrap the rest of my wounds.
"I hate you, I hate you, I hate you" I kept repeating over and over until he was done wrapping the last part of my wounds. I said a finally "I hate you" turning around to face him. I had some difficulties turning around since he still had a tight grip on my wrists.
"Yes, I already know" he said and took his now free hand and began to untie the purple ribbon covering my eyes.
"If you do this I will hate you forever" I snarled and threatened. He ignored me and the ribbon fell away from my face the knot coming undone with a final tug. He let my wrists go the moment the ribbon fell away from my face and I instantly brought them to my lap, while casting my eyes downwards.
"Look at me" he commanded, I hesitated at first but my eyes slowly traveled up his body. I noted the full-length dark trousers, the long sleeved crimson coat, the two gray buckle belts, and the grey chest protector; however, my eyes stopped at his chin refusing to look up any further.
"Look at me" he commanded again and I still did not look still hesitating. Why would I hesitate, do I really care if he too thinks I am a monster? I didn't have time to question myself more before my chin was jerked upwards so I was now looking at him.
My eyes were immediately drawn to his short naturally spiky crimson hair. The next thing which caught my eye was the kanji tattoo on his forehead which read love. I leaned closer my hand reached up drawn to his face. I wanted to touch what my eyes saw but I pulled my hand away at the last moment feeling ashamed of my action.
Although, I pulled my hand away I still studied his face. The next feature my eyes settled on were his eyes, they were a pretty pale cyan. I was fascinated by the color and soon forgot my shame for wanting to touch his face.
"Why do you hide your eyes?" he asked. This time I responded to his question.
"Do you not see a monster looking at you?" I asked instead of giving him an answer.
"No" he replied without any hesitation or thought.
"No?" I asked confused by his answer.
"Yes, I said no." he reassured me.
"You are a fool then." I simple informed him.
"Do you see a monster" he asked repeating my question back at me.
"No" I said. The only monster in the room is me, the monster hidden in the rain.
"I will trust your words but you must trust in mine." he said. I was confused by his words; how can I see the monster if the monster is me. His thumb brushed my cheek causing me to shiver from the pure gentleness of it, the feeling was not completely foreign to me but more long forgotten. I studied his face trying to decipher what he was thinking or feeling but I could not.
"Never will I trust in anyone" I said my voice empty of all emotions, the last time I had placed trust in someone it did not end well for me.
He leaned closer to me, his face directly in front of mine, "You will learn to trust me until then I will keep this. Also, it will serve as precaution so you won't run away from me" He said his breath fanning my face.
I was confused by what he meant but then I realized what he was talking about; however, it was too late. His hands slide away from face leaving a trail of warmth behind as he turned to leave. I saw the purple ribbon entwined in his other hand.
"Wait" I cried out, "Give that back its mine". She gave it to me, the only thing I had left of her. He was already in the doorway by the time I called out to him but he stopped in the doorway which rekindled my hope he would give my prize possession back to me.
"What is yours is mine, Keiko, remember that and do not worry I will take very good care of it and good night" he said a smirk playing across his features as he walked out of the room closing the door behind him. I tried to stand to chase after him but I lost strength in my legs falling back onto the bed on my side.
I looked up before trying to get up again and saw a mirror reflecting my image. I stared right into my mismatched eyes, I was truly a monster. After staring at myself in the mirror I curled up in a ball on the bed feeling truly pathetic and hideous. My eyelids felt heavy all of sudden and I closed them, maybe taking a nap will allow me to forget about the monster in the mirror.