Sand shot out from Gaara's gourd, flowing in streams to catch the girl's limp body before contact with the stone stairwell. Adjusting her body, Gaara extended his arms and scooped her up, carrying her close to his chest. The prominent edges of her shoulders and spine sharply made their presence known on Gaara's covered forearm.
'She's almost entirely bone. How is she even alive right after that fight?' He thought eyes now staring down at the girl, examining her physique with heightened concern.
"It looks like it's worse than I predicted." Gaara muttered, creasing his brow. The malnourished girl suffered to the point collar bones held heavy pockets and ribs connecting to her sternum etched details beneath her skin atop her chest. Despite being almost skeletal in her condition no one could have guessed what was under her loose gray clothes. Her hip bones protrude in exaggeration as her abdomen concave, leaving a gap for the bandages and waistband of her pants below her hips. The clothing she wore almost looked as if it was barely clinging to her form in addition to the multiple layers she wore. Gaara turned around to start his ascension to the sand medical ward around the corner with a heavy sigh.
"Temari, please call for Sakura's assistance in our ward for the moment. We may need her to assess the status of her heart. I only assume that it is struggling." Gaara called out, staring down at the girl in his arms. His eyes catching a glimpse at her neck watching the frantic pulse of her carotid artery under her gray toned skin. Gaara finishing his short climb, making his way into the sand ward.
"Sure, I'll go get her. What's going on" She inquired from across the hall, eyes curious and roaming the small girl in Gaara's arms. He cleared his throat and pressed on into the ward, laying down Lirit's frail frame in the first available room with a bed. He exited the room and waved the medics in and eyed Temari.
"Temari please, I don't think being overly curious at a time such as this is well advised. Bring Sakura immediately." His voice grew stern and hoarse as his body matched his tone. She grimaced shortly before turning on her heels and darting to the adjoining ward, eyes scanning personnel for the rosy haired medic.
A few hours had passed, and the medical wards were starting to fill with both injured shinobi alongside fallen comrades that were being kept in segregated morgues in the back of the arena, escorted and guarded by their respected villages. Gaara stood by the steps for every sand ninja that competed whether they had limped or struggled to their stairway, or to bow in respect to the fallen as the medics carried their empty vessels up the stairs to their temporary resting place. Thankfully only two had been defeated thus far with one having their life taken and the other three have yet to enter the ring.
"Gaara, I need a word with you." Sakura chimed holding a clipboard over her chest, pen at hand scribing notes on the corners. He nodded in response, now suspecting the worry in her voice and followed her up the stairs. With a quick step she entered the ward and stood outside of Lirit's room.
The room stood still, yet with the flow of fresh air, it smelt stagnant despite being sterile and freshly cleaned. She laid with four IVs sprouting from her restrained arms and a staggered breath resonated in the room. "What's the diagnosis?" Gaara requested in a nondescript tone. Sakura turned to look into the room and sighed.
"She'll live, but just barely. I can safely say for the record she's an anorexic but for how long I'm not sure. She's been able to keep it stable with chakra and rationing whatever it is she eats. Her file says she's 19 but examining her teeth for any rot or decay from possible purging, shows she doesn't have her wisdom teeth yet. So, I would put her age more accurately to be around 14 to 16 even." She explained flipping through her papers in the clipboard.
"As a kunoichi yourself, what should we do with her in her state? I know putting her in professional care is needed, but with her skills that would be a bit more difficult to regulate considering she could injure all parties since at the facility to care for this illness, we have only catered to civilians thus far." Gaara noted.
"I would have to say you need fellow shinobi to keep an eye on her during that transition. Fellow medic nin if you could spare or add her to their care. I've seen this disorder in civilians, but she's the first for me to see on the shinobi side of things. Willingly starving yourself is the best way to get yourself and your team killed. The fact that she was able to win the battle a few hours ago shows she's excellent with chakra control to help against her heart palpitations and weakened bones slowing her down. If anything, that's how she's still going." Sakura said, presenting a small box, food pills tapping inside.
Gaara pinched his nose bridge and released his sand to the stairwell retrieving another petite shinobi. The male gasped a pitchy 'holy shit!' screech as Gaara dragged them to the top of the stairs, now in his line of sight. "You're very careless for a spy." He spat in annoyance looking at a trembling Sakuno that he held tight with his sand.
"Oh, hey mister Kazekage-Sama, Sir. I was just wanting to check on my friend Lirit, but I didn't wanna interrupt your important conversation." Sakuno spat nervously as the panic in his voice rose quickly. Sakura scuffed with a sour look on her face as she grabbed his collar pulling him against the sand's grip. Gaara crossed his arms and Withdrew sand back into the small gourd. Leaving Sakuno to dangle inches off the ground from the medic's grip.
"You're one hell of a friend if you've been letting her do this to herself. She's in need of some serious help and you just let her wither away?" Sakura voiced sharply, turning to Temari who was peeking over her own clipboard listening in on the ruckus. The blonde smiled sheepishly and cleared her throat, demanding Gaara's and Sakura's attention.
"Konoha needs Sakura. They've got someone with poisoning, and they'll need some assistance identifying it since the user is currently unconscious." Temari piped up holding out to the clipboard resting a hand on her hip. Sakura growled in her throat but dropped Sakuno to the ground and took the paperwork as she shot past Temari to her home ward.
"I just met Lirit today." Sakuno grumbled aloud pushing himself off the cold tile turning to Lirit's room. "What's wrong with her?" He spoke softly momentarily before turning to Gaara with questioning eyes, waiting for an explanation.
Gaara stared the boy down and analyzed his face and his body language before closing his eyes in slight irritation, walking into her room with Sakuno and Temari following close behind. "She's an anorexic, or at least she's suffering like she has the disorder." He began standing at the head of the bed.
"how did she even make it to become a kunoichi?" Temari asked, looking at the headband around the girl's neck. Gaara remained silent for a moment watching her chest rise and fall.
"I can't tell you her reasoning. Nor do I think I should begin too. The only thing I know is that she's choosing to suffer, and being one of my shinobi, this needs to be stopped and resolved by her recovery." Gaara voiced, bringing his hand to rest at his chin, his index finger curled just under his lips.
"Is there anything I could do to help?" Sakuno murmured. His head lowered coming to terms as to what really is her natural state.
"That could become a diplomatic relations issue if not handled correctly. Perhaps, it can be discussed later, but currently we can assume you need to return to your village before the end of the exams." The redhead stated. Temari nodded and stepped to Sakuno's side.
"Come with me, I'll make a formal request in regards to housing for you." Temari explained patting Sakuno on the back, coaxing him to follow her to the Rain ward. Gaara watched them walk out of sight and turned to face Lirit. Recognizing the distress on her face.
"I know you're awake. I'm sure we all knew." His prediction being true as he heard a sharp sigh being drawn as Lirit fixed herself to sit upright in a more comfortable position despite the restraints on her wrists.
"Lirit, do you have any family or friends that are living in Konoha or Suna that we could contact for you? You need treatment and will be pulled off the exams and missions till you are able to maintain a suitable weight. The medics will sign off when you are within a healthy range for shinobi and civilians within your age range." Gaara advised taking the seat next to her bed. Watching as she wiggled her arms under the restraints, testing the strength of the leather.
"Kazekage-sama" She began. "Sir, please don't. I can finish the exams. I can complete my given mi-"
"You passed out going up the stairs after one battle." He started darkly, standing up walking to the end of the bed. Lirit flinched and drew her lower lip between her teeth, panic starting to stir in the pit of her stomach, at least what she understood as panic. "Missions can take weeks or even months, if Sakura estimated correctly, you're around the age of 14?" he questioned, returning to the bedside, leaning his back against the wall.
"15." she whispered, lowering her head, hiding the fear that clouded her features. "I've passed the chunin exam and completed countless missions of various difficulties. How's my health going to interfere when I've already done well enough?" She asked with hesitation in her voice.
"You could have passed out during your fight with the Mist kunoichi. Do you think she would have waited to strike a killing blow?" Gaara retorted, eyes now burrowing into her being, resembling a displeased father figure. She turned slowly to meet his gaze. Shaking her head knowing that the mist nin would have ended her life without question.
"My parents joined our ancestors a few years ago, and I have no family or friends to speak of that live here in Konoha. I did however make a good acquaintance today with someone from Rain Country." Lirit voiced softly, meek eyes scanning his scowl. "I was on squad three. You gave my sensei and I accolade for a successful mission despite the loss of my teammates?" Her voice wavered, tears now welling up. 'Lirit! Get a grip on yourself, really? He's just some guy, nothing to freak out about!' She scolded herself, attempting to control her anxiety. Gaara stayed quiet and listened as she continued, noticing the thickening of the air around them and the quiver on her lips.
"I am aware. Regarding your team, I do recall the ambush that took their lives. They held their defenses valiantly and allowed you and the escorted back to Suna." Gaara added in a matter-of-fact tone. Lirit nodded. "That was almost a year ago. I understand loss can alter your emotional state."
"They died because I didn't listen. It's on my report." She interrupted in a whisper, wrinkling her nose. Making audible sniffing noise as her face continued to scrunch up.
"Yes, I recall the report. You disobeyed your sensei and refused to continue the assault, but that did also give the ability to your client to flee to safety with you as a guide for the remainder of the mission." Gaara said firmly, taking control of the conversation. "However, I will not allow one of my people to put themselves through self-inflicted suffering." He said before pausing. Noticing a small repetitive twitch of her nose. "What's wrong?" Gaara asked bluntly, the bass tones in his voice catching her off guard. A deep blush blooming captivated her bridge and high cheeks. "M-my nose has an itch." She spoke quietly, looking toward her chunky boots hanging near the edge of the bed.
Gaara nodded, propping himself off the wall and walked over to the workstation grabbing a small towelette. "You need to stay restrained till Sakura returns and concludes her assessment." Lirit visibly tensed up and eyes widened when their bodies were closer than before. "Until then you must stay bound to the bed with chakra blockers. Now, where does it itch?" Gaara spoke casually.
A flush crept up her face as her eyes focused on the white cloth that draped from his slender fingers. "No, it's fine." Lirit spat quickly as her mouth sat in a hard line. Lirit's pulse quickened and the air around her doubled in density, almost as if the Konoha humidity snuck into the crisp climate-controlled room. Lirit let out a small mewl, her face now scarlet as the situation fully set in. Gaara loomed over her straight-faced, his eyes scanned the room and rested on focusing on her face. 'Why is she blushing so much? She's acting as if she was a cornered animal.' He thought to himself. It was at this point he noticed he was looming over her, and she was under him in her frail state, restrained.
"I did not intend to make you uncomfortable." Gaara spoke in a low monotone voice. The lamp light fizzled before it flickered out, catching Gaara's attention away from Lirit, making him turn his head slightly and seeing the state of the room morph around them. Turning back to face the small girl, she forced a slow small smile.
"I've never been closer than a few feet from you. I never thought I would get this close." She spoke quietly. "It's not that you scare me. It's just intimidating to be in such close proximity to someone I've idled." Returning his hand to his side, Gaara sighed and lifted himself upright using the railing. Resting his weight on the bar as a support to exam her restraints, he felt it begin to give way as the sturdiness of the metal vanished.
"What is the meaning of this?" he questioned, giving the young girl a stern look. Lirit on the other hand, carried worry and panic on her face, tears now beginning to streak dull olive checks.
"Please don't be mad, I can fix it." She squeaked out in a high breathy pitch. Lifting her hands causing the restraints to snap loose, her chakra blockers crumbling into ash, the IV needles creeped out of her forearms in a slip motion, leaving her forearms and the immediate areas stained with droplets and streams of blood mixed with saline solution. Lirit in her flustered panic curled up wrapping her arms around her knees and the remaining lights flicked before popping out, her panic now birthing into a fully fleshed out anxiety attack.
"Is everything okay down there?!" Bounced an echo from down the hall, a tanned medic exclaimed as the smell of burnt plastic and rust caught her attention. Her footsteps danced in the acoustics through the corridors, having her pace escalating from a creep to a soft sprint after noticing the end of the hall was dark in comparison to the rest of the wings.
Sand crept to the floor from Gaara in preparation as he took steps to the door, being sure that his movements were slow and fluid. With labored breaths Lirit glanced over to Gaara as he stood in the door frame, his body blocking the entry way, and sand encircling her on the bed. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Please don't be upset. I promise. Please don't be upset" She began begging with a hoarse panicked whisper, anxiety still claiming her mind. Her bony fingers weaving themselves into thick teal hair pulling her hair back, as she rocked in place, with elbows framed her face, giving full display to the waves of emotions.
"Kazekage-sama, sir. Is there anything you need assistance with?" The medic said in a bark, arms raised to her sides, having a clipboard tucked under one arm. It wasn't long before the scene fully exposed itself to her as she glimpsed into the room, a couple other medic nin soon joined.
Raising his hand to stop her, Gaara faced the small group, "I can handle this. Tend to the others, we will need to step out of the building for a moment." Gaara ordered. With no other words exchanged, they nodded and turned back down the hall, disappearing into other wings or rooms needing attending.
"I need you to breathe, Lirit." Gaara spoke softly, closing the door behind him and turning his attention to the small teen in the room. In a sharp breath Lirit flinched in response to Gaara approaching her, lifting her arm between them as if to block an oncoming assault, motioning the chakra-soaked metallic sludge to spike up toward him. Sand flew in defense, blocking contact and the granules began to encircle the two shinobi in the room. Eyes wide in realization, Lirit slammed her hands down to her stomach. The metallic sludge flying back and falling to the floor with a wet splat.
"I'm sorry! I just get nervous an-and I don't really know h-how to control it when I'm h-having a panic attack." She explained, the room surrounding them continuing to distort and melting with chakra visibly oozing off disfigured materials, stringing and looping back to Lirit curled on the bed.
"I'm going to get us out of here." Gaara began taking calm steps toward her. "Does that sound like something you would be okay with me doing for you?" He questioned, giving no expression or tone to off put the tee. Lirit stared blankly towards him but ultimately nodded furiously with a few hicks escaping her throat between tears. Thin arms and long fingers reached out to grasp Gaara's tall square build as the distance between them disappeared.
"Your chakra is becoming too dangerous here. It will become a threat to the structure of this building and the people within it. I'm taking us away from here alright?" Gaara voiced before a mist of sand spiraled around them. "I'm sorry, sir." Lirit muttered, hiding her face in his chest. Gaara rested a hand on her back feeling a jolt shot out from his core as the contact, causing her to press herself closer to him, their bodies almost entangled as she wrapped her arms around him and gripped his coat tightly near his shoulders.
"Apologies are not needed. I understand." Gaara spoke in a warm tone. Lirit pressed closer to his warmth, resting her face in his chest breathing in his scent, Feeling the room sway as the sand engulfed the two of them. Blush creeped over Gaara's face as he wrapped her tightly in his arms, "Hang on." Was all he said before both of them disappeared a moment later. Leaving a disfigured room with sludge dripping, sand coating the mess.
Outside the boundaries of the Konoha gates, Gaara's sand spiraled outward having been stationed at the center of a field with Lirit in his arms quietly whimpering. It wasn't long before the plant life around them began to bow, rot pooling on the ground as it did. Chakra oozed and seeped upward from the withering vegetation as stones bubbled into the ground creating a thick granulated soup. Lirit whimpered softly into Gaara's chest, hands tugging at the burgundy fabric in her firm grip, each tug pushing herself into him harder and harder.
"I'm sorry. Please don't be mad." Lirit strained between choked breaths repeatedly, her voice a harsh shallow rasp. Staring down at her with a stony face, Gaara stayed quiet watching her crumble in his arms in confusion. His stomach flipped in panic, but he felt no fear or danger. This girl clung on to him, 'what is this feeling…' he questioned silently to himself.
She's nuzzled into his chest taking in his scent with deep slow breaths unbeknownst to his reaction. 'He smells earthy. It's almost sweet.' She thought blinking with blurring eyes, in a slow and steady motion, her gaze turned up right slightly as her voice quieted down and her breath became soft. 'That's right. I'm not alone.' She thought, her head tilted up more slightly looking at the clothing, her grip relaxing and fingers rubbing the texture under her hands in small circles. She felt the pull of Gaara's pale green eyes, making contact with them for a brief moment before turning her gaze away in embarrassment. Breathing deeper, slower, bringing herself back into her present, being out of harm's way, with the Kazekage.
Bewildered Gaara held her in his arms, shell shocked trying to make sense why she was pressing herself into him and what these feelings were that are awakening. The heavy physical contact she was clawing from him, needing from him, seemed to return her to a stable emotional state, yet the embrace itself was doing something else entirely for him, causing his face to sit perplexed and painted in a scarlet flush. Around them the air softened as stones solidified and the withering plants so brittle now turned to ash after being stroked by the breeze. She grimaced and sniffed between long slow breaths. In this calm, it was now he felt the dampness on his shirt as she curled into him making herself as small as humanly possible. Her hands unwittingly rubbed his shoulders as they curiously examined the texture of his clothes. A heat growing in his lower abdomen as a result of her contact.
'She smells almost floral?' Gaara pondered, tilting his head down to look at her. 'Despite being so malnourished she still has a healthy sheen on her hair.' He analyzed looking and the thick teal hair. Tilting his head to the right he saw her face, eyes red and puffy from tears that gave way to raw streaked cheeks. Her skin was smooth and soft, dull olive tones that contrasted the deep purple bags under her eyes and vibrant cerulean lashes. Her nose was small carrying a slight bump, while her lips were at a full pout holding a soft red tint with visible light pink scars, presumably from nips taken by her nerves. Her face was heart shaped having pronounced cheekbones that accented her sharp chin but complimented her defined jawline. Maroon designs resting across her bridge and a single line from her lips down her chin.
"Please speak to me." She piped in an airy breath, licking her lips absentmindedly and buried her face under his jaw into the nape of his neck, the motion begging for reassurance. He made an audible gulp and began trying to set her down, to which she jolted, clinging tighter to him, the sudden action making the entire liquid matter around them spike up in protest. Her breathing felt heavy on his neck that sent shivers down his spine. 'This is bad.' He thought desperately, feeling the heat grow stronger. Her pelvic bones now pressed so tightly he felt them faintly through his clothes.
Clearing his throat, he began his attempt to comfort her "I'm not mad at you. I don't fault you for what happened." he began softly, awkwardly patting her head causing her to look up at him with childlike wisterian eyes. He blinked a blank stare before closing his eyes, the blush becoming much more prominent on his face.
"It's hard to believe that sir." she squeaked, releasing the grown man from her grip, rubbing her eyes with both hands before taking a step back and looking around. "I owe Konoha hundreds, even thousands for the structural damages." she added.
"I do not gain anything by being deceitful toward you. If anything, I'm a bit confused." He questioned crossing his arms across his chest. It was making itself more and more known to him as his body was craving more physical contact with hers. "It would be the village of Suna paying for damages."
"Yeah..." She said brushing stray hairs behind her ear. Looking down at her feet, watching the brittle plants fluff into the breeze and she swept at them.
"Money that you'll be earning no less," Gaara noted in a low stern voice.
"I apologize for my actions." She choked out watching her feet tap the present sand. "I'm normally at my best when I take missions from you and the council. It's why it's hard to think I didn't really want to do this to myself. It's my clan heritage that does this to me." she finished gesturing to her body by opening her coat showing the full extent of how small she had really become.
"So, this is taxing your health? You've exerted an incredible amount of chakra and yet you're still conscious." He started looking around the damaged landscape, confused by her comment.
"It does a toll on my body and spirit, but I've learned ways to counter the effects. To appear healthy at least." Lirit explained after a deep calming breath. "I know being close to someone isn't exactly easy for you, considering you are the Kazekage, and you have dozens of responsibilities." Gaara turned his gaze to the arena before facing her again and nodded. "I can only assume that this-" He paused looking for the right phrase, "closeness helps your emotions state?" Gaara finished feeling the quell of emotions finally die down in the pit of his stomach. He adjusted his coat and straightened himself up. Lirit nodded not knowing the best response to admitting that the embrace she shared with him felt heavenly if not euphoric.
"When I get nervous, it turns into a rampant panic attack because my chakra is controlled by emotions, during which I get lost. My mind takes me to dark places and the Saku Kokoro is activated almost like self-defense. So I end up spiraling quickly if I don't have something to anchor me." She scuffed bitterly. "It's practically worthless since it only affects the vegetation and minerals in the environment negatively. Animals or people pretty much remain unaffected since I can't unlock its full potential and grow anything."
"The panic attack was the reason why the room began to melt with us in it. It's a formidable ability but you are correct. You still need training and counseling to control It." He stated calmly.
"I can. For the most part." Lirit began. "I wouldn't even look like this if I was able to control it. It sucks the life out of me, literally. I would be dead if I didn't have those food pills for the chakra boosts." She exclaimed. Gaara remained silent taking in her frail display. "I've learned medical techniques and hundreds of drills for chakra control. It still ends the same, with me walking around half dead, always starving and uncertain." She finished. Feeling a twinge of loneliness planting itself in her chest. Gaara looked at her and read the expression looming on her face.
"we'll need to discuss this with Sakura to assist your health, along with the village council. It is impressive that you are able to survive but you are harming yourself far too much to be an effective kunoichi. Let's head back" Gaara interjected as he took a few steps towards her. "They're most likely looking for me and being out here would be damaging for our alliance with the Konoha, among other things." He added. Lirit bit her lower lip but understood what he explained. She took the final steps to close the gap between them and his sand gathered around them pushing her into him. Her arms wrapped around his chest as a knee jerk reaction, and Gaara's body accepted her touch without hesitation, wrapping his own arms around the small of her back and the other pressing her head to his chest, emulating paternal guarding. The sand shrouded them in a slurry before it scattered in the wind, removing their presents from the location effortlessly.