Chapter 349: Pertinacious
adj. holding tenaciously to a purpose, course of action, or opinion; resolute.
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Kagome smiled happily in greeting as she spotted Gaara across the room. Once he finally reached her side, she politely nodded to an old advisor she had met in the Kazekage's office. Had it really only been few months ago for her, but 5 years for them?
Honestly, Kagome had been surprised at the number of individuals at this party she knew and how even more (unbelievably) seemed to remember her as well.
When Temari had returned she had asked Kagome what plans she had with her life. At the time, Kagome hadn't been considering it. But now surrounded by so many people with a clear purpose in their life, Kagome felt that longing thrum of ambition course through her blood.
"Hello," Kagome beamed widely as she turned to the elegantly dressed Kazekage as he reached up to tug off the conical hat of his position. She lightly rested a hand on his arm in greeting and could feel the muscles coil and jump under her fingers. Her eyebrows tugged down, as she ducked her head to make direct contact with his downturned teal eyes.
"Kagome," Gaara finally returned evenly.
"Want to sneak out of here?"
"Yes." He responded emphatically.
"Kagome," Gaara called out plaintively. His stifled tone surprising Kagome enough to turn from her perch on the edge of the roof to glance in his direction.
"Pfft!" chortled Kagome, lifting a hand to her mouth as giggles wrecked through her body.
"Please help," requested Gaara a whine in his voice while the fabric of his professional robes muffled his words from where his head was stuck with his arms above his head. His long sleeve shirt underneath was riding up as he struggled with the gown.
It took precious moments for Kagome to make her way to Gaara's side, stopping intermittently to fold over laughing. Gaara huffed at her, an amused tint in his breath.
Kagome managed to control her giggles long enough to help pull Gaara's robes back down to unbutton the back of his collar, before helping to slip his formal robes off. Carefully folding the fabric, Kagome placed it on the edge of the rooftop, patting the empty spot beside her to encourage Gaara to sit next to her. With unnatural speed Gaara climbed up to sit beside her, their legs thrown over the edge as they looked down to the sleepy but thriving village below.
"Hey, Gaara," whispered Kagome, hesitantly breaking the silence that had drifted over them. Gaara hummed in acknowledgement before turning to face her more fully, his attention rapt on her face.
Kagome paused, holding a deep breath that rattled in her lungs before gushing outwards.
"I don't know what to do anymore," she finally admitted lowly.
"What do you mean?" questioned Gaara, his head tilting as his heart picked up in empathic flight, his gut twisted as he watched Kagome's face break into a repressed sob.
"I don't… I just… I…" Kagome gasped as she finally turned to face Gaara, tears shining in her eyes, "I used to have a path, whether that was finishing school or finding the Shikon no Tama and even here, before, I had finding home or working for the village, but now… I'm 5 years in the future and there's no returning home, and what do I do now?"
Tears trickled down Kagome's face, her face crumpled in gloom and confusion. Gaara wavered before reaching out to pull Kagome towards his side. Kagome huffed an amused sob as she turned her face into his shoulder.
"It'll be okay, we'll figure it out," promised Gaara.
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