Note: Going with a different style again. This one takes place between 1-2 months, and once again the order doesn't really matter until the last scene because that one flows right into the next chapter. I will say the corresponding I. i. take place within the same time give or take.
But have fun reading, enjoy!
Chapter 17 (Crystals)
I.
Akira drifts back and forth between levels of consciousness. She can hear her brother and Temari get up, distantly she can hear furniture be being moved and shoved in different directions. She rolls and feels something hard under her before it's roughly yanked away.
She doesn't know how long she sleeps. At times she can feel someone stroking her hair, can hear soft voices trying to coax her back to wakefulness. But she simply sinks more into the bed, if possible, snuggles into her blankets and goes back under. There are points the light makes the back of her eyelid red, but it's nothing turning against the brightness can't fix, even when she hears distant mumbling when she does. Her body hasn't been allowed to properly rest for so long that it will not relinquish it's hold.
She finally wakes when Shuichi flops on top of her.
"You've slept over 10 hours, you need food." His breath is too warm on her face and Akira whines loudly.
"Fuck off, Shuichi!"
"Food Akira,"
"Worst brother!" She cries when he rips the blanket from her. "Horrid brother! Terrible!"
"I made your favorite!" His voice is gratingly high pitched as he throws the blankets on the other side of the room.
She grumbles more before following him. She feels dazed, but her stomach rumbles and her bladder is suddenly full and it's enough motivation to hurry out of her room.
Shuichi grins at her from the little table when she finally comes downstairs, and she glares in return. He pauses and tilts his head at her and studies her as she sinks into her seat. If she was more awake, she would be grateful. But her body is sore, and her throat hurts, and she feels like she's slept only a handful of minutes and not literal hours.
Not to mention her grief, a freshly ripped scar, sits heavy on her chest.
She eats, almost falling asleep in her food and Shuichi is gratefully quieter now that she gets something of substance in her. He's still studying her over their food and Akira can understand that he's worried given her excessive amount of sleep and how exhausted she still is.
He takes her plate when she's done, and Akira lays her head on the table watching him do the dishes.
She isn't sure when her eyes close again, but she does wake when they are halfway up the stairs with Shuichi grumbling about her not being so small anymore. She smiles against his shoulder and when he flings her on the bed, she can't help but giggle. He throws her blankets at her, before pointing at her.
"I'll wake you when morning comes."
"I really slept a whole day?" He shifts and leans against the doorway and resumes studying her again.
"Well, all things considered. It's about time you finally rested." He moves forward and crouches to place a hand on her forehead. His eyes are still searching in her own, and she's a little confused now if she's honest. He seems to be trying to find something in them and she wonders if they are simply red from being so exhausted. "You deserve it." He tucks her blankets up and she nuzzles into them.
"Love you," She mumbles slowly falling back asleep as Shuichi grins.
"Love you too."
The soft red of the early Suna morning greets her as she blinks awake, and watches dazed as dust particles swirl lazily in the soft red light that streams into her room. Akira shifts, rolling onto her side, still mesmerized by the drifting particles as she tries to breath. She closes her eyes as the knowledge that the world has shifted but remained unchanged settles in her chest. It's an odd heavy feeling. If she's honest with herself she feels seven years old, and 16 at the same time. She feels so small and young and her body aches with experience gained from aging. She has changed, the people around her has changed, her thoughts drift briefly to a certain redhead when she opens her eyes to the red light again before pushing him out of her mind when her chest start to ache.
She manages to pull herself to a seating position (her ribs still ache some but the bruises on them are fading) when Shuichi comes in.
He freezes as he looks at her and Akira rolls her eyes. "Yes, I'm awake for once-."
"Your eyes." Her head throbs from how sharply she turns it to look at him. "Holy shit Akira."
"What? Are they red?" She's moving past him into the bathroom as Shuichi follows closely behind face aghast like he's seen a ghost.
Akira flinches away from her reflection before staring fully into the mirror.
Her dark brown eyes were now golden.
She looks through the mirror at Shuichi. "MOM!?" They start to scream in unison as they race down the stairs.
i.
Gaara feels his hair being flattened by the Kazekage hat, his frame seems small with how it is swallowed by the trial robe as it hangs off him. His eyes look sharply at the little details in the mirror. If he's honest with himself, Gaara feels like a child wearing something they doesn't quite fit him, and he shifts a bit uncomfortably before resuming his stock-still stance as the tailors start to pin the robe in place. They were hired to fit him for his new robes and Gaara isn't sure what they have heard, so he tries not to take it to heart when they hardly meet his gaze, as they carefully take the newly pinned robe away.
It all doesn't feel real, even with the weight of the hat still on his head. He would officially be Kazekage in a few short weeks. The policies and paperwork he had been working on would finally be coming to fruition. He looks over at Kankuro leaning against the doorframe who watches everything with sharp eyes and feels some comfort from the sight. Despite everything he still has his siblings and Akira, and he turns back to the mirror. He feels a pang in his chest at the thought of his dear friend. He always expected to have her with him and his family at this point and he would be lying if the thought doesn't continuously leave him breathless. Even a year later it is hard to believe he found someone like her. And that in a short year, she had become one of his precious people. He briefly hopes she's ok before he focuses back on the tailors answering another question and trying to keep the twist in his chest to a minimum.
The tailors quietly take their notes and file out of the room after getting his preferences in order, and Kankuro climbs up onto the podium. "Hard to believe your dream is right around the corner huh?" He smiles before hooking an arm around Gaara's neck and leaning down to grin at his brother in the mirror.
Gaara's face remains unchanged but his eyes gleam with amusement. "It does feel odd. But I am ready to try and lead the village into a brighter future."
"Attaboy," Kankuro rises back to a full stand clapping Gaara on the shoulder, who turns his head enough to catch Kankuro's eyes.
"Are you fine with this?" Kankuro blinks at Gaara before turning to look at him fully through the mirror.
"Of course, I am. This is your dream." He says placing both hands on Gaara's shoulders and giving a gentle shake.
"The council offered you the position." Kankuro freezes and frowns.
"I didn't realize they told you."
"They weren't happy when you turned the position down, but they understand I am the strongest in the village and that I have changed my ways."
"Exactly." Kankuro says before taking the Kazekage hat off Gaara's head. "I know I'm older but you're more responsible than me. Hell, maybe even more than Temari. I know I wouldn't be able to change the village the way you can and besides," He stops a moment to replace his usual hood for the Kazekage cap and looks in the mirror with Gaara.
For a moment Kankuro feels his chest tighten as he gazes at his reflection in the mirror. Even with his face paint, they both see a familiar face looking back at them. "I doubt anyone wants someone with a face so similar to his leading the way."
"Kankuro-." Gaara starts but Kankuro waves him away.
"I'm not him. I know that but I do look the most like him, and if that ever bothers you-."
"All I see is my brother." Gaara's voice is firm and Kankuro looks at him surprised before nodding.
"Glad to hear it." Kankuro says pulling off the cap before pressing it back onto Gaara's head.
"Besides, it suits you better anyway." He grins as he turns back toward the mirror. "Mr. Future Kazekage." Gaara rolls his eyes, but his chest is light as Kankuro laughs behind him.
II.
Akira kicks out hard at Temari but the other girl catches it on her arm and shoves Akira away from her. Akira grits her teeth and using the momentum flips back before jumping up, curling up before stretching out her leg and brings it down hard from overhead. Temari doesn't look fazed in the slightest as she deftly moves around the hit and her hands grip Akira's leg hard pulling her down and throwing her hard into the sand. Akira lets out a grunt, wincing before her eyes go wide and she scrambles to roll away from Temari's incoming stomp. She twists away and manages to rise before Temari can spin around and Akira slams her fist into her friend's lower back. She dashes away as Temari let out a cry and Akira feels her stomach drop at the look of rage on Temari's face before the blonde launches herself at her. Akira grits her teeth again as she twists and blocks a majority of Temari's swings despite how heavy they land from all her years of swinging that fan. She can feel her limbs slowing from having been subjected to the onslaught and she can't do much to stop Temari's hit as her friend's fist smashes into her stoamch and Akira feels all the air leave her lungs.
She bows over clutching her stomach, wincing and once again can't do much as Temari smashes her arm over top of Akira's shoulders.
Akira's head spins as she blinks up at Temari who looks down at her worriedly.
"You good?" Akira swallows hard, trying to get the spasms of her diaphragm under control as she rolls to her side.
"Yeah."
"Akira-."
"Again." She says, getting to her feet and wiping her mouth, glancing down at her hand. No blood yet. She could keep going.
"Akira."
"Again Temari!" Akira bites down the bubble of rage that forms in her before turning to look at Temari. "Please."
Golden eyes met teal ones and Temari sighs.
It's almost ridiculous, the repetitive motion, Akira trying her kicks again and as Temari goes to deflect again. Goes to look up, a puff of smoke greets her, and her eyes widen before she's being dragged into the sand.
"Ah!" She screams startled as Akira pops into existence in front of her, Temari now immobilized, trapped in sand all the way up to her neck, as Akira grins at her.
"You let your guard down." Temari huffs but takes Akira's helping hand once she's able to pull her arm free of the sand.
"You got another round in you?" She asks as Akira nods and readies her stance.
At the end, Akira is pulling ahead. Their sparring tie now broken as they go back home. Temari looks at her out of the corner of her eye and fights off the wave of worry for her friend. She has been angrier since everything had gone down, but is working on trying not to let it affect her relationships around her.
Despite that Temari couldn't help but think that it was about time Akira got angry. She had normally been so understanding prior to everything that had happened, that the new rage that existed in her now seemed drastic, but given all that had happened, well Temari could hardly blame her.
If Temari thinks about it personally, she probably would have tried to kill someone.
After a couple more rounds Akira is wiping the sweat from her brow, calmer now than before, as Temari looks at her for a moment. The new outfit being a copper-colored shirt with no sleeves and a high collar, paired with light gray shorts that stopped just past mid-thigh. She still wore the standard Suna vest only without the shoulder guards and her kunai holster no longer adorned her left side. Her dark brown hair was gathered in a small bun and while Temari didn't mind, her golden eyes were striking now, vastly different from the dark brown they had once been.
"I've been meaning to ask what you intend to do without your kunai holster." Akira blinks at her surprised before looking away.
"Well I can't even hold them anymore so." Akira looks down at her hands. "Ever since I was little I had a fear of them. I didn't know why until now and… before… well if I didn't think about it…. When Jin died it almost was back to square one, but I wanted to be chunin and I can't rely on shuriken." Akira let out a sigh before throwing her hands in the air. "Ahh it's whatever I can do fine with ninjutsu and taijutsu."
Her hands slap against her sides as she turns away from Temari, trying to tap down her annoyance at the situation. She wanted to be stronger already. Gaara was already acting Kazekage and even if Akira needs the space, her chest feels heavy at not being by his side. She shakes her head trying to clear him from her thoughts when her chest starts to ache again. She isn't sure if it due to her missing him, or guilt for needing the space but either way it pains her when she thinks of him and she just wishes that he's time is going well for him.
"Have you thought about changing your kunai?" Temari asks as Akira's head whips around toward her. "I know a few blacksmiths that could probably reform the kunai for you."
Akira stares at her for a moment. "But into what? I'm not- I don't-."
"I know someone who's always developing new weapons and tricks." Temari grins and Akira can only dumbly follow her lead as they leave the training grounds.
ii.
Gaara taps his papers against his desk once more organizing them before rising to a stand. He takes a minute to breathe before walking through the door. Today is his first day as acting Kazekage, his first day of really being the Kazekage. He is finally in the position of someone who could get important orders and procedures done before the official ceremony at the end of the month. He sits and waits for the council members to finish their deliberations around the table for a moment before raising a hand.
It takes a second for the room to come to silence before he proceeds.
"I would like to start the meeting by inquiring on the proceedings of the current chunin exam. I understand Baki and Temari have been working with the other villages." The council members mumble amongst themselves before one shifts forward.
"So far, we have established that it will be held in Konoha this year. From the looks of it, everything should be plotted out by now. We can give you the reports made about the upcoming participants if you would like?"
Gaara nods and quietly thanks the closest member as he is passed a pamphlet. He scans it quickly before looking up. "This all looks in order, everything for that should proceed as planned. Let me know if any changes are made."
"Understood Lord Kazekage."
"Secondly," Gaara starts, now that he has finalized Temari's plans, before carefully passing around a stack of papers. "I believe it is in the best interest of Suna to open other trade routes. We have access to many materials I understand other villages want; with this we may be able to stabilize the financial situation here."
"Pardon my Lord? We will be sending troops outside the village, shouldn't we focus on the exam first?"
"I understand your hesitancy but given how we are expecting an influx of higher ranked shinobi from after the exam if all goes well, we will have more shinobi to spare. Also during the Chunin exam we can gauge the interest of the other villages and see if they are open to the idea of trade."
"This just seems to be a strenuous proposition given they might not want to work with us at all."
"If that is the case, we look elsewhere. We have access to the ocean and can expand our range if it comes to that."
Kankuro blinks at that, not expecting Gaara to want to use the small harbor so far away. It was risky transporting goods through Suna but to also involve a ship was a lot. It was plausible but it would require a lot of resources.
There were a few more questions on the goods that would be transported before the meeting is adjourned. Kankuro quickly strides up beside his brother and drops his voice to a whisper.
"You didn't mention anything about other trade routes."
"This has been something Temari and I have been planning." Gaara looks at him inquiringly as Kankuro stares shocked.
"Gaara the more routes to Suna means more foreigners. Someone could try to assassinate you." Gaara gives his brother a blank look before laying a hand on his shoulder.
"I appreciate the concern Kankuro, however shinobi with higher skills have tried in the past and failed." Kankuro lets out an exasperated sigh.
"I'm still going to fight you on this."
"I wouldn't expect otherwise."
III.
Temari stands in the doorway and feels her brow twitch.
Akira is sleeping on the floor, almost defiantly as someone could be, curled up against the couch which no longer had cushions on it. Shuichi stands in the kitchen stirring a pot as she toes off her shoes.
"Why are you on the floor?" Akira grumbles something, asleep, and Shuichi rolls his eyes.
"She's been sleeping everywhere and anywhere after sleeping for almost 24 hours. It's like her body is trying to make up for lost time and I'm just trying to get her to wake up enough for food."
"I'll get up when it's done." She yawns before rolling over and presses her back to the couch.
"Seriously?" Temari asks as Akira peels open an eye and immediately the blonde kneels to get a closer look.
"Yeah, apparently the seal was very effective in a lot of things." Akira lets out a dry chuckle, despite the annoyance that filled her. It was the best explanation her mother could figure out after freezing at the sight of Akira's eyes.
"Well," Temari sighs. "I guess just rest up."
"Working on it."
"Lazy bones." Shuchi calls as he stirs the soup.
"Asshat." Akira yawns loudly again and she's out again as Temari brushes some hair behind her ear before rising to a stand.
"Did you really have to take the couch cushions?" Shuichi simply meets her gaze and slurps loudly as he tastes the soup.
iii.
"I still think this is a bad idea."
"Kankuro it will be fine." Temari's gaze is steady and clear as Kankuro turns his head up and away.
"I absolutely hate it."
Gaara tilts his head. "Do you doubt my strength?"
"I doubt other people's intentions."
"You can doubt them all you want." Baki's voice brought the siblings' attention immediately to him as he regards Kankuro coolly. "But the people surrounding our new Kazekage should only have clear good ones."
"I don't trust them either."
"Then I suggest looking into them. Make sure the people around Gaara are trustworthy."
Kankuro tilts his head in consideration as Gaara frowns. "I am capable of defending myself."
"Of course you are." Temari pats his hand before sharing a knowing look with Kankuro.
IV.
"Why didn't you want Gaara around?" Akira head shoots up with surprise from where she has been watching Temari wrap her wrist. Temari doesn't meet her gaze though, focused on the task and only pausing when Akira shifts.
The silence is loud as Temari waits and finishes the bandage. Akira holds her wrist a moment before frowning.
"I don't like myself- I don't feel like myself." Her voice is gruff with annoyance and anger despite the sad look in her eyes. "You would bother me no matter what. You've met me when I first came here, and I was still learning to be patient and tolerant."
"You also tried to give yourself heat stroke." Akira gives her a hard look as Temari holds her hands up in surrender.
"Gaara needs someone who is patient, who is understanding and who doesn't care and while I don't care…. I don't think it's fair if he knows my past and I don't know his. And I don't want to know his." Akira gives Temari an almost exasperated look as though she was sick of being offered the information. "I might not know who I am now but the person I once was died in the forest with Jin."
Temari is quiet a moment before reaching her hand out. Akira gingerly lays her other wrist in Temari's hand and doesn't move as Temari binds it.
"Everyone changes. You told me once that anyone can change. I know you don't feel like yourself but if you're constantly changing will you ever really know yourself?" Akira slowly looks up as Temari continues to bind her wrist. "I know he would be curious, but he hasn't asked about your past before. And you've heard stories about him-."
"I never asked-."
"I know. And we all appreciate that." Temari gently pats her finished work before letting go. "My point is, just because you don't know who you are, doesn't mean you have to keep him away. Even if you don't like yourself, people who care about you will like you enough for the both of you." Akira wrinkles her nose at that.
"That hardly made sense."
"Gaara didn't… sometimes he still doesn't know who or how he wants to be. He has a goal and understands what he has to change to achieve that goal. But he was hard to like once." Temari smiles wryly at Akira who ducks her head in some shame before nodding. "I won't force you, I just wanted to understand because if anyone is going to accept you no matter what, its him."
"He shouldn't feel obligated to-."
"His acceptance isn't out of obligation." Temari gives her a knowing look as Akira merely blinks at her. She knew Gaara was important. The memories of their friendship were pieced together for the most part and her chest felt heavy when she thought of him alone at night again.
But her mind is still recovering. Major events had finally settled but smaller details were fuzzy at the best of times.
"Huh?" She asks as Temari rolls her eyes exasperated.
iv.
Gaara looks over the paperwork surprised as Shuichi and Masao both stand waiting in his office. Tsunade was trying to establish a few new trade laws with Suna as well as an alliance that benefited both villages. She had also sent over some new information regarding the chunin exam regarding the trials for the genin. Gaara stares at the terms and conditions while both men shift in the silence.
"I will give you an answer tomorrow. I would like time to discuss this with the council, but this seems to be a fair proposition in both parts."
"Understood Lord Kazekage." Shuichi bows and if Gaara is honest, he's impressed at how easily he slips into his role as a shinobi and treats him professionally. He shouldn't be that surprised given Akira's own ability to do so, but it is a welcome change from the typical behavior of a Konoha shinobi who didn't see him as a village leader but only as a friend. (Which is still fine, but meetings went faster if they were all professionals).
"Hey," Masao calls out before they leave as Gaara glances up from the paperwork again. "Do you want an update on Akira?"
It seems he spoke too soon. "No, she will reach out to me when she is ready."
"But do you know how she's doing?" Masao presses, waving a hand in front of himself with a brow raised, and goes to move toward Gaara but Shuichi steps in front of him, giving him a warning look. Gaara gently sets his papers on the desk seemingly unbothered, even if his anxiety spikes.
"From what I have gathered from my siblings, she is doing better." He hopes that hasn't changed even as Masao still looks at him confused.
"And you haven't seen her because?" Masao's other hand joins to wave in question, ignoring Shuichi's pointed look and receiving an elbow to the gut from the lavender haired man in response.
"Don't butt in." He hisses before tilting his head at Gaara. "Sorry about that, I appreciate you giving my sister space to heal. If you ever want to stop over though, she's been training and working on some new techniques." Shuichi beams at Gaara, obviously proud of his sister as Masaso snorts.
"Now whose butting in?" Masao folds his arms behind his head, side eyeing Shuchi, who frowns at him before nodding to Gaara.
"Anyway, have a nice day." Shuichi bows quickly before yanking Masao through the door.
Gaara sits rather puzzled before shaking his head. He was glad that Akira's brother was still in town, given how much he cared for his sister even if Gaara felt slightly bitter knowing that even Masao knew more about Akira than he did presently. He swallows it though, because Akira's healing is more important than his own worry and as long as she is fine, he would be too.
V.
It takes almost an entire day to convince Kankuro to hear her out while Temari and Gaara went over the details of the chunin exam. He hadn't welcomed the intrusion of his workshop originally but when she asked if he could help her design a weapon he had been intrigued. Then he found out it entailed changing her father's kunai and he had balked. While he felt honored about being asked to help with such a sentimental item, he hadn't been sure what the issue was until he opened the box and Akira visibly flinched at the sight of her once beloved weapon. She had looked away ashamed and embarrassed before telling him that she was nervous around them again and she didn't want to keep being worried about something that was meant to protect her.
After making her promise she wouldn't blame him if something went wrong, he agreed.
It took some questions and a few drawings before Kankuro approached her with an idea that made her skeptical to say the least.
"Will you be able to do that?" She asks as Kankuro shook his head.
"No," He rises to a stand with a sigh and sketch in hand. "But I know a guy." He tilts his head for her to follow and Akira hurries after him, the box of kunai in her arms.
"Where are we going?" Akira asks practically jogging to keep up with Kankuro's long strides. Temari and Gaara always accounted for her shorter height but given how she reaches Kankuro's shoulder now he hardly seems to care.
Kankuro doesn't even bother to turn around as Akira struggles to keep up as he navigates his way through town. "Somewhere to get advice."
Kankuro is quiet the rest of the journey as Akira shifts the box in her arms and quickly ducks around a corner following him. It isn't until he stops outside of a shop, looking at her somehow a combination of expectantly and annoyed, that she finally has a moment to look around. It takes a bit before the memory clicks into her mind at the familiar site of the front of the weapons shop she goes to. The familiar kiosks still out in the front and Kankuro tilts his head for her to follow again and they duck inside.
The shop keeper's face softens like usual and his eyes light up upon seeing them. Akira smiles back, and remembers how awkwardly Gaara had looked at the outdoor displays. Vastly different from Kankuro who seemed at ease in the presence of the shop keep. She shifts her box again, looking around at the new displays and offers as Kankuro speaks with the kind old man.
"Hey, we have a special order."
"I am quite familiar with the order." He starts, reaching for the box as Akira gives him an apologetic look.
"Well about that…" She starts before looking at Kankuro.
The rest of the conversation goes over her head once Kankuro places the sketch down and starts talking in terms she hadn't heard before. She knew general tool maintenance but evidently it was not enough to understand as they take the box from her. Akira looks between the two of them as they examine the kunai and mutterings pass between them as though they are sharing a secret before they glance at her. They measure her palms and study the metal before the shop keep accepts the proposal except for more material being needed. Kankuro nods before paying as Akira stares at him shocked.
"Kankuro-."
"Don't worry about it." He says putting his wallet away as the shop keep nods.
"Give me a week." Akira and Kankuro both nod, thanking him before leaving as Akira gaps at Kankuro.
"I could have paid."
"You aren't taking any missions right now."
"Still I-."
"Gaara would have paid." She stops at that, and he is forced to turn and look at her when he stops hearing her footsteps. "Look I know we got off on the wrong foot, but you literally saved him. You've done so much for him. I'm glad he has you. And…" He sighs hard rubbing the back of his neck. "I am sorry for about your arm, and everything else."
They stand in silence for a moment before Akira sighs. "I'll buy lunch."
Kankuro grins at her before turning away. "We can discuss your training when we get there."
"Training?"
"Your chakra strings are good, but I think with a little guidance you could be on par with me." Akira looks at him surprised and Kankuro grins in return.
v.
Gaara doesn't raise his head as the smell of tea wafts over him and the familiar feeling of chakra enters the room along with it.
"Have you taken a break recently?" Temari asks gently as she places a warm cup next to him. He knows from the smell it's a blend they all agree with and is glad she has finally finished trying to experiment with different kinds of tea.
"It was a while ago." He answers glancing at the clock before nodding his head. "I'll take another once I finish with this."
"Good, I know you will want to finish this all today, but some of it isn't due for another few days."
"If I can get it done though-."
"I know, just pace yourself." Temari gives him a concerned look as Gaara simply bobs his head in agreement.
"I understand."
He is about to go back to reading his documents when she takes a breath and steps a little closer.
"I am proud of you." His head snaps up at that, staring with wide eyes. "You've come a long way." Temari smiles proudly before gently rubbing the top of his head.
"Temari-."
"I know, but you're still my little brother." She chuckles taking her hand back after ruffling his hair. "And you got your dream."
"I couldn't have done it without you and Kankuro."
"Maybe. But when you have your mind set on something you don't normally give up."
"I-." Gaara starts only to be interrupted as Kankuro flings the door to his office open, determined.
"Gaara I want to speak with you alone." Temari and Gaara both blink at him confused. "Meet me outside the village. Training ground 4."
Gaara blinks and looks at Temari confused before tapping his papers together.
"I suppose I can take my break now."
"Hopefully this is nothing too serious." Temari looks at the doorway concerned for a moment before sighing and patting Gaara's shoulder. "I'll see you both at dinner tonight."
"Of course." Gaara nods before following his sister out.
In the desert as the two brothers fight, Gaara tries to reason with Kankuro who throws himself into the training session. Or at least, what Gaara believes to be a training session as he dodges a serious attack from Kankuro. It isn't until another one that he warns Kankuro about the scope of the training session only for Kankuro to finally yell out his frustrations. Gaara stares a moment, his sand automatically moving to protect him from a surprise attack before he is forced to move again.
"You're misunderstanding things Kankuro," Gaara says, raising his arm to block one puppet as another spits kunai at him. "I am not going to accept this."
"I was so afraid to get close to you before! I can't forgive the past and I want to be able to give you the support you deserve!"
"It's because I have you as my older brother that I can be at ease!" Gaara roars back, pushing the puppets down as Kankuro freezes. "I have you and Temari to help protect me! I have Akira and Naruto who have helped save me yes, but I can't entrust my back to some shinobi I hardly know. You are the only one who's still hung up on the past." Gaara stops and carefully walks toward his brother, his chest tight as he almost pleads with Kankuro. His older brother freezes where he is kneeling in the sand and stares at him in shock.
"If you don't support me as a brother, I'm afraid that the future won't turn out as I hope it will. I feel we're blessed compared to other villages because we have people we can trust at all times. I understand the past brings you pain but it's now, the present, that is important. I have other bonds but Kankuro, amidst all of them, my bonds with my siblings are irreplaceable."
Kankuro gapes at Gaara as he bows forward, "Please don't try and erase what I treasure."
Gaara stares down at the swirling sand and tries not to let the tears that prickle at the corners of his eyes drip down. He is still worried about Akira, worried about the horde of rogue ninja at the borders edge. Worried about so much.
He didn't think he had to be worried about his brother too.
"Gaara, I…. Thank you I feel like a huge load has been taken off my chest." Kankuro straightens as Gaara slowly rises. "We still have a lot to do, but don't worry from now on, when you feel like you're going to collapse, I'll hold you up. I'm your big brother and I'm going to support you no matter what."
Gaara smiles as an enormous wave of relief washes over him. "Yes, I'll be counting on you, always."
As they wander home, Kankuro once again laughing and joking as Gaara walks pleases beside him, his thoughts drift to his dear friend again. He knew based on his last interaction with Shuichi that Akira had forgiven him, but had wondered how she forgave him so easily, and in turn how Shuichi had forgiven his sister. But now seeing how hurt Kankuro was by his past actions, how he desperately wanted to be there for Gaara... Gaara shakes his head, maybe a bond like this really is something only siblings could understand.
VI.
The sun dances across her ceiling and Akira watches, measuring through the stretching sunbeams as the day slowly bleeds by. The memories of her father, so few and vague now, sit heavy on her soul. The memories with Jin, clearer but still just as few also weigh her down and today feels impossible for her to slip out of bed. Shuichi and Masao had left early the previous morning and even with Shuichi's previous conversation still ringing in her ears, she wants nothing more than to slip into the oblivion of sleep.
She closes her eyes. Shuichi had started first by hugging her and telling her that their father would be proud of her, that he was proud of her developments and then he had broken the news as gently as he could. Shuichi's revelation being that she would be an aunt, that Izumi and he would finally be parents had been startling to find out. A happy welcomed surprise but something that had her terrified if she was honest.
A new little life, untainted and pure, and her brother trusted her with the knowledge of its existence. He had made it blatantly obvious that he wanted her to be part of his child's life. He didn't care if they lived in different villages, Akira would be a welcomed member of his family no matter what.
Akira opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling. She knows in her bones that Shuichi is right, that their dad would be happy and that she would love the newest family member unconditionally because she already does. But as she studies the way the light moves; she can't help but grieve that her father will never meet this little child. That he would never see her excel at being a Suna shinobi. She grieves over Jin never becoming anything more than a genin and that she hardly got to find a dream let alone achieve one.
She turns her head more into her pillow, her chest twisting because even if her father was alive, if Jin had survived, would she still have come to Suna? Would her and Temari, Kankuro, and Gaara become friends? She feels bile rise in the back of her throat and she shakes her head trying not to feel sick. She loves her father and her dear friend but the thought of not having lunch and outings with Temari, of not teasing and bothering Kankuro, of not going star-gazing, and having tea, and just sharing space, of being close to each other-.
Akira curls in on herself, tears that were brimming finally running down her face and her chest aches terribly missing Gaara. Something clicks finally in the back of her mind and it doesn't help remembering how she really feels for him. Instead shame and guilt finds her because Jin would never be in love. And is she grieving her father and-.
Akira huffs and wipes her eyes, feeling dull and terrible as she stays curled away from the fading light.
vi.
Gaara stands at the entrance of the village along with Kankuro, who is still waving goodbye to their sister until she turns away. They stand in silence for a moment until Temari's form disappears from view and Gaara fights off any worry. His sister is one of the strongest in Suna, and if he is honest, still as vicious, and dangerous as she was when they were younger.
Kankuro and him turn and start to walk back home in silence before Kankuro clears his throat.
"I'm surprised Akira didn't show up to send Temari off." Gaara glances at his brother in question as Kankuro simply looks back.
"Temari saw her before meeting with us."
"So you guys are avoiding each other." Gaara lets out sigh.
"It's not like that."
"Well one minute you're asking for advice on how to tell her how you feel and now-."
"Kankuro-."
"I'm just trying to understand what is going on. It's been a while since you've last seen each other."
"Akira had a lot of revelations from the incident with Shukaku. Between finding out a lot of truths, she also must deal with her grief."
"Grief?" Kankuro's walk stutters and Gaara turns toward his brother, stopping a moment to let Kankuro regain his composer.
"She lost her father when she was younger and lost her comrade before coming to Suna. Due to her memories being scrambled, it feels like she lost them recently. She wanted space to come to terms with their loss again."
"But not space from Temari?" Gaara gives him an annoyed look before fully standing in front of his brother.
"Akira fought against Shukaku for me. She almost died trying to save me and had to pay the cost for it. She doesn't regret what she's done." Gaara pauses a moment thinking back to Akira swearing in both the cave and in his room that she wouldn't hesitate to help him again. "And I am grateful to her. But… I don't wish to cause her more confusion or put a strain on something that feels so tentative." Gaara holds up a hand before Kankuro can speak. "Kankuro, her grief feels new, this relationship feels new as well to her. She understands that she always has a place here, but she needs time to comprehend what that means."
"Alright I get it now. Just… you seemed sure about how you feel about her before and now-."
"I am still sure." Kankuro takes a step back surprised as Gaara looks away for a moment.
"She's one of my closest friends. I do understand that I love her. I am no longer sure if it's romantic, but I know she is as important to me as you and Temari are. This time apart has been beneficial for me to figure that out." Gaara turns to his brother again giving him a small smile. "As I said before, Akira will always have a place at my side. And as long as I have the three of you to depend on, then the future will be bright."
Kankuro blinks a minute before grinning and patting his brother on the arm, both turning toward the mansion once more as he laughs. "Since when did you get so mature?"
"Kankuro." Gaara's voice is meant to be a warning but when Kankuro catches his eye to make sure he hadn't over stepped, his older just laughs.
7.
The library is quiet at this time of the day. Or it originally was when they first started coming here.
Gaara can hear whispers about him as he scans the shelves looking for a particular book regarding some of Suna's past policies. He's certain he knows what he is looking for, given how he's read the book before, but he wanted to make sure he remembered it properly to be able to cite it. He travels to the far side of the bookcase when the whispers get higher pitched before footsteps scurry away. Gaara pointedly ignores this, wondering if they were still uncomfortable with his presence despite his often trips to the library. He's aware that some of the villagers have been vocal about their admiration for him but some of them are still uncertain about him.
Akira watches as a group of girls, squealing with embarrassment, scurry from the other side of the bookcase she is looking at. She is trying to see if there were other scrolls regarding techniques that would help with her new weapon. That and she is curious to study Suna's sealing techniques, given how her mother had approached her to see if she was interested in continuing her training. She blinks confused barely making out what the girls were saying aside from a few adjectives about someone who was handsome around the corner. Akira watches in some confusion before moving closer to the end of the bookcase, still scanning the shelves-.
Akira makes a squeak of surprise when she bumps into someone and immediately moves away, spewing apologies.
"I'm so sorry-."
"My mistake-."
Gaara's eyes brighten and widen all at once as he stares down at her, and Akira feels her mouth run dry. She blinks back at him as they fully turn toward each other.
"Gaara?"
"Akira?"
"W-wha-, how-?"
"Your eyes-."
"Oh y-yeah about that-."
"Go ahead-."
"No, you-."
THUMP!
Gaara and Akira both start at that and turn to look as a group of girls freeze where they had been trying desperately to catch a hold of the stack of books before they fell. Evidently, they failed and Gaara and Akira watch wordlessly as the group gives them both sheepish grins before hurriedly picking up the books, talking over one another, both apologizing and trying to spread the blame amongst the group.
The girls are gone before either one of them can respond and Gaara quickly regains his composure. He turns back to Akira and gives her a warm smile as he tries to reign in his sudden nerves.
"Are you currently busy?" Akira gives him a surprised look before smiling a little.
"I was going to train later but-."
"If you are-."
"I can take a rain check." Akira finishes, raising her hands in a calming gesture giving Gaara a sincere look that leaves him feeling more relaxed as he nods. He ducks his head, mainly from embarrassment for having interrupted her once again, during this whole conversation.
He takes a breath as Akira gives him an encouraging and soft smile. "Would you like to join me for some tea?"
"I would love to." And when she grins at him, Gaara feels a familiar warmth in his chest, glad to have time with his friend again.
-End- Song: Crystals by Of Monsters and Men I picked this one because just listening to the lyrics I can just kind of imagine both Gaara and Akira doing their own thing while it plays in the background. Like they both need to grow and they are taking this time apart to sort out their other priorities. Akira remembering how important Gaara is to her, and Gaara accepting his feelings and acknowledging there is a time and place for everything.
Well I hope you enjoyed. Until next time!