Chapter 8 (Next To Me)

Temari is used to being woken in the middle of the night, is used to rising early with the sun. What she isn't used to is her youngest brother bursting into the dining room with piles of books being carried on his sand and a frantic look in his eyes. Kankuro gives him a once over as he chews his food before shoveling more into his mouth. Gaara doesn't surprise him anymore, even with the books and the serious look in his frantic eyes. Temari looks at Gaara and indulges him with a sigh and a tilt to show she's ready to listen as sips her tea and waits as he takes a breath.

"Shukaku thinks I have a crush on Akira." He says simply and Temari blinks while Kankuro chokes on his food and coughs violently. Temari swallows hard before looking at Gaara and narrowing her eyes.

They had talked about Shukaku's lies over the years to Gaara, had discussed how he had been lying in rational ways. They had helped Gaara through the roughest parts of his transition to becoming who he was now, and had helped him find ways of coping with the beast's mental attacks now. When Shukaku told Gaara something, something that had him questioning, they took it seriously since they didn't want to lose their brother. So hearing this, they were half sure it was a lie, but it startled them nonetheless.

"You have a crush on my best friend?" She asks as Gaara shifts. "Are you sure?"

"No." He says as Kankuro looks at him with concern.

"Ok let's try this. Sit down and close your eyes and think really hard about her." Temari says and points to a chair as Gaara blinks.

"Reall-."

"Get in the chair before I kick your ass." She says and Kankuro flinches even though the tone isn't directed at him for once. Gaara sits as commanded and closes his eyes.

He thinks of the peace that fills his soul during those quiet nights with her. Thinks of her in that dress, a smile on her face, thinks of the melted gold of her eyes in the sun. Of the warmth when her arms wrap around him, and he almost smiles recalling the peck. He opens his eyes after a moment and looks at Temari and Kankuro, who stare, jaws dropped comically at their youngest brother and the blush on his cheeks and the bright light in his eyes.

"Oh my-."

"T-That's imposs-."

"Kank-!"

"Well-!" Temari whaps Kankuro on the back of his head hard enough his cap almost flies off and he rubs his head as he whimpers in pain.

"Look Gaara what your feeling is natural, Akira is nice to you but she's the first girl to be nice to you. Just ignore it and it should go away." She advises as she drinks some more tea and Gaara looks down.

"But the research-."

"What research?" Temari blinks as he summons the books on his sand to fly open and land gently on the table in front of her. She reads some of the pages and sighs.

"This is telling you to act on it. You shouldn't-."

"Why not? Logically speaking-."

"Logically speaking, if you tell Akira how you feel, and she doesn't feel the same way, what is going to happen?" Temari asks and Gaara falters his heart no longer erratic in his chest.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean let's say you tell her, let's say she doesn't feel the same way. We both know that Akira would still welcome you over, even if you make her uncomfortable. Do you really want to do that to her? Just wait until you know for sure if she feels the same way. Or maybe by then it'll go away, crushes tend to fade after about a month." Temari says with a shrug as Gaara sits and ponders the advice.

"Personally Gaara I don't see what you like about her, she's barely a chunin." Kankuro says and Temari gives him a look.

"Rank isn't everything you idiot." Temari hisses and Kankuro flinches realizing that his sister would take offense. She helps train some of the recruits as he sighs.

"Well wouldn't you want them to hook up then? I mean you already treat her like you do us." He says as Gaara nods once agreeing with his brother.

"I do but I'm not going to force anything on her. And besides I'm just happy that someone besides me gets along with her." She says and leans back crossing her arms. "So no telling her shit, and you keep your mouth shut too." She says jerking her chin at Gaara before whipping her head around to glare at Kankuro who sighs and nods.

Gaara looks down and feels slightly downtrodden giving the fact that he thought this would be given a more positive reaction. But Temari has a point, Akira is his best friend, his second closest, and after opening her home, herself, and her friendship to him, he didn't want to make her uncomfortable. Besides what if Temari is right and this does fade, he doesn't want to mess up this bond he has with her. He takes a breath and nods once to Temari.

"I won't say anything." He agrees and Temari smiles at him.

"Good and Akira is coming over in a few-."

"Hello!" Akira calls from the entryway as Temari sighs.

"In here!" She calls before looking at both her brothers a moment and mouthing 'mouths shut!'

"How is everyone?" Akira asks leaning in the doorway and Gaara looks at her. He has seen her after Temari's training session, has seen her in the standard shinobi outfit, and has seen her in her pajamas.

But Akira is in a cream colored long sleeved shirt with a dark colored pants. Her headband is tied around her neck and her hair curls around her shoulders as she smiles at siblings. Gaara blinks hard before his sand snaps the books closed and he nods a greeting to Akira as he quickly leaves the room. Akira blinks and looks at Temari who waves away the question before Akira can ask. She shrugs and sits were Gaara once sat as she nods to Kankuro.

"Wow you actually don't look like another generic grunt." He says dryly as Akira rolls her eyes.

"It's cheaper than anything else. And at least I don't look like you." She says as Kankuro snorts.

"You wished you looked like me."

"I don't see why anyone would want to look like shit-."

"Are you ready for the festival?" Temari asks interrupting the spat as Kankuro glares and goes to put away his dishes. Akira nods after glaring back at Kankuro.

"I guess. At least I don't have to buy an outfit and thank you again for the dress." She says and Temari smiles at her.

"Anytime. You are dancing with me as payment though." She grins and Akira laughs.

"Ok fair enough. It's been a while since I've danced."

"Well it's been a while for Gaara too maybe you could help him out."

"Does he know how to?" Akira asks head slightly tilted. Gaara doesn't seem like the sort to know how to dance and Temari pauses as a plan forms in her head.

Temari loves the idea of Gaara being interested in Akira. Loves the idea of the two of them together but she has no idea how Akira feels. She also isn't one to meddle in such things thus to ask would be out of character for her. Yet if the two danced together, if she pushed them together a little maybe then….

Temari keeps the grin off her face as she raises a shoulder, "I'm pretty sure he doesn't."

"Hey Gaara, can you dance?" Akira asks back turned to Temari as she twists in her chair and hugs the back of it. She has sensed him coming back toward them as she looks at him expectantly. Gaara stares at his friend and looks at Temari a moment who is shaking her head and mouthing 'say no!' to him.

"No?" He says though it sounds like a question and he almost winces at his tone.

"So, you want dance lessons?" Akira asks a small smile on her face as Temari nods and Gaara freezes as the realization hits him of what Temari is doing.

"He would love them."


"So, I guess for a proper festival the slow dance should be fine for you. It's a little awkward with anyone you dance with, but I can show you the basic moves so even if they don't know how to dance they can follow you." She says as she paces the small cleared out room. Gaara stands with his back to door as Akira finishes messing with the speaker as music blares out for a moment. She pauses it and smiles at him

"Well come on. Sooner we start sooner we stop." She says holding a hand out to Gaara and for a moment he stops to look at her, hand stretched out, hair shining from the sun behind her and that smile of warmth on her face. He reaches and takes her hand a moment later.

He pretends not to know how to dance, not to know the steps despite being well trained in this art. His father had anticipated sending him off to different lands as a secret weapon. He had gotten his weapon but...

Gaara focuses on lying to Akira, on spinning her as she instructs. He likes having her close, likes seeing into her eyes when the light catches them.

Shukaku stirs, "That girl is pretty but I've seen better, bigger and with more blood in them." He swears he can feel the demon grin in in subconscious and he tilts Akira on the beat like he is supposed to.

Shit.

She hasn't instructed him to do it and now she's surprised as he blushes.

"See you're catching on already." She says as he lifts her up to a stand and the music ends.

"Do you want to try leading this time?" She asks, and he nods before he can think about it.

They dance once more Gaara leading and he mumbles counts aloud to help his lies. Akira follows twirling in his arms and gives encouraging smiles when he looks at her. Gaara feels a flutter in his chest when he dips her to the end this time and he tries to find a reason not to feel like this for her. But when he slowly brings her to a rise and their eyes met, he comes up with nothing. Her eyes have turned a honey brown in the light, her pink lips don't hold a smile but still have his attention. He wants to tilt his head forward, wants to try and quench his desire to make this crush a romantic relationship from his research. Instead he remains frozen his fear of losing her, of fucking this up, overpowering his want so when Akira compliments him and turns away he tries not to feel so disappointed.

And once more he fails.

That is until he sees the tips of her ears turn pink and she clear her throat. He's known her long enough now to see when she's embarrassed and he wonders if maybe she feels the same for him.

Shukaku's howling laughter doesn't help his confidence in that thought. He wants to reach out and touch her but stops. It isn't his place, and this, this certainly isn't them. He reminds himself to glare extra hard at Temari later and instead waits for Akira to clear her throat once more.

"Well it feels like you've got the basic hang of things. Temari will be impressed with how quickly you caught on." She says with a smile and eases back in her stance hands on her hips. He likes her best like that he realizes, when she's relaxed.

"I had a good instructor." She waves the compliment away.

"Oh please, I'm awkward with anyone I dance with. The only time I think I dance well is when I'm alone." She says.

"Alone?"

"Like when no one is watching. I get self-conscious, though I do like dancing." She explains as she waves to Gaara to follow her out of the studio, but he hesitates. He's going to do something stupid.

"You can come here." He says before he can truly catch himself.

"What?"

"You can come here... to dance. When you want." He says offering the space. His space, he realizes, and she smiles.

"Thank you. I might take you up on that," She says and there's a brightness in her eyes when she says it. And Gaara feels proud having been the one to put that light there.

"It was already there you twit." Shukaku says pretending to be annoyed at the romance as his plans slowly falls into place.

"Well I'll go let Temari know we are all set for the festival, are you still coming over tonight?" Akira asks as she edges towards the door and Gaara nods. Akira beams at him before waving as she leaves the room.

Akira presses her back against the door and tries to calm her erratic heartbeat down. She hasn't stopped thinking about waking up to those pretty seafoam eyes, the peck she gave him, and now how it felt surprising natural to twirl in his arms. For once she hadn't felt awkward and when he dipped her-.

'Stop it,' Akira thinks 'Stop thinking about him that way. You go on missions too often, he's trying to become Kazekage and I'm not even a full registered citizen yet.'

Akira sighs as she peels away from the door and walks toward Temari's room. Gaara is her friend and that is more than enough. More than enough to be by his side and help him when he needs it. This isn't going to happen no matter how many times those beautiful mint eyes grip her and make her heart falter.


Kankuro pulls on the arm of his puppet in his workshop and frowns at the give. The ratio is off again, and he sighs as he picks up his screwdriver and tweaks the joint. He likes his workshop, likes the organized mess because he knows where everything is. Yes, maybe the quarter inch bolt that he distinctly remembers being behind his desk on the left side shouldn't be there, but it is an example. It makes sense to him, even if it's chaos to the world and he likes it that way. That and no one comes in here unless they absolutely need him. Temari is creeped out by the many dead eyes though she will never admit it. And Kankuro is pretty sure Gaara doesn't care.

That is until there is a knock on the door and Kankuro uses his chakra strings to open it and sees his younger brother.

"How do you get over a crush?" He asks and Kankuro turns his mouth open in shock and it's almost comical.

"Wha-?"

"Akira and I were dancing-."

"Wha-?!"

"And I wanted to kiss her and I-."

"WHA-!?"

"Kankuro-!"

"Gaara I'm just surprised, you barely know her." He says standing and stepping towards his brother as he looks at him.

"She is the same age as me, she likes the color blue, she wants to be an academy teacher, and her favorite food is-."

"Gaara I know you know her, and you spend a lot of time with her but-."

"Kankuro... I don't want to feel this way." Gaara says his eyes wide and Kankuro realizes there is fear in them. "I don't want to lose my friend. I don't want to feel that pain again." He says holding a hand over his heart and Kankuro's eyes soften.

"You're going to have that pain regardless, because even if you don't tell her, she might feel what you're for someone else and-." He stops because Gaara's face twists with pain and the realization of what Kankuro is saying hits him.

Just as the realization that this might be more than a crush hits Kankuro.

"Look you're turning 15 soon, Baki is talking with the council about you being Kazekage at festival and there you're going to prove that you're more than who you were. You're going to show that you should no longer be feared by having fun with the other villagers. You have a lot on your plate right now and I know Akira is important to you. So just ease up on this situation and focus on yourself for now." He offers and Gaara thinks it over before sighing.

"I think you are right but-."

"But you still want to avoid the pain?" Kankuro asks and Gaara looks at him surprised as he smiles.

"You've become an open book man. Tell her then when the time is right because I don't know her that well but I think Temari is wrong. If anything that girl will help you find someone else to have a crush on." He gives a wink to Gaara who thinks about it and nods once.

He'll tell her, he decides, and as Kankuro claps him on the shoulder with a grin, Gaara does something he didn't expect.

Gaara wraps his arms around Kankuro quickly giving his brother a hug and he waves as he leaves.

"Thank you, brother." He says and Kankuro blinks.


"I don't know what to do Temari!" Akira groans where she has flopped on Temari's bed. Her voice is partially muffled by the bedding but Temari doesn't bother turning around.

"Stop being an idiot for one thing." She calls over her shoulder as she shifts papers around on her desk.

Her office and room were one in the same so when she was falling asleep she could just pass out in the same room. Of course, this was her personal office and her business office was in another room. The change had been made after Baki got sick of her not caring if one of the elders had to sit in a chair with a bra thrown over it.

Akira picks her head up from the bed and looks at her friend.

"He's your brother I thought-."

"I get enough shit from the recruits about how cute Gaara is. I didn't think I would get it from you." Akira sits up at that annoyed.

"I really don't want to think that way. I mean, yeah, his eyes are pretty, but really-."

"I just said I didn't want-."

"So then help me not-."

"Go make out with someone then maybe it will help-."

"Temari!"

"Well-." Akira groans and flops back onto the bed.

"I just want us to stay friends." She says quietly and Temari smiles.

"Then don't do anything. Maybe it'll fade and if it doesn't, then tell him." She twists in her chair to face Akira who moves her head enough to send a glare her way.

"I thought you didn't-."

"I don't do schoolgirl crushes but if you do love him then I guess I can help." She says with a wink as Akira rolls her eyes. "Did you get him a birthday present yet?" Temari asks as Akira freezes a moment before leaping from her bed and sprinting out of the room.

A moment later she pokes her head back in and says "Bye!" before taking off again as Temari laughs.


Akira jumps from the knock on her window and pulls the curtain back as Gaara looks in confused as she raises a finger before letting it fall back into place. He waits, floating on his sand and pulls on his new clothes a little. Temari had gifted them to him after Akira had left stating he was growing too fast for her liking and he needed to stop. He glances down again at his new coat and armored vest and brushes his fingers through his recently mussed hair. Temari had also noticed how long it was getting and ran a comb through it berating him for not noticing his appearance. He was going to be Kazekage and he needed to start messing with his own hair. She had tried to pass them off as normal gifts but Gaara knew from the look in her eye that the gestures had a deeper meaning due to his birthday and had obliged her in also letting her pinch his cheek out of affection. Even if it irritated him.

He stops thinking about it when Akira opens the window still in her outfit from earlier. And her breath catches.

Gaara is standing outside her window, his dark red coat is billowing from the wind and his hair is brushed down more than it usually is, and it looks longer. Those mint eyes land on hers and she blinks before moving out of the way.

"Hey." She says and her mouth feels all too dry as she clears her throat. Gaara carefully enters the house and swings his gourd off even as the sand still enters it. He turns to Akira and his head tilts a little as she shifts, nervous. Akira isn't nearly ready yet, the presents are hidden under a thin sheet on the table and the last one is behind her pillow on her bed. She takes a breath before looking Gaara in the eye. Now or never.

"Ok look Temari told me you don't celebrate your birthday. I don't need to know why if your uncomfortable with telling me. But…" She pauses and looks away toward the sheet and Gaara's eyes narrow. Temari not telling the reason is surprising since it also affects her and he spies the sheet as Akira turns back to him. "But I wanted to get you something for it and I really hope you like them." She finishes and he's taken aback a bit by the sheer nervousness about her. Usually she is confident, straight to the point, but her cheeks are flush as she steps towards the desk.

Akira can't exactly read his expression now as he schools it from being taken aback and she's extremely nervous about it, but she doesn't stop as she turns away from him. "If your still uncomfortable though you don't have to think of this as a birthday present by the way. It can just be a nice gift. I hope you like it." She says as she moves a sheet off the desk. A small potted cactus sits on it and Gaara eyes it along with the two scrolls sitting next to it. Akira smiles as she gestures to the presents.

"This scroll has some new gardening tools, and this one lists the cactus's properties and some uses for its skin and needles. I remembered a little of what you said about your garden and how the plants helped each other so I tried to find something that fit. If I'm wrong, it can be a nice desk plant when your Kazekage." Akira stops and eyes Gaara again but he's still expressionless, still stoic as she gulps. "I understood majority of what you said that night, and you just seemed so happy." She mutters and moves to the bed and pulls out the next present carefully hiding it behind herself until she is in front of Gaara.

"And I got this with Temari a little while ago. It was supposed to be funny and Kankuro might steal it if you let him." She says as she pulls out a giant floppy sunhat. Gaara gives her a brow raise and she grins at him. "It's for when you're working in your garden." He is silent as she hands it to him and she waits hands behind her back as she rocks from the balls of her feet to her heels.

"And if you don't like any of these gifts I'll let you ask me anything. I don't know how many questions you can ask but it'll be more than five for sure." She says and her throat feels dry like her mouth now as she clears it. He doesn't say anything as he looks at the hat and back at her and she can't take it anymore.

She looks away and starts rambling.

"Ok I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable. It's the first time I get to spend your birthday with you, and I may not know why you don't like it, but I like it. I like being your friend, I like having you in my life. You're my best friend, and today is special to me because you were born. You were born, and you exist, and that is probably the greatest thing ever, and I'm-glad-you-exist." She stops taking a breath and glances at his face.

Gaara eyes the hat, the scrolls and plant, and looks at her. Akira can feel how warm her cheeks are, knows how nervous she looks and wants him to say anything, something. She is about to start rambling again-.

Gaara is silent, and he stays silent as he drops the hat on the bed and pulls Akira into a tight hard hug. Akira gives a little muffled 'oof' from the sudden movement and manages to get her arms around him enough to return it. He presses his face into her shoulder and she realizes just how much taller he is than her. She fits just under his chin and for him to press his face into her shoulder he has to curl against her. Akira feels herself flush even more as he sighs against her neck and breathes her in.

He is touched by the presents, the thoughtfulness of them. The cactus isn't correct for the environment but would work if it was bigger. The tools are even better than the one he order himself. The hat is amazing, and he loves it more than he cares to admit, and his favorite part is her words. The truth she bestowed upon him that she is truly happy he is alive. She smells like cinnamon, tea, and something earthy and he makes a decision as he pulls away. He stands straight and looks down at her, with her wide dark eyes and beautiful crimson cheeks.

"I want to tell you the reason." He says softly, and she blinks taken aback and nods. He guides them to the bed and holds her hand softly in his. He looks at his feet and takes a breath as she gives him a reassuring gentle squeeze.

"My mother died giving birth to me, and she hated me for it. Hated me for taking her life. I don't like to celebrate my birthday because of that." He starts and before he knows it he's squeezing her hand tighter and tells her about the assassinations attempts. How he hates water now from one trying to drown him. How he became so damaged and he stops short from telling her about Yashamaru. That's a wound that still hurts, and if he's honest it hurts more than the truth of his mother. Because for a long time he thought at least someone cared. Someone had loved him; but it was all a lie. Gaara takes a breath and goes to speak again but Akira is shaking, and she moves off the bed to stand in front of him.

Tears are streaming down her face, her body is shaking and she looks at him with sad eyes.

She's a babbling crying mess, and although he's sure she has said other things, "I wish I was your friend sooner." Is all he can make out as she starts sobbing and he pulls her close.

"I am so so sorry-. I wish I-." She stops as he hugs her and this time she pulls Gaara close and she cries for him. She sobs and cries and hurts for him and Gaara is once again overwhelmed from the sheer emotion that comes from this girl. From the empathy she feels for him, and just how much his past troubles her. She cries for the both of them, and she says something that shakes him.

"I wish I could have protected you." She mutters after a moment when she is calmer and Gaara looks at her.

He is a demon in human skin. She believes he is human. He has done terrible things and has killed, but they are shinobi and she has also killed. She has been through her own trauma, and now cries for his own. She doesn't understand fully what it was like, but she admits it and doesn't pretend to fully know it. She has given more than he has ever asked for. She never asks much of him. She gives, and gives, and gives, and it all hits him as she dries her own tears and gives him a small smile.

"I really wish I was friends with you and Temari and even Kankuro back then. I wish I could've helped."

"There wasn't much you could-."

"I could beat the shit out your dad!" She says suddenly and Gaara blinks at her as he pulls back.

"You would fight the Kazekage? My father?" He is surprised more than he cares to admit, and a warmth is filling his chest from her tears to her anger.

"Hell yeah! You both are my best friends." She hisses again and as she moves to sit next to him again he is looking at her in a way she hasn't seen before.

His eyes are bright and wide, but he's not surprised. His mouth is quirked a little at the corners but it's not quite a smile and he's looking at her like he's never seen her before. She brushes her hair behind her ear as she sits and looks away from him. Embarrassment washes over her a bit because he hasn't stopped and he's practically staring at this point. He moves to grab her hand again and when she looks at him, his face is soft and he looks at her with a soft smile.

"This is incredibly nice." He says as he waves at the presents before turning back to her. "Everything you've ever done for me has been incredibly nice." Akira shakes her head.

"I haven't done much…" She trails off because he squeezes her hand once gently in disagreement.

"You offered your space to give me comfort, your friendship. You try so hard to understand and at the same time you admit to not being able to fully do it. You've become my close friend. My best." He stops and studies her a moment. "The best thing you have ever given me has been this bond. But now I believe your words tonight have been the nicest."

"Really?" Akira asks surprised as Gaara looks down as though pondering and nods once.

"Yes. Temari and Kankuro are glad I exist, but to have you, and maybe one day the village. That is more than I could ever ask for." He says and Akira's heart skips a beat at his smile.

"The village will feel that way Gaara, you already work with the troops, you already do so much." She says softly and Gaara tilts his head a moment.

"I still get my questions correct?" He asks and Akira blinks a moment from the sudden change before nodding.

"Would you dance with me at the festival?" He asks as Akira makes a small surprised noise at the question before smiling.

"Yeah sure I'll dance with you. Just do me a favor and ask someone other than me though." She grins and Gaara nods once.

"And will you accompany me somewhere in a bit?" He asks, and Akira tilts her head this time.

"Where are we going this late at night?"

"Not now, just before dawn." He says and Akira shrugs.

"I suppose. I'm just preparing for a mission soon but that's later tomorrow." She mutters.

"Why do you go on missions so often?"

"I help my mom pay for bills, and I needed to save up for your presents." She smiles and pulls back her hand. Gaara sits a moment thinking and decides that maybe he would ask about her scars another night. He wants to ask her more things, doesn't want to stop talking, but he isn't one for idle chatter and so he looks at her and she shrugs.

He isn't sure what happened next, he is almost confident it was Akira's suggestion but somehow, they ended up laying on her bed, her head on his thigh and his head on his pillow talking. He tells her about his childhood the good and bad times. She tells him about some of her scars and he is surprised by how many mar just her left leg. (A thick ropy pearl colored one on the calf, a thin white one above her ankle and a long smooth pink and wide one ran parallel to her shin bone.) When she looks at him with her dark hair spilled against his trousers and her eyes bright he trails fingers gently against her cheek and she smiles at him. Her eyes a little puffy from crying but it doesn't matter to him.

Gaara is in love with her, he doesn't want this moment to end, and for once his birthday isn't entirely terrible. This dark-haired girl with dark eyes and pink lips and so many scars has welcomed him into her life, has treated him with respect and understanding, and has cried for him. She laughed with him and now as dawn draws near he sit up and she moves along with him. Gently he takes her hand and without another word sand whirls around them and they are gone.

He is going to tell her.

He wants to tell her as they walk the Suna Wall as the rays of the sun start to streak in the sky. He needs to tell her, he realizes as they walk, because he loves her and that's all that really matters. Gaara pulls Akira a little closer to him as the two walk and she looks around surprised at the location. She knows where they are, but to get home from here is a different matter. She spies the Kazekage building as Gaara pulls them to a stop and sits, pulling her down gently next to him. He sits with a leg drawn up and props his elbow on his knee, he drops her hand to allow her to situate herself more comfortably.

Akira settles besides him as she looks around wondering what the point was. The view is nice, and the air isn't as dry but she could see this view anywhere else on the wall. The silence between them isn't awkward as she waits patiently to understand. Gaara wouldn't bring her here for nothing and-.

She stops thinking as the sun rises enough that the stronger beams finally truly illuminate the village and she gasps.

The village is filled with a beautiful warm light, brown sand turns golden and warm looking from the distance and it even sparkles in some places. As though pieces of metal or jewels were sown into the structures and the Kazekage building looks tall and proud in the morning light. It's beautiful and breath taking and the plain colored building looks different, regal, and amazing.

Gaara has seen this view once before after performing a border check and he had only found it by chance. He had found this place and thought of Akira, of her little meadow back home she had once told him about. And when she looks at him, her hair looking chocolate in the morning light and her eyes once more turning golden the words are on the tip of his tongue. He's ready.

Until he catches the emotion in her eyes. Sees the joy, the disbelief, and something else that makes him falter because he recognizes the look as one he has given her. Hope flares in his chest as he waits for her to say what he was going to. To admit her own mutual feelings first.

But she doesn't.

"This is amazing. Thank you Gaara." She says a little breathlessly as she presses her shoulder against his and looks around once more before catching his eye again.

She means it so sincerely when she looks at him with that soft sweet expression and says, "You are the most incredible friend I could have ever ask for. Thank you for being in my life." She says and reaches to squeeze his hand.

Gaara smiles and squeezes back once as his heart leaps in his throat. What is he doing? Akira's feelings matter as much as his do and-.

He stops and looks at her again and thinks about Temari's and Kankuro's words. He like her yes, but is this really love? How is he so sure? He's second guessing himself and decides to wait. He needs to wait and understand what he wants, what Akira wants and after the festival he will try again, it is next month, and it will be fine.

Akira looks at him and grins and Gaara smiles back.

He is not sad, in fact he is happy as he leans against Akira a little. He hasn't fucked this up.

And Kami, he hopes he never does.

-End- Song Choice: Next To Me by Imagine Dragons is such a sweet song, and I feel like it fits Akira and Gaara so well. Shes helping him despite being broken herself, and he's trusting her to help him. He's realizing he hadn't done much for her and it's part of that, that he really wants to be more for her. He's thankful for her as she is him, and I love the song a lot.

Well I hope you enjoyed it. Until next time!