Chapter 10 (Awake My Soul)
Gaara doesn't bother to pace as Baki nods once to him before re-entering the chamber. He doesn't turn his head over his shoulder to were he knows his sister, brother, and friend wait, listening for any news. No, he is calm and almost uninterested as he stands outside the door, even as his heart beats a little harder in his chest. He can hear quiet talking, can hear discussions being had, and Baki's voice is lost in between the rest of them. Which all things considered is the best outcome since it isn't him trying to convince a dead quiet room.
Of course, maybe the discussion isn't a better solution either-.
The train of thought stops as Baki opens the door and tilts his head for Gaara to enter behind him. Temari sucks in a breath as Kankuro growls where he stands itching to go in. Akira tucks a piece of hair behind her ear and shifts uncomfortably from foot to foot, antsy as well. It seems like an eternity before Gaara comes out shaking Baki's hand once before turning down the hall. Baki spies the three of them before he nods once and turns the separate way, not seeing as the three of them race after Gaara.
They find him standing atop the Kazekage building and they exchange nervous glances before he turns around and smiles at them.
He doesn't, or can't, say anything before they are on him. Laughing and celebrating, and sand has to stop them from hoisting Gaara up in the air, as he blinks and smiles through it all. A part of him still isn't used to the physical affection his siblings and Akira give to him, but he appreciates it nonetheless.
"I am not Kazekage yet," he eventually gets out and they stop long enough to look at him, shooting each other looks as well as him. Kankuro is already half way turned to go back into the council room when Gaara stops him, grabbing his arm before he can fully leave. "I only have one more mission. Akira," he turns to her and she blinks surprised. "We will be gone for a while to check on the border by Kumo."
"Why can't we go?" Kankuro asks as Temari and Akira nod confused while Gaara crosses his arms.
"Because I need to show I can go on longer missions without my siblings being apart of it. A simple two-man border check mission is all that is standing in my way now." He looks at Akira again. "Will you accompany me?" she doesn't hesitant as she nods and offers a fist.
"Hell yes!" she grins at him as they fist bump and his siblings smile at one another.
The sun is high as they leave the desert behind them. Baki gave them a scroll for correspondence, Temari and Kankuro both wishing them well (Kankuro begrudgingly giving Akira a clap on the shoulder before muttering to be safe and to keep his brother safe while she jokingly scoffed, Gaara had gotten tackled in hugs by his brother after.) before they headed off. Gaara's face as been stone since they left this morning, having packed and sealed everything away the night prior. He even stayed the entire night making sure they went over the plan and after all was done he flopped on her bed with a content sigh. He is going to be Kazekage.
Baki and the council members looked over the paperwork and agreed that he was a prime candidate for being Kazekage. Temari chosing to be a diplomat, and Kankuro, after hearing Gaara's dream, had stepped aside immediately wanting the best for his brother. The village trusted him after his working with the troops, and his "relationship" with Akira had humanized him in their eyes, and now all that was left was a long mission with someone he could trust. When they came back all that would be left were a few more ceremonial procedures.
A simple border check mission. To make sure that no groups of outside shinobi were lying in wait. And to check on the towns that lived further out and could not get as much protection as Suna itself did.
That's what stood between Gaara and his goal now as he marched forth, Akira in tow, onward to his dream.
Night had approached faster than he anticipated, and they still were about a day out of the inn. As they sat around the fire Gaara's sand spread out establishing a border while the two relaxed.
"Hey, I know you probably already know this but," Akira leans forward and smiles at him. "This mission will be my best one yet."
Gaara grimaces. "It's bad luck to talk like that."
"I thought it was good luck."
"This is why you get injured a lot." He says tapping a fist into his open palm as realization hits him and Akira tries to glare at him but a smile creeps it's way on her face anyway.
He likes how the firelight illuminates her in the night, and he really likes making her smile. The festival was only two weeks ago but after dancing with Akira and kissing her cheek something had shifted in him. He isn't sure what it is, but he does know now how he truly feels. There isn't any doubt. He just wants to wait now until after the mission, after he is Kazekage, and after Akira has opened to him more.
"Hey Gaara," Akira calls waving at him with a raised brow as he blinks surprised that he has gotten lost in thought. "I asked you a question." She mutters gesturing for him to answer as he winces.
"What did you ask?"
"What kind of person do you hope to marry?" she asks as he blinks surprised.
"I don't know, I haven't thought of marriage," he admits as Akira shrugs.
"I know and neither do I usually but with you being Kazekage, girls will be all over you soon I'm sure. Or if you prefer dudes, then they will be all over you." She gives him a wink even though she is a little uncomfortable to say the least. She wants to be more than friends, but they are on different paths, and who knows what kind of person he even likes.
"I'll answer if you do." He shifts so his leg is propped up now as Akira rolls her eyes.
"Ok but I asked first."
"I'm Kazekage." Akira shoots him a look at that before sighing.
"I guess I better get used to that. But honestly, I think I would pick a civilian. Someone who I know will stay in the village safe." Gaara tilts his head at the answer as Akira looks at the fire. "If we have children and I keep being a shinobi, I want them to always have at least one of us. I don't want them left behind uncared for." She admits and Gaara hums in understanding.
"I think down the line, I would be fine without a partner honestly, but I wouldn't mind someone who isn't scared of me." He mutters and Akira chuckles at that.
"That hardly tells me anything Gaara."
"It's all I really want. I don't have much interest in romance." It's not a total lie. He really didn't care much for romance until he realized how Akira made him feel. How he has fallen for her. And now he understands some of wanting to kiss, or hold, another person, but even now he still feels a bit indifferent. But laying in bed with her and seeing her wake up next to him and having tea with late night conversations are the things he likes the most with her. He could see them marrying, could see her laying in bed next to him and that's really what he wanted.
"Completely understandable. I don't personally care for Temari's romance stories, but they are fun to laugh at." She grins at him before rising to a stand. "If we travel through the night we should reach the inn by morning." Gaara nods once and puts out the fire with a sweep of his hand. He also likes how Akira requires as much rest as he does, likes the fact that when he meets her eyes there is steel there.
She is a true shinobi when on mission, just because they are friends doesn't mean she gets too comfortable (aside from their last mission together), and the two travel through the night in quiet.
"I think there is a problem?" she sounds unsure as she enters the room as Gaara follows a little behind her. She moves to let him past her and he pauses brows furrowing at the very noticeable issue.
"There is only one bed." He observes as Akira nods once and they exchange a look before looking to see if there is an adjacent room missing. They have shared a room before when she was injured but both were unsettled by the turn of events even if they didn't admit it to each other. Eventually after checking any door they can find, they give up and Gaara shrugs before sitting on the bed.
"At least it's big enough for two," he mutters as Akira flops down next to him.
"Do you know why they only gave us one though?" she asks as she folds her hands over her stomach as Gaara thinks a moment.
"I know Baki muttered about this not being a retreat or vacation but I don't-."
"Oh my- that's right! The whole village thinks we're dating!" Her arms go in the air as realization hits her and Gaara gives her a look surprised and confused at the outburst.
"What?"
"Remember when we danced at the festival?" she asks propping herself on her elbow as he nods. "Well I guess people had already assumed we were dating due to us hanging out a bunch, and the festival was just confirmation. I thought Temari was kidding but it makes sense now." Gaara looks away surprised before looking back at Akira.
"Are we dating?" he asks, his chest feels a little tight and he can't help but worry that maybe his thought process has been wrong all the while. The anxiety passes when Akira smiles at him and shakes her head.
"No we are not." She says before pushing herself off the bed to a stand. "Might as well try and rest tonight though. I'll be right back."
Akira looks at herself in the mirror as she finishes washing her face. A towel is around her shoulders as she sighs and grabs the edges of the sink. "It's just for a night. It's not like he's going to sleep. You're not going to sleep much either. You're on mission it's fine." She mutters and maybe it's because they aren't home. Maybe because they are alone and it's the two of them and no one would need to know if this escalated to more than friends. Akira swears under her breath before leaving the bathroom, it's going to be a long night.
When she comes out Gaara finishes the message he is sending to Baki as Akira flops on the bed again with a sigh. He glances at her a moment before sitting with her. They agreed to rest at the inn a night, before carrying on. One night in the inn was all Baki gave them anyway, they just hadn't expected to be given one bed.
"You can have the bed, I'll keep watch." He says as Akira sits up with a look.
"Just because you can't sleep doesn't mean you should take the entire night. Let me know when you need me besides I don't often sleep on missions." She says as Gaara gives her a look of his own.
"You will rest and I will keep watch," she opened her mouth to argue but he held up a hand "I am leading this mission." He is amused as Akira lets out a huff of annoyance before nodding once.
It isn't much longer before Akira is laying down, the lights are off and Gaara is keeping a close eye on their surroundings. He can hear her toss and turn and try to get rest despite not having the want for it. It takes longer than it should before her breathing finally evens out and sleep finally takes her as Gaara continues to stand guard.
'She is running, the halls are dark and she can't make much out. She's shorter than she knows she should be, but it doesn't matter. What matters is that she must get away. She glances back over her shoulder, her bare feet hurt and the rocks that drive into them as she runs seem slick now. She doesn't care all that much of the pain in her feet when she catches a glint of metal and fear edges her to run faster. It's too late though, anticipation and anxiety fuel her and she screams as the metal finally drives itself home into her shoulder blade. Hands press her down as they stab again to her hip, a slash on her side,-.
She gasps awake desperately gulping in deep breaths of oxygen into her lungs as Gaara's grip on her shoulder doesn't untighten. It hurts a little, but the pain grounds her. This is real. He is here, and real.
But that memory is also real she knows as a shudder runs through her. She runs a hand over her face and realizes tears have run their course down her cheeks as she gives out a shuddering breath.
Gaara doesn't say anything as he hands her a glass of water. Akira mumbles something along the lines of gratitude before sipping on it.
"Another nightmare." His voice is rough but gentle and even though it wasn't a question Akira nods numbly anyway.
"Will you be ok?" he asks and she knows it isn't just for tonight.
"I can finish the mission. I j-just need to breath." She says her voice getting stronger with every word. She knows the memory the nightmare came from now. It's at the forefront of her mind but she has done missions like this before. She can finish his mission. She has to. "I'm not going to hold you b-back." Her voice still trembles but there is steel in it now.
Gaara thinks for a bit before standing and moving to the other side of the bed. "I'll stay beside you if you want to talk or sleep again." He is laying down before she can protest, and she sighs.
"If you're sure." Silence finds its way over them then as Akira lays back down.
She won't admit to the tremble still in her hands, to the tense posture of her body. She keeps taking deep breaths and there is the slight shake on the inhale. Gaara looks at her a moment and knows trying to get her to speak about it if she doesn't want to would be useless. So, he grasps her hand and edges close enough that their shoulders brush.
"I had a caretaker when I was little." Akira looks at him surprised before rolling on her side to face him. "He was my uncle, Yashamaru, my mother's brother." He looks at her wide eyes before taking a breath. His chest hurts as he tells her about how caring his uncle was, about how he was never truly scared of him when Gaara was a child. At some point Akira shifts to lay her head on Gaara's shoulder as she holds his hand. She listens quietly to his stories of his uncle, as he learned from the man, and when it's done there is a painful look on Gaara's face.
"He's gone now, he died-." He stops and he struggles with admitting it even now. His father's death hadn't affected him as much, even his siblings had cried a little, but Yashamaru effected them all more than their father. He had been the last link to their mother, someone who cleaned up their wounds and never critized them for crying as children. And he had been the one to kill him. Akira squeezes his hand and gives him a small smile.
"I don't have to know. It's ok. Thank you for telling me about him. And thank you for helping me." She pecks Gaara's cheek softly as he nods, and his chest still hurts, still feels heavy knowing Akira doesn't have the full truth. When he finally thinks he can say it he realizes she's asleep again. He takes a breath and relaxes. Next time, he'll finish the story.
For now, helping Akira, giving her distraction, eases the pain in his chest quicker than before.
Her head has not moved from his shoulder. His arm had fallen asleep some time ago and he eventually moved into a better position with her her head now next to his shoulder. Gaara stares out of the window from the bed, he has been sensing and using his Third Eye Technique to make sure they are safe. Now as dawn approaches he feels himself relax a little. And he takes a moment to look at his sleeping friend next to him. Soft light has illuminated her gently, and he feels his heart swell as she shifts and opens her eyes to him. He watches quietly as she blinks at him a moment her eyes widening before she smiles softly at him. Gaara stares at her a moment before smiling back, yes this is what he wanted. This is what he could get used to.
Nightmares usually called for terrible nights, but last night had be better than before. Her mind barely registers the unusual pillow she is on until she moves. Sunlight catches in Gaara's bright red hair and she blinks surprised believing it to be on fire for a moment before reality hits her. Mint colored eyes seem to gleam in the soft light of dawn and look particularly bright against his dark lids. She smiles at him still sleepy, relaxed, and warm in this position. She can hear his heartbeat now and a part of her wants to close her eyes again to listen, but she instead shifts a little. She half snuggles into him, half into her covers as she blinks at him again. He is lovely to wake up, she realizes and his brow quirks up along with the corner of his mouth.
"What?" he asks and it takes Akira almost a full minute to realize what she has said aloud.
"Well…" she pauses and rolls her eyes. Might as well own up to it. "Oh, fuck it. Gaara you are pretty. You are handsome, and honestly," she is sitting up now as she looks over her shoulder and gives him another slightly tired smile. "You really aren't a bad sight to wake up to." She stands then and enters the bathroom and Gaara feels himself start to turn red as he sits up from the bed with a frown.
Unbeknownst to him, Shukaku smiles from the back of his mind. Grins at Gaara's frantic thoughts of Akira's smile, of the light that turned her brown eyes into honey again. And her words. Shukaku fights off the urge to laugh at the words Akira has said. These two were like puppets on strings. Gaara had opened up to Akira and learned to trust her. Now that Gaara has fallen in love with her, there is just one more move to his plan.
Akira has to die.
-End- Song Choice: Awake My Soul by Mumford & Sons came to mind because I wanted a song that sounded like that came full circle. A while ago Gaara didn't trust Akira, and now here we are with him talking about Yashamaru, and with him trusting her to go on his last mission as Kazekage. (Even if it is pushed by Shukaku)
Well I hope you enjoyed it! Until next time!
