Chapter 21: Hand On His Throat
She glared up at him with those burning eyes, challenging, unafraid, and Gaara remembered the feeling of her nails scratching his throat. Of how her fire had consumed the Genjutsu-weaver and everything else around her. Her hair was longer now, her build more muscular. But she was still shorter than him, with fire in her eyes.
Gaara held her gaze until she looked away, showing that he would be undeterred. That he would not submit to her burning gaze of venom and fire.
Akira huffed before turning away, annoyed, and Gaara realized he had been ignored, and yet….
Begrudgingly acknowledged.