Choose your own Naruto Adventure- Go to P542
From Create Your Own Story
After that...the two of you are virtually inseparable...well, as inseparable as you could be considering you don't live together. Together at the office...together at the end of the day...building sandcastles.
You love being with Gaara...and even though he doesn't say it...you can tell that Gaara does too...or at least enjoys it somewhat. Every little smile you manage to coax out of him thrills you to the very core.
As time goes by, your knowledge on future events eventually runs dry and you tell Tsunade (you're still corresponding with her after all) as much, but never to despair. You had after all performed a great service to the village and are offered the opportunity to come back to Konoha. You explain to Gaara and the others that you are no longer an informant to Tsunade...and that you have the option to return to Konoha.
The expression on Gaara's face is a blank one.
"Will you be returning to Konoha?" He inquires sounding as emotionless as he looks...however you know him well enough to be able to pick up on the not so noticeable signs indicating his mood. His hands are clenched...he is upset.
"I want to stay..." You respond quietly without a moment's hesitation. "If you'll let me..."
His expression doesn't change at least to the untrained eye it doesn't, you however note that it seems to have softened.
"Very well..."
And you smile.
You are taught some basic techniques, just enough so you're not completely useless...By the time two years roll by you find yourself working in the Kazekage's office (still)...yep, you're a bureaucrat...don't worry the naruto world needs you too.
It is another typical day at the Kazekage's office building...meaning you have a huge-*ss pile of papers to get through. At first you had been happy that you could be of some use to the village...but oh, how mind's can change... You sigh mournfully at the pile you have yet to work through. "I should really just do it and get it over with..." You mutter to yourself. You spend another minute or so staring at the pile before wailing piteously and resting your head on the desk (on your forehead).
"Kimiko-san."
You look up from the desk, but opt to keep your head rested on the desk (via the chin this time so you can see). Gaara is observing you, one eyebrow raised, or at least it would be if he had any.
"I don't wanna..." You sniffle in mock despair whilst pointing to the source of your troubles...that darned pile of paperwork.
That same non-existent eyebrow twitches once before resettling into its original lowered status.
A moment of silence passes.
"Take a break."
"Huh?" Did you hear that right? The Kazekage just told you to take a break. You look up at him quizzically. "What about you?"
"I have work to do." He responds.
"Oh..." You take a deep breath and force yourself to sit upright and tackle the first of many pages to come.
Gaara does not question your decision to forgo the break or the fact that you are instead making yourself do a task that you clearly loathe.
Later
"No more...no more paperwork..." You murmur weakly against the surface of the desk that you currently have your forehead resting against...once again.
"Kimiko-san..."
You sit up in order to meet the Kazekage's calm gaze.
"Let's build sandcastles..."
You smile.
Later
You have found that building sand castles seems to have become a form of non-verbal communication between the two of you...you are just able to understand what it is that is going through the other's head by the way the sand castles come together...
It is a little later than usual, but you've since made a point to have a cloak or jacket with you for those chilly nights...and instead of a lantern you have the moon provide you with light...the eerie pearlescent glow does admittedly not illuminate your surroundings as well as a lamp would have...but the moonlight makes it more surreal...granting the landscape a dream-like quality.
After about an hour of intense sandcastle building you lean back into the cool sand...not really caring if it got into your hair or clothes...living in the Sand Village makes avoiding sand difficult in the first place.
"What are you doing?" Gaara inquires just a short distance away from you.
You move your arms and legs, "Making a sand angel." You giggle.
"Sand angel?" You can only imagine the puzzled expression on his face.
Getting up carefully so as not to damage the angel, you point it out to him. "See the shape it makes? It looks like an angel...those are the wings." You dust some of the sand off of your clothes before going on. "Normally you're supposed to do this with snow...but sand seems to work just as well."
"Sand angels..." Gaara repeats softly.
You giggle at the sight of the thoughtful look on his face, "Come on!" You say and grab his hand, tugging him into the direction of some undisturbed sand. He allows you to lead him there however not even the great Kazekage is prepared for what happens next...You push him down into the sand. Not having anticipated the action Gaara merely stares at you.
"Start moving your arms and legs like you saw me do earlier." You instruct him, waving your arms for emphasis and try hard not to giggle as Gaara complies, that same stunned expression on his face. After making sure Gaara has the hang of it, you flop onto your back yourself and start making another sand angel. You had a minor misjudgment in the distance and find that your left hand is slightly brushing Gaara's right as you move your arms.
Deciding that that is enough you get back onto your feet and extend your hand to help the Kazekage up without damaging the angel...You both stand back and look at the imprints in the ground.
"Their wings are touching." Gaara remarks.
"Yeah...that's because I was too close..."
"...Is that a bad thing?"
You smile, "No...I don't think it's a bad thing at all..."
"The wind will blow them away..." He says softly.
"Then we'll make more..."
Silence.
What happens next catches you completely off-guard...you feel Gaara's hand clasp yours tightly...It is significant to you in the fact that this is the first time Gaara has initiated the contact. You smile and move to stand just a little bit closer to him...and ever so gently lean your head onto his shoulder.
Neither of you speaks a word.
Then again it is not necessary...words are not necessary to express that which you already know.
Elsewhere
In a hospital room.
An older woman sits by a young woman's side.
Two nurses watch her.
"It's so sad..." One of them says. "Her daughter has been in a coma for more than three years now...
The woman turns to look at them, "I...don't feel as bad about it as some of you might think..."
The nurses hastily apologize.
"I think she's doing alright." The woman continues smiling tenderly at the young woman in the bed. "Wherever she is...I think...she might be happy..."
Ending Nr 28
(A/N I realize that I could have gone much further than I did...but...somehow, I just didn't think it necessary...Love has many expressions. Thank you for reading.)
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