Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Flowers in the Sand ❯ Chapter 10

 

Chapter 10

 

Gaara eyed the woman now sitting on the edge of his bed. “Why have you come?”

 

Safaia turned toward him, a slight smile on her lips. “Those words sound familiar. But the answer is slightly different. I came because I worried about you. How is your injury?”

 

He grunted softly. “I am not dead yet.”

 

“So I `see.'” She chuckled lightly, then paused at his quietness. “Why so silent? Will you finally admit that you are afraid of me?”

 

“I fear no one- least of all you.” Liar…

 

She tilted her head to the side as she gazed at him. “Prove it.”

 

He wanted to tell her off, that he had no reason to do any such thing. Instead, he found himself asking, “How?”

 

A mischievous curl of the corner of her mouth had him swallowing hard. “Drop your sand defenses,” she told him. “And let me touch you.”

 

Touch him? “How do you know of my sand armor?”

 

“Naruto explained that the sand was your ultimate defense and how it saved you from being more seriously injured.” She paused for a moment.

 

“I want to see you,” she continued, reaching up a hand toward him. “I want to see the man behind the mask of sand.”

 

“I look exactly the same,” Gaara muttered. “And you cannot see me, regardless.”

 

Safaia dropped her hand. “So… That is how it is.”

 

He narrowed his eyes. “What?”

 

“You see me only as a blind girl,” she said, her head forward so that her brown and gold bangs hung over her eyes. “There are other ways of seeing, besides with the eyes.”

 

He was quiet for a moment. He knew he'd regret it, but he asked anyway. “How?”

 

“Give me your hand.”

 

Hesitantly, he held out his hand and grasped hers. She shifted the grip so that she held his wrist. Slowly she brought his hand up to her cheek and pressed his palm against her cheek.

 

“You have to release your sand armor,” she told him. “Or this will not work.” She closed her eyes. “You have to trust me.”

 

“I do not know you,” he replied, but let his armor to slide back from his hand, baring his arm to the elbow.

 

“I am no threat to you, remember?” she murmured. “Close your eyes.” He did so, not really understanding why he was allowing her to do this.

 

She maneuvered his hand lightly across her face, letting him feel out the contours and shape of her face. He tried to concentrate on what she was trying to show him and not the alien sensation of skin on skin.

 

“Can you feel it?” she asked him. “Can you see my face, based on what you feel?”

 

Surprisingly, he could. He could see her arched eyebrows, her high cheekbones, her dainty nose. He ran his thumb across her full lips and nearly shivered at the sensation. “I…”

 

“Will you let me?” she whispered, placing one hand on the back of his, which was still resting on her face.

 

He nodded slowly and, for the first time in years, completely removed his sand armor, letting the sand swirl around him once before sliding inside his gourd, which sat on the floor nearby.

 

Safaia lifted her hand, unsure of exactly how tall he was, even though he was sitting in the bed. Without thinking (which, in truth, he really hadn't been doing a whole lot of in the past few moments), he used his other hand to guide her delicate hand to his face.

 

He did a whole body shiver when she touched him as no other had touched him in almost two decades. His heartbeat began to increase, sending blood racing through his body. He could feel prickles of sweat begin to appear on his skin and his body thrummed with anticipation.

 

He had never felt so alive.

 

Not even when he was in the height of his bloodlust, all those years ago, had he felt so thrilled.

 

Safaia's soft hand slid across his bare skin, gently feeling out his cheeks, his chin, his nose. She drifted across his forehead, pausing at the strange-feeling scar above his left eye. “What happened?” she whispered. “Were you injured here?”

 

“It's a tattoo,” he replied, his voice a little uneven. “The kanji for `love'- for a demon who only loves himself.”

 

“That's not true,” she protested quietly. “You are neither a demon, nor do you only love yourself.”

 

“How would you know?” He still hadn't moved and he suddenly realized how closely they were to each other now that she had leaned forward to touch him. “You don't know me. You don't know how I am.”

 

“Gobi knows,” she told him. “She asked Kyuubi about you when everyone was asleep that first night.”

 

He didn't reply- mostly because she had continued her exploration of his face. She traced the edge of his eyes. “I wonder what they look like…”

 

“Pale blue,” he answered, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of her touching him. “My sister calls them aquamarine.”

 

“I bet they're beautiful,” she whispered, almost to herself. I have never wished so badly in my life that I could see…

 

Gaara shrugged ever-so-slightly. “I don't think so,” he told her.

 

Safaia slid her fingers slightly into his hair, measuring the length. “Short hair. I… I like that.”

 

“It's crimson,” he said, telling her before she asked. “Kind of odd, really, considering my sister has blond hair and my brother has brown.” After a pause, he added, “But then again, I'm odd.”

 

“I don't think you're odd,” she informed him, smiling slightly. Her eyes were leveled at his chin as she slid both her hands to lightly run her palms along his jaw line. “I think you're quite handsome.”

 

“You can't see me,” he reminded her.

 

“I can see you,” she whispered, lifting her chin slightly. “And Gobi agrees with me.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Why not?”

 

“I'm a monster,” he told her, his tone hardening slightly. “Even after becoming Kazekage and protecting my village and caring for everyone's safety, I'm still viewed as a monster. That's all I'll ever be.”

 

Safaia ran her hand over his cheek, turning his face more squarely to hers. “If you are a monster, then I am something worse. You no longer host that evil raccoon, while I still bear Gobi. Do you condemn me for what I had no control over?”

 

“Of course not.”

 

“Then why should I believe you when you claim that you are a monster? You had no control over it either.”

 

He stared at her in disbelief. Could those words, that total, unconditional acceptance be true? He didn't dare to believe, to hope…

 

Slowly, Gaara lifted his hand to her face once more, cupping her soft cheek. His heart beat faster, louder. Do I dare… should I...?

 

“Safaia?” Gaara dropped his hand and looked at the doorway. Neji stood there, looking at the blue-eyed woman with a neutral expression on his face.

 

Safaia turned toward the sound of his voice. “Neji… how is your sister?”

 

“Cousin,” he corrected her. “She is fine. I have news- if you are finished here?”

 

“Yes,” she said, giving Gaara a small smile. “I hope you heal quickly, Gaara,” she told him, bowing slightly before leaving on Neji's arm.

 

And leaving the Kazekage feeling quite bereft and even more alone than before.

 

----------------------------

 

“What is your news, Neji?” Safaia said quietly as they walked down the streets of Konoha.

 

“Hinata… she is expecting again,” he replied, a strange tone in his voice. “Kiba is beside himself with pride.”

 

“As he should be,” she murmured. “A father should be proud of any offspring he sires.”

 

Neji winced. “I'm sorry,” he apologized. “I didn't mean…”

 

“Do not concern yourself,” she said, her eyes seemingly straight ahead. “My father has long since paid for his crimes.”

 

He had walked her to his home and led her to the courtyard, where they now stood. He turned to her and gently enfolded her in his arms. “No, I am sorry. Sorry for what you have gone through. Sorry that there are bastards like that in the world who do such horrible things to their families.” He scowled slightly. “My own family was much the same, but luckily, that changed ten years ago.”

 

Safaia stood somewhat stiffly in his arms, unused to such contact. What did one do when being hugged? She couldn't remember ever being hugged. It felt strange. Warm, encompassing, yes, but nice too. She supposed it was some sort of showing comfort to another.

 

And, oddly enough, it seemed to work.

 

“Safaia?”

 

She tilted her head back as if looking up at him. “Yes?”

 

“Why… why were you touching Gaara's face like that?”

 

She heard the hint of something in his voice, but was unable to place it. “I was trying to see him.”

 

“See him?” Unheard of, but then again, his clan could “see” everything with their Byakkugan.

 

“Yes,” she replied, stepping back from his arms. “By running my fingers over his face, I could picture in my mind what he looks like. Well,” she shrugged, “to an extent.”

 

Neji was silent for a moment. “Do… you want… to see… me too?”

 

Safaia tilted her head as if regarding him curiously. “I would like to see anything, if I could,” she said sadly.

 

He gently clasped her hand and led her over to the rocks near a small fish pond in the courtyard. “I… wouldn't mind… if you want to,” he said hesitantly. “I want you… to see me too.”

 

She gave him a genuine smile. “That would be wonderful,” she thanked him. “I have never had friends before. May I consider you one?”

 

Friends… Neji's chest clenched. “Of course,” was all he said, lifting her hand to his face and letting her explore.

 

Safaia slid her fingers along his brow, his cheeks, and brushed against his forehead protector. “What is this?”

 

“My forehead protector,” he replied, wishing for things he shouldn't be wishing for. “It marks me as a member of Konoha's shinobi.”

 

She ran her fingers over the engraved leaf symbol. “And this mark?”

 

“That's the leaf symbol of Konoha. Gaara and his Hidden Village of Sand have a different mark, symbolizing they are from the Country of Sand. It resembles an hourglass with a bar over it.”

 

“Hourglass,” she murmured, her fingers moving down his temples and across to his eyes. “You have a special ability. Gobi told me.”

 

“Yes,” he replied. “My clan bears a Bloodline Limit called the Byakkugan. It enables us to see 360 degrees around us and up to 50 meters away. I've trained myself and increased my vision distance to over a kilometer, though.”

 

She let out a dry chuckle as she dropped her hands to her lap. “You are the complete opposite of me.”

 

“I… I suppose,” he said. “But… that could also mean… that we are… we could…”

 

Safaia stood up as he trailed off, unable to come right out and say it. “I believe it is nearing dinner time,” she said quietly. “I thank you for all your assistance, but my stomach and Gobi are complaining.” She bowed to him.

 

He stood up as well. “Would you care to join me for dinner, then?”

 

She shook her head. “Gobi wishes to hunt. I am used to fending for myself, so do not worry about me.”

 

“You cannot leave the village,” he told her. “The Akatsuki are still after you.”

 

Safaia sighed. “Very well, but I don't like putting you out like this.”

 

Believe me, love, you're not putting me out in the least. “It's the least I can do for a… friend.”

 

She smiled softly as he led her inside his house. “Thank you, Neji.”

 

“You are more than welcome, Safaia.”