Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Given The Chance ❯ Twenty Questions ( Chapter 14 )

Chapter #14

Twenty Questions

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Co.

 

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Time off. Just what the doctor ordered for Iwate Cassandra who, over the past few weeks, had been running herself absolutely ragged. Her father had insisted she take a few leisure days to just relax and he had also talked to Daiki and convinced him that Cassie was well overdue for a holiday. So they ended up cornering her on the subject - her father had treated her to dinner out and Daiki just happened to show up - that was when they sprung the news on her which they both knew she would not take well.

 

Iwate Cassandra was like a robot programmed to work efficiently and almost constantly. She felt useless otherwise, and a vacation had to be one of the things she dreaded most. Sure she could handle a day or two off, but after a while it would quickly get old, there was no way she was going to survive two weeks with her sanity in tact.

 

Cassandra placed her hand on her face and slowly dragged it down making a funny annoyed face in the bathroom mirror. She was so very bored and it was only day two, and to make it worse Daichi and Hale had somehow found the time to clean the house top to bottom on their own and stocked the house full of food, cleaners, and other things so shopping wasn't even necessary.

 

After taking her time showering, dressing in the first thing she pulled out of her closet, - a regular skirt and a semi loose fitting t-shirt - and pulling her hair up into a short ponytail Cassie went down to the kitchen to find a note from her father and a little money.

 

Cass,

Go shopping, we don't need anything, I want you to go shopping for yourself you got that young lady? Buy something nice, maybe some new cloths and a treat for yourself, and try and enjoy your time off of work.

Hana and I will be going out to a friend's house and won't be back until late, but Gina is having friends over tonight so that should be fun now shouldn't it?

Love you,

Dad

 

Hana had gone to her job as a waitress at Daichi's restaurant, Gina was working the morning shift at the shelter, Daichi was managing the restaurant, and Hale was doing low ranked missions around the village, and then there was Cassandra at home doing nothing. It almost depressed her - almost - her bright outlook reminded her that at least for one day she could spend her useless time downtown enjoying something to eat or looking in shops.

 

“What do you say guys,” Cassandra asked aloud to her dogs who where sitting patiently by her feet wagging their tails happily, “You feel like going out today with me?”

 

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`Butterflies,' when Gaara had stopped to think about it the term was actually appropriate, though knowing what it meant didn't stop the conflict in Gaara's mind. Having grown up without any sort of true love or affection he still couldn't quite grasp the concept.

 

He still had a lot of questions like: why don't they stop? Why were they only getting worse and why did a new wave of them always bring back fresh memories of having her so close? What was he supposed to do about them? Did it mean he was supposed to do something? It was enough to give Gaara a headache, and his sense of pride kept him from approaching either of his siblings with such inquiries.

 

It being the weekend didn't help much in the fact that he had didn't have paperwork to distract him, no matter how boring it sometimes was.

 

`If I don't do something I will go insane,' he mentally stated as he got up and headed for the door. He didn't know where he was going, but as long as it was time consuming he really didn't care much.

 

He walked quickly down the streets not paying much attention to where he was going. He didn't even realize he had wondered into the downtown area until he nearly bumped into some children who were to busy playing catch to notice him. Maybe Cassandra's method of walking whenever she felt restless actually worked. Not that he would ever admit to her she was right.

 

On the weekend the main downtown area was bustling with merchants and people shopping on their days off of work for the things they needed, for a desert village it was actually quite prosperous and bustling, it was also one of the most powerful ninja village next to Konohagakure.

 

“Kobi slow down we have all day,” that voice was familiar, to familiar, “Cori stop licking my arm that tickles!”

 

A small tired scowl formed on the red head's face and he slumped slightly, `There is no way my luck is that bad.'

 

Like always Cassandra had her dogs with her, both of their leads held on one hand, being dragged along slightly by the larger animal who insisted on sniffing everything and everyone around them. Cassie just smiled and laughed at the dog's antics and followed along behind them almost like she was meant to be the obedient one. It was amazing how child-like she was in that way, nothing really seemed to concern her much, she was much more fun loving than anyone else her age. She was small and thin like most little girls, she wore cloths that looked slightly baggy making her seem even smaller, she had a slightly rounded childish face, and those eyes of hers were much to big and shone way to brightly to seem to belong to a sixteen-year-old. It was like time stopped her at age nine, a child trapped in an adult body, or so to speak.

 

`Its completely ridicules,' he told himself but for some reason he found himself following her, just out of range of Kobi's senses naturally. It was almost like the two were magnetized to find each other. It would explain why they were so different, opposites attract, and no pair was more different than Cassandra and Gaara, `Temari and Kankuro just told me about the stupid butterflies to drive me insane. This is just moronic I should just go home…'

 

Then the dog began to growl again, Gaara had accidentally gotten a little to close, his luck really was that bad.

 

Cassie turned around blinking slightly in confusion when she first saw Gaara who stood almost frozen only a few feet behind her. The rust-haired Kage had never known a person with eyes like hers that almost made him stop breathing, and he had certainly not known anyone before that would start smiling so warmly and run up to him giggling softly.

 

“Konichiwa Gaara-kun I thought you would be at the Kazekage tower today,” she greeted warmly still giving that same charming child like smile. She was wearing a plain t-shirt that hung off her slightly crookedly exposing a small portion of her shoulder, it draped over her middle over top of a short dark green skirt that exposed her long slender legs. Her hair was tied back with her ponytail coming out the back of her cap, and as always she was wearing a worn down pair of white sneakers. The only way she could have looked more like a child was if she had a giant lollypop and a teddy bear clutched in her free arm.

 

Gaara looked away from those eyes of hers to clear his mind a bit, “Even Kazekage's have days off.”

 

“Ya I guess you're right, with how hard you must have to work I bet you deserve some time off,” Cassie laughed rubbing the back of her head, “I was sort of forced into a mini vacation that I really don't think I earned. Dad and Hale won't let me do a thing at home, and I kind of dread what they are going to do for supper…” She shivered recalling what her father had done to her kitchen last time he had been in it, it was the stuff nightmares were made of.

 

“So,” her sudden speaking almost made Gaara jump - almost - “Did you have something planned today Gaara-kun?”

 

“No.” He replied simply, he wondered why she wanted to know, “Why?”

 

“Well I was just doing a bit of shopping - not for anything really - I guess I'm just trying to kill time, but I was wondering if you wanted to come with me.”

 

Now that was the shock of shocks in Gaara's mind. Why the hell was she so determined to spend time with him anyway? He was about to simply say no and leave when Cassie did that wide-eyed-cute-head-tilt-o-doom and his jaw seemed to clench, `Is this some kind of obscure Jutsu?'

 

Whatever it was Gaara eventually caved giving a small grunt that Cassie could only guess represented `ya' or `sure whatever' like he would normally answer.

 

Smiling brighter Cassandra walked alongside Gaara, having much more of a spring in her step than he did, and simply watching everything around her. They didn't really talk much, or rather Gaara didn't, often Cassandra would start up about something but no conversation lasted very long since Gaara wasn't talkative. Most of the time for him was spent trying to figure out exactly what kind of Jutsu the girl must have been using on him to keep him following her like one of her dogs. He came up with no theories that were plausible.

 

“Do you want some ice cream,” she asked out of the blue catching Gaara of guard and bringing him out of his thoughts.

 

“Hm?”

 

“Ice cream,” she repeated pointing to a small ice cream vender, “Do you want any?”

 

Gaara shook his head.

 

Shrugging Cassandra began rummaging through her purse for her wallet, “Well I think I will go buy a cone for myself then real quick.”

 

The raccoon boy followed Cassie over to the cart and watched as she examined the menu of flavors, and also as she handed the man some money and gave her order, “I'll have a strawberry flavored cone please.”

 

“Here you go little lady,” the vender responded as he gave Cassie her ice cream cone. She took it gratefully and started licking the sides before it could melt from the heat.

 

“I love strawberry.” Her comment seemed almost random as they continued walking down town and she continued slowly eating her frozen treat, “You know we have known each other for a little while now Gaara-kun and we probably don't know that much about each other.”

 

`That is probably an understatement,' thought Gaara but he kept the comment to himself, “I guess.”

 

“You up for twenty questions?”

 

“What's that?”

 

“Wow childhood joy just skipped right over you now didn't it?” Cassandra chuckled remembering how he really didn't know much about simple games most people would learn when they were young. “The name of the game pretty much says it all actually. We each start off with twenty questions, and we take turns asking them. Any question at all, and you have to answer which means no chickening out. When we are finished we end up knowing twenty things about each other we never knew before.”

 

“Sounds kind of pointless, I already know all I need to know.”

 

Cassandra raised an eyebrow, “Really then what is my favourite colour?”

 

Gaara muttered under his breath for a moment, “This is pointless because I am not even interested in knowing that kind of thing. Its mostly just useless information, what does it matter if I know what colour you like?”

 

“You're just being like that because I stumped you,” she stated in an all-knowing tone, “You have no idea do you?”

 

“… No.”

 

“Then can't you just humor me?”

 

There was no way out of it so Gaara had no choice but to comply, “Fine, then what is your favourite colour anyway?”

 

“Green,” she replied with a grin, “What's yours?”

 

Gaara didn't have many favorites for anything really so he just said the first one that came to mind, “Red.”

 

“See now we're down to nineteen questions each,” Cassie pointed out proudly, “Now you ask me another question.”

 

The young Kazekage paused for a moment to think, “Where you born here in Suna or Konoha like your brother?”

 

“I was born in Konoha too,” she replied before eyeing him suspiciously, “How did you know my brother was born in Konoha?”

 

“I'm the Kazekage and I have access to everyone's files so I decided to check” he shrugged, “What's your favourite pastime?”

 

“I don't know I have a few … playing the piano I guess, but I'm not really that good, it's kind of silly,” Cassandra giggled, “When did you get the tattoo and why did you chose Love? I have been wondering why someone like you chose something so … sweet sounding.”

 

“It was more or less an accident and I didn't choose. It was something that was kind of forced on me ever since I was little,” he grumbled not liking that he had to explain himself to such a pest of a girl. Plus he had to keep thinking of random questions just to humor her so he kept going with things he could think of off the top of his head, “What's your favourite food?”

 

“Strawberries,” she giggled taking a lick of her ice cream, “Why do you have dark circles around your eyes?”

 

“I don't sleep,” he stated simply, he continued when he felt the obvious question being emitted from Cassandra's eyes, “Not a night my entire life. Why that is, is my business. It's my turn to ask a question now isn't it … did you ever attend the Konoha ninja academy?”

 

“Ya for two years actually, but I didn't think I had any type of record.”

 

“You didn't, you're just a little too fast and agile not to have ninja training.”

 

“Very observant Kazekage-sama,” Cassandra laughed giving a nod of approval, “What is your favourite song?”

 

Gaara's mouth seemed to wire shut for a moment. It was obviously something he preferred not answering, but there was no getting away from it, “Moonlight Sonata.”

 

The ebony haired teen's jaw dropped slightly, “But you said before-”

 

“What's your favourite flower,” he asked quickly before Cassandra could finish her sentence. He hadn't really thought about it before he said it. Gaara just needed something - anything really - to distract her.

 

“Daisies.”

 

And so on. You can guess how the rest of the little `game' went without it actually be described question for question. Cassandra seemed to have a whole reel of pre-meditated questions for the sand shinobi lined up - she had been contemplating a lot of things about him for a while - and she was always quick and eager to ask with no real sense of `I hope I don't put him on the spot' in her mind at all. Gaara meanwhile would simply look around for inspiration for random questions. Eventually he knew close to twenty of Cassie's likes and dislikes, but he kept telling himself he really didn't care, he was only humoring the girl after all. The odd thing was that everything she answered stuck in his mind, almost like he would remember it for a long time to come.

 

For example he remember that she loved lavender scented soaps, strawberry cake, DDR (Dance Dance Revolution), and despite the fact that she lived in a desert village she loved the snow. Evidently when she lived in Konoha she would go snowboarding down the mountains in the winter. It was amazing how easily something like that stuck itself in Gaara's mind better than most documents he had to memorize.

 

“I have to head home before my dad or brother get there and start supper,” Cassandra realized as she glanced at her watch. She hadn't realized how much time she had spent with Gaara, it was much longer than she had intended to stay in town, “Otherwise my house is going to be a smoking crater. I'll see you later ok Gaara-kun? Baibai!”

 

(A/N: Baibai = Bye-bye it was just the way I pictured someone `child-like' would say good-bye to Gaara.)

 

Gaara turned around to walk home and finally muttered, “Temari, Kankuro, you can come out of hiding.”

 

The sand siblings slowly emerged from their hiding spots and undid their transformations they used to look like part of the crowd to try and fool Gaara. It hadn't worked. They were nervous as to what Gaara would do after finding out they had taken up attempting to spy on him, but they had been curious as to why Gaara had been asking them about `butterflies'.

 

“Uh hey little bro fancy meeting you here,” Kankuro made an attempt at sounding natural but only got a sharp poke in the ribs from Temari telling him to shut up.

 

“If you even breathe a word of this to anyone and it will be your last,” Gaara stated so calmly someone would have thought it was almost like breathing to him. It was so like Gaara. Short, and to the point.

 

Having a sense of self preservation both Temari and Kankuro clammed up and silently walked home with Gaara. But on the inside they each had wide grins on - much to Gaara's irritation - because they were the only ones who could actually tell why Gaara was acting so peculiar. It would be a secret they would take to their death beds if he had anything to say about it.

 

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Yes, Cassie-chan did spend a few years in ninja training! We can't have her being completely defenseless now can we? I know it seems like a breezed over the fact a little to easily but you will find out more later I promise!

 

Lil_Pix