Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Given The Chance ❯ Tin Man has a Heart ( Chapter 19 )

Chapter #19

Tin Man Has a Heart

 

 

Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto and Co.

 

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`Is that date correct,' Cassandra glanced at her calendar blinking in confusion, `Its December 16 already…'

 

“Aw man I am sp spacey sometimes, how on earth could I forget,” she slumped over slightly and groaned before giving a sigh and perking up again slightly, “Well it's my fault for procrastinating so I better get going!”

 

It took a little less time than usual for Cassie to get ready, and before she left she took to searching through every closet in search of something she needed. It was quite a while before she found it sitting in a box inside the crawlspace under the stairs and she smiled triumphantly as she placed it on her head, “Now I am ready!”

 

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“Here is my mission report Kazekage-sama,” Hale stated placing a scroll on Gaara's desk and turning to leave. Even after the Kazekage and his sister had become quite close - even if he hadn't been around since the storm a few days before - and Hale had also noticed his sister being especially spacey after coming home from his house the morning after the storm. Hale was growing increasingly more uneasy having Gaara so close to his sister.

 

“Good work,” as usual the Kazekage said very little his eyes only peered through from behind his robes watching Hale very carefully as he pulled out a new scroll, “This is your new assignment.”

 

Hale nodded, “Hai Kazekage-sama.”

 

“Oh Oniichan!!” A singsong voice came from the door as Cassandra poked her head through into the room, “I knew I could find you here, and I can say hi to Gaara-kun too while I'm here.”

 

`What on earth is she wearing,' Gaara blinked a few times after seeing Cassandra's ridicules looking hat. It was a red hat with white cotton trim and a matching white cotton pompom tied to the end.

 

“Don't even ask,” Hale groaned, “Let me guess you forgot about Christmas presents again so you are going to power shop?”

 

Cassandra sheepishly rubbed the back of her head, “Hey I got so busy I spaced out again this year, so of course I need to finish before we go see our family, and for that I need you to give me a hand!”

 

Hale just muttered under his breath as he followed his sister, “I hate Christmas shopping.”

 

“Oh you know Kazekage-sama if there was anything you wanted for Christmas you'd best let me know now because it will be a hell of a lot more convenient,” Cassie announced in a teasing sing-song voice as she was turning to leave with Hale.

 

Now that was something Gaara had never heard before, sure his siblings had gotten him a small present or two in the past, but no one had ever asked him what he wanted. He rarely even noticed the entire season go by year after year so Gaara had never given the whole gift thing a second thought.

 

After Gaara didn't answer her Cassandra gave an exaggerated pout and tilted her head to the side in a cute manner, “Aren't you going to tell me Gaara-kun?”

 

`…that's not fair she is doing that on purpose,' Gaara didn't know how she did it but Cassandra had always been able to look as cute as she ever wanted just by tilting her head in a childish way. He knew she was just teasing him but he still could help the fact that his fists began to clench with the returning memory of the accident on the stairs. Neither of them had said a thing about it since then - not that Gaara's siblings hadn't reminded him of it every day - and it was driving the young Kage insane, `those eyes of hers…'

 

`I wonder if he's upset over … he always did sulk like a child, but … ah come on just stop thinking about it! It was an accident … even if I really didn't mind it … maybe I should be klutzy a little more often,' the raven haired girl just shrugged, “I'll just have to surprise you then!”

 

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“Alright so I have something for Dad, Alex, Kin, and Gin,” Cassandra murmured going over her list, “Now for Raidon, Fujita, and Gaara…”

 

Hale grunted following his sister with their shopping bag in hand, “What do you buy for someone like Gaara anyway? I know you're on my ass about showing him more respect but you have to admit the guy is rather … cold. I'm not sure why you're so attached to him because I have not seen him actually be nice to you yet.”

 

“Then you must be blind or arrogant … or a combination of the two I'm not quite sure…”

 

“But what on earth are you planning on getting him?”

 

Cassandra gave a thoughtful grin, “To tell you the truth I don't know right yet, but hey, it will be fun being creative.”

 

“Don't get to creative,” warned Hale with a tired chuckle, “So are you planning on giving it to him before we go visit Konoha? You know we aren't going to be around during Christmas so are you giving it to him early?”

 

Cassie's expression only dropped a fraction, nothing that her brother even noticed, “You know lately I really have been a little to spacey for my own good because I forgot all about that too. You'd think I remember after going to Konohagakure every Christmas but I guess I was hoping to give Gaara his present on Christmas day. Though I don't think he'll mind me giving it to him early … I'll just have to hurry up and figure out what it is going to be first.”

 

Shopping for presents was finished soon enough and as Hale did every year he helped Cassandra pick out everything and carry them home. Though afterwards he did have to finish his missions so he left Cassandra to do all the wrapping and other preparations that she was in charge of every year, and there was no one better suited for the job in the world. When concentrating Cassie could usually finish all the Christmas chores easily in one afternoon.

 

Hana was at her job as the new waitress at Daichi's restaurant and naturally Daichi was also there. Gina had the shift at the animal shelter that afternoon and afterward she had been planning on going to see a movie with her friends. So for wrapping presents it was only Cassandra and her dogs which were convenient for her concentration.

 

Gaara - after finishing his Kazekage duties - had gone over to the Iwate home in the middle of Cassandra's festive rush. He watched her from the window like he usually did on the days when he was to proud to let her know he was actually spying on her and as usual he saw her keeping busy, though that day it was a different type of job.

 

She was sitting in the middle of the floor with a couple rolls of festive looking wrapping paper and the presents she had bought. Her dogs were laying close by her as usual watching her as she wrapped the parcels and listening to the music of a girl singing accompanied by a piano playing on the CD player. Cassandra sang to the lyrics as she worked and even Gaara had to admit she was not half bad either.

 

(A/N: This is `All I Want for Christmas is You' by Mariah Carey which I DO NOT own. I am merely using it because it is one of my favourite Christmas-y songs and it's cute)

 

“I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need,” she sang softly along with the woman's voice. Gaara realized he had never heard her sing outright before, just humming her lyrics once and a while, and even though she started out soft and hard to hear she seemed to gain a little more confidence as the song continued, “I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I just want you for my own, more than you can ever know, make my wish come true, all I want for Christmas is you. I don't want a lot for Christmas, there is just one thing I need, and I don't care about the presents underneath the Christmas tree. I don't need to hang my stocking there upon the fire place. Santa Claus will make me happy with a toy on Christmas day…”

 

She would have continued if Kobi hadn't suddenly tuned into Gaara's presence and began his usual snarling and growling. To Gaara's disappointment Cassandra stopping singing and got up from her spot on the floor in search of the place where Gaara was hiding.

 

`I hate that dog,' Gaara scowled slightly knowing Cassie wouldn't give up until she found him out so he slipped in through the back door.

 

“Konichiwa Gaara-kun,” Cassandra greeted happily as she turned down the music, “Come to tell me what you wanted for Christmas? I need to be able to get everything together before I leave so it would speed things up if you would-”

 

“Where are you going,” blurted Gaara before he could stop himself.

 

“Oh sorry, I thought you would have known, after all Hale did request some time off…” Cassie apologized, “I am going to Konohagakure to visit family for the Christmas holidays. We are leaving in two days and coming back after New Year so I wanted to be able to give you your present before I leave.”

 

Thinking back Gaara did recall allowing Iwate Hale to go to Konoha on the condition that he would do low ranking for the Hokage missions during the time he was there, but Gaara always let the holidays pass as normal days so it never occurred to him that there was a real purpose for the trip. He had not thought about the possibility that Cassandra would be going with him through that time.

 

“Earth to Gaara-kun, come in space cadet,” it took a while before Gaara realize Cassandra had been trying to get his attention.

 

“Hm?”

 

“My Christmas cookies are finished and I need someone to test them do you want any?”

 

Cassandra sure didn't dwell on one subject for to long and before Gaara could say anything she had grabbed his hand and dragged him into the kitchen.

 

Her hands were soft, much softer than Gaara's rather course ninja trained hands, and they seemed to have warmth in them that Gaara's hands also didn't have. His large hand wrapped around her small slim satin hand and savored the heat that he could feel.

 

“T-they're sugar cookies,” Cassandra stated grabbing one of them from the tray with her free hand. Her face was turning a soft shade of light red, “Um … Gaara-kun could I have my hand back please…”

 

Reluctantly Gaara released her hand and almost instantly began to miss the warmth, `Hm … Cassie never stutters, and she almost never blushes. Have I finally found something that makes even someone like her quiet…?'

 

Gaara decided to test out his little pet theory in a way that would satisfy the odd craving he felt whenever she was nearby. He grabbed her hand again, only this time he pulled her toward him while she was still of guard. He pushed her up against the counter so there was no escape for her.

 

Like before on the stairs Cassandra let her long bangs fall over her eyes, but this time Gaara swept them out of the way. Behind the locks of dark hair were those wide green eyes of hers looking shyly up at him and her rapidly reddening cheeks.

 

`So then I was right, this is about the only thing that makes her embarrassed,' it was something Gaara didn't mind at all. She was close to him, there was no one around to ruin the moment, and he finally had the upper hand on Cassandra. He had meant to stop it at that but it was way to tempting to have those lips of hers so close to his, `Damn … well so much for shinobi having self restraint…'

 

Her lips were warm just like last time and they still tasted just as sweet as he remembered. Gaara was grinning on the inside as his hand moved to the small of her back to pull her in even closer to him. Every odd feeling he had around her came crashing down on him, but for some reason it was like a huge weight had been lifted off his shoulders right then. Now it was a whole new range of emotions he didn't understand … and we all know that was just what Gaara needed.

 

He was strong but at the same time gentle with her. Cassandra found it almost hard to believe what was happening and through her slight confusion she could feel her heart rate skyrocket through the roof. It was probably one of the least likely things she thought Gaara would do.

 

Instinctively Cassandra's eyes slid shut and her arms found themselves wrapped around Gaara's neck since her knees had simply turned to jelly. The only things supporting her were her arms and his strong arms around her waist.

 

Gaara gently nibbled on her lower lip and Cassie opened her mouth gladly allowing his tongue entrance.

 

The two of them would have continued if it had not been for one little thing. Air. They both parted with their chests heaving slightly to try and make up for lost time. Gaara couldn't believe he had actually done what he had done and Cassandra was so flushed she closely resembled a tomato.

 

“So there is something that makes you quiet down,” without even knowing it a small smile appeared at the corner of his lips.

 

Cassie pointed a finger at him and smirked, forgetting her embarrassment for a few moments, “Ha you just smiled!”

 

“And what would it take for you not to ever mention it around my siblings,” Gaara tilted her chin up and looked her right in the eye like before.

 

“H-hey now w-who's not playing fair,” Cassie protested her blush returning with a vengeance.

 

Gaara swept some hair out of her face, “Well I have to have my revenge some time.”

 

Those bright eyes of hers grew even wider amusing Gaara inside, `There is a word that describes that look she is giving me that I have heard before. I think Temari used it to describe something but what was it? I think it was … kawaii.'

 

The sound of the front door came from the hallway followed by Hale's voice, “Hey Cassie can I taste test some of those cookies I smell?”

 

`Damn his amazingly bad timing,' with a swirl of sand Gaara disappeared before Cassandra's eyes leaving her standing against the kitchen counter still red in the face.

 

“Hey, hey Cassie are you listening,” it took Cassandra a few minutes to realize that Hale was in front of her and trying to get her attention, “You feel kind of warm there kiddo are you ok?”

 

“Ya I'm ok I'm just fine,” Cassie murmured with a small smile, `Wadda ya know the tin man has a heart after all…'

 

 

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I am currently working on some fanart for this story that will be posted on deviantart.com when it is finished and it will include a nice little pick of Cassie-chan. (drawn and photoshopped by me!!) It may take a little while (Photoshop is a pain in the ass) but I'll give you the link when I do post it!

 

Keep reviewing everyone and I will continue giving you more chapters!

 

Lil_Pix