Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Sand and Rain ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Naruto or any characters from it.

 

CHAPTER 3- TRAINING AND realization

 

 

“So… why did your sand grab me?” Akira was more than anxious to here the answer to that question yet made sure she didn't sound like she was. It had been bugging her ever since the incident at Gaara's place. (She was ever so thankful she was out of there.)

 

She shot a glance at him when he didn't answer. He was slightly in front of her giving her a good view of his back…err… gourd, which was yet again, in it's rightful place, strapped on his back, and the back of the spiky, blood-red hair on his head. His arms were crossed so she couldn't see his arms and she could only see one shoulder because the gourd. As she studied him, her mind removed the gourd the make a slightly familiar picture. `Now that I think about it…he seems familiar and kinda cu-!!! What the HELL am I thinking! Cute?! I don't think so! Evil is more like it! Humph!' She crossed her arms and stared at the ground He had kidnapped her, tried to kill her, and just flat out ignored her in the past what… five, maybe six hours?! She had every right to hate him and yet, here she was, thinking he's cute.

 

Akira was so wrapped up in her thoughts that she hadn't seen the blond haired boy wearing orange standing in front of her. The effect: She ran into him and fell on her butt with a thud. A small oomph escaped her lips and she looked up to see whom she ran into, hoping, praying to all the gods it wasn't Gaara.

 

“AHH! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm sorry! I'm so SORRYYYYYYYYYY!” He shouted, jumping on her and giving her a hug. Her arms flew up in shock and head hit the ground, with the blond still on top of her. She was relieved in a way; it wasn't Gaara so she was safe from any further embarrassment. But now she had this kid on top of her.

 

`Man if anyone sees me, my rep. is toast!' Although, he seemed nice enough, he could just be a pervert trying to get a good feel-up on her breasts and/or her ass. But she would act nice as a first impression. “Um, excuse me but, could you get off of me please.” She said and then sat up, boy still clutched to her body. He acknowledged her request (Well demand. But he doesn't have to know that, now does he? <^-^>) and got off of her, apologizing in the process. She smiled at him. “Neh! It's ok! Hey, what's your name kid?” He put his arms behind his head and pouted.

 

“Uzamaki Naruto, and I'm hardly a kid. Plus I'm older than you! I think…” She giggled.

 

“That may be so, but I'm already a Chuunin.” Naruto's eyes widened and his mouth agape. Then, he suddenly pouted again and slumped, arms falling back to his sides.

 

“That's no fair! I bet you cheated! Yeah, that's it!” She giggled again. He was nice, kinda cute, funny, but kinda dull.

 

“No, I got extra help from your third Hokage before and during the Chuunin exams a while back. So I graduated at about eight years old. But you should have seen how bad I was beaten. A little girl my age was never in the Chuunin exams before so I wasn't expected to make it out alive. I did it to find someone important to me. But I don't remember who.” His face returned to shock as she told him her story.

 

Akira looked around the blond to see nothing but air. She groaned. He left her behind. “Damn that ignorant son-of-a-bitch!” Then she looked back at Naruto's face. Instead of shock it was fear. Instead of his nice tan color it was pale. And instead of being steady he shook. She placed her hands on his shoulders to help settle him down a bit. “Naruto?” He pointed a shaky finger behind her. She turned around quickly on her toes to kill off whatever was scaring her new friend. She was about to do some hand seals when she saw who it was behind her. “Gaara.” She said plainly. He was standing insufficient inches away, arms still crossed and glaring at her.

 

“Ignorant son-of-a-bitch, eh?” His cool voice sent shivers down her spine. She stood, looked at him firmly and smirked.

 

“Yeah, well, why don't we train here and now?” He also smirked, uncrossed his arms and took one step forward so he was towering over her, petite body stiff against his.

 

The dream that he had just an hour ago came back, fresh in his mind, as he felt a strong urge to kiss the girl looking up at him, slowly loosing control over his body when she jumped back away from him, taking the still shocked Naruto with her. When she landed a good distance away, she put Naruto under a tree (Who eventually ran off, knowing what Gaara could do and all.) and took her fighting stance, one kunai in her mouth her arms hanging carelessly at her sides. Gaara wasn't taking it seriously either. His arms were yet again crossed and his gourd unplugged. They both stood there in total silence strategizing a plan to over power the other. (Muhahaha!!)

 

Akira was the first to move. Focusing all her Chakra to her feet, she took off in the direction of Gaara, taking the kunai out of her mouth so she could use it. She knew it wouldn't have much effect but she only needed to distract him. She once again appeared behind him ready to through the kunai when the sand came out of his gourd to crush her. When the sand came in contact with her body there was a small “poof” and her essence turned into a log. He squinted. `Replacement…' As he turned around he saw the girl running towards him, her speed increasing with every step and as she neared, he could see a smirk on her face. She was having fun. This thought brought him to a smirk. At last, someone who would enjoy training with him even if he did have a demon inside him.

 

`That's not the only reason, kid' Gaara growled inwardly at the voice in his head. He recognized that to be the voice of the Shukaku, the raccoon demon that was sealed inside him so many years ago.

 

`Shukaku … get out of my head. I need to think.' Shukaku laughed.

 

`I don't think so kid.' Gaara growled again.

 

`And why not?' He was slowly loosing his patients with the demon who continued to laugh.

 

`Two reasons. One- I live here too plus it's nice and spacey. Two- I gotta get you to admit something. Something you would never, ever say out loud.' Gaara realized that he had almost lost focus on the battle in front of him because of the battle in his head. He ignored the spacey comment and got back to what was really important at the time. Brought back to reality, he noticed how near she was.

 

`Looks like you need help.'

 

Akira swung a kunai at his head but his sand got in her way and took the weapon from her. He smirked, “Little girls shouldn't be playing with sharp objects.” Gaara said playfully. Well, really Shukaku. She smirked back. She wasn't expecting that one and it kind of pissed her off. Who was he calling a little girl? She may have cried when she was younger, but her come back was brilliant.

“Who's the little girl, hiding behind a wall of sand? I would say you're afraid of me!” She chuckled inwardly at his mumbles and curses. Man this was so much fun! Akira did some hand signs and disappeared, only, Shukaku was too worked up about her remark about him being afraid of a girl that he didn't notice. He wasn't afraid! He just, didn't feel like bandaging woun-. Then he realized something.

 

`Maybe we should get her a little wounded then we get to take her shirt off!' Gaara almost gagged at the Shukaku's sudden perverted thoughts.

 

`Excuse me…?!' Shukaku laughed evilly.

 

`Common kid. I know you want to cause everything I say, goes and remember earlier? That sudden urge you got? I know you like her kid, it's so easy to tell.' He was broken out of his thoughts when someone kicked him in the back with an enormous amount of Chakra sending him forward a bit.

 

`Damn! That hardly did anything!' She decided to punch him on the left shoulder blade. She pulled back and was ready to strike when Gaara's sand caught her leg and picked her up, hanging her upside down.

 

`So kid, now that you have her whattya want to do with her? Cuz I have a few ideas…' Shukaku sent images to Gaara that were highly unacceptable for the silver haired girl.

 

`You perverted-What's with you anyway?' Gaara was wondering why Shukaku had gotten so perverted all of a sudden. He laughed.

 

`It's Mating Season, Duh!' Gaara could have died right then. Mating season! Already! This was not good. He remembered what happened last time. Shukaku had almost gotten out and all because of sexual frustration. He was afraid of what might happen if he doesn't find a mate this time. `Heh, you already have, kid. Think about it. She's strong, beautiful and isn't afraid of us! She's perfect!' Gaara thought about it for a second and did agree on all those things except one. He was not going to take her as a mate. She was too pure for someone like him and he didn't know what she thought of him. Shukaku just laughed. `Who cares what she thinks about you now! Once we're done with her all she'll be thinking is-.'

 

`No! I don't want to know!' He shouted at Shukaku trying to stop the perverted images. But then, a not so perverted one caught his attention. It was a picture of what his daughter might look like. She had long silver hair with red ends. She had green eyes with a slightly darker outline like his. She was wearing a dark blue kimono with the sand village headband around her neck.

 

`I knew that would get your attention.' Gaara, yet again, growled in frustration only this time, he wanted Shukaku to tell him what to do. Shukaku smirked. `So you've warmed up to my idea. Good.' Gaara looked at the girl hanging upside-down by one leg behind him. She had her arms crossed and had a sour look on her face (She wasn't happy that she lost).

 

`You have my attention, Shukaku.'

 

Later that day…

 

“That still wasn't fair you know. Your sand isn't Ninjutsu or Genjutsu.” She huffed, sitting on the bed with her arms crossed. Gaara only smirked and put his gourd in the corner where it was before they were training. She saw this and became a bit angry. “What the hell's your problem?” She barked. His smirk faded and he grew a little impatient waiting for Shukaku to stop drooling and speak up.

 

`Shukaku! Cut it out!' Yet again inappropriate images filled his head. `Ok! Just tell me what I should now.' He took one last look at the girl before he turned around, looking out the window.

 

`Ok, first, find out what she thinks about you and then get her to tell you how she feels about you. If you're gonna have her as a mate you can't scare her away.' Gaara nodded. Then something Shukaku said caught his attention. He smirked.

 

`Find out what she thinks about me…?' Gaara smirked and Shukaku grumbled.

 

`Shut up.' He turned back around, walked over to the bed and sat next to Akira. But the silver haired girl had fallen asleep. She slowly tipped so when he was completely seated, she leaned against his shoulder, making a small moan and making Gaara wish he hadn't sat down due to the fact that Shukaku (If in his own form) would be on top of her in an instant with Gaara trying to pull him off.

 

The image of her leaning against him, though, he couldn't avoid recognizing. This o' so familiar sight and feeling made him feel wanted and safe but still he wondered... Gaara slightly moved his shoulder and she sat up with sleepy eyes. She looked at him.

 

“Hm…? Oh, sorry. Did I-?” Gaara stopped her.

 

“No.” She glared at him, still half asleep. Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she looked into his pale green eyes.

 

“You didn't even let me finish.” He looked away.

 

`Damn! Look back! She was so cute!' Gaara ignored him.

 

“Are- do you think I'm… a monster?” She stared at him for his sudden openness, no longer sleepy. She looked at her lap. Gaara saw this and became disappointed. Everyone… even this girl… thought he was a monster.

 

Akira was taken aback by his question and had to catch up with her heartbeat. She really never thought of him as a monster but why did he care all of a sudden? Was he… trying to be open with her? She smiled and looked up at him. “Now why would you think that? I don't know why but you seem familiar. I feel safe with you. Like I know you won't hurt me. How I know that, I don't know. I just do. But, I bet that sounds crazy to you though.” She looked back at her lap blushing. Gaara's gaze somewhat softened and he smirked. But then it faded.

 

“Is your name, by any chance, Saiga?” Her eye's widened at the name that was so familiar. Her name. The only name she'll ever have.

 

`But how does he-` She looked up at him. Her eyes had tears mixed with shock and question. “How?” Her voice was shaky. He smirked.

 

“Seven years ago. You helped a little boy get out of the rain.” Her eyes got bigger.

 

“B-but how do you…” He looked at her, cutting her off, smirk never leaving his face.

 

“That little boy was me. Saiga no Akira, you were the only one who cared. But do you still?” Her tears sliding down her face, a small smile caressing her lips.

“G-Gaara, I knew that name was familiar. Sabaku no Gaara.” She slowly stood up, staring at the ground. “Yes.” The sound was so quiet it hadn't reached his ears.

“Hn?” He was about to stand up but in the next moment he was on the bed with a girl clutching to his shirt sobbing.

 

“Yes! I do! I still care! You seemed so sad! I just wanted to…! I didn't…!” She had trouble getting the words out of her mouth and Gaara said nothing but Shukaku had a hell-of-a lot to say.

 

`Aha! I knew it! She does still care! Now ask her before she changes her mind. Hey! Are you listening to me? Hey! HEY!!' It was then he realized that Gaara wasn't paying attention to him, his eyes being glued to the girl and all. `KID'

 

`Oh, did you say something? I thought I heard a squeaking inside my head.' Gaara smirked as the raccoon demon inside him cursed and mumbled about things Gaara had no interest in. The girl was his main priority.

 

Akira's sobbing had stopped and she was getting tired again. She tried to push herself up but half way up her arms failed and she landed back on Gaara, her face a mere centimeter away from his. Her face became red. It was about a minute before she worked up enough courage to tell him the excuse she had. “Um, s-sorry. I guess I'm a bit shaky.” She tried again and this time succeeding. She sat to the left of Gaara and pondered about something. “Why did you leave me?” She looked at the now standing Gaara. He looked over his shoulder at her for only a moment.

 

“My purpose in life is to kill. That is all I can do….” She also stood up, looking at the ground at her feet.

 

“I don't understand. Is it because you have the demon inside you? And because you were afraid to hurt me?” He closed his eyes as an answer. Akira took a step forward so she could get a bit closer to him to hug his back. The act caught him off guard. A hug. Something he never got as a child. Now he knew how it felt to be wanted. And it felt good.

 

`Maybe I'll let my guard down, just this once.' And he did so; forgetting all other life besides himself and the girl that he now had his sand wrapped around. (Of coarse, you all know that the moment has to be interrupted by someone, sooo…)

 

The door flung open and hit the wall with a bang. “HEY GAARA! HEARD YOU SNUCK A GIRL INTO KONOHA!” Kankuro said with a smirk. Gaara's older brother who, just like his sister, is a happy-go-lucky freak. Kankuro raised an eyebrow. “Well, well. What do we have here?” He laughed and Gaara threw the girl to the floor and his sand went back into the gourd that was in the corner of the room.