Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Ten Years in Sand ❯ Opening up to Atashi ( Chapter 5 )

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It had already been four months since Atashi's arrival in Suna no Kuni and a lot had happened since then in the Kazekage's household. The incident where Gaara had tried to kill her had become the first of many more, but the rest were rather subtle, like poisoning her food when he thought she wasn't looking and using his sand to make her fall down the stairs. She had supposedly triggered all of his pent-up rage and thus was added to his growing mental list of people who he wanted to kill. His siblings weren't trying to kill her but they very much expressed the dislike to her presence within the household.

Atashi sighed staring out of the window in her room. There was absolutely nothing to do here in Suna, so she spent most of her time in her room. The Kazekage hadn't bothered talking to her or assigning her anything to do besides `go to my house and stay there until I need you'. Because Temari and Kankuro ignored her the entire time she felt herself going a little crazy due to the fact she hadn't had a real conversation since her encounter with the sand siblings the first day that she had arrived.

`If I had known that this mission was going to be so uneventful I wouldn't have volunteered.'

`Ah… it's not that bad, I mean after all… you are living with a pretty cute guy.'

`You better not be talking about Kankuro because he's anything but cute.'

`No, not the transvestite…. The red-haired demon retainer… what's his name again?'

`Gaara.'

`Yeah, that's him. He's pretty cute.'

`I suppose he is… if you're into psychopath who are mentally unstable and would rather crush you to death with magical sand powers rather than give you a friendly non-living threatening hug… pedophile.'

`Now was the pedophile part really necessary in this conversation?'

`Yes. Why? Did I hurt your feelings?'

`of course not. I am much too mature to have such petty name callings hurt my non-existent feelings.'

`Is that so? Ped-O-Phile!'

`Ero-shojo!'

Uber pedophile!'

`Baka shinobi!'

`At least I don't have a past full of dysfunctional relationships!'

`At least I'm not the only one with hots for Gaara.'

`I don't know what you are talking about…'

`oh, but you do child, you do.'

`No, I don't.'

`Don't lie, you have a strong attraction for him and you most defiantly know it.'

`Prove it then, Miss Know-It-All-Pedophile!' A mental image of Gaara appeared in her mind. It was of him in only his black pants. `Okay…. and what's the point of this exercise?'

`Just wait. It gets better.'
`What do you mean by-' Gaara's mouth curled into an amused smirk, much like the one he had worn before almost killing Atashi. `Okay, so he's cute when he's angry, big deal, it doesn't mean that I am attracted to him.'

`Youth these days! So unable to admit their attractions to each other.'

`what are you talking about now?'

`Nothing… forget I said anything. My guidance is wasted upon you child.'

`What guidance? I only know that you want me to hook up with Gaara!'

`Only because you both are perfect for each other.'

“Him and me?! You're out of your mind,” Atashi screamed before she could stop the words from pouring out of her mouth. There was no response to her outburst mentally or physically. Atashi grumbled angrily throwing herself onto her bed. The tremor caused by her landing caused one of the shelves to collapse and send a multitude of stuffed animals onto Atashi's head. She let out a ragged groan but remained face-down. “Stupid shelf,” she mumbled lazily.

~Flashback~

After Atashi had settled Gaara into a `comfortable' position on the bare floor in his room, she drug her feet out of his room. Temari and Kankuro stared with wide eyes as she brushed past them and down the stairs. They remained in that position even after she returned and went into her room slamming the door shut behind her.

“I don't even want to know,” Temari muttered going back into her room.

“Me neither,” was Kankuro's response as he descended the stairs.

~End Flashback~

Atashi had spent the rest of her day in that room trying to fix the shelves but they didn't seem to want to cooperate with her attempts. In the end, Atashi had anchored most of the shelves to the wall using the assorted ancient kunai that happened to be stored in her room. She had ran out of kunai by the time she had gotten to the shelves near her bed, sp she decided to stack all of the stuffed animals there, while relocating the potentially deadly weapons to the other side of the room. As irritating as having anything including teddy bears falling on top of you, it was much more pleasant than having ancient weapons falling onto you by a long shot.

The fading sunlight that peeked through the window was surprisingly cool as it caressed Atashi's warm arms and face. Slowly, Atashi's eyes sunk until she had fallen into a light slumber. later that night Atashi woke with a start, kunai drawn and body shifted into a defensive position. Her eyes darted around the room before landing on the digital clock next to her bed.

9:37.

Atashi sighed and replaced the kunai under her pillow. Shaking her head, Atashi stood up. The room spun momentarily before settling into its spot once again. The voice in her dream echoed in her head, its harsh hissing voice scratching her conscious. < Beware the wind's shadow, he means to play you for the fool and double-cross the promise.> Atashi shivered, that voice sounded a hundred fold times worse than nails scratching across a chalkboard. She shook her head again banishing the voice and its message to the back of her mind and proceeded downstairs to get a nice cold drink of water.

When she got to the kitchen she found that she was not the only one to have had the same thought. Temari sat silently at the table, a crystal glass sitting in her right hand. Her back was to Atashi; the moonlight lighted and bathed her body making her look ethereal, as if she were out of a storybook. Atashi approached the sink silently and spoke as she took a glass from out of the dish drain, “You know…. the way you look right now… I wouldn't be surprised if some sort of prince charming appeared out of nowhere and stole you away from this place.

Temari jumped at her voice and stared at Atashi as she filled her glass with water. Atashi gave her a smile before sitting down on the kitchen counter to stare out the window. The girls sat in silence, neither feeling like talking but strangely enjoying each other's presence.

“Hey, Atashi-san?”

“Hmm?”

“Why did you volunteer to play diplomat to your country? I mean its dangerous and… well you know.”

“Hm. I think it was because I wanted something to keep me busy but on the edge. Something to test my skills… prove my worth, you know?”

“Yeah… I get what you're saying, but why be a diplomat? I mean you're a jounin. Why not take an A-rank mission or join ANBU? I'm sure they'd love someone with your skills.”

“They probably would, wouldn't they? But what fun would that be? I mean I know like half of the guys in there and I wouldn't want to have to spend more time then I have to with them, not to mention that ANBU tend not to sleep very often. I do value my sleep and get as much of it as I can.”

Temari laughed, “Sleep?! You took this mission so you could get a decent night's sleep?”

Atashi joined in laughing, “Its only half the reason, but don't you think that its important?”

“You're a ninja, nice priorities.”

“Why, thank you.” Their laughter died down to giggles and then faded into silence.

“So… if sleep is only half the reason, what's the other half?”

“The other half isn't as stupid as the first. I wanted to be a diplomat because my mother was one too.”

“Oh? She must be really proud to have such a talented daughter to take after her.”

“I sure hope so…”

“What? Doesn't she know-.”

Atashi smiled sadly, “My mother…. Had complications… at my birth. She only lived long enough to see my face and to name me.”

“I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to-.”

“Don't worry about it Temari, I've accepted her fate, she may not have been here to see me grow up or to see who I am… but she's still with me in my heart.”

“You know Atashi-san… I think you may be the most abnormal person I know… after my brothers that is.”

“Really? You think so?”

“Yes, I do believe you are.”

“I take that as a compliment then. Thank you.”

“You're welcome.”

“So what were you doing down here all alone in the dark?”

“I was just… thinking.”

“About what?”

“Oh. Nothing really important.”

Atashi let her mouth curl upward slightly, “Let me rephrase that… who were you thinking about?”

Temari's face became slightly colored as she thought to reply, “A… uh…. boy that you might know.”

“A boy I might know? Since I don't really know any boys here, except your brothers, I assume its one of the boys back in Konoha….. Its not Sasuke is it?”

“NO! Who in their right mind would ever even think about liking that Goth child?!”

Atashi laughed, “Okay, just making sure… Its not Sasuke, so it must either be Neji or Shikamaru.” At the mention of Neji's name, Temari's face contorted to show complete disgust. At Shikamaru's name her expression changed to become dreamy and she sighed. “You like Shikamaru? Really?”

“Is it that surprising?”

Atashi cocked her head to the side and smile slyly, “No not at all, he is attractive and he does have that one shadow jutsu going for him, rather kinky in my opinion.”

Temari deadpanned at Atashi's remark, causing her to burst out in laughter. I'm joking Temari. Shikamaru may not be the most active of people but you two would make a really cure couple. I totally approve,” Atashi said giving her a double thumbs up.

“ Y-you really think so?” Temari stammered, her face heating up again.

“Chaya, I could even put in a good word for you, he probably will have grown out of the whole `girls aren't worth my time, they're just too troublesome' stage by the time I go back.”

“B-but what if he marries?”

“Shikamaru? Married? There's no way in hell that, that would ever occur in under ten years, this I am positive of.”

Temari yawned as Atashi finished off her water and returned it to the dish drain. “Glad we could have this talk Temari. Get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning.” With those final words, Atashi disappeared back upstairs.

Temari stifled another yawn and glanced at the clock, 2:17. They had been talking for the past five hours. `Time sure flies.' Temari sighed placing her glass in the dish drain and also disappearing upstairs to go to sleep.

Atashi seemed to have developed an acute sixth sense brought her upon deep thinkers in the middle of the night, for two days after her chat with Temari, she came upon Kankuro who was also lost in his own thoughts. Upon discovering him in the kitchen, Atashi smirked evilly, and approached him stealthily from the back. She took a deep breath before leaning into his ear and screaming, “Why are you up Kuro-chan?!” Atashi snickered watching Kankuro spring out of his chair onto the floor and frantically search for anything that may be deemed worthy as a weapon. When he realized who it was that had screamed into his ear, he gave Atashi a hard glare before settling back into one of the four chairs at the table.

They sat in silence, Kankuro glaring at Atashi pretending not to notice he did so. “So are you going to answer the question or not?” Kankuro's response was a low growl. “I take that as a no. Whatever. Go ahead and sulk in the dark, I'm going to go for a walk.”

“At three in the morning,” he asked in a tone that screamed are-you-an-idiot.

“Yes, at three in the morning. Why? Are you scared that I'll get hurt?”

“I could care less about your well-being, Atashi-san.”

Atashi shrugged, “Your loss for not wanting to talk… Later Kuro-chan.” Atashi silently slipped out of the house and walked down the street in no particular direction.

The moon was at its zenith and the weather was perfect. She sighed in content, letting the cool breeze caress her bare skin. `What the heck was up with Kankuro?'

`Are you asking me?'

`Um… I guess so. What's your take on the situation?'

`I feel that he still holds a grudge against you for wounding him.'

`It wasn't a wound! It was a simple bruise!'

`Hehe, I know, but its just so much fun for me to push all of your little buttons like this.'

A vein visible pulsed on her forehead hearing this reply. `I wish that you wouldn't do that and that he would open up to me.'

`Like I do?'

Atashi shuddered, `Not like you do. I don't want to have to think about all of the times you have scared me for life by sharing your life's experiences.'

`Oh, come on. It's educational in many ways.'

`Ah! Leave me and my mostly virgin mind alone for a while, you hentai!'

`I leave you to your own devices then.'

Having finally returned out of her own thoughts, Atashi found herself at an abandoned playground. From the playground, it opened up into the endless desert. Atashi sighed as she walked in between the half demolished sand castles and the sand eroded merry-go-round. She stopped and stood idly next to the swing set, as the wind brushed the swings into motion, staring at the infinity of sky and sand before her.

Atashi hadn't noticed it until now really but the desert was beautiful especially at night, from the way that it constantly changed its landscape according to the wind's will to the way the crisp moonlight illuminated the normally dirt brown sand, turning it a dazzling sea froth white. For the first time since she arrived in Sunagakure, Atashi felt at peace; she felt the serene emotions that made her relax and feel at one with herself and her environment.

Atashi's hand crawled from its place at her side and went to the same throng of leather that kept her exceptionally immobile hair at the back of her neck. Deftly she worked the knot out and let her hair drift naturally to her side. Since her departure from Konahakure, Atashi had kept her hair pulled back and out of the way; in most cases she was glad she had since it would only hinder her performance in a fight because it gave her adversary something to grasp onto.

She sidestepped two paces to her left before settling into the rigid wooden swing. Closing her eyes she started to pump her legs forward using her own velocity to propel hr body higher into the sky. She smiled enjoying the way the cool air felt against her plush skin and the way the swing felt before it decided to change directions and descend the other way.

Unknown to her, Atashi was being watched by two very curious pairs of eyes. The first set belonged to the very amazed Kankuro who let curiosity get the better of him and followed Atashi. If it weren't for the heavy white and purple face paint (a/n: MAKE-UP!) that covered his face anyone could see the rising blush on his face. The other pair belonged to the less impressed Gaara, who had woken from his meditation state to the sound of Kankuro slamming the front door shut. He had followed after Kankuro in annoyance and from the suspicion rising in his mind that his sudden and noisy departure had something to do with that annoying leaf-nin.

Kankuro silently weaved in and out of the ragged playground equipment to the swing set without alerting Atashi to his presence. `Pay back time,' he thought to himself preparing to knock Atashi from the swing when he realized that she no longer sat in the swing. Instead, she was in the air having jumped from the swing. In a flash, she twisted her body and landed gently on her feet seven yards away from the unconcealed Kankuro.

“I thought you said that you didn't want to come on a walk with me.”

Kankuro twitched, “I didn't come on a walk with you. I just wanted to see what you were doing.”

“Ah, so you wanted to spy on me.”

“See what you were doing.”

Atashi shrugged, “Same difference Kuro-chan, but I give you points for getting so close to me without me detecting your presence.”

“Huh?” Kankuro deadpanned.

“I said that you did quite well to have gotten so close to me without me noticing.” Atashi stood face-to-face with Kankuro and grinned, “Congratulations, you get a prize.” Atashi leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against Kankuro's. Kankuro froze and found himself unable to react to the foreign kunoichi's actions. Atashi leaned back and winked, “Better get some sleep puppet master, I have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be a long day and that you're going to need it. Night, Kuro-chan,” She offered another wink before disappearing and leaving behind only a small puff of smoke.

Kankuro felt heat rising to his cheeks as a hand went up and touched his lips. Kankuro's stomach was turning, making him feel strangely light-headed and dare he think it?.... giddy. He stood there staring off into the distance trying his hardest to process what had just happened. He gave a contented sigh, “I think I'm in love.”

Gaara stood in the shadow of a nearby building having a problem similar to Kankuro's, he was trying to contemplate what had just happened between Kankuro and the Kunoichi. It only proved that the girl was unstable and unpredictable, full to the brim with surprises, not to mention she had just displayed a high level of affection towards his brother Kankuro. Until two days ago, Gaara had been absolutely sure that his siblings held no pleasant (a/n: happy…ish) feelings for Ichimaru-san, then Temari started to talk about her with praise. And now? Now Kankuro and the diplomat ninja had kissed…. He had a feeling that the already bad terms between them were about to worsen. He swore that if that if that girl tried anything on him like kissing, he wouldn't just kill her…. No. He would massacre everyone that she had ever cared about in front of her and then restrain her and force her to drink their blood. And that wasn't even the beginning….

When Temari woke up in the morning she went into the bathroom to find that the new bottle of mouthwash was empty and Atashi's toothbrush was in the trash, having been replaced by a new one.

Hey I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter it took Forever for me to type it up! Anyways REVIEW OR I WONT UPDATE!....FASTER!