Naruto Fan Fiction ❯ Together With You: A Gaara Story ❯ Shattered Dreams Pieced Back Together ( Chapter 19 )

Disclaimer: Naruto is not mine. Shiruki, Takuya, Kasuke, and some others are. Not Naruto cast

 

Recap:

Whatever the case...Gaara would never recover for the better. This had wounded him beyond all repair. It was just as Yashamaru told him long ago. Physical wounds can be healed with simple medicine. Wounds of the heart...their only remedy is love. And Gaara's love...was just ripped away and taken from him so brutally. The Village Hidden in the Sound would surely pay for this. A massive war between Sand and Sound...

 

Was about to begin.

 

 

Chapter 19: Shattered Dreams Pieced Back Together

 

No doubt everyone was affected by Shiruki's death. As Gaara was heading back to Suna, holding his lifeless love in his arms, Naruto and Sasuke trailed sadly behind. It had affected everyone. Although Sasuke knew that it had affected Naruto and Gaara much more than it had him. Gaara had been the true victim here. Gaara had hoped that since Naruto and Sasuke, two accountable sources, were with him when he made it back to Suna to break the news, the village would not push all the blame on him. They already had issues trusting him as it is. This would not be good if they thought he killed his lover also. Even if it was an accident, it would still mean bad news for the young Kazekage. Not like it mattered to him anyways, considering the love of his life, not to mention, carrier of his child, had left him all alone. This had such an impact on Gaara's emotional state. Many times he questioned whether it was alright to live without her by his side. Many times he also questioned his purpose for living without her. Shiruki was everything to him. She brought emotions back into him. Ones he had forgotten. Ones he had neglected. And now that she was gone, unable to bring out his emotions any longer, he would recede back into himself, trusting no one, loving no one, having no one. No telling how depressed he was. This was a mere glimpse into the future of his depression. Silence. Seclusion. Anti-sociable behavior. Even isolation. All these were soon to affect others.

 

Gaara was snapped from his thoughts by Naruto's incoherent wailing. He stopped mid-step and glared at the blonde shinobi. Sasuke saw the intensity of Gaara's glare and knew it to be trouble if he did not calm Naruto swiftly. He himself knew what it meant to get Gaara angry. Another Chuunin exam all over again... “I miss her!” Naruto wailed loudly.

 

This was no doubt grating Gaara's already stressed and strangled nerves. Gaara lowered his head sadly. He'd been lying if he said he didn't miss her also. “Naruto,” he said lowly. Naruto hushed in fear. It was no so much his tone, more of his seriousness and eerie calmness. Gaara looked at him coldly with no life left in him. “Shiruki wouldn't want this. She would not want us to be crying over her...” he started quietly, looking at her lifeless, pale face. “I know you miss her. I do too. I'd be lying if I said I did not. But this is no way to honor her memory. Sulking. Crying. Wailing. None of it is beneficial to us. There will be grieving time later.” He looked at Naruto, his face solemn, with an underlying grief of his own that Naruto missed. “It doesn't only affect you,” he said calmly.

 

Naruto was so upset, he didn't see Gaara's own sadness in that look. It made sense though. Gaara was right. It was not beneficial to any of them to sit around and cry like babies. Naruto would have agreed, if not blinded by his own misery and sorrow. As a resuly, he lashed out. And at the wrong person. “But I'm the only one that's showing it! I haven't heard a peep from you-“

 

“Naruto!” Sasuke interrupted with his own ferocity. “I have had enough of your insolent babbling. Just because Gaara and I aren't crying...doesn't mean we're not affected!” he growled. He noticed Naruto straighten at his threatening tone and hush. He too noticed how harsh his words had been just now. Although he cared for his teammate, he never intentionally hurt him, unless he was joking around or fighting a rivalry battle with him. His expression softened just a little. “Naruto...Gaara is right. There's plenty of time for grieving. Just...now now,” Sasuke said in a softer tone that caused Naruto to relax a little. He looked at Gaara and saw him looking to his left over his shoulder at the ground. The look in his eyes was a distant one. One of despair, angst, and just all around sadness. That was to be expected when you lost your whole world right in your arms, knowing you could do nothing to save her. “Gaara-“

 

“We should go.” With that, he started off back to Suna. Sasuke understood, much as he hated to admit it, he did. Gaara continued onward and a silent tear fell on Shiruki's collarbone. It was all true. He did not show his emotions. He did not wish to. He obviously did not want these two morons to see him crying or grieving. No. That was on his own time. When he was alone. Isolated from the world. Isolated from himself.

 

 

It was hours until the group stopped for nightfall. Naruto and Sasuke shared a tent, whereas Naruto lent Gaara his to be alone with Shiruki. Gaara sat there, staring at her lifeless form. If only he had been there for her. If only he had gone with her instead of listening to her and staying back. He was too slow. The one time it counted, he was too late. Although she proved to put a good fight against the two, he was all too sure that it was her Neko demon that had disposed of them when it had been forcefully removed. It was, afterall, the cat's wrath. He looked at her. At this time, she looked as if she were merely sleeping. A smile gracing her lips. She looked so peaceful. So heavenly. So angellic. Gaara grinned crookedly at her. He traced every outline of her body with his eyes, not dare defiling her sacred body while she was unaware. Not like she would be aware of it anymore, considering she was dead. She was the most beautiful thing on this planet. The most beautiful thing Gaara had ever laid eyes on. How much she meant to him could not be expressed in words. He held such adoration for her. A simple smile put him a dream state. It was the most amazing thing he had ever encountered. He was glad she was his, and he was hers. As he looked further, he saw blood splattered on her neck. His brow furrowed in sadness. The least he could do was to clean her up a little. With that thought, he reached behind him and dug out a towel. He poured water on it and lifted Shiruki's body up so that he could dispose of the unjustifying red liquid defiling her skin. He gently wiped it away and came to her chest. He stopped and looked at her glorious body. How many times had that same body captivated him? How many times had he held it against his own, feeling every inch of her naked form? Too many. He quickly broke any thoughts of defilement and went back to removing the blood from her body. He came to her chest and looked up at her face, as if asking for permission he would never again receive.

 

Feeling fed up with himself, he angrily clenched the rag in his hand. His head lowered onto her collarbone as he held her in his arms, clinging to her as if she were his only means of life. In all truths, she was. After he was done shedding pent up tears, he removed the tattered shirt from her shoulders to reveal more blood. He wiped it away gently and resisted the urge to cry. He stopped when he came to her right shoulder. He distinctly remembered a big gushing wound there. Hence, all the blood concentrated in that single spot. But when he wiped the blood away, he saw something much to his shock.

 

The wound...was gone.

 

“Can't be,” he said with utter disbelief. His eyes widened as he looked on. He checked the other shoulder, just in case his memory failed him. It had not. There was a wound there. But it was gone now. The Neko demon that lay dormant in Shiruki only healed Shiruki's wounds if she was alive and aware of it, if not consciously, then subconsciously. So, why was this wound healed? It should still be open. Still be caked over in blood.

 

He cupped her cheek gently in his hand. How could he not have noticed it before? He'd been staring at her long enough. So why hadn't he noticed the warmth and color to her cheeks? It did not make sense. Was he too blinded by his pathetic depression to notice? Or was it that he did notice but refused to believe it? In either case, Gaara, for once in a long, long time, was in disbelief. Could it be? Was it true?

 

Gaara got up quickly and looked around. It was faint, but Shiruki's body was warm. It was emitting heat. He quickly started to remove his shirts and sashes, and covered her. It was not much, but it could help, even just a little. It there was any chance of her being alive, he had to warm her. He knew of one way...but he would never do that. It repulsed him to “violate the dead.”

 

As Gaara sat and watched her body carefully for any signs of life, he unconsciously started to tap his fingers on his knee as if waiting impatiently. Minutes drove on like years. He was about to lose hope when he saw redness return to her pale cheeks. “Shiruki...” he whispered as tears fell silently down his cheeks. He grabbed her hand in both of his, pressing it to his cheek happily. The Neko demon, not being able to find a suitable host to fit its needs and standards, was returning to Shiruki. It had not been fully extracted from her body. It was a gift from the gods! They had another chance. Gaara had another chance at happiness. Happiness he could only experience with the woman he was with right now. Shiruki had another chance to live. That was more important. As many times as he had said that he hated that “damn cat,” he was truly grateful for its presence now. The Neko's demon spirit was slowly returning to her body, and in turn, restoring Shiruki's life. Afterall, it was against Shiruki's will that it left. It is only natural to return that which was stolen.

 

Gaara felt a pumping beneath his fingers. It was weak, really weak, but it was Shiruki's pulse. She was alive. She came back to him. Though she was unconscious, she was still alive. And that was all that mattered.

 

 

Meanwhile...

“Sasuke...” Naruto whispered in the dark of night. Said boy grunted and turned over to face Naruto. “Is...Gaara going to be alright? He's hurting more than the rest of us...she was all he had...” he whispered quietly. Tears threatened to push past again.

 

Sasuke's face dropped. “I honestly don't know, Naruto,” he whispered back. As he studied Naruto's features, he saw him trying to mask his sadness and resist the strongest of urges to cry. “The question, Naruto, is...are you going to be alright?” Sasuke asked, sitting up to face him. It affected him as well, but Sasuke was used to being alone. It was Naruto he was concerned about. And chances are, Gaara wouldn't take this lightly either. In fact, Sasuke could see Gaara attempting suicide by removing Shukkaku, just to be with Shiruki. Oh the hell that would cause for Suna...

 

Naruto's crying burst through Sasuke's thoughts and contemplations. He was sitting with his knees pulled weakly to his chest, crying quietly. He wasn't going to be okay. This would indeed affect Naruto's happy-go-lucky nature. His crying only succeeded in paining Sasuke. He wasn't used to seeing his teammate like this. Nor did he wish to. “Sh-Shir-ruki...i-is g-gone,” he stuttered through tears. His crying was getting worse. It wasn't long before he started hyperventilating.

 

Sasuke had to think fast. The only logical thing he could do was to comfort him. Comforting was not the Uchiha's strong suit. Sasuke was sitting up as well and didn't know exactly how to calm Naruto. He hated this. Being useless to help others. For once, he could not save Naruto. This is an emotional battle that was happening inside Naruto that Sasuke had no say in. Without thinking about it, he pulled Naruto close in his arms. He rubbed his back as Naruto cried into Sasuke's chest. His feeble fingers gripped the Uchiha's shirt helplessly. There was not much more Sasuke could do but hold him and whisper words of comfort into his ear. All that was left was for Naruto to stop crying and accept it, no matter how painful the realization was.

 

 

Meanwhile...

Gaara laid next to Shiruki, shirtless, holding her in his arms. His suspicions were confirmed. Her injuries were completely healed and her skin had its normal pale color to it. Now, all that was left was to wait for her to wake up. What a reunion that would be. He could not wait to see her beautiful smile that brought such warmth to the Kazekage's heart. That same smile that brought sunlight into his darkness. That same smile that captivated him and made him glad he was alive to be with her, by her side, in her heart.

 

Just as Gaara was about to fall into a calm state of relaxation, considering he needed Shiruki to sleep, he heard Sasuke's voice outside his tent. “Gaara? You awake?” Sasuke called.

 

What a pathetic question. Was he awake? How could he possibly sleep? If he did, his personality would be consumed by Shukkaku and they would all be dead. Oh, that's just the kind of publicity a Kazekage needed. Nevermind him being the main weapon intended to defend the village and that all the villagers were already scared of him, but, oh, the stories that would be told of a homicidal Kazekage that killed his lover and his teammates all in the same day! Now that would surely gain people's trust and respect. Despite all these idiotic thoughts that one statement had gave birth to, nothing could spoil the young Kazekage's good mood at the moment. His love was alive and she would be awake soon. She would have kept her promise to wake up soon.

 

Gaara stopped dead in his tracks. His eyes widened. Had that one statement...could Shiruki had known that she would not die? Had she known that the Neko demon residing within her would return to her, rejoin with her soul, and give her her life back? Had she truly known all that were to happen? Or had it all been one big lie as a futile effort to console Gaara? This was truly amazing. Gaara grinned and looked at Shiruki before getting up quietly. As he pulled the tent flap back, he almost forgot to glare. He saw Sasuke with an arm around an “inconsolable” Naruto, crying his eyes out, and nodded in understanding. He let them in and went back to Shiruki's side. “You are not able to sleep,” he stated, rather than asked, not looking up from Shiruki's colorful face.

 

Sasuke almost scoffed at that remark. “I can sleep fine,” he bragged,earning a glare from Naruto. That had come out wrong. “It's just this loser,” he said, pointing at Naruto somewhat grumpily. This Uchiha arrogance succeeded in pissing Gaara off royally. How dare he be so heartless. How dare he say he can sleep after such a tragedy. It was utterly dispicable. It turned Gaara's stomach that such a remark was made, let alone implied. Before he could carry out his anger on the arrogant Uchiha, said boy spoke again with something more sensible. “Why is...her face colored?” he asked, his eyes wide.

 

Naruto's head shot up at this question. He rushed to Shiruki's side and looked at Gaara as if seeking permission. Gaara's vision lowered to Shiruki's body and Naruto saw a slight smile, one he had never seen before, grace Gaara's lips. Of course, this was hidden from Sasuke. He'd never hear the end of it. Naruto had to do a double-take to make sure even he had seen it. Once he got a silent ok from Gaara, he pressed his cheek against her. Tears fell as he lifted his head to look at the two, confirming Sasuke's question. “Sasuke...she's alive,” he breathed in sad relief. Gaara smiled and nodded. Sasuke smiled sincerely. This was the one time all three boys could share a heart warming smile in each other's presence. Gaara had hoped it to be the last too. The only one he allowed to see him smile was Yashamaru, and Shiruki. This was truly a miracle. One the Kazekage would not take lightly.

 

 

TBC

 

 

A/N: Alright. Whatcha think? ^^ I know I kind of left you all hanging with Shiruki dying like that...but I couldn't resist. But now ya know. She is alive. Now it's just the matter of her waking up. And what mental damages she will sustain, if any. And allow me to clear something up.....for all those yaoi lovers out there, myself included, sorry. Sasuke and Naruto are not lovers, nor will they be in this story. It is strictly GaaraxShiruki. Sorry for the little....tease, I guess you'd call it. Anyways....R&R ^^ Things are about to get interesting. As they say....”the shit's about to hit the fan”