Naruto Shippuden Fan Fiction ❯ Healing a pained heart ❯ A warm heart makes a warm home ( Chapter 2 )

One more day and I’m still on my feet.

            The road between Konoha and Suna has never felt so tiring or long before. However, less and less trees, more and more small, thick grass, the fading of the green turning it into a sea of yellow and orange couldn’t be a better metaphor for the dark days that slowly swallowed the fun memories of the former team 7’s adventures on missions. After 3 days and a half, slightly longer than normal, she finally made it to the gates of Suna, where Kankurou was waiting for her. He seemed bored and was leaning against one of the rocks that were the only breach in the city otherwise defended by natural stone walls surrounding it.

As she got closer, she could tell he was rehearsing some sort of speech in his mind. His lips moved to form words from time to time and he seemed focused. He had his eyes closed and was trapped in his mind, so he didn’t register her steps approaching. Just when she was about to salute him, Kankurou suddenly slapped his face with his right hand and muttered:

“ Stupid. Stupid” under his breath. Sakura laughed and only then did he realize she heard him. He greeted her in a loud voice to mask his embarrassment, scratching the back of his head with his left hand while looking to the side.

            I already feel better. thought Sakura.

            “What do you keep mumbling there? Who is stupid?”

            Kankurou’s face was redder than Konohamaru’s fire ball jutsu.

            “It’s embarrassing, but I could use a woman’s advice. I fought with my girlfriend. I honestly don’t think I did anything wrong, but I apologized anyway. I am afraid she might leave me. What should I do?”

            “Oh, I didn’t know it’s a serious matter.” She finished her sentence smiling, much to his exasperation. “Write a love poem for her. “ she half joked.

            “Ha?” Kankuro’s face was as white as milk. “You’re joking. I can’t do that.”

            “I’m sorry, but I think you shouldn’t take advice from someone who failed in these matters. “ As soon as she finished her sentence, she could feel the tension in the air, thick as a tree trunk in the forest. “Come to me if you change your mind about the poem. I will dictate and you will write.” She said while laughing.

            “Can’t you write it and let me copy it?”

            “What? Are you crazy? If she finds out, she will think I wrote it for you. She will think I like you, then she will definitely break up with you.”

            Kankurou sighed in desperation and annoyance. He muttered under his breath: “I think I will just make her a daira.”

            Sakura decided to pursue the matter no more. They were about to reach Gaara’s office door. She could see Gaara’s back facing the window. A hot wind danced in her pink locks and she forced herself to keep her eyes on the road. Kankurou knocked on the door and he entered with Sakura following him. Kankurou notices his brother’s face becoming 2 shades brighter and Gaara can feel his hands sweating. He struggles to keep his composure.

            “Kazekage-sama”

            He rushed to reply to her half spoken sentence. “Welcome, and please call me Gaara.”

Sakura was taken aback and smiled shyly. Kankurou changed glances from one to another and the corners of his mouth started going upwards. He winks at Gaara which makes the redhead panic thinking he is about to be made a fool of by his own brother.

            Sakura brings him back to earth: “I think you have a mission for me, Gaara.”

            “Ah, there is no need to rush. I will explain everything later. Unfortunately, I have to discuss an important matter with the daimyo. Kankurou will take you to your accommodation where you can eat and freshen up.”

            “Wakarimashita. Thank you, Gaara. Later then.”

            Kankurou kept his face hard as stone as he led her out the door and through the streets of the village. Many people raised the curtains of their shops. Businesses must be taking a break during the heat waves of the afternoon and open again when night approaches.

            Sakura didn’t listen to almost anything Kankurou said while they walked to wherever they were going. He seemed happy when he made chitchat. She could tell he was trying to be polite, but she couldn’t help but wonder what will she do if her stomach will hurt because of the food here? What if they won’t let her eat alone so she can hide in case something takes a bad turn? If she unintentionally makes a scene, Gaara will feel bad. Sakura couldn’t let this happen. She was being eaten from the inside by her overanalyzing, so the first effects of stress didn’t fail to appear. A sharp pain surged through her abdomen and she had to stop in the middle of the road and wait for the pain to go away. Kankurou was a few steps ahead when he noticed she wasn’t following him anymore, so he turned to check on her.

            Quick, think of something.

            “Do you think you can show me to the library later? There are a few medical books written by Sunan authors that would interest me.”

            “I can’t, sorry. I have to patch up things with my girlfriend until it’s not too late. But I am sure Gaara will be happy to help you. Although I am not sure how you will read them. They are all written in the old language. You will need someone to read them to you or have someone translate them for you and read afterwards. Either way, ask Gaara. “ Kankurou said while smiling and winking at her.

            The situation turned awkward, she blushed and was in a hurry to change the topic.

            “Where are we going?”

            “We are almost there.” And he started walking again.

            They were in front of a round building which resembled huge clay-made globe with circles of windows surrounding it on different levels, probably floors. Kankurou opened the door and walked in first, followed closely by Sakura. The light coming from outside was enough to brighten the room without the help of any light bulbs. The rooms were round, so the light coming from windows on all sides of it, flooded the room with a heartwarming yellow light.

            The first person that came into sight was a blonde woman with her hair tied into 2 pigtails. She was wearing a dark purple kimono with a red sash tied around her waist and she was carrying a dark haired child in her arms.

            “Oh, Sakura. Welcome. How was the trip?” Temari said getting closer to the pink haired girl. The boy in her arms recognized the girl because he shyly said her name. Both Sakura and Temari looked at him tenderly.

            “Temari-san, I am happy to see you are healthy and well. It’s a shame we couldn’t travel together. “ Sakura said while getting closer to Shikadai. The little boy lifted his left hand and he stroked Sakura’s hair from the roots to the ends, then backwards, until his fingers got entangled in her hair. He tried pulling his hand free from her locks and Sakura winced in pain, clutching her strands in her own hand, pulling in the opposite direction.

            “I apologize. Shikamaru teaches him how to behave with women. I told him you have to stroke someone’s hair from roots to ends, not the other way around, otherwise you end up in this troublesome situation.” Temari said while trying to get her son free.

            “Sorry, mom.”

            Temari sighed, then smiled at him again: “ He does this to me at home all the time.”

            Sakura burst out laughing. Shikadai started wriggling in his mother’s arms, so she put him down. Sakura watched him stray and only then she realized Kankurou disappeared long ago. He was sitting on the sofa now, with another dark haired boy on his knees. She has never seen this boy before. Temari explained:

            “He is Shinki, Gaara’s son. He was adopted this year and he is still trying to get comfortable with all of us. Please be patient with him. He is a little shy, but what can you do? He takes after his father, but they both have kind hearts. My little brother loves him dearly.”

            Sakura waved at Shinki, but he only looked at her with expressionless eyes.

            I must be careful not to intrude his personal space. This is his territory, after all.

            Temari and Sakura talked for hours on the sofa, waiting for Gaara to show up.

            “Tadaima.” Gaara said taking off his shoes by the front door.

            Temari greeted him first: “Okaeri.”

            Shinki looked at him with hopeful eyes. He didn’t have the courage to hug his father though, with so many people around him. Gaara smiled and gestured him to come closer. Shinki happily ran to his father. After ruffling the boy’s hair, Gaara grabbed the small hand and lead him to where the girls were sitting.

            Temari opened her mouth to speak again:

            “It’s good that you came. I kept your guest company, but it’s getting late and Shikadai has to go to sleep. “

            “But mom...”

            “I don’t even want to hear it, Shikadai.”

            Her little brother laughed and hugged her awkwardly. He wasn’t used to showing his emotions after being deprived of love and affection for so long, but he tried his best. Temari and Shikadai left and Kankurou followed them shortly after, waving his goodbye. Sakura was shocked. She didn’t expect to be in a home so warm. Gaara’s soft side was the biggest surprise of all. Until now, she has never imagined him this way. She could consider herself lucky. Only family could see this side of him. The Kazekage couldn’t show weakness outside his home’s doors. He had to keep his composure, his pride. He was a tough man after all.

            Gaara sat on a chair across from Sakura. Shinki put his small hands on his father’s left knee. The boys were both looking at her, which caused a blushed on her side.

            “I am sorry, but Kankurou said he will show me to my place. I think he wanted to say hi to the kids and forgot about this.”

            The corners of the grown man’s mouth lifted upwards and his face became even brighter. Shinki looked at his father worriedly.

            “Sakura, this is Shinki, my son. Shinki, this is Lady Sakura. She came to Suna for a mission and will be staying with us for a while.” Shinki greeted her with coldness and respect. His small hand gripped his father’s knee tightly. Gaara lifted him over his shoulder and talked to Sakura:

            “Please wait for me here until I put him to bed.”

            She just nodded, not being able to form words at the moment.

            Shinki wished he could spend more time with his father. The same could be said about Gaara, who truly loved his son, but just for the night, they will separate earlier than usual. After tucking him under the blanket, the redhead made a promise to his son:

            “I will come later tonight and sleep next to you, to make up for this. Please be patient. You are the most important person in my life. “ and he stroked his hair. The little boy smiled.

            When Gaara came back to the living room, Sakura sat in the same place as before. She looked upset, like something was bothering her. I shouldn’t have left her alone in here.

            “I am a bad host, forgive me. I left you here waiting by yourself. I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable. I thought it would be better if you stayed here with me and Shinki, instead of living in the shinobi compound. The rooms are rather cold and you don’t know who your roommate would be. Here you will have your own room, private bathroom, nobody will bother you.” Sakura got up and followed him. “Temari left some clothes in the wardrobe in your room. They are mostly scarves and shoes suitable for our weather, since we didn’t know if you had any. If there is anything else you need in your room, please let me know. Ah, I remembered you like reading, but there isn’t any place to store them. I will ask the housekeeper to install a cupboard tomorrow. She is not here today. I will introduce you tomorrow morning when she comes. She cooks, takes care of the house and watches over Shinki when I am busy working. I will let you unpack your things and freshen up. If you wish, we can go eat something afterwards. I haven’t eaten anything either. “

            Sakura looked at him, then to her room and back at him. Staying with him and his child didn’t seem like a bad idea. She was too tired to fight him on the cupboard matter anyway. Her stomach rumbled and they both blushed. She quickly entered the room and said:

            “Let me get ready and then I will come with you.” She closed the door without waiting for his reply. Sakura rested her back on the door and touched her heart with her left hand, sighing.

            Gaara stayed speechless in front of her door for a few moments, then smiled and went back to his room to change. After he finished, he waited for her on the same sofa she sat earlier, struggling not to fall asleep after such a long day at work.