Salt in the Wound

The trees gently shifted in the early morning air, shaking along with it blossoms from the cherry blossom trees. Underneath the wave of flowers stalked Konoha’s most stealthy and guarded nin, the ANBU Black Ops. Not too far back were the rest of Konoha’s best fighters. Lurking in the brush. They had set out only nearly twenty minutes ago to begin their three day trek to reach the walls of Suna. The anticipation of war hung heavily on the shoulders of everyone.

The blonde boy wore defiance plainly across his face. He wasn’t going to fight, he wasn’t sure how or what had happened but he was smart enough to see Suna wasn’t asking for a war. “Naruto, what are you planning to do if you won’t fight?” Sakura asked gently. The boy snapped his head at her with a glare.

“I’m going to find Gaara. He will know what’s going on I just know it.” The girls face dropped sadly. “Sakura, do you really think that after all that trouble before the alliance was drawn they would have any reason to attack us? It’s Gaara! He’s our friend or did you forget all about that too after Tsunade got talking to you!” Her face looked up, staring at the faint moon through the pink blossoms for which she was named.

“I know it doesn’t make any sense Naruto! I don’t believe it as much as you so don’t go assuming I’m as naïve as everyone else!” Her face dropped and she looked into Naruto’s blue eyes. “But what else can we do?”

“I will stop this Sakura. You can help if you want to but I am going to stop this whether you help or not. Suna is our friend, besides did you ever consider those paper bombs? They had purple smoke, I’ve never seen a paper bomb like that before in my life. It didn’t belong to the Sand Village.” A pale boy walked up besides them, staring forward flatly.

“You’re wasting your time trying to be a hero Naruto. If you really think just you will be able to convince everyone here their wrong you really must be a stupid as you look.” He glanced over and flashed a small smile at the two. Naruto twitched.

“I don’t remember inviting you to this conversation Sai! It’s none of your business what I plan to do!” He said loudly, people looked back in confusion. Sakura put a hand on Naruto’s shoulder and put a finger up to her lips.

“We need to be quiet.”

“I’m just as much a part of this team as you. Whether you like it or not.” Sai said looking forward once again.

“Oh trust me, I don’t like it one bit.” He growled and walked faster, separating himself from his two teammates. It took three days to reach Suna and in that time he would think over and construct a plan. Deep down he questioned his own motive, praying that what he spouted was right. Shaking the thought from his head he stood tall. There was no doubt in his mind that there was something bigger behind all this and he wondered why everyone else couldn’t plainly see it.

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It hadn’t been easy to put aside my feelings for Gaara, but I couldn’t spend all day in my room debating whether or not I should go over there and talk to him. I needed to get more creative. I couldn’t teach him to love but did that necessarily mean I couldn’t show him the path to learn? I shook my head, I didn’t know what path I was even talking about. I turned my attention back to the concrete floor in front of me, when I had realized I had to keep my mind busy I headed straight towards the training grounds. It had happened in only a matter of days. Where I once was strong in mainly only long range fighting, I was now not lacking too far behind in my short range skills as well. Thanks to the Tanto I held firmly in my hand. It was only an hour into my routine when Temari found me. Stopping mid jab I cut my eyes towards her, she smiled and nodded.

“What are those?”

“Twin Tanto knives.” I said as I slipped them back into their scabbard. “What are you doing all the way out here?”

“Looking for you. Gaara said you might be out here, he sent me to get you. I guess he needs you back in the office.” My face fell and I crossed my arms tightly.

“Dammit! That office is going to be the death of me I swear.” I nodded and we set off, walking side by side. I knew she wanted to ask something by the hesitant way she kept biting her lip.

“How are you and Gaara doing by the way?” She asked suddenly, giving into the temptation. She could tell I didn’t have a happy answer by the way my face dropped.

“We’re not.” I turned towards her, glancing. “We never left our stand still. He’s scared…” I sighed, blowing loose strands of hair in front and out of my face. Temari looked sadder than I did.

“That’s too bad. I know you would be good for him. When you left I never saw someone so…determined almost. It’s obvious he cares, he went out almost every night waiting for you to return. Of course he would never admit it but we all know why.” Her face went from sad to frustrated and she raised a clenched fist to her chest. “He’s being stupid!”

“Hm, I’ve noticed. But I can’t blame him too much. I mean, considering all he’s been through.” She nodded sadly and then smiled.

“Did you guys talk last night, about you and him?” I nodded and asked why and she smiled wider. “I figured. You really got to him whatever you said. He’s been very…bothered today. I was trying to explain attack tactics and he zoned out completely, ignoring me. With that same stupid look on his face like he’s confused or something!” She raised her fist dangerously and smirked. “You are going to have to fix it. We can’t have a distracted Kazekage in a time like this, especially when I know all he‘s thinking about is girls.” She shuddered teasingly.

I snorted, imagining the scene if front of me. “Yeah, yeah. I’ll snap him out of it.” We arrived in front of the building and she sent me off with a hug.

“Good luck Ishi, I’ll drop by later to see how it went!” With a wave of my hand I set up off the stairs. I had tried not to make it obvious, but I didn’t really want to be here. Facing him after last night would be awkward and I hoped he wouldn’t bring it up.

“Come in.” He said as I knocked. I opened the door and kept my eyes on the floor. “Good to see Temari found you.”

“What do you need help with?” I asked, glancing around at everything I could that wasn’t him.

“Nothing.” I couldn’t help but snap my head and stare at him.

“Nothing? You called me here for…nothing?” He stood up and walked in front of his desk, leaning against it with arms firmly crossed. That confused look still on his face.

“I can’t get anything done and it’s your fault.” I opened my mouth to protest but he started talking again. “What you said last night bothered me more than it should and I need you to help me.” He said the last part with a cringe. Gaara wasn’t one to ask for anyone’s help. “Show me.”

I could honestly say this had taken a turn for the worse. I didn’t have the slightest clue what he was talking about. “Show you…what?” I asked stupidly. Apparently he thought so too since he sighed and threw his eyes upwards.

“Show me what you were talking about. Letting my guard down and doing what comes naturally. I don’t understand.” I stopped, this was crossing the line over awkward. At this point, even I didn’t know how to act natural when being asked something so strangely normal. He widened his eyes, waiting. “Well?”

“Well, I can try I suppose. Here follow me.” I brought him into my room where the light was dim and the air was cooler. If I was going to do it, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be done in the place I hated most. I sat down on my bed and motioned for him to follow. He did as instructed, looking around uncomfortably. “First off, you have the get comfortable. If it’s going to come naturally you can’t force it. Meaning you can’t be all tense and nervous.”

“I’m trying.” He said lowly, already frustrated. This was going to be more work than I wanted to deal with. But this is what I had asked for right? For him to show interest in trying to change, I had it in the palm of my hand.

“Turn around then.” Slowly and cautiously he obeyed, turning his back to me. He tensed even more when I laid my hands on him and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes and smirk. The untouchable boy. My hands kneaded gently into his shoulders and around the base of his neck. He was going to relax whether he liked it or not. A soft noise came from his mouth and suddenly his shoulders drooped. He sure had built up a lot of tension in this area, I pressed harder. After around twenty minutes when I was sure I had loosened the muscles up enough I pulled away, earning complaints.

“Why are you stopping?” He asked, concerned.

“Because I’m done, you’re relaxed.” I smiled at him and asked him to turn back around. His face looked a little brighter. “How do you feel?”

“New.” Oh Kami, he was adorable and he didn’t even know it. “Now what?”

I shrugged and leaned back on my hands. “It’s up to you. Think about what you want, what you want to be like and what you want to achieve. But don’t hesitate to act on it. See, opening yourself up to someone means your trusting them. If you can’t trust that person then it just won’t work.” He closed his eyes and laid his hands on his folded knees.

“Touch me.” He said. I stopped short, blushing and screwing up my eyes.

“Pardon?” He opened one eye and looked at me like it was obvious.

“I said touch me. If I’m going to have to trust you then I will let you touch me without being cautious. I’m trusting you not to kill me or hurt me. So do it.” I found it funny these little practices, only with him would this be a trusting exercise. He closed his eyes again and I stood up on my knees. Carefully I touched my hand to his soft, red hair. Dragging my fingers through his silken strands. I had to remind myself not to get carried away. Slowly, I ran my hand towards his face, my fingers lingering over his kanji. He flinched slightly. I realized this was a big step for him. I had really only touched him twice, and even those were when he had been open with me, passionate. We lingered on the edge of something sexual now but it wasn’t nearly what it had been then. Nobody did this to him, nobody got close enough to do what I was doing now. I let my fingers drop to his chin, lightly running my fingers over his bottom lip, it took everything I had not to force myself onto him. “What are you thinking?” He asked quietly, keeping his eyes closed.

“I’m thinking about…you.” I muttered, it was time I let my feelings hang there. It would be his decision whether or not he wanted to take them for what they were. “I’m always thinking about you.” There was a hint of sadness in my voice that I couldn‘t control. His hand gently wrapped around my wrist and he pulled my hand away, his eyes focusing on my face.

“Why?”

“I-I don’t know. I guess I’m so hung over the fact that you don’t feel as intensely about this as I do.”

“Who said I didn’t?” I watched him lower his eyes and tighten his mouth. “You don’t understand how painful this is for me. I want to be there. I want to return your passion and it kills me to know how incapable I am of doing it. I don’t blame you for being short of patience.” Hearing those words shocked me. I couldn’t decide whether I was relieved or disappointed. Maybe both.

“I would wait as long as I had to for you.” His eyes softened and he turned them back towards me.

“I would never ask that of you.”

“You wouldn’t have to.” Placing my hand softly on his I smiled genuinely. “Because I want this bad enough, I would. So what do you want Gaara-kun?” The mood in the air suddenly shifted.

“I want you.” He nearly growled, his eyes met mine with unmatched intensity. A sort of possessive quality gleaming in his ice blue orbs. That was all it took for my mind to melt and I slunk forward, inching my way closer with quivering lips. “I want…all of you, my onna.” His eyes closed and I realized for him, this was natural. He was a predator at heart and that only made the fire in my stomach burn brighter.

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“Then take it.” I said softly. His lips met mine fiercely and I was thrown back on the bed by forceful hands. No matter how rough he managed to be, he was still gentle. My eyes shifted over, giving into the lust that had seemingly started to overwhelm my body and betray my better logic. He caught my bottom lip between his teeth and pulled slightly, forcing me to react with my hand behind his neck pulling him closer. I grunted as his weight shifted on top of me, my eyes met his and without a doubt he was going to prove to me what was rightfully his.

“You wanted this right?” Before I could answer his mouth found my neck, biting gently and lapping his tongue over my skin. I moaned, whoever heard me was not my problem at this point. I could feel his excitement press against my stomach as his hands roamed freely over my body, soft noises coming from his mouth.

“Gaara, you’re teasing.” I said breathlessly. I heard a small laugh come from him but he made no move to stop toying with me. Gasping as he slid his hand under my training shirt his fingers impatiently wrapped around the tightly knotted material I had tied around my chest. He sat up and glared.

“What is that?”

“It’s a bind you silly boy. Feel free to take it off.” His hand wrapped around the edges of my shirt and pulled it over my head, taking a moment to look over my body before attacking the bind. The knot was untied and the bind carelessly tossed to the floor and once again his eyes soaked me in. As self conscious as I was I tried not to let it show. He smirked at my blush and shook his head.

“Stop blushing, you have no reason to.” He ordered. Cool hands traced the outline of my breasts before he gently lowered his mouth to one. His eyes never leaving my face. With a soft flick of the tongue he smiled, watching my reaction to his movements. Hips arched and hands pressed into his back he returned his attention and teased me ever so softly. Almost so soft it was agitating. I tried to breath out his name but found I couldn’t catch my breath properly as his hand wandered down my stomach to the hem of my pants.

He sat up again and unfastened my pants, slipping them downwards to the middle of my thigh. I watched curiously as he unfastened his vest and jacket, sliding them down his arms and throwing them away without a care. Hastily I rushed his black shirt off and leered at his bare chest. The black pants he wore clung low on his hips attractively and he smirked as I stared. He was rather pale, only enhanced in the dimly lit room, his body was slightly lanky but finely structured. “Do you want me to stop?” His low voice was ragged and heavy.

“No, don‘t stop…” I shut my eyes and let him slip my pants off as well as his own. Our undergarments soon followed. Our bodies mingled, warm flesh pressed against warm flesh, nipping, licking, and kissing. Gingerly his hand fluttered over between my thighs, gently testing my readiness. I gasped and bit my lip. “Gaara-kun, is this really what you want?” I muttered weakly, I pressed my nails into his shoulders and gasped as his fingers found me.

“I want this more than anything.” he purred deeply. The soft flow of his breath tickled my thigh and I could feel the nerves in my spine jumping with delight. He acted calm and nonchalant but I could nearly hear the pounding in his chest. He took his fingers back and lightly ran his tongue upwards and over them, closing his eyes in sheer appreciation. Crawling towards me he landed a quick kiss on my cheek and looked over my face.

That was enough. My hand wrapped around his length and his eyes widened as I gently squeezed, a low moan escaping his lips. “You tease too much boy, I’m getting worked up with no actual relief.” He slightly lifted a corner of his mouth, a sadistic glint in his eyes before he tore my hand away and pinned them both above my head.

“Fine.” Quickly, he positioned himself atop of me, angling his body so that he could enter me at will. His eyes searched mine and without hesitation I nodded. The feeling tore through me like fire.

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It was rapture, pain, comfort and trust, a cool breath of air on a hot summers eve. He took me, it was all I had to give and given that moment of newly found bliss I couldn’t have asked for something more pure than this act we plunged into.

I knew him entirely, inside and out as he did with me. Together we found a sort of twisted harmony beneath the tangled web of sheets we wrapped ourselves in. Even though I didn’t say it aloud, I had only acted with it because I felt the blooming potential to love and be loved. The moment he collapsed next to my gasping form and wrapped his arms around me I knew I had found my place in this world I didn’t know. Strangely, I felt complete.

I nuzzled my face in the crook of his neck, inhaling the sweet smell that lingered on his damp skin. Let come what may come and in the end, if I died fighting for the one person who had finally opened my eyes, I died with purpose this time.