Broken like me

Now and Forever

The two friends walked side by side down the hot and dry streets of Suna. It was still very early in the morning and shops were only just starting to open up. There was an awkward silence between the pair. Gaara wasn't sure what to say or how to strike up a conversation. Neither did Sigyn. Every time the red-head would glance her way, the girl would quickly look to her right at a building, or a dog passing by. After a moment or two, Gaara finally asked what was eating away at him since yesterday.

"The little rock man with ruby eyes, was he your doing?" Gaara didn't look at her. Instead, his gaze was directed to the bath house lady, who was setting up her 'open' sign. 'Perhaps she would like to go to the bath house while she's here,' he thought to himself.

'Yeah, maybe. As long as you don't try to see more than you should.' Shukaku's shrill voice rang in Gaara's head but he ignored him, unsure of what exactly he meant by that.

"Oh yes!" Sigyn smiled warmly. "I figured he would reach you with my letter faster than if I had mailed it. I hope he didn't cause you any trouble." The girl looked up at Gaara with worry in her eyes.

The red-head stared down at her brown eyes and thought about the woman who was trying to kick the little rock man. He shook his head no and she smiled again. "It was a pleasant surprise." He stated as he reached into his pants pocket and pulled out the two rubies he had stashed away. He held them for a moment in the palm of his right hand but then offered them back to Sigyn. "I was curious how you managed to infuse them with chakra." His raspy voice inquired.

"Ah, well, that's bit of a secret." She gave him a small smile and refused to take the rubies from the red-head. "Keep them. As a gift. I insist." She spoke softly as Gaara placed the rubies back into his pants pocket.

"Thank you." He replied and hesitated before asking, "Perhaps you will be more willing to divulge your secret during breakfast? If you are hungry." Gaara was staring directly ahead now with his arms crossed over his chest. He hoped he wasn't being too pushy but the curiosity was too much to bear. It was such a unique way to deliver a message. It could be very useful to him one day, perhaps.

Sigyn smiled and replied, "I am kind of hungry. It's been a long walk here from Konoha, but I don't think any food stands are open yet." She was looking around for any open shop or perhaps a ramen stand to go to.

"We'll have Temari make us breakfast. That way, you can settle in our guest room and I'll take you around Suna." Gaara used his sand to take Sigyn's back pack off her shoulders and carried it for her.

"Oh! You don't have to do that Gaara-san! Really it's ok!" She tried reaching for her backpack but Gaara's sand kept it just out of arms reach.

"Are you not tired from your long journey?" He continued to stare straight ahead and wouldn't let her grab her bag. He'd be lying if he said he didn't find her futile attempts at grabbing her bag humorous.

"Well, yeah but, really it's fine! I'm fine! And you don't have to force your sister to make us breakfast, I'm sure she'll be mad or annoyed." Sigyn gave up on trying to reach her bag and walked with both hands in her pockets instead.

"It's fine. Temari already agreed last night to make breakfast." Gaara paused for a moment and thought back to the advice his siblings gave him last night.

-.-.-.- mini flash back to the night before-.-.-.-.-.-

"First impressions are really important you know." Kankuro spoke to his younger brother while he finished cleaning the living room. Gaara only stared at his older sibling in confusion. "Well, clearly she wasn't put off by the fact you're a jinjuriki. So you still have a chance to properly befriend her. I assume that's what you want right?"