Love is just (( Gaara Story ))

One year, six months today marked your teammate's untimely death and it seemed like decades since that awful day. It was amazing to you how shinobi could die quickly in some of the simplest ways and for Katsu, your teammate and best friend, his death was instantaneous and surprisingly simple. He was gone before you could call out his name, to try to chain him to this world by the mention of his name crying from your lips. He died for you and for a long time, you've lost sight of why he left you for many various reasons.

You just couldn't go on without a reason. You didn't know why he died for you and it haunted your life. Your outward health drastically changed as well as your mental health; you grew anti-social and wished to be left alone during your free time, yet you obeyed your superior’s orders without complaint. You cut yourself off from the world and yet, you were roaming among it to make it safer for your village. As complex as your state of mind was, it wasn't healthy.

"You need to let go,"

"It's been over a year and you're still waiting for an explanation? This obsession is unhealthy!"

"You're killing yourself over this. You need help,"

You didn't listen; they didn't know what they were talking about, so who were they to know? They never been in your place, where you had to bear witness your best friend, the only precious person in your life, dying in front of you. Katsu had been there all your life, practically raised you and the bond you both had was inseparable. No one could relate to this emotional pain in your heart.

You heaved a sigh and drew your knees to your chest, arms curling around them loosely. It was your day off, one of the seldom summer days where you could relax and take a breather. You couldn't find anything to do other than gaze at the clouds and nap. You were perched atop of the Kazekage tower where the messenger birds were contained. You could hear them chirping as if they were conversing amongst themselves. It was a peaceful sound, really. They sounded like wind chimes.

Then suddenly, they stopped.

You blinked at the abrupt shift in the atmosphere and glanced over your shoulder. Your eyes met black-rimmed aquamarine eyes looking down at your form and you recoiled in surprise at who it was. Gaara of the Desert...the Kazekage.

"Kazekage-sama? Is there something wrong?" you asked in a soft voice as to not startle him. "Do you need any help?"

"No," he replied in the same tone you set, "I came out here to watch the sunset."

"I'm sorry; I'll leave you alone," you stood from your perch and started to walk towards the door, but a hand shot out to grab your arm. Your eyes widened a fraction at this sudden physical contact for it had been long since you have been touched. You've put up a personal space bubble for the past year and no one had bothered to breach it until now. To say you were surprised was an understatement.

"Stay," he pulled you back over to where you once stood, "I'd like some company."

"Ok, Kazekage-sama," you said, rubbing your arm absently. You felt goose bumps prickle against your skin where he gripped it. It felt warm, still. You didn't know what kind of effect he had on you, but you knew it wasn't genjutsu that was for sure.

"...you remind me of when I was six," Gaara started suddenly as he looked off into the distance, "I was alone with no one to love and it pained me both emotionally and physically."

"I do?" you stared at him, your mind absorbing his words and you immediately related to what he said to you. It made you confused as to why he was bringing up such a subject. He was up to something, you knew.

"Yes, your eyes were the same as mine," Gaara glanced at you from the corner of his aqua irises, "You've lost someone close to you. Is that the reason for your pain?"

You nodded slowly, "Yeah. Katsu-kun died on a recon mission a year ago."

"You two were close,“ Gaara stated matter-of-factly, "I can tell his loss hurts you still. Tell me, [Name] where does it hurt?"

Your hand went instinctively to your chest where your beating heart lurched underneath your skin. Your fingers clutched at your shirt, but your stoic visage never wavered as that life-sustaining organ heaved. You didn't bother to respond, thinking your action was answer enough for him. Gaara reached out and laid his hand over your own. The feel of his skin against yours was comforting and the pain in your heart dulled to a throb.

"Do you know how to heal the pain?"

"I don't know," you whispered.

"Love," his fingers tightened around your hand and brought it to lie against his chest. You felt his heartbeat drumming rhythmically beneath your fingertips. "My uncle once told me that, on the night he tried to assassinate me. It was what I held on to and it was what healed these wounds."

"Love?" you asked as if the word was foreign to your lips. Gaara's eyes softened, his lips curled into a small smile and he nodded. "Well, how can I be loved when there's no one to love?"

Without a warning, Gaara's arm curled around your back and pulled you against him. Your breath hitched in a gasp as his arms wove around you in an embrace. Your cheeks tinted red at this sudden breach of your personal space, but you didn't mind it for some reason. You liked being held this way. It was comforting and safe. Your arms went around his waist, returning the affectionate hug and laid your chin upon his shoulder.

"You're already loved."

Suddenly you knew the reason why Katsu died for you. He loved you and it was love that drove him to protect you, his precious person. He could've let that kunai hit you dead-on, but he took it for you. He had loved you and you never knew. Your eyes shut to stem off the tears that burned. You didn't want to display an unsightly scene in front of Gaara.

"That expression...it doesn't suit you," Gaara murmured, "why don't you smile?"

"...never had the reason to..."

"And now?"

You leaned away to look at his face. He blinked at the action, his expression blank, but his eyes held interest. You heaved a sigh and slowly, your lips spread into a small smile. He reflected your action and pulled you back against him, wanting this contact, this love just as much as you did.

"Thank you, Kazekage-sama," you whispered.

"Gaara, just Gaara," he corrected. "No formalities, not when you're with me."

"Ok, Gaara."

The sun had set into the sandy horizon and you both watched on silently in each other's arms, giving and receiving love.