Book Of One-Shots

For: Potato_Senpai48722

"Get out and don't come back, you're not welcome here anymore!" A loud voice rang in Naminé's ears as her mother nudged her forward, she didn't exactly understand what was happening, just that they were leaving the village. Her parents hadn't told her why, she was itching to know why they had to leave so suddenly. Of course, she knew her parents had done things they weren't proud of, but that's no reason for them to have to leave. Right?

As she turned her head to strain to see her father, he mother blocked her view while saying quietly to her,

"Don't worry, we'll be alright. Your father and I will sort this out."

Other than her mother speaking to her, Naminé could hear the other voices getting louder with each word said. But she didn't understand what they were saying, only things about not being allowed to come back, that what they've done was inexcusable.

They hadn't done anything, had they?

~

Time seemed to pass quickly for Naminé, especially when her family had to settle in the Hidden Sand. It wasn't exactly her ideal place to live, but they didn't have much of a choice. She had thought a long time about the night they were kicked out of their first home, and as to why they weren't allowed back there. She had learned what her parents did, what they did to innocent people. They had been considered rouge for a while before coming here, they were only pardoned with the circumstance of the feeling of constantly being watched by the ninja from the village. Hell, she wouldn't doubt if they were really being watched everyday. It wouldn't surprise her at this point. Their family was hardly able to leave the village at all, her parents spent most of their time inside, where they wouldn't have to deal with any trouble if any gets stirred up somehow. Naminé, however, liked to be outside. She wanted to explore the village in its entirety, to talk to the residents and get to know them. Unlike her parents, she's actually made friends and has enjoyed being with them.

If there's one thing she's actually liked gaining from living in the Hidden Sand other than getting to meet new people, it was getting the chance to befriend the Kazekage, Gaara. Naminé had learned what happened to him when he was younger, but looked past it and saw him for who he really was. It was really by chance that they met. She was actually attempting to leave the village when he caught her in the act, he didn't punish her for it, and instead let her go. They soon became friends after that, much to her surprise with how reclusive he could be.

The bright sunlight overhead causes Naminé's golden eyes to flash, also seeming to make her blonde hair glow. It was another thing she had come to enjoy, just being in the sunlight. It made her feel warm, and like she was truly at home where she was most comfortable. She brings one of her hands up to adjust her bangs over her covered left eye, she kept an eyepatch over it with her bangs to cover it. She had started to wear it like that when she was a bit younger, never offering an explanation to anyone who asked about it either, not even to Gaara. She was actually going to meet him, they had been hanging out more and more lately. He set aside a bit of time for them to talk, although some times it was difficult for him, being the Kazekage and all.

Naminé can't help but smile slightly as she approaches the large building, Gaara had wanted her to meet him here today, he didn't give her a reason as to why. They usually met up at a small shop, but this time was different. The guards near the door step in front of her as she reaches them, the one on the right asks,

"What's your business here?"

"I was told to meet the Kazakage today here, I'm Naminé," she replies simply. They must have been informed to her coming, because they almost immediately moved to the side for her, the same guard adding,

"He's expecting you, miss. There's someone inside that will take you to his office."

She gives a slight bow in thanks before heading inside, she can't keep herself from looking around upon entering. It was much bigger on the inside, and way different than what she was expecting. She hardly got the chance to take in her new surroundings before someone approaches her, it was Temari, Gaara's sister. They had met before and talked for a little bit, she's even met their brother, Kankuro. They were both very friendly to her, even knowing what had happened with her family before coming to their village. Temari smiles slightly as she says,

"It's nice to see you again, Naminé. Follow me, Gaara's waiting for you."

The two of them head down a long hallway to the right, soon reaching a door. Temari opens it and steps to the side, allowing Naminé to enter the room. The door is closed behind her, leaving a silence in the room she finds to be Gaara's office. It was neater than she thought it would be for the Kazekage, all of his paperwork was in neat stacks and nothing seemed out of place in the slightest. She saw he was sitting at the desk, writing something. Naminé closes the space between the two of them, bowing slightly to him and saying,

"I'm happy to see you again, Gaara. But why'd you want me to come here today?"

He stops writing as she straightens up, his expression lightening up a bit upon seeing her, out of his usual stoic look. He stands up and walks around the desk to her, and replies,

"It's private here, to say it simply. We can talk without anyone interrupting us, and there's no need for you to bow, you know that."

She smiles sheepishly, a slight blush coming to her cheeks. It wasn't normal for her to usually get flustered around him, but she's been getting nervous around him more and more lately. Naminé keeps her gaze lowered to the ground, and says,

"I see, well, it was nice of you to think that way."

Her stomach seemed to twist into knots as she feels him place once of his hands on her chin, turning her head towards him as he points out,

"You seem a bit red in the face, are you feeling alright?"

She gives a slight nod in response, even slight contact like that made her even more so nervous. The day she met him she told herself she wouldn't like him any more than a friend, but the more she thought on it, the more she realized that must have been what was making her feel this way towards him. Yet she also told herself that if that was ever the case, it was only a silly little crush and would pass. Besides, this was Gaara. There wasn't any way he would like her more than a friend, she didn't think so anyway.

Gaara lowers his hand to his side, and states,

"Let me clear up my desk, I wanted to get some work done before you arrived. We'll be going out in a little while, to a nice place to eat."

Her brows furrow together as he says this, only striking her to say a bit quickly,

"We don't have to go out anywhere, I just wanna talk for a while."

"If that's what you really want," Gaara says with a soft sigh,

"Then that's what we'll do, besides..."

He trails off, only picking at her interest and making her look at him. He leans in towards her, placing his lips against her cheek gently, and leaving a tingling feeling when he pulls away. Naminé's own lips part slightly in surprise at his action, it wasn't like him to do something like it. He then flashes her an ever rare smile while adding,

"You're special to me."