The Light Of Konoha

Head-Case

Gaara's P.O.V.

What's with that boy...
Not once, but twice has he left himself completely defenceless before me.

How easy it would have been to suffocate him with my sand as he lay snoring softly on the rooftop.

But... For some reason I stayed and just... Watched him sleep...

I just sat there and listened to the way he would slowly breathe in air through his small nose then let it out with a single puff from his plump lips.

I could have left at any point, but I couldn't bring myself to do it.

There wasn't anything else for me to do anyway...

He was so... Strange.

Of all the people I'd met, he's the first who would laugh and smile so easily around me.

And not the forced smiles I see on my 'comrades', but a genuine beam, as if he enjoyed my company.

When he said 'thank you' that first time... It shocked me.
I'd never really heard anyone thanking me, it made me feel strange and confused.

I felt totally out of my element. It was incredibly rare that I didn't think beyond killing a person, but since I didn't get that same urge from my beast to kill him, I had room in my mind for other thoughts to enter my head...

I found myself worrying that I shouldn't leave him alone on a random rooftop.
Caring that my callous teammate said something that would offend him.
Feeling an emotion that seemed to match the description of gratification when he stayed and talked to me for most of the night.

It was an entirely new sensation of emotions that I never really had chance to experience...
And I can't decide... Whether I loathe it... Or love it...

I stood rigidly and tried to shut out the loud voices of the dozens of rowdy ninja loitering around the classroom.

We'd arrived at the meeting place for the beginning of the chûnin exams a while back and I couldn't help but wish we'd come later so I wouldn't have to endure this tedious farce longer than I had to.

My own teammates were thankfully waiting in silence as I kept my arms folded and eyes closed.

I know that I exert an intimidating and dangerous aura but I couldn't care less, in fact it means less people try to bother me.

"Hey Gaa-kun!"

Well, in theory. But he's a special case.
And sometimes I think he's a head-case ...

A peculiar yet refreshingly interesting head-case.

But who am I to say that, I'm the biggest head-case of all.

My teammates were shocked in silence, probably expecting me to be my usual cold self and threaten to kill him.

They were even more shocked as I responded with a nod and a single name.
"Furasshu."

It was a simple action but nonetheless it was an acknowledgement of the nickname, which sent my 'comrades' into disarray and confusion.
But they were scared enough of me to wisely remain silent.

I hadn't even opened my eyes, attuned to his voice after listening to it for hours and hanging off every word.

The sounds of a scuffle had me slowly opening my eyes to see Aki being dragged off with a hand covering his mouth by the tall boy from the other day.