The Light Of Konoha

Embarrassment

Aki's P.O.V.

'I have to say... Gaara with a blush... Is so cute!~
...
What the hell am I thinking?!! He just kissed me!! What do I do?!! What's going on!!'

The sand surrounding me withdrew and I stumbled as I landed on the floor, Gaara steadied me with his arms and as our eyes met we both blushed harder and looked away.

He was still too embarrassed to look me in the eyes so his gaze stayed a little lower, "um..."
But then his face fell and I realised he was looking at the gashes on my neck and jaw.

"I-I don't carry medical supplies..." He said silently,
"I don't get hurt so... I don't bring them... Sorry..."

It still sounded like it was strange for him to say things such as 'sorry' and 'thanks'.
'Hell, it was strange of him to kiss someone!'

The thought brought on a whole other round of blushing and my mind was still all over the place.

One little kiss had me all flustered... Damn.

I noticed the steady stream of blood starting to stain my kimono and decided I should probably do something...

I reached up with my hand and performed the light style: light palm but reduced it to just my fingers.

'This is gonna sting....'

I pressed the scalding fingers to my wounds and hissed as my flesh singed and a rotten smell filled the air.

Gaara looked pained just watching but he knew I needed to cauterise the wound to stop it bleeding.

When I was done, I breathed out shakily, feeling faint.

I looked into his eyes with a serious expression despite my rosy cheeks.
"Gaara..."

He shivered as I said his name.

"Why did you kiss me...?" I said with a quiet voice.

He rubbed a hand over his face and into his hair, avoiding eye contact and frowning in thought.

"It's hard to explain..." He started awkwardly, obviously dreading having to talk more than usual.
But he took a deep breath and steeled his resolve.

"I admit that a small part of it is the beast's influence..." He sighed,
"But that's just because his withdrawal of bloodlust has allowed me to experience these new... Emotions," he said with his usual gravelly monotone, but with undertones of deeper meaning spliced through.

"It became... Pleasant to listen to your voice...
It became... Even lonelier when I was away from you...
It became... Angering to see you getting hurt and being powerless to stop it...

I thought it might be the desire to be your friend... I had heard of these emotions and I began to accept that I wanted your friendship..."

He paused and reached out a hand tentatively, slowly and shakily bringing it to my neck and softly brushing against the ugly wounds with a sadness in his eyes.

"But...

Being this close to you now...

Seeing you right in front of my eyes...