Bluebird (Naruto Fanfiction)

Reassurance (continued)

*Aiko's Perspective*

As Kiyomi held my hand and we both laughed and basked in comfortable silence there was a gentle knock on the door.

"Come in." I said, but still sounded strained. Once the door opened I almost cried with joy as I saw Gaara Sensei standing there.

"What are you doing here? I've missed you so much!" Kiyomi practically yelled in excitement and tried her best to give him a bear hug while confined to her wheelchair.

Gaara chuckled and said " I've missed you girls too, It's been hard to get a chance to come visit but since I heard you guys are in critical condition I found a way to pull a couple of strings."

He ruffled Kiyomi's hair and then made his way to me and gave me a tight hug. Once me and Kiyomi calmed down a bit he sat down beside my hospital bed with kiyomi's wheelchair parked right next to him.

"So other than risking yourselves in battle and ending up in the hospital, what else have you girls been up too?" Gaara asked

"It hasn't been that long Sensei, there's not that much to fill you in on" I answered with a playful hit too his shoulder that resulted with me cringing in pain. We all laughed it off.

Amidst of our giggles I didn't even notice Naruto had walked in until Kiyomi addressed him. I looked at her as she spoke, and noticed how gentle her features got and how soft her voice was as she spoke to him. "Naruto, as much as I love to have you around, can you come back another time? It's been a long time since we've got to spend quality time with Gaara Sensei."

"Sure beautiful. I'll stop by your room later." Naruto answered with no hesitation and was about to leave but within seconds Gaara stood from his spot in the room and practically chased Naruto to grab him by the collar and aggressively sit him down on a empty chair.

"Since when have you been addressing her with such names? Kiyomi, is there something you'd like to tell me as well?" Gaara asked with a over protective tone. Gaara and Temari have always had authority over us , so I know how nerve wracking it must be for Kiyomi and Naruto to be questioned so intensely.

Naruto scratched the back of his neck and laughed sheepishly, while looking at Kiyomi with a loss for words. I watched as Kiyomi struggled to wheel herself in between the two men, but somehow managed.

"Well Naruto was just leaving, We'll have plenty of time to discuss things , just us, Right Gaara? Should we all bond... privately?" She tried desperately to change the atmosphere.

Naruto took his opportunity to leave and Kiyomi followed behind him.

"Well guess I'll see you guys another time, bye" Naruto leaned his head to what I assumed was an attempt of a kiss, Gaara intervened by covering Kiyomi's whole face with his hands before Naruto's lips could connect with Kiyomi's skin.

"I-I Can't breathe" Kiyomi struggled to let out.

Naruto sighed and left the room without another word. Gaara and Kiyomi returned to their previous spots.

"So, are you and Naruto now dating?" Gaara asked curiously, all signs of anger faded and he was genuinely curious about our love lives.

She looked away nervously and I could tell that she was aware that Gaara would not be impressed with the Idea of Kiyomi and Naruto not officially dating but still showing public affection, so she decided to change the topic.

"You know, I shouldn't be the main concern right now. Let's talk about Aiko and Neji." She suggested with a smile, knowing she completely threw me under the bus. It seemed to work because Gaara's attention was now on me.

"That's right, Maybe I should be having a talk with Neji." Gaara said now that it was brought to his attention.

"Or maybe you shouldn't." I answered a bit too quickly and saw the suspicion arise on Gaara's features. He raised his non existent eyebrows, and waited to explain myself.

"We should save it for another time, him and is clan are going through a lot, so i don't think now's the best time to be pressuring him about our relationship." I answered nonchalantly, not lying but not telling the whole truth, It was a trick I've learned throughout the years. Sometimes by talking less you also say more.

"That's understandable, but since you've been dating for two years, tell me, do you love him?" Gaara asked, his raspy voice pouring salt on my still unhealed wounded heart.

Deep down I knew I still loved him, I don't think I'll ever be able to stop loving Neji, he was my 'first' for so many things and I have so many fond memories of him. Whether or not I like it, he'll always have a special place in my heart.

I smiled meekly, "How would you feel after two years of being in a relationship, Gaara?" I answered with a question, Gaara has known me long enough to know that I would love Neji by now.

"Well I've never been in a relationship before but I can imagine that I would have a very strong connection towards them." He answered while pondering the idea.

Kiyomi could tell that the current conversation was just bringing me down and probably felt guilty about throwing me under the bus, or at least that's what I thought until she spoke.

"So Gaara, have you ever had any 'Intimate' times?" Kiyomi asked with a wink, and my cheeks instantly grew red once I realized what she was talking about.

"I should not talk about such things with impressionable youth." Gaara said with a straight face but was also clearly hiding his embarrassment.

"I'm surprised you haven't given us 'the talk' yet." Kiyomi replied with an amused snort.

"Well I assumed you two were young for the topic, are you two doing anything that would need 'the talk'?" He asked accusingly with crossed arms.

Kiyomi and I looked at each other with wide eyes and then shook our heads no, vigorously.

"Woah no, I'm sorry I even brought up the subject." Kiyomi let out an embarrassed laugh. As close as I am too Gaara, I don't think now's the best time to admit such things to him.

"It's late so I'll let you two girls rest, I have some business to do in the leaf tomorrow morning, I'll try my best to come see you again before I depart back to the sand." Gaara declared softly while shaking his head playfully, probably reminiscing our conversation just moments ago.

Gaara gave us both a gentle kiss on the forehead and left. I watched his Kazekage cloak swish from his movements. Suddenly I was missing him again.

After a few moments of Kiyomi and I being alone again, she broke the comfortable silence. "Aiko I really think you should talk things out with Neji, We've all jumped to conclusions and things have been so hectic. I'm gonna honest, Neji came and talked to me and what he said changes things." She said warmly but truthfully.

I was a bit taken aback from her sudden confession and I was a bit touched that even though Neji hadn't come to me directly, He was still trying to fix things.

"What did he say?" I managed to ask, just barely above a whisper.

"That's a talk for another night." She answered bluntly but smiled at me as she left my room.