Naruto Oneshots

R E L E A S E (Gaara) Pt. 1

**Trigger Warning**

~*~

"And here is your contract from the Leaf, Cloud, and Mist stating your alliance" She murmured softly, before sliding the paper forward. The Kazekage thanked his assistant before she turned away to leave. He let his sea foam gaze linger on her as she exited the room. Another one. Now he was sure of it: someone was harming the girl.

He had been working with her for a year now. His assistant Kiyomi was quite possibly the kindest woman he'd met. She knew exactly how to keep anyone at ease. She was always smiling and cheerful, yet at the same time reserved---not one to speak out about her personal life.

His eyes lowered to his desk as he pondered to himself what he would do about the situation. He didn't seem to notice as his sister Temari strolled into the room and was now looking at him with eyes full of question.

"You alright?" The redhead cringed at the suddenness of her voice, whilst somehow sustaining perfect composure---as he always did. Gaara sent his sibling a nod and she rolled her eyes in return. He shot her a quizzical look, causing her to sigh and take a seat before him.

"You like her, right?" she stated short and simple. Gaara froze completely and silence followed...."What....?" he couldn't believe what she just said. How did she come to this assumption so fast?

"Oh come on! I saw you looking." Temari smirked, "You can't keep your eyes off her." Gaara sweat-dropped, sinking down into his seat. She was right, but for all the wrong reasons. So he let her continue to ramble.

"Just so you know, ever since Naruto got married to Hinata the elders are becoming impatient with you." There it was again. The persistence of the elders. For some reason Gaara's refusal to get married affected them. "Just saying..." Temari finished, scooting out of the room.

The redhead released a deep breath of exasperation as soon as the door closed. He then took off his hat and stood to his feet, deciding to retire for the day.

As soon as he exited his office he caught sight of his assistant being approached by another man. As he got a closer look, he realized it was her significant other.

"Where have you been?" his voice was sharp as he tugged her arm towards him. Immediately, his first instinct was to intervene. But as soon as he walked forward, a group of fangirls came in between him.

"Please accept my gift!" One shoved a box of sweets into his arms. "T-There's something I need to-" "---Not now!" he growled weaving his way around the crowd as it continued to build. Once he was out, there was a complete silence ahead of him. She was nowhere to be found. Gaara cursed beneath his breath as he had come to terms that he didn't get to her in time.

***

The following morning, his assistant was late. Very late. Gaara tapped on his desk with the back of his pen and then checked the time. This wasn't a good sign.

Finally, he decided to look into her file so he could find a little more information on the girl. As he scanned her file, right next to her name read her birthday. Her birthday was just yesterday.

Guilt flooded Gaara's chest, how had he not remembered? It was on the first day of winter, like every year. Immediately, he stood to his feet and headed to the bakery where he would buy her a small chocolate cake.

He tunneled down the hallway with the cake in his hands, surprising his co-workers one-by-one. "Who's birthday is it?" Matsuri asked. "Kiyomi" he replied. "We should surprise her!" she suggested. Sari, the other receptionist that worked at the desk followed after. "Good idea!" she gushed, "I'll go tell everyone else!"