Resonance (Kakashi x OC, Gaara x OC) -- Book 2

Chapter 14: Colors of Kimonos

Gaara awoke in the predawn to a weight on his knees. He thought he saw a small pair of canine ears twitching buried among her silver hair. He rubbed his eyes sleepily, and when he looked back, they were gone. She was still there, watching him.

"Still being rude I see," he yawned. "I thought maybe I scared you off last night." He wanted to reach for her and pull her into his arms, but he stopped himself. He wasn't sure how she would react. As if reading his mind, she crawled up and snuggled into the crook of his arm.

"No, I'm just not really used to, being affectionate in public," she admitted. "Sorry," she mumbled as an afterthought. She didn't know why, but she felt like she should say so.

He wanted to tell her he had practically no experience by comparison and she scared the crap out of him, but he wasn't one to share those kind of thoughts aloud.

"I've lived a long time, but this is all kind of new to me as well. I've spent my travels training. I never really had time for ideas of relationships," she continued.

Maybe she really could read minds, he shifted again uncomfortably.

Internally Keiko felt just as hesitant as Gaara. Geez. Kakashi may not have gushed regularly over her, but at least would be forward with her about what he wanted. Despite her confidence in war, she was less confident in matters of affection. Though she had many years on her, she wasn't much more experienced than Gaara when it came to love. She never felt uneasy with Kakashi's love for her; she always knew where he stood. Damnit. She had to stop comparing to Kakashi. Maybe she wasn't ready for this. It wasn't fair to Gaara if she kept looking back. She felt like a human teenager. This was so unlike her. She sighed.

The sun was beginning to spill into the room as she looked up into his face. She kissed him deeply, hoping it made her feelings clear. He reached up and ran his fingers through her hair. The movement made it shimmer in the light.

When they finally broke the embrace, he smiled gently at her. This was the second time he fully cracked the stony expression that typically covered his face.

"Come on, I want to show you something."

She followed him back to her room and he touched a panel opening a concealed room in the wall. She peered around him curiously and saw a closet full of a range of clothing meant for the family of the Kazekage.

"I guess they want you to come with me to the council meeting, so I thought it would be a good idea if you had something from the village to wear," he said.

She ran her fingers through the fabric in awe, looking at all the different colors. She never had thought too much about fashion and there was so much to look at in here. She always just wore the Kimono that was traditional for her house. Gaara stepped back out into her room as she continued to peruse the collection. A glint of metal caught his eye from a table by the window. He walked over to it and picked up a book wrapped in headgear of a Leaf shinobi. He knew he shouldn't be nosey, but he was curious. The book fell open and the thumbed through it. It was completely blank.

Keiko walked out holding a long red and brown Kimono and looked down at his hand. Her face fell when she saw him holding the journal.

"It was his I take it," Gaara said quietly. Keiko stood there and held her breath, her stomach roiling. "It's ok, I'm not angry. I know you didn't really come here because you fell in love with me; I know the conditions under which you came. I'm sure this is difficult for you as well."

He set the journal back on the table and walked over to her putting a hand on her cheek. "That's a good color," he said, "it matches your face."

Keiko wrinkled her nose again and he grinned.

"I found her really intimidating at first when she got here, even though I thought we were friends" he thought. "But you're actually kind of cute when you relax," he finished aloud to himself.

"Hm?" Keiko asked looking at him questioningly.

"Nothing," he said. "I'll leave you to get changed and we'll have breakfast after a while."

She peered out from the door after he had walked out to the common room. He had shrugged out of the top part of his yukata, leaving it to dangle at his waist. His muscles flexed across his bare arms and torso as he went through his stances. Keiko felt fluttering in her throat. She disappeared back into her room and started going through all the drawers in the closet looking at different accessories and geta to distract herself. About 15 minutes later, she heard the shower down the hall turn on and she felt it was safe to emerge. Gaara joined her in the common room before they headed for breakfast.

Kankurō and Temari were in the dining hall when Keiko and Gaara walked in. "Well, I guess she does clean up like a Sand villager," grinned Temari. Keiko sat down next to her and Gaara pushed in her chair.

"Aww, what a little gentleman we raised," cheesed Temari. Gaara glared at her. Whether in annoyance, Keiko couldn't tell, but Temari flinched out of habit. It had been several months now since Gaara had been freed of the one tailed sand demon, but they still expected it to give rise when Gaara was annoyed or angry.

He joined them at the table and ate in silence. Temari continued to drill Keiko with all kinds of questions about herself and her village, and about Shikamaru.

A hawk fluttered in through the open window and landed next to Gaara on the back of an empty chair. He removed the scroll from the tube on it's back and skimmed through it. "Looks like it's for you," he said, handing it to Keiko.

Dear Keiko,

I wanted to keep you apprised of the situation with the Akatsuki and Orochimaru. I don't believe they will have any further use for the Sand Village, but it is possible they may want to exact revenge and make an example for their fallen comrade. We don't know if that is part of their agenda. Moreover, I'm very concerned that if Orochimaru finds out about you, that you will make an attractive target for him considering your unique qualities. Even if he succeeds in taking Sasuke before we can get to him, he will still need to take new hosts.

The "kids" wanted to include something for you. There's a summoning scroll attached, maybe Gaara can teach you how to use it. You wanted to learn, I didn't say I would make it easy!

I know you will be missed around here. Naruto misses you especially. I'll make sure to send them along to visit when we can.

Yours,

Tsunade

Fifth Hokage

Village Hidden in the Leaf

Keiko pulled out the summoning scroll. She wondered what was on it. Gaara peered at it from the corner of his eye. "Now who's being rude," she teased. Temari and Kankurō looked at each other after watching the exchange, mouths full so they said nothing. Keiko left the table and went to tuck the scroll away inside Kakashi's journal. When she returned, they all left for the council meeting together.